Israeli-American professor of law at S
Amos Neuser Guiora is an Israeli-American professor of law at S. J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah, specializing in institutional complicity, enabling culture, and sexual assaults.[1][2] Guiora’s scholarship explores institutional complicity in relation to the victimization of young people by college sports coaches, trainers, doctors, and Catholic priests. As a result of this work, Guiora has become not just an academic but also an advocate for sexual assault victims.
Biography
Amos Guiora was born in Israel to Hungarian Holocaust survivors.[3] The family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan before he began school. In 1979, he graduated Kenyon College with honors in history.
Prior to attending Case Western Reserve University School of Law, he worked in Washington, D.C., for two years as an assistant to Howard Wolpe and one year for a communications consulting company.[4]
After graduating from Case, Guiora returned to Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Forces Judge Advocate General Corps, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.[4]
Academic and legal career
Guiora is a Professor of Law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law, the University of Utah. In addition, Professor Guiora is a Distinguished Fellow at The Consortium for the Research and Study of Holocaust and the Law (CRSHL) at Chicago-Kent College of Law and Distinguished Fellow and Counselor, International Center for Conflict Resolution, Katz School of Business, University of Pittsburgh.
Professor Guiora is the Inaugural Chair of the University of Utah Independent Review Committee (Presidential Appointment).
His most recent book,[5] reflects Professor Guiora’s research on institutional complicity, enabling culture, and sexual assaults. Professor Guiora has spoken at (virtual) conferences in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the U.S. on sexual abuse of athletes (Safe Sports) and sexual exploitation of children.
Professor Guiora has published extensively both in the U.S. and Europe on issues related to national security, limits of interrogation, religion and terrorism, the limits of power, multiculturalism, and human rights. He is the author of several books, articles, and book chapters.
His previous scholarship includes [6] (translated into Chinese and Dutch);[7][8][9][10][11] (co-authored with Professor Paul Cliteur); and [12] (co-authored with Professor Louisa Heiny).
Professor Guiora’s research and book,[6] directly contributed to legislation ratified by the Utah Legislature in 2021 that criminalizes bystanders who do not intervene on behalf of children and vulnerable adults. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Brian King and sponsored by Sen. Kurt Bramble, enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support.
Professor Guiora has been an expert witness in civil and criminal cases in the U.S. and The Netherlands. In addition, he has testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Dutch House of Representatives, and the Judiciary Committee of the Utah House of Representatives.
He has also been deeply involved over a number of years in Track Two negotiation efforts regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict predicated on a preference and prioritization analytical tool.
He served for 19 years in the Israel Defense Forces as Lieutenant Colonel (retired), and held a number of senior command positions, including Legal Advisor to the Gaza Strip and Commander of the IDF School of Military Law.
Professor Guiora has received grants from both the Stuart Family Foundation and the Earhart Foundation, and was awarded a Senior Specialist Fulbright Fellowship for The Netherlands in 2008. In 2011, he received the S.J. Quinney College of Law Faculty Scholarship Award. In 2015, he was elected a member of the Benchers Society at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Views and opinions
Focusing on cases of sexual assault from USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, Penn State University, Ohio State University, and the Catholic Church, interview after interview sheds compelling light on two powerful responses: that this question had not been previously asked and that survivor expectation of protection and support from the enabler-bystander was rarely, if ever, met.
Clearly the perpetrator benefitted from the complicity of the enabler. From the survivor's perspective, both bear responsibility for their plight and must be held accountable. The book emphasizes individual and institutional enablers alike; in fact, armies of enablers.
With emotions ranging from deep disappointment to seething anger and extreme frustration, all articulate profound abandonment by the person in a position to assist them in the face of sexual assaults.
Guiora proposes legal, cultural, and social measures aimed at the enabler from the survivor’s perspective. The proposed changes will address, and impact, both broader society and specific communities including higher education, elite athletics, sports organizations, religious institutions, law enforcement, the entertainment industry, and elected officials.
With this book, Guiora is committed to sharing survivor stories and to propel change, which is essential to protect future survivors. Only by hearing their stories do we fully understand the power of the enabler and the pain they cause the survivor.
