Kathleen Hoke

Kathleen Hoke is a professor and Director of the Network for Public Health Law, Eastern Region and the Center for Tobacco Regulation at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. Hoke teaches the Public Health Law Clinic, engaging students in the work of the Network and the Center. The Network for Public Health Law was launched in September 2010 with the goal of providing technical legal assistance to national, state and local public health professionals, their attorneys, legislators, and advocates working to develop sound public policy to improve public health. The Network also develops factsheets, issue briefs, webinars, and other useful tools on emerging and persistent public health issues. Under Hoke’s direction, the Network’s Eastern Region deliverables have focused on environmental health, food safety and injury prevention. Hoke has conducted research and prepared materials specifically related to hydrofracturing, medical marijuana laws, and health agency access to school health records. Through the Center for Tobacco Regulation, Hoke provides technical legal assistance to Maryland state and local health officials, legislators, and organizations working in tobacco control. Recent work has focused on the regulation of cigars and the development of sound policies to create smokefree multiunit housing. Hoke joined the faculty in 2002 after serving for eight years with the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland. During her tenure as an Assistant Attorney General, Hoke served in the Civil Litigation Division and the Opinions and Advice Division. As a Special Assistant Attorney General, Hoke worked on a variety of public health initiatives, including an evaluation of the proposed conversion of CareFirst BlueCross/BlueShield with focus on whether the non-profit health insurer was fulfilling its public obligations. Hoke graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1992, having served on the Executive Board of The Maryland Law Review and as a member of the National Moot Court Team.