Barbara O'Brien

Barbara O'Brien is a Professor of Law at the Michigan State University College of Law, specializing in criminal law, procedure, and empirical analysis of legal issues. She serves as the Editor of the National Registry of Exonerations, a comprehensive database documenting U.S. exonerations since 1989.

• Education
  • Ph.D. in Social Psychology, University of Michigan
  • J.D., University of Colorado
  • B.A. in Economics, Bowdoin College

Her research focuses on predictors of false convictions, prosecutorial decision-making, and the role of race in capital punishment proceedings and jury selection. She collaborates with Professor Catherine Grosso on an ongoing National Science Foundation project analyzing racial influences in capital case voir dire using conversation analysis.