Karen Pita Loor

Karen Pita Loor

Clinical Professor of Law

Michaels Faculty Research Scholars

BS, magna cum laude, Barry University
JD, cum laude, Washington College of Law, American University


Biography

Karen Pita Loor was the associate dean of clinical & experiential education from July 2020 to June 2023, following eight years of teaching and supervising student attorneys in the Defender Division of the BU Criminal Law Clinical Program as they represent indigent clients charged with crimes in the Boston District Court.  Loor also teaches a seminar that she developed entitled Regulation of the Immigrant Experience where students examine, through a legal lens, the obstacles immigrants face in American society.

As associate dean of experiential education, Loor understood that through BU Law’s various clinics, practicums, and externships,  students learn, engage in valuable public interest and service work, and build productive working relationships with practicing attorneys.  She views these programs as part of BU’s connection to and impact on its community, as BU Law students practice in local courts—and even on the world—as students travel on international legal services projects. Recognizing the impact that BU Law clinical students are having in real time and will have as practicing attorneys, Loor’s main priorities entail instituting training and support for students as they work to become culturally competent lawyers and encouraging them to explore systemic problems related to poverty, race, and other intersecting identities that affect the client population of many of the clinics.

Loor writes and speaks as an expert on issues related to protest policing, criminal law and procedure, police violence and immigrants’ rights.  She encourages students to use their education to join conversations around legal matters and does the same.  She has testified in support of legislation that would make Massachusetts a sanctuary state. She has organized trips – involving law students and other faculty — to the Mexican side of the border to assist migrants seeking asylum.  She supervised a group of students who filed an amicus brief in a first-of-its-kind case arguing that Massachusetts state and local law enforcement do not have the authority to detain a criminal defendant pursuant to an immigration detainer.

Loor initially joined the BU Law clinical faculty in 2011 after serving as a clinical associate professor with the Florida International University College of Law, supervising law students representing unaccompanied immigrant children in immigration and neglect proceedings. She started her legal career as a staff attorney at the premier public defender office in the country, the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where she represented indigent clients in criminal trial and appellate matters.

Publications

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  • Karen Pita Loor, An Argument Against Unbounded Arrest Power: The Expressive Fourth Amendment and Protesting While Black 120 Michigan Law Review (2022)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Karen Pita Loor, "Hey, Hey! Ho, Ho! These Mass Arrests Have Got to Go!": The Expressive Fourth Amendment Argument 28 William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice (2021)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Karen Pita Loor, The Expressive Fourth Amendment 94 Southern California Law Review (2021)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Karen Pita Loor, Tear Gas + Water Hoses + Dispersal Orders: The Fourth Amendment Endorses Brutality in Protest Policing 100 Boston University Law Review (2020)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Karen Pita Loor, When Protest is the Disaster: Constitutional Implications of State and Local Emergency Power 43 Seattle University Law Review (2019)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Karen Pita Loor, A Study on Immigrant Activism, Secure Communities, and Rawlsian Civil Disobedience 100 Marquette Law Review (2016)
    Scholarly Commons

In the Media

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  • Universal Podcast of Human Rights June 7, 2024

    Universal Podcast of Human Rights: Protests in the US with Professor Karen Pita Loor

    Karen Pita Loor is interviewed.
    read more

  • Crain's Chicago Business March 25, 2024

    The DNC Will Shine a Spotlight on Chicago — for Better or Worse

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • Democrat and Chronicle February 21, 2024

    Biden Said He Opposed Death Penalty. Why Do Feds Want to Kill the Buffalo Shooter?

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • Boston Bar November 7, 2023

    Defending the Supreme Judicial Court, Rule 3:03, Student Practitioner Experience

    Karen Pita Loor and Brian Wilson are quoted.
    read more

  • SCOTUSblog June 24, 2023

    Court Expands Government’s Ability to Deport Noncitizens for Offenses Related to Obstruction of Justice

    Karen Pita Loor coauthors an analysis.
    read more

  • Boston Globe June 23, 2023

    Police Say Detective Was Involved in Tawdry Love Triangle with Informant and Alleged Drug Trafficker

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • MassLive June 13, 2023

    Controversial Book Policy in Ludlow Up for a Vote Tuesday

    Karen Pita Loor
    read more

  • The 19th May 18, 2023

    ‘They Came for Blood’: Protesters and Witnesses Win Settlement 7 Years after Violent Clash with Police

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • SCOTUS Blog April 14, 2023

    Pair of Immigration Cases Come to the Court on Key Issue in Some Deportation Proceedings

    Karen Pita Loor co-authors a piece.
    read more

  • MassLive April 13, 2023

    10 Years On, Boston Marathon Bomber at the Center of Death Penalty Debate

    Karen J. Pita Loor provides commentary.
    read more

  • Courthouse News February 3, 2023

    Terrorist Charges against Atlanta Protestors Draw Criticism

    Karen J. Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • Law360 December 13, 2022

