Sarah Chanski is a sixth-year student completing a joint JD/Ph.D. Her dissertation examines the language judges use to justify outcomes in excessive force cases when officer’s raise a defense of qualified immunity. She applies rhetorical theories of definition and analogy to bring a new critical perspective to qualified immunity and offer suggestions for reform and dissent. While studying for her JD, Sarah served as Editor-in-Chief for the Northwestern University Law Review and President of the American Constitution Society, and she has taught and assisted in Public Speaking and Public Persuasion. Before coming to Northwestern, she taught high school English in Michigan and has published an article on writing pedagogy in English Journal.