Intellectual Life
The distinguished faculty, dynamic scholarly centers, and vibrant student-run journals at the UConn School of Law enrich the intellectual life of the campus and advance understanding of law through their cutting-edge research, outstanding publications, and stellar events.
Scholarly Events
UConn Law holds many scholarly events throughout the year. Journals host annual symposia, bringing experts to campus to discuss cutting edge topics of the day. A series called “In Conversation” focuses on recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court and other important legal issues. Additionally, other events throughout the year bring legal experts to campus to share their insights into a variety of topics.
Mercy, Justice and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering the legal system, raising questions about what makes human judgment unique.
Many fear that automation could erode the “human essence” of legal decision‑making. But what exactly is that essence, and is it worth preserving given our own tendencies toward bias and error? Drawing on longstanding theological and philosophical debates about mercy and justice, this talk considered how humans and machines should share responsibility in law.
Justice concerns what people deserve, while mercy is by definition undeserved and cannot be fully explained by legal rules. Because of this, even if machines can help produce more consistent or just outcomes, the merciful dimension of judgment will be far harder to automate.
This lecture on February 11 commemorated the investiture of Kiel Brennan-Marquez as the Wallace Stevens Professor of Law.
Faculty Workshops
The UConn School of Law faculty workshop series is an important focal point for intellectual life on campus. Scholars from around the world present papers, typically works in progress, and faculty members have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.
Jessica de Perio Wittman
Jessica de Perio Wittman published ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES IN ACADEMIC LAW LIBRARIES, VOL. 3 (with Elizabeth G. Adelman ed. 2025)
Peter Siegelman
Peter Siegelman published No Adjudication, 22 J. EMPIRICAL LEG. STUD. 544 (2025) (with Charlotte Alexander, Nathan Dahlberg & Alexandra Lahav)
Sachin Pandya
Sachin Pandya published Deciding Whether a Reasonable Jury Would Find Harassment Severe or Pervasive Enough, JOTWELL (Oct. 3, 2025) (reviewing Elizabeth C. Tippett & Jamillah B. Williams, Misjudging a Reasonable Jury: Evidence that Courts Dismiss Meritorious Harassment Claims, 58 CONN. L. REV. 233 (2026)
Brianne Felsher
Brianne Felsher published Brief of Law and History Scholars as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents, West Virginia v. BPJ, No. 24-43 (U.S. Nov. 17, 2025) (with Chad M. Eggspuehler et al.).
Greg Antill
GREGORY ANTILL published Reluctant Wrongdoing, Intentional Wrongdoing, and the Case for Revising Criminal Law’s Mens Rea Hierarchy, 113 CAL. L. REV. 1585 (2025)
Peter Lindseth
Peter Lindseth published EUROPEAN INTEGRATION IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL BORDERLANDS: THE NEXT GENERATION EU MODEL AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EUROPE’S FUTURE (2026) (with Päivi Leino-Sandberg)
Resources
