Jumpstarting summer research? Getting feedback on your work? Lexington, KY in the spring? Those are all positives to me! Contact Josh Douglas with questions. Hat tip to friend-of-the-BLPB Tom Rutledge, Kentucky lawyer supreme, for prompting this post.
As I noted here a few weeks ago, I flew out to Detroit for the third annual Peter J. Henning Memorial Lecture two weeks ago. This year’s distinguished speaker, Jerry Israel, regaled us with observations on how federal courts take (or do not take) wealth into account in pre-trial release decisions. This can be, of course, a matter of interest in white collar crime proceedings, given that some white collar criminal defendants are wealthy individuals.
Taking us back to language in the First Judiciary Act and the Bail Reform Act of 1966, Jerry offered us a history of, and various standards for, bail. These standards are, of course, subject to interpretation in context. And Jerry was armed with court opinions in a number of cases that serve as interesting examples.
A former student of mine, Willie Santana, has been active in attempting to enforce pre-trial release standards under Tennessee law in our trial courts. Willie explains the issues in this article for the Tennessee Bar Association. Willie’s work led me to ask a question of Jerry about parallels between state and federal law bail determinations.
The lecture was engaging and a lovely tribute to Peter’s life and work. And it
As I write this at the end of President’s Day, I am marveling at how busy I was on this federal holiday–not a holiday for employees at The University of Tennessee. My mind wandered back to my childhood. As I remember things, we had George Washington’s Birthday, February 22, off from school. I also remember celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12. But I do not remember having it off from school.
And then, at some point (it seems when I was 10), I recall the holidays being combined into one–or maybe George Washington’s Birthday getting a name change. My first memory of President’s Day. But I never knew why. Apparently, the catalyst was an act of Congress–the law that instituted our Monday work holidays. Now codified as part of 5 U.S.C. § 6103, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved George Washington’s Birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February, as noted on a civics website hosted by the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute. Statutorily, the federal holiday is still George Washington’s Birthday, although many of us (me included) now know it as President’s Day.
Our retired co-blogger Steve Bradford once wrote here about this holiday, quoting from Presidents
Each year, SEALS hosts a Prospective Law Teachers Workshop (PLTW), which provides intensive mentorship opportunities for VAPs, fellows, and practitioners who plan on entering the law teaching market in August 2026. Participation in PLTW is by acceptance only. Selected PLTW participants also attend a luncheon (separate ticket purchase required) as part of the workshop programming. Past PLTW participants have secured tenure-track appointments at an impressive array of law schools.
This year’s Prospective Law Teachers Workshop will begin on Monday, July 13, 2026, with an online orientation and 1-on-1 sessions to receive faculty feedback on application materials, and will continue with in-person programming in conjunction with the SEALS Conference at the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Specifically, PLTW participants will engage in moot job interviews and job talks. The Workshop will begin at 8:00 am on Monday, July 27, 2026, and end on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. PLTW participants must both participate in the online programming and arrive the day before the workshop begins. After the workshop concludes, PLTW participants can stay for the rest of the conference (for networking) or depart after the workshop programming concludes on Wednesday (we plan to conclude by early afternoon on Wednesday).
If you
South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL) invites applications from both entry-level and experienced faculty for one or more full-time, tenure-track positions beginning in the 2026–27 academic year. Also, STCL invites applications for visiting assistant professor (VAP) positions beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. STCL’s VAPs typically serve two years in a program designed to assist individuals to transition to academia by providing mentoring, teaching experience, and scholarly support.
While all candidates for our open tenure-track and VAP positions will be considered, we particularly seek candidates interested in teaching Contracts and Commercial Law (including courses such as Payments Systems, Secured Transactions, and/or Sales). We seek candidates with outstanding academic records who are committed to both excellence in teaching and sustained scholarly achievement.
