About the Law & Philosophy at Iowa initiative

Law & Philosophy at Iowa aspires to become a Midwestern hub and University of Iowa resource for research, education, and engagement into all aspects of legal theory. While based in the College of Law, our members come from a wide range of departments at the University of Iowa.

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Upcoming events

Inaugural Law and Philosophy at Iowa Lecture: Joshua Knobe, Yale University

Friday, April 10, 2026 3:30pm to 5:00pm
Old Capitol Museum

Joshua Knobe, Yale University

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Events and programming

Law & Philosophy at Iowa hosts a range of regular programming for the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and beyond. 

Levitt Lecture

Speaker Series

Several times a year, we invite leading legal theorists to present current work. These events are open to students, UI employees, and the broader community—please join us!

Someone placing a book on a bookshelf in the Law Library.

Legal Theory Reading Group (LTRG)

Join us off-campus each month to discuss a recent work of legal theory. Our lively, informal discussions are open to all faculty and graduate students in law and philosophy. To learn more about upcoming LTRG events, email Andrew Jordan.

Professor Mihailis Diamantis lectures to law students in a large classroom.

Community Constitutional Law Explainers

Dean Todd Pettys and law school faculty provide context and insight into recent Supreme Court cases. These events are open to all community members. To learn about upcoming events, sign up to receive programming updates.

Emily Hughes (2)

Philosophy at Trial

Philosophy at Trial is a biennial symposium that brings together scholars to discuss philosophical issues in recent Supreme Court cases. The proceedings are published in an open access volume.

Directors

Mihailis Diamantis headshot

Mihailis Diamantis

Ben V. Willie Professor in Excellence
Professor
mihailis-diamantis@uiowa.edu
319-335-9105
Mihailis Diamantis’ legal research focuses on corporate crime, law and technology, criminal justice, and legal theory. He is concerned with how familiar concepts like mens rea shape corporate incentives and the justice of verdicts involving corporate defendants. He has subsidiary interests in privacy law and surveillance.
A headshot of Professor Andrew Jordan outdoors on a spring day.

Andrew Jordan

Associate Professor
andrew-jordan@uiowa.edu
319-335-9034
Professor Andrew Jordan focuses his research on issues in legal philosophy with an emphasis on normative issues in constitutional adjudication and contract theory. He has also published widely on topics in moral philosophy.
A headshot of Stephanie Patridge

Stephanie Patridge

Visiting Professor
Philosopher in Residence
stephanie-patridge@uiowa.edu
Stephanie Patridge teaches courses on ethics and human rights. Her research focuses on ethics, aesthetics, and social philosophy.

Affiