James Marmaduke
Spring 2021 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Henderson, NV
College: University of Nevada Las Vegas
Degree: B.A. Philosophy, Criminal Justice
James Marmaduke graduated magna cum laude from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a double major in Philosophy and Criminal Justice. Named Outstanding Graduating Senior in philosophy, he received awards for excellence in ethical theory, social and political philosophy, and health care ethics. As an undergraduate, he was also an award-winning member of the UNLV Mock Trial Team, president of the pre-law fraternity, and founder of a student organization dedicated to the study of international law.
At UNLV, James participated in multiple independent study programs that fostered his interest in jurisprudence and legal history, and he wrote his senior thesis as a critique of the legal doctrine substantive due process. A revised version of this essay was later published in an Italian law review.
During college, James worked to give back to the community and founded Dreams of Sleep in 2018, a nonprofit organization dedicated to children suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury and narcolepsy. His other activities included interning for Congresswoman Jacky Rosen and participating in a legal fellowship in Madrid, Spain.
Since January of 2020, James has worked part-time as a research assistant and is currently in the process of aiding one of his former professors with a forthcoming academic publication regarding the concepts of obligation rights and moral duty, in particular with respect to firearm ownership, in early American political thought.
During his time at John Jay, James will be taking a hiatus from his work at Johns Hopkins University, where he is currently enrolled and working toward a master’s degree in Science Writing. He hopes to use this degree to better understand the intricate relationships between modern linguistics and the law, and make these ideas accessible to a wider swath of people.
When not working, James enjoys reading history, crafting artisan chocolates, home growing mushrooms, SCUBA diving, and working on a children’s book that he hopes to publish through his nonprofit organization.
After the John Jay Fellowship concludes, James hopes to attend law school and earn a Ph.D. in history.