S4E2 (episode 32): Douglas Berman on the human element of criminal justice and drug policy

In this episode, Doug and Jeffrey discuss the human element of criminal justice and drug policy, Doug’s career journey, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more: Doug’s Twitter, Blog Ohio State Drug Enforcement and Policy Center Referenced study on cannabis making people more empathetic Professor Douglas A. Berman is Newton D. Baker-Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and Executive Director of the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, housed in the Moritz College of Law. Berman’s principal teaching and research focus is in the area of criminal law and criminal sentencing, though he also has teaching and practice experience in the fields of legislation and intellectual property. He has taught Criminal Law, Criminal Punishment and Sentencing, Criminal Procedure–Investigation, The Death Penalty, Legislation, Introduction to Intellectual Property, Marijuana Law, Policy & Reform Seminar, Federal and State Clemency Decision-making, Sentencing Law & Policy, and the Legislation Clinic. Professor Berman attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In law school, he was an editor and developments office chair of the Harvard Law Review and also served as a teaching assistant for a Harvard University philosophy course. After graduation from law school in 1993, Professor Berman served as a law clerk for Judge Jon O. Newman and then for Judge Guido Calabresi, both on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. After clerking, Professor Berman was a litigation associate at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison in New York City. Professor Berman is the co-author of two casebooks. Sentencing Law and Policy: Cases, Statutes and Guidelines, published by Aspen Publishers, is now in its fifth edition. Marijuana Law and Policy, was released by Carolina Academic Press in 2020. In addition to authoring numerous publications on topics ranging from capital punishment to the federal sentencing guidelines, Professor Berman has served as an editor of the Federal Sentencing Reporter for more than a decade, and also now serves as co-managing editor of the Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law.  Professor Berman is the sole creator and author of the widely-read and widely-cited blog, Sentencing Law and Policy and also the blog Marijuana Law, Policy and Reform.