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Professor Hollis-Brusky is professor of politics, where she teaches courses on American politics, constitutional law, and legal institutions. A go-to expert on Supreme Court politics, Hollis-Brusky has written and spoken about the Supreme Court and the conservative legal movement in various media outlets, including NPR’s , BBC World News, the , the , , , , , with Larry Mantel, KCRW’s and . She is currently featured in the critically acclaimed Showtime Docuseries “” by filmmaker Dawn Porter. An advocate for public-facing political science, from 2020-2022 Hollis-Brusky served as an editor at blog at The Washington Post, where she worked with academics to translate their scholarship into research-informed analyses for the newspaper’s audience.

Her research examines the dynamics of constitutional change and the role “support structures” play in that process – i.e., networks of lawyers and academics, non-governmental institutions, and ideas. Her first book (Oxford 2015; 2019) won the American Political Science Association’s for the best book published on Law and Courts by a Political Scientist. Drawing on her award-winning research, Hollis-Brusky provided expert testimony on before the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives in September of 2020.

Hollis-Brusky’s second book, examines the rise and efficacy of the conservative Christian legal movement. Hollis-Brusky and her co-author Professor Wilson were awarded a three-year grant for this project in 2016 from the Law and Social Sciences division of the . In addition to her two books, Hollis-Brusky has also published articles on the conservative legal movement, Originalism, the unitary executive theory, the impeachment power and the Christian Right. She is currently working on a book project examining the role government lawyers have played in the expansion of presidential power in the United States over time.

In 2014 and 2022, Hollis-Brusky was awarded the Wig Distinguished Teaching Award at ɫ��ɫ, which is the college’s highest teaching honor. She is the Vice President of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, a Girl Scout Troop leader, and mom to two incredible daughters.

Books

(Oxford University Press, 2020)

 (Oxford University Press, 2015)

Peer-Reviewed Journals

“Impeachment as a ‘Madisonian Device’ Reconsidered.”&�Բ�����;Chicago Kent Law Review.  Vol 96(1): 101-121 (2020).

(with Joshua C. Wilson). Law and Society Review, 52(4) (2018).

Kansas University Press (2018).

(with Joshua C Wilson). Law and Policy 39(2) (2017).

 (with Joshua C Wilson) Law and Social Inquiry Vol 39 (2): 416-448 (2014).

“An [Un]clear Conscience Clause: The Causes and Consequences of Statutory Ambiguity in State Contraceptive Mandates.” (with Rachel VanSickle-Ward, Pitzer College). Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law Vol. 38, No. 4 (2013)

 in Law, Politics, and Society, Vol 61: 137-178 (2013).

 Denver University Law Review, 89 (1) (2011).

 Law and Social Inquiry 36 (2): 551-74 (2011).

Book Chapters

“An Activist’s Court: Political Polarization and the Roberts Court.” in Parchment Barriers: Political Polarization and the Limits of Constitutional Order. Eds. Zachary Courser, Eric Helland, Kenneth P. Miller. University Press of Kansas (2018).

Book Reviews

Review of Rebecca Sanders, Plausible Legality: Legal Culture and Political Imperative in the Global War on Terror. International Affairs. 95(3): May 2019.

Review of Daniel Bennett, Defending Faith: The Politics of the Christian Conservative Legal Movement. Great Plains Research. Vol 29(1): Spring 2019

Review of Laura Kalman, The Long Reach of the Sixties: LBJ, Nixon, and the Making of the Contemporary Supreme Court. The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2017.

Review of Jefferson Decker, The Other Rights Revolution: Conservative Lawyers and the Remaking of American Government. Law and Politics Book Review. Vol 27 (3): 49-52 (2017).

Review of William Howell and Terry Moe, Relic: How our Constitution Undermines Effective Government and Why We Need a More Powerful Presidency. The Forum. Spring 2017.

“The Constrained Court.” Review of Ian Millhiser, Injustices: The Supreme Court’s History of Comforting the Comfortable and Afflicting the Afflicted. Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, Issue 37 (Summer 2015).

Review of Pamela Karlan, A Constitution for All Times. Law and Politics Book Review, 24 (6): 283-286 (June 2014).

