We are pleased to introduce Professor Christina Boyd, one of our newest faculty members at WashU Law. A WashU alumna, Boyd earned her Ph.D. in Political Science here in 2009. Most recently, Boyd served as an endowed professor of public affairs at the University of Georgia, where she built an impressive body of research. Now, Boyd is eager to continue her work in partnership with WashU Law.
“WashU Law has long been a national leader in the interdisciplinary, data-driven study of judicial behavior and the law,” Boyd said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this rich tradition and find collaborations with colleagues in the law school and across this great campus.”
Boyd’s research examines a broad range of topics related to judicial behavior, litigation, administrative law, and gender- and race-related legal issues. She is currently partnering with WashU Law’s Center for Empirical Research in the Law (CERL), with grant funding from the National Science Foundation, to develop the Federal Judicial Database. This first-of-its-kind database will offer publicly accessible information on all federal judges’ backgrounds, professional experiences, and demographics.
Boyd is a highly respected scholar whose work has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and featured in media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, and FiveThirtyEight. She is the co-author of two books: Supreme Bias: Gender and Race in U.S. Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings, which explores bias in Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominees; and The Politics of Federal Prosecution, which examines the politicization of U.S. Attorneys, their decisions, and their appointment process.
Reflecting on her career, Boyd acknowledges the power of mentorship and its ability to shape the course of one’s career. At WashU Law, she is eager to pay it forward and give students valuable opportunities to assist with her research and build their professional network.
“I have been incredibly lucky to have amazing, supportive professional mentors in my career and it is now an honor to pass that on as I serve in the same mentoring role for students,” Boyd said. “Researching in collaboration with others — whether that be colleagues or students — is one of the great joys of my job since bringing together multiple perspectives and areas of expertise on a research topic often yields better, richer, and more well-rounded insights.”
Welcome, Professor Boyd!
Read Professor Boyd’s full bio in the Faculty Directory and browse her research on her personal website.
