Salmon Shomade

Salmon Shomade is a Professor of Political Science at Oxford College, Emory University, with expertise in Judicial Politics and African Politics. He has a multidisciplinary background combining civil engineering, law (JD), and political science (PhD). Shomade explores intersections of colonial legacies, legal systems, and contemporary governance in Africa, alongside U.S. constitutional law and criminal justice.

Education:

• BS, Clark Atlanta University (1988)
• B.Eng, Georgia Institute of Technology (1989)
• MBA, University of Virginia Darden Graduate School (1992)
• J.D., University of Virginia School of Law (1997)
• PhD, University of Arizona (2007)

His research focuses on judicial decision-making processes, colonial impacts on African legal systems, and specialized courts like drug courts. Recent publications analyze the persistence of colonial legal frameworks in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, and interpersonal dynamics in U.S. state supreme courts.

Shomade's scientific awards include a 2018 nomination for the Emory Williams Distinguished Teaching Award. He actively engages students in research on judicial politics and African governance, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration.