Kate Puddister
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science | University of Guelph
Guelph, ON, CANADA
Research interests: law and politics, Canadian politics and criminal justice policy.
Biography
I recently completed a PhD in Political Science at McGill University. I have also completed a MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy at the University of Guelph and BA honours in Criminal Justice and Public Policy also at the University of Guelph.
My doctoral dissertation undertook a comprehensive analysis of the Canadian reference power under the direction of Dr. Christopher Manfredi. This work seeks to understand how political actors rely on the courts to deal with divisive matters and how judicial review can be part of political strategy. This work is the subject of my book "Seeking the Courts Advice" which is currently under advance contract with UBC Press. I am also interested in a variety of topics that relate to judicial politics and Canadian constitutionalism.
My other work looks at criminal justice policy. I have completed a study on the RCMP's Mr. Big undercover investigative technique as a case study in police accountability and independence. I have now begun work on sentencing policy in Canada, with a focus on mandatory minimum sentences, section 12 of the Charter, and penal law.
Industry Expertise (4)
Government Administration
Judiciary
Law Enforcement
Public Policy
Areas of Expertise (7)
Canadian Politics
Law and Politics
Judicial Politics
Constitutional Politics
Criminal Justice Policy
Policing Policy
Sentencing Policy
Education (3)
McGill University: Ph.D., Political Science 2015
Dissertation: Inviting Judicial Review: A Comprehensive Analysis of Canadian Reference Cases
University of Guelph: M.A., Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy 2010
Thesis: The RCMP's Mr Big: An Independence and Accountability Case Study
University of Guelph: B.A. H., Criminal Justice and Public Policy 2008
Links (1)
Articles (6)
With or Without You: The Conservatives and Quebec
University of Toronto PressChapter in: The Blueprint: Conservative Parties and Their Impact on Canadian Politics, edited by Joanna Everitt and JP Lewis.
The Most Radical Amendment of All: the Power to Secede and the Secession Reference
University of Toronto Presschapter in: "Constitutional Amendment in Canada," edited by Emmett Macfarlane.
Judicialization of (Past) Politics: The Cameron Inquiry and the Green Commission
McGill-Queens University Presswith James B. Kelly, in: "First Among Unequals: The Premier, Politics and Policy in Newfoundland and Labrador," edited by Alex Marland and Mathew Kerby
The RCMP’s ‘Mr. Big’ Undercover Investigation Technique: A Case Study of Police Independence, Accountability and Oversight
Canadian Journal of Public Administrationwith Troy Riddell.
If Michael Brown Was Shot in Canada
Metro News2014-11-26
special contribution to Metro News.
Who's in Charge of Mr. Big?
National Post2014-08-05
Op-ed., with Troy Riddell
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