Law Professors

Does Qatar’s gift of a luxury plane to US violate the emoluments clause?

Some Democratic lawmakers and ethics experts are raising concerns that a plan by Qatar, a country in the Middle East, to give a Boeing 747 jumbo jet worth about $400 million to the U.S. Department of Defense could be illegal and unconstitutional.

May 13, 2025 3:24 PM CDT

Supreme Court’s late-night order barring deportation was ‘extraordinary in many ways;’ what did Alito say?

The U.S. Supreme Court acted quickly after the American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency application Friday evening that sought to block what appeared to be the imminent deportation of its clients.

Apr 21, 2025 9:44 AM CDT

Judge finds probable cause to hold US in contempt; is Trump administration ‘at the cusp of outright defiance’?

A federal judge who banned the Trump administration from removing Venezuelan immigrants from the United States ruled Wednesday that there is probable cause to find the government in criminal contempt for willfully disobeying his directive.

Apr 16, 2025 3:53 PM CDT

House committee drops information request about law clinics amid ‘ongoing negotiations’ with Northwestern

The U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Education and Workforce has withdrawn its request for information on law clinics at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, citing "ongoing negotiations" with the university and an intent to pursue "other means of inquiry."

Apr 14, 2025 10:59 AM CDT

Which firms, legal groups, law profs signed briefs supporting Perkins Coie in challenge to punitive Trump order?

Amicus briefs supporting Perkins Coie are piling up in its challenge to a punitive order against the law firm signed by President Donald Trump.

Apr 8, 2025 8:52 AM CDT

Suits seeking continued US funding will likely be routed to Court of Federal Claims after SCOTUS decision, law prof says

A decision on Friday by the U.S. Supreme Court in a challenge to an education-grant freeze will likely redirect many other lawsuits regarding Trump administration spending decisions to the Court of Federal Claims, according to a law professor.

Apr 7, 2025 11:42 AM CDT

Can Trump serve third term? Yale Law prof sees ‘possible loophole’ to 22nd Amendment ban

Can President Donald Trump serve a third term? The 22nd Amendment appears to prevent it. “No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice,” it reads. But could a president serve a third term if he isn’t “elected” to the office?

Apr 3, 2025 3:01 PM CDT

Judge won’t block questions about book by ex-wife of slain law prof in her mom’s murder trial

A judge in Tallahassee, Florida, indicated last week that he might allow prosecutors to question the ex-wife of a slain law professor about a book that she wrote in which a character felt stuck in a small Florida town because of her husband’s job.

Apr 1, 2025 3:15 PM CDT

Do law school clinics engage in ‘progressive-left’ advocacy? Congressional committee seeks information

Legal clinics at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law are being targeted by the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Education and Workforce, which is requesting information about policies, funding sources and budgets.

Apr 1, 2025 2:02 PM CDT

Going Green: Oday Salim works with Michigan Law students to amend city code

Oday Salim and his students at the University of Michigan Law School have launched a new partnership with the city of Dearborn to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for its residents.

Apr 1, 2025 12:45 AM CDT

From Courtroom to Courtside: Gonzaga Law prof also serves as chaplain for basketball team

Gonzaga University School of Law professor Father Bryan Pham will have a great seat on Thursday as the Gonzaga Bulldogs face off against the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Pham has been the men’s basketball team’s chaplain since 2019.

Mar 19, 2025 5:30 PM CDT

State Bar of California considers provisional licenses for February bar exam takers

Updated: The State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners has placed the option of provisional licenses for candidates who fail or withdrew from the February California bar exam on the table.

Mar 17, 2025 2:32 PM CDT

Law prof suspended over exam question, class discussion can sue for First Amendment retaliation, 7th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has revived a First Amendment retaliation claim by a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law who used an “expurgated racial slur” on an exam question, leading to an investigation, required diversity training, a suspension and denial of a pay raise.

Mar 13, 2025 2:14 PM CDT

Former George Mason University law prof says he’s ‘fully vindicated’ after ‘relatively modest’ defamation suit settlement

A former professor at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School has reached a settlement in his defamation lawsuit against two former students who alleged that he abused his power to initiate sexual relationships with them when they were law students.

Mar 12, 2025 2:59 PM CDT

This Harvard Law prof thinks constitutional theory is a terrible way to pick a judge

What if we are asking the wrong questions when selecting American judges? Mark Tushnet thinks our current criteria might be off.

Mar 5, 2025 9:04 AM CST