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Abstract
This dissertation explores the dynamic process of the federal criminal case and the integral role that courtroom professionals have in its development. I examine whether disparities are created by the characteristics and actions of the judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors who handle these cases. Using newly compiled data from original federal district court documents, I test for the influence of these actors across three elements of the criminal case: pretrial detention (Chapter 2), sentencing (Chapter 3), and time to disposition (Chapter 4). With this project, I hope to bridge the gap between sociolegal research on disparities arising from defendant traits and judicial behavior research that asserts that the attitudes and experiences of court actors influence the handling of the cases before them. I find that these essential professionals meaningfully impact both the process and outcomes of federal criminal cases.