Michael Sevel

Delighted that Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Law Vol. 4 has now been published. A fantastic collection. My chapter begins to challenge the reasons-centered paradigm of authority that has prevailed over the last 50 years.

It was a privilege and pleasure to welcome the 29th Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, to my Jurisprudence seminar today on The Rule of Law and its Value at The University of Sydney Law School. A proud Sydney Law School graduate (LLB, 1977), Malcolm spoke inspiringly of the importance of the rule of law in Australia and around the world, and the challenges it faces in the near future. Big thanks to all my excellent students, who were initially a bit starstruck (the visit was unannounced) but then asked many astute questions, calling on Malcolm's lifelong experience in business, law, and politics. A wonderful occasion and unforgettable experience for all involved!

Very pleased that my book The Rule of Law in Ancient Rome, co-edited with colleagues in classical studies, and for which I contributed the opening chapter, will be published this week by Oxford. A splendid interdisciplinary endeavor. academic.oup.com/book/61402

Update: I will also be presenting at @IrishJurisSoc, with details pending.

The recent arrest of a Wisconsin judge by the Trump administration is what William Scheuerman calls a politically motivated "official rule departure", civil disobedience that may strengthen the rule of law. New in the Routledge Handbook of the Rule of Law: tinyurl.com/36uxzb9x

John Finnis's memoir on Joseph Raz has been published at the British Academy. A fitting tribute from a friend for over 50 years. thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publishing/mem…

A first pass at bringing some basic distinctions and concepts from value theory to clarify both political and academic discussions of the value of the rule of law, still a neglected and poorly understood topic.

Three permanent R&T roles - research areas/approaches broadly construed. No shortage of legal philosophers here, but positions are genuinely broad, incl. legal phil. Public Law: jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?i… Private Law: jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?i… Future of Work: jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?i…

Ep. #6 of Heavily Accented Philosophy of Law Podcast is here! In this episode, we delve with @amwaltermann (@UM_Foundations) into non-human agents, the construction of legal reality & the encompassing role of legal education. Listen to it here 👇 creators.spotify.com/pod/show/hapl/…

Ep. #7 of Heavily Accented Philosophy of Law Podcast is here! In this episode, we delve with Pedro Moniz Lopes (@Lx_Public_Law @LisbonLT) into the debate on rules & principles, and the topics of genericity and categorisation in law Listen to it here 👇 spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ajSRZchmNQb

My article 'The Problem of Complex Legislation', out now (online) in Legal Theory: #article" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">cambridge.org/core/journals/…

“From time to time it is probably necessary to detach oneself from the technicalities of the argument and ask quite naïvely what is this all about.” — Friedrich Hayek

NEW: Routledge Handbook of the Rule of Law is out today. 28 new essays by 30 scholars from around the world, representing about a dozen academic disciplines. Very pleased with how this came together. routledge.com/Routledge-Hand…

If you’re in Łomża on Friday, feel free to attend. #RomanLaw

My monograph on maritime loan contracts will be published in the new year by @UofMPress. They are running a holiday sale - 50% off - so you can bag a copy now for less than 40 bucks! press.umich.edu/Books/A/Ancien…

NEW: Introduction to the Routledge Handbook of the Rule of Law, available in a month. 28 new essays by 30 scholars from around the world, from nearly a dozen academic disciplines. I set out the plan of the volume & brief chapter summaries. Paper here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf…

Early summer in Sydney

My (short book-ette!) contribution ("Content-Independence in Law") to the Cambridge Elements series has now been published and is free online for a month! Many thanks to @KenEhrenberg and all at @CUP_Law @CambridgeUP cambridge.org/core/elements/…

Giving Thanks: Fred Schauer, buff.ly/3Z8GK72 - Follow the link for the LTB post. Here is the start: It is a Legal Theory Blog tradition for me to express my thanks and gratitude on Thanksgiving Day. This year my choice was especially clear. When Fred Schauer passed away earlier this year, the outpouring of grief and gratitude from Fred's colleagues, students, and friends was overwhelming.