Gabriel Chin

Gabriel Chin serves as the Edward L. Barrett Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Legal Education at UC Davis School of Law. A preeminent scholar in Immigration Law, Criminal Procedure, and Race and Law, his work has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in landmark cases including Padilla v. Kentucky (2010) and Chaidez v. United States (2013), where the Court designated his Cornell Law Review article as "the principal scholarly article on the subject." He teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Immigration while leading impactful clinical programs.

Professor Chin's academic foundation includes:

• LL.M. from Yale Law School (1995)
• J.D. cum laude from University of Michigan Law School (1988)
• B.A. in History from Wesleyan University (1985)

His research critically examines systemic racial inequities across legal domains, with pioneering work on collateral consequences of criminal convictions influencing constitutional doctrine. He investigates historical roots of discrimination in immigration policy, citizenship law, and criminal justice through projects like the repeal of Jim Crow-era provisions and analysis of Chinese Exclusion laws. His scholarship consistently bridges historical analysis with contemporary civil rights advocacy, particularly in Asian American legal history.

Chin's publication trajectory reveals sustained focus on race-immigration-criminal justice intersections, evolving from foundational collateral consequences research to historical excavations of federal immigration regulation and anti-Asian discrimination. Recent works analyze the 1965 Immigration Act's unintended multicultural impact and constitutional challenges to state immigration enforcement, while maintaining emphasis on practical reform through clinical education and policy advocacy.

His honors include:

• Recognition as one of 25 Most Notable Asians in America by A Magazine
• Election to the American Law Institute
• Chester H. Smith Professorship at University of Arizona
• Rufus King Professorship at University of Cincinnati

Through clinical programs, Chin mentors students in high-impact legal advocacy, including successful repeal of discriminatory laws (Ohio's 14th Amendment ratification, anti-Asian land laws) and landmark Hong Yen Chang Bar admission case. Students participate in felony trials, criminal appeals, and policy reform initiatives under his guidance, directly shaping criminal justice and immigration practice.

As Clinical Legal Education Director, Chin oversees UC Davis's experiential learning programs while co-founding the Collateral Consequences Resource Center and serving on the Police Accountability Board, demonstrating commitment to community-centered legal reform and institutional accountability.