Leroy Pernell

Leroy Pernell

FACULTY (GENERIC)
EMAIL
PHONE
407-254-4034
OFFICE
Payroll Clearing-Acad Affairs

 

Office Hours

When the College of Law building is open office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30 to 6:00 pm – or by arrangement. Prior scheduling of appointments is recommended. Faculty Office – Room 337G. Office phone (407) 254-4034, email leroy.pernell@famu.edu

Program Assistant is Puja Bhatavdekar, Phone:  (407) 254-3270, puja.bhatavdekar@famu.edu

Current Semester Schedule

LAW 6110 Criminal Procedure Pretrial- Mon, Wed: 1:15p-2:45p
LAW 6702 Products Liability- Tue, Thu: 3:15p-4:45p


About Me


LeRoy Pernell is a professor and former dean of Florida A&M University College of Law. He is credited with leading the law school to full accreditation from the American Bar Association in 2009 and reaccreditation in 2014. He is also professor emeritus and former dean of the Northern Illinois University College of Law.

He began his career in legal education at The Ohio State University College of Law where he served as Professor of Law and Vice Provost of Minority Affairs. Teaching primarily in the areas of Criminal Procedure, Torts and Juvenile Law, he also created clinical education courses at Ohio State in the areas of Mental and Developmental Disability as well as Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Relief. At Northern Illinois University, he created the Zeke Giogi Legal Clinic, in Rockford, the first clinical program for the NIU College of Law. Professor Pernell has also held the position of a public defender and served as of counsel to the law practice of the late Otto Beatty, Jr, former Ohio state representative.

Professor Pernell is a frequent contributor to both national and local print and electronic media on topics ranging from Elections to Criminal Justice. In 2021 he was awarded, along with the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law, the Telly Award honoring excellence in video and television across all screens for his contribution to Legal Connections: Ocoee Massacre. He has testified before the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives regarding pending federal habeas corpus legislation and its impact on persons of color. He is also the recipient of numerous awards including the CLEO EDGE AWARD and has been inducted into The National HBCU Pre-Law Hall of Fame.

Pernell recently published, along with Professor Omar Saleem, Cases and Materials on Combatting Racism in Criminal Procedure (Vandeplas Press 2020). He has published a wide range of articles and book chapters in the areas of criminal procedure, race and the law, torts and sports law. Among his most recent articles are “In Memoriam: David Williams II – Mentor, Colleague, Friend”, 81 Ohio St. L.J. 11 (2020) and “Racial Justice and Federal Habeas Corpus as Post-Conviction Relief from State Convictions”,69 Mercer Law Review 433 (2018).

Pernell earned his bachelor’s degree in government from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1971, and received his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1974.


Areas of Interest


  • Torts
  • Advanced Topics in Law Seminar : Race and Criminal Procedure 
  • Products Liability
  • Criminal Procedure: Pretrial

Education


 
  • J.D. (1971-1974)
    OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF LAW, COLUMBUS, OHIO
  • B.A. GOVERNMENT (1967-1971)
    FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE, LANCASTER, PA.,

Work History


  • Professor of Law
    Florida A&M University College of Law
    201 Beggs Ave.
    Orlando, Florida 32801
    April 2019 to date

  • Interim Dean and Professor of Law
    Florida A&M University College of Law
    201 Beggs Ave.
    Orlando, Florida 32801
    May 2, 2017, to April 2019

  • Dean and Professor of Law
    Florida A&M University College of Law
    201 Beggs Ave.
    Orlando, Florida 32801
    January 1, 2008, to June 30, 2015

  • Dean and Professor of Law, emeritus
    Northern Illinois University College of Law
    Rm 270, Swen Parson Hall
    August 1, 1997, to December 31, 2007

  • Vice Provost, Office of Minority Affairs
    102 Bricker Hall, Ohio State University
    September 1994 to July 31, 1997

  • Interim Vice Provost, Office of Minority Affairs
    102 Bricker Hall, Ohio State University
    September 1993 to September 1994

  • Professor of Law, Ohio State University College of Law
    1659 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210
    July 1, 1990, to May 1998

  • Associate Professor of Law, Ohio State University College of Law
    1659 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210
    1979 to 1990.

  • Assistant Professor of Law, Ohio State University College of Law
    1659 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210

  • October 1977 to September 1979

  • Visiting Instructor, Ohio State University College of Law
    1659 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210
    October 1976 to September 1977

  • Adjunct Professor of Law and Clinical Staff Attorney, Ohio State University College of Law
    1659 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210
    January 1975 through September 1976.

Academic Accomplishments


  •  PRESENTATIONS:

  • NEW SCHOLARS WORKSHOP ON CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE, Moderator, Southeast Association of Law Schools (SEALS) August 2018, Fort Lauderdale Florida

  • MAKING THE CASE FOR LEGAL EDUCATION AND EXPLAINING THE IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF GIVING, Southeast Association of Law Schools (SEALS) August,2018, Fort Lauderdale Florida

  • UPDATE: DUE PROCESS FOR STUDENTS AND THE NCAA, Southeast Association of Law Schools (SEALS) July 2011, Hilton Head South Carolina

  • REFLECTIONS ON THE DECLINE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ENROLLMENT AND THE FUTURE OF LEGAL EDUCATION, National Bar Association, August 2011, Baltimore Maryland

  • Commentator, CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL, NEWS13, July 2011, Orlando, Florida

  • THE PEDAGOGY OF “YES WE CAN” – TEACHING REFORMATIVE LEGAL JUSTICE IN THE AGE OF OBAMA, 5th Annual Fred Gray Sr. Civil Rights Symposium, Faulkner University School of Law October 21, 2009

  • DIVERSITY IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION, Southeast People of Color Scholarship Conference, Columbia University of South Carolina School of Law, March 26, 2009

