Sara Gordon

Sara Gordon is an Associate Professor at the Allard School of Law. Her work examines how legal decision-making is shaped—not just by laws and evidence—but by the assumptions, conventional wisdom, and cognitive biases of the people making those decisions. Professor Gordon is particularly interested in how judges and lawyers often rely on outdated or unsupported ideas about mental health and human behavior, even as medical and psychological research continues to evolve. Her work investigates how legal institutions often lag behind advancements in medical and psychological research and how this disconnect can lead to real consequences for people involved the criminal justice system.

Her research is aimed at educating legal professionals to better understand the science behind human behavior and mental health and improve decision-making in courts and other legal settings. 

At Allard, Professor Gordon teaches Criminal Law, Evidence Law, Mental Health Law, and a seminar in Law and Psychology.