Richard A. Posner, former judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, distinguished legal scholar, and leading figure in the law and economics movement, died on November 10, 2026, at the age of 87.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential legal thinkers of his generation, Judge Posner helped shape modern legal scholarship through his application of economic principles to legal questions. A authored more than 50 books, hundreds of scholarly articles, and more than 3,000 judicial opinions addressing a broad range of legal subjects.
Judge Posner graduated summa cum laude from Yale University in 1959 and earned his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1962, graduating first in his class. He subsequently clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr. and held positions with the Federal Trade Commission and the Office of the Solicitor General under Thurgood Marshall.
In 1969, Judge Posner joined the faculty of the University of Chicago Law School, where he became a central figure in the development of law and economics. His influential 1972 book, Economic Analysis of Law, helped establish the field as a major discipline in legal scholarship.
Appointed to the Seventh Circuit by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, Judge Posner served on the court for nearly 36 years, including as chief judge from 1993 to 2000. Known for his intellectual independence and pragmatic approach to judging, he emphasized the practical consequences of judicial decisions and frequently challenged conventional approaches to legal interpretation.
Throughout his career, Judge Posner received numerous honors recognizing his contributions to the law, including the Learned Hand Medal for Excellence in Federal Jurisprudence and the Ronald H. Coase Medal. He was also elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Elected to The American Law Institute in 1977, Judge Posner served as an Adviser to the Restatement of the Law, Copyright. In 1995, he addressed ALI’s Annual Dinner in Chicago, reflecting on the qualities that distinguish the Institute and contribute to its success. He emphasized the importance of bringing together distinguished lawyers, judges, and legal scholars, whose varied perspectives ensure that ALI’s work remains grounded in both rigorous scholarship and the practical needs of the legal profession. His remarks reflected a deep appreciation for the collaborative deliberation at the heart of ALI’s mission. His son, Eric A. Posner of the University of Chicago Law School, continues the family’s connection to the Institute as a member of ALI’s Council.