Review of Michael Avery and Danielle McLaughlin, The Federalist Society: How Conservatives Took the Law Back from Liberals. Political Science Quarterly, 129 (1): 177 (Spring 2014)

Professional Presentations/Invited Talks

“Separate but Faithful.” Book launch talk. Center for Empirical Research on the Legal Profession. UC Irvine Law School. Oct. 1, 2020

“Legal Societies and Outside Actors.” Featured panelist at “Politics of Judicial Nominations in an Age of Mistrust.” Princeton University. March 6, 2020.

“The Supreme Court: What’s at Stake.” California Women’s Law Center. Aug. 21, 2018.

“How the Constitution Changes: Lawyers, Legal Institutions and the ‘Support Structure’ for Constitutional Development.” Taking the Constitution Seriously Speaker Series. Claremont Graduate University. May 2, 2017.

“Justice Confirmed.” Supreme Court Panel Discussion. Foley Institute. Washington State University. March 20, 2017.

“Black-Robed Policymakers or Defenders of the Constitution? When the Supreme Court Should and Should not Govern Us.” Constitution Day Lecture. Northwestern University, Department of Legal Studies. Oct. 1, 2015

“Culture Warrior, Esquire: Will Christian Law Schools and Training Programs Reshape Law and Politics?” Boston University Political Science Department. May 1, 2015.

“Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution.” University of Pennsylvania Law School (sponsored by the American Constitution Society). Mar. 18, 2015.

“Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution.” University of California, Berkeley (co-sponsored by Center for Right Wing Studies, Center for the Study of Law and Society, and Travers Department of Political Science). Feb.. 19, 2015.

“Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution.” Marsico Visiting Scholar, University of Denver Political Science Department. Feb. 3-6, 2015.

“Wrestling with Conscience Clauses” (with Rachel Van Sickle-Ward, Pitzer College). Southwestern Law School Faculty Speaker Series. April 5, 2013.

Conference Presentations

(Past Five Years Only)

“‘Serviceable Instruments of His Authority’: How Lawyers Built the Imperial Presidency.”&�Բ�����;Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association. Virtual/Zoom. September 11, 2020.

“‘A Generation of Christian Attorneys’”: How Newly Formed Christian Right Law Schools are Outfitting the Culture Wars.” (with Joshua C. Wilson). Presented at the annual meeting of the Law and Society Association. May 31, 2019.

“Separate but Faithful: Can the Christian Right Reshape Law Through Legal Education?” (with Joshua C. Wilson). Presented at Inaugural Conference on Right Wing Studies. Center for the Study of Right Wing Studies, UC Berkeley. April 27, 2019.

“Culture Warrior, Esquire.”&�Բ�����;Presented at the “Role of Lawyers in Constitutional Change” conference. Center for Empirical Research on the Legal Profession, UC Irvine School of Law. March 15, 2019.

“Culture Warrior, Esquire.”&�Բ�����;Presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston, MA. Sept. 1, 2018

“Support Structures and Legal Mobilization: Lessons in Movement Building and Efficacy from New Christian Right Law Schools and Training Programs.” (with Joshua C Wilson). Presented at the Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, Mexico City, MX. June 20, 2017.

“Freedom and Constraints in Building a Movement: Lessons from New Christian Law Schools and Training Programs.” (with Joshua C Wilson). Presented at the Western Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Vancouver, B.C. Apr 15, 2017.

“Thickening Support: The Conservative Christian Legal Movement and the Development of Support Structure Models.” (with Joshua C Wilson). Presented at the Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. June 3, 2016.

“Support Structures: Just Seventeen, You Know What I Mean.” (with Joshua C Wilson). Presented at the Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA May 30. 2015.

“When the Public Interest is God’s Interest: The Strategies, Successes and Failures of New Christian Right Public Interest Law.” (with Joshua C Wilson). Presented at the Annual Meeting of American Political Science Association, Washington, D.C. Aug 28, 2014

“When the Public Interest is God’s Interest: The Strategies, Successes and Failures of New Christian Right Public Interest Law.” (with Joshua C Wilson). Presented at the Law and Society Association Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN. May 29, 2014.

“Judicial Activism, Inc. How the Federalist Society Network Shaped Citizens United.”&�Բ�����;Presented at the Second Annual Meeting of the Southern California Law and Social Science (SoCLASS) Forum. Whittier Law School. Mar. 28, 2014.

