Sarah A. Seo

Sarah A. Seo is a Professor of Law at New York University School of Law. She holds an AB and PhD in History from Princeton University and a JD from Columbia Law School. Her research focuses on Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Legal History, with a particular emphasis on how law intersects with social control and technological change. Her 2019 book, Policing the Open Road: How Cars Transformed American Freedom, received multiple prestigious awards and is cited in judicial opinions. Seo has held prior academic roles at Columbia Law School, Harvard Law School, and the University of Iowa College of Law. She has also clerked for federal judges and practiced law in an international firm.

Her scholarship spans academic journals and popular media, including contributions to The Atlantic, New York Times, and Washington Post. She critiques historical and contemporary policing practices, exploring topics like conspiracy laws, sexual policing, and federalism’s impact on law enforcement.

Seo’s awards include the Order of the Coif Book Award and the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award. She actively engages in policy debates through her writing and teaching, addressing issues like public defender systems and traffic enforcement reforms.