Case Western Reserve University School of Law is happy to announce that Professor Atiba R. Ellis, who recently joined the law faculty in Jan. 2023 as a tenured full professor, has been appointed the Laura B. Chisolm Distinguished Research Scholar.
The distinguished research scholar appointments, in addition to the selections of professors for endowed chairs, recognize Case Law faculty who make significant contributions to their area of scholarship. Co-Dean Michael Scharf noted that “these appointments recognize scholarly achievements that add to Case Western’s ongoing national and global engagement in research.”
Ellis is a nationally recognized and widely cited scholar on matters of race, voting rights and election law. In nearly fifteen years as a researcher, he has published dozens of law-review articles and multiple book chapters on these issues. His current research has focused on the resurgence of voter intimidation and voter-fraud driven voter suppression claims in recent elections.
Additionally, Professor Ellis is currently working on a book manuscript concerning the role of race in debates over voter eligibility and voting fraud. He is also one of the contributing authors to the forthcoming new edition of the late Harvard Professor Derrick Bell’s landmark casebook, Race, Racism and American Law. He is a frequent public commentator on election law issues in the media and at academic symposia.
This Distinguished Research Scholar appointment honors the life and work of the late Case Western law professor Laura B. Chisolm. Professor Chisolm was an alumnus of the law school and a long-time Case Law professor. “I am honored to accept this appointment that commemorates such an outstanding scholar, teacher, and beloved member of the Case Western community,” said Ellis.