Center for Law and Public Trust
Trust in American institutions—government, courts, and even civil society—has steadily eroded and now stands at historic lows. The Center for Law and Public Trust at NYU School of Law works to reimagine US institutions so they are more effective and accountable to the American people, more resilient to corruption and abuse, and therefore more deserving of public trust. Using the tools of operational and structural reform, policy design, scholarship, and leadership training, the center seeks to strengthen the foundations of US democracy.
The Challenge
Concerns about politically motivated enforcement, corruption, the erosion of individual rights, lack of equal justice, the breakdown of ethical values, and public unaccountability have deepened skepticism about the value of US institutions across the political spectrum.
This crisis poses a grave threat to democracy, which depends on the public’s belief that public institutions are fair, impartial, and serve the common good. Yet rather than address the root causes, some leaders cling to the status quo while others exploit distrust to weaken institutions and sow division.
Rebuilding trust will require more than technical fixes. It demands bold reforms to make institutions and their leadership more transparent, accountable, and effective—and, in turn, more worthy of the public’s faith. The task is daunting in a polarized landscape, but the alternative is a continued slide toward democratic decline and the rise of arbitrary power.
“This new center will be an enormous asset to both our community and to our country at large.”
Dean Troy McKenzie ’00
Why Now
This profound crisis in institutional trust creates an urgent and potentially transformative opportunity. It demands bold, forward-looking efforts to rebuild the institutions that undergird the rule of law and enable our shared civic life and democracy. Without credible and effective institutions and leaders, the promise of equal justice, democratic governance, and public safety under law rings hollow.
Strategies
The center will become a trusted source of ideas, strategies, and leaders for renewing public confidence in the rule of law and public institutions. By combining rigorous research with practical engagement and training, the center will chart a path toward institutions that are both more effective and more just—and, in turn, more worthy of the public’s trust.
The center aims to:
- Rebuild trust in government and other institutions by developing concrete blueprints for institutional reform and reconstruction.
- Advance effectiveness by designing structures, processes, and policies that are more responsive to community needs, efficient, resilient against abuse and corruption, and more transparent and accountable to the public.
- Train the next generation of lawyers to lead in public service, armed with the skills to navigate polarization, advance justice, and deliver results for the American people.
Vanita Gupta, Founder and Director
Vanita Gupta, distinguished scholar in residence and adjunct professor of law, has devoted her career to advancing civil rights and strengthening democratic norms at both national organizations and in the federal government. As associate attorney general of the United States, she oversaw 13 divisions including the Department of Justice’s civil litigation and grantmaking offices. Prior to that, she served as president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and as head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Our Work
The center’s deliverables will include:
Issue Briefs & Reform Roadmaps
Research and proposals for revitalizing core institutions
Innovation & Design Labs
Collaborative projects exploring how government and institutions of civic society can earn legitimacy by meeting urgent needs and strengthening democratic values.
Leadership & Training Programs
Preparing law students and lawyers for careers in government and public service, with a focus on problem-solving in polarized environments and understanding how to deploy the levers of leadership and government to get things done for the American people.