Catherine M. Brooks

Catherine M. Brooks is a Professor at Creighton University School of Law, where she has served since joining the faculty in 1990 as an Associate Professor and earning tenure and promotion to full Professor by 1995. She designs and develops family law courses and innovative skills curricula for child advocacy, client counseling, and cultural competence, directing the certificate program in family law studies while coaching student teams to regional and national finalist positions in legal competitions. Her commitment extends beyond graduation as law alumni routinely consult her on complex family law matters including adoption, juvenile delinquency, and custody disputes.

Her academic credentials include a BA (in cursu honorum, summa cum laude) and MA from Fordham University (1977), and a JD from the University of Virginia (1980). She holds membership in prestigious honor societies Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Sigma Nu, and Phi Delta Phi, and is licensed by the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar (state and federal), and Omaha Bar Association.

Brooks' research centers on the legal treatment of vulnerable populations, with rigorous scholarship addressing justice rights of Native American children, equal access rights for children of LGBTQ+ parents, dignity rights of maltreated minors, and minors' refusal of medical treatment. She integrates social justice frameworks into legal pedagogy, emphasizing culturally competent lawyering and systemic reform for marginalized groups. Her work bridges theoretical analysis with practical application, notably through mediation advocacy and child welfare policy critiques.

Publication trends reveal sustained focus on family law and children's rights since the 1990s, evolving from foundational juvenile court manuals to contemporary analyses of bankruptcy practice and bioethics. Recurring themes include inter-jurisdictional adoption conflicts, child sexual abuse in custody cases, and due process in institutional governance. Recent works prioritize skill-building resources for practitioners, reflecting her dedication to translating academic rigor into real-world legal solutions.

Her accolades encompass professional recognition and academic honors:

• Ten Outstanding Young Omahans (1994)
• Phi Beta Kappa membership
• Alpha Sigma Nu membership
• Phi Delta Phi membership

Brooks actively mentors students through skills competitions and alumnus consultations while securing nearly $500,000 in federal grants for a legal clinic and African American law student scholarships. She provides pro bono support to child welfare agencies and serves on the Creighton Inn of Court to guide new lawyers. Her grant work specifically targets equity in legal education and clinic-based child advocacy.

She leads critical institutional initiatives as Chair of the University Committee on Rank & Tenure, creating comprehensive web resources (https://www.creighton.edu/provost/tenure-and-promotion), workshops for evaluators, and revisions to the Faculty Handbook. Previously, she created the Children's Rights Clinic at Seton Hall Law School and served as Assistant Deputy Public Defender in New Jersey, representing children in abuse cases for the Law Guardian Program.