January 24, 2024

Southwestern Law School Hosts Professor Melissa Murray for the 2024 Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Annual Lecture

Los Angeles, CA – Southwestern Law School is proud to announce the 2024 Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Annual Lecture, featuring the distinguished legal scholar, Professor Melissa Murray of NYU School of Law. The lecture is scheduled for February 29, 2024, where Professor Murray will address "Dobbs and Democracy." 

Professor Murray, a celebrated figure in family law, constitutional law, and reproductive justice, will offer an in-depth analysis of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. She will critically examine the decision's impact on democratic principles, particularly its role in overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, as explored in her recent Harvard Law Review article with Professor Kate Shaw. 

"Professor Murray's visit to Southwestern Law School reflects our institution's commitment to engaging with the most pressing legal issues of our time," said Hila Keren, Associate Dean of Research and Paul E. Treusch Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School. "Anyone who read Professor Murray’s scholarship, listened to her on TV, or has followed her podcast, already knows how inspiring and powerful she is. We are thrilled to bring her brilliant voice and priceless insights regarding the impact of Dobbs to the legal community of Southern California.”   

Professor Murray's career includes contributions to prominent law journals and mainstream media, co-hosting the Strict Scrutiny podcast, and clerkships with Judge Stefan R. Underhill of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Before joining NYU, she served in notable roles at UC Berkeley School of Law, including as interim dean. 

About the Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Annual Lecture 

The Montgomery Annual Lecture serves as a vital platform for advancing legal discourse and scholarship. This series aims to serve as a nexus of intellectual engagement and legal thought leadership, drawing eminent scholars, legal practitioners, and thinkers from the legal community.