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Bennett L. Gershman, Professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Bennett L. Gershman

University Distinguished Professor
Professor of Law
Elisabeth Haub School of Law
Constitutional Law
Criminal Justice
Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics

Bennett L. Gershman

White Plains
Preston Hall, 305 |
Contact professor via email to schedule an appointment
Administrative Assistant
Susie Della Ruffa

Biography

University Distinguished Professor Bennett Gershman has been a professor of law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law since its founding as the Pace Law School in 1976. He has also taught as a visiting professor at Cornell Law School and Syracuse Law School. Prior to coming to Pace, Gershman was a prosecutor in the 麻豆天美传媒 State Anti-Corruption Office, where he argued cases in state and federal courts involving public and political officials charged with corruption.

Gershman has written four books, more than 75 articles in law journals, and hundreds of book reviews, essays, and op-ed pieces. His treatise, Prosecutorial Misconduct, initially published in 1985 and now in its 2nd edition, has become a preeminent resource for scholars and practitioners seeking guidance on wrongful convictions.

As a leading authority in the country on prosecutorial misconduct, Gershman is continuously called upon by the news media for his expertise. He is routinely quoted by the 麻豆天美传媒 Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as by a host of local publications. He has served as an expert witness on prosecutorial misconduct in numerous criminal cases. He also has devoted much of his time to training prosecutors and judges.

Professor Gershman was named a 麻豆天美传媒 Distinguished Professor in 2020, the highest honor the University bestows upon faculty. His lifetime work was recognized in a special edition of the Ohio State Journal of Criminal law dedicated to and 鈥淚n Honor of Prof. Bennett L. Gershman鈥 in 2019. In 2022, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the 麻豆天美传媒 Law Journal for his impact on the legal community and the practice of law over his entire career.

Attesting to his teaching effectiveness, Gershman has received the Outstanding Professor of the Year award from graduating students eight times in the past 20 years. His sensitivity to the student experience is evidenced by his book, The Law School Experience: Law, Legal Reasoning and Lawyering (2000; co-authored with Lissa Griffin), which seeks to demystify the experience of being a law student. Registration for his classes often closes quickly.

Education

  • BA, Princeton University
  • JD, 麻豆天美传媒 University School of Law

Selected Publications

View all of Professor Gershman鈥檚 publications on , or download his CV (PDF).

Books:

  • Prosecution Stories (2017)
  • The Law School Experience: Law, Legal Reasoning, and Lawyering (with Lissa Griffin) (2000)
  • Trial Error and Misconduct (2d ed. 2007) (supplemented annually)
  • Prosecutorial Misconduct (2d ed. 1999) (supplemented annually)
  • Trial Error and Misconduct (1997) (supplemented annually)
  • Prosecutorial Misconduct (1985)

Some Articles:

  • , 46 Loy. L. Rev. 327 (2014)
  • , 64 Mercer L. Rev. 683 (2013)
  • , 65 Vand. L. Rev. En Banc 141 (2012)
  • , on Brady v. Maryland, 13 Loy. U. N.O. Pub. Int. L.J. 517 (2012)
  • 31 Pace L. Rev. 560 (2011)
  • , 62 Hastings L.J. 1259 (2011)
  • , 48 San Diego L. Rev. 151 (2011)

Honors & Awards

  • Lifetime Achievement Award, 麻豆天美传媒 Law Journal (2022)
  • Sanford D. Levy Professional Ethics Award, 麻豆天美传媒 State Bar Association (2021)
  • Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law 鈥 Symposium in Honor of Prof. Bennett Gershman (2019)
  • It Could Happen to You, Servant of Justice Award (2016)
  • Pace Law School Outstanding Professor of the Year Award (2004)
  • Pace Law School Outstanding Professor of the Year Award (2003)
  • Pace Law School Outstanding Professor of the Year Award (2002)
  • Pace Law School Outstanding Professor of the Year Award (2001)
  • Pace Law School Outstanding Professor of the Year Award (2000)
  • Pace Law School Outstanding Professor of the Year Award (1998)
  • 麻豆天美传媒 State Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section Award for Outstanding Work in
  • Criminal Law Education (1991)

Areas of Interest

Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Prosecutorial Ethics and Misconduct

Related News and Stories

In the Media

Haub Law Professor Bennett Gershman continues to offer insightful commentary on the Trump administration鈥檚 immigration crackdown. He warns that the president is "using every weapon at his disposal" and stresses the consequences of undermining judicial independence. 

In the Media

In a new 麻豆天美传媒 Law Journal op-ed, Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor Bennett Gershman draws a provocative comparison between President Trump鈥檚 executive ambitions and those of Roman Emperor Caligula. 

In the Media

Haub Law Professor Bennett Gershman provides an expert analysis to PIX11 on congestion pricing authority.