  • DEANS OF COLOR, panel discussion, Second National People of Color Scholarship Conference, George Washington University Law School, October 8, 2004

  • ILLINOIS BASED EFFECTIVE PRACTICES FOR FACULTY DIVERSITY, panel discussion, Illinois Board of Higher Education, University of Illinois, Springfield, Public Affairs Center, July 20, 2004

  • “CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN LEGAL ACADEMIA”, panel discussion, Midwestern People of Color Annual Meeting, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University, Cleveland Ohio, October 10, 2003

  • “RACE AS PROXY”, Moderator, panel discussion, DePaul University College of Law, Law Review, March 8, 2003

  • “DEATH PENALTY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES”, panel discussion, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, July 23, 2002

  • “LEGAL CHALLENGES FACING PEOPLE OF COLOR”, Moderator, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Chicago, Illinois, May 11, 2002

  • “DIVERSITY ISSUES FOR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS”, Illinois Board of Higher Education, University of Illinois – Springfield, Springfield, Illinois, May 2, 2002

  • “KEEPING OUR FACULTIES” Symposium on Diversity, University of Minnesota, April 21, 2002

  • “FUTURE TRENDS IN LEGAL EDUCATION” First Annual Conference on the Development of Palestinian Law Schools, DPK Consulting, Amman, Jordan, March 6, 2002

  • “ETHICS AND INTEGRITY IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS,” Waubonise Community College, October 17, 2001

  • “ETHICS, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR STUDENT ATHLETES”, Northern Illinois University Department of Athletics, July 30, 2001

  • “A DEANS AND ADMINISTRATORS CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF LEGAL EDUCATION, Mid-Atlantic People of Color Conference, Penn State University, Dickinson College of Law, February 3, 2001

  • TORT REFORM IN ILLINOIS@, Rockford Illinois Chamber of Commerce, May 22, 2000

  • DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSROOM, Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University, April 17,2000

  • ISSUES OF LIABILITY@ YMCA Kishwaukee, Illinois, 1999

  • SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN, Springfield, Illinois, Rainbow Push Coalition Panel, 1999

  • RACISM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM”, (Panel Discussion with Johnnie Cochran) African American Leadership Conference, Northern Illinois University, April 16, 1999

  • DEANS OF COLOR SPEAK OUT, Moderator, National People of Color Conference, Chicago, Illinois, March 27, 1999

  • LAW SCHOOL EXAM TAKING TECHNIQUES, Minority Legal Education Resources (MLER), Loyola University College of Law,

  • TRANSFORMATIONS IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, National College Band Directors Association, Austin, Texas, February 24, 1998

  • "RACIAL BIAS IN THE COURTROOM Ohio Judicial College, February 22, 1991

  • "URINE DRUG TESTING: A MEDICAL AND A LEGAL VIEWPOINT" AWISCO and AWMA, November 27, 1990

  • "DRUG TESTING AS A MECHANISM TO CONTROL SUBSTANCE ABUSE: ETHICAL, CONSTITUTIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL ISSUES" Ohio Center for Law Related Education, First Annual Sports and Law Conference,

Awards


  • THE TELLY AWARD, Honoring Excellence in Video and Television Across All Screens, 2021 for Legal Connections – Ocoee Massacre

  • The CLEO EDGE AWARD, Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc., November 2018

  • Induction into The National HBCU Pre-Law Hall of Fame , 5th Annual National HBCU Pre-Law Summit, 2018

  • Franklin & Marshall College's Distinguished Alumni Award, June 2011

  • Third National People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference, Special Visionary Leadership Award, 2010

  • Extraordinary Leadership Award, Second National People of Color Scholarship Conference, October 7-10, 2004

  • Leadership Council, Franklin & Marshall College,

  • Carl Owens Award, for Commitment to Diversity at Northern Illinois University, October 12, 2007

  • Recipient, Extraordinary Leadership Award, Second National People of Color Scholarship Conference, October 7-10, 2004

  • Elected, Board of Trustees, Law School Admissions Council

  • Trustee Liaison, Law School Admissions Council, Audit Committee

  • American Law Institute Members Consultative Group on Criminal Sentencing

  • American Law Institute Members Consultative Group on Restatement of Torts 3rd

  • Elected, American Law Institute, May 18, 2000

  • The Juvenile Justice Initiative, Steering Committee Member, Chicago, Illinois

  • Illinois Equal Justice Project, Illinois State Bar Association, 2000

  • Chair, Commission on the Status of Minorities, Northern Illinois University

  • Merit Reappointment Committee for the Magistrate of the United States District Court, for the Northern District of Illinois, 1999

  • American Bar Association, Task Force on Diversity, 1999

  • Citizens for Independent Courts (now The Constitution Project), 1998


  • Consultant, Practice Skills for New Lawyers, Illinois State Bar Association, 2000


  • Rules and Governance Committee of the University Council, Northern Illinois University Council, 1998

  • Visiting Scholar, Columbia University School of Law, 1988

  • Governor's Commission on Socially Disadvantaged Black Males, Criminal Justice and Victimization Sub-Committee, 1989-1990

  • Governor's Council on Juvenile Justice, 1988

  • Franklin County Task Force on Juvenile Justice 1988

  • Recipient 1986 Ohio State University Distinguished Affirmative Action Award

Courses Taught At FAMU


  •  Criminal Procedure
  • Juvenile Law
  • Torts
  • Product Liability
  • Race and Criminal Procedure
  • Juvenile and Criminal Defense Clinic
  • Trial Practice
  • Mental Health
  • Racism and Law Seminar
  • Seminars in Scientific Evidence
  • Child, Parent and State, Civil Rights
  • Post-Conviction Relief and Criminal Appeals Clinic
  • Race and Criminal Procedure Seminar