Karen Pita Loor

Karen Pita Loor

Clinical Professor of Law & Director

Michaels Faculty Research Scholars

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

Biography

Karen J. Pita Loor (KPL) is a Michaels Faculty Research Scholar and Clinical Professor of Law. She is the Director of the Criminal Law Clinical Program and teaches Criminal Law to first year students. Loor previously served as Associate Dean for Experiential Education. Loor has been honored with the Dean’s Scholarship Award, the Dean’s Service Award and the Faculty Access to Justice Award.   

Loor writes and speaks on issues related to protest, criminal law and procedure, police violence and immigrants’ rights. Her most recent scholarship takes a critical look at the policing of protests by both law enforcement and civilian actors. Loor’s scholarly writing has been published in various journals including the Michigan Law Review, the Southern California Law Review, the Temple Law Review and the Boston University Law Review. Beyond scholarly pieces and presentations, Loor is often called upon to opine as an expert in various media outlets. Her commentary has appeared in  SCOTUSblog, WBUR Cognoscenti, The Conversation and BU Today.  She has also been quoted in various national and international newspapers. Loor encourages students to use their education to join conversations around legal matters and does the same.  She collaborated with Berkeley vice mayor on amendments to the city’s code which sought to limit curfew declarations in response to protests and submitted supporting comments. 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.

Profile Types
Faculty, Full-Time Faculty, and Professors & Clinical Instructors
Areas of Interest
Criminal Law & Procedure, Immigrants’ Rights, Immigration Law & Policy, and Protest Policing

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Publications

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  • Karen Pita Loor, "I Can't Breathe", in The Oxford Handbook of Peaceful Assembly (Tabatha Abu El-Haj, Michael Hamilton, Thomas Probert & Sharath Srinivasan,2025)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Karen Pita Loor, Civilian Enforcers 97 Temple Law Review (2025)
    Scholarly Commons
  • 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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  • The 19th April 15, 2026

    They served their prison time. Then came deportation.

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
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  • The Daily Free Press February 21, 2026

    BU law students fight for second chances for incarcerated women through Defender Clinic

    Karen Pita Loor and Shira Diner are quoted.
    read more

  • The New York Times February 11, 2026

    For Months, Tear Gas Has Entered Their Homes. Now They’re Suing ICE.

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • Tagesspiegel October 7, 2025

    ‘Dangerous breaking of taboo’: Trump uses the National Guard in power poker with the Democrats

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • Newsweek September 10, 2025

    Trump Immigration Official Explains Major Green Card Change

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
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  • National Jurist August 26, 2025

    Law schools face hot button issues: Free speech, DEI and accreditation

    Jonathan Feingold, Karen Pita Loor, and Geraldine M. Muir are quoted.
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  • The New York Times July 3, 2025

    How Los Angeles Police Officers Broke Protocols and Injured Protesters

    Karen Pita Loor is credited.
    read more

  • The New York Times June 12, 2025

    Some Protests Calm After Curfews, but Measures Can Have Mixed Results

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • WBUR May 8, 2025

    Boston-Area Climate Activists Report Visits from the FBI

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
    read more

  • The Daily Free Press February 28, 2025

    Boston, Chelsea, Somerville defend sanctuary city policies amid increased ICE activity

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
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  • Columbia Law School February 26, 2025

    Behind the Scenes: ‘Columbia Law Review’ Symposium Explores the Law of Protest

    Karen Pita Loor is mentioned.
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  • The Daily Free Press February 13, 2025

    DOJ Under Trump Administration Halts Civil Rights Litigation, Freezes Investigation Against Worcester Pd

    Karen Pita Loor and Jack Beermann are quoted.
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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.
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  • Crain's Chicago Business March 25, 2024

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

    Karen Pita Loor is quoted.
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  • 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

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Stories from The Record

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Activities & Engagements

No upcoming activities or engagements.

Courses

LAW JD 946

Criminal Law

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 2027: LAW JD 946 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue,Thu 10:40 am 12:40 pm 4
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 946 B1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue,Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 Karen Pita Loor
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 946 C1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue,Thu 10:40 am 12:40 pm 4 Benjamin David Pyle
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 946 D1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 9:00 am 10:20 am 4 Gerald F. Leonard
Mon,Wed 9:00 am 10:20 am 4 Gerald F. Leonard
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 946 E1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue,Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 Emmanuel Hiram Arnaud
SPRG 2027: LAW JD 946 F1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue,Thu 10:40 am 12:40 pm 4 Zohra Ahmed
LAW JD 981

Criminal Trial Advocacy

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 2026: LAW JD 981 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Wed 4:20 pm 7:20 pm 3 Brian A. WilsonKaren Pita Loor
LAW JD 863

Defender Clinic

Var credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Defender Clinic. In the Defender Clinic, students represent clients charged with criminal offenses in the Boston Municipal Court, handling felony and misdemeanor cases under the supervision of a clinical faculty member. Students gain exposure in lawyering experiences such as investigation, interviewing, counseling, and trial advocacy. Students must be available to be in court selected court day(s) each week. Students will receive more information about which days they must have available for court before they must register for all courses. Students complement their casework with work on criminal law related projects. PRE/COREQS: Criminal Trial Advocacy (except where student has previously completed another trial advocacy course); Evidence (strongly recommended) or Criminal Procedure (Comprehensive (AB) or Investigation (A)). NOTE: The Criminal Law Clinical Program counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2026: LAW JD 863 A1, Aug 31st to Dec 3rd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm Var Karen Pita LoorAngelo Petrigh
LAW JD 864

Defender Clinic - Advanced

Var credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Defender Clinic. Students who advance to the Defender Clinic – Advanced continue the fieldwork and coursework from the prior semester. Students further develop their lawyering skills as they work on cases and criminal law related projects with increasing independence. Students must be available to be in court selected court day(s) each week. PRE/COREQS: Evidence and Criminal Procedure (Comprehensive (AB) or Investigation (A)). NOTE: The Criminal Law Clinical Program counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

SPRG 2027: LAW JD 864 A1, Jan 11th to Apr 21st 2027
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 4:20 pm 6:20 pm Var Karen Pita LoorAngelo Petrigh