Heather Gerken
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law
Heather Gerken is the Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law and is in her second term as Dean of Yale Law School. Dean Gerken is one of the country’s leading experts on constitutional law and election law. A founder of the “nationalist school” of federalism, her work focuses on federalism, diversity, and dissent.
FULL BIOGRAPHY
Contact Information
- Room 104
- (203) 432-1660
- heather.k.gerken@yale.edu
Faculty Assistant
Carolyn Poole
- (203) 432-1660
- carolyn.poole@yale.edu
Education & Curriculum Vitae
J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1994
A.B., Princeton University, 1991
Courses Taught
- Advanced Topics in Election Law
- San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project
Heather Gerken is the Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law and is in her second term as Dean of Yale Law School. Dean Gerken is one of the country’s leading experts on constitutional law and election law. A founder of the “nationalist school” of federalism, her work focuses on federalism, diversity, and dissent.
As Dean, she has strengthened the School’s tradition of academic excellence, fortified support for the student body, and launched innovative new programming. Under Gerken’s leadership, Yale Law School has admitted the seven most diverse classes in its history, bringing in talented students from around the world with a strong record of academic performance and exceptional accomplishments. She has also significantly bolstered the Law School’s enduring commitment to need-based financial aid by making Yale Law School the first law school in the country to offer tuition-free scholarships for students with the highest need, fortifying existing programs, and building a Safety Net Fund to assist students facing hardships. She is the first woman to serve in this role at Yale Law School.
Hailed as an “intellectual guru” in The New York Times, Gerken’s scholarship has been featured in The Atlantic, the Boston Globe, NPR, The New York Times, and Time. In 2017, Politico Magazine named Gerken one of The Politico 50, a list of idea makers in American politics. Her work on election reform has affected policy at a national level.
In addition to her leadership of the School, Gerken founded and runs the country’s most innovative clinic in local government law, Yale’s San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP). She is one of the few Deans in the country to run a clinic. Gerken is also a renowned teacher who has won awards at both Yale and Harvard. She was named one of the nation’s “twenty-six best law teachers” in a book published by Harvard University Press.
A native of Massachusetts, Gerken graduated from Princeton University, where she received her A.B. degree summa cum laude in 1991. A Darrow Scholar, she graduated from the University of Michigan Law School summa cum laude in 1994. Gerken currently serves as a trustee of Princeton University.
After law school, Gerken clerked for Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice David Souter of the United States Supreme Court. She then served as an appellate lawyer in Washington, D.C., before joining the Harvard Law School faculty in 2000. Gerken came to Yale in 2006 and became the inaugural J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law in 2008. She became Dean of Yale Law School on July 1, 2017.
Gerken has published extensively. Her work has been featured in the Harvard Law Review, the Yale Law Journal, the Stanford Law Review, and numerous popular publications. Her work has been the subject of four symposia, and she has served as a commentator for a number of major media outlets, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, and NBC News. Prior to her time as Dean, Gerken served as a senior advisor to the Obama campaign in 2008 and 2012. In 2013, her proposal for creating a “Democracy Index” — a national ranking of election systems — was adopted by the Pew Charitable Trusts, which created the nation’s first Election Performance Index. She has been featured in the National Law Journal for balancing teaching and research, won a Green Bag award for legal writing, and has testified before the U.S. Senate three times. Gerken is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a trustee of the Mellon Foundation.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Launchpad Scholars Soar as Program Gets Off the Ground
The first cohort of 25 Launchpad Scholars gathered in August for a welcome summit, which kicked off a year-long program that provides intensive support as the scholars navigate the law school admissions process.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Yale Law School Welcomes Exceptional New Class of Students
Dean Heather K. Gerken welcomed Yale Law School’s newest students to campus on Aug. 23, speaking at convocation about the set of traditions they are inheriting that have sustained the academic community for nearly two centuries.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Dean Gerken Named to ABA Task Force for American Democracy
Yale Law School Dean Heather K. Gerken has been appointed to the American Bar Association’s newly created Task Force for American Democracy.
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Launching Careers in Service
Yale Law School-funded fellowships offer essential support for aspiring public interest lawyers serving communities around the world.
Monday, July 24, 2023
Learning to Lead
In its second year, The Tsai Leadership Program — designed to prepare students for leadership roles in any setting — launched new courses, fellowships, and immersive opportunities that offer enhanced engagement with alumni.
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Law Schools Should Abandon Merit-Based Scholarships — A Commentary by Heather K. Gerken and Tamara F. Lawson
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Heather K. Gerken is Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law at Yale Law School. Tamara F. Lawson is the Toni Rembe Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Washington School of Law.
Monday, April 10, 2023
Colleges Are Leaving the U.S. News Rankings. Why?
1a
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather K. Gerken discusses how important should rankings be for prospective students.
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
The Unraveling of the U.S. News College Rankings
The Wall Street Journal
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather K. Gerken is featured in a story about the aftermath of Yale Law School pulling out of the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings.
Thursday, March 2, 2023
Education Secretary Cardona and Expert Panelists Discuss a Future Beyond Rankings
Yale Law School and Harvard Law School convened law school deans and education experts from across the country on March 1 to discuss the types of data that law school applicants need to make an informed decision about their legal education and what a future beyond the U.S. News & World Report rankings should be.
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
U.S. News Rankings Come Under Fire at Yale, Harvard Conference
Reuters
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather K. Gerken is quoted in a report on a conference organized by Yale and Harvard law schools on how to best make law school data available to prospective students.
