Emily Bazelon

Emily Bazelon, born on March 4, 1971, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, developed an early interest in law and journalism, pursuing her education at Yale College, graduating in 1993, and then Yale Law School, where she earned her J.D. in 2000. Before her distinguished career in journalism, she gained practical legal experience as a law clerk for Judge Kermit Lipez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Her commitment to understanding and explaining legal complexities to a broader audience was evident from her early professional roles, including a Soros Justice Media Fellowship in 2004, and editorial positions at Legal Affairs magazine and as a reporter for the Tri-Valley Herald.

Bazelon joined The New York Times in 2014 as a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, where she focuses on legal affairs. Her work often delves into significant shifts in American jurisprudence, judicial decisions, and their real-world consequences, such as the impact of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade and the ongoing debate over affirmative action. Concurrently, she serves as the Truman Capote Fellow for Creative Writing and Law at Yale Law School, integrating her legal expertise with her storytelling abilities. She is also a recognized voice in podcasting, co-hosting Slate’s “Political Gabfest.” Throughout her career, Bazelon has authored two acclaimed books: “Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration” (2019), which won a Los Angeles Times Book Prize and a Silver Gavel Award, and “Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy” (2013). “Sticks and Stones” earned a front-page review in The New York Times Book Review.

Her journalistic endeavors have seen her cover a wide range of topics, including voting rights, Guantanamo detainee due process trials, and the complexities surrounding abortion and criminal justice reform. Bazelon’s articles have appeared in numerous esteemed publications such as The Atlantic, Mother Jones, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. She was a finalist for a National Magazine Award in 2023 and became a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019, acknowledging her significant contributions to journalism and the legal discourse. Her work is characterized by thorough research, a commitment to accuracy, and an effort to humanize legal issues, making complex subjects accessible to the public.