All People

Erin Kaheny

  • Associate Professor, Political Science

Education

  • PhD, Political Science, University of South Carolina, 2004
  • MA, Political Science, University of South Carolina, 1998
  • BA, Government, New Mexico State University, 1996

Office Hours

Monday & Wednesday 1:15 - 2:15 pm & By Appt

Office Location:  BOL 638 

Courses Taught

  • POL SCI 250 - Law and Society
  • POL SCI 411 - Constitutional Law: Government Powers & Federalism
  • POL SCI 416 - Judicial Process
  • POL SCI 464 - Sex, Gender, and the Law

Teaching Interests

  • American government
  • Courts and the judicial process
  • Constitutional law
  • Civil liberties
  • Women and the law
  • Law and society
  • Introductory statistics.

Research Interests

  • Federal appellate court decision making
  • Procedural rules of access to the legal system
  • Judicial careers and acclimation effects
  • Agenda change in the U.S. Courts of Appeals
  • Attorneys and the judicial process
  • The role of gender in judicial decision making
  • Comparative judicial studies.

Selected Publications

Szmer, John J., Christensen, Robert K., and Olsen, Erin K. “Gender, Race, and Dissensus on State Supreme Courts” Social Science Quarterly 96.2 (2015): 553-75.
Szmer, John J., Olsen, Erin K., Sarver, Tammy A., and Decamillis, Mason. “The Impact of Attorney Gender on Decision Making in the United States Courts of Appeals” Journal of Women, Politics, & Policy, Routledge 34. (2013): 72-100.
Olsen, Erin K., Szmer, John J., and Sarver, Tammy A. “Women Lawyers before the Supreme Court of Canada” Canadian Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press 44.1 (2011): 83-109.
Olsen, Erin K. “The Nature of Circuit Court Gatekeeping Decisions” Law & Society 44.1 (2010): 129-156.
Szmer, John J., Sarver, Tammy A., and Olsen, Erin K. “Have We Come a Long Way Baby? Female Attorneys before the United States Supreme Court” Politics & Gender, Cambridge University Press 6. (2010): 1-36.
Olsen, Erin K., Haire, Susan B., and Benesh, Sara C. “Change over Tenure: Voting, Variance, and Decision Making on the U.S. Courts of Appeals” American Journal of Political Science 52.3 (2008): 490-503.
Songer, Donald R., Kuersten, Ashlyn, and Olsen, Erin K. “Why the Haves Don't Always Come Out Ahead: Repeat Players Meet Amici Curiae for the Disadvantaged” Political Research Quarterly 53.3 (2000): 537-556.