Other Conference Participation

Panelist, “The Cycles of Constitutional Time” by Jack Balkin. Author Meets Reader. Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association. Virtual/Zoom. Sept. 13, 2020.

Chair and Discussant, “Perspectives on Constitutional Interpretation.”&�Բ�����;Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association. Virtual/Zoom. Sept. 10, 2020.

Panelist, “Raised Right: Fatherhood in Modern American Conservatism” by Jeffrey Dudas. Author Meets Reader. Annual Meeting of the Law and Society Association. Mexico City. June 20, 2017.

Welcoming Remarks. “Law and Legitimacy.”&�Բ�����;Fifth Annual Meeting of the Southern California Law and Social Science Forum. Claremont McKenna. April 28, 2017.

Discussant. “Politics in an age of Societal Division.”&�Բ�����;Fourth Annual Meeting of the Southern California Law and Social Science Forum. UC San Diego. March 18, 2016.

Panelist, “Polarization and the Supreme Court.” David Dreier Roundtable, Claremont McKenna College, Oct. 9, 2015.

Organizer, “Lawyers, Networks and Institutions: Examining the ‘Support Structure’ for Legal Development.”&�Բ�����;Presented at the Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA May 30. 2015

Chair, “Regulation in Uncharted Territory.”&�Բ�����;Third Annual Meeting of the Southern California Law and Social Science Forum. USC Law School. March 27, 2015.

Co-Organizer, Law, Politics, and Democracy, Second Annual Meeting of the Southern California Law and Social Science Forum. Whittier Law School. March 28, 2014.

Chair, Empirical Inquiries in Constitutional Law, APSA Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2013

Chair, Constitutional Law and the Political Theory of Rights, APSA Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2013

Co-Organizer, Host, and Opening Remarks, Law at the Fault Lines Conference, The First Annual Meeting of the Southern California Law and Social Science Forum. ɫ��ɫ, March 1, 2013

Discussant, “Polarization in the Judiciary,” Politics to the Extreme. CSU Channel Islands, Oct. 8-9, 2012

Professional Service

Courts and American Politics Editor, “The Monkey Cage” at The Washington Post (Jan. 1, 2020-present)

Editorial Board, Journal of Law and Courts (2019-2020)

Referee/ Reviewer for: Studies in American Political Development, Law and Social Inquiry, Law and Society Review; Journal of Law and Courts, National Science Foundation Law and Social Sciences Division

Co-Founder & Chair, Steering Committee, Southern California Law and Social Science Forum (2012 – present)

Member, Law and Society Association (2010 – present)

Member, American Political Science Association (2007 – present)

2019-2020: Division Co-Chair (w/ Corey Brettschneider), Constitutional Law & Jurisprudence (Division 27)

2018-2019: Served on C. Herman Pritchett Award Committee for Best Book on Law and Courts

2017-2018: Served as Chair of APSA Distinguished Teaching Award Committee

2014-2015: Served as Chair, Law & Courts Section Best Graduate Student Paper Award

2012-2013: Served on the Law & Courts Section Best Paper Award Committee

College Service

Work-Family Committee (2019-2021)

Faculty Chair, Task Force on Public Dialogue (2017-2018)

Faculty Executive Committee (“Committee on Committees”) (2017-2018)

Chair, Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) (Spring 2017)

Mentor, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (2016-present)

Curriculum Committee (2016-2017)

Analyzing Difference Committee (2016-2017)

Dean of the College Search Committee (2015 – 2016)

Critical Writing and Thinking Committee (2015- 2016)

Faculty Advisor, The Claremont Journal of Law and Public Policy (2015 – present)

ɫ��ɫ Emergency Building Coordinator, Carnegie Building (2013-2014)

ɫ��ɫ Ad Hoc for Arts and Humanities (AHAH) (2013 – 2014)

ɫ��ɫ ID-1 Steering Committee (2012 – 2013)

PPE Steering Committee (2012 – 2014)

Faculty Host, Downing College Visiting Scholar (2012-2013)

Co-Organizer, ɫ��ɫ Social Science Research Confab (2012-2013, 2016-2017)

Select Public Engagement and Policy Impact

Testimony before the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives. “Maintaining Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law: The Causes and Consequences of Court Capture.” September 22, 2020.

