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Artemus Ward

Artemus Ward

Professor - Department of Political Science
Faculty Associate - College of Law
405 Zulauf Hall
Northern Illinois University
1425 W Lincoln Hwy
DeKalb, IL 60115-2854
aeward@niu.edu

American Politics (Introductory course, American Presidential Elections, Media & Politics, Politics & Film, Politics & Popular Music), Public Law (Judicial Politics, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, Comparative Courts, Law & Film, Law & Baseball)

Recent Media Appearances


Overview of Scholarly Activity

Artemus Ward is professor of Political Science and faculty associate at the College of Law at Northern Illinois University. He received his Ph.D. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1999 and worked as a staffer on the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court and has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Fox News, C-SPAN and in the New York Times, Associated Press and the New Republic. He is a two-time, award-winner of the Hughes-Gossett Prize for historical excellence by the Supreme Court Historical Society. His books include The Chief Justice: Appointment and Influence (2016), American Judicial Process: Myth and Reality in Law and Courts (2015), The Puzzle of Unanimity: Consensus on the United States Supreme Court (2013), Sorcerers' Apprentices: 100 Years of Law Clerks at the U.S. Supreme Court (2006) and Deciding to Leave: The Politics of Retirement at the U.S. Supreme Court (2003). Art is currently teaching courses on judicial politics, mass media and American politics, American presidential elections, law and film, law and baseball and politics and popular music. He periodically offers experiential learning courses for his students including week-long advanced seminars on American politics in Washington, D.C. and summer study abroad courses at Oriel College, Oxford University. His current research project is on the impact of U.S. Supreme Court dissents.

Selected Publications

  • The Chief Justice: Appointment and Influence (edited with David J. Danelski), University of Michigan Press, 2016.
  • American Judicial Process: Myth and Reality in Law and Courts (with Pamela C. Corley and Wendy L. Martinek), Routledge, 2015.
  • Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Supreme Court (with Christopher Brough and Robert Arnold), Scarecrow Press, Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.
  • The Puzzle of Unanimity: Consensus on the United States Supreme Court (with Pamela C. Corley and Amy Steigerwalt), Stanford University Press, 2013.
  • "Revisiting the Roosevelt Court: The Critical Juncture from Consensus to Dissensus," Journal of Supreme Court History, (with Pamela C. Corley and Amy Steigerwalt), 2013. Winner of the Hughes-Gossett Prize for Historical Excellence by the Supreme Court Historical Society.
  • In Chambers: Stories of Supreme Court Law Clerks and Their Justices (edited with Todd Peppers), University of Virginia Press, 2012.
  • "Extreme Dissensus: Explaining Plurality Decisions on the United States Supreme Court," Justice System Journal, (with Pamela C. Corley, Uddi Sommer, and Amy Steigerwalt), 2010.
  • "'Get a Life!': On Interviewing Law Clerks," Justice System Journal, (with Stephen L. Wasby), 2010.  
  • "'Good Old Number Three Club' Gets a New Member," Journal of Supreme Court History, 2008.
  • "Sorcerers' Apprentices: U.S. Supreme Court Law Clerks," Exploring Judicial Politics. Oxford Press, 2008.
  • "Lyndon Johnson and the Fall of the Warren Court," White House Studies Compendium, Vol. 2. Nova Science Publishers, 2007.
  • Sorcerers’ Apprentices: 100 Years of Law Clerks at the United States Supreme Court (with David Weiden). New York University Press, 2006.
  • "How One Mistake Leads To Another: On the Importance of Verification/Replication," Political Analysis, 2004.
  • Deciding To Leave: The Politics of Retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court, State University of New York Press, 2003.

