Race, Political Empowerment, and Minority Perceptions of Judicial Fairness^*

Abstract

Objective. Recent studies of the impact of black elite electoral success on the system-supporting attitudes of black citizens have yielded mixed, but generally unimpressive, empirical results. We extend this limited research by examining the effects of the presence of black judicial officials on public attitudes toward a state judicial system. Methods. We employ data from a telephone survey of citizens in Mississippi and develop multivariate models to test for the effects of black judges on citizens' evaluations of the fairness of judges, equity in sentences, and overall impartiality of the state judicial system. Results. We find no systematic evidence that the election of black judicial officials ameliorates the suspicions of the black public regarding the fairness of the state courts. Conclusions. Our findings are in line with other recent studies on the limited effects of black elite electoral success on the attitudes of the black public and generally support a ''political reality'' model of political trust rather than an ''empowerment model.''

Race, Bureaucracy, and Symbolic Representation: Interactions between Citizens and Police

“…This research demonstrates that the concept of representation extends beyond the simple demand response models prevalent in the representation literature. Although the findings of the research in this area are not consistent (see Overby et al 2005 for a review of the literature), there is certainly evidence to suggest that symbolism of race plays an important role in how the public responds to government (Banducci, Donovan, and Karp 2004;Bobo and Gilliam 1990;Gay 2001Gay , 2002Gilliam 1996). Additionally, Gay's (2001Gay's ( , 2002 findings suggest that the symbolic effect is limited to minorities.…”

Distorted Communication, Unequal Representation: Constituents Communicate Less to Representatives Not of Their Race

“…Many scholars have found no effects of descriptive representation on political communication (Haynes 1997;Wong et al 2011) and on other forms of participation (Broockman 2013a;Gay 2001;Gilliam 1996;Henderson, Sekhon, and Titiunik 2013;Keele and White 2 There is also, of course, substantial evidence that intergroup contact can increase racial tensions (e.g., Enos 2013aEnos , 2013bHersh and Nall 2013;Key 1949; more generally, see Washington 2006Washington ). 2011Lawless 2004;Overby et al 2005;Tate 2002). There is even some evidence that incorporation can sometimes decrease participation (Spence, McClerking, and Brown 2009).…”

Juror Perceptions of the Legitimacy of Legal Authorities and Decision Making in Criminal Cases

“…As minority groups hold less favorable attitudes toward legal authorities generally (Gibson and Caldeira ; Lasley ; Rottman and Hansen ; Overby et al. ; Weitzer and Tuch ; Tyler and Fagan ), legitimacy theory may help to explain racial disparities in jury decision making.…”