Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Professor Zachary D. Clopton has been named the inaugural Robert A. Clifford Scholar-in-Residence at DePaul University College of Law. A committee of leading civil justice law faculty examined the work of professors nationwide who have contributed to this field and chose Clopton as the inaugural Scholar.
The Clifford Scholar-in-Residence program promotes and furthers the discussion of civil justice issues that impact all Americans. A cornerstone of this program is a presentation to the entire legal community that features a response from a visiting senior commentator.
The Clifford Scholar-in-Residence program complements the annual Clifford Symposium on Tort Law & Social Policy, which has brought together civil justice scholars for more than a quarter-century to share their ideas and publish their work, and it continues the tradition of developing up-and-coming civil justice scholars.
This program builds on the vision of DePaul Law alumnus Bob Clifford, who has sought to reform civil justice in myriad ways, including thoughtful dialogue among academics and practicing lawyers. “It always has been highly important to me throughout my legal career to give back to the community,” says Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices in Chicago. “One of the ways I have found most effective is through the sharing of scholarly work from the best of the best. That is the purpose and goal of the Clifford Scholar-in-Residence program. Those who have worked so hard to study issues that impact consumers in the civil justice system as well as other lawyers and those in the judiciary all can benefit from legal scholars who have poured themselves into work that can make our legal system more just and more transparent.”
Clopton’s presentation—”Multi-District Litigation (MDL) as Category”—will take place online from 12-1p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16. The event will feature commentary from Stanford Law Professor Nora Freeman Engstrom and reflections from Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois. Registration is required to attend the program. To learn more, click here.
Clopton’s scholarly work explores recent developments in the law of civil procedure that have undercut court access and private enforcement in federal courts. His work considers its implications for state courts, public enforcement and newer forms of mass dispute resolution. Clopton has built on his research to file amicus briefs, consultation on legislation and rulemaking, and publication of articles for public audiences on these topics. “One of my goals is to use my scholarship to contribute to public policy, and the Clifford Scholar-in-Residence program will be a great platform from which to do that,” he says.
In March 2021, the Clifford Scholar-in-Residence program will culminate in a wide-ranging Q&A session between Clopton and DePaul Law Professor and Jaharis Health Law Institute Director Wendy Netter Epstein, which will be made available to the public through a YouTube video.
Prior to joining the faculty at Northwestern, Clopton was an associate professor at Cornell University and a public law fellow at the University of Chicago. He also clerked for the Honorable Diane Wood, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and served as an assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, including as a member of the NATO Chicago Summit Task Force.
For further information, please contact Clifford Law Offices Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909 (cell).