Degrees
Expertise
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Sentencing
Sam J. Merchant teaches and writes about constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, sentencing, and habeas corpus. Professor Merchant has published several law-review articles and the book Revolution in Redline: The Iterative Journey of the U.S. Constitution, which traces the sources and ideas behind America’s founding documents and presents the drafting history in a modern, accessible format. He is a frequent commentator on legal developments in the national press, including the New York Times, NewsNation Live, Axios, and Law360.
Professor Merchant was a fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, working at both the Supreme Court and the United States Sentencing Commission. In addition to an immersion in constitutional law and Supreme Court practice, he helped prepare amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Professor Merchant is a member of the United States Sentencing Commission's Research and Data Practices Advisory Group and is a research fellow at the Center for the Constitution at Georgetown University Law Center. He is also an editor for Constitutional Commentary, CrimProf Blog, and a guest editor for the Federal Sentencing Reporter.
Prior to joining the Minnesota Law faculty, he was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He has previously worked as a federal law clerk and as a litigator on state, federal, and international matters.
