Ellen D. Katz
Ralph W. Aigler Professor of Law
Ellen D. Katz is a leading scholar of election law and voting rights who serves as associate dean for academic programming at Michigan Law. She created the Voting Rights Initiative, which provides comprehensive data on minority political participation. Before joining the Michigan faculty, she practiced in the appellate sections of the DOJ Civil Division and Environment and Natural Resources Division. Her empirical scholarship on Voting Rights Act litigation has been widely cited by courts and scholars.
Teaching Style
Professor Katz is a clear and organized lecturer who uses targeted Socratic questioning to guide students through complex statutory and constitutional frameworks. She is particularly effective at helping students understand how anti-discrimination principles operate in practice, frequently drawing on her empirical research on the Voting Rights Act. She expects students to come to class well-prepared and is known for calling on students who may not have volunteered.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Know the statutory framework of the Voting Rights Act and key Supreme Court precedents before class
- 2Be prepared to discuss empirical evidence of discrimination in voting and its legal significance
- 3For Property, focus on understanding the policy rationale behind property rules and doctrines
- 4Practice connecting theoretical concepts of equality to concrete legal disputes
Areas of Expertise
Education
- J.D., Yale Law School
- B.A., Yale University
Notable Publications
- Documenting Discrimination in Voting: Judicial Findings Under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
Research Interests
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