Research Agenda

Research Agenda

As of July 2022

I conduct research primarily in the broad areas of international and domestic criminal law and procedure, with a particular emphasis on the concept of “due process.” For example, in a published University of Arkansas Law Review article entitled Redefining “Crimes Against Humanity” and Eliminating the Doctrine of Complimentary Jurisdiction in Favor of the International Criminal Court, I explore international criminal law and procedure, relying on both my legal training and my criminal justice training. Specifically, in the article, I contend that terrorism seeks to victimize the entire country in which the attacks occurred. As such, everyone in a target country can be considered a primary or secondary victim (including: prosecutors, judges, and jurors), thus venue cannot be properly maintained within the confines of due process in the targeted country. Instead, to effectuate the fundamental human right of due process of law, venue and jurisdiction for alleged acts of terrorism should properly lie with an independent international adjudicatory body such as the International Criminal Court.

To date, I have published two editions of an undergraduate/graduate-level textbook: American Courts which introduces students to: the law and jurisdiction of American courts; the “courtroom workgroup;” and, to a much greater extent, due process (additional information about the book is available at https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/american-courts). In addition, I presently have a book proposal (Law & Society) under review. In this book, I hope to write a non-anthological examination of law tracing the philosophical and societal development of American law from pre-recorded history (i.e. “the state of nature”) to its modern-day existence and application – especially as it pertains to the development of criminal law and procedure.

Beyond my book(s), I have a number of publications that, taken together, explore vastly different areas of the law, yet, to some degree, implicate the broader concept of “due process”:


  • “Misogynistic Attitudes: Alek Minassain” in SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND MISCONDUCT: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA, Gina Robertiello (ed.)(ABC-CLIO, 2020).


  • Book Chapter: Human Trafficking, in TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME (1st Ed., Cognella, 2020) (ISBN: 978-X-XXX-XXXX-X) (Co-Authored with Dr. Fredrick Turner, II of Keiser University).



  • KHQ [MOBILE APPLICATION SOFTWARE] AMERICAN COURTS (2nd Ed., Kendall Hunt, 2019) (978-1-5249-8452-6), available on iTunes and Google Play Store.


  • Protecting Due Process During Terrorism Adjudications: Redefining “Crimes Against Humanity” and Eliminating the Doctrine of Complimentary Jurisdiction in Favor of the International Criminal Court, 71(3) ARK. L. REV. 571 (2018) available at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/alr/vol71/iss3/1/


  • Chapter Nine: An Analysis of Lockean Philosophy in the Historical and Modern Context of the Jurisdictional Restraints Imposed by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, in PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW: CORRELATING THINKERS (Morten Bergsmo, ed., 2018) (ISBN: 978-8283481174).



  • Rethinking Ingram: The Need for Extensive Due Process Protections Predicating the Administration of Corporal Punishment, 2015(3) BEARING WITNESS: J. L. & SOC. RESP., 52. available at: https://www.suffolk.edu/documents/BearingWitness/volumeThree/files/assets/basic-html/page-52.html

My present undertaking, Standing on Principle, is much more in line with my interest in criminal procedure. Specifically, I am studying the almost universal prohibition of “target standing” under the exclusionary rule. My research seeks to uncover the early-English common law roots of the exclusionary rule, its relationship to “target standing,” and its modern-day disfavor. Ultimately, if the research permits, I hope to challenge the prohibition of “target standing” as a matter of public policy in response to law enforcement’s misuse or overuse of the doctrine.

Thus far, my research has primarily focused on textual analysis and/or sound public policy based upon case law and statutory analysis. Looking towards the future, in addition to my book (Law & Society) and my current research on “target standing,” I hope to incorporate more social science research techniques and data into future projects. Specifically, in line with my interest in criminal law, my next undertaking will study the group mentality “group think” of rioters in relation to, or even negating, mens rea for crimes committed during a riot, domestic and/or abroad. Absent the existence of a dataset on-point, I plan to create my own a dataset based upon police records, media reports, and interviews. This data will then be supplemented with a meta-analysis of existing psychological research on group mentality/“group think” as well as a historical and modern legal analysis of the subject.

In summation, while I have and will continue to conduct research in the broad areas of international and domestic criminal law and procedure. My overarching goal is to discover and shed light upon any perceived inequities under the law or its application, so as to effectuate the fundamental human right of due process. This is the trajectory in which I see my research headed for the near and distant future.