Assistant Professor of Law
Education
· J.D, Temple University School of Law, top 5%, cum laude
· M.Div., Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, summa cum laude
· B.A., Asbury University, Dean’s List, magna cum laude
Areas of Interest/Teaching
Civil Procedure; Lawyering Skills; Appellate Advocacy; Law of Nonprofits; Church Law; Constitutional Law
Publications
LBJ, The IRS, and Churches: The Unconstitutionality of the Johnson Amendment in Light of Recent Supreme Court Precedent, 24 Regent Univ. L. Rev. 237 (2012).
The Respect for Marriage Act Does Less for Religious Liberty Than Meets the Eye, Church Law & Tax
Politics, the Church, and Constitutional Protections, Church Law & Tax
What Your Church Needs to Know—and Do—About the Court’s Marriage Ruling, The Gospel Coalition
Are Churches at Risk from Redefined Marriage?, National Review
How to Fix the Johnson Amendment, Wall Street Journal
Do Tax Laws Gag the Clergy?, LA Times
Why don’t Churches Pay Taxes?, LA Times
When do Ministers Cross the Line?, LA Times
Tax laws and religious speech: what the Constitution says, LA Times
Does the IRS go too far with Churches?, LA Times
Biography
Erik W. Stanley serves as Assistant Professor of Law. He graduated in the top 5% of his class, cum laude, from Temple University School of Law where he achieved the Dean’s List for all semesters of law school and served as a Staff Editor for the Temple International and Comparative Law Journal. Professor Stanley also served as President of the Christian Legal Society at Temple University School of Law.
Professor Stanley is former Chief Counsel for Liberty Counsel where he litigated numerous cases involving religious liberty issues across the United States and was part of the legal team in the United States Supreme Court case of McCreary County v. ACLU. He also served as Senior Counsel and the Director of the Center for Christian Ministries at Alliance Defending Freedom where he was the lead attorney and spokesperson for the constitutional rights of pastors and churches in litigation and strategic initiatives to protect the constitutional rights of churches and ministries. While at ADF, Prof, Stanley was second chair in the United States Supreme Court case of Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer. Following his work at ADF, Prof Stanley achieved partnership at Provident Law where he focused his practice on representing churches and nonprofit organizations.
Prof. Stanley has served on a panel of legal experts advising an Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Legal Commission tasked with reviewing tax code treatment of churches and religious organizations and making recommendations to Congress. He also currently serves as a legal Advisor at Large for Church Law and Tax.
Prof. Stanley has presented continuing legal education courses regarding the legal issues facing churches and nonprofit organizations. His research interests include constitutional and legal issues involving nonprofit organizations and churches.
Prof. Stanley has appeared on Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and CNN. He has also been quoted in numerous outlets such as Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, NPR, Salon, CBS News, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, USA Today, World Magazine, Washington Times, Legal Times, and numerous local print, radio and television sources.
Prof. Stanley is licensed to practice law in Florida and Arizona and is admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court, every federal circuit court of appeal, and numerous federal district courts.