Profile

Zachary Cormier

Associate Professor of Law

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Lawrence W. Inlow Hall, Room 324
530 W. New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3225

E-Mail: zcormier@iu.edu

Education

B.B.A., University of New Mexico
J.D., Pepperdine University School of Law

Courses

Criminal Procedure: Investigation

Bio

Professor Cormier teaches a wide variety of constitutional subjects.  Much of his research explores current issues related to free speech and free press protections, in particular, debate surrounding application of the First Amendment’s actual malice privilege amidst the rise of social media and online misinformation/defamation.   He is also drawn to the practical importance of defining effective and workable constitutional protections related to interactions between law enforcement and the public, and has published several articles examining modern Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues.  Following these broad interests, Professor Cormier currently teaches a survey course focusing on the freedom of the press, as well as a criminal procedure course covering constitutional protections in the context of law enforcement investigations. 

Professor Cormier practiced for more than a decade as a litigator in the areas of constitutional law, civil rights, and employment law, where he was recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch.” Though he spent most of this period working in law firm settings, some of his most rewarding litigation experiences came during his more recent time as the First Amendment Fellow at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (Arizona State University), where he helped to supervise students in the First Amendment Clinic as they represented news organizations, journalists, and local citizens in a wide variety of cases involving free speech issues (including oral argument before the Supreme Court of Arizona).  He enjoys drawing from these experiences in teaching classes that provide practical litigation knowledge and skills, and is passionate about helping students find their own place in the litigation world.

In his free time, Professor Cormier is a budding novelist (or at least trying to be), music junkie, and overall outdoors/hiking fanatic.

Publications

Law Review and Journal Articles

• Constitutional Dead Zones, 103 Denver Law Review __ (forthcoming 2026).
• “Intolerable” Inquiries, 99 St. John's Law Review 1 (2025).
• Unconstitutional “Detours,” 90 Missouri Law Review 1 (2025).
• Actual Malice Originalism, 76 Baylor Law Review 303 (2024).
• The News Media Engagement Principle, 78 Miami Law Review 64 (2023).
• Protecting “No Surprises” Journalism, 76 SMU Law Review 789 (2023).
• Unrelated Scandal, Unprotected Defamation, 53 Seton Hall Law Review 1273 (2023).
• Famously Anonymous, 92 Mississippi Law Journal 195 (2022).
• Is Vulnerability Enough?, 29 Yale Journal of Law and Feminism 1 (2017)

Presentations

• Article, "Constitutional Dead Zones," Rocky Mountain Junior Faculty Forum 2025 at BYU Law School
• Article, "Constitutional Dead Zones," SEALS Conference 2025 - New Scholars Panel (Criminal Procedure)
• Article Concept, "The Actual Malice Press," SEALS Conference 2025 - New Scholars Workshop
• Panelist, "Is Home Distilling Commerce?" - Mississippi College School of Law (Federalist Society Event)

Other Activities

• Interview: Maura Johnson, THE INDIANA LAWYER, "Stand Your Ground Law Could Make Or Break Whitestown Man's Defense" (12/3/2025)
• Television Interview: WPTA 21 (Fort Wayne, IN) “Law Expert Talks Self Defense Laws After Boone County Man Charged in Fatal Shooting of House Cleaner Who Showed Up at the Wrong Door,” (11/18/2025).
• Television Interview: FOX 59 (Indianapolis, IN) “FBI, ISP Investigate Rising Number of Swatting Incidents Targeting State Lawmakers,” (11/20/2025).
• Newspaper Interview: Ron Wilkins, JOURNAL & COURIER (Lafayette, IN) “Prosecutor’s Office Files Giglio Disclosures in Some Tippecanoe County Cases” (10/27/2025).