Austin Sarat

William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College

Austin Sarat is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College. The views expressed here do not represent Amherst College. 


Latest from

Austin Sarat

4d ago
Opinion

Alabama governor spares us one more state-sponsored spectacle of cruelty

Alabama will no longer go through with the execution of Charles Lee Burton, a 75-year-old man who was not in the building when a man was murdered during a 1991 robbery.

1mos ago
Opinion

Don Lemon’s arrest was meant to send a message. Here’s how judges can send one back.

To keep the press free in the face of authoritarian threats, the courts must do more to protect journalists.

2mos ago
Opinion

Impeaching Trump now would be a mistake

Democrats pursuing impeachment now would be, at best, a distraction from Trump’s real vulnerabilities, and even if it succeeded, such a pursuit would not save American democracy.

2mos ago
Opinion

This new DOJ fraud division gives Trump a tool no president should have

Never before has the politicization of justice been so blatant or so dangerous.

2mos ago
Opinion

Jack Smith made Republicans look foolish — so they dumped his testimony on New Year’s Eve

The former special prosecutor’s testimony will help history judge Trump’s attempt to hold onto power after losing the 2020 election.

4mos ago
Opinion

Greg Bovino’s blatant lying to a judge crossed a line — even for MAGA supporters

Courtroom falsehoods by administration officials are a particular dereliction of duty.

5mos ago
MS NOW Opinion

Trump’s claim that the DOJ owes him ‘a lot of money’ is part of a bigger plan

The demand for reimbursement is another one of Trump’s frequent efforts to rewrite the past.

7mos ago
MS NOW Opinion

Red states’ National Guard deployments to D.C. upend the Constitution

Trump’s use of the National Guard is entirely out of step with the purpose of state militias.

8mos ago
MS NOW Opinion

A federal judge’s ruling against ICE should be required reading for every American

U.S. District Judge Maame E. Frimpong refused to be deceived by the administration’s smoke and mirrors.

10mos ago
MS NOW Opinion

Trump just turned on the architect of his biggest first-term victories

The president attacked the Federalist Society and its co-founder Leonard Leo, a key adviser to Trump on judicial nominations during his first term.