What drew you to the law?
The law is never far from anything that matters. Our country relies more on the rule of law than any other nation. That’s something to be proud of, something worth defending, something worth being a part of.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The students, no question. My favorite time of the week is when I’m in class. Self-improvement is hard. Learning is hard. But law students are up to the challenge. Most of them gave up job opportunities or time with their families to learn the law. I could not be more honored to help them on that journey.
What do you hope students gain from your courses?
Understanding of doctrine, policy, theory, and practice. Confidence. Empathy. The law is not simply an aggregation of bloodless principles. It’s a collection of rules that we hope will guide human behavior toward outcomes that benefit all. There is no law, no justice, no decency without thoughtful human beings at the center.
What did you do prior to entering academia?
I was a litigator. I worked on all sorts of cases in all sorts of forums, from state courts in South Texas to the Supreme Court of the United States. I represented individuals, companies, and governments.
What are you passionate about outside the law?
Soccer, in particular the United States Men’s National Team and Liverpool Football Club. Craft beer. Barbecue. Breakfast burritos. Dance songs (mostly old school).
What are your research interests?
I am a regulatory theorist who focuses on the law of health care and other socially important goods (such as pensions and insurance). Most recently I have written about the importance of cross-subsidies in the provision of health care and other important goods, and I believe the use of cross-subsidies will be an increasingly important aspect of regulatory theory and practice in the coming decades.