A COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE:
Karhlton Moore’s Journey from AUWCL to Public Service
BY KEITH PIERCE
For Karhlton Moore ’98, law school was more than an academic pursuit — it was a transformative experience that shaped the way he thinks, communicates and serves.
As a respected leader in criminal justice reform, Moore has held key roles at both state and federal levels, including serving as director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) at the U.S. Department of Justice. Now, in his latest role with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, he continues to advance policing and public safety innovations.
Reflecting on his time at AUWCL, Moore credits the rigorous training in legal reasoning and advocacy with preparing him for the challenges of public service. Moot court competitions and trial practice courses forced him to argue both sides of a case, sharpening his ability to think critically and recognize complexities.
“I’ve carried that with me throughout my career,” Moore says. “Even when I form an initial opinion, I always ask, ‘Where are the holes? What am I basing this on?’”
He also learned the importance of clarity in communication. His trial practice professor, Barry Helfand, emphasized the need to present evidence like building a wall — brick by brick — so that every argument was constructed
with precision. Another influential professor, Paul Rice, who taught evidence, reinforced that knowing the law wasn’t enough; explaining it effectively was just as crucial.
Moore came to AUWCL with a passion for criminal justice reform that began long before law school. At AUWCL, he quickly joined the Criminal Law Society, eager to explore a field that impacts people’s lives in profound ways.
“The justice system is the part of government you’re most likely to engage with — and oſten in a negative way,” he says. “Even as a law-abiding citizen, you might experience it firsthand through something as minor as a traffic stop.”
His commitment led him to a distinguished career in public service. As director of the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, he worked on criminal justice planning, grant funding and policy development. When he was later appointed to lead the BJA, he oversaw $2.5 billion in funding, ensuring that resources were directed toward evidence-based strategies to reduce crime.
28 THE ADVOCATE SUMMER/FALL 2025
“ If you choose this path, give it everything you’ve got — because people are counting on you.”
—Karhlton Moore ’98
Under his leadership, the nation saw a dramatic drop in violent crime. In 2023, homicides fell by 13%, the largest single-year decline in decades.
“When people are dealing with a real problem — not a made-up political issue, but a real problem affecting safety and security — they will work with anyone to fix
it,” Moore says. “That restored my faith in people.”
Now, in his new role at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in Texas, Moore is focusing on police training and leadership development. A key priority is training first-line supervisors — sergeants — who he believes play a critical role
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