Comments on: Most Admired Law Professor http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html The Law, the Universe, and Everything Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:51:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: FAP http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55778 FAP Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:08:57 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55778 James Boyle. Brilliant combination of critical theorist, activist, and all around decent fellow. Hilarious when he satirizes various bizarrerie of the legal system. James Boyle. Brilliant combination of critical theorist, activist, and all around decent fellow. Hilarious when he satirizes various bizarrerie of the legal system.

]]> By: Passingby http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55777 Passingby Tue, 02 Jan 2007 17:13:22 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55777 Not a "household name," but Prof. Gordon Young, Uni of Maryland. Brilliant, engaging, able to show respect for opposing viewpoints, and he actually cares if you understand what he says. Not a “household name,” but Prof. Gordon Young, Uni of Maryland. Brilliant, engaging, able to show respect for opposing viewpoints, and he actually cares if you understand what he says.

]]> By: Law Student '06 http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-56113 Law Student '06 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:44:41 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-56113 I'll nominate Richard Lazarus. He taught Environmental Law at Columbia University one semester, but usually teaches at Georgetown. In addition to teaching, he also commonly writes briefs and/or argues major environmental law cases before the Supreme Court. Excellent teacher, excellent advocate. I’ll nominate Richard Lazarus. He taught Environmental Law at Columbia University one semester, but usually teaches at Georgetown. In addition to teaching, he also commonly writes briefs and/or argues major environmental law cases before the Supreme Court. Excellent teacher, excellent advocate.

]]> By: Law Student '06 http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55776 Law Student '06 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:44:41 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55776 I'll nominate Richard Lazarus. He taught Environmental Law at Columbia University one semester, but usually teaches at Georgetown. In addition to teaching, he also commonly writes briefs and/or argues major environmental law cases before the Supreme Court. Excellent teacher, excellent advocate. I’ll nominate Richard Lazarus. He taught Environmental Law at Columbia University one semester, but usually teaches at Georgetown. In addition to teaching, he also commonly writes briefs and/or argues major environmental law cases before the Supreme Court. Excellent teacher, excellent advocate.

]]> By: Brannon Denning http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55775 Brannon Denning Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:13:21 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55775 No question: The late Boris Bittker. He remains a model for anyone in the teaching profession. Boris was a gifted teacher, intellectually curious, a great scholar, a wonderful writer, and made serious contributions to Yale Law School as an institution. Yet, despite having every reason not to be, he was modest, self-effacing, and extraordinarily generous. I knew him late in his life, well after his retirement, but was astounded at his energy and drive though he was more than triple my age at the time. No question: The late Boris Bittker. He remains a model for anyone in the teaching profession. Boris was a gifted teacher, intellectually curious, a great scholar, a wonderful writer, and made serious contributions to Yale Law School as an institution. Yet, despite having every reason not to be, he was modest, self-effacing, and extraordinarily generous. I knew him late in his life, well after his retirement, but was astounded at his energy and drive though he was more than triple my age at the time.

]]> By: elektratig http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55774 elektratig Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:58:35 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55774 The late Grant Gilmore, for two reasons. 1. The Death of Contract. 2. "Contorts" (see item 1). His lectures were mesmerizing and brilliant -- although I have no idea what he said. The late Grant Gilmore, for two reasons. 1. The Death of Contract. 2. “Contorts” (see item 1). His lectures were mesmerizing and brilliant — although I have no idea what he said.

