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Richard Allen PosnerAmerican lawyer and legal expert
Date of Birth: 11.01.1939
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- American Lawyer and Legal Expert
- Judicial Career
- Contributions and Publications
- Antitrust Legislation and Legal Expertise
- Legacy and Further Information
American Lawyer and Legal Expert
Richard Allen Posner is an American lawyer and specialist in law. He currently serves as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals and lectures at the Chicago Law School. Richard is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary experts in the field of law and economics. He was born in New York City and graduated with honors from Yale College in 1959, earning a bachelor's degree in English. In 1962, he graduated with honors from Harvard Law School. Richard worked for William J. Brennan at the United States Supreme Court for a period of time. In 1968, Posner began teaching at Stanford Law School. In 1969, he moved to the University of Chicago Law School, where his son Eric Posner also currently works. In 1972, Posner founded the Journal of Legal Studies.

Judicial Career
On October 27, 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Posner for the position of judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He was set to fill the vacancy left by Philip Willis Tone. On November 24, 1981, Posner's nomination was approved by the Senate, and on December 1, 1981, he officially assumed the position. Posner served as the Chief Judge of the Seventh Circuit from 1993 to 2000, while also continuing to work at the University of Chicago.

Contributions and Publications
Posner's philosophy aligns with pragmatism, his political views lean liberal, and his approach to legal methodology is influenced by economics. He is known for a series of articles and books on various legal topics, including federal judicial power, intellectual property, antitrust legislation, and the evolution of law. The New York Times once named Posner as one of the most important figures in the antitrust movement in the past 50 years. His books on major American scandals, such as the recount scandal in the 2000 presidential election, the Monica Lewinsky scandal and subsequent impeachment, and the 2003 Iraq invasion, have been successful. In December 2004, Posner started a blog with Nobel laureate Gary Becker. In 2005, he was considered a potential successor to Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, although his positions on controversial issues such as abortion and the legalization of drugs made his success uncertain.
Antitrust Legislation and Legal Expertise
Antitrust legislation has always been one of Posner's most important areas of work. In 1999, he was invited to serve as a private mediator during the legal proceedings against Microsoft. In 2004, a survey conducted by Legal Affairs magazine ranked Posner as one of the top 20 legal theory experts in America.
Legacy and Further Information
In 2008, the University of Chicago Law Review published a special issue commemorating Posner's 25 years as a judge. More information about Richard's life and views can be found on the "Project Posner" website, organized by his former clerk, Tim Wu.