Bench & Bar March/April 2026

BRANDEIS LAW HONORS FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE LEADERSHIP

Susan L. Tanner and Jina Scinta recognized for nationally respected contributions to legal scholarship and public service. The University of Louisville’s Louis D. Brandeis School of Law recently recognized two members of its community for outstanding contributions to legal scholarship and access to justice. Associate Professor Susan L. Tanner was named the school of law’s 2025 Faculty Scholar of the Year, and staff member Jina Scinta received a national Access to Justice Award from the Association of American Law Schools.

Brandeis Law also recognized Jina Scinta for her national leadership in advancing access to justice. Scinta received the Access to Justice Award from the AALS Pro Bono & Public Service Opportunities Section. The award honors individuals who manage pro bono programs and who have removed barriers to justice or improved legal services for individuals unable to afford representation.

Greenebaum Public Service Coordinator Jina Scinta

The award recognizes Scinta’s sustained commitment to expanding access to legal services and strengthening pro bono and public service opportunities. Through her leadership, she has helped broaden opportunities for law students to engage in meaningful public service while addressing systemic barriers that limit access to justice for underserved communities. Together, these recognitions reflect Brandeis Law’s emphasis on scholarship and service that extend beyond the classroom. They underscore the school of law’s focus on legal education that advances thoughtful analysis, strengthens the profession, and responds to the needs of the communities it serves.

Professor Tanner received the Faculty Scholar of the Year honor for her book chapter, Deciphering Dobbs: Syllogism and Enthymeme in Contemporary Legal Discourse, published in 2025 by Cambridge University Press. The annual award recognizes a single scholarly work that rises above the already high expectations for faculty research and intellectual contribution at Brandeis Law.

Associate Professor Susan L. Tanner

In her chapter, Professor Tanner offers an original and rigorous analysis of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. She examines the opinion’s rhetorical structure and the logical frameworks used to construct judicial authority. Through close analysis, Professor Tanner identifies how the majority relies on unstated premises in its historical reasoning, treatment of categories, and approach to stare decisis. Her work demonstrates how these assumptions create an appearance of logical inevitability while remaining historically and normatively contestable. The chapter provides scholars, students, and practitioners with a clear vocabulary and analytic method for evaluating judicial rhetoric and understanding how courts assert legitimacy and authority.

LET’S CONNECT

University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Office of Admissions lawadmissions@louisville.edu

(502) 852-6363 law.louisville.edu

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