
Portia Pedro
Associate Professor of Law
BA, University of California, Los Angeles
JD, Harvard Law School
PhD, Yale University
Biography
Portia Pedro, a former public interest litigation fellow who also worked as a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, joined the full-time faculty of Boston University School of Law as an associate professor in July 2018. She teaches civil procedure, remedies, and critical civil procedure.
Professor Pedro studies the ways in which racial subordination and subordination of other marginalized groups is embedded in civil procedure, remedies, and federal courts. She attempts to identify the marginalizing effects of seemingly technocratic or neutral rules, mechanisms, and doctrines in order to work against inequality that is embedded in the structure of the U.S. legal system. Her co-edited book volume, A Guide to Civil Procedure: Integrating Critical Legal Perspectives (NYU Press), is a resource of critical legal perspectives about civil procedure that focus on issues such as race, sex, gender identity and expression, disability, class, immigration status, and sexual orientation. Her scholarship has been published, or is forthcoming, in journals including the California Law Review, Ohio State Law Journal, and Virginia Law Review Online.
During her two years as a litigation associate at Debevoise in New York, Professor Pedro conducted motions practice, second-seated a trial, prepared witnesses for federal investigations, and litigated class action claims. She also practiced law for two years as a John J. Gibbons Fellow in Public Interest and Constitutional Law at Gibbons PC in Newark, New Jersey, where she litigated civil rights claims, negotiated attorneys’ fees, and filed amicus briefs. Professor Pedro co-authored briefs that secured marriage equality for same-sex couples in New Jersey, and she successfully opposed a motion to dismiss the equal protection claims of Muslim plaintiffs in New Jersey who were surveilled by the New York Police Department for their religious beliefs. Prior to her doctoral studies, Pedro served as a clerk to the Honorable Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Professor Pedro holds her PhD in Law at Yale Law School with a research focus on civil procedure, a JD from Harvard Law School, and a BA in International Development Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. At Harvard Law School, she served as treasurer and vice president of the Harvard Law Review, as an editor of the BlackLetterLaw Journal and Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, and as Harvard Black Law Students Association’s political chair.
- Profile Types
- Faculty, Full-Time Faculty, and Professors & Clinical Instructors
- Areas of Interest
- Civil Procedure, Civil Rights, Critical Race Theory, Federal Courts, and Remedies
Publications
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Portia Pedro, The Myth of the "Nationwide Injunction" 84 Ohio State Law Journal (2023)
Scholarly Commons -
Brooke Coleman, Suzette Malveaux, Portia Pedro & Elizabeth Porter, A Guide to Civil Procedure: Integrating Critical Legal Perspectives (2022)
Scholarly Commons -
Portia Pedro, A Prelude to a Critical Race Perspective on Civil Procedure 107 Virginia Law Review (2021)
Scholarly Commons -
Portia Pedro, Toward Establishing a Pre-Extinction Definition of 'Nationwide Injunctions' 91 University of Colorado Law Review (2020)
Scholarly Commons -
Portia Pedro, Stays 106 California Law Review (2018)
Scholarly Commons -
Portia Pedro, Note, Making Ballot Initiatives Work: Some Assembly Required 123 Harvard Law Review (2010)
Scholarly Commons -
Portia Pedro, Recent Case, Ninth Circuit Considers Community's Racial Tension with Police in Finding Illegal Seizure and Lack of Voluntary Consent. — United States V. Washington, 490 F.3d 765 (9th Cir. 2007) 121 Harvard Law Review (2008)
Scholarly Commons
Stories from The Record
Activities & Engagements
No upcoming activities or engagements.
Courses
Civil Procedure: LAW JD 873
Examines the structure and function of civil procedure and the requirements of due process of law.
FALL 2025: LAW JD 873 A1 , Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
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Mon,Wed | 2:10 pm | 4:10 pm | 4 | Janet Freilich |
Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
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Mon,Wed | 2:10 pm | 4:10 pm | 4 | Jed Handelsman Shugerman |
Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tue,Thu | 2:10 pm | 4:10 pm | 4 | Maya Steinitz |
Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mon,Wed | 2:10 pm | 4:10 pm | 4 | Naomi M. Mann |
Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
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Mon,Wed | 2:10 pm | 4:10 pm | 4 | David H. Webber |
Evidence: LAW JD 831
Donweber/Gonzales Rose/Lowy: Practical and theoretical aspects of the rules of evidence. The purpose and policies underlying the evidentiary rules are stressed throughout in order to make the rules meaningful, predictable, and functional both for students interested in trial practice and for students who anticipate engaging in a more diversified practice. In addition to covering the substantive rules of evidence, the course demonstrates the significance of evidence as a tactical device at the trial and as a vital skill for the office lawyer. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: Professor Gonzales Rose’s section may be used to satisfy the requirement partially or in full. Pedro: In this course, we will examine evidence rules and principles with a focus on the U.S. Federal Rules of Evidence, relevant constitutional provisions, and cases interpreting both. In addition to covering the rules of evidence, the course explores the significance of evidence as a strategic device in civil and criminal litigation, especially at trial. Some topics covered include: hearsay and its exceptions; relevance and prejudice; examination and impeachment of witnesses; privileges; expert testimony; and scientific, character, and propensity evidence. We will frequently use anonymous polling and discussion with a problems-based approach. We will engage in thoughtful discussions about cases alleging serious criminal offenses and civil injuries that may be disturbing. The course includes mandatory, practice quizzes and a practice midterm (specific student performance on the practices do not count toward the final grade) and assessment for the course will be based upon a final examination
FALL 2025: LAW JD 831 A1 , Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tue,Thu | 10:40 am | 12:40 pm | 4 | Jasmine Gonzales Rose |
Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
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Mon,Wed | 4:30 pm | 6:30 pm | 4 | Lowy |
Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
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Tue,Thu | 8:30 am | 10:30 am | 4 | Ngozi Okidegbe |
Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
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Mon,Wed | 10:45 am | 12:45 pm | 4 | Stephen M. Donweber |
Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tue,Thu | 10:40 am | 12:40 pm | 4 | Portia Pedro |
Statutory Interpretation: LAW JD 828
In this course, we will examine statutory interpretation with a focus on U.S. regulation, legislation, and agencies. In addition to covering the statutory canons and principles of statutory interpretation, the course demonstrates and develops the ability to engage in legal analysis and reasoning and an understanding of the important role of lawyers as problem solvers. Some topics covered include: plain meaning; textualism; textual errors; canons of construction; legislative history; pragmatism; and oversight and interpretation of agency decision-making. We will engage in thoughtful discussions about cases alleging serious criminal offenses and civil injuries that may be disturbing. The course includes a mandatory, practice quiz/midterm (specific student performance on the practice exam does not count toward the final grade) and a final examination.
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 828 A1 , Jan 12th to May 8th 2026Days | Start | End | Credits | Instructors | Bldg | Room |
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Tue,Thu | 2:30 pm | 3:55 pm | 3 | Portia Pedro |