Author, Teacher and Speaker
Professor F. Michael Higginbotham's Official Homepage
About Professor Higginbotham
F. Michael Higginbotham is the esteemed Joseph Curtis Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he also served as Interim Dean. His teaching focuses on constitutional law and the intricate intersections between race and the legal system.
Professor Higginbotham’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts degree, which he earned magna cum laude from Brown University in 1979. He furthered his education with a Juris Doctor from Yale University in 1982 and a Master of Laws with honors from Cambridge University in 1985, where he was honored as a Rotary Scholar.
Professional Experience and Contributions
Joining the University of Baltimore law faculty in 1988, Professor Higginbotham’s legal career includes serving as a law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Cecil Poole, working as an associate at Davis, Polk, and Wardwell, and lecturing at the University of Pennsylvania.
As a noted author, his influential text, Race Law: Cases, Commentary, and Questions* (Durham: Carolina Academic Press, 2010), is now in its fourth edition and is widely recognized in law schools across the United States and internationally. His scholarly articles have appeared in prestigious publications such as the Yale Law and Policy Review, Harvard Blackletter Law Journal, New York University Law Review, and many others. Additionally, Professor Higginbotham’s thought-provoking editorials have been featured in The New York Times, The Chronicle Review, and The Baltimore Sun. His latest book, Ghosts of Jim Crow: Ending Racism in Post-Racial America, was published in 2013 by NYU Press.
Community Engagement and Honors
Beyond academia, Professor Higginbotham is actively engaged in public service. He is a member of Senator Barbara Mikulski’s Legal Advisory Group and previously chaired the Maryland Attorney General’s Task Force on Electronic Weapons. He co-founded the Fannie Angelos Program for Academic Excellence and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
His leadership in law and commitment to diversity have earned him accolades, including the 2012 Leadership in Law Award from the Daily Record and recognition as one of the top 100 black lawyers in the United States by OBALB. Additionally, he holds an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Shenandoah University and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Curriculum Vitae of F. Michael Higginbotham
Personal
Business Address:
University of Baltimore School of Law
1401 North Charles Street, Angelos Law Center Room 1115
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-837-4649 (Voice)
410-837-4560 (Fax)
[email protected] (E-mail)
fmichaelhigginbotham.org (Website)
@professorhigg (Twitter)
Education
Legal
Degrees:
- Cambridge University, Cambridge, England (GB)
Master of Laws Degree awarded June 1985 (International Law) (Human Rights)
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (USA)
Juris Doctor Degree awarded June 1982 (Constitutional Law) (Civil Rights)
Honors:
- Yale BALSA Citation of Merit Award. Master of Laws Degree awarded with Honors.
- Rotary Scholar (Cambridge University). Hawks’ Club (Cambridge Athletic Honor Society).
- First-ever Full-Blue awarded in Basketball by Cambridge University.
Activities:
- Student Representative, Yale Law School Admissions Committee
- President, Cambridge University Basketball Club
- Captain, British Universities All-Star Basketball Team.
Non-Legal
Degrees:
- Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (USA)
Bachelor of Arts Degree awarded June 1979 (Classics and Ancient Greek History)
Honors:
- Bachelor of Arts Degree awarded Magna Cum Laude.
- Bachelor of Arts Degree awarded with Honors in Classics.
Activities:
- Member, Varsity Football Team.
- Representative, University Council of Students.
- Counselor, Residential Life Program.
