External Grants

$3,561,358 in external funding, including six National Science Foundation Grants (2017, 2016, 2006, 2004, 2003, and 1997).

Research Awards

  1. Law and Courts Lasting Contribution Award (awarded annually to a book or journal article, 10 years old or older, that has made a lasting impression on the field of law and courts). 2025. Johnson, Timothy R., Paul J. Wahlbeck, and James F. Spriggs. 2006. “The Influence of Oral Arguments on the U.S. Supreme Court.” American Political Science Review. Vol. 100, #1 (February): 99-113.

  2. Silver Gavel Award for Multimedia. 2025. American Bar Association. Advisory board member, “Brown v. Board Revisited” (brown.oyez.org).

  3. Webby Award (honoring excellence on the Internet) Honoree. 2025. International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Advisory board member, “Brown v. Board Revisited” (brown.oyez.org).

  4. Top 10 most cited article from Law and Policy, Volume 45. 2025. Ringsmuth, Eve, Matthew Sag, Timothy R. Johnson, and Tonja Jacobi. 2023. “SCOTUS in the Time of COVID: The Evolution of Justice Dynamics During Oral Argument” Law and Policy. Volume 45. #1 (January): 66-80.

  5. Third most downloaded article from Journal of Appellate Practice and Process from 2020-2024. Black, Ryan C. and Timothy R. Johnson. June 10, 2024. “Obsessive Over the Possessive on the Supreme Court of the United States: Exploring SCOTUS'/SCOTUS'S Use of Possessive Apostrophes.” Journal of Appellate Practice and Process. Vol 22. #1 (Winter): 13-28. https://tinyurl.com/JAPP2024

  6. Sixth most downloaded article from Journal of Appellate Practice and Process from 2020-2024. Johnson, Timothy R., Maron Sorenson, Maggie Cleary, and Katie Szarkowicz. June 10, 2024. “COVID-19 and Supreme Court Oral Argument: The Curious Case of Justice Clarence Thomas.” Journal of Appellate Practice and Process. Vol 21. #1: 113-162. https://tinyurl.com/JAPP2024

  7. Pi Sigma Alpha Award (given annually for the best paper presented at the previous year’s meetings of the Southern Political Science Association meetings). 2009. “Political Case Salience, U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments, and the Search for the Holy Grail” (with Ryan C. Black).

  8. The American Judicature Society Award (given annually for the best paper on law and courts presented at the previous year’s meetings of the American, Midwest, Southern, Southwestern, or Western Political Sciences Associations). 2002. “Passing and Sophisticated Voting on the U.S. Supreme Court” (with James F. Spriggs, and Paul Wahlbeck).

  9. Honorable Mention, Congressional Quarterly Competition for the Best Graduate Level Paper in the Field of Law and Courts. 1996. “The Public’s Conditional Response to Supreme Court Decisions” (with Andrew Martin). Law and Courts Section, American Political Science Association.

Teaching Awards

  1. American Political Science Association Distinguished Teaching Award. 2018. American Political Science Association.

  2. Robert Foster Cherry Award Semi-Finalist. 2018. Baylor University. The Cherry Award program is designed to honor great teachers, to stimulate discussion in the academy about the value of teaching, and to encourage departments and institutions to value their own great teachers.

  3. John Tate Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising. 2012. University of Minnesota.

  4. President’s Distinguished Faculty Mentor Program. 2010-2013. University of Minnesota.

  5. Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education. 2008. University of Minnesota.

  6. Arthur “Red” Motley Exemplary Teaching Award. 2007. College of Liberal Arts. University of Minnesota.