Marci Ann Hamilton serves as the Fox Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Political Science, is the head of CHILD USA, and writes regular legal analysis columns as a contributor for Verdict on Justia.
Major Legal Contributions & Advocacy
- Boerne v. Flores: Hamilton served as lead counsel for the City of Boerne, Texas, successfully challenging the constitutionality of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1997.
- Statutes of Limitations Reform: She is a leading national expert on clergy sex abuse and has actively advised legislators across the country on reforming child sex abuse statutes of limitations (SOL).
- Religious Liberty Critic: She is a leading public intellectual critic of extreme religious liberty, arguing that religious conduct should not be legally protected when it brings harm to vulnerable populations.
Notable Publications & Background
- Books Written: Author of God vs. the Gavel: The Perils of Extreme Religious Liberty (nominated for a Pulitzer Prize) and Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children.
- Prestigious Clerkships: Clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Judge Edward R. Becker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
- Education: Earned her B.A. from Vanderbilt University, dual M.A. degrees from Pennsylvania State University, and her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review.
