The mission of the SJSJ is to promote critical interdisciplinary discussions on urgent problems of social justice, including exploring the often-conflicting meanings of justice that arise in a diverse society.

The journal is published twice a year. A peer-reviewed, student-edited, interdisciplinary journal, the SJSJ publishes writings that reflect theoretical, literary and hands-on approaches toward achieving social justice. Traditional academic articles are welcome. Nontraditional formats such as narrative, commentary, interview, essay and artwork are also encouraged.

Learn more about Social Justice and browse online volumes

Visit the multimedia library for SJSJ-sponsored videos

Joaquin Avila Memorial Symposium

The Seattle Journal for Social Justice is presenting a voting rights symposium in memorial of Professor Joaquin Avila. The Joaquin Avila Memorial Symposium, which is taking place at Seattle University School of Law, will begin with coffee and light breakfast at 8:30am on March 1st. The symposium will end at 4:30pm and will be followed by a reception.

In 1996, Professor Avila was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant, one of several accolades for his work on voting rights. As a leader of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), he successfully argued two voting rights cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and he was instrumental in passage of the 2001 California Voting Rights Act. Professor Avila joined the Seattle University Law School's faculty as an assistant professor of law in 2005. In 2009, Professor Avila founded and became executive director of the law school's National Voting Rights Advocacy Initiative, which operated as part of the Korematsu Center for Law and Equality until 2013. During that time, he helped draft the Washington Voting Rights Act.

To celebrate Professor Avila's work, the Seattle Journal for Social Justice is pleased to have numerous speakers from throughout the country discuss voting rights issues from both a national and local perspective. Speakers will be covering the topics such as voter ID laws, felon disenfranchisement, the Washington Voting Rights Act, gerrymandering, and technological issues related to voter fraud.

Lunch will feature Erwin Chemerinsky, the Dean of Berkeley Law School, as the keynote speaker. Dean Chemerinsky is one of the most well-respected constitutional scholars in the country. He has authored eleven books and over 200 law review articles. Dean Chemerinsky earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and has had the opportunity to argue before the United State Supreme Court in cases such as United States v. Apel (2013), Van Orden v. Perry (2004), and Lockyer v. Andrade (2002).

To sign up for the symposium, which is free of charge, please fill out the following form.