Ruti G. Teitel, J.D. Closed Now

Professor Ruti G. Teitel, J.D., is one of the foremost authorities on transitional justice, constitutional law, and human rights. She is the Ernst C. Stiefel Professor of Comparative Law at New York Law School and has been widely recognized for her foundational contributions to defining the field of transitional justice as an academic discipline.

Her groundbreaking book, Transitional Justice (Oxford University Press, 2000), established a theoretical framework for understanding how societies address legacies of mass atrocity, repression, or dictatorship through law, justice mechanisms, and institutional reform. This work remains the most widely cited conceptual study in the field and has guided practitioners, scholars, and policymakers globally.

Prof. Teitel’s research explores the intersection of law and politics in times of radical political change, examining how justice mechanisms—such as truth commissions, reparations, lustration, and trials—help societies reconcile with past abuses while laying the groundwork for democratic governance. Her subsequent works, including Globalizing Transitional Justice and Humanity’s Law, expand these concepts into the international arena, addressing accountability and justice in the age of globalization.

Beyond scholarship, Prof. Teitel has actively engaged in global policy debates, serving as an advisor and commentator for the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), and various governments. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has published extensively in law reviews, international relations journals, and human rights publications.

Her influence is both theoretical and practical: she shaped the conceptual vocabulary of transitional justice and has applied it to real-world contexts, from Eastern Europe’s post-communist transitions to Latin America’s truth commissions and beyond.

Prof. Teitel’s career exemplifies the critical role of legal theory in shaping the practice of justice in transitional societies, ensuring that the pursuit of accountability is consistent with building sustainable peace and democracy.