Professor Chin Comments for New York Times on Groping Allegations

Professor Gabriel “Jack” Chin commented for the New York Times on the legal rules associated with groping and nonconsensual sexual contact.  The article examines such rules following allegations that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump groped women without their consent.

Professor Chin explained that context is critical because, depending upon the situation, a person accused of groping could argue that he or she made a reasonable mistake in thinking the other person wanted to be touched. For example, it would be harder to win a conviction involving groping said to occur on a date than it would if it happened at work, he said.

Gabriel "Jack" Chin is Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of Law and holder of the Edward L. Barrett Endowed Chair at UC Davis School of Law. He is a prolific and much-cited criminal and immigration law scholar whose work has addressed many of the most pressing social issues of our time.