Rental Partner: University of Washington Office of Public Lectures presents
John Jennings
The AfroFuture Now
Rental Partner: University of Washington Office of Public Lectures presents
Judge Joel Ngugi
Equity, Independence, and the Future of Law
Presented by the University of Washington Office of Public Lectures. For questions about this event, please contact lectures@uw.edu.
As a member of the Kenyan judiciary Judge Ngugi will talk about some of the most pressing political questions of our time in both his country and the USA, including how we ensure an equitable, independent and wise judiciary; as well as how we can imagine justice beyond narrow legal frameworks.
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Joel Ngugi was born in Kenya where he earned his Bachelor of Laws, from the University of Nairobi in 1996.After practicing law for two years, Ngugi went to Harvard Law School where he earned his Master of Laws (LL.M) and his Doctor of Juridical Sciences (S.J.D.; Ph.D. equivalent). He joined the University of Washington as an Assistant Professor of Law in 2004. Based on his outstanding teaching and scholarship, he was quickly promoted to Associate Professor in 2008.
Ngugi’s reach at UW stretched far beyond the School of Law. He chaired the African Studies Program, located in the Jackson School of International Studies, from 2008 to 2011. He twice led popular undergraduate study abroad programs to Kenya. Ngugi was an invaluable link between the law school and other parts of campus, and an inspired leader.
In 2011, Ngugi accepted an appointment to the Kenyan judiciary as a Judge of the High Court and moved back to Kenya. In 2022, he was elevated to be a Judge of Appeal. He also presently serves as the Chair of the National Steering Committee for the Implementation of the Alternative Justice Systems Policy. As a High Court Judge, he served as the Head of Judiciary Transformation Secretariat and former Director of the Kenya Judiciary Academy (KJA). He has been recognized for his commitment to improving the judiciary, defending the country’s constitution, and developing alternative justice systems to better ensure the human rights and dignity of all Kenyans.