Recent Invited Lectures

  • "Trump Presidency: Successes and Failures One Year In," ICL at Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, IL March 7, 2018.
  • "Trumpifying the Federal Judiciary: Packing the Federal Courts with Conservatives," Dupage County Social Studies Conference, Matea Valley High School, Aurora, IL March 2, 2018.
  • “Trump Presidency: Successes and Failures One Year After His Election,” GreenFields, Geneva, IL, November 7, 2017.
  • "Modern Immigration Debate: Liberal Era," Bill of Rights Institute, Wichita, KS, October 26, 2017; Boston, MA, November 2, 2017.
  • "History of Immigration Law in the United States: Chinese Exclusion and Restrictive Legislation," Bill of Rights Institute, Wichita, KS, October 26, 2017; Boston, MA, November 2, 2017.
  • "History of Immigration in the United States: Open Border Era," Bill of Rights Institute, Wichita, KS, October 26, 2017; Boston, MA, November 2, 2017.
  • "President Trump and the Future of the Supreme Court," Waubonsee LLI, Batavia, IL, September 22, 2017,
  • "African Americans in the Gilded Age," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas City, KS, June 5-6, 2017.
  • "Workers in the Gilded Age," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas City, KS, June 5-6, 2017.
  • "Patterns of Presidential Influence," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas City, KS, June 5-6, 2017.
  • "John Brown and Self-Deception," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for Teachers, April 29, 2017.
  • "Frederick Douglass and Responsibility," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for Teachers, April 29, 2017.
  • "Che Guevara and the Revolutionary Question," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for Teachers, April 27, 2017.
  • "The Unknown Rebel of Tiananmen Square," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for Teachers, April 27, 2017.
  • "The Trump Presidency in Historical Context," GreenFields, Geneva, IL, April 26, 2017.
  • "Joseph McCarthy and Demagoguery," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for Teachers, April 25, 2017.
  • "George Washington and Self-Governance," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for Teachers, April 25, 2017.
  • "Texbook Publishing," Political Science Dept. Graduate Colloquium, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, April 21, 2017.
  • "First Amendment," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for High School Students, April 19, 2017.
  • "Fourth Amendment," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for High School Students, April 19, 2017.
  • "Fifth Amendment," Bill of Rights Institute, Webinar for High School Students, April 19, 2017.
  • "The New President and the Future of the Supreme Court," DuPage County Social Studies Conference, Wheaton, IL, March 3, 2017
  • "The 2016 Election in Historical Context," Honors Lecture, Northern Illinois University, November 2, 2016.
  • "The 2016 Presidential Election and the Future of the U.S. Supreme Court," Batavia Public Library, Batavia, IL, October 28, 2016.
  • "Religious Liberty as an Inalienable Right in America," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 27, 2016. 
  • "The Establishment Clause: The Relationship Between Church and State in America," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 27, 2016. 
  • "The Supreme Court and Free Exercise of Religion," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 27, 2016. 
  • "Native American Rights: Liberty and Equality," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas City, Kansas, October 27, 2015; Salt Lake City, Utah, April 7, 2016.
  • "Women's Rights Movement: Liberty and Equality," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas City, Kansas, October 27, 2015; Salt Lake City, Utah, April 7, 2016.
  • "Civil Rights Movement: Liberty and Equality," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas City, Kansas, October 27, 2015; Salt Lake City, Utah, April 7, 2016.
  • "The Right to Keep and Bear Arms in America: Stronger than Ever," Northern Illinois University Art Museum, DeKalb, IL, October 6, 2015.
  • "The 2014-2015 Term and the Future of the U.S. Surpeme Court," Batavia Public Library, Batavia, IL, September 25, 2015.
  • "Millennials: The Most Entitled Generation of the Next Great One?" Batavia Public Library, Batavia, IL, March 27, 2015.
  • "The Concert for Bangladesh," NIU Unicef Campus Initiative, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, March 19, 2015
  • "I Hate Congress! Predicting Voter Turnout and Electoral Outcomes in the 2014 Midterm Elections and the Final Two Years of the Obama Presidency," Batavia Public Library, Batavia, IL, October 31, 2014.
  • "A Firm League of Friendship: The Articles of Confederation," Bill of Rights Institute, Boston, MA, October 14, 2014.
  • "Constitutional Structure and Slavery at the Founding: A Slaveholders’ Union," Bill of Rights Institute, Boston, MA, October 14, 2014.
