Bryan A. Stevenson

Bryan A. Stevenson is the Aronson Family Professor of Criminal Justice and University Professor at New York University School of Law. He joined the clinical faculty in 1998 after a career representing capital defendants and death row prisoners since 1985. A Harvard graduate (MPP and JD, 1985), he founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in 1989, focusing on criminal justice reform and human rights. He has been a vocal advocate for ending mass incarceration and racial bias in the justice system, authoring the bestselling Just Mercy (2014).

Stevenson teaches courses on capital punishment, race, poverty, and criminal justice, including Capital Punishment Law and Litigation and Racial Justice Advocacy and Litigation. His work has earned prestigious awards such as the MacArthur Fellowship and Olof Palme Prize. He is also a key figure in EJI’s initiatives, including the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum.

Scientific achievements include challenging extreme sentencing of juveniles in Supreme Court cases and advocating for social equity. His advocacy blends legal strategy with public education, emphasizing systemic reform and equality.