Mario Barnes

Mario Barnes is a Chancellor's Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He previously served as the Dean of the University of Washington School of Law and has held multiple leadership roles at UCI Law, including Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Founder of the Center on Law, Equality, and Race (CLEAR). His research focuses on criminal law, constitutional law, national security law, and race-related legal issues. Barnes holds a J.D. from UC Berkeley and an LL.M. from the University of Wisconsin.

Education: B.A. (1990), J.D. (1995) from UC Berkeley; LL.M. (2004) from University of Wisconsin.

Research Interests: Barnes explores the intersection of race and law, particularly in policing, military justice, and affirmative action. His work critiques systemic racism and advocates for equitable legal frameworks. Key projects include analyzing McCleskey v. Kemp and Fisher v. University of Texas, and challenging post-racial legal narratives.

Awards: Recipient of the AALS Ferguson Award (2015) and AALS Derrick A. Bell Jr. Award (2008). Recognized as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Distinguished Fellow of the National Institute of Military Justice.

Advising and Grants: Played a pivotal role in curriculum development at UCI Law and launched initiatives like CLEAR. His military service (12 years active duty, including roles as prosecutor and special assistant U.S. attorney) informs his scholarship on national security and military law.

Labs/Teams: Founder of the Center on Law, Equality, and Race (CLEAR), fostering interdisciplinary research on race and legal equality.