    DC Circuit Could Rein In Outlier On Jan. 6 Obstruction Charges

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • The Dallas Express April 26, 2022

    People’s Convoy Leaves Texas, Continues through California

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • Associated Press February 18, 2022

    In GOP Embrace of Truckers, Some See Racist Double Standard

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • WBUR October 12, 2021

    The Perplexing Case of Biden, Tsarnaev and the Death Penalty

    A piece by Karen Pita Loor.
    read more

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Stories from The Record

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Activities & Engagements

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Courses

Criminal Law: LAW JD 946

4 credits

Examines the basic principles of substantive criminal law, including the justifications for punishment, the essential elements of offenses, mitigating and exculpating defenses, and different forms of criminal liability.

SPRG 2025: LAW JD 946 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue,Thu 10:40 am 12:40 pm 4 Zohra Ahmed LAW 101
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 946 A2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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Tue,Thu 10:40 am 12:40 pm 4 Benjamin David Pyle LAW 102
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 946 B1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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Mon,Tue,Thu 2:30 pm 3:50 pm 4 Gerald F. Leonard LAW 212
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 946 B2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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Mon,Wed 8:30 am 10:30 am 4 Steven Arrigg Koh LAW 211
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 946 C1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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Tue,Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 Karen Pita Loor LAW 413
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 946 C2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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Tue,Wed,Thu 2:30 pm 3:45 pm 4 Sadiq Reza LAW 211

Criminal Trial Advocacy: LAW JD 981

3 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Criminal Law Clinical Program. This course meets in the fall and is mandatory for all 2L students in the Criminal Law Clinical Program. Criminal Trial Advocacy focuses on teaching courtroom skills in the context of criminal trial litigation. NOTE: The Criminal Law Clinical Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2024: LAW JD 981 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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Fri 10:00 am 1:00 pm 3 Brian A. WilsonKaren Pita Loor LAW 602

Criminal Trial Practice I: LAW JD 982

5 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Criminal Law Clinical Program. Criminal Trial Practice I is mandatory for students before advancing to CTP2. 2Ls take the course fall or spring, as determined in consultation with the Director of the Criminal Law Clinical Program upon acceptance to the Program. 3Ls take the course in the fall. The course consists of a fieldwork and classroom component. The classroom component provides students with an introduction to Massachusetts criminal procedure and basic instruction in lawyering skills such as case planning and investigation. For their fieldwork, students are assigned to cases handled by senior members of the Program and conduct tasks out of court such as legal research, fact investigation, witness interviews and preparation. Students spend one morning a week in court observing and second-seating the cases they have helped to prepare. Students will receive more information about which morning they must have available for court before they must register for all courses. NOTE: The Criminal Law Clinical Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2024: LAW JD 982 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 5 Brian A. WilsonKaren Pita Loor LAW 420
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 982 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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Thu 4:20 pm 6:20 pm 5 Karen Pita LoorBrian A. Wilson LAW 420

Supervised Research and Writing: LAW JD 841

Var credits

Upper-class students may pursue a special research interest under the guidance of a full time faculty member, and earn one or two semester credits for a Supervised Research and Writing project (also known as an Independent Study). The study must involve a substantial investment of time and effort, and result in significant written work that reflects a high standard of legal scholarship. The student's final grade will be based solely upon written work submitted, and will be included in the student's average. NOTE: Students must register for Supervised Research and Writing directly with the Registrar's Office. You may not register via the Student Link.

FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Ngozi Okidegbe
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 B1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Sarah R. Sherman-Stokes
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 B2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Michael J. Meurer
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 C1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Robert L. Tsai
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 C2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Karen Pita Loor
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 D1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Naomi M. Mann
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 E1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Yoana Kuzmova
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 F1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Shira M. Diner
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 G1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Julio Henriquez
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 H1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Aziza Ahmed
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 I1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 J1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 K1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 M1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 M2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 N1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 O1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 P1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 R1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 S1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 S2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 T1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 T2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 V1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 W1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 Z1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 Z2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Sadiq Reza
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 B1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Stacey Dogan
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 B3 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 C1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Stefanie B. Weigmann
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 C2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 D1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Shira M. Diner
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 D2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 E1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Sadiq Reza
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 F1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Glass
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 F2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Alan L. Feld
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 G1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Erika George
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 H1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Katharine B. Silbaugh
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 I1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Keith N. Hylton
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 J1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Keith N. Hylton
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 K1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Debbie Freitas
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 L1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var David H. Webber
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 L2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 M1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Hodo Walker
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 N1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am Var Weijia Rao
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 P1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 R1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 S1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 T1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 U1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 V1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 W1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
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SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 Y1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room