NULR: Milestones and Reflections

January 14, 2022

On behalf of the Editorial Boards of Volume 116 and Volume 117:

The Northwestern University Law Review is thrilled to announce the new Editorial Board for 2022–2023, Volume 117. Established in 1906, the Law Review has continuously sought to publish high-quality general legal scholarship from professors, judges, students, and practitioners throughout the legal community. In this pursuit of excellence in legal scholarship, the Law Review is committed to elevating voices and perspectives that historically have been underrepresented in legal academia and to fostering a diverse and inclusive community at the journal.

We want to take a moment to recognize our new Editor-in-Chief, Bradford McGann (J.D. ’23), who, according to available records, is the first Black Editor-in-Chief of the Northwestern University Law Review. This is a powerful moment. A graduate of Harvard University (A.B. in Government, 2014), Bradford has continually demonstrated leadership as a member of the Northwestern community and during his time as a staff editor for the Law Review. The Law Review has the utmost faith in his ability to take the reins and lead this journal to new heights. We also would like to recognize Taylor Nchako (J.D. ’23; University of Georgia, B.A. in Public Relations, B.A. in International Affairs, 2020), who will serve as the first Black Online Editor-in-Chief, leading Northwestern University Law Review Online.

While we are excited to celebrate these milestones, we recognize that they are long overdue. It should not have taken the Law Review until 2022 to reach this moment. The Law Review must continue to take steps to make legal academia and scholarship more inclusive of Black and Indigenous voices, queer voices, and the voices of other disenfranchised groups. We are grateful that Bradford and Taylor have accepted that challenge, knowing that there is much work yet to be done to achieve this goal.

We also want to acknowledge the entirety of the Volume 117 editorial staff. Through race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and more, the members of Volume 117 represent an array of diverse communities that historically have been underrepresented in legal academia. Their talent and commitment to the continued success of the Law Review cannot be overstated. Excellent legal scholarship and robust discourse require diverse perspectives; the Law Review is committed to building a welcoming space, both in our pages and future membership, for this same diversity.

Sarah Chanski

Editor-in-Chief, Northwestern University Law Review, Volume 116

Bradford McGann

Editor-in-Chief, Northwestern University Law Review, Volume 117