Ryan Owens

Ryan Owens is Professor of Political Science and Affiliate Faculty in the FSU College of Law, where he studies law and courts, judicial behavior, and American political institutions. His research examines cognitive aging effects on federal judges, public perceptions of courts, and Supreme Court decision-making processes.

Recent publications analyze televised oral arguments' impact on judicial legitimacy (2024), cognitive aging in circuit courts (2024), and public attitudes toward judicial term limits (2023). Methodologically, his work employs survey experiments, textual analysis of opinions, and empirical analysis of judicial performance metrics.

He directs the Florida Institute on Governance and Civics and previously held the George C. Edwards Chair at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Grants from NSF and presidential libraries support his research on judicial decision-making. Current projects investigate how personalized knowledge networks influence Supreme Court outcomes and how judicial selection methods shape public perceptions of nominees.