Francesca Laguardia

Francesca Laguardia is a Professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University's College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She holds a BA from the University of Chicago, a JD and PhD from New York University. Previously served as Director of Research at NYU's Center on Law and Security. Her work focuses on domestic terrorism, torture policy, civil liberties, criminal justice reform, and abortion rights. She currently serves as Contributing Editor to the Criminal Law Bulletin and held a 2022 Criminal Justice Fellowship at Fordham Law School's Center on National Security.

Education:

• PhD, New York University
• Juris Doctor (JD), New York University
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Chicago

Research Interests: Professor Laguardia's research critically examines intersections between criminal justice systems and civil liberties, with particular focus on post-9/11 policies, domestic terrorism legislation, and gender-based judicial biases. Her work bridges legal theory with practical policy analysis, emphasizing systemic accountability and human rights protections.

Her recent publications explore topics such as judicial treatment of abortion rights, constitutional threats posed by counterterrorism measures, and challenges in identifying right-wing terrorism through legal and social scientific data. She has contributed op-eds to major media outlets including NJ.com and The Daily Beast, addressing contemporary issues in law and public policy.