Patricia J. Williams

Columnist

@madlawprofessor

Patricia J. Williams is University Professor of Law and Philosophy, and director of Law, Technology and Ethics at Northeastern University.

GPS Ankle Monitor

Why Everyone Should Care About Mass E-carceration Why Everyone Should Care About Mass E-carceration

The social costs of constant surveillance are greater than we might think.

Apr 29, 2019 / Column / Patricia J. Williams

Trump at Colorado Rally

Our Toxic-Speech Epidemic Our Toxic-Speech Epidemic

Trump likes his words free, loud, and hateful. Just don’t take him literally.

Apr 1, 2019 / Column / Patricia J. Williams

Gucci Blackface

White People Can’t Quit Blackface White People Can’t Quit Blackface

And it’s not because they think it’s funny.

Feb 20, 2019 / Column / Patricia J. Williams

Fish market

We Have Entered A Dangerous Moral Universe We Have Entered A Dangerous Moral Universe

What futures can we imagine when we no longer trust our senses?

Dec 19, 2018 / Column / Patricia J. Williams

Lindsey Graham Kavanaugh

Kavanaugh’s Defenders in Congress Don’t Care About Process Kavanaugh’s Defenders in Congress Don’t Care About Process

The hearings reveal disparities in who gets to speak out—and who must remain silent.

Oct 4, 2018 / Column / Patricia J. Williams

Brett Kavanaugh with Trump

Reasons to Believe Reasons to Believe

10 ways to respond to Brett Kavanaugh’s defenders.

Sep 26, 2018 / Column / Patricia J. Williams

Kondabolu Problem With Apu

‘White Voice,’ Blackface, and the Ethics of Representation ‘White Voice,’ Blackface, and the Ethics of Representation

When is it fair to speak with someone else’s voice?

Aug 17, 2018 / Column / Patricia J. Williams

Brett Kavanaugh

Judge Kavanaugh: An Originalist With a New—and Terrifying—Interpretation of Executive Power Judge Kavanaugh: An Originalist With a New—and Terrifying—Interpretation of Executive Power

With an ultraconservative majority on the Supreme Court, it will be up to Congress to save our civil rights.

Jul 13, 2018 / Patricia J. Williams

child-separation-rtr_img

The Generational Trauma of Separating Families The Generational Trauma of Separating Families

The roots of Trump’s child-detention policy are in American history.

Jun 20, 2018 / Column / Patricia J. Williams

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) sign

Banned From Israel: A Q&A With Law Professor Katherine Franke Banned From Israel: A Q&A With Law Professor Katherine Franke

Franke was turned away at the Israeli border after appearing on an anonymous site targeting more than 2,000 critics of Israel.

Jun 8, 2018 / Q&A / Patricia J. Williams

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