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Why Yale Law School Left the U.S. News & World Report Rankings
The Atlantic
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken discusses the decision to withdraw from U.S. News & World Report’s law school rankings.
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Why Yale Law School Left the U.S. News & World Report Rankings
The Atlantic
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken discusses the decision to withdraw from U.S. News & World Report’s law school rankings.
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Zelenskyy Quip, Trump Conspiracy Top 2022 Notable Quote List
The Associated Press
Associate (Library) Director for Collections and Special Projects and Lecturer in Legal Research Fred R. Shapiro releases his annual list of most revealing quotations of the year. Including on the list is quote from Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather K. Gerken.
Monday, November 21, 2022
Legal Education Needs to be ‘Accessible to Everyone,’ Says Yale Law School Dean
Yahoo Finance
Dean Heather K. Gerken and the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program are mentioned in a piece about equity in legal education.
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Influencers with Andy Serwer: Heather Gerken
Yahoo Finance
Dean Heather K. Gerken is interviewed about educating the next generation of lawyers and leaders.
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Why Another Top-Ranked Law School Joins Yale, Harvard in Withdrawing from Rankings
ABC News
Dean Heather K. Gerken speaks about the decison to withdraw from the annual law school rankings of U.S. News and World Report.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Yale Law School Abandons U.S. News Rankings, Citing Flawed Methodology
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal reports on Yale Law School’s decision to withdraw from the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Dean Gerken: Why Yale Law School Is Leaving the U.S. News & World Report Rankings
A statement from Yale Law School Dean Heather K. Gerken on U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Yale and Harvard Law Schools Withdraw From the U.S. News Rankings
The New York Times
The New York Times reported on Yale Law School’s decision to withdraw from the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of law schools.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Yale and Harvard’s Law Schools Are Ditching the ‘U.S. News’ Rankings. Will Others Follow?
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Dean Heather K. Gerken spoke to The Chronicle of Higher Education about the decision to withdraw from the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Yale and Harvard Law Schools to Shun Influential U.S. News Rankings
Reuters
Dean Heather K. Gerken speaks about the decison to withdraw from the annual law school rankings of U.S. News & World Report.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ’73 Headlines Transformational Leadership Week
The Tsai Leadership Program hosted Transformational Leadership Week, a series of major events at the Law School that brought experts from both the public and private sectors to talk to students about their work as leaders.
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
SFALP, the Opioid Epidemic, and Public Impact
The San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Clinic run by Dean Heather K. Gerken has been at the forefront of one of the largest complex litigations in the nation.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Dean Gerken Launches New Podcast Series
A new podcast series launched by Dean Heather K. Gerken at the onset of her second term will feature an in-depth look at the scholars, thinkers, teachers, and gamechangers of Yale Law School.
Friday, August 19, 2022
Yale Students See Work On Opioid Case As Broadly Important
Law360
Layla Malamut ’23 and Laila Robbins ’24 discuss the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project’s win in a major opioid case against Walgreens.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
YLS Welcomes a Remarkable New Class to New Haven
Dean Heather K. Gerken, speaking at convocation, encouraged students to get to know one another and take advantage of Yale Law School’s vast opportunities and rich academic community.
Friday, August 12, 2022
Yale Law Students Help San Francisco Secure Landmark Opioid Ruling Against Walgreens
A federal court ruled that Walgreens can be held responsible for its role in San Francisco’s opioid crisis — a win for the city and the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project, which worked on the case with the City Attorney’s Office.
Friday, August 12, 2022
Yale Law School Extends Full-Tuition, Need-Based Scholarships to 53 Students
Law.com
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken is interviewed about the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program.
Monday, August 8, 2022
Leading the Law School
Dean Heather K. Gerken reflects on her first decanal term, a vision for legal education, and plans for the future.
Friday, July 29, 2022
Why Yale Law’s Dean Says Eliminating Tuition for Students in Need Benefits the Legal Profession
ABC News
Dean Heather K. Gerken and Rakim H. D. Brooks ’16 discuss the impact of the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program, which eliminates tuition for students with the greatest financial need.
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Yale Law School’s Classes of 2020 and 2021 Celebrate Resilience
Enjoying long-awaited festivities on Saturday, May 14, graduates from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 returned to Yale Law School to celebrate their achievements with classmates, friends, and family.
Friday, March 11, 2022
A Conversation on Leadership with Blackstone Group President Jonathan Gray
The Chae Initiative in Private Sector Leadership hosted its first speaker event, “A Conversation on Leadership,” with Dean Heather K. Gerken and Jonathan Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Blackstone Group.
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Yale Law Says it Will Cover Tuition for Low-Income Students
Reuters
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather K. Gerken is quoted about the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program.
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Yale Law School Goes Tuition-Free for Students with Greatest Need
Yale Daily News
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather K. Gerken is quoted in a story about the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program.
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Yale Law Announces Full-Tuition, Need-Based Scholarships for Low-Income Students
Law.com
Dean Heather K. Gerken is quoted on the launch of Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program at Yale Law School.
Monday, February 21, 2022
Yale Law School Announces Tuition-Free Scholarships for Highest Need Students
The Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program expands the Law School’s robust financial aid offerings to level the playing field for students with significant financial need.