EXPERIENCE
University of Baltimore School of Law
Joseph Curtis Professor of Law, 2013-Present
(Endowed Professorship Awarded 2013)
Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
University of Baltimore School of Law
Interim Dean, 2011-2012
Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
University of Pennsylvania Law School (USA)
Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law, 2011
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
University of Baltimore School of Law
Professor of Law, 2007-2011
Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
University of Baltimore School of Law
Wilson Elkins Professor of Law, 2004-2007
(Endowed Professorship Awarded 2004)
Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
University of Miami Law School
Visiting Professor of Law, 2004
Miami, Florida (USA)
University of Miami Law School
Visiting Professor of Law, 2004
Miami, Florida (USA)
University of Baltimore School of Law
Professor of Law, 1995-2004
(Promoted 1995)
Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
New York University Law School
Adjunct Professor of Law, 1991-2010
New York, New York (USA)
University of Baltimore School of Law
Associate Professor of Law, 1991-1995
(Promoted and Tenured 1991)
Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
University of Baltimore School of Law
Assistant Professor of Law, 1988-1991
Baltimore, Maryland (USA)
University of Pennsylvania Law School
Lecturer in Law, 1986-1988
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)
Davis, Polk & Wardwel
Associate, 1983-1984
Washington, District of Columbia (USA)
United States Court of Appeals
Law Clerk to Judge Cecil Poole, 1982
San Francisco, California (USA)
Selected Publications
Books
- Teacher’s Manual, RACE LAW: CASES, COMMENTARY, AND QUESTIONS (Fourth Edition), Carolina Academic Press (July 2015)
- Casebook, RACE LAW: CASES, COMMENTARY, AND QUESTIONS (Fourth Edition), Carolina Academic Press (June 2015)
- Instructor’s Guide, GHOSTS OF JIM CROW: ENDING RACISM IN POST-RACIAL AMERICA, New York University Press (April 2014)
- Book, GHOSTS OF JIM CROW: ENDING RACISM IN POST-RACIAL AMERICA , New York University Press (March 2013)
- Teacher’s Manual, RACE LAW: CASES, COMMENTARY AND QUESTIONS (Third Edition), Carolina Academic Press (August 2010)
- Casebook, RACE LAW: CASES, COMMENTARY AND QUESTIONS (Third Edition), Carolina Academic Press (May 2010)
- Teacher’s Manual, RACE LAW: CASES, COMMENTARY AND QUESTIONS (Second Edition), Carolina Academic Press (January 2005)
- Casebook, RACE LAW: CASES, COMMENTARY AND QUESTIONS (Second Edition), Carolina Academic Press (January 2005)
- Teacher’s Manual, RACE LAW: CASES, COMMENTARY AND QUESTIONS, Carolina Academic Press (September 2001)
- Casebook, RACE LAW: CASES, COMMENTARY AND QUESTIONS, Carolina Academic Press (September 2001)
Articles
- An Open Letter From The Original Cause Lawyer, 35 La Verne Law Review 205
- An Open Letter From Heaven To Barack Obama, 32 University of Hawaii Law Review 1 (April 2010)
- An Open Letter From Heaven To Justice Samuel Alito, 23 Harvard Blackletter Law Journal 9 (February 2007)
- A Dream Revived: The Rise of the Black Reparations Movement, 58 Annual Survey of American Law 447 (February 2003)
- Soldiers For Justice: The Role of the Tuskegee Airmen in the Desegregation of the American Armed Forces, 8 William & Mary Bill of Rights Law Journal 273 (June 2000) (reprinted in 1 Nota Bene 19 (Spring 2001)
- Affirmative Action in the United States and South Africa: Lessons From the Other Side, 13 Temple International & Comparative Law Journal 101 (February 2000) (reprinted in Portuguese in 3 Cadernos Do PPG Dir./UFRGS 197 (March 2005)
- Affirmative Action and the Mistakes of Adarand, 1995 Annual Survey of American Law 401 (February 1996)
- The Price of Apartheid, 38 Howard University Law Journal 371 (May 1995)
- Sins From the Past and Lessons For the Future: Eliminating Apartheid In South African Public Accommodations and the Challenge To An Enlightened Judiciary, 12 Boston University International Law Journal 1 (January 1995)
- “Yearning to Breathe Free”: Legal Barriers Against and Options In Favor of Liberty In Antebellum Virginia, with A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., 68 New York University Law Review 401 (June 1994)
- De Jure Housing Segregation in the United States and South Africa: The Difficult Pursuit For Racial Justice, with A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. and S. Sandile Ngcobo, 1990 University of Illinois Law Review 763 (March 1991)
- International Law, the Use of Force In Self-Defense, and the Southern African Conflict, 25 Columbia Journal of Transnational Law 529 (December 1987)
- “See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil”: Developing A Policy For Disclosure By Counsel To Public Corporations, 7 Journal of Corporation Law 285 (January 1982)
Editorials
- Voting Trump A Big Risk, Baltimore Sun A18 (September 21, 2016)
