Steven R. Morrison
Steven R. Morrison
Assistant Professor of Law
morrison@law.und.edu
Steven R. Morrison is a Assistant Professor. He teaches Criminal Procedure, Critical Legal Studies, First Amendment, and Constitutional Law II. He obtained his B.A. from St. Louis University, M.A. in modern European history from the University of Bradford in England, and his J.D. from Boston College Law School. He clerked for the Honorable Warren M. Silver of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
Before coming to UND Law, Professor Morrison worked at the Boston law firm Carney & Bassil as a criminal defense attorney. He continues to work with firm attorneys for a defendant accused of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
Professor Morrison’s scholarship lies primarily in the fields of criminal law and constitutional law. His goal is to understand the purpose and effect of systems of criminal law, and to propose ways that these systems can reach fairer outcomes in more efficient ways. His current research involves the First Amendment as it applies to speech in cyberspace.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of North Dakota School of Law, Grand Forks, ND, 2010 – Present
Assistant Professor of Law
Prepare and teach courses on Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law, First Amendment, Critical Legal Studies. Supervise students’ writing projects required for graduation. Engage in independent research and writing projects.
Boston College Law School, Newton, MA 2009
Guest Lecturer
Prepared and gave lecture for class “Domestic Violence and the Law.” Discussed rape shield law, first complaint rule, and qualifying expert witnesses.
Peace Corps Latvia, Adazi/Valmiera, Latvia 1998 – 2000
Secondary School Teacher of English, U.S. History, and Latin. New Volunteer Trainer for Latvian Language and Culture.
PUBLICATIONS
Steven R. Morrison, Terrorism Online: Is Speech the Same As It Ever Was? , (work in progress).
Steven R. Morrison, Toward a History of American Criminal Law Theory , U. LaVerne L. Rev. (forthcoming Fall 2010).
Steven R. Morrison, When is Lying Illegal? When Should It Be? A Critical Analysis of the Federal False Statements Act , 43 J. Marshall L. Rev. 111 (2009).
Steven R. Morrison, Compassion and the Criminal Defense Attorney , 34 The Champion 44 (2010).
Steven R. Morrison, The Fourth Amendment and Homeless Shelters , 37 Search & Seizure L. Rep. 21 (March 2010).
Steven R. Morrison, The Fourth Amendment’s Applicability to Residents of Homeless Shelters , 32 Hamline L. Rev. 319 (2009).
Steven R. Morrison, Compassion and the Trial Attorney , 23 The Verdict 4 (2009).
Steven R. Morrison, Creating Sex Offender Registries: The Religious Right and the Failure to Protect Society’s Vulnerable , 35 Am. J. Crim. L. 23 (2007).
Steven R. Morrison, Toward a New Confessions Test: Replacing Voluntariness with Power , 3 Int’l J. Punishment & Sent’g 85 (2007).
Steven R. Morrison, Will to Power, Will to Reality, and Racial Profiling: How the White Male Dominant Power Structure Creates Itself as Law Abiding Citizen Through the Creation of Black as Criminal , 2 NW J. L. & Soc. Pol'y 63 (2007).
Steven R. Morrison, Dehumanization and Re-Creation: A Lacanian Interpretation of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines , 4 Dartmouth L. J. 81 (Fall 2006).
Steven R. Morrison, Strange Allies: How a FAIR Victory May be Applied to Future LGBT Rights Cases in Schools , honorable mention in The National Lesbian & Gay Law Association Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition, June 2005.
Steven R. Morrison, Latvia: The Economy , in Central and South-Eastern Europe 2004 357-362 (Imogen Bell ed., Europa Publications 4th ed. 2004).
Steven R. Morrison, Latvia: History , in Central and South-Eastern Europe 2004 352-357 (Imogen Bell ed., Europa Publications 4th ed. 2004).
Steven R. Morrison, Latvia: The Economy , in Central and South-Eastern Europe 2003 352-358 (Imogen Bell ed., Europa Publications 3d ed. 2003).
J. Michael Lyons, revised by Steven R. Morrison, Latvia: History , in Central and South-Eastern Europe 2003 347-351 (Imogen Bell ed., Europa Publications 3d ed. 2003).