]]> By: Ex Miami Guy http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55773 Ex Miami Guy Thu, 28 Dec 2006 08:25:31 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55773 Speaking of the ones who've passed, I'll put in my vote for the late Richard Hausler of the University of Miami. Half the lawyers in in South Florida might have taken Contracts from him, and they probably all have their favorite Hausler stories. Don't know if he ever published anything, but when it came to teaching contracts he was a classic. Don't know if he ever did Gilbert and Sullivan, but he would have been perfect for it. He was a master at doing the Socratic method deadpan. He'd throw out a question, you'd answer it, and he'd respond like he was hearing this for the first time, with his mock helpless expression, holding his head like he was puzzled, and saying that he was all confused. He'd then explain why he was confused, which of course went to the heart of the issue. He'd wonder aloud in this tone of mock distress, if anyone could possibly help him out of his confusion. It was simply heart breaking to see your contracts professor who had taught the course for so many years be so confused by what appeared to be a simple principle of law. Then he'd look to one side of the room, stare at somebody, point to him, and at the same time call on someone on the opposite side of the room, while still pointing at the first student. Of course the answer would just mock confuse him even more, so he'd put someone on the spot with another question to allay his confusion. He'd do that for the whole class, almost every class, and somehow when all appeared to be lost, he'd find a way to get unconfused. What was amazing is that he did it all with a straight face. Don't think he cracked a smile the whole year. Speaking of the ones who’ve passed, I’ll put in my vote for the late Richard Hausler of the University of Miami. Half the lawyers in in South Florida might have taken Contracts from him, and they probably all have their favorite Hausler stories.

Don’t know if he ever published anything, but when it came to teaching contracts he was a classic. Don’t know if he ever did Gilbert and Sullivan, but he would have been perfect for it.

He was a master at doing the Socratic method deadpan. He’d throw out a question, you’d answer it, and he’d respond like he was hearing this for the first time, with his mock helpless expression, holding his head like he was puzzled, and saying that he was all confused. He’d then explain why he was confused, which of course went to the heart of the issue. He’d wonder aloud in this tone of mock distress, if anyone could possibly help him out of his confusion. It was simply heart breaking to see your contracts professor who had taught the course for so many years be so confused by what appeared to be a simple principle of law.

Then he’d look to one side of the room, stare at somebody, point to him, and at the same time call on someone on the opposite side of the room, while still pointing at the first student. Of course the answer would just mock confuse him even more, so he’d put someone on the spot with another question to allay his confusion. He’d do that for the whole class, almost every class, and somehow when all appeared to be lost, he’d find a way to get unconfused.

What was amazing is that he did it all with a straight face. Don’t think he cracked a smile the whole year.

]]> By: dave http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55772 dave Wed, 27 Dec 2006 23:22:50 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55772 But Llewellyn has passed. (If it is anyone living or dead, the field is pretty vast!) But Llewellyn has passed. (If it is anyone living or dead, the field is pretty vast!)

]]> By: Nate Oman http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55771 Nate Oman Wed, 27 Dec 2006 23:20:21 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55771 Karl Llewellyn: I actually think that he was wrong on gazillions of different issues, but it is hard to think of any field of law that has been as completely made over by the force of a single academic as was the law of sales by Llewellyn. Karl Llewellyn: I actually think that he was wrong on gazillions of different issues, but it is hard to think of any field of law that has been as completely made over by the force of a single academic as was the law of sales by Llewellyn.

]]> By: clerk http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55770 clerk Wed, 27 Dec 2006 21:42:53 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55770 I like the law professors who are respected in their fields and who also argue cases and interact professionally with people other than students and fellow law professors. On that basis, I'll toss 3 names out there: Larry Tribe, Mark Lemley, and Marci Hamilton. I'm tempted to suggest Chemerinsky, but I find his approach to the real world noxious. I'll explain if pressed, but I think that sort of thing would be off-topic and I don't want to hijack the thread. I like the law professors who are respected in their fields and who also argue cases and interact professionally with people other than students and fellow law professors.

On that basis, I’ll toss 3 names out there: Larry Tribe, Mark Lemley, and Marci Hamilton.

I’m tempted to suggest Chemerinsky, but I find his approach to the real world noxious. I’ll explain if pressed, but I think that sort of thing would be off-topic and I don’t want to hijack the thread.

]]> By: Raindog http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/12/most_admired_la.html/comment-page-1#comment-55769 Raindog Wed, 27 Dec 2006 21:13:14 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/12/most-admired-law-professor.html#comment-55769 Bush is most admired? By whom? This is a joke, right? Bush is most admired? By whom? This is a joke, right?

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