The Federalist Society

Prof. Neal K. Katyal

Paul and Patricia Saunders Professor of National Security Law, Georgetown University Law Center

Neal Katyal, a Professor atGeorgetownUniversityLawSchool, recently wonHamdan v. Rumsfeldin the United States Supreme Court, a case that challenged the policy of military trials at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station,Cuba. The Supreme Court sided with him by a 5-3 vote, finding that President Bush's tribunals violated the constitutional separation of powers, domestic military law, and international law. As former Solicitor General and Duke law professor Walter Dellinger put it "Hamdan is simply the most important decision on presidential power and the rule of law ever. Ever." An expert in matters of constitutional law, particularly the role of the President and Congress in time of war and theories of constitutional interpretation, Katyal has embraced his theoretical work as the platform for practical consequences in the federal courts.

Katyal previously served as National Security Adviser in the U.S. Justice Department and was commissioned by President Clinton to write a report on the need for more legal pro bono work. He also served as Vice President Al Gore's co-counsel in the Supreme Court election dispute of 2000, and represented the Deans of most major private law schools in thelandmarkUniversityofMichiganaffirmative-action caseGrutter v. Bollinger(2003). Katyal clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer as well as Judge Guido Calabresi of the U.S. Court of Appeals. He attendedDartmouthCollegeandYaleLawSchool. His Articles have appeared in virtually every major law review and newspaper inAmerica.

Katyal was named Lawyer of the Year in 2006 byLawyers USA, Runner-Up for Lawyer of the Year 2006 byNational Law Journal, one of the top 50 litigators nationwide 45 years old or younger byAmerican Lawyer(2007), one of the 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers Over the Last 30 Years byLegal Times(2008); one of the top 500 lawyers in the country byLawDragon Magazine(in 2006 and again in 2007), one of the 30 best advocates before the U.S. Supreme Court byWashingtonian Magazine(2007); and one of 10 Non-Resident Indian Achievers Worldwide byHindustan Times.  He has also been awarded the Town of Salem, Massachusetts Prize (2007); the ACLU Foundation’s Roger Baldwin Award (2007), the National Asian Pacific Bar Association Trailblazer Award (2007), and the 2004National Law Journal pro bono award for his work.

His primary academic interests are Constitutional Law (primarily war powers, separation of powers, constitutional legitimacy, presidential power, slavery and affirmative action), Criminal Law (particularly cybercrime, conspiracy, architectural solutions to crime and the role of deterrence), and Education Law.

Katyal has appeared on every major American nightly news program, as well as in other venues, such as the Colbert Report.


Education

  • A.B., Dartmouth
  • J.D., Yale

Publications

The War on Terror: Where Are We Now? Where Do We Go from Here? - Event Audio/Video
International & National Security Law Practice Group
January 27, 2010
Second Look Doctrines - Event Audio/Video
2008 National Lawyers Convention - "The People and the Judiciary"
November 22, 2008
The War on Terrorism and Specialized Courts - Event Audio/Video
Chicago Lawyers Chapter and International & National Security Law Practice Group
May 12, 2008

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