Evan Gelobter
Academic Counselor & Instructor of Law
Evan Matthew Gelobter is an Assistant Professor of Academic Support and Academic Counselor with a specialized focus on the Antebellum South’s legal framework, particularly its oppressive slave laws and codes. A cum laude graduate of Liberty University with a BS in 2008, Evan furthered his legal education at Southern University Law Center, earning his JD, also cum laude, in 2019.
Evan’s research sheds critical light on the legal mechanisms that upheld and perpetuated slavery in the Antebellum South. His work explores the intricate and often horrifying details of slave laws, codes, and the judicial system's role in enforcing racial subjugation. His scholarship provides a deeper understanding of how these laws have shaped the broader legal and cultural landscape of the United States.
In addition to his research, Evan is deeply invested in the historical development of the U.S. Constitution during the Early Republic and Antebellum periods. His studies emphasize the legal paradoxes and contradictions of a nation founded on liberty while simultaneously enshrining the institution of slavery in its laws.
Publications:
Codified Chains: The Role of Louisiana’s Civil Code and Supreme Court in Regulating Slavery, Louisiana State University Law Journal for Social Justice and Policy (2025), Forthcoming
Contrasting Legal Perspectives on the Necessity of Positive Law to Sustain Slavery in Antebellum America, National Black Law Journal (2025), Forthcoming
Sanctioned Cruelty: The Legal Endorsement of Violence Against Slaves in Southern Courts, Seattle Journal for Social Justice (2025), Forthcoming