Autumn Walden

Autumn Walden serves as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies within the Division of Social & Behavioral Science at Elmira College, holding a full-time tenured-track position since May 2021. She concurrently maintains an active legal practice in Pennsylvania, specializing predominantly in criminal defense with additional focus on family law.

Her academic credentials include:

• Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice (now Criminal Justice) from Pennsylvania State University (1991)
• Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law (2004)
• Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Pennsylvania State University (2021)

Her research centers on prosecutorial and judicial discretion through the focal concerns perspective theory, currently developing her master's thesis for publication. This work critically examines decision-making processes within the U.S. criminal justice system, integrating theoretical frameworks with practical legal applications. Her expertise spans constitutional law implementation, sentencing disparities, and the intersection of legal theory with courtroom practice, particularly in criminal defense contexts.