STCL is committed to fulfilling our mission of providing a diverse body of students with the opportunity to obtain an exceptional legal education, preparing graduates to serve their community and the profession with distinction. STCL is known for its supportive and collegial culture and its commitment to student success. The school, located in downtown Houston, was founded in 1923 and is the oldest law school in the city. STCL is a private, nonprofit, independent law school, fully accredited
I am in Detroit today for the third annual Peter J. Henning Memorial Lecture. As many of you know, Peter was a mentor and friend who died way too young. Peter’s teaching and work spanned business and criminal law. He and I, perhaps predicatbly, shared an interest in insider trading law.
A number of folks, including a few of us academics, help to support this lecture series financially and through attendance. If you would like to join in that effort, please contact me or Jennifer Bird-Pollan. The first two speakers were the Honorable Jed S. Rakoff and Mary Jo White. I look forward to Professor Israel’s talk as the third in the series later today!
The University of Iowa College of Law seeks applicants for one or more tenure-track faculty positions. We have a strong interest in applicants who possess excellence in their academic and professional backgrounds. Entry-level and lateral candidates are welcome to apply.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The College of Law’s primary hiring interest is in business, corporate, and commercial law.
Consistent with the mission and responsibilities of a top-tier public research university, we are interested in candidates who are recognized scholars and teachers and who will participate actively in the intellectual life of the College of Law. In addition, we desire candidates with a demonstrated ability to maintain effective and respectful working relationships with the campus community to uphold a standard of cultural competency and respect for differences. We also desire candidates who would bring significant new scholarly strengths to the College of Law. Candidates who can contribute to these goals are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in these areas.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
To apply, candidates should submit a letter of interest, CV, a list of three references, a law school transcript, and teaching evaluations (if applicable) through Jobs@UIOWA, https://jobs.uiowa.edu, refer to Requisition #75664.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any misconduct history or pending research
[S]upporting under-resourced entrepreneurs, and low-income entrepreneurs is still vital, but it cannot be the only solution to promoting economic justice. The fact that entrepreneurship will not resolve the disparities in opportunity leftover from Jim Crow and the legacy of slavery should
Washington and Lee University School of Law (“W&L Law”) invites up to ten tenure-track or tenured legal scholars to join its faculty for an intensive four-day writing retreat at House Mountain Inn located in the Shenandoah Valley, a home to artists, artisans, and scholars alike. Nestled high atop the slopes of Big House Mountain, the House Mountain Inn offers 1,000 private acres of mountain preserve with breathtaking views of the surrounding natural beauty. The scenic location offers the ideal setting for this retreat dedicated to intensive academic writing, meaningful peer engagement, and the cultivation of long-term professional relationships among leading legal scholars from across the country. This retreat reflects the W&L Law faculty’s deep dedication to advancing impactful legal scholarship and its commitment to nurturing curiosity, collaboration, and community.
The 2026 Writing Retreat will meet from Sunday, June 14, to Thursday, June 18, 2026. Attendees are asked to join the retreat for its full duration in order to support a shared, immersive writing experience for all participants.
FUNDING
W&L Law will provide lodging and meals for all attendees at House Mountain Inn for four nights, plus a travel stipend up to $500. Funding for the retreat is generously provided by
I was fortunate to run into my friend Pamela Foohey at a reception at the Association of American Law Schools annual meeting last week. I had known that the book on consumer bankruptcy she coauthored (with Robert Lawless and Deborah Thorne) had been released. But I had not yet read it. I was especially lucky to catch Pamela that night when she had a copy of the book with her. After a brief conversation, she was kind enough to offer it to me. I began reading it on the flight home. So far, it is an illuminating and fascinating read.
The book I am referencing, Debt’s Grip, reports on the most recent iteration of the Consumer Bankruptcy Project. For those who may be unfamiliar with the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, it is a long-term (now over 40 years in duration), periodic review of consumer bankruptcies. This most recent study involves the reporting and analysis of eleven years of data assembled from bankruptcy case files and surveys of the related households. While some of the takeaways are unsurprising, the book’s documentation of the nature the filers, their cases, and the outcomes paints a compelling picture of the greater socioeconomic environment