Katheryn Russell-Brown

Katheryn Russell-Brown is a Professor of Law at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law and the director of both the Race and Crime Center for Justice and the UF Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations. Her career spans over two decades in academia, including prior roles at the University of Maryland and visiting positions at American University and CUNY.

• Education: Ph.D. in Criminology (University of Maryland), J.D. (University of California, Hastings), B.A. (University of California, Berkeley)

Her research focuses on race and crime, criminal law, and the sociology of law. Her publications analyze systemic racism in legal systems, including debates on jury override in death penalty cases and the role of racial hoaxes in justice discourse. Her work has influenced legal scholarship and U.S. Supreme Court precedents.

Recent articles explore topics like racial hoaxes, police violence, and critical race theory applications. She has been recognized with the Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship (2009) for integrating criminal justice issues into elementary education. Her books include The Color of Crime and Criminal Law, alongside a children’s biography, Little Melba and Her Big Trombone.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship (2009)