ABOUT CEJ

CENTER FOR EARTH JURISPRUDENCE (CEJ)

Mission: The mission of the Center for Earth Jurisprudence is to advance legal principles, laws and governance that reflect a transformative Earth-centered perspective and support the well-being of all members of the Earth Community.

With offices in South and Central Florida, the Center for Earth Jurisprudence (CEJ) is sponsored jointly by Barry and St. Thomas universities. The Center works closely with both law schools and is the first of its type in the U.S. Its mission is to re-envision law and governance in ways that support and protect the health and well-being of the entire Earth community - that is, all beings and ecosystems that constitute the natural world. CEJ seeks to develop a philosophy and practice of law that respect the natural world in its own right and recognize humans as an integral member of the Earth community.

Earth jurisprudence is closely allied with environmental law but is, in fact, broader; after several decades of implementation of environmental rules, ecosystems across the planet are as near or still closer to tipping points as before. Clearly - indeed, urgently - a more significant transformation of legal thinking is required to extend appropriate consideration to the intrinsic, spiritual value of the natural world. The CEJ creates law school curriculum that delves into Earth jurisprudence principles and promotes professional and academic discourse in the legal community. The CEJ is helping to extend legal protection to all human and non-human members of the Earth community; this includes consideration of the rights of future generations.

To respond to the unprecedented ecological challenges of the 21st century, the CEJ takes an interdisciplinary approach, working with lawyers, scholars, indigenous peoples, artists, economists, ecologists, poets, scientists, philosophers, theologians and activists to help define a new field of law that moves beyond environmental regulation toward legal responses that protect the existence, right to habitat, and ethical consideration of all beings. Both Barry and St. Thomas universities come from a rich Catholic tradition that honors the sacredness of creation and justice for all peoples.

In Memoriam
Thomas Berry, 1914 - 2009