Elisabeth Semel

Elisabeth Semel is the Chancellor’s Clinical Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Death Penalty Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She joined the faculty in 2001 after a career as a criminal defense attorney and director of the American Bar Association’s Death Penalty Representation Project. Her work focuses on capital punishment, racial justice, and reforming discriminatory jury selection practices. Semel has published influential reports like Whitewashing the Jury Box (2020) and Guess Who’s Coming to Jury Duty (2024), which spurred legislative changes in California. She has received prestigious awards, including the Berkeley Law Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) and an Honorary Doctorate from Bard College (2016).

Education:

• B.A., Bard College (1972)
• J.D., UC Davis (1975)

Research Interests: Semel’s scholarship addresses systemic racial bias in the criminal justice system, particularly in jury selection. Her work combines legal advocacy, empirical research, and policy analysis to combat discrimination and promote equitable outcomes. She has testified before Congress and state legislatures, emphasizing reform of peremptory challenge practices.

Grants & Advising: Semel mentors students in the Death Penalty Clinic, where they collaborate on high-impact litigation and policy initiatives. Her students have contributed to landmark briefs in U.S. Supreme Court cases like Miller-El v. Cockrell and Snyder v. Louisiana. Though specific grant details are not detailed, her work is sustained through institutional and advocacy funding.

Labs/Teams: The Death Penalty Clinic serves as a hub for clinical education and advocacy, combining legal representation with scholarly research. Semel’s Batson Reform State by State project tracks legislative changes nationwide, offering a critical resource for practitioners and policymakers.