Rick A. Swanson

Curriculum Vitae

September 25, 2008

Department of Political Science Lafayette, LA 70506 University of Louisiana at Lafayette 231 Mouton Hall Corner of St. Mary and Johnston P.O. Box 41652 Phone: (337) 501-7625 Lafayette, LA 70504-1652

Office: 337-482-6164 Home: 337-501-7625 Fax: 337-482-6170 E-mail: swanson@louisiana.edu Web: www.louisiana.edu/~ras2777

Professional Academic Appointments

Associate Professor of Political Science (Tenured) 2008-current

Assistant Professor of Political Science (Tenure-track) 2001-2007

(Also University of Louisiana—Lafayette Pre-Law Advisor)

Department of Political Science

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Education

Ph.D., Political Science, University of Kentucky, August 2001

GPA: 3.9/4.0

Major Field: American Politics with an emphasis on Judicial Politics.

Minor Field: Public Policy.

Dissertation Title: State Supreme Court Oversight of State Administrative Agencies.

Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Bradley Canon

Dissertation Abstract: Critics of judicial oversight of the bureaucracy charge that such oversight is anti-democratic and illegitimate. However, this criticism typically fails to distinguish between federal and state court oversight. Moreover, existing empirical studies of judicial oversight all focus on federal court oversight of federal agencies. These studies have shown that federal courts largely defer to agency decisions, but this deference is mediated by ideological behavior on the part of judges. The American states, however, possess unique institutional and environmental features which should impact judicial oversight. Moreover, the plural number of states also provides the opportunity for comparative research that cannot be done at the federal level. After creating an original data set comprising 550 cases from 27 state supreme courts for the years 1991-1993, I develop the first-ever combined model of state court oversight that includes not only judicial ideology, but also institutional designs and the political environment in each state. My results show that state supreme courts play a variety of roles in overseeing state-level administrative agencies. The dominant role, however, appears to be correction of legal errors made by agencies, thus making the common criticisms of judicial oversight invalid as applied to state supreme courts.

ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research) Summer Program, 1997.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Courses in Regression and Maximum Likelihood Estimation.

J.D. Summa Cum Laude, 1994 Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, IL.

Concentration in U.S. Constitutional Law, primarily Civil Liberties and Civil Rights.

M.A., Political Science, 1991 Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL.

B.S., Computer Science, 1988, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL.

Refereed Publications

Swanson, Rick A. and Stephen L. Wasby. “Good Stewards: Law Clerk Influence in State High Courts.” 29 Justice System Journal 24-46 (forthcoming 2008).

Swanson, Rick A. “Judicial Perceptions of Consensual Norms on State Supreme Courts.” 91 Judicature 186-96 (2008).

Swanson, Rick A. “A Descriptive Portrait of State Supreme Court Oversight of State Administrative Agencies.” 34 Journal of Political Science 58-77 (2007).

Swanson, Rick A. “Judicial Perceptions of Voting Fluidity on State Supreme Courts.” 28 Justice System Journal 199-218 (2007).

Swanson, Rick A“The Dynamics of Specific and Diffuse Support for the United States Supreme Court.” 2007. 44 Social Science Journal 645-663

Other Publications

Swanson, Rick A. “School Prayer,” “Intelligent Design,” “ISKCON v. Lee” “Public Forum,” and “Third Amendment,” in David Schultz, ed. Encyclopedia of the United States Constitution. New York: Facts on File (forthcoming 2008).

Swanson, Rick A. “Public Forum”; “Fighting Words” in David Schultz, ed., Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court. New York: Facts on File (2004).

Swanson, Rick A. “The Third Amendment;” “Stanley v. Georgia;” and “International Society for Krishna Consciousness v. Lee;” in David Schultz and John R. Vile, ed., Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties in America. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe (2004).

Swanson, Rick A. “Bill of Rights;” “Environmental Protection Agency,” “Administrative Procedures Act;” and “Bowers v. Hardwick;” in David Schultz, ed., Encyclopedia of American Law. New York: Facts on File (2002).

Swanson, Rick A. Double book review of Courtiers of the Marble Palace: The Rise and Influence of the Supreme Court Law Clerk, by Todd Peppers, and Sorcerer’s Apprentices: 100 Years of Law Clerks at the United States Supreme Court, by Artemus Ward and David Weiden, reviewed for Judicature. 90 Judicature 137-138 No. 3, November/December (2006).

