News
The Law School welcomed 198 new JD students to campus this fall. The students participated in orientation last week and began classes this week.
I would like to begin tonight by taking a good, long look at all of you, our JD Class of 2027, Transfer Class of 2026, and LLM Class of 2025: so fresh-faced, well-rested, so innocent, so unsullied by what will be our collective efforts to transform you into ruthless legal minds from the University of Chicago.
The University of Chicago has announced a $100 million gift from an anonymous donor to support UChicago’s leadership on the principles and practice of free expression, and to advance the work of the University of Chicago Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression—both on campus and beyond.
In her latest book, The Interbellum Constitution: Union, Commerce, and Slavery in the Age of Federalisms, Alison LaCroix, a distinguished legal historian and the Robert Newton Reid Professor of Law, delves into a critical but often overlooked period in American constitutional history—the years between 1815 and 1861.
The Law School recently welcomed two new members to its academic faculty, Vincent Buccola, ’08, and Darrell A.H. Miller, whose appointments were effective July 1. In addition, William A. Birdthistle joined the faculty last April as a Professor from Practice.
Faculty in the News
The United States and Brazil share many things in common. They are both vast, diverse nations with rich cultural traditions. The US is the most important country in North America; Brazil is the big player in South America. They are similar in size (if we forget about Alaska, as many Americans do) and in range of geographic environments. America enslaved millions of Africans, and Brazil did too. Native inhabitants were displaced north and south of the equator. Both Brazil and America produce everything from agricultural products to sophisticated airplanes.
As we think about the very real possibility of a Trump II administration, the consequences for the rule of law should be foremost in our mind. As he promises retribution against his enemies through the courts, should we believe him?
Yes.
Alison LaCroix detailed how the Constitution was debated and understood in the period between 1815 and 1861, and how, in the process, ideas about the nature of the Union evolved. The University of Chicago Law School hosted this event.
