Edward V. Heck

Edward V. Heck first came to San Diego State University in 1975 and spent two years as a lecturer in the political science department while writing his doctoral dissertation. He moved on to the University of New Orleans in 1977 and completed requirements for the Ph.D. degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1978. In 1983, he was delighted to return to San Diego State, arriving in plenty of time to watch the Padres during their improbable run to the 1984 World Series.

Within the field of American politics Professor Heck's area of expertise is in public law and judicial politics, and his research interests center on the U.S. Supreme Court. At SDSU he regularly teaches "The Supreme Court and Contemporary Issues" and other upper division public law courses, as well as the introductory course in American and California government and politics. He has recently added the course in political parties to his teaching repertoire. Among the published articles that best illustrate his research interests are:

"The Burger Court and the Primacy of Political Expression," Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 40 (Sept. 1987), pp. 413-425 (with Albert C. Ringelstein).

"A Freshman Justice Confronts the Constitution: Justice O'Connor and the First Amendment, Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 45 (Sept. 1992), pp. 761-772 (with Paula C. Arledge).


Also of interest are his recent book reviews in the Law and Politics Book Review, an electronic publication of the Law and Courts section of the American Political Science Association. For his evaluation of a recent biography of Justice Clarence Thomas, see http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/thomasbio.html


Ed and his wife, Judy Nordberg, enjoy traveling, particularly to the wine-producing regions of Europe and California, and watching the Padres on television or at Qualcomm Stadium.