Michael B. Mushlin

Education

Professor Michael B. Mushlin teaches Civil Procedure, Evidence, and Prisoners' Rights. Before becoming a law professor he was a civil rights lawyer specializing in federal civil rights class action seeking systemic reform.  He is the author of book chapters, and articles on a variety of subjects involving evidence, federal jurisdiction, civil procedure, children's rights, and prisoners' rights that have appeared in journals such as the Yale Law and Policy Review, UCLA Law Review, Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Law Review, The Journal of Legal Education, Brooklyn Law Review, and the Fordham Urban Law Journal. He also is the author of RIGHTS OF PRISONERS (5th ed West) a four volume comprehensive treatise on the law regarding prisoners' rights and NEW YORK EVIDENCE WITH OBJECTIONS (5^th ed National Institute of Trial Advocacy 2013) (with Lissa Griffin & Jo Ann Harris).

Professor Mushlin was a member of the Task Force on the Legal Status of Prisoners of the American Bar Association. The Task Force promulgated a set of standards govering the operation of prisoners and the rights of prisoners which was adopted and the American Bar Association. He also served as co-chair of the Subcommittee on Implementation of the ABA Resolution on Prison Oversight. He is a member of the New York Advisory Committee on Criminal Law and Procedure of the Office of Court Administration.  Professor Mushlin is served as Chair of the Committee on Corrections of the New York City Bar where he led an investigation into conditions in New York’s Death Row.  He is former Chair of the Board of the Correctional Association and the Osborne Association. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Correctional Law Reporter. Professor Mushlin also served on the boards of Children's Rights Inc. and Pace Law School's John Jay Legal Services Inc. Professor Mushlin has spoken widely on a variety of topics. He was honored by a Resolution of the Texas House of Representatives for his work together with Prof. Michele Deitch in organizing a national conference that focused on the oversight of U.S. prisons and jails. The resolution commended him and Prof. Deitch for stimulating dialogue and debate that would “lead to significant reforms within the U.S. criminal justice system.”  Professor Mushlin was selected to be a member of the Executive Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and was elected Secretary of the Executive Committee.

Professor Mushlin was appointed Charles A. Frueauff Research Professor of Law during the 1991-1992 academic year, and James D. Hopkins Chair in Law during the 2005-2007 academic years at Pace Law School. He served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for seven years. 

Prof. Mushlin received his J.D. cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law. Professor Mushlin practiced as a public interest and civil rights lawyer for 15 years as staff attorney with Harlem Assertion of Rights, Inc., as staff attorney and Project Director of the Prisoners' Rights Project of the Legal Aid Society, and as Associate Director of the Children's Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Professor Mushlin’s life and distinguished career were featured in a series of oral history videos published by the Civil Rights Clearing House in 2023.