Paul M. Collins, Jr.

Paul M. Collins, Jr. is Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he also serves as the Graduate Program Director in the Department of Political Science. Previously, he was the Director of Legal Studies at UMass from 2014-2020. His academic career includes positions as Associate Professor at the University of North Texas (2011-2014) and Assistant Professor at both the University of North Texas and the University of Houston.

Dr. Collins received his Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from Binghamton University and his B.S. in political science from the University of Scranton. His academic journey includes participation in the ICPSR Summer Program at the University of Michigan.

Professor Collins' research focuses on understanding bias and inequality in the legal system, judicial selection and behavior, social movement litigation, and how people experience the law. His work particularly examines gender and racial dynamics in Supreme Court confirmation hearings, media coverage of court decisions, and LGBTQ+ legal issues. He has made significant contributions to understanding interest group influence through amicus curiae briefs and the strategic behavior of judges.

His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on empirical analysis of Supreme Court confirmation hearings with attention to gender and racial bias, the impact of judicial decisions on LGBTQ+ media coverage, and the role of interest groups in judicial decision-making. Collins frequently employs mixed-methods approaches, combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights to examine complex legal and political phenomena.

Professor Collins has received numerous prestigious awards for his scholarly work:

• C. Herman Pritchett Award (2024, 2009) from the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association
• Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2024, 2014)
• Richard E. Neustadt Book Award (2021)
• Best Conference Paper Award (2022)
• Best Journal Article Award (2012)
• Exemplary Legal Writing Honoree (2019)

Dr. Collins actively mentors graduate students, having hired research assistants for projects on amicus curiae briefs, presidential statements on Supreme Court decisions, and LGBTQ+ newspaper coverage. He has co-authored numerous articles with graduate students in top journals. His research has been generously funded by the National Science Foundation ($399,987 grant 2021-2025), the Agence Nationale de la Recherche in France (€430,000, 2022-2024), and the Dirksen Congressional Center, among other sources.

As a publicly engaged scholar, Collins' research and commentary have appeared in major media outlets including CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and NPR. He is the founder and principal of Judicial Analytics, LLC, and has consulted with U.S. Senators on Supreme Court nominations. His work bridges academic research and practical legal and political applications.