Monday, February 21, 2022
Yale Law School to Cover Full Tuition and Fees for Lowest-Income Students
The Wall Street Journal
Dean Heather K. Gerken is quoted in The Wall Street Journal about the launch of the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program, which will erase tuition for J.D. students with the greatest financial need.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Heather Gerken Re-Appointed as Dean of Yale Law School
Yale Daily News
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted about her reappointment as Dean of Yale Law School.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Heather K. Gerken Reappointed Dean of Yale Law School
Dean Heather K. Gerken was reappointed to a second five-year term on Jan. 19, 2022. The renewal recognizes her tireless work strengthening the School's tradition of academic excellence, fortifying support for the student body, and launching new innovative programming, among many other contributions.
Thursday, November 11, 2021
‘A New Generation of Changemakers’: New Yale Law Program Aims to Give Grads a Broader Professional Skill Set
Law.com
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather K. Gerken is quoted in a Law.com story announcing the launch of The Tsai Leadership Program at Yale Law School.
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Yale Law School Modernizes Legal Curriculum with New Tsai Leadership Program
Yale Daily News
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken and Professor of Law John Morley ’06 comment on the launch of The Tsai Leadership Program.
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Race and the Law Course Highlights Emerging Scholarship
A new class offered the chance for students to engage with emerging scholarship while addressing a broad range of issues related to race, racism, and inequality.
Monday, July 26, 2021
Home Is Here
Yale Law School faculty, alumni, and students look back at a tumultuous four years fighting for a more just immigration system.
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Yale Law Faculty, Alumni Named to Presidential Commission on Supreme Court Reform
A new Presidential Commission on Supreme Court Reform will be co-chaired by Leighton Homer Surbeck Professor of Law Professor Cristina Rodríguez ’00 and includes a total of 14 Yale Law School faculty and alumni.
Monday, February 8, 2021
Yale Law School Announces Two Gifts Honoring Michael A. Varet ’65
Yale Law School has announced two gifts from the Middle Road Foundation: The Michael A. Varet ’65 YLS Safety Net Support Fund and The Michael A. Varet ’65 Summer Public Interest Fellowship Fund.
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Lawyers Who Sought to Overturn Election ‘Betrayed the Values of Our Profession,’ Law Deans Say
Law.com
Dean Heather K. Gerken is quoted in a Law.com article about a joint statement now signed by more than 160 law school deans in response to the events of January 6.
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Dean Gerken Joins Law Deans in Public Statement on 2020 Election and Events at the Capitol
Dean Heather K. Gerken joined more than 170 law school deans in a statement on the 2020 election and events at the Capitol.
Friday, October 16, 2020
As SCOTUS Veers Further Right, Could a States’ Rights Shift Benefit the Left?
Vanity Fair
Dean Heather Gerken is cited in a Vanity Fair article about states’ rights.
Monday, August 24, 2020
Welcoming the Class of 2023
Dean Heather Gerken welcomed the newest class of students to Yale Law School during convocation remarks delivered online on August 21, 2020.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
U.S. Profs Offer 'Independent Study' Classes to Prevent Student Deportations
Newsweek
Dean Heather Gerken is quoted, and deputy dean Ian Ayres ’86 mentioned, in a Newsweek article that highlights Yale Law School’s statement of support for international students following a new federal policy that threatens to deport students who are not receiving in-person instruction this fall.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
‘A Terrible Choice’: Yale Law School Dean Condemns ICE International Student Ruling
WNPR
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken speaks to WNPR about the Trump administration’s policy requiring international students to attend in-person classes in the fall or lose their visa status.
Monday, July 22, 2019
More on Liberals and Federalism
The Volokh Conspiracy
Dean Heather Gerken's writing on progressives' historical skeptical of federalism is cited in an exploration of the topic.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Clinic Helps Obtain $305 Million Settlement in Lead Paint Litigation
After 20 years, Yale Law School clinic students helped San Francisco and nine other localities achieve a landmark victory in their litigation against lead paint companies with a $305 million settlement.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Ahead of the Curve: Theory or Practice? Why Not Both?
Law.com
Law.com discusses an essay in the Harvard Law Review by Dean Heather K. Gerken that addresses the perceived gap between practice and theory in legal education.
Friday, March 22, 2019
San Francisco Cracks Down On E-Cigarette Sales with SFALP’s Help
Students in the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) are helping San Francisco respond to the rapid growth in e-cigarette use.
Friday, March 22, 2019
SFALP Helps San Francisco File Climate Change Appeal in Ninth Circuit
Students in the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) have helped the City of San Francisco file an appeal in a landmark climate change suit.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
SFALP Clinic Helps Secure $3.65M Settlement in Hertz Consumer Protection Case
Yale Law clinic students scored a major victory this week when the San Francisco City Attorney announced a $3.65 million settlement with Hertz Corporation.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
David Udell Dishes On Growing Access To Justice Research
Law360
Scholarship by Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken is mentioned in a Law360 interview with David Udell, executive director of the National Center for Access to Justice.
