Joseph Richard Hurt is teaching Constitutional Law I at Elon Law during the fall 2024 trimester. His career in legal education has spanned nearly 45 years, including deanships at three law schools and teaching appointments at six law schools. He started his career at Mississippi College School of Law, where he served as Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean and finally as Dean for seven years. Following his deanship at Mississippi College, he served as Deputy Consultant on Legal Education to the American Bar Association in the Office of the Consultant, which oversees the accreditation of American law schools for the ABA.

With his background in the law school accreditation process, Professor Hurt led two law schools, Florida Coastal and Barry University, through the full ABA accreditation process as dean. Additionally, he successfully provided guidance as an outside consultant to other law schools either seeking ABA accreditation or addressing issues of compliance with accreditation standards The last 11 years of Professor Hurt’s career were spent as a member of the full-time faculty at Florida A&M University College of Law.

Professor Hurt’s 40-year background in Constitutional Law led him to active involvement in social justice issues including racial reconciliation and LGBTQIA equality and inclusion causes. He is an active member of the Human Rights Campaign’s Federal Club and its Central Florida Steering Committee. He served two terms on the of the Board of Directors of Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), an international organization within the United Methodist Church committed to full inclusion of the LGBTQIA community within in the church and society at large. On the Board, he served as Treasurer, Vice Chair, and finally as Chair.