Research Symposium

BIO

Anne Bristol is a third-year Political Science major and Innovation minor at Florida State University (FSU). Originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, Anne has a strong passion for research, advocacy, and understanding the intersection of law, politics, and public opinion.

As a UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) student, she is working under the mentorship of Martín Gandur to explore how factors such as education, socio-economic status, ideology, and prior legal experiences influence support for judicial institutions, particularly in Argentina’s Supreme Court and other Latin American contexts. Through mixed-methods research, including survey analysis, interviews, and case studies, Anne seeks to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of judicial trust and its implications for democratic stability.

Beyond research, Anne is actively involved in the Student Alumni Association (SAA) as a Communications Ambassador, as well as serving as a THRIVE25 Peer Leader, where she helps transfer students integrate into the FSU community.

Looking ahead, Anne hopes to further her studies in law, policy analysis, or international affairs, leveraging her research experience to influence legal and political reforms. Her long-term goal is to work on initiatives that promote judicial transparency, civic engagement, and equity in governance, ensuring that legal systems serve all citizens fairly.

Public Perception of Latin America's Judiciaries

Abstract

What factors impact Latin American citizen’s opinions of the legitimacy
of their respective high courts? Tracking citizen’s perceived legitimacy
of their respective high courts opens a pathway to more insight on
patterns in civil interactions with the judicial system and knowledge of
civil rights and civil responsibilities. Understanding citizen’s
relationship with their respective judicial systems helps foment and
strengthen Latin American democracies. Our data collection consisted
on reviewing LAPOP AmericasBarometer and in the next step of this
research we will empirically test our hypotheses.

Keywords: judicial, Latin America, salient, public perception