Friday, October 26, 2018
SFALP Scores Another Victory In Sanctuary City Case
In early October, 2018, a federal judge handed the San Francisco City Attorney (SFALP) the latest victory in their efforts to prevent the Trump administration from unlawfully defunding sanctuary cities.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Supreme Court Turns Away Lead Paint Companies in Major Win for SFALP
In a decisive victory for Yale Law clinic students and the San Francisco City Attorney, the Supreme Court has rejected lead paint makers’ challenge to a historic judgment against them that held them liable for poisoning thousands of Americans.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Yale Law Opens Student Housing, Its First Campus Addition Since 1931
Law.com
Dean Heather Gerken and Robert Baker ’59 are quoted on the opening of Baker Hall.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Heather Gerken Joins Mellon Foundation’s Board of Trustees
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation announced on June 5, 2018, that Heather Gerken, Dean of Yale Law School, has been elected to its Board of Trustees.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Yale Law Students Take Sessions to Court Over Flouted Guidance
Law.com
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken, Christine Kwon ’17, and Alisa Tiwari ’20 are quoted in an article about a federal lawsuit initiated by the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project that challenges Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s decision to repeal a variety of Department of Justice civil rights documents.
Friday, April 6, 2018
Former Attorney General Eric Holder talks gerrymandering, Trump lawsuit at Holder Initiative event
The Columbia Spectator
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in a report on a panel that discussed gerrymandering and the upcoming census.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
San Francisco Files Student-Generated Civil Rights Case
A lawsuit filed by the San Francisco City Attorney's Office was sparked by an idea from Yale Law student and SFALP member Alisa Tiwari ’20.
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Yale's civil litigation clinic aims to train law students and make a difference
ABA Journal
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken, Jeremy Pilaar ’18, and Emma Sokoloff-Rubin ’18 are quoted in an article on the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Why federalism is hard
Vox
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about federalism.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Yale Law School Clinics Secure Third Nationwide Injunction
Yale Law clinics have secured three nationwide injunctions in a little over one year, making headlines and shaping the national conversation.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
SFALP Case on Sanctuary Cities Secures Permanent National Injunction
A federal judge in California has permanently blocked the Trump administration from denying funding to sanctuary cities, a major victory for Yale Law clinic students who worked closely with the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office in filing the case.
Friday, September 22, 2017
SFALP Case Sues Top Fossil Fuel Producers Over Climate Change Costs
The San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) at Yale Law School is taking the world’s largest oil and gas companies to court.
Monday, September 11, 2017
SFALP Case Reaches $400,000 Settlement with “Predatory” Immigration Consultants
Yale Law students from the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) helped secure a $400,000 settlement from fraudulent immigration consultants.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Yale Law School Stands Up for Dreamers After DACA Decision
As the country reacts to President Trump’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, Yale Law School students and faculty are already working to challenge the move and ensure “dreamers” are protected throughout the country.
Friday, September 1, 2017
Heather Gerken, Dean, Yale Law School: The case for progressive federalism
Politico
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken was named one of the top 50 idea makers for scholarship on progressive federalism.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
States’ Rights
Truth Politics and Power with Neal Conan
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken was a guest and discussed states’ rights.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Amicus Brief in Whitford—A Commentary by Heather Gerken
Election Law Blog
Heather Gerken is the Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Dean Gerken Files Amicus Brief in Partisan Gerrymandering Case
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Gill v. Whitford, a Wisconsin case that tests the constitutional boundaries of partisan gerrymandering.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
SFALP Case Secures Court Victory Against Unlawful Diversion Program
After nearly two years, the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) recently won an important victory in court against the Corrective Education Company (CEC) over its diversion program to suspected shoplifters.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
A New Romance: Trump Has Made Progressives Fall in Love With Federalism
New York Magazine
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about progressive federalism.
Monday, August 21, 2017
Dean Gerken Welcomes Most Diverse Class in YLS History
The most diverse class in Yale Law School history arrived at the Sterling Law Building in New Haven on Monday, August 21, 2017, with 205 newly minted law students taking the first step in their legal careers.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Federalism and the Future
GenConnectU
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken discusses modern federalism.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
There Is No Better Time to be a Lawyer Than Now
GenConnectU
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken shares why there is no better time to be a lawyer than now.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Heather Gerken on the future of progressive federalism
The Washington Post
An article about a recent interview with Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken about progressive federalism.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
One Campus Arena Where Free Speech Is Not Up for Debate: Law Schools—A Commentary by Dean Heather Gerken
Time Magazine
Heather Gerken is Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Progressive politics from the ground up
CommonWealth
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken was interviewed about states’ rights and progressive federalism.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Professor Gerken Discusses Progressive Federalism at ACS Event
Professor Heather Gerken spoke about progressive federalism at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy's National Convention in Washington, D.C., on June 9, 2017.
Monday, June 19, 2017
How 2 academics got the Supreme Court to reexamine gerrymandering
Vox.com
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is cited in an article about gerrymandering.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
For Voting Rights Advocates, Court Decision Is ‘Temporary Victory’
The New York Times
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about the Supreme Court’s decision not to reconsider an appellate decision on voting rights.
Monday, May 15, 2017
Heather Gerken named the Goldman Professor of Law
Heather K. Gerken has been named the Sol and Lillian Goldman Professor of Law. Her appointment will be effective July 1.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Meet the next Dean of Yale Law School
WSHU
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken was interviewed about her upcoming deanship.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
SFALP Case on Sanctuary Cities Wins Major Victory in Court
A federal judge in California temporarily blocked the Trump administration from denying funding to sanctuary cities, a victory for Yale Law clinic students who aided the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office in filing the case.
Friday, April 14, 2017
Trailblazer: U-M Law Aluma to become 1st female dean of Yale Law School
LegalNews.com
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is profiled on the occasion of her appointment as the next dean of the Law School.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Professors Gerken and Whitman Elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies, has elected J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather K. Gerken and Ford Foundation Professor of Comparative and Foreign Law James Q. Whitman ‘88 to its 2017 Class of Members.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Has Jeff Sessions Ushered In A New Kind Of Federalism?
