James G. Hodge, Jr., J.D., LL.M., is the director of the Network’s Western Region Office. He is the Peter Kiewit Foundation Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Center for Public Health Law and Policy, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University. Through scholarship, teaching, and projects, Professor Hodge delves into multiple areas of health law, public health law, global health law, ethics, and human rights. He has published more than 275 articles in journals of law, medicine, public health and bioethics; 2 books in public health law (including Public Health Law in a Nutshell (4th ed. 2021); 25 book chapters; dozens of reports; and guest edited 4 symposium issues.

He is listed among the Top 20 Most-Cited Health Law Scholars in Web of Science (2013-2017) and is ranked among the top 1% of all downloaded authors in the Social Science Research Network (SSRN). The recipient of the 2006 Henrik L. Blum Award for Excellence in Health Policy from the American Public Health Association, Professor Hodge has drafted (with others) several public health law reform initiatives including the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act. His diverse, funded projects include work on (1) emergency legal preparedness; (2) health impact assessments; (3) health information privacy; and (4) vaccination laws and policies. His work on these and other topics has been cited in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, US News & World Report, Time, Newsweek, Forbes, Atlantic, NBC News, CNN, Politico, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bloomberg News, among others, as well as journals including Science, JAMA, NEJM, and AJPH. During the COVID-19 pandemic alone, Professor Hodge was cited or quoted in over 600 print and online media sources.

Articles & Resources

Homelessness and the Public’s Health: Legal Responses ̶ Q&A

Law & Policy InsightsHealthy and Affordable Housing

May 11, 2017
by James G. Hodge, Jr.

Many experts and advocates consider homelessness a critical public health issue. Professor James G. Hodge, Jr., director of the Network's Western Region Office, co-authored the article “Homelessness and the Public’s Health: Legal Responses” in the recently released Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics supplemental issue. In this Q&A, he discusses his article and the role of law and advocacy to ameliorate the public health impact of homelessness.

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Legal Liability Protections for Emergency Medical/Public Health Responses

TableEmergency Legal Preparedness and Response

January 30, 2017
by James G. Hodge, Jr.

Liability protections have been put in place at both the state and local levels for different types of actors and entities involved in emergency response efforts. This table highlights those potential liability protections for individuals, including healthcare workers, volunteers and private sector employees, and entities, including government agencies, hospitals or healthcare facilities, non-profit organizations and for-profit organizations.

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