Carissa Byrne Hessick

Professor Carissa Byrne Hessick was interviewed on Wednesday, Aug. 10, by KTVK-Channel 3 regarding Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s appeal to U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that put on hold parts of the state’s controversial immigration law.

In “Brewer asks Supreme Court to hear SB 1070 case,” Hessick told reporter Stacey Delikat that Arizona means business, given its hiring of former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement to present its case. Clement represented the federal government before the U.S. Supreme Court during the George W. Bush administration.

“It’s a strong signal to the court that the state of Arizona is taking this case very seriously,” Hessick said.

To watch the full segment, click here.

Hessick teaches Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, and Federal Crimes. Her research focuses on aggravation and mitigation in criminal sentencing, the criminalization and punishment associated with child pornography, and other political and doctrinal issues associated with sentencing. She recently published an article in the California Law Review on the constitutionality of common sentencing factors. She has also published articles on whether military service and other good works ought to be treated as mitigating sentencing factors and on the severity of sentences associated with the possession of child pornography.