Paul Collins, Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science, received the 2021 Richard E. Neustadt Book Award from the Presidents and Executive Politics Section of the American Political Science Association for the best book on executive politics.
Collins’ book, "The President and the Supreme Court: Going Public on Judicial Decisions from Washington to Trump", was coauthored with Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha and published by Cambridge University Press. The book examines the conflicts that develop between the president and the Supreme Court, particularly when presidents take positions on the Court’s pending decisions or criticize the Court’s opinions in their public rhetoric. Critics of these actions argue that, in so doing, presidents act as bullies and offend the norm of judicial independence. Contrary to this, the book shows that presidents discuss cases to promote their reelection, policy goals, and historical legacies, while attempting to shape the impact of Court decisions on the bureaucracy, Congress, the media, and the public. In the award citation, the selection committee noted that “The President and the Supreme Court represents an excellent example of applying modern social science to a classic issue of presidential politics.”
“It is truly an amazing honor to be recognized for our work,” Collins said. “Given that this topic remains highly salient – as demonstrated by President Biden’s very recent public criticism of the Court for its decision involving the Texas abortion ban – we hope that our book will help people better understand that conflicts between the president and the Supreme Court have long been a part of our constitutional system and can, in fact, be good for a democracy.” (Cambridge University Press, 9/23/2021)

Paul Collins, Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science at UMass Amherst was extensively quoted in a Newsweek article on the Supreme Court’s case involving a newly enacted Texas law that bans most abortions. Collins said that the court’s handling of the case will increase calls to expand the size of the court. Collins added, “If the court were interested in avoiding being in the political thicket, it's difficult to imagine a dumber move.” (Newsweek, 9/3/2021)

Graduating UMass doctoral student and Human Security Lab doctoral researcher Alexandria Nylen has accepted a position as Program Coordinator at Brown University's Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies (CHRHS) at the prestigious Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Nylen successfully defended her PhD dissertation, Targeting Drones, this month, completing the final requirement for her doctoral degree in Political Science and Legal Studies from University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Human Security Lab doctoral researcher Alexandria Nylen successfully defended her PhD dissertation, Targeting Drones, last week, completing the final requirement for her doctoral degree in Political Science and Legal Studies from University of Massachusetts-Amherst.