Drawing on the fields of biology, law, history, religion, and economics, this sweeping study examines societies from ancient greece to todays sweden and issues from masturbation. Posner applied to law school and got in with no burning interest in law and as a default career choice, in part because his father was a lawyer he went to night school and became a criminaldefense lawyer and businessman in the jewelry business and then in a lucrative corner of finance, as a provider of second mortgages to people who bought houses in new york slums. Posner of the 7th circuit court of appeals based in chicago is the rare example of a judge with much on his mind and a willingness to express it. He is a member of the american academy of arts and sciences and the american philosophical society, and the author of twelve books, including republic, lost. I spoke to posner in his chambers at the federal courthouse in downtown chicago, where he. He earned a bachelors degree from yale university in 1959, and a j. The belknap press of harvard university press, 1999. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Court of appeals for the 7th circuit, a senior lecturer in law at the university of chicago and, some would reckon, a force of nature he. Your donation today ensures that harvard magazine can continue to provide highquality content and remain an editorially independent source of news about the. His current research centers on the use of economic analysis to explain the behavior of the legal system. See all books authored by richard posner, including can you hear me scream. The double life of richard posner, americas most contentious legal reformer your. Court of appeals for the seventh circuit and the principal exponent of the enormously influential law and economics movement, he writes provocative books as a public intellectual, receives frequent media attention, and has been at.
At bloomberg view, read cass sunsteins look back on richard posners career and influence on american jurisprudence. Richard posner was born to jewish parents in new york city on january 11, 1939. Judge posner has written many works on jurisprudence and legal philosophy, as well as more about richard a. Harvard magazine profile of judge richard posner discusses new book, influence rhetoric and the law. Richard posner presents a concise and nontechnical examination of this mother of all financial disasters and of the, as yet, stumbling efforts to cope with it. He is a leading figure in the field of law and economics, and was identified by the journal of. The investigation, impeachment, and trial of president clinton by richard a. Although he never exactly excuses plagiarism, posner does illustrate how in shakespeares and rembrandts times. I thought id pass along links to a response by zoran tasic, a former 7th circuit staff attorney, to richard posners new book that criticizes 7th circuit staff attorneys. Gavel down the judicial philosophy of richard posner americas most prolific judge thought that law was a practical, problemsolving activity united states sep 9th 2017 edition. Jun 30, 2009 in this timely book, the first comprehensive study of the modern american public intellectualthat individual who speaks to the public on issues of political or ideological moment richard posner charts the decline of a venerable institution that included worthies from socrates to john dewey. The work was described as ambitious and posner was credited with providing a learned discussion of, and. Posner has been a leader in this movement, and his new book explores its rapidly expanding frontier. Capital and ideology author thomas piketty spoke with democracy now.
Harvard got the rights to the book on the condition that it could turn it around by april. Everything was on track, with bound galleys ready for. Court of appeals for the seventh circuit and the principal exponent of the enormously influential law and economics movement, he writes provocative books as a public intellectual, receives frequent media attention, and has been at the. After completing his formal education, posner served as a law clerk for supreme court justice william brennan 196263. I have to say that i kept reading the feature because it announced the release of a new book by posner, divergent paths.
In this book, one of our countrys most distinguished scholarjudges shares with us. Response to richard posners new book, by a former 7th. The crisis of 08 and the descent into depression, and more on. He is long and spare, his eyes pale as a fish, his clothing conventional, his features thin. Sep 11, 2017 an exit interview with richard posner, judicial provocateur judge richard a. Court of appeals for the seventh circuit provides a comprehensive evaluation of the federal judiciary and a detailed program of judicial reform. Dec 22, 2015 december 22, 2015 harvard magazine judge richard a. The financial and economic crisis that began in 2008 is the most alarming of our lifetime because of the warpspeed at which it is occurring. In a substantially revised edition of his widely acclaimed 1985 book the federal courts.
Richard posner dissenting opinion americas most cited legal scholar, judge richard posner, talks about his compulsive writing, whats guaranteed to make him laugh, and his. William domnarski is probably right when he writes that richard posner, like his hero oliver wendell holmes jr. Judge richard posner is one of the great legal minds of our age, on par with such generationdefining judges as holmes, hand, and friendly. Posners law and literature has handily lived up to the washington posts prediction that the book would remain essential reading for many years to come. Richard posner books list of books by author richard posner. Judge richard posners latest book, reflections on judging, is a. I spoke to posner in his chambers at the federal courthouse in downtown chicago, where he sits on the united states court of.
Legal theory must become more factual and empirical and less conceptual and polemical, richard posner argues in this wideranging new book. So posner focused first on the last three books in. When conventional legal materials enable judges to ascertain the true facts of a case and apply clear preexisting legal rules to them, posner argues, they do so straightforwardly. Finally, he is a prolific author of books and articles in scholarly journals in which he.
