Sissy Farenthold Scholars in Reproductive Justice

The application cycle for 2024-25 Sissy Farenthold Scholars in Reproductive Justice is now open. The DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED. Please apply by midnight on Monday, July 22, 2024.

The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice is pleased to offer a $6,000 scholarship for a Texas Law student to serve as a Sissy Farenthold Scholar in Reproductive Justice for the 2024-2025 academic year, as part of the Center's Human Rights Scholars program. The Reproductive Justice Scholar will support Rapoport Center staff affiliated with the Sissy Farenthold Reproductive Justice Defense Project.

Working at the intersection of criminal law and reproductive justice, the Project provides resources for lawyers, the public, and reproductive justice and advocacy organizations; tracks criminal charges, prosecutions, and civil suits in Texas related to pregnancy and abortion; and serves as a transnational hub for academic research and advocacy regarding the criminalization of pregnancy. In the process, the Project hopes to deter investigations of and prosecutions for pregnancy-related offenses and increase the ability of individuals and communities, in the words of the Atlanta-based organization SisterSong, to “maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.”

The Reproductive Justice Scholar will work under the direction of Project Director Blake Rocap and Criminal Defense Lead Cristina I. Ramirez, and alongside Rapoport Center faculty and staff, as well as undergraduate interns and other law students. This position is designed for a law student seeking hands-on research and advocacy experience in the fields of reproductive rights and/or criminal defense. It is also an excellent opportunity for a student interested in pursuing a career at an academic research center or legal non-profit. A demonstrated commitment to social justice and/or reproductive health, rights, and justice is highly preferred.

The Reproductive Justice Scholar’s responsibilities will depend upon the priorities of the Project but might include:

• legal research and writing on reproductive justice issues, primarily in, but not exclusive to, Texas;
• helping in the tracking of criminal and civil cases in Texas related to pregnancy outcomes as part of a tracking collaborative with national advocacy groups and other law schools, including retrieving and cataloging legal documents from Texas court systems;
• supporting outreach to Texas-based and national legal service providers as well as to local, national, and international partners;
• assisting in the preparation and coordination of training materials, legal resource pamphlets, presentations, and other support for attorneys, healthcare providers, and the general public in Texas and across the country;
• analyzing hospital policies for various factors related to reproductive justice;
• facilitating interdisciplinary relationships and communication across the UT campus on issues at the intersection of reproductive and criminal justice;
• attend weekly team meetings and other events hosted by the Rapoport Center and the Reproductive Justice Defense Project.

The Sissy Farenthold Scholar in Reproductive Justice will receive a $6,000 scholarship and spend an average of 10-12 hours/week at the Center over the course of the year. Rising 2Ls and 3Ls, as well as L.L.M. students, are eligible to apply.