Ira P. Robbins Explained

Ira P. Robbins
Nationality:American
Occupation:Professor
Discipline:Legal scholar
Main Interests:criminal law, First Amendment, capital punishment, habeas corpus, prisoners’ rights

Ira P. Robbins is Distinguished Professor of Law and Barnard T. Welsh Scholar at American University Washington College of Law, where he specializes in criminal law.[1]

Early life and education

Robbins attended The University of Pennsylvania, where he received an A.B. degree. Robbins later graduated from Harvard Law School, receiving a juris doctor.

Career

Robbins served as a Supreme Court Fellow from 1985 to 1986.

Robbins has been a professor of law at the American University Washington College of Law since 1979.[2] Robbins is a member of the NY and DC Bars.[3] Since 1982, Robbins has been the director of the university's J.D./M.S. Joint Degree Program in Justice, Law and Society. Since 2013, he has been a co-founder and co-director of the Criminal Justice Practice and Policy Institute. Robbins has received many awards at the university due to his teaching and scholarship. At the Washington College of law, Robbins received the University Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1985, and in 1988 received the award for Scholar/Teacher of the Year, which is American University's highest faculty award. In 2010, he won the Pauline Ruyle Moore Award, recognizing his scholarly work in the field of public law. In 2011, Robbins was the first recipient of the Washington College of Law Award for Exemplary Teaching. In 2015, Robbins received the Washington College of Law Award for Outstanding Service.

Robbins is a longtime advocate of prisoners' rights, and he has written books and many law review articles about criminal law and prisons. He has advocated for prison reform and for emergency planning in prisons.[4] Robbins opposes private prisons, and in 2016, was elected to the Board of Directors of Abolish Private Prisons.

In 2018, Robbins was one of more than 2,400 law professors signing a letter to the United States Senate, asking them not to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.[5] After the 2016 United States presidential election, Robbins signed a letter alongside other faculty members at American University asking students and members of the community to condemn discrimination.[6] In February 2020, Robbins signed a letter submitted to Congress as part of the first impeachment of Donald Trump.[7] Robbins has also contributed on the Supreme Court of the United States Blog.[8]

Robbins is known for his studies regarding the First Amendment, and has been quoted in many articles and cases discussing the use of the middle finger and freedom of expression.[9] [10] He has stated that, while giving a police officer the finger is "not the smartest thing to do," it is not illegal and a conviction for the gesture would likely not be upheld on appeal.[11] In 2008, Robbins wrote an 83-page article titled Digitus Impudicus: The Middle Finger and the Law, which discusses the use of the gesture and its relation to the law.[12] [13] [14] Robbins was also featured discussing the gesture in a comedic video for The Colbert Report.[15]

Selected publications

Books

Articles

Personal life

Robbins enjoys photography, and enters his photographs into competitions, such as the International Lawyer's Photography Competition.[16]

Awards

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Drabant . Anna . WCL profs weigh in on Supreme Court justices . 2 May 2020 . The Eagle . October 21, 2004.
  2. News: Norcia . Alex . The Strange Convergence of QAnon, Citizen's Arrest, and a Dead Mob Boss . 30 April 2020 . Vice . July 23, 2019.
  3. News: Stone . Thai Phi . Attorney Briefs From Washington Lawyer . 1 May 2020 . DC Bar . 2010.
  4. News: Lustbader . Sarah . AS HURRICANE NEARS, SOUTH CAROLINA WON'T EVACUATE OVER 900 PRISONERS IN A RED ZONE . 2 May 2020 . The Appeal . September 12, 2018.
  5. News: The Senate Should Not Confirm Kavanaugh . The New York Times . 26 April 2020 . October 3, 2018.
  6. News: An open letter from American University faculty members to students after the 2016 US elections . 2 May 2020 . The Eagle . November 21, 2016.
  7. Web site: IMPEACHMENT; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 24 . United States Congress . 1 May 2020.
  8. Web site: Robbins . Ira . Scholarship highlight: The Supreme Court's misuse of per curiam opinions . SCOTUS Blog . 5 October 2012 . 1 May 2020.
  9. News: Mayes . Steve . Clackamas man exercises free speech rights by giving cops the finger . 30 April 2020 . The Oregonian . February 28, 2010.
  10. News: Weeks . Linton . Is 'Giving The Finger' Getting Out Of Hand? . 30 April 2020 . NPR . August 26, 2010.
  11. News: Nelson . Steven . Conviction for Giving Ex-Wife Middle Finger Overturned . 1 May 2020 . U.S. News & World Report . November 3, 2016.
  12. Robbins . Ira . Digitus Impudicus: The Middle Finger and the Law . University of California, Davis . 41 . 1403–1485 . 30 April 2020.
  13. News: Lamoureux . Mack . The Long, Angry History of Flipping the Bird . 30 April 2020 . Vice . November 9, 2017.
  14. News: Brinkerhoff . Noel . Wallechinsky . David . Police Not Allowed to Arrest People for Giving them the Finger . 30 April 2020 . AllGov . January 5, 2013.
  15. Web site: Johnson . Kevin R. . UC Davis Law Review on The Colbert Report . 30 April 2010 . 1 May 2020.
  16. Web site: 5th Annual International Lawyers' Photography Competition: Photo from Professor Ira P. Robbins, American University, Washington College of Law . Lawyers Business Development Club . 24 February 2020 . 30 April 2020.

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