Craig Forcese is a full professor at the Faculty of Law (Common Law Section), University of Ottawa. He teaches public international law, national security law, administrative law and public law/legislation. Much of his present research and writing relates to national security and democratic accountability.

He is co-author of False Security: The Radicalization of Canada’s Terror Laws (Irwin Law, 2015) (with Kent Roach), the author of National Security Law: Canadian Practice in International Perspective (Irwin Law, 2008) and co-editor of Human Rights and Anti-terrorism (Irwin Law, 2008) and Terrorism, Law and Democracy: 10 Years after 9/11 (Montreal: Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice, 2012). He is also co-author of International Law: Doctrine, Theory and Practice (Irwin Law, 2007, 2d Ed 2014) and Laws of Government: The Legal Foundations of Canadian Democracy (Irwin Law, 2005, 2d Ed 2011) and co-editor of Public Law: Cases, Commentary and Materials (Emond Montgomery, 1st Ed 2006; 2d Ed 2011; 3d Ed 2015).  

Craig blogs regularly on national security law at www.nationalsecuritylaw.ca.

In 2016, Craig was named jointly with Professor Kent Roach as among the “Top 25 most Influential in the justice system and legal profession” by Canadian Lawyer Magazine. In response to their work on national security law, Craig and Kent also received in 2016 the Canadian Law and Society Association Book Prize (for False Security), the Reg Robson Award (given annually by the BC Civil Liberties Association “to honour a community member who has demonstrated a substantial and long-lasting contribution to the cause of civil liberties in B.C. and Canada”) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association Award for Excellence in Public Engagement (“for courage and commitment to human rights, human dignity and freedom”).

In 2014, Craig received the APUO University of Ottawa Award for Excellence in Teaching, his university’s highest teaching award, and a University of Ottawa Excellence in Education Award.

Craig was vice dean in the Common Law Section 2011-2014. Prior to joining the law school faculty, he practiced law with the Washington D.C. office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP for two years, specializing in international trade and commercial law. He has a B.A. from McGill, an M.A. from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, an LL.B. (summa cum laude) from University of Ottawa and an LL.M. from Yale University.  

He is a member in good standing of the bars of Ontario, New York and the District of Columbia.