Steven R. Morrison, Latvia: The Economy , in Central and South-Eastern Europe 2002 342-346 (Imogen Bell ed., Europa Publications 2d ed. 2002).
J. Michael Lyons, revised by Steven R. Morrison, Latvia: History , in Central and South-Eastern Europe 2002 338-341 (Imogen Bell ed., Europa Publications 2d ed. 2002).
Andreajs Veisbergs, Idioms in Latvian , (Steven R. Morrison ed., University of Latvia Press: Riga 1999).
EDUCATION
Boston College Law School, Newton, MA 2004 – 2007
Juris Doctor.
Activities and Honors: Proskauer Rose summer stipend for public service, Recipient (Summer 2006): Lambda, Treasurer (2005-2006); Holocaust and Human Rights Project, Treasurer (2005-2006); International Law Society, Representative (2004-2005).
Zealous Advocacy in the District and Juvenile Courts, Boston, MA May 2009
Certificate to Accept Court-Appointed Cases.
Competitive-entry intensive course designed to certify Massachusetts attorneys to accept court-appointed cases in state district and juvenile courts.
Bradford University, Bradford, England 2000 – 2002
Master’s degree in modern European history;
Student Liaison to department.
St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 1993 – 1998
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in English literature and history.
Dean’s List. Latin language certificate.
CONFERENCES AND PANELS
Presenter, Do We Need a New First Amendment in the Age of the Internet? , at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Loyola Constitutional Law Colloquium, “How Democratic is the Constitution?” November 5-6, 2010.
Presenter, Scholarship and Practice in the Age of Terror: How Can One Influence the Other? , at University of North Dakota School of Law, The Central States Law Schools Association, “2010 Annual Conference,” September 24-25, 2010.
Panelist, “ Writing for Publication: Student Authors Discuss Their Work ,” at Boston College Law School, March 26, 2007.
RELEVANT LEGAL EXPERIENCES
Carney & Bassil, Boston, MA
2007 – Present
Attorney/Consultant
Represented criminal defendants at all stages of prosecution, including pre-trial, trial, appellate, and sentencing. Currently work with firm attorneys to represent defendant charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and related charges.
Hon. Warren M. Silver, Associate Justice, State of Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Bangor, ME 2007 – 2008
Judicial Clerkship
Drafted bench memoranda recommending disposition of pending cases for consideration by all Court justices. Drafted opinions for Justice Silver and revised such opinions at his request. Performed other substantive legal research.
Greater Boston Legal Services, Boston, MA 2006 – 2007
Student Attorney
Appeared in court to obtain restraining order for client and settle visitation and child support issues, otherwise appeared in court, drafted pleadings and performed other activities associated with client’s legal matter.
ACLU of Massachusetts, Boston, MA Summer 2006
Legal Intern
Drafted memoranda of law on privacy, free speech, religious exemptions, and other issues. Met with clients and potential clients to assess their needs. Observed and reported on press conferences and political demonstrations.
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Boston, MA Fall 2005
Student Intern
Researched and briefed attorneys on nationwide gun laws and numerous aspects of criminal law. Analyzed grand jury testimony.
Boston College Legal Assistance Bureau, Waltham, MA 2005 – 2006
Student Intern
Represented low income clients in all aspects of family, housing, and social security actions. Drafted briefs, memoranda of law, and pleadings, appeared in court with supervising attorney.
Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL 2003 – 2004
Client Interviewer, Lawyer Referral Service
Interviewed clients, assessed legal needs, and referred them to appropriate legal representation. Advocated on behalf of low income clients to secure for them pro bono representation.
DePaul University School of Law, Chicago, IL 2004
Research Fellow, International Human Rights Law Institute
Researched political, social, and economic relationship between Haiti and Dominican Republic.
United States Department of Labor, Chicago, IL 2001 – 2002
Labor Investigator, Department of Labor-Management Standards
Conducted financial audits and embezzlement and election violations investigations in labor unions.
ORGANIZATIONS
Boston College Law School Alumni Assembly 2009 – Present
American Bar Association, Trial Practice Committee 2008 – Present
BAR ADMISSIONS
State of Maine, active status 2009 – Present
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, active status