Sara Sun Beale, Charles L. B. Lowndes Professor of Law

Sara Sun Beale is Charles L.B. Lowndes Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law (2001–present). Her principal academic interests include the federal government's role in the criminal justice system, the laws defining federal crimes, and various issues of criminal procedure, including prosecutorial discretion. She is also interested in studying the factors that shape public attitudes regarding crime and how those attitudes ultimately translate into legislative changes in criminal laws and procedures.

Key publications: Federal Criminal Law and Its Enforcement, with Norman Abrams & Susan Klein (5th ed. 2010) and accompanying Teacher’s Manual (2010), supplement 2010; Federal Criminal Law And Related Civil Actions: Forfeitures, the False Claim Act, and RICO, with Pamela Bucy and Sarah Welling (1998), & Supplements 1999 & 2000; Grand Jury Law and Practice, with William C. Bryson and others (2nd ed. 1997) & Supplements (1998-2010). Professor Beale has also published numerous articles in refereed journals and written chapters in collective publications, and her work has been cited on many occasions by the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

Professor Beale has been active in law reform efforts related to the federal government's role in criminal justice matters. Since her appointment by Chief Justice Rehnquist in 2004, she has served as the Reporter for the Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules. She previously served as an associate reporter for the Workload Subcommittee of the Federal Courts Study Committee and as the reporter for a three branch federal–state working group to consider the principles that should govern the federalization of criminal law. Beale also served as a member of an American Bar Association task force studying the federalization of criminal law. She has argued before the Supreme Court on six occasions, representing the United States and as appointed counsel for an indigent defendant.

A member of the board of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, Beale has lectured or taught in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland.

She has served as a Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Law, Duke University (1997-1998), a Visiting Professor at the University of Michigan Law School (1992), an Assistant to the Solicitor General, United States Department of Justice (1977-1979) and an Attorney Adviser, Office of Legal Counsel, United States Department of Justice (1976-1977).