Huffington Post
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is cited in an article about federalism.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Heather Gerken ’91, a Leader in Constitutional Law, Prepares for New Role
Princeton Alumni Weekly
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is interviewed on the occasion of her appointment as the next dean of the Law School.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Meet Heather Gerken, Yale's First Woman Law Dean
National Law Journal
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken was interviewed on the occasion of her appointment as the next dean of the Law School.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
New Yale Law dean stresses standing up for rule of law
The Associated Press
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about her appointment as the next dean of the Law School.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
An Interview with Yale Law School’s First Female Dean
Bloomberg Law/ Big Law Business
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken was interviewed on the occasion of her appointment as next dean of the Law School.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Heather Gerken, known for federalism scholarship, is first woman to become Yale law dean
ABA Journal
The journal reported on the appointment of J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken as the next dean of the Law School.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Yale Names Heather Gerken as First Woman Law Dean
National Law Journal
Numerous faculty, students, and alumni are quoted in an article about the appointment of J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken as the next dean of the Law School.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Heather Gerken Selected as Next Dean of Yale Law School
Professor Heather Gerken, the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law, has been selected as the next Dean of Yale Law School.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
11 Top Constitutional Law Experts React to White House Stephen Miller’s Rejection of “Judicial Supremacy”
Just Security
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken and Leighton Homer Surbeck Professor of Law Cristina Rodríguez ’00, David Golove ’93 LLM ’99 JSD, Roderick Hills ’91, Dawn Johnsen ’86, and Pamela S. Karlan ’84 were among a group of constitutional law experts who replied to a query about comments made by Stephen Miller, the President’s Senior Policy Advisor.
Monday, February 13, 2017
I asked 8 experts if we’re in a constitutional crisis. Here’s what they said.
Vox
Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment Jack Balkin and J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken are quoted in an article about whether the U.S. is in a constitutional crisis.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
SFALP Clinic Contributes to Lawsuit on Sanctuary Cities
Students in Yale Law School’s San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) were instrumental in filing the first lawsuit against the Trump administration’s executive order on “sanctuary jurisdictions.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
The Ideological Reasons Why Democrats Have Neglected Local Politics
The Atlantic
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is cited in an article about a growing focus by Democrats on state and local politics.
Monday, December 12, 2016
We’re about to see states’ rights used defensively against Trump—A Commentary by Heather Gerken
Vox
Heather Gerken is the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Q&A: Professor Heather Gerken Discusses Progressive Federalism
Professor Heather Gerken explains how federalism and localism can be useful sites of politicking for people of all political stripes.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
States’ Rights for the Left
New York Times
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is cited in an article about states’ rights and progressive federalism. A similar article appeared in Time Magazine.
Thursday, December 1, 2016
A Wisconsin court case may be the last best hope to fix gerrymandering by 2020—A Commentary by Heather Gerken
Vox
Heather Gerken is the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
‘All Resistance Is Local’: A Plan of Progressive Action for the Trump Years
The Nation
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken authored part of a roundtable debate about federalism.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Districts Favor G.O.P. Unfairly, Court Finds in a Key State Case
The New York Times
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about a recent court victory in a complaint over partisan redistricting in Wisconsin. Nicholas Stephanopoulos ’06, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, is mentioned.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Jefferson: The Musical
Medium.com
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about state’s rights.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Election Day Check In: Will Lawsuits Delay the Outcome?
Bloomberg Law
William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law Stephen Carter ’79 and J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken are quoted in an article about the election.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Let’s Cheer This Badass Nevada Judge Who Understands Twitter Harassment
Wired
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about a Trump campaign legal challenge in Nevada.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Philadelphia’s transit strike could affect who wins the election
NPR/ Marketplace
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is interviewed about whether Pennsylvania can order striking transit workers back to work on election day.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Nonprofits Work at Polls to Smooth Voting and Rebut ‘Rigged’ Claims
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about research on election processes.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
The Supreme Court After Scalia
The New Yorker
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in an article about the future of the Supreme Court.
Friday, September 16, 2016
“Hacking the Election” Conference to Be Held September 20
The Center for Global Legal Challenges and the Information Society Project will co-host a conference on “Hacking the Election”
Sunday, May 29, 2016
From Jail To Yale: Ex-Offender Graduates With Law Degree 10 Years After Release
The Hartford Courant
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken and Lecturer in the Practice of Law and Legal Writing Noah Messing ’00 are quoted in a profile of Dwayne Betts ’16, who will be a fellow with the Arthur Liman Public Interest Program.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Donald Trump’s Campaign Backs Down From Threatened Lawsuit Over Delegates
Time Online
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is quoted in a story about the rules around state primaries and caucuses.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
New Hampshire Predicts 78% of GOP Nominees Despite Only 82% Resemblance with U.S.
WalletHub
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken was interviewed as part of a feature on the New Hampshire primary.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Equality and American Democracy; Why Politics Trumps Economics
Foreign Affairs
Research by J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken is cited in an article titled “Equality and American Democracy; Why Politics Trumps Economics.”
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
The Supreme Court Is a Partner in Transformation, Not the Sole Agent—A Commentary by Heather K. Gerken
The New York Times
Heather K. Gerken is the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Did the Roberts Court Really Lurch Left?
