Matthew Boaz

Matthew Boaz is an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Kentucky's J. David Rosenberg College of Law, joining in 2024. He teaches Torts, Immigration Law, and a crimmigration seminar. Previously, he served as Director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at Washington & Lee University Law School (2019–2024), where he also taught Criminal Law and supervised student representation in immigration cases. His research focuses on the intersection of criminal and immigration law, abolition theory, and immigration detention reform, with publications in leading legal journals including the North Carolina Law Review and Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. His work has been cited by major media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Al Jazeera.

Educational Background:

• J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center (2015), with a certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Studies
• B.A. in Political Science (summa cum laude) from Texas Christian University (2010)

Boaz’s scholarship emphasizes decarceration strategies and universal legal representation for immigrants. He has advocated for policy reforms at state and federal levels, including securing $2.1 million in state funding for immigrant detainee representation in New Jersey. His honors include two Jessine A. Monaghan Fellowships (2021, 2023) recognizing innovative experiential legal education.

He has extensive clinical experience, representing over 100 detained individuals in removal proceedings and advocating for systemic reforms. Fluent in Spanish, Boaz has collaborated with organizations like the American Friends Service Committee and contributed to Lawfare’s immigration commentary. His presentations span academic and community engagement, addressing topics like asylum law, civil liberties, and the future of immigration enforcement agencies.