Ashley Votruba

Ashley Votruba is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Law-Psychology Program. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Arizona State University and a J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Her research focuses on cognitive biases, cultural influences, and their impact on legal and policy decision-making in areas like alternative dispute resolution (ADR), tort law, criminal law, and family law. She previously served as a Judicial Clerk for Justice Robert M. Brutinel on the Arizona Supreme Court (2015–2016).

Dr. Votruba’s work examines how cultural beliefs shape child custody policies, heuristic processing affects expert recommendations on controversial topics, and psychological factors (e.g., self-construal) interact with situational factors in civil legal dispute resolution. Her lab, the Culture, Conflict, and Law (CC&L) lab, explores these intersections. She is also interested in legal education and pedagogy, as seen in her recent work on teaching quantitative methods in psychology doctoral programs.

Her recent publications address topics like restorative justice implementation barriers, prosecutors’ plea bargaining decisions, and the public’s misunderstanding of ADR mechanisms. She is currently accepting a graduate student for the 2024–2025 academic year. Dr. Votruba’s research bridges psychological theory with legal practice, emphasizing practical and ethical implications for policy and judicial systems.