Biography

James S. F. Wilson studies comparative public law (administrative and constitutional law) and legal and political theory. His research focuses on how courts and administrative decision-makers resolve conflicts about the use of public authority, and how the ways in which they do this can integrate respect for people’s dignity with respect for democracy.

James was educated at Harvard University (AB magna cum laude 2000) and the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law (JD 2009), where he was a co-editor-in-chief of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review. After graduating from law school, James completed his articles with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, Constitutional Law Branch, and practiced regulatory and business litigation for a Canadian law firm based in Toronto, appearing at all levels of court in Ontario as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. He is also called to the bar in New York. After practicing law for nearly a decade, James returned to the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law as a recipient of the Nathan Strauss Q.C. Graduate Fellowship in Canadian Constitutional Law (LLM 2018) before continuing his graduate studies at NYU School of Law (JSD 2025). He also currently serves as the senior associate editor for the International Journal of Constitutional Law (I-CON).

Before attending law school, Mr. Wilson worked in the book publishing and film industries, in New York, and as a speechwriter for the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, prime minister of Canada.