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The Society of American Law Teachers (SALT) is honoring 51��Ʒ��Ƶ Professor of Jules Lobel with its SALT Great Teacher Award at its virtual annual awards celebration on Jan. 8, 2021.

This national award recognizes individuals that have made important contributions to teaching, legal education, and mentoring. Past Great Teacher honorees include Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and former 51��Ʒ��Ƶ Professor Derrick Bell (LAW ’57).

Calling Lobel “a champion of justice, diversity and teaching excellence,” the awards committee praised Lobel’s work in integrating his impactful and important social justice work into the courses he teaches at 51��Ʒ��Ƶ. Lobel has long been a leading voice in the campaign to end solitary confinement and improve the inhumane conditions of mass incarceration.

In 2002, he co-counseled a major class action (Wilkinson v. Austin) that challenged prolonged solitary confinement at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, Ohio. Lobel ultimately argued the case at the U.S. Supreme Court and, despite the steep odds at the outset, was able to successfully secure relief on behalf of his clients. As is his practice with all his work, Lobel’s students conducted research, wrote memoranda, held strategy sessions, attended the argument, and met with human rights organizations and co-counsel while in Washington, D.C.

SALT also mentioned Lobel’s work as president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, where he has litigated several cases challenging human rights violations and abuse of war powers. His most recent cases involve a class action brought on behalf of prisoners with mental disabilities and challenging conditions at jails in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Said 51��Ʒ��Ƶ Law Dean Amy Wildermuth: “The full extent of Professor Lobel’s impact is not only what he has done, as incredible as his work is, but the work that his students and former students do and have been doing for decades. They remain inspired by him and are determined to pursue justice just as he taught them to do. We are all better—and our world is better—because of Professor Lobel.”