She specializes in judicial politics, and her research focuses on the staffing of state and federal judiciaries in the United States. Her research has been published in a variety of journals, including Political Science Quarterly, American Politics Research, Judicature, The Justice System Journal, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and The Drake Law Review. Her current research project is an examination of the ramifications of the politicized appointment process for federal court judges. Professor Holmes' teaching interests include courses on Constitutional Law, Law and Politics, and Gender and Law.