Richard Goolsby
Instructor
Richard Goolsby
Instructor
Academic Appointment(s)
Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Department of Social Sciences
- RGOOLSBY@augusta.edu
- (706) 737-1710
- AH N218
Education
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JD, Law Mercer University, 2006
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BA, Criminal Justice/Safety Studies Augusta State University, 2003
Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year
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CRJU 3305
Criminal Evidence
Teaching Interests
My teaching interests focus on delivering a rigorous, practice-informed examination of criminal justice, law, courts, and political institutions. I have taught Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Evidence, and Judicial Process, and I draw extensively from my experience as a practicing attorney licensed in Georgia and South Carolina. Having represented criminal defendants in all major phases of the criminal justice process—including investigation, pretrial proceedings, motion practice, trial, sentencing, and post-conviction litigation—I integrate legal doctrine with real-world application to enhance student learning.
I am interested in teaching courses across Criminal Justice and Political Science, particularly those examining the courts, judicial behavior, constitutional law, civil and criminal procedure, public law, and the intersection of law, policy, and technology. This includes courses focused on crime, civil law, judicial decision-making, separation of powers, civil liberties, digital evidence, forensic technology, and the expanding role of technology within legal and political systems. My courses emphasize critical thinking, legal reasoning, constitutional analysis, and ethical decision-making, preparing students for careers in law enforcement, courts, legal practice, public service, policy, and graduate or law school study.
My teaching philosophy is student-centered and experiential, incorporating case law analysis, statutory interpretation, policy discussion, and contemporary legal and political developments. I aim to help students understand how legal rules and political institutions shape justice outcomes and democratic governance.
Research Interests
My research and clinical interests lie at the intersection of criminal justice, law, and political science, with particular emphasis on courts, judicial processes, constitutional governance, and public policy. Drawing from my experience as a practicing criminal defense attorney, I am interested in examining how procedural rules, evidentiary standards, judicial discretion, and political institutions influence fairness, due process, and access to justice in both criminal and civil contexts.
I have a strong interest in research exploring law, technology, and public policy, including digital evidence, forensic science, electronic surveillance, artificial intelligence, and their implications for constitutional rights, privacy, and democratic accountability. I am also interested in applied and clinically oriented research addressing court administration, justice reform, and the role of legal institutions within broader political systems.
Clinically, I am interested in developing experiential learning opportunities that engage students with courts, legal institutions, and policy processes through court observation, legal research, case analysis, and community-based justice initiatives. My goal is to advance interdisciplinary scholarship and clinical work that connects legal practice with political institutions, informs policy development, and prepares students to be effective, ethical professionals within the justice system.