Judge Diane P. Wood of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Seventh Circuit, who serves as the chair of ALI's Early Career Scholars Medal Selection Committee, expressed her excitement in presenting the award to the two exceptional professors. Judge Wood noted that Professor Litman's work in federal habeas corpus law is thought-provoking and that she possesses a unique understanding of Supreme Court jurisprudence. Meanwhile, Professor Yang's empirical research and writing on criminal justice reform, coupled with her real-world experience in the field, has the potential to impact the lives of real people positively.
Professor Crystal S. Yang, who holds the Bennett Boskey Professor of Law position at Harvard Law School and serves as a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, has been appointed co-director of the Crime Working Group. Her research interests center around empirical law and economics, particularly criminal justice and consumer bankruptcy. Her current research projects include examining racial bias in the criminal justice system, spillover effects of deportation fear, and healthcare provision in correctional facilities.
According to John F. Manning, Morgan, and Helen Chu, Dean and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, Professor Yang is an outstanding scholar who combines academic rigor with practical relevance and impact. Her research cuts across various areas, such as criminal law and process, consumer debt, welfare and immigration policy, and healthcare for incarcerated individuals. Professor Yang uses advanced statistical and economic methods to uncover how law and legal institutions contribute to inequality and discrimination.
The American Law Institute will present the awards to Professor Yang and Professor Leah Litman at its 2024 Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