Senators Debbie Stabenow, Chuck Shumer and Sheldon Whitehouse, “.” May 2020 (featuring research from Ideas With Consequences and “Helping Ideas Have Consequences” pp. 33, 34, 48, 49, 52.)

Seila Law v. CFPB, “.” January 22, 2020. (featuring research from “Helping Ideas Have Consequences” pp. 13, 14, 28, 30.)

Media & Multimedia Appearances

“.”&�Բ�����;Newsweek Magazine. w/ Joshua C. Wilson. July 9, 2020.

“.” Monkey Cage at The Washington Post. w/ Isaac Cui. June 30, 2020.

“.” Monkey Cage at The Washington Post. June 16, 2020.

 Monkey Cage at The Washington Post. November 18, 2019.

 Politico Magazine. August 31, 2019. (w/ Calvin TerBeek)

 Q&A w/ Vox. June 3, 2019.

Professor Hollis-Brusky featured in Washington Post’s documentary “.” May 21, 2019

 Opinion. Los Angeles Times. October 6, 2018.

 Airtalk with Larry Mantel.  KPCC. July 10, 2018.

 Press Play with Madeleine Brand. KCRW. July 9, 2018.

 All Things Considered with Mary Louise Kelly. NPR. June 28, 2018.

 Op Ed, Newsweek. Jun 29, 2017.

 Op Ed, CQ researcher, 27, 533-556. June 23, 2017. 

 Q&A with Henry Farrell. The Monkey Cage at the Washington Post. May 17, 2017.

 Op Ed, The Monkey Cage at the Washington Post. May 1, 2017.

 Op Ed, RealClear Politics. Feb. 10, 2017.

 Op ed, Monkey Cage at The Washington Post. July 3, 2016.

  Op ed, Monkey Cage at The Washington Post. Feb 22, 2016.

“Justice Scalia’s Jurisprudential Legacy.”&�Բ�����;POTUSCast. Feb 17, 2016

 James Piereson. Commentary Magazine (review of Ideas with Consequences). April 21, 2015.

. KPFA, “Letters and Politics” with Mitch Jeserich.  March 30, 2015.

 John McGinnis. Wall Street Journal (review of Ideas with Consequences). March 26, 2015.

“The Irresistible Rise of the Federalist Society.”&�Բ�����;Andrew Buttaro. The Weekly Standard. (review of Ideas with Consequences). March 23, 2015.

 on Ideas with Consequences. ACSblog, the American Constitution Society blog. March 16, 2015.

Excerpt of Ideas with Consequences on SALON,  March 5, 2015.

Radio conversation on Ideas with Consequences with Jeff Schectman of Napa Broadcasting,  March 4, 2015

Q&A with Nina Martin of ProPublica.  ProPublica. March 3, 2015.

Podcast on Ideas with Consequences with John J Miller of National Review Online and Ricochet Magazine, Feb 3, 2015

“Why did you choose to write a book on the Federalist Society?” Promo spot for Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution, Jan 2015

 Appearance on AirTalk with Larry Mantel, KPCC (NPR LA), January 21, 2015.

 Op Ed, Los Angeles Times, January 8, 2015.

 Oxford University Press Blog. December 18, 2014.

 Op Ed, The Monkey Cage, Washington Post, July 1, 2014.

 Op Ed, The Life of the Law, June 30, 2014.

 Larry Gordon. Los Angeles Times, June 15, 2014. Feature in the LA Times  on my Intro American Politics Course and my Wikipedia Group Research project.

“Eight Pomona Professors Receive Wig Excellence in Teaching Award.” May 18, 2014.

“Instead of Forbidding Wikipedia, This Professor Has Students Work to Improve It.”&�Բ�����;April 16, 2014.  ɫ��ɫ Website Feature on my Intro American Wikipedia Assignment. 

“Supreme Court Round-Up,” Sarah Kranser and Emma Brillhart. Claremont Port Side. October 24, 2013.

“The Supreme Court and the Future of the Constitution” ɫ��ɫ Alumni Phonecast, Sept 16, 2013:

 Interview with KSPC about the Inaugural Conference of the Southern California Law and Social Science Forum, Feb 24, 2013

 Interview with KSPC about the potential impact of the Nov 2012 Elections on the Supreme Court