J. Richard Broughton appointed first Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development at Detroit Mercy Law
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law announced that J. Richard Broughton, Professor of Law, will be the first Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development beginning in January 2022. Professor Broughton previously served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs beginning in 2016.
“Serving in this role will allow us to expand our support to our already robust faculty research. I look forward to continuing to work with the faculty in this new way and working with Dean Jefferson Exum in supporting our faculty,” said Professor Broughton.
Professor Broughton joined the faculty at Detroit Mercy Law in 2009 and was granted tenure in 2014. He was promoted to Professor of Law in 2019. Professor Broughton is an expert in criminal law and constitutional law. He focuses his work on the intersection of American politics and institutions, constitutionalism, and criminal justice. His recent work has covered President Donald Trump’s impeachment, congressional investigative powers, the federal death penalty, and national security crimes, including terrorism and treason.
“Professor Broughton has always supported our faculty in promoting their research in his role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. This new position will allow him to expanding on this work in exciting ways that will benefit our faculty in their continued development as impactful scholars,” said Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum.
His goals in this new position include cultivating a vigorous institutional culture of research, scholarship, and free inquiry, promoting faculty scholarship publicly, ensuring support and mentorship for faculty in their research and writing, and expanding outreach to other academic institutions and the public. “Meeting these goals,” he said, “will help to enhance the reputation of the faculty, the law school, and the University, and serve the public good by building and improving legal knowledge.”
Professor Broughton has been named Professor of the Year five times by the student body. He was also awarded the University of Detroit Mercy Faculty Achievement Award, the James T. Barnes, Sr. Memorial Faculty Scholar Award, and the Faculty Member of the Year Award by both the Moot Court Board of Advocates and the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review. Professor Broughton has served on numerous committees, including the Dual JD Executive Committee, COVID-19 Taskforce, Faculty Recruitment Committee, and multiple Dean Search Committees.