- America’s Racial Soul, Baltimore Sun A15 (June 9, 2016)
- Saving The Dream For All, GPSOLO 18 (November/December 2014)
- Race-Based Affirmative Action Still Necessary, New York Times (Online)( April 27, 2014)
- Jackie Robinson, the Moderate Radical, Baltimore Sun A21 (April 15, 2014)
- Ending Racial Disparities, Islamic Monthly 20 (Spring 2014)
- Valuing Black Life, Baltimore Afro-American A8 (February 21, 2014)
- Congress Must Act To Guard Our Most Important Right, Orlando Sentinel A14 (August 16, 2013)
- Access and Fairness in the Fisher Affirmative Action Case, Baltimore Afro-American A7 (June 8, 2013)
- Action That’s Still Needed, Baltimore Sun A19 (June 7, 2013)
- Ghosts of Jim Crow Haunt Us Still, Baltimore Sun A19 (January 24, 2013)
- The Case of the Missing Post-Racial Election, Baltimore Afro-American A7 (November 6, 2012)
- A Request From Heaven to the President, Daily News A15 (January 31, 2010)
- Is America Finally Ready To Elect A Black President?, Desert Sun B8 (October 16, 2008)
- Racism Less Pervasive More Complex, Baltimore Sun A21 (April 4, 2008)
- Recognition Long Overdue, Washington Afro-American A9 (March 31, 2007)
- Worst Supreme Court Decision Ever Continues To Haunt, Washington Afro-American A8 (March 9, 2007)
- Setting the Record Straight, Washington Afro-American A11 (January 28, 2006)
- Hard-Won Victory Must Be Secured, Baltimore Sun C5 (August 7, 2005)
- Bush and the Black Vote, Washington Afro-American A13 (October 30, 2004)
- The Court Has Granted Wide Deference To Colleges, Chronical Review B11 (March 28, 2003) (reprinted in 63 Louisiana Law Review 697 (December 2003)
- Townsend— The Clear Choice, Baltimore Afro-American A7 (November 2, 2002)
- Democrats For Ehrlich? What A Confused Group!, Prince George’s Journal A11 (October 31, 2002)
- William Gosnell: Brown’s Unsung Hero, Baltimore Afro-American A6 (July 6, 2000)
- Drum Majors For Justice, Baltimore Sun A17 (February 18, 1999)
- Glendening—The Clear Choice, Baltimore Afro-American A5 (October 31, 1998)
- Bar Group Rolls Up Welcome Mat, Crisis Magazine 12 (September 1998)
- A Military Strike Against Racism, Boston Globe A15 (July 25, 1998)
- An American Tragedy: The Enduring Legacy of Plessy, Baltimore Afro-American A5 (May 25, 1996)
- On Gender and Racial Issues Justices Suffer From Rare Disease, 2 University of Baltimore Alumni Magazine 21 (Fall 1995)
- And Now The Hard Work Begins In South Africa, Boston Globe A14 (May 16, 1994)
Tributes
- Judge Robert Bell and Racial Equality In Jury Selection, 72 University of Maryland Law Review 1106 (October 2013)
- Judge Harry Edwards, contained in AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIVES 266, Oxford University Press (February 2004)
- Speaking Truth To Power, 20 Yale Law and Policy Review 341 (July 2002)
- Promises Kept, 6 Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy 11 (July 2001)
- Who Will Carry The Baton?, 33 Loyola Los Angeles Law Review 1015 (August 2000)
- A Man For All Seasons, 16 Harvard Blackletter Law Journal 7 (July 2000)
- Saving The Dream For All, Human Rights Magazine 23 (May 1999)
- Judge Higginbotham Will Be Sorely Missed, National Law Journal A26 (December 28, 1998)
- Thurgood Marshall: Legal Strategist For The Civil Rights Movement, 1997 Association for the Study of Afro-American History 14 (November 1996)
Selected Media Appearances
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Redistricting), CNN Television (March 26, 2019)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing American Indians), CNN Television (February 11, 2019)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Blackface), CNN Television (February 6, 2019)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Racism and Politics), CNN Television (October 22, 2018)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Citizenship and the Census), CNN Television (March 27, 2018)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Trump and Race), CNN Television (January 12, 2018)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Race and the Presidency), CNN Television (January 10, 2018)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing NFL Protests), CNN Television (September 28, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Confederate Monuments), CNN Television (August 17, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Charlottesville Protest), CNN Television (August 14, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Race and Immigration), CNN Television (May 12, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Immigration), CNN Television (February 9, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Presidential Power), CNN Television (February 6, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Muslim Ban), CNN Television (February 3, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Trump Inauguration), CNN Television (January 23, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing King Legacy), CNN Television (January 16, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Trump Transition), CNN Television (January 5, 2017)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Trump Victory), CNN Television (November 18, 2016)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Trump Candidacy), CNN Television (September 16, 2016)
