Jennifer (Barrow) Jenkins

Associate Professor of Law

Constitutional Law Criminal Law Intelligence Judicial Process Law & Public Policy Military Law National Security Law Sentencing Law Separation of Powers Torts Trial Advocacy

Professor Jennifer Jenkins teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, torts, and military law at Ave Maria School of Law. A former Army intelligence officer and Harvard Law School graduate, her scholarship focuses on criminal sentencing, military law, and the constitutional role of the jury within the American legal system.

Phone: (239) 687-5374
Office: Administration Building

Biography

Professor Jennifer Jenkins teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, torts, and military law at Ave Maria School of Law. Her scholarship focuses on criminal law and military law, particularly sentencing, separation of powers, and the constitutional role of the jury within the American legal system.

Before joining the faculty at Ave Maria School of Law, Professor Jenkins served as a Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. She earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she served as an editor for the International Law Journal, the Journal of Law and Public Policy, the Journal on Legislation, and the National Security Journal. She also earned a B.S. in American Legal System from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Following law school, Professor Jenkins clerked for Judge Ralph K. Winter of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She later served as a Supreme Court Fellow assigned to the United States Sentencing Commission, where she assisted with revisions to proposed amendments to the career offender provisions of the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Prior to her academic and legal career, Professor Jenkins served as an Army intelligence officer with deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. She was awarded the Bronze Star in 2010 for her military service.

Professor Jenkins’ teaching and research interests include criminal law, criminal procedure, military law, torts, sentencing, and constitutional structure. Her scholarship examines the increasing concentration of authority within the legislative, executive, and judicial branches at the expense of the jury and proposes reforms grounded in constitutional principles and the traditional role of the citizen jury.

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School
  • B.S., American Legal System, United States Military Academy at West Point

Professional Experience

Before joining Ave Maria School of Law, Professor Jennifer Jenkins served as a Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. Following graduation from Harvard Law School, she clerked for Judge Ralph K. Winter of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Professor Jenkins also served as a Supreme Court Fellow assigned to the United States Sentencing Commission, where she contributed to revisions of proposed amendments to the career offender provisions of the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Prior to her legal academic career, Professor Jenkins served as an Army intelligence officer with deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. For her military service, she was awarded the Bronze Star in 2010.

Honors & Professional Affiliations

  • Bronze Star Medal, United States Army (2010)
  • Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law, Harvard Law School
  • Supreme Court Fellow, United States Sentencing Commission
  • Editor, International Law Journal, Harvard Law School
  • Editor, Journal of Law and Public Policy, Harvard Law School
  • Editor, Journal on Legislation, Harvard Law School
  • Editor, National Security Journal, Harvard Law School