Herlihy, Morrgan's replication data analyzes Questions for the Record (QFRs) for all Circuit Court of Appeals nominees from 2001 to 2022. The dataset examines partisan dynamics and interest group influence in this written vetting process. It was published by the Journal of Law and Courts Dataverse.
Use Cases
- Analyze the relationship between partisan alignment of the nominating president and a senator and the submission of QFRs.
- Model the effect of interest group opposition on QFR submission rates compared to hearing question behavior.
- Track the temporal trend in QFR usage, particularly after the 2013 filibuster reform.
- Identify characteristics of nominees or senators associated with increased QFR vetting activity.
Strengths
- Covers all Circuit Court of Appeals nominees over a 22-year period (2001-2022).
- Focuses on a specific, understudied component (QFRs) of the judicial confirmation process.
- Explicitly analyzes changes following a major procedural event (2013 filibuster reform).
Limitations
- Dataset scope is limited to Circuit Court nominees, excluding District Court and Supreme Court confirmations.
- Specific row count, column details, and sample data are unavailable for assessment.
- Analysis ends in 2022 and may not reflect the most recent congressional sessions.
Provenance
- Source
- Journal of Law and Courts Dataverse.
- Collection Method
- Analysis of Questions for the Record submitted to judicial nominees.
- Time Range
- 2001 to 2022.
- Freshness
- Last updated March 31, 2026.
- Geography
- United States federal judiciary.