Northern Illinois University
Department of Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Artemus Ward

American Politics and Public Law

Office: Zulauf Hall 405
815-753-1011
aeward@niu.edu

Curriculum Vitae
Webpage

Overview of Scholarly Activity

Artemus Ward is professor of political science and faculty associate at the College of Law, Northern Illinois University. He received his Ph.D. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1999 and worked as a staffer on the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court and has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Fox News, C-SPAN and in the New York Times, Associated Press and the New Republic. He is a two-time, award-winner of the Hughes-Gossett Prize for historical excellence by the Supreme Court Historical Society. His books include American Judicial Process: Myth and Reality in Law and Courts (2015), The Puzzle of Unanimity: Consensus on the United States Supreme Court (2013), Sorcerers' Apprentices: 100 Years of Law Clerks at the U.S. Supreme Court (2006) and Deciding to Leave: The Politics of Retirement at the U.S. Supreme Court (2003). Art is currently teaching introduction to American politics, mass media and American politics, American presidential elections, constitutional law, civil rights, civil liberties, judicial politics, law & film, law & baseball, politics & popular music and political humor. He periodically offers experiential learning courses such as taking students to Washington, DC for a week-long advanced seminar on American politics and summer study abroad courses at Oriel College, Oxford University. His current research projects include a book manuscript on dissents in the U.S. Supreme Court with Pam Corley and a project on the Supreme Court and judicial minimalism with Mitch Pickerill.

Selected Publications

The Chief Justice: Appointment and Influence (with David J. Danelski). University of Michigan Press, 2016.

The Puzzle of Unanimity: Consensus on the United States Supreme Court (with Pamela C. Corley and Amy Steigerwalt). Stanford University Press, 2013.

In Chambers: Stories of Supreme Court Law Clerks and Their Justices (with Todd C. Peppers). University of Virginia Press, 2012.

Sorcerers’ Apprentices: 100 Years of Law Clerks at the United States Supreme Court (with David Weiden). NYU Press, 2006

Deciding To Leave: The Politics of Retirement from the United States Supreme Court. SUNY Press, 2003