Dr. Margareth Etienne

Biography

Margareth Etienne is a renowned legal scholar and educator, serving as the Carl L. Vacketta Professor of Law and the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate International Programs at the University of Illinois College of Law. She has played pivotal roles, including serving as an associate dean for academic affairs and heading the Department of African American Studies. With a rich background in legal education, she specializes in criminal law, criminal procedure, and the law governing children. Her scholarship centers on ethical legal decision-making, particularly in the contexts of criminal courts and educational institutions. Etienne's contributions to the field are significant, with numerous publications addressing critical areas such as sentencing, the ethics of lawyering, and gender-based violence. She has conducted judicial training internationally, awarded a Fulbright Grant, and has lectured at prestigious law schools, enhancing her reputation as a leader in legal education. Etienne holds both a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor’s degree in history with honors from Yale University, where she also clerked for Judge Diana G. Motz at the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Joining the Illinois faculty in 2001, her practical experience in state and federal courts enriches her teaching and scholarship.

Research Interests