Politico
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken and John A. Garver Professor of Jurisprudence William Eskridge ’78 contributed to a roundtable about the Roberts court.
Monday, November 3, 2014
On Voting Rights, Amendments Are Too Hard to Achieve and Enforce—A Commentary by Heather Gerken
The New York Times
Heather K. Gerken is the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Student Clinic Works to Prepare Historic Proposition 8 Case for High Court
Students from Yale Law School’s San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) describe their experiences working on landmark same-sex marriage case.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
New Elections Performance Index Inspired by Prof. Heather Gerken’s Democracy Index
J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law Heather Gerken's book Democracy Index inspires new Elections Performance Index.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
YLS Clinic Students Contribute to Noted Gas Pipeline Lawsuit
Two Yale Law students were acknowledged recently for their work with the San Francisco city attorney’s office on a noted gas pipeline lawsuit.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Yale Law Students Hear from World’s Top Women Jurists: Follow Your Own Path
The 15th Global Constitutionalism Seminar took place at Yale Law School Sept. 21 through 24, 2011.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
YLS Faculty Honored for Legal Writing by the Green Bag Journal
Yale Law School faculty members are among those honored for exemplary legal writing in 2010 by the Green Bag journal.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
YLS Students Work on High Profile Cases in Partnership with San Francisco Attorney’s Office
Yale Law students are doing cutting-edge work as part of their participation in the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Professor Heather Gerken to Present J. Skelly Wright Inaugural Lecture March 8
Professor Heather Gerken will deliver her inaugural lecture as the first J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law on March 8, 2010.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Professor Heather Gerken Testifies at Senate Committee Hearing on Corporate Campaign Spending
YLS Professor Heather Gerken testified before a U.S. Senate committee on February 2, 2010, about corporate campaign spending.
Friday, September 11, 2009
NYC Plan to Improve Voting System Includes Democracy Index
A “Democracy Index,” first proposed by YLS Professor Heather Gerken, is part of a plan Mayor Mike Bloomberg has introduced in New York City to improve the election process.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Heather Gerken to Join Yale Law School Faculty
Professor Gerken is one of the country's leading experts on voting rights and election law, the role of groups in the democratic process, and the relationship between diversity and democracy.
SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS:
BOOKS
The Democracy Index: Why Our Election System is Failing and How to Fix It (Princeton University Press 2009)
Editor, Race, Reform, and Regulation of the Electoral Process: Recurring Puzzles in American Democracy (with Guy-Uriel Charles and Michael Kang) (2010)
ARTICLES, ESSAYS, AND REVIEWS
“The Myth of the Laboratories of Democracy,” Tyler, Charles and Gerken, Heather, GWU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2021-46, August 9, 2021
“The Discursive Benefits of Structure: Federalism and the First Amendment,” in The Free Speech Century (eds. Bollinger & Stone 2019)
“Resisting the Theory/Practice Divide: Why the ‘Theory School’ is Ambitious About Practice,” 132 Harv. L. Rev. F. 134 (2019)
Presentation on Behalf of the Social Sciences, 52 Am. Acad. Arts & Sciences 8 (Winter 2018)
Second-Order Diversity: Decentralization’s Egalitarian Possibilities (Danielle Allen, ed. 2017)
The Jorde Lecture: A Research Agenda for Federalism in the 21st Century ( 2017)
Federalism: A User’s Guide, 45 Hofstra L. Rev. 1087 (2017)
Playing Cards in a Hurricane: Party Reform in an Age of Polarization, 54 Hous. L. Rev. 911 ( 2017)
Progressive Federalism: A User’s Guide, 44 Democracy Journal (Spring 2017)
The Taft Lecture: Living Under Someone Else’s Law, 84 U. Cincinnati L. Rev. 377 (2016)
Beyond Sovereignty, Beyond Autonomy: A Nationalist’s View of Federalism’s Future, National Constitution Center’s Interactive Constitution Project (2016)
Article I, Section 8: Federalism and the Overall Scope of Federal Power, National Constitution Center’s Interactive Constitution Project (with Randy Barnett) (2016)
“The Citizens United Trilogy: The Myth, the True Tale, and the Story Yet to Come,” in Election Law Stories 359 (2016) (with Erica Newland)
The Right to Vote: A Conversation with the Co-Chairs of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, 159 Proceedings Am. Phil. Soc. 17 (March 2015)
The Real Problem with Citizens United: Campaign Finance, Dark Money, and Shadow Parties, 159 Proceedings Am. Phil. Soc. 5 (March 2015)
The Childress Lecture, Federalism and Nationalism: Time for a Détente?, 59 St. Louis. L. Rev. 997 (2015)
An Academic Elegy, 100 Iowa L. Rev. 109 (2015)
The Craft of Interpreting the Declaration of Independence, Crooked Timber (June 15, 2015)
The Party’s Over: Shadow Parties, Campaign Finance, and the Legacy of McCutcheon, 2014 Sup. Ct. Rev. 175 (with Joseph Fishkin)
The Interlocking Gears of Rights and Structure: Why the Critics Are Wrong about U.S. v. Windsor, 95 B.U. L. Rev. 487 (2015) (Boston University’s Annual Distinguished Lecture)
Living Under Someone Else’s Law, Democracy Journal 24 (Spring 2015) (with James Dawson)
Slipping the Bonds of Federalism, 128 Harv. L. Rev. 85 (2014)
The Political Safeguards of Horizontal Federalism, 113 Mich. L. Rev. 57 (2014) (with Ari Holtzblatt)
The Right to Vote: Is the Amendment Game Worth the Candle?, 23 Wm. & Mary L. Rev. 11 (2014)
How to Teach the Socratic Method with a Heart, 21 The Law Teacher 24 (Fall 2014)
Polarization at the Local Level, Marquette Lawyer 13 (Fall 2014)
The Two Trends That Matter for Party Politics, 89 N.Y.U. L. Rev. Online 32 (2014) (with Joseph Fishkin)
The Real Problem with Citizens United: Campaign Finance, Dark Money, and Shadow Parties, 97 Marquette L. Rev. 904 (2014).
