Ira P. Robbins | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Professor |
| Academic background | |
| Education | |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Legal scholar |
| Institutions |
|
| 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]
Robbins attended The University of Pennsylvania,where he received an A.B. degree. Robbins later graduated from Harvard Law School,receiving a juris doctor.
Robbins served as a Supreme Court Fellow from 1985 to 1986,training federal judges on habeas corpus and supporting the Federal Judicial Center.
Robbins has been a professor of law at the American University Washington College of Law since 1979. [2] Robbins is a member of the New York and District of Columbia 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.
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. [5] 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. [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 to SCOTUSblog . [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]
Robbins enjoys photography,and enters his photographs into competitions,such as the International Lawyer's Photography Competition. [16]