Mark Osler

Professor Mark Osler at the University of St. Thomas School of Law is a leading advocate for sentencing and clemency policies rooted in human dignity. As Robert and Marion Short Distinguished Chair in Law, he founded the Federal Expungement Initiative to address non-violent federal criminal records, co-founded the Clemency Resource Center, and spearheaded the first federal commutations law clinic. His work has been cited in New York Times editorials and featured in major publications like Rolling Stone.

• Education: Yale Law School (JD), College of William and Mary (BA)

His research spans criminal law, death penalty, federal commutations, clemency, and prisoner rights. Recent publications focus on clemency system reform, drug policy, and racial disparities in sentencing. He testified as an expert before the U.S. Sentencing Commission and House Subcommittee on Crime.

His 15 most recent articles analyze federal clemency trends, sentencing equity, and intersections of criminal justice with religious ethics. Key themes include judicial discretion in drug sentencing, systemic reform, and constitutional principles of mercy.

Scientific Awards:

• Professor of the Year (2016, 2019)
• Dean's Award for Outstanding Scholarship (2015)
• Outstanding Teaching Award (2013)

Osler co-founded the Clemency Resource Center, which secured freedom for over 100 individuals through commutation petitions. He is also a published author of casebooks and memoirs on criminal law themes, including Jesus on Death Row and Prosecuting Jesus. His work bridges legal scholarship, practical advocacy, and public discourse.