- Panelist, Book TV (Discussing Racial Equality), C-SPAN Television (August 23, 2016)
- Guest, Maryland Morning (Discussing Democratic and Republican Conventions), WYPR Radio (July 20, 2016)
- Guest, 11 TV Hill (Discussing Black History), WBAL Television (February 28, 2016)
- Guest, Maryland Morning (Discussing Police Mistrial), WYPR Radio (December 18, 2015)
- Guest, 11 News Sunday (Discussing Police Trials), WBAL Television (December 13, 2015)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Clinton Candidacy), CNN Television (November 24, 2015)
- Moderator, After Words (Discussing Politics with Joy Reid), C-SPAN Television (September 12, 2015)
- Guest, Maryland Morning (Discussing Voting Rights), WYPR Radio (August 5, 2015)
- Guest, Weekends with Alex Witt (Discussing Baltimore Riots), MSNBC Television (May 3, 2015)
- Guest, Direct Connection (Discussing Freddie Gray Incident), MPT Television (April 27, 2015)
- Guest, CNN Tonight (Discussing Racist Language), CNN Television (April 22, 2015)
- Commentator, NBC News Election Coverage (Discussing Maryland Governor’s Race) WBAL Television (November 4, 2014)
- Panelist, Book TV (Discussing Race Relations), C-SPAN Television (September 21, 2014)
- Guest, The Last Word (Discussing Voting Rights), MSNBC Television (May 21, 2014)
- Guest, Smerconish (Discussing Donald Sterling), MSNBC Television (April 30, 2014)
Selected Awards
- Distinguished Media Award (2019 University of Baltimore School of Law Recognition of Outstanding Public Discourse)
- Beverly Hills High School Alumni Hall of Fame (2018 Inductee)
- Black Law Student’s Association Award (2014 Outstanding Faculty Member)
- Joseph Curtis designation (Endowed Professorship awarded 2013 by the University of Baltimore School of Law
- Power 100 List (100 most influential blacks in law in 2012) (OBABL Media)
- Leadership In Law Award (25 most influential leaders in law in Maryland in 2011) (Daily Record)
- Educator of the Year (awarded 2009 by the Minority Business Summit)
- Wilson Elkins designation (Endowed Professorship awarded 2004 by the University of Maryland System)
- Honorary Doctor of Humanities (awarded 2004 at Shenandoah University)
- Women’s Bar Association Award (2002 Outstanding Faculty Member)
- Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame (2001 Group Inductee) (Member 1976 Varsity Football Team)
- Distinguished Faculty Award (2000 University of Baltimore Teacher of the Year)
- James May Award of Excellence (1995 University of Baltimore School of Law Recognition of Outstanding Teaching)
Selected Speeches
- Keynote Speaker, “Shades of Freedom,” The Mere Distinction of Color Seminar Lecture at the Montpelior Foundation, Orange, Virginia, July 25, 2018
- Keynote Speaker, “A Man For All Seasons,” A. Leon Higginbotham Memorial Lecture,” Yellow Springs, Ohio, July 13, 2018
- Keynote Speaker, “Race, Rights, and the 14th Amendment,” Celebrating 150 years of the 14th Amendment Symposium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 26, 2018
- Keynote Speaker, “Post-Racial Realities,” Cornell University Diversity Lecture, Ithaca, New York, September 13, 2017
- Keynote Speaker, “Hopeful Dreams,” FEMA Black History Month Lecture, Washington, DC, February 28, 2017
- Keynote Speaker, “Peace With Justice,” Social Security Administration King Memorial Lecture, Baltimore, Maryland, January 11, 2017
- Keynote Speaker, “Race and Politics,” Heman Sweatt Symposium at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas, April 28, 2016
- Keynote Speaker, “Keeping Thurgood’s Promise,” Thurgood Marshall Lecture at the University of Maryland Law School, Baltimore, Maryland, April 7, 2016
- Keynote Speaker, “Keeping the Dream Alive,” James Campbell Matthews Lecture at Albany Law School, Albany, New York, February 10, 2015
- Keynote Speaker, “Hopeful Dreams and Post-Racial Realities,” University of Notre Dame Diversity Lecture, South Bend, Indiana, November 14, 2014
Selected Affiliations
- Legal Advisor, United States Senator Ben Cardin
- Member, District of Columbia Bar
- Member, NAACP
- Member, National Bar Association
- Member, Council On Foreign Relations
- Former Member, Brown University Athletic Council
- Former Chair, Maryland Attorney General’s Task Force On Electronic Weapons
- Former Co-Chair, O’Malley/Brown Transition Team Minority Affairs Working Group
- Former President, Public Justice Center
- Former Chair, AALS Committee on Recruitment and Retention of Minority Faculty
- Co-Founder, Fannie Angelos Program For Academic Excellence
Selected Information
References, Letters of Recommendation, Employment Evaluations, and Writing Samples available upon request.
Learn more about the Professor’s work.