My UCI Law colleague Ann Southworth studies lawyers, sociology and social networks, and she’s written a fascinating article on the campaign finance bar for the journal Law & Social Inquiry. Here is the abstract:

This article considers the organizations, financial patrons, and lawyers involved in two significant campaign finance cases decided by the Roberts Court: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. The research indicates that these elements of the support structures for litigation on both sides of these cases, like the justices to whom they direct their advocacy, fall into well-defined opposing and partisan camps. It also suggests that strategic case selection on the challengers’ side, the diversity of organizations supporting their positions, their network and coordination, and a simple and powerful frame around which to rally may have contributed to their success and to the Roberts Court’s fundamental reshaping of campaign finance doctrine.