Staff profile

Dr Jessie Blackbourn joined Durham Law School in September 2019 as Assistant Professor in Public Law and Human Rights. She has held previous positions at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, University of Oxford, and the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, University of New South Wales. 

Research

Jessie has an interdisciplinary background in law and politics and adopts a socio-legal approach to her research. Her research focuses on counter-terrorism law and policy, in particular on oversight and review of counter-terrorism laws, as well as on state responses to children suspected of extremism, radicalisation, and terrorism. 

• Counter-terrorism laws
• Counter-terrorism review
• Public Law
• Human Rights

• Centre for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
• Human Rights Centre

Available for media contact about:

• Law & Crime: Counter-terrorism law and policy
• Government: Counter-terrorism law and policy
• Terrorism: Counter-terrorism law and policy

Authored book

• Blackbourn, Jessie, de Londras, Fiona & Morgan, Lydia (2019). Accountability and Review in the Counter-Terrorist State. Bristol University Press.
• Blackbourn, J., Kayis, D. & McGarrity, N. (2018). Anti-terrorism law and foreign terrorist fighters. Taylor and Francis.
• Blackbourn, J. (2014). Anti-terrorism law and normalising Northern Ireland. Routledge.

Chapter in book

• Blackbourn, Jessie (2024). Security Measures and Preventive Measures. In Elgar Encyclopedia of Crime and Criminal Justice. Caeiro, Pedro, Gless, Sabine & Mitsilegas, Valsamis Edward Elgar.
• Blackbourn, Jessie & Walker, Clive (2019). Independent Assessment of the Current Balance between Counter-Terrorism Legislation and Civil Liberties. In Jihadist Terror New Threats, New Responses. Richards, Anthony, Margolin, Devorah & Scremin, Nicolo I.B. Taurus. 229-244.
• Blackbourn, Jessie (2019). The European Court of Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism Initiatives. In International Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism. 1.
• Lazarus, L & Blackbourn, J (2018). Intelligence and the Criminal Law in England and Wales. In The Limits of Criminal Law. Dyson, M & Vogel, B Intersentia. 479-505.
• Blackbourn, J (2018). Excluding Terrorists. In Justice, Counter-Terrorism and Miscarriages of Justice: A Festschrift in Honour of Clive Walker. Lennon, G, King, C & McCartney, C Hart. 135-150.
• McGarrity, N & Blackbourn, J (2016). Anti-Terrorism Laws and Human Rights. In The Routledge International Handbook of Criminology and Human Rights. Weber, L, Fishwick, E & Marmo, M Routledge. 136-145.
• Blackbourn, Jessie (2015). Secret material and anti-terrorism review in Australia and Canada. In Secrecy, Law and Society. Taylor and Francis Inc. 158-176.
• Blackbourn, Jessie (2014). Independent reviewers as alternative: An empirical study from Australia and the United Kingdom. In Critical Debates on Counter-Terrorism Judicial Review. De Londras, Fiona & Davis, Fergal F. Cambridge University Press. 161-182.
• Blackbourn, J (2013). Power without Responsibility: There is no Valid Scrutiny of Australia’s Anti-Terrorism Laws. In Spooked: The Truth about Intelligence in Australia. Baldino, D NewSouth Press. 264-287.

Journal Article

• Blackbourn, Jessie (2021). Mechanisms for Reviewing and Monitoring National Security Laws: the UK and Australia Compared. Australian Law Journal and Reports 95(10): 786-797.
• Blackbourn, Jessie (2020). Closed Material Procedures in the Radicalisation Cases. Child and Family Law Quarterly 32(4).
• Blackbourn, J. (2020). Counterterrorism Legislation and Far-Right Terrorism in Australia and the United Kingdom. Common Law World Review 50(1): 76-92.
• Blackbourn, Jessie, McGarrity, Nicola & Roach, Kent (2019). Understanding and responding to right wing terrorism. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism 14(3): 183-190.
• Blackbourn, J. (2018). Accountability, Counter-Terrorism and Civil Liberties. King's Law Journal 29(2): 297-323.
• Blackbourn, J. & Walker, C. (2016). Interdiction and indoctrination: The counter-terrorism and security act 2015. Modern Law Review 79(5): 840-870.
• Blackbourn, J. & Davis, F.F. (2016). Editorial: Party discipline and the parliamentary process - Editors' introduction. Parliamentary Affairs 69(2): 211-212.
• Blackbourn, J (2016). The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor's first term: an appraisal. University of New South Wales Law Journal 39(3): 975-1001.
• Blackbourn, J (2014). Anti-Terrorism Law Reform: Now or Never? Public Law Review 25(1): 3-7.
• Blackbourn, J. (2014). Evaluating the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation. Parliamentary Affairs 67(4): 955-968.
• Blackbourn, J., Davis, F.F. & Taylor, N.C. (2013). Academic Consensus and Legislative Definitions of Terrorism: Applying Schmid and Jongman. Statute Law Review 34(3): 239-261.
• Blackbourn, J. (2013). The UK's anti-terrorism laws: Does their practical use correspond to legislative intention? Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism 8(1): 20-34.
• Blackbourn, J & McGarrity, N (2012). Listening and Hearings: Intercept Evidence in the Courtroom. Journal of Commonwealth Criminal Law 2(November): 257-282.
• Blackbourn, J., Dexter, H., Dhanda, R. & Miller, D. (2012). Editor's Introduction: A decade on from 11 September 2001: What has critical terrorism studies learned? Critical Studies on Terrorism 5(1): 1-10.
• Blackbourn, J. (2011). The evolving definition of terrorism in UK law. Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression 3(2): 131-149.
• Blackbourn, J. (2009). International terrorism and counterterrorist legislation: The case study of post-9/11 Northern Ireland. Terrorism and Political Violence 21(1): 133-154.
• English, R., Blackbourn, J. & Rekawek, K. (2009). The Belfast international terrorism workshop: Edited by Richard English and Richard Jackson. Critical Studies on Terrorism 2(2): 313-315.
• Blackbourn, J (2008). Counter Terrorism and Civil Liberties: The United Kingdom Experience, 1968-2008. Journal of the Institute of Justice and International Studies 8: 63-74.