About
James Sample is a Professor of Law at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where he has been a faculty member since 2009. He teaches Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, Civil Procedure, Administrative Law, and occasionally courses in Political Science. He has been recognized four times by graduating students as the school’s Professor of the Year.
- Institution: Hofstra University
- School: Maurice A. Deane School of Law
- Academic Rank: Professor
- Joined Faculty: 2009
Professor Sample holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School (2003), where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone and James Kent Scholar and a notes editor on the Columbia Law Review. Prior to law school, he was a three-time Emmy Award-winning producer with NBC Sports.
- JD, Columbia University, 2003
- BA, Boston College, 1995
His research centers on constitutional law and democracy, with a focus on judicial ethics, campaign finance, voting rights, and constitutional democracy. His scholarly work has led to publications in prominent law reviews and journals, including the American University Law Review and the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics. He is also co-author of the sixth edition of Judicial Conduct & Ethics.
His recent publications reflect a consistent trend in examining the intersection of law, politics, and democratic institutions. Themes include judicial recusal, electoral reform, the impact of campaign spending on judicial impartiality, and the evolution of judicial elections. These works demonstrate a deep engagement with both doctrinal legal analysis and empirical political science perspectives.
Professor Sample is frequently cited in major media outlets and serves as a legal and political analyst for national networks including MSNBC, CNN, CBS-NY, ABC, and Fox News. His public commentary appears in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Slate, Newsweek, and The National Law Journal.
- Chosen as Professor of the Year by graduating students (4 times)
- Three-time Emmy Award winner (as NBC Sports producer)
Professor Sample has advised governmental committees and spoken at national conferences on legal and constitutional issues. He previously served as counsel in the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU and worked on Brian Schweitzer’s gubernatorial campaign in Montana. He also clerked for Judge Sidney R. Thomas of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
He is actively involved in public legal education and media commentary, contributing regularly to ABC News as a legal contributor. His work bridges academia and public discourse, making complex constitutional issues accessible to broader audiences.
