Kimberly Thomas is a clinical professor of law in the Juvenile Justice Clinic and the Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic. Her research, teaching, and practice concentrate on criminal law and procedure, especially on sentencing law and practice, juvenile justice, parole and post-conviction, and indigent persons accused of crimes. She is the co-director and co-founder (with Professor Frank Vandervort) of the Juvenile Justice Clinic.
Featured Scholarship
"Reconsidering Ross: The Interplay of AEDPA, Criminal Appeals, and The Right to Counsel"
The University of Memphis Law Review
"Voices from a Prison Pandemic: Lives Lost from COVID-19 at Lakeland Correctional"
Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
"Reckless Juveniles"
University of California Davis Law Review
"Wrong Turn on the Ex Post Facto Clause"
California Law Review
Activities
Presented a Guest Fulbright Lecture on "Juvenile Justice in the U.S.: Current Trends and Challenges" at University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Gave a talk that examines post-Miller juvenile sentencing statutes in light of the Eighth Amendment at the South Carolina Law Review's Sentencing Reform symposium.
Co-presented "Deciding Whether and Why to Teach the New and Pressing Legal Issues of Our Times," Midwest Clinical Law Professor's Conference, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Presented "Legal and Practical Considerations Relating to MCL 769.25a," Michigan Judicial Institute (training for Michigan trial court judges on post-Miller legislation), Lansing, Michigan.
Presented "Creative Motions in Juvenile Life Without Parole Cases," Darrow-Baldus Defense College, University of Iowa.
Moderator, Rebellious Lawyering at 25: Clinical Law Review Symposium, Baltimore.
Developed and taught a training program for Turkish lawyers who are providing legal information sessions to Syrians living in Turkey, ABA-Rule of Law Initiative, Istanbul, Turkey.
Provided two-day training for faculty from Menoufia University Law School in development of their clinical program, ABA-Rule of Law Initiative, Cairo, Egypt.
Presented "Creative Motions and Issue Preservation in JLWOP Cases," Darrow-Baldus Defense College, University of Iowa.
Presented a talk on the constitutional sentencing of juveniles, Elderwise, Ann Arbor.
Presented "Representing Clients and Educating Students Amid Risk Management, Background Checks, and Compliance Regimes," AALS Clinical Conference, Rancho Mirage, California.
Presented "Miller, Apprendi, and Alleyne: Does the Sixth Amendment Require a Jury Determination and Finding Beyond a Reasonable Doubt at Miller Hearings?," Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth National Convening, Washington, D.C.
Serves on the University of Michigan Sexual Misconduct Review Panel.
Serves on the Michigan State Planning Body for the Delivery of Legal Services.