Judge Richard Posner died at 87, leaving an influence beyond compare
Reported by nytimes.com ·
A career on the bench
His work extended well beyond the courtroom. He published more than 50 books and produced scholarly articles, essays, reviews and blog posts on many subjects.
A distinctive legal approach
Posner was known for an expansive intellect, a demanding work pace and unusually direct remarks. He favored pragmatism over judicial tradition and was described as an unapologetic iconoclast.
That approach helped make him a prominent figure in law. His writing covered a broad range of topics, alongside his work as a judge.
Studies of his influence
Gulati and Stephen J. Choi later updated the study. They reported that Posner’s lead had changed little and called it “astonishing.”
Key points
- Posner died Tuesday in Chicago at age 87.
- He served on the Seventh Circuit from 1981 to 2017.
- He wrote thousands of court opinions and more than 50 books.
- Studies ranked him the most-cited legal scholar of the second half of the 20th century.