Federalism as the New Nationalism: An Overview, 123 Yale L.J. 1889 (2014)
The Loyal Opposition, 123 Yale L.J. 1958 (2014)
A Public Finance Model for Lobbying: Lobbying, Campaign Finance, and the Privatization of Democracy, 13 Elec. L. J. 75 (2014) (with Alex Tausanovitch)
The Federalis(m) Society, 36 Harv. J. L. & Pub. Pol’y 943 (2013)
Abandoning Bad Ideas and Disregarding Good Ones for the Right Reasons: Reflections on a Festschrift, 48 Tulsa L. Rev. 535 (2013)
Exit, Voice, and Disloyalty, 62 Duke L.J. 1349 (2013)
Make It Easy: The Case for Automatic Registration, 28 Dem. J. 17 (2013)
Déjà vu All Over Again: Courts, Corporate Law, and Election Law, 126 Harv. L. Rev. 86 (2013) (with Michael Kang)
Federalism(s), 53 Wm. & Mary L. Rev. 1549 (2012)
A New Progressive Federalism, 24 Dem. J. 37 (Spring 2012)
Comment, The Constitution, the Practice of Democracy, and Unintended Consequences, Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Winter 2012, at 26.
Keynote Address: Lobbying as the New Campaign Finance, 27 Georgia St. L. Rev. 1155 (2011)
The Foreword: Federalism All the Way Down, 124 Harv. L. Rev. 4 (2010)
Judge Stories: Clerking for Judge Reinhardt, 120 Yale L.J.529 (2010)
“The Institutional Turn in Election Law Scholarship” (with Michael Kang), in Race, Reform, and Regulation of the Electoral Process: Recurring Puzzles in American Democracy (Gerken, Charles, and Kang eds.) (2010)
Keynote Address, What Election Law Has to Say to Constitutional Law, 44 Ind. L. Rev. 7 (2010)
Getting From Here to There in Redistricting Reform, 5 Duke J. Const. L. & Pol’y 1 (2010)
Creating Better Heuristics in the Presidential Nominating Process: Why a Citizens Assembly Beats Out Iowa and New Hampshire, 125 Pol. Sci. Q. 233 (2010) (with Doug Rand)
Clerking for Justice Souter, 35 J. Sup. Ct. Hist. 4 (2010)
Mexico’s Election Reforms: A Comparative View, 2 Mexican L. Rev. 163 (July-December 2009)
In Praise of Rankings, John L. Gedid Lecture Series, 19 Widener L. Rev. 1 (2009)
Dean’s Lecture, The Invisible Election: Making Policy in World Without Data, 35 Ohio Northern L. Rev. 1013 (2009)
Making Democracy Work, Book Review (The Concept of Constituency: Political Representation, Democratic Legitimacy, and Institutional Design, by Andrew Rehfeld; Saving Democracy: A Plan for Real Representation in America, by Kevin O’Leary), 37 Pol. Theory 838 (2009).
Uncooperative Federalism, 118 Yale L.J. 1256 (2009) (with Jessica Bulman-Pozen)
“Provisional Ballots: The Miner’s Canary for Election Administration,” in Provisional Ballots: An Imperfect Solution (Report of the Pew Center on the States, 2009).
Getting from Here to There in Election Reform, 34 Okla. City. Univ. L. Rev. 33 (2009)
Shortcuts to Reform, 93 Minn. L. Rev. 1582 (2009)
Replacing Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act: An Opt-In Approach, White Paper, The Tobin Project
The (Winding) Road Ahead, “Data for Democracy: Improving Elections Through Metrics and Measurement,” 43 (Pew Center on the States 2008)
Larry and Lawrence, 42 Tulsa L. Rev. 843 (2007)
Justice Kennedy and the Domains of Equal Protection, 121 Harv. L. Rev. 104 (2007)
Rashomon and the Roberts Court, 68 Ohio St. L. J.1213 (2007)
The Hydraulics of Constitutional Reform: A Skeptical Response to Our Undemocratic Constitution, 55 Drake L. Rev. 925 (2007)
The Double-Edged Sword of Independence: Inoculating Electoral Reform Commissions Against Everyday Politics, 6 ELEC. L. J. 184 (April 2007)
Of Sovereigns and Servants, 115 YALE L. J. 2634 (2006)
A Third Way: Section 5 and the Opt-In Approach, in THE FUTURE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT 277 (Epstein et al. 2006)
A Third Way for the Voting Rights Act: Section 5 and the Opt-In Approach, 106 COLUM. L. REV. 708 (2006)
Dissent, Diversity, and the Global Polity, in THE LEAST EXAMINED BRANCH: THE ROLE OF LEGISLATURES IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATE 547 (eds. Bauman & Kahana 2006)
Dissenting by Deciding, 57 STAN. L. REV.1745 (2005)
Second-Order Diversity, 118 HARV. L. REV. 1099 (2005)
Lost in the Political Thicket: The Supreme Court, Election Law, and The Doctrinal Interregnum, 153 U. PENN. L. REV. 503 (2004)
The Costs and Causes of Minimalism in Voting Cases: Baker v. Carr and Its Progeny, 80 N.C. L. REV. 1411 (2002)
Election Law Exceptionalism? A Bird’s Eye View of the Symposium, 82 B.U. L. REV. 737 (2002)
Understanding the Right to an Undiluted Vote, 114 HARV. L. REV. 1663 (2001)
Morgan Kousser’s Noble Dream, 99 MICH. L. REV. 1298 (2001)
New Wine in Old Bottles: A Comment on Richard Hasen’s and Richard Briffault’s Essays on Bush v. Gore, 29 FLA. ST. UNIV. L. REV. 407 (2001)
Note, Understanding Mixed-Motives Claims Under the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 91 MICH. L. Rev. 1824 (1993)
SELECT POPULAR PUBLICATIONS:
Semi-regular contributor to Balkinization, Election Law Blog, Room for Debate, and Politico.
