David D. Cole
Encyclopedia
David D. Cole is an American
law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center
. He has published in various legal fields including civil rights
, criminal justice
, constitutional law
and law and literature. He has litigated First Amendment
and other constitutional issues and contributes regularly to the media on topical legal issues.
and Yale Law School
. After graduating from law school, Cole served as a law clerk to Judge Arlin M. Adams
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
. He then became a staff attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights
, where he litigated a number of major First Amendment
cases, including:
He continues to litigate First Amendment and other constitutional issues as a volunteer staff attorney at the Center where he is also a member of the Board of Directors. He is also co-chairman of the Constitution Project
's Liberty and Security Committee.
, in particular First Amendment
law, criminal procedure
and law relating to United States federal courts
.
He has lectured and contributed academic articles on related topics including U.S. drugs policy
, the U.S. War on Terror
, capital punishment
, and Judicial Review
.
, the National Lawyers Guild
, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
, the American Muslim Council
, and the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of the Freedom of Expression.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
. He has published in various legal fields including civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
, constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
and law and literature. He has litigated First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
and other constitutional issues and contributes regularly to the media on topical legal issues.
Legal career
Cole studied at Yale CollegeYale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
. After graduating from law school, Cole served as a law clerk to Judge Arlin M. Adams
Arlin M. Adams
Arlin Marvin Adams is a retired senior federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He is currently of counsel to Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP.- Early life and education :...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
. He then became a staff attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for Constitutional Rights
Al Odah v. United States:Al Odah is the latest in a series of habeas corpus petitions on behalf of people imprisoned at the Guantanamo Bay detention center. The case challenges the Military Commissions system’s suitability as a habeas corpus substitute and the legality, in general, of detention at...
, where he litigated a number of major First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
cases, including:
- Texas v. JohnsonTexas v. JohnsonTexas v. Johnson, , was an important decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that invalidated prohibitions on desecrating the American flag enforced in 48 of the 50 states. Justice William Brennan wrote for a five-justice majority in holding that the defendant's act of flag burning was...
, 491 U.S. 397 (1989) - United States v. EichmanUnited States v. EichmanUnited States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 was a United States Supreme Court case that invalidated a federal law against flag desecration as violative of free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution. It was argued together with the case United States v...
, 496 U.S. 928 (1990) - National Endowment for the Arts v. FinleyNational Endowment for the Arts v. FinleyIn National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley, 524 U.S. 569 , the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act, as amended in 1990), which required the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts to ensure that "artistic excellence...
, 524 U.S. 569 (1998)
He continues to litigate First Amendment and other constitutional issues as a volunteer staff attorney at the Center where he is also a member of the Board of Directors. He is also co-chairman of the Constitution Project
Constitution Project
The Constitution Project is an non-profit think tank in the United States that builds bipartisan consensus on significant constitutional and legal questions. Founded and led by Virginia Sloan, the Constitution Project’s work is divided between two programs: the Rule of Law Program and the Criminal...
's Liberty and Security Committee.
Academic career
He is now a member of the Georgetown University Law Faculty. His main areas of expertise are constitutional lawConstitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
, in particular First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
law, criminal procedure
Criminal procedure
Criminal procedure refers to the legal process for adjudicating claims that someone has violated criminal law.-Basic rights:Currently, in many countries with a democratic system and the rule of law, criminal procedure puts the burden of proof on the prosecution – that is, it is up to the...
and law relating to United States federal courts
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
.
He has lectured and contributed academic articles on related topics including U.S. drugs policy
War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...
, the U.S. War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
, and Judicial Review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
.
Media commentary
- He has been the legal affairs correspondent for The NationThe NationThe Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
since 2000. - He is a commentator on U.S. National Public Radio: All Things ConsideredAll Things ConsideredAll Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
.
Awards
Professor Cole has received numerous awards from professional bodies and campaigning groups for his civil rights and civil liberties work, including from the American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, the National Lawyers Guild
National Lawyers Guild
The National Lawyers Guild is an advocacy group in the United States "dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system . ....
, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states that it is the largest Arab American grassroots civil rights organization in the United States. According to its web page it is open to people of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities and has over 40 chapters in 24 states and members in all...
, the American Muslim Council
American Muslim Council
The American Muslim Council is an Islamic organization and registered charity in the United States. Its headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois....
, and the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of the Freedom of Expression.
External links
- Georgetown Law Faculty: David D. Cole biography and selected publications
- Center for Constitutional Rights
- The Nation: articles by David D. Cole
- SSRN: articles by David D. Cole
- Video: David Cole - Enemy Aliens & Constitutional Freedoms (February 27, 2007)
- Cole article archive from The New York Review of BooksThe New York Review of BooksThe New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...