Posner is a judge on the united states seventh circuit court of appeals and a senior lecturer at the university of chicago law school. Posner, including economic analysis of law, and a failure of capitalism. Indeed, as the eminently readable judge and legal scholar richard posner shows, we make quite rational choices about sex, based on the costs and benefits perceived. Cass sunstein 78, has been regarded as one of the countrys most influential and adventurous legal scholars for a generation. This brings me to the harvard profile and interview with judge richard posner, who is celebrated as a great.
A brief readers guide to richard posner the new york times. The topics covered include the structure and behavior of the legal profession. The author, seemingly, of more books written while in active judicial service than many judges are of opinions, he can lay claim to the title of preeminent judicial theorist of our time. Leveling a balanced attack on liberal and conservative pundits alike, he describes the styles and. Although written by a sitting judge, the book does not avoid controversy, and contains frank appraisals of feminist and critical race theories, the behavior of the german and british judiciaries in wartime.
An exit interview with richard posner, judicial provocateur. At 60, now walmsley university professor at harvard, he publishes significant books as often as many productive academics publish scholarly articlesthree of them last year. Traditionally, judges say and write little for general. Harvard magazine your editorially independent source for. Posner does in this, his most confrontational book. Legal scholar richard posner has written books on many newsworthy issues, including president clintons impeachment, the 2000 election, and 911. Richard posner is the public intellectual par excellence. The book joins a long list of posner calls for reform and proposes a slew of specifics. Posner has just published another bookor, perhaps more accurately, another pretense of a book, with a grand title, stylish cover, and the imprimatur of harvard. Harvard magazine profile of judge richard posner discusses. The book examines five principal areas or directions of interdisciplinary study. Court of appeals for the seventh circuit and a senior lecturer at the university of chicago law school. Judge richard posner, profiled by lincoln caplan harvard magazine.
Richard posner, by william domnarski oxford university press, new york, ny, 2016, 289 pages. He extends a limp hand, smiles tepidly, and says something polite. A study of decline, with a new preface and epilogue. Posner was born on january 11, 1939, in new york city, and grew up in. Read a new york times magazine exploration of when, and why, judges reconsider their views, which uses posner s evolving stance on voter identification cards as a primary example of legal pragmatism in the. Posner said he realized that people without lawyers are mistreated by the legal system, and he wanted to do something. In this timely book, the first comprehensive study of the modern american public intellectualthat individual who speaks to the public on issues of political or ideological momentrichard posner charts the decline of a venerable institution that included worthies from socrates to john dewey.
What would be news is if he hadnt just published a new book. December 22, 2015 harvard magazine judge richard a. Posner s law and literature has handily lived up to the washington posts prediction that the book would remain essential reading for many years to come. Posner offers in this new book a unique and, to orthodox legal thinkers, a startling perspective on how judges and justices decide cases. Her articles have appeared in the duke law journal, the northwestern law. An exit interview with richard posner, judicial provocateur judge richard a. He founded the journal of legal studies, primarily to encourage economic. Richard allen posner born january 11, 1939 is an american jurist, legal theorist, and economist who is currently a judge on the united states court of appeals for the seventh circuit in chicago and a senior lecturer at the university of chicago law school. In one corner are photographs of justice oliver wendell holmes and judge henry friendly. The double life of richard posner, americas most contentious legal reformer lincoln caplan december 22, 2015 harvard magazine judge richard a. A distinguished and experienced appellate court judge, richard a. Posner said he realized that people without lawyers are mistreated. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices.
He clerked for judge richard posner on the 7th circuit court of appeals and justice antonin scalia on the united states supreme court. The problematics of moral and legal theory, by richard a. Your donation today ensures that harvard magazine can continue to provide highquality content and remain an editorially independent source of news about the harvard community. During this period posner wrote a number of books including antitrust law.
He has written more than 2500 published judicial opinions and continues to teach at the university of chicago law school. United states court of appeals for the seventh circuit. Gavel down the judicial philosophy of richard posner. Over his distinguished career, he has produced more than 40 books, and thats not counting new editions of old ones. At bloomberg view, read cass sunsteins look back on richard posner s career and influence on american jurisprudence. The gop has made me less conservative npr, july 5, 2012 posner, richard a. Hailed in its first edition as an outstanding work, as stimulating as it is intellectually distinguished new york times, richard a. Posner richard posner is an author and federal appeals court judge. He is an influential figure in the law and economics school of thought posner has been called the worlds most distinguished legal. Richard posner discusses the structure and behavior of the legal profession. Judge richard posner of the united states court of appeals for the seventh circuit is an intellectual force to be reckoned with. January 10, 2017 san diego judge richard posner is one of the great.