Martha Jones, an expert on the history of the 14th Amendment and how black Americans constructed their rights through legal proceedings, will deliver the second Dean’s Lecture on Race, Law, & Society at Notre Dame Law School.
Jones, the Society of Black Alumni Presidential Professor and Professor of History at Johns Hopkins University, will present on the topic of her forthcoming book, “Birthright Citizens: Winners and Losers in the Long History of the 14th Amendment,” at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, in 1130 Eck Hall of Law.
Notre Dame Law School is presenting the lecture in collaboration with The Center for Civil and Human Rights.
"This lecture series is designed to enrich conversations about race, law, and society during a time when civil conversation has become difficult. I look forward to another thought-provoking lecture," said Nell Jessup Newton, Joseph A. Matson Dean and Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School.
Jones earned her J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law in 1987, and spent the next 10 years working in community-based law clinics representing homeless people, people with mental illness, and women living with HIV and AIDS.
Following her time in the community clinics, Jones began researching and earned her Ph.D. in history at Columbia University in 2001. Jones’ area of expertise is 19th century American history, focusing on law, culture, and inequality.
“It’s a privilege to have a distinguished scholar like Martha Jones visit NDLS to share her experience and perspective with our students,” said Jennifer Mason McAward, director of The Center for Civil and Human Rights. “The Center for Civil and Human Rights is pleased to work with the Law School to bring such an important voice to our campus.”
Jones has been awarded a number of fellowships and grants for her research and holds several leadership roles at national organizations. She is co-president of the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians, and serves on the executive board of the Organization of American Historians, the nominating committee for the American Society for Legal History, and the book prize committee for the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic.
Originally published by at law.nd.edu on November 01, 2017.