David Garavito

  • Assistant Professor of Law

Contact

Email: garavito@uw.edu

Education

Ph.D. 2021, Cornell University J.D. 2020, Cornell Law School M.A. 2018, Cornell University B.A. 2015, University of Michigan

Areas of Expertise

Criminal Law and Procedure — Juvenile Law

Recent Courses

Course Number Course Name
Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure: Investigation
Criminal Procedure: Adjudication
Empirical Research Methods: Data-Driven Law

Selected Publications

See the full list under the Publications tab below.

Professor David Garavito’s research primarily focuses on criminal law and procedure, as well as developmental and cognitive psychology. He received his J.D. from Cornell Law School and his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University. His work involves empirical analysis of law and application of psychological research and theory to legal contexts. His work appears in both law reviews and peer-reviewed journals. Recent work of his has centered around a variety of topics including disparate outcomes in parole hearings, conflicts between the realities of human development and the legal protections afforded to juveniles, the perception of risks involving traumatic brain injuries, and biological and cognitive determinants for risk-taking. Currently, he has several ongoing projects on the topics of bias in sentencing, protections for youth in online environments, and the effects of stereotypes on memory and judgment.

Peer Reviewed Journals & Law Reviews

  • David M. N. Garavito, Amelia C. Hritz, & John H. Blume, Caged Birds and Those That Hear Their Songs: Effects of Race and Sex in South Carolina Parole Hearings, 27 U. Pa. J.L. & Soc. Change __ (forthcoming 2024).

Book Chapters


  • Panelist, with Elizabeth Pendo, Lisa Marshall Manheim, Amanda K. Stephen, David J.S. Ziff, Âé¶¹ÉçÇø Law Faculty Colloquium Series: Scholarship Panel, University of Âé¶¹ÉçÇø of Law (October 2, 2025)
  • Speaker, (September 24, 2025)
  • Panelist, "Perspectives on Legal Reasoning in Different Areas of Expertise," with Amit Ranade, Legal Reasoning in the AI Age International Conference, Fifth VNU-UL Autumn Law Forum (August 14, 2025)
  • Speaker, "The Youth Tax in Parole Hearings. Presentation," with Amelia C. Hritz, John H. Blume, Circumstances of Youth: Current Endeavors in Juvenile Administration, University of South Carolina Law Review Symposium (February 23, 2024)
  • Sep 29, 2025 | Source: NBC Right Now

    David Garavito, an assistant law professor at the University of Washington, explained that Clasen's role as a state trooper could impact her case. He noted, "It is an outlier in terms of how these kinds of things usually go. But it is what I expected, given the nature of the case."

  • Sep 17, 2025 | Source: KEPR

    "The prosecution changed. If I remember correctly, the original prosecutor changed, and that might be something where the court says, in the interest of justice, we want to give time so the prosecution can bring a fair case and get up to speed. Now that is a small delay, but a delay nonetheless," said David Garavito, an assistant professor of law at the University of Washington, when asked about why charges weren't filed sooner.

  • Sep 16, 2025 | Source: KEPR

    A Washington state trooper is scheduled to appear in a Benton County court next week. She's accused of causing a drunk driving crash that killed a Richland man earlier this year. David Garavito, assistant professor of law at the Âé¶¹ÉçÇø, is quoted.

  • Sep 02, 2025 | Source: NBC Right Now

    The Supreme Court “kind of set this stage for a really narrow interpretation of religious freedom claims brought by tribes,” said Monte Mills, director of the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington. “That has been a significant barrier for tribal religious freedom claims ever since.”

  • Jan 10, 2025 | Source: The Press Democrat

    “The entire process is very secretive,” said David Garavito, an assistant professor at the University of Âé¶¹ÉçÇø of Law who has expertise in grand juries. “You will really hear nothing for a bit. And that’s by design.”