Dr B. Roorda, Faculty of Law

Berend Roorda is an associate professor in the department of General Law Studies. As well as a lawyer, Berend is also an avid and quite successful judo practitioner. He won the Dutch title in 2010, 2011 and 2013 in the under-100 kg category. In 2011, Berend received the Groningen University Student Excellence Award, now called the Aart Bosman Student Excellence Award, as most excellent student of the Faculty of Law for his athletic and study performances.

Berend studies the tension in the current pluralistic society between fundamental rights, such as the freedom of assembly, religion and speech, on the one hand and maintaining public order on the other. He mainly focuses on the right to protest, the topic of his dissertation in 2016. Last year, the right to protest was constantly in the spotlight and Berend was able to convey his expertise multiple times. Students describe Berend’s teaching as ‘accessible’, ‘passionate’ and ‘expressive’. He involves all his students by holding interactive lectures, giving them the feeling that they can pose any and all questions that they have. At the same time, Berend appreciates the feedback that he receives from his students. He is aware that teaching does not only revolve around the transfer of knowledge but also about discussing ideas with one another. He always makes sure to take enough time for that.