Bryna Godar
SDRI Staff Attorney
About
Education
B.A., University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
J.D., Harvard Law School
Biography
Bryna Godar is a Staff Attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Her research focuses on state institutions, state constitutional law, state powers, and election law. Her legal scholarship is forthcoming in the Virginia Law Review and Northwestern University Law Review, and her writing has appeared in Slate, Lawfare, The Hill, and other publications.
Bryna received a B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities in journalism and a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she was Vice President/Treasurer of Harvard Law Review. After law school, she worked as a Legal Fellow with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and then clerked with Judge Jeffrey R. Howard on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Prior to law school, Bryna worked as a journalist in Wisconsin and Minnesota, reporting primarily on local and state government.
Media
News & Media
Thursday, Jan 29, 2026Bryna Godar: Argument Against Absentee Ballots 'Conflating Two Different Things'
Wisconsin Public RadioWednesday, Jan 28, 2026Bryna Godar Explains Legal Landscape for States Seeking To Prosecute Federal Officers
StatelineTuesday, Jan 27, 2026Bryna Godar Explains How Minnesota Could Prosecute Federal Officers on State Charges
KMSP Fox 9Monday, Jan 26, 2026Bryna Godar: 'This Is Extremely Out of the Norm'
The Washington PostFriday, Jan 23, 2026Can Minnesota Prosecute ICE Agent? Bryna Godar Joins Podcast Discussion
Lawfare DailyFriday, Jan 16, 2026UW Law Experts Explain Legal Issues after Federal Shootings in Minneapolis
UW Law NewsThursday, Jan 15, 2026Bryna Godar: 'They Are Definitely Overstating The Law On This'
NewsNationThursday, Jan 15, 2026Bryna Godar: Some Immunity Cases Take 'Years' To Resolve
Radio AtlanticWednesday, Jan 14, 2026Bryna Godar Discusses Next Steps for Minnesota After ICE Shooting
Civic MediaTuesday, Jan 13, 2026Bryna Godar: Prosecutions of Federal Officers Arise in 'Periods of Friction' with State Governments
Wisconsin Public RadioMonday, Jan 12, 2026Bryna Godar: Supremacy Clause Does Not Guarantee Immunity
HuffPostMonday, Jan 12, 2026Minnesota Shooting Raises Questions; Bryna Godar Comments
Chicago TribuneMonday, Jan 12, 2026Bryna Godar: States 'Can and Do Prosecute Federal Officials'
AxiosFriday, Jan 9, 2026Bryna Godar: States Can Prosecute Federal Officials When They Violate State Criminal Laws
BloombergFriday, Jan 9, 2026Bryna Godar: States Can Process Federal Officials If They Act Beyond 'Lawful Federal Duties'
Fox 9 KMSP
