My name is Jonathan M. King and I am an Assistant Professor in Political Science at West Virginia University. Prior to joining WVU, I earned my Ph.D. at Michigan State University in 2023.

My research interests are in American political institutions, particularly the federal judiciary. In my work, I examine 1) how people get to the federal bench, 2) strategies used by judges while on the bench, and 3) the public's reaction to judicial decisions. My research has been published or is forthcoming in Political Research Quarterly,  the Journal of Law and Courts, Justice System Journal, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and has been supported by National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement and Collaborative Research grants.

My teaching focuses on the judiciary and law. Specifically, I teach courses on judicial politics, constitutional law, and law and society. Additionally, I love working with undergraduate and graduate students on independent research projects.

Prior to attending graduate school, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as an academic advisor. Outside of research, I spend as much time as possible with my daughter, wife, and two golden retrievers (Leslie and Perkins). I am a huge sports fan and, having been born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, am an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Bucks, and all Wisconsin sports. I am a die-hard fan of Chelsea Football Club and happily spend my (very early) Saturday mornings watching them play.

For more information about my work, visit my Research page or contact me, my email is jonathan.king@mail.wvu.edu