Thomas G. Hansford
Associate Professor of Political Science 
School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts
University of California, Merced
School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts
P.O. Box 2039
Merced, CA 95344
Email: thansford [at] ucmerced [dot] edu
Office Phone: 209 228 4037
Curriculum Vita
Personal Homepage
Research Interests:
American politics, judicial politics, voting and elections, methodologyHansford studies American politics, with a focus on judicial politics. His research addresses interest group involvement in the courts, interactions between the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress, the selection of judges, the interpretation of precedent at the Supreme Court, and the evolution of judicial institutions. He also has an interest in campaigns, elections, and voter turnout.
Hansford’s publications include The Politics of Precedent at the U.S. Supreme Court (Princeton University Press) and numerous articles in journals such as American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Political Research Quarterly, and Law & Society Review.
Education:
- Ph.D., Political Science, 2001, University of California, Davis
- B.A., Political Science, 1993, Saint Mary’s College of Maryland