“Campus Free Speech is Not Up for Debate,” Time Magazine (July 13, 2017)
“Federalism is Dead, Long Live Federalism,” The Atlantic (June 28, 2017)
“We’re About to See States’ Rights Used Defensively Against Trump,” Vox (Dec. 12, 2016)
“Wisconsin Court Case May Be Last Hope to Fix Gerrymandering Before 2020,” Vox (Dec. 1, 2016)
“Uncooperative Federalism,” The Nation (Nov. 29, 2016)
“On Voting Rights, Amendments Are Too Hard to Achieve and Enforce,” New York Times Online (November 4, 2014)
“The ‘Bad News Bears’ of Elections, The Hill (June 4, 2014)
“The Real Problem with Citizens United,” Marquette Lawyer (Summer 2014)
“Rerouting the flow of ‘dark money’ into political campaigns,” Washington Post (April 3, 2014) (with Wade Gibson and Webb Lyons)
“The Fox and the Hedgehog: How Do We Achieve Political Accountability Given What Voters (Don’t) Know?, Cato Unbound (October 14, 2013)
“Goodbye to the Crown Jewel of the Civil Rights Movement,” Slate (June, 2013)
“Real State Power Means Getting in the Obama Care Game,” Harvard Business Review Online, (April 2, 2013) (with Ted Ruger)
“No Middle Ground,” New York Times Online (June 27, 2011)
“Coloring Inside the Lines,” Slate (November 10, 2010)
“The Real Problem With Citizens United,” American Prospect Online (January 22, 2010)
“A Silver Lining,” New York Times Online (January 21, 2010)
“Will History Repeat Itself?,” Huffington Post (October 29, 2009)
“A False Depiction of Judging,” New York Times Online (July 15, 2009)
“Four Lawyers Review Sotomayor’s Performance," Wall Street Journal (July 17, 2009).
“An Uncertain Fate for the Voting Rights Act,” American Prospect Online (June 23, 2009)
“Race, Voting Rights, and the Genius of Justice Souter," American Prospect Online (May 5, 2009)
“A Common Law Judge,” New York Times Online (May 4, 2009)
“Our Elections Run Well, Don’t They?,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 30, 2009
“We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes,” The American Prospect, March 27, 2009
The Case for Keeping Score, “Revitalizing Democracy: Special Report,” The American Prospect (January/February 2009)
The Invisible Election, Election Law Blog, November 16, 2008
Shadow districting commissions, Balkinization (series of posts dated May 5, 6, 31 & June 4, 2008)
Out of the Shadows: Private redistricting can help overcome lawmakers’ partisanship, LEGAL TIMES (Vol. XXXI, No. 18, May 5, 2008)
Fixing Democracy, Brennan Center for Democracy Blog (May, 2008)
Justice Kennedy’s Emerging Vision of Race, Balkinization (series of posts dated September 25-27, 2007)
A New Agenda for Election Law Scholarship, Balkinization (series of posts dated June 18-22, 2007)
New Style of Election Reform Begins to Emerge, ROLL CALL (Tues. March 27, 2007).
How Does Your State Rank on the Democracy Index? LEGAL TIMES (Vol. XXX, No. 1, January 1, 2007)
Six Ways to Reform Democracy, Seeds of Change Forum, BOSTON REVIEW (November/December 2006)
Let’s Shift Gears in Voting-Rights Enforcement, ROLL CALL (Dec. 12, 2005)
Next Time, Start with the People, Balkinization, Nov. 10, 2004 (with Chris Elmendorf)
Citizens Must Drive Electoral Reform, ROLL CALL (Nov. 15, 2005)
For Shame: How to Embarrass States into Election Reform, TNR-Online (Sept. 28, 2005)
Race (Optional), The New Republic (Sept. 15, 2005).
Lost in the Political Thicket, LEGAL AFFAIRS (November/December 2004) 22.
Bigger Issues, New Democracy Forum, 26 BOSTON REVIEW 18 (2001)
OTHER:
Work featured in the Politico’s Top 50 Ideas 2017 Issue, The Boston Globe’s Ideas Section, The Atlantic “Ideas of the Year” 2013 Issue, The New York Times, NPR, and Time Magazine.