R. Richard Banks
Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor of Law
R. Richard Banks is the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, where he has been on the faculty since 1998. He also holds a courtesy appointment at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. His book Is Marriage for White People? explored how the decline of marriage among African Americans affects broader society and was widely reviewed in national media. He is co-author of leading casebooks on racial justice and family law.
Teaching Style
Professor Banks creates an open and thought-provoking classroom environment where students are encouraged to grapple honestly with issues of race and inequality. He cold-calls students regularly but fosters a supportive atmosphere for discussing sensitive topics. His teaching integrates social science research with legal doctrine, pushing students to consider how law shapes and is shaped by social structures.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Be prepared to engage with social science data and empirical research on race and family structure
- 2Understand the doctrinal frameworks for employment discrimination claims under Title VII and the Equal Protection Clause
- 3Read broadly about the intersection of race, class, and family law -- Banks approaches these topics interdisciplinarily
- 4Come ready to discuss policy implications and not just legal rules
Areas of Expertise
Education
- B.A. and M.A., Stanford University
- J.D., Harvard Law School
Notable Publications
- Is Marriage for White People?: How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone
- Racial Justice and the Law: Cases and Materials (casebook)
- Family Law in a Changing America (casebook)
Research Interests
More Professors at Stanford Law School
Constitutional Law, Constitutional Litigation, Voting Rights, Civil Rights
Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Antitrust, Law and Technology
Constitutional Law, First Amendment, Church and State, Separation of Powers
Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Sentencing, Law and Literature
Constitutional Law, Election Law, Law of Democracy, Technology and Governance
Constitutional Law, Legislation and Statutory Interpretation, Sexuality and the Law