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Portrait of Gerald G. Ashdown

Emeriti Faculty

Gerald G. Ashdown

James H. “Buck” and June M. Harless Professor of Law Emeritus

Email: gerald.ashdown@mail.wvu.edu

Courses Taught

  • Criminal Law
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Constitutional Law
  • Federal Courts
  • Federal Criminal Jurisdiction

Biography

Gerry Ashdown graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1972. After a brief time in practice with the Los Angeles law firm of Adams, Duque & Hazeltine, he returned to the University of Iowa College of Law to teach for a year before joining the University of Kentucky law faculty. He became a member of the law faculty at the West Virginia University College of Law in 1979. He served as Associate Dean from 1984-1986, and was appointed the James H. “Buck” and June M. Harless Professor of Law in 2001.

Professor Ashdown is the long-time co-author of Criminal Law Cases and Comments (University Casebook Series, Foundation Press). The ninth edition of this widely-used law text was published in June 2013.

Publications and Research

  • The Blueing of America: The Bridge Between the War on Drugs and the War on Terrorism , 67 University of Pittsburgh Law Review 753 (2006).
  • Journalism Police, 89 Marquette Law Review 739 (2006).
  • Marshall, Marbury, and Mr. Byrd: America Unchecked and Imbalanced, (reviewing Losing America by Senator Robert C. Byrd), 108 West Virginia Law Review 691 (2006).
  • The Convenience of the Guillotine: Video Proceedings in Federal Prosecutions, (with Michael A. Menzel), 80 Den. U. L. Rev. 63-109 (2002).
  • Criminal Law Cases and Comments, Moenssens, Bacigal, Ashdown & Hench, Foundation Press, 7th ed. 2003.
  • Instructor’s Manual, Criminal Law—Cases and Comments, Moenssens, Bacigal, Ashdown & Hench, Foundation Press, 7th ed. 2003.
  • The Convenience of the Guillotine: Video Proceeding in Federal Prosecution, 80 Den. U. L. Rev. 63 (2002) (with Michael A. Menzel)
  • Criminal Law Cases and Comments, _Moenssens, Bacigal, Ashdown & Inbau, Foundation Press, 6th Ed. 1998.
  • “Federalism, Federalization, and the Politics of Crime,” 98 W. Va. L. Rev. 789-813 (1996)
  • *“Introduction: Macro and Micro Evaluation of the Federalization of Crime,”*98 W. Va. L. Rev. 757-59 (1996)
  • “Whither the Press: The Fourth Estate and Journalism of Blame,” 3 Wm. & Mary Bill of Rights J. 681-703 (1994)
  • *“Drugs, Ideology, and the Deconstitutionalization of Criminal Procedure,”*95 W. Va. L. Rev. 1-54 (1992)

Education

  • B.B.A., University of Iowa, 1969
  • J.D., University of Iowa, 1972