The Haves and Have-Nots in Supreme Court Representation and Participation, 2016 to 2021

Courts are often thought of as protectors of minority rights. What happens when the composition of courts changes such that politically disadvantaged groups expect a less favorable reception? We examine whether the increasing conservatism of the US Supreme Court during Donald Trump’s presidency changed the behavior of litigants and amicus curiae. We test whether membership changes led to reduced filings by individuals and organizations representing marginalized groups and increased filings by businesses and conservative states and interest groups. We find substantial reductions in participation by the most politically disadvantaged and substantial increases in participation by the most conservative groups.