Full University Aula for the Rokkan Lecture
Students, academics and - not so common - justices of the Supreme Court of Norway filled the brand new University Aula when prof. Lee Epstein held this years Stein Rokkan Memorial Lecture.
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It is not uncommon for students and academics to fill the hall when big names in comparative politics and the political sciences show up in Bergen to hold the annual Stein Rokkan Memorial Lecture. This was also the case Tuesday 22 September 2015.
In 2015, however, not only was the Rokkan Lecture held in the brand new University Aula, but also to an audience also consisting of a large share of the justices of the Supreme Court of Norway. This years lecture was titled "The Study of Judicial Behavior" and held by the Ethan A.H. Shepley Distinguished University Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Lee Epstein. The open lecture was an integrated part of of the two day conference听芦Supreme Courts in Contexts禄, honouring the bicentennial of the Supreme Court of Norway.
Lee Epstein
Professor Lee Epstein is one of the world鈥檚 foremost students of judicial behaviour. Her research and teaching centre on law and legal institutions, especially the behaviour of judges.
Epstein is the Ethan A.H. Shepley Distinguished University Professor at the Washington University i St. Louis, serves as Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago, and as Principal Investigator of the U.S. Supreme Court Database project. She has authored or co-authored over 100 articles and essays and 17 books, most recently听An Introduction to Empirical Legal Research听(with Andrew D. Martin).
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Stein Rokkan and the annual Rokkan Lecture
Stein Rokkan was an international pioneer in comparative politics and political research, particularly known for his contributions to the research on national states and democracy. As professor in sociology, Rokkan had a particular responsibility for the founding of the Department of Comparative Politics in the 60鈥檚. He was also a pioneer of social science data collection and co-founder of The European Consorium for Political Research, ECPR.
The Rokkan Lecture is an annual event by the Department of Comparative Politics. Since Erik Allardt held the first Rokkan Lecture in 1981, the lecture has drawn thirty-four leading social scientists to hold relevant lectures in Bergen.