When do Judges Throw the Book at Companies? The Influence of Partisanship in Corporate Prosecutions
69 Pages Posted: 28 Jan 2020 Last revised: 25 Sep 2022
Date Written: September 23, 2022
Abstract
We document that partisan views are strongly associated with the level of judicial penalties levied against companies. For example, Republican-appointed judges impose 1,050 percent larger fines for hiring illegal immigrants, while Democrat-appointed judges impose 136 percent larger fines for pollution-related violations. Time-series variation suggests that political partisanship drives these findings, not fixed ideological differences. The differences become amplified before national elections, during periods of greater political polarization, and when higher-court judicial vacancies exist. Evidence also suggests firms are aware of this judicial partisanship and adjust operations accordingly. Our findings illustrate the importance of partisanship and political polarization for US companies.
Keywords: corporate crime, judges, partisanship, political polarization
JEL Classification: G38, K14, K42
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation