Austin D. Sarat

Austin D. Sarat is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College, where he has served since 1974. He also served as associate dean of the faculty. His research focuses on capital punishment, legal culture, and the intersection of law with politics, ethics, and society. Sarat has authored or co-authored over 30 books, including seminal works such as Gruesome Spectacles and Mercy on Trial. His interdisciplinary approach bridges law, philosophy, and the humanities, emphasizing law’s role in shaping societal norms.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Wisconsin (1973)
• J.D., Yale Law School (1988)
• B.A., Providence College (1969)
• Multiple honorary degrees, including LL.D. from Providence College (2008)

Research Interests: Sarat’s work explores the cultural and ethical dimensions of law, particularly capital punishment, legal responses to crises, and the moral dilemmas of punishment. He co-teaches courses like “America’s Death Penalty” and “Law and Catastrophe,” blending legal theory with interdisciplinary analysis.

Awards and Honors: Recognitions include the Ronald Pipkin Service Award (2014), the Hugo Adam Bedau Award (2009), and the Harry Kalven Prize (1997). His 1980 article The Emergence and Transformation of Disputes received the APSA Lasting Contribution Award (2011).

Grants and Leadership: Sarat has led major research initiatives, including studies on botched executions and wrongful convictions. He has held leadership roles in organizations like the Law and Society Association and the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities.

Labs and Teams: Collaborates extensively with undergraduates, often involving them in research projects (e.g., co-authoring Gruesome Spectacles with four Amherst students). His work emphasizes student-faculty partnerships in legal scholarship.