معرفی
Robert W. Tuttle is the David R. and Sherry Kirschner Berz Research Professor of Law and Religion at the George Washington University Law School, where he has taught since 1994. He also holds a courtesy appointment as Professor of Religion in the University's Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. As Associate Dean for Academic Development, Professor Tuttle plays a significant leadership role at GW Law while maintaining his scholarly focus on the intersection of law and religion.
Professor Tuttle's educational background includes a BA from the College of William & Mary, an MA from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, a JD from The George Washington University, and a PhD in religious ethics from the University of Virginia.
Professor Tuttle's research spans the complex relationship between religious freedom and governmental authority, with particular expertise in church-state law and legal ethics. His scholarship critically examines the Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause, and ministerial exception doctrine, analyzing how constitutional principles apply to contemporary issues like religious displays in public spaces, government funding of religious social services, and religious accommodations in employment and social service contexts. His work often explores tensions between religious liberty claims and anti-discrimination principles, particularly in areas such as foster care, adoption services, and same-sex marriage.
Professor Tuttle's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on the evolving interpretation of religion clauses in the Constitution. His scholarship tracks the Supreme Court's shifting approach to Establishment Clause jurisprudence, the expanding scope of the ministerial exception, and growing tensions between religious freedom claims and civil rights protections. His collaborative work with Ira C. Lupu represents a significant scholarly contribution to understanding how government interacts with religious institutions in the social welfare context.
Professor Tuttle serves as legal counsel to the Washington, D.C., Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and as a consultant for Lutheran Services in America. He also holds an appointment as Senior Fellow of the Emory University Center for Law and Religion. His expertise is frequently sought by media outlets on church-state issues, as evidenced by numerous citations in major news publications regarding cases involving the Ten Commandments in public schools and other religion clause controversies.