Swanson, Rick A. Book review of The Louisiana Civilian Experience: Critiques of Codification in a Mixed Jurisdiction, by Vernon Valentine Palmer. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, reviewed for Law and Courts section of American Political Science Association, Vol. 15 No.6 (June 2005), pp.504-506. Electronically published on the “Law and Politics Book Review” website at: http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/palmer605.htm

Swanson, Rick A. Book review of “A Revolution in Favor of Government: Origins of the U.S. Constitution and the Making of the American State.” by Max M. Edling reviewed for the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association, Vol. 14, No. 3 (March 2004), electronically published on the “Law and Politics Book Review” website at: http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/Edling304.htm

Swanson, Rick A. Book review of “The Free and Open Press: The Founding of Democratic Press Liberty, 1640-1800,” by Robert W.T. Martin for the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association, Vol. 12, No. 2 (Feb. 2002), pp. 79-83, electronically published on the “Law and Politics Book Review” website at: http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/martinrowt.htm

Swanson, Rick A. “Time for a Change: Analyzing Graduation Invocations and Benedictions Under Religiously Neutral Principles of the Public Forum." University of Memphis Law Review 26:1405-44 (1996).

Swanson, Rick A. and Albert Melone, “The Partisan Factor and Judicial Behavior in the Illinois Supreme Court.” Southern Illinois University Law Journal 19:303-32 (1995).

Swanson, Rick A. “The Constitutionality of Garb Laws in the Context of the Public High School.” The Journal of Law and Education 23:549-69 (1994).

Swanson, Rick A. “Regaining Lost Ground: Toward a Public Forum Doctrine Under the Illinois Constitution.” Southern Illinois University Law Journal 18:453-80 (1994).

Works In Progress

“Judicial Roles in State High Courts: The Judges’ Perspectives”

“The Gated Community: Social Death in Prison” (with Stephanie Etie)

“The Clash of Ideals: Madisonian versus Jacksonian Democratic Theory in State Court Systems”

“A Conversation between Law and Politics Regarding State Court Administrative Oversight”

“Justice Captured: Reconceptualizing Interest Group Influence on Courts” (with Neal Woods)

“United States Supreme Court Opinion Lengths”

Conference Papers and Participation

“Judicial Roles in State High Courts: The Judges’ Perspectives,” 2008 Southern Political Science

Association annual conference, New Orleans, Louisiana

“The Gated Community: Social Death in Prison” (with Stephanie Etie). Presented at the 2004 Louisiana Political Science Association Annual Conference, Alexandria, Louisiana.

“Small Group Dynamics, Norms of Consensus, and Unanimity on State Supreme Courts: Results from Judicial Interviews.” Presented at the 2003 Southwest Social Science Association Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

“Tentative Reflections on the Judge-Clerk Relationship Using Principal-Agent Theory.” Presented at the 2002 Southwest Social Science Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Panel Discussant: Panel on “Supreme Court Decision-Making,” 2002 Southwest Social Science Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.

“The Relationship between Specific and Diffuse Support for the United States Supreme Court.” Presented at the 2001 Southern Political Science Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

“90-Day Wonders: Evidence for “Value-Based Regeneration” of Public Support for the Supreme Court” Presented at the 2001 Southern Political Science Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

Panel Discussant: Potpourri Panel, 2001 Kentucky Political Science Association Annual Conference, Highland Heights, Kentucky.

“Interest Group Influence on State Supreme Courts” (with Neal Woods). Presented at the 2000 American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.

Panel Discussant: Panel on “Teaching Political Science,” 2000 Kentucky Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Danville, Kentucky.

“Judicial Oversight of the Bureaucracy in the American States.” Presented at the 2000 Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

“State Supreme Court Oversight of State Administrative Agencies.” Presented at the 1999 Southern Political Science Association Annual Conference, Savannah, GA.

Conference Participant: University of Kentucky Graduate Student Representative to the 1999 Annual Conference of the National Preparing Future Faculty Program, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“Supporting its Legitimacy: Opinion Lengths of United States Supreme Court Opinions,” 1998 Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

“A Brief Collection of Original Games and Simulations for Use in the Introductory Political Science Classroom,” 1998 Southern Political Science Association Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

Panel Chair: Panel on "Law, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights," 1998 Kentucky Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Louisville, Kentucky.

Teaching Experience

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Political Science 2001-2008

Constitutional Law, Civil Liberties, Law and Judicial Process, Research Methods, Presidential Power, American Government, Honors American Government (all courses sole instructor), Religion and Politics (co-taught with Pearson Cross)

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Humanities Program 2005-2008

Philosophy of Love and Friendship (co-taught with Griff Blakewood);

Human Flourishing (co-taught with Griff Blakewood)

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Honors Program, 2008

Honors Seminar

University of Kentucky, Department of Political Science 1996-2001

Civil Liberties, Constitutional Law, Political Behavior, State and Local Government, American Government (all courses sole instructor).

Lexington Community College (Lexington, Kentucky) 2000

American Government (sole instructor).

Non-Teaching Professional Employment

Graduate Assistant, University of Kentucky Teaching and Learning Center, 1999-2000.

Lexington, Kentucky. Assisted in administrative duties.

Law Clerk to Justice James A. Knecht of the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District. 1994-1996.

Bloomington, Illinois. Recommended case outcomes and drafted court opinions.

Graduate Assistant to Professor Norman Vieira, Southern Illinois University School of Law, 1992-1994. Carbondale, Illinois. Researched and wrote in the area of Constitutional Law.

Graduate Assistant to Academic Computing Department, Eastern Illinois University, 1990-1991. Charleston, Illinois. Programmed SPSSX files for faculty research data analyses.

Select Professional Service

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Political Science:

Pre-Law Advisor, 2001-date

Faculty Development Committee, 2001-date

Curricula Revision Committee, 2001-date

Technology Committee, 2001-date

Student Scholarships & Awards Committee, 2001-2006

Publicity Committee, 2006-date

Webmaster and Web Liaison, 2001-2005; 2007-date

Co-advisor to Political Science Film Series, 2007-date

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Sole Faculty Advisor to University of Louisiana-Lafayette Law Club, 2001-date

Sole Faculty Advisor to UL-ACLU, 2007-date

Sole Faculty Advisor to UL College Libertarians, 2007-date

Sole Faculty Advisor to University of Louisiana-Lafayette National Mock Trial Team, 2001

Sole Faculty Advisor to Honors Program Film Series, 2006-2007

Faculty Co-Advisor to Politics Film Series, Fall 2007-date

UL-Lafayette High School Preview Day Representative, 2002-2007

Sole Faculty Advisor to Liberated Institute for Free Thought student organization, 2006-date

College of Liberal Arts Diversity Committee, 2006-date

UL Religious Activities Committee, 2007-date

University of Kentucky

Board of Advisors, University of Kentucky Teaching and Learning Center, 2000

Select Community Service

·Volunteer vote counter at 2008 Louisiana Republican Presidential Caucus, Districts 3, 5, and 7

·Worked numerous hours in 2007 for local grassroots organization Save the Horse Farm, to

preserve a large tract of undeveloped public property as permanent natural urban greenspace

·Performed approximately 50 hours of service staffing local Red Cross information desk at the Cajundome evacuee shelter for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Sept. 5- Oct. 5 2005.

·Numerous regular media appearances as guest speaker/interviewee, including on Acadiana Open Channel, KATC-TV, KLFY-TV, The Advertiser, The Advocate, the Vermillion, and Louisiana Live (syndicated radio show).

·Regular guest presentations at public issue forums sponsored by UL Philosophy Club

·Regular guest presentations to UL-Lafayette Law Club

·Regular appearances as guest judge for regional junior-high school social science fair and as proctor for regional high school Literary Rally

·Regular optional extra credit given to students in American Government classes who perform volunteer work for charitable organizations of their choice

Honors and Awards

Anthony Moroux/BORSF Endowed Professorship in Political Science, 2008-date

University of Louisiana-Lafayette Summer Research Fellowship ($4800.00) Summer, 2002.

UL-Lafayette Beacon Club Outstanding Professor Award, 2004.

Malcom E. Jewell Award for Outstanding Political Science Graduate Student, U. Kentucky Spring 2001.

S. Sydney Ulmer Award for Best Paper by a Political Science Graduate Student, U. Kentucky, Spring 2001.

S. Sydney Ulmer American Politics Award, U. Kentucky Department of Political Science, Fall 1999.

University of Kentucky Department of Political Science Graduate Fellowship, Spring 1999.

Various offices in the University of Kentucky Political Science Graduate Student Association, 1996-2000.

Southern Illinois University Law Journal Casenote and Comment Editor, 1993-94.

Southern Illinois University Law Journal, Best Casenote and Comment Editor Award, 1994.

Southern Illinois University Law Journal, Staff Member (by Invitation) 1992-93.

Southern Illinois University School of Law, National Environmental Moot Court Team, 1992-94.

National Environmental Moot Court Team, member of National Semi-Finalist Team, 1994.

National Environmental Moot Court Team, member of National Quarter-Finalist Team, 1993.

Deans List, Southern Illinois School of Law, 1992-1994.

Illinois Bar Foundation Scholarship, 1992-1993.

Southern Illinois University School of Law, Deans Club Scholarship, 1992-93.

American Jurisprudence Award (Top Grade in First-Year Law School Class) for six Courses, 1992.