Virginia A. Hettinger

Virginia A. Hettinger serves as Associate Professor and Alan R. Bennett Honors Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Connecticut. Her research specialization centers on judicial behavior within American political institutions.

She earned her Ph.D. from Emory University, establishing her expertise in constitutional and judicial politics.

Professor Hettinger's scholarly work investigates decision-making processes in federal courts, with particular emphasis on appellate judiciary dynamics and inter-branch relations. Her research employs both attitudinal and strategic frameworks to analyze judicial behavior, examining how collegial settings influence rulings and how Congress responds to Supreme Court decisions. This work bridges political science and legal studies through rigorous empirical analysis of court behavior.

Analysis of her publications reveals consistent focus on American political institutions, especially federal judiciary operations and separation-of-powers dynamics. Her scholarship demonstrates methodological sophistication in examining judicial strategy within institutional contexts, contributing significantly to understanding how courts function as political actors.

Professor Hettinger maintains regular student engagement through Wednesday office hours (1:30-3:30 PM) and appointments, supporting undergraduate and graduate education in political science.