Professor Kate Levine Receives AALS Prize for Scholarship in Professional Responsibility

Last week, Professor Kate Levine accepted the seventh annual Fred C. Zacharias Memorial Prize for Scholarship in Professional Responsibility for her article, “Who Shouldn't Prosecute the Police,” 101 Iowa L. Rev. 1447 (2016).

Presented by the AALS Section on Professional Responsibility, the Prize recognizes outstanding scholarship in the field. Professor Levine was named a co-winner this year, along with Professor Leslie C. Levin of the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Professor Levine’s article discusses the critically important role that conflict of interest law plays in supporting the now-popular conclusion that local prosecutors should not handle cases against police suspects. It argues that a structural conflict of interest arises when local district attorneys are given the discretion and responsibility to investigate and lead cases against the police.

The paper is part of a body of work reflecting Professor Levine’s interests in the field of criminal procedure, policing, and the ethics of criminal lawyering. In particular she looks at the administration of criminal justice for police who are accused of crimes with an eye to how the perceived and actual special treatment of these criminal suspects both highlights the dysfunction of the criminal justice system and presents a model for reform. Professor Levine’s work has appeared in The Columbia Law Review, The Georgetown Law Journal, and The Iowa Law Review, among other publications. 

“Receiving this award is an honor and an important boost of confidence at this early stage in my career as a legal scholar,” Professor Levine says.” I hope to continue to make connections between legal ethics and criminal law as my career progresses.”