Research

Select Work in Progress:

Executive Control and Vertical Partisanship in Civil Rights Enforcement- This project examines whether the Department of Justice, often regarded as one of the most politically insulated institutions within the federal bureaucracy, operates as a neutral enforcer of the law. Focusing on the Civil Rights Division, I analyze patterns in amicus brief filings, litigation positions, and support for government actors across presidential administrations. I also examine the broader universe of civil rights cases before the U.S. Courts of Appeals to identify instances in which the Division declined to participate, providing insight into the strategic selection of enforcement opportunities. (Draft Available)

Coordination and Coalescence in Supreme Court Oral Arguments- (lead author: Dr. Jake Truscott).

Scholars and commentators often use Supreme Court oral arguments to infer emerging voting coalitions among the Justices. This project evaluates whether such inferences are supported by systematic evidence. Using natural language processing and ensemble learning techniques, this project analyzes the semantic content of oral arguments in every orally argued Supreme Court case from the 1955 through 2023 Terms. The project provides new evidence on the relationship between judicial communication, coalition formation, and decision-making on the Supreme Court. (Draft Available)

Congress and China: Explaining the Success of China-Related Legislation – (With Long Xiao)

This project investigates how Congress responds to the growing strategic rivalry between the United States and China. Drawing on a dataset of China-related legislation introduced between 2001 and 2025, I examine how bill content, political conditions, and institutional factors shape legislative success. The project provides insight into the types of China policies that gain traction in Congress and how lawmakers frame issues involving trade, technology, national security, and human rights.