  • "Redefining Principles: The Evangelical Origins of Progressivism," Bill of Rights Institute, Boston, MA, October 14, 2014. 
  • "Is America Hopelessly Divided? How Hyper-Partisanship, Party Polarization, and Governmental Dysfunction Will Soon Give Way to a New American Political Order," Roosevelt University - Schaumburg Campus, Schaumburg, IL, January 31, 2014.
  • "The Brooding Spirit of the Law: Building Dissensus on the U.S. Supreme Court," Southern Political Science Association, New Orleans, LA, January 9, 2014.
  • "The Puzzle of Unanimity: Consensus on the U.S. Supreme Court," Judicial Behavior Workshop, University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL, October 2, 2013.
  • "The Greatest Chief Justice? How John Roberts Has Transformed the Supreme Court," Lifelong Learning Institute, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, September 24, 2013.
  • "Does Money Equal Political Speech?" Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas City, KS, September 17, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, October 24, 2013.
  • "Substantive Due Process: The Dimise of Liberty of Contract," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas City, KS, September 17, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, October 24, 2013.
  • "Highlighting the Limits: The Supreme Court's 2012-2013 Term and the Concept of Judicial Minimalism," Batavia Public Library, July 22, 2013.
  • "The 2012 Election and the Future of the Supreme Court," New Lyceum Lecture Series, Batavia Public Library, Batavia, IL, December 3, 2012.
  • "Civic Engagement in Today's World," Bill of Rights Institute, Bozeman, MT, November 15, 2013.
  • "U.S. Constitution: Underlying Principles," Bill of Rights Institute, Bozeman, MT, November 15, 2013. 
  • "Declaration of Independence: Origins," Bill of Rights Institute, Bozeman, MT, November 15, 2013.
  • "Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Leadership Positions," Campus Elections - Leadership on All Levels through Student Government and Civic Engagement, Northern Illinois University, November 1, 2012.
  • "Financing Presidential Campaigns," New Ideas in Social Studies and History: Elections and Issues, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, October 29, 2012.
  • "Aid to Religious Schools," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 27, 2012.
  • "Religious Group Access to Public Facilities & Funds," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 27, 2012.
  • "Prayer and Teaching Religion in Public Schools," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 27, 2012.
  • "Saying What the Law Is: Measuring Judicial Review," American Political Science Association, New Orleans, LA, August 31, 2012.
  • "Intellectual Origins of the Founding," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, June 18, 2012.
  • "Religious Establishment," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, June 18, 2012.
  • "Free Exercise," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, June 18, 2012.
  • "Keep On Keepin' On: Conceptualizing and Measuring Judicial Review," Law & Society Association, Honolulu, HI, June 6, 2012.  
  • "The 2012 Presidential Election," Clare Oaks Retirement Community, Bartlett, IL, April 2, 2012.
  • "What are the Boundaries of Free Speech? Inside the Schoolhouse Gate," Bill of Rights Institute webinar for high school students, December 14, 2011.
  • "Do you Have a Right to Own a Gun? The Supreme Court Decision in D.C. v. Heller," Bill of Rights Institute webinar for high school students, November 16, 2011.
  • "Can the Government Take Your House to Put up a Wal-Mart? Kelo v. City of New London and the Power of Eminent Domain," Bill of Rights Institute webinar for high school students, November 2, 2011.
  • "Intellectual Origins of the Founding," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, May 6-7, 2011.
  • "Free Exercise of Religion," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, May 6-7, 2011.
  • "Religious Establishment," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, May 6-7, 2011.
  • "Freedom of Speech," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, May 6-7, 2011.
  • "Freedom of the Press," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, May 6-7, 2011.
  • "Free Assembly," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee, WI, May 6-7, 2011.
  • "Foundations of Racial Discrimination: From Slavery to Jim Crow," Bill of Rights Institute, Bloomington, IN, April 14, 2011.
  • "Battle for Equality: New-Deal Discrimination, the NAACP, and Brown," Bill of Rights Institute, Bloomington, IN, April 14, 2011.
  • "Modern Applications of Equal Protection and Affirmative Action," Bill of Rights Institute, Bloomington, IN, April 14, 2011.
  • "President Obama and the 112th Congress: Divided They Stand?" Clare Oaks Retirement Community, Bartlett, IL, January 26, 2011.
  • "Free Exercise and the Supreme Court," Bill of Rights Institute, Memphis, TN, October 28, 2010.
  • "Establishment Controversies," Bill of Rights Institute, Memphis, TN, October 28, 2010.
  • "The Founders on Respect for Religious Belief," Bill of Rights Institute, Memphis, TN, October 28, 2010.
  • "Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and the Future of the U.S. Supreme Court," Northern Illinois University Lifelong Learning Institute, DeKalb, IL, October 19, 2010.
  • "Modern War Powers: From WWII through the War on Terrorism," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 23, 2010.
  • "War Powers in Action: The American Civil War," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 23, 2010.
  • "War Powers: An Introduction," Bill of Rights Institute, Indianapolis, IN, September 23, 2010.
  • "George Washington and the Limits of Power," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee Friends Meeting House, Milwaukee, WI, August 24, 2010.
  • "Alexander Hamilton: American Visionary," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee Friends Meeting House, Milwaukee, WI, August 24, 2010.
  • "The Founders on Civic Participation," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee Friends Meeting House, Milwaukee, WI, August 24, 2010.
  • "Thomas Paine: Master Propagandist," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee Friends Meeting House, Milwaukee, WI, August 23, 2010.
  • "Natural Rights: An Evolving Concept," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee Friends Meeting House, Milwaukee, WI, August 23, 2010.
  • "The Declaration of Independence: Origins," Bill of Rights Institute, Milwaukee Friends Meeting House, Milwaukee, WI, August 23, 2010.
  • "Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and the Politics of Supreme Court Appointments," Clare Oaks Retirement Community, Bartlett, IL, July 7, 2010.
  • "Foundations of Racial Discrimination: From Slavery to Jim Crow," Bill of Rights Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, September 15, 2009.
  • "Battle for Equality: New-Deal Discrimination, the NAACP, and Brown," Bill of Rights Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, September 15, 2009.
  • "Modern Applications of Equal Protection and Affirmative Action," Bill of Rights Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, September 15, 2009.
  • "Historical and Philosophical Roots of the Founding," Bill of Rights Institute, Prarie State College-Matteson Campus, Matteson, IL, March 19, 2009.
  • "Federalists, Anti-Federalists, and the Constitution," Bill of Rights Institute, Prarie State College-Matteson Campus, Matteson, IL, March 19, 2009.
  • "Incorporation: Applying the Bill of Rights to the States," Bill of Rights Institute, Prarie State College-Matteson Campus, Matteson, IL, March 19, 2009.
  • "Foundations of Racial Discrimination: From Slavery to Jim Crow," Bill of Rights Institute, Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, IN, March 17, 2009.
  • "Battle for Equality: New-Deal Discrimination, the NAACP, and Brown," Bill of Rights Institute, Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, IN, March 17, 2009.
  • "Modern Applications of Equal Protection and Affirmative Action," Bill of Rights Institute, Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, IN, March 17, 2009.
  • "The 2008 Presidential Election & the Future of the U.S. Supreme Court," Institute for Continued Learning, Roosevelt University, Schaumberg, IL, March 4, 2009.
  • "Incorporation: Applying the Bill of Rights to the States," Bill of Rights Institute, York County Heritage Trust Historical Society Museum, York, PA, October 30, 2008.
  • "Search and Seizure: Evolving Standards," Bill of Rights Institute, York County Heritage Trust Historical Society Museum, York, PA, October 30, 2008.
  • "The Death Penalty: Cruel and Unusual Punishment?" Bill of Rights Institute, York County Heritage Trust Historical Society Museum, York, PA, October 30, 2008.
  • "The Declaration of Independence: Origins," Bill of Rights Institute, Drury Lane Conference Center, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, October 2, 2008.
  • "The U.S. Constitution: Underlying Principles," Bill of Rights Institute, Drury Lane Conference Center, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, October 2, 2008.
  • "The U.S. Presidential Election Process: Undemocratic?" Bill of Rights Institute, Drury Lane Conference Center, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, October 2, 2008.
  • "The Founders on Civic Engagement," Bill of Rights Institute, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte, NC, September 30, 2008.
  • "Personal Liberty & the Right to Privacy," Bill of Rights Institute, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte, NC, September 30, 2008.
  • "Civic Engagement in Today's World," Bill of Rights Institute, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte, NC, September 30, 2008.
  • "Prior Restraint: The Government v. The Press," Bill of Rights Institute & Cortopassi seminars for teachers, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, March 4, 2008.
  • "Incitement: The Evolution of Political Speech in the U.S. Supreme Court," Bill of Rights Institute & Cortopassi seminars for teachers, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, March 4, 2008.
  • "Incorporation: Applying the Bill of Rights to the States," Bill of Rights Institute & Cortopassi seminars for teachers, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, March 4, 2008.
  • "Challenges to Liberty: The U.S. Constitution and Political Speech," Bill of Rights Institute, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, February 19, 2008; Bicentennial Center, Salina, KS, February 21, 2008.
  • "Banned Books," Bill of Rights Institute, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, February 19, 2008; Bicentennial Center, Salina, KS, February 21, 2008.
  • "Liberty and Security: Executive Authority in Times of War," Bill of Rights Institute, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, February 19, 2008; Bicentennial Center, Salina, KS, February 21, 2008.
  • "The U.S. Supreme Court and 21st Century Freedom," New Ideas in History conference, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, October 22, 2007.
  • "Challenges to Liberty: The U.S. Constitution and Political Speech," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS, October 15, 2007.
  • "Banned Books," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS, October 15, 2007.
  • "Liberty and Security: Executive Authority in Times of War," Bill of Rights Institute, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS, October 15, 2007.
  • "The Founders on Personal and National Integrity: George Washington & Aaron Burr," Bill of Rights Institute, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, October 11, 2007.
  • "The Founders on Respect for Religious Belief," Bill of Rights Institute, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, October 11, 2007.
  • "Citizenship and the Constitution: Civic Engagement," Bill of Rights Institute, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, October 11, 2007.
  • "Federalists v. Anti-Federalists on Whether We Needed a Bill of Rights," Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee, WI, August 6, 2007.
  • "The Supreme Court and the Creation of a Bill of Rights," Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee, WI, August 6, 2007.
  • "Federalism," Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee, WI, August 6, 2007.
  • "The U.S. Supreme Court: Behind the Velvet Curtain," Institute for Continued Learning, Roosevelt Univeristy, February 28, 2007.
  • "NIU Oxford: Study Abroad at Oriel College, Oxford University," Northern Illinois University, February, 2007.
  • "The Disputed Election of 1800: The First Constitutional Crisis and the Triumph of Statesmanship Over Legalism," Elderhostel, Northern Illinois University, September 24-29, 2006.
  • "Judicial Review: Stuart v. Laird, Marbury v. Madison,and the Marshall Court's Accomodation of the Jeffersonian Political Regime," Elderhostel, Northern Illinois University, September 24-29, 2006.
  • "Federalism and the Founders: Hamilton v. Jefferson and McCullough v. Maryland," Elderhostel, Northern Illinois University, September 24-29, 2006.
  • "Incorporation of the Bill of Rights," Elderhostel, Northern Illinois University, September 24-29, 2006.
  • "Commerce Clause: Secret Weapon of the United States Congress," Elderhostel, Northern Illinois University, September 24-29, 2006.
  • "The Capitol Hill Experience: How a Bill Really Becomes a Law," The Dirksen Congressional Center’s annual Congress in the Classroom workshop for high school and middle school teachers, Peoria, IL, July 31-August 3, 2006.
  • "Political Speech: Tinker v.Des Moines and Texas v. Johnson," The Bill of Rights Institute seminar for middle school teachers, Tribune Tower, Chicago, IL , April 24, 2006.
  • "Free Exercise of Religion," The Bill of Rights Institute seminar for middle school teachers, Tribune Tower, Chicago, IL, April 24, 2006.
  • "Religious Establishment," The Bill of Rights Institute seminar of middle school teachers, Tribune Tower, Chicago, IL, April 24, 2006.
  • "Chief Justice John Roberts and the Future of the U.S. Supreme Court," Friends of the Northern Illinois University Libraries Speaker Series, DeKalb, IL , January 17, 2006.
  • "Freedom of Speech: Political Speech & Freedom of the Press," The Bill of Rights Institute seminar for middle school teachers, Tribune Tower, Chicago, IL, November 7, 2005.
  • "The Boundaries of Free Expression: Obscenity," The Bill of Rights Institute seminar for high school teachers, Tribune Tower, Chicago, IL, November 7, 2005.

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