David Rossman

David Rossman

Professor of Law Emeritus


BA, Dartmouth College
JD, Harvard University


Biography

Since 1978, David Rossman has served as director of BU Law’s Criminal Law Clinical Programs. He teaches courses in criminal procedure, criminal trial practice, criminal trial advocacy and issues in criminal justice. “Working with young lawyers on actual litigation is immensely satisfying,” he says. “I’m always energized by the new ways in which they attack problems that seem old hat to me.”

Professor Rossman has maintained an active criminal defense practice for nearly three decades. He has represented defendants at all state and federal court levels, including the US Supreme Court. He also has served as an assistant district attorney in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, where he was responsible for grand jury investigations and prosecutions of white-collar crimes. As a Massachusetts special assistant attorney general, he represented bar counsel in federal litigation regarding the rules of ethics that regulate federal prosecutors. “Criminal law is exciting to me because the way it is formulated and implemented by police and the courts helps define the very society in which we live,” he says. “The issues involved are at the forefront of the public’s attention and literally have to do with life and death.”

Additionally, Professor Rossman has served as a law clerk on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and a teaching fellow at Boston College Law School. He has consulted with the Massachusetts Department of Personnel Administration and the UN’s Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program and has written a treatise on guilty pleas, as well as monographs and articles on criminal procedure. In 2000, Professor Rossman spoke on “The Fight Against International Crime and the Threat to Individual Liberties” at the “Globalization and Crime” conference in Mexico City. He was involved in a State Department grant that provided assistance to a law school clinic in Siberia.

Publications

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  • David Rossman, Resurrecting Miranda's Right to Counsel 73 Boston University Law Review (2017)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Wendy J. Kaplan & David Rossman, Called 'Out' at Home: The One Strike Eviction Policy and Juvenile Court 3 Duke Forum for Law and Social Change (2011)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Conditional Rules in Criminal Procedure: Alice in Wonderland Meets the Constitution 26 Georgia State University Law Review (2010)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, The Globalization of Crime and the Threat to Individual Liberty, in Derecho Penal y Globalizacion (Rafael Marquez Pinero,2001)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, The Globalization of Crime and the Threat to Individual Liberty, Seminario de Derecho Penal Y Globalizacion (2000)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement XXII and XXIII to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1995)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement XX and XXI to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1994)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement XVIII and XIX to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1993)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement XVII and XVIII to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1992)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement XV and XVI to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1991)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement XIII and XIV to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1990)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Double Jeopardy, in Massachusetts Criminal Defense (Eric Blumenson and members of the Massachusetts Criminal Defense Bar,1990)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, 'Were There No Appeal': The History of Review in American Criminal Courts 81 Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1990)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement XI and XII to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1989)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement IX and X to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1987)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement VII and VIII to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1987)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement V and VI to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1986)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement IV to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1986)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement III to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1985)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement II to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1984)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Supplement I to Criminal Law Advocacy, v.2 Guilty Pleas (1983)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Criminal Law Advocacy, v. 2: Guilty Pleas (1982)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Massachusetts' Mandatory Minimum Sentence Gun Law: Enforcement, Prosecution and Defense Impact 16 Criminal Law Bulletin (1979)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Testing the Sufficiency of the Prosecution's Evidence by a Motion for a Judgement of Acquittal, in Criminal Defense Techniques (Robert M. Cipes (1969-1972), Sidney Bernstein (1972-1976), Irwin Hall (1972-1980) ; updates by Scott M. Daniels, Karen Straus,1978)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Criminal Law and Procedure 23 Annual Survey of Massachusetts Law (1976)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Sheldon Krantz, Paul Froyd, Janis Hoffman, David Rossman & Charles Smith, Right to Counsel in Criminal Cases: The Mandate of Argersinger v. Hamlin (1976)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Criminal Law and Procedure 22 Annual Survey of Massachusetts Law (1975)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, The Scope of the Sixth Amendment: Who is a Criminal Defendant? 12 American Criminal Law Review (1975)
    Scholarly Commons
  • David Rossman, Criminal Law and Procedure 21 Annual Survey of Massachusetts Law (1974)
    Scholarly Commons

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Activities & Engagements

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Courses

American Indian Law: LAW JD 920

3 credits

This seminar will explore the Constitutional and statutory law related to Native Americans, Indian reservations, and tribal governments. The seminar will examine the historical foundations of Indian law and the current legal structures that govern the relationship between the United States and tribal nations. Students will spend significant time on issues surrounding tribal sovereignty, traditional cultural practices, self-determination, and social justice. Students will gain an understanding of the basis for modern Indian law and the complex legal issues facing native communities in the United States and abroad. UPPER-CLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: A limited number of students may use this class to satisfy the requirement. OFFERING PATTERN: This class is not offered every year. Students are advised to take this into account when planning their long-term schedule. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar, or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.

SPRG 2025: LAW JD 920 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 3 Ann E. Tweedy LAW 204

Criminal Procedure: Comprehensive: LAW JD 819

4 credits

This course surveys the constitutional rules that govern investigation, prosecution, and adjudication in the criminal process and derive primarily from the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th Amendments. Topics include police powers and limits in searches and seizures (e.g. stops, frisks, arrests, excessive force, profiling, and surveillance), police interrogations (Miranda), the exclusionary rule (the suppression of evidence obtained unconstitutionally), bail and detention, the right to counsel, the right to trial by jury, grand jury proceedings, prosecutorial charging and discretion, double jeopardy, discovery and exculpatory evidence, plea bargaining, jury selection, and the rights to a public, speedy, and fair trial. We will discuss policy and practical considerations as well as the governing constitutional doctrines, and classroom demonstrations will illustrate the course material. RESTRICTION: Students may not enroll in this section and Criminal Procedure: Constitutional (JD821) or Criminal Procedure: Adjudicatory (JD820). GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2024: LAW JD 819 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 4 Sadiq Reza LAW 103

Criminal Trial Advocacy: LAW JD 981

3 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Criminal Law Clinical Program. This course meets in the fall and is mandatory for all 2L students in the Criminal Law Clinical Program. Criminal Trial Advocacy focuses on teaching courtroom skills in the context of criminal trial litigation. NOTE: The Criminal Law Clinical Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2024: LAW JD 981 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Fri 10:00 am 1:00 pm 3 Brian A. WilsonKaren Pita Loor LAW 602

Criminal Trial Practice I: LAW JD 982

5 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Criminal Law Clinical Program. Criminal Trial Practice I is mandatory for students before advancing to CTP2. 2Ls take the course fall or spring, as determined in consultation with the Director of the Criminal Law Clinical Program upon acceptance to the Program. 3Ls take the course in the fall. The course consists of a fieldwork and classroom component. The classroom component provides students with an introduction to Massachusetts criminal procedure and basic instruction in lawyering skills such as case planning and investigation. For their fieldwork, students are assigned to cases handled by senior members of the Program and conduct tasks out of court such as legal research, fact investigation, witness interviews and preparation. Students spend one morning a week in court observing and second-seating the cases they have helped to prepare. Students will receive more information about which morning they must have available for court before they must register for all courses. NOTE: The Criminal Law Clinical Program counts toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2024: LAW JD 982 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 5 Brian A. WilsonKaren Pita Loor LAW 420
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 982 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 4:20 pm 6:20 pm 5 Karen Pita LoorBrian A. Wilson LAW 420

Criminal Trial Practice II / Defenders: LAW JD 898

8 credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Criminal Law Clinical Program. Criminal Trial Practice 2 is for students in their second semester of the Program who have been assigned to the Defender section. Students represent clients charged with criminal offenses in either the Boston Municipal Court or the Boston Juvenile Court, handling felony and misdemeanor cases of increasing complexity under the supervision of the clinical professor. Students gain exposure to lawyering experiences such as investigation, interviewing, counseling, and trial advocacy. Students must be available to be in court two full days a week. Students will receive more information about which days they must have available for court before they must register for all courses. PREREQS: Evidence; Trial Advocacy or Criminal Trial Advocacy; Criminal Procedure (Comprehensive, Constitutional, or Adjudicatory). NOTE: The Criminal Law Clinical Program counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2024: LAW JD 898 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 4:20 pm 6:20 pm 8 Angelo PetrighShira M. Diner LAW 702
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 898 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm 8 Shira M. DinerAngelo Petrigh LAW 419

CRIMINAL TRIAL PRACTICE II/PROSECUTORS: LAW JD 899

Var credits

THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the Criminal Law Clinical Program. Criminal Trial Practice 2 is for students in their second semester of the Program and who have been assigned to the Prosecutor section. Students serve as prosecutors in the Quincy District Court on behalf of the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office, handling felony and misdemeanor cases of increasing complexity under the direct supervision of the clinical faculty member. Students are exposed to a wide variety of experiences, including investigation, interviewing and trial advocacy. Students litigate evidentiary hearings and conduct every phase of jury and bench trials. Students collaborate but serve as the lead prosecutors on their own cases. Students in the Prosecutor Clinic may choose to enroll for 5 or 8 credits. Students must be available to be in court two full days per week. Students will receive more information about which morning they must have available for court before they must register for all courses. NOTE: The Criminal Clinical Program satisfies the upper-class professional skills requirement and counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.

FALL 2024: LAW JD 899 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 4:20 pm 6:20 pm Var Brian A. Wilson LAW 512
FALL 2024: LAW JD 899 B1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 4:20 pm 6:20 pm Var Brian A. Wilson LAW 512
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 899 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm Var Brian A. Wilson LAW 512
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 899 B1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Thu 2:10 pm 4:10 pm Var Brian A. Wilson LAW 512

HOSPITAL LAW: LAW JD 913

2 credits

This course focuses on the highly regulated industry of health care, but with attention to the law applicable to hospitals and health systems. The course will review Federal and State statutes, regulations, as well as case law relevant to hospital organization, responsibilities and liability, credentialing, fraud and abuse laws and compliance oversight. The course is intended to develop competencies in understanding health care and health care insurance laws and regulations as they pertain to hospitals, developing familiarity with the reimbursement (particularly Medicare & Medicaid), regulatory compliance and enforcement issues facing hospital counsel. In addition, it is expected that students will demonstrate legal analysis and reasoning, problem-solving and communications skills required for work in a hospital/health care setting. Through understanding core health care law principles, students will learn the foundational legal, structural and business aspects of the modern hospital complex. Understanding how hospitals fit into the broader health care environment of payors, physicians, patients, regulators and other health care providers, law students will be able to appreciate the challenging dynamics affecting the health care system and the role of the hospital, often at the hub of activity, both in terms of current practice, but also health care delivery system reform. After completing the class, students will have been exposed to the key health care-related legal issues facing hospitals that hospital counsel and other health care lawyers need to know. Additionally, recognition of these stressors will be important training for lawyers in other disciplines interacting with hospitals, such as labor and employment law, intellectual property, antitrust, criminal defense, environmental, corporate, employee benefits, tax, etc. Course materials include a case book, primary source documentation, and guest lectures from in-house and outside counsel representing hospitals.

SPRG 2025: LAW JD 913 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Tue 4:20 pm 6:20 pm 2 James BryantLarry Vernaglia LAW 203