Richard T. Middleton, J.D., Ph.D.
Professor; Adjunct Professor
Courses Taught
Civil and Political Rights of Immigrants, Immigration Law, Seminar: Citizenship, Human Rights and Social Justice, Critical Race Theory
Education
B.A., Xavier University of Louisiana
M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia
J.D., Saint Louis University School of Law
Practice Areas
Dr. Middleton is a tenured Full Professor of Political Science at the University of
Missouri-St. Louis and an Adjunct Professor of Law at St. Louis University School
of Law. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia
and earned his JD from St. Louis University School of Law. Dr. Middleton was a member
of Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society, a Theodore McMillian Scholar and Dean's Scholar while
at SLU School of Law.
Dr. Middleton operates a solo practice with an emphasis in immigration law and defense
against minor criminal infractions. He is licensed before the Bar of Missouri and
the Federal District Court, Eastern District of Missouri. Dr. Middleton serves as
a volunteer attorney for the MICA Project of St. Louis, Missouri, and also provides
basic legal consultations for clients of the Latino Outreach Project of Crisis Nursery.
Dr. Middleton volunteered for the Immigration Law Project of Legal Services of Eastern
Missouri – during which time he assisted in drafting complaints to be filed in Federal
District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, drafted motions to be filed with
Executive Office of Immigration Review, conducted legal research on complex immigration
matters, prepared immigration petitions for clients, and drafted continuing legal
education materials on immigration law. Dr. Middleton also received certification
of training in family-based immigration law from the Midwest Legal Immigration Project.
Publications and Media Placements
Dr. Middleton has an extensive publication record. He has a book, Learning to be Dominican: Nation, Identity and the Haitian Other, under contract with the University of Alabama Press (co-authored with Sheridan Wigginton). He has a book, Cities, Mayors, and Race Relations, that was published by University Press of America. Dr. Middleton also has published twelve journal articles and five book chapters, including two recent articles titled, "Comprehensive U.S. Immigration Reform: Policy Innovation or Nondecisions," in Seton Hall Legislative Review, and “A Comparative Analysis of How the Framing of the Jus Soli Doctrine Affects Immigrant Inclusion into a National Identity,” in Temple Civil and Political Rights Review.
Community Work and Service
Dr. Middleton is a former member of the board of directors of Interfaith Legal Services for Immigrants as well as the board of trustees for the ACLU of Eastern Missouri.