“This book will be of interest for those in Latin American studies, where it should be well-received due to the author’s close familiarity with and authority on the countries about which she writes; for scholars in the law and society field, where it supports and complements the work of Ginsburg and Hirschl; and to those in the policy field, to whom the book offers several important lessons.” —Lisa Hilbink, University of Minnesota
“By highlighting politicians' interest in protection against future threats, Jodi Finkel convincingly explains their seemingly paradoxical decision to enact judicial reforms that limit their own power. Her book constitutes a particularly interesting, thoughtful, and theoretically significant contribution to the burgeoning literature on judicial politics in Latin America.” —Kurt Weyland, Lozano Long Professor of Latin American Politics, University of Texas at Austin
“In this lucid study, Jodi Finkel extends our understanding of the politics of judicial empowerment with three case studies from Latin America. Well written and tightly argued, the book makes a convincing case that the incentives of politicians, rather than pressure from civil society or external actors, are the key factor to explain variation in judicial reform. Finkel has made a major contribution to the nascent literature on judicial politics in Latin America.“ —Tom Ginsburg, University of Illinois
“In this short but precise book, Finkel examines judicial reforms leading to increased judicial independence and authority in three Latin American countries. She makes a central distinction between the initiation of judicial reform via constitutional change and its actual implementation via congressional legislation.” —Choice
“Finkel’s new book offers rich theoretical insights into why and when judicial independence will be implemented, through short and easy-to-read empirical chapters that make this book enjoyable and thought-provoking reading for scholars and policymakers alike.” —Political Science Quarterly
“. . . Judicial Reform as Political Insurance represents an excellent contribution to the literature eon comparative judicial politics. The argument is plausible, and Finkel’s efforts to rule out alternative explanations are persuasive. This thought-provoking book is a must read for anyone in judicial politics who focuses on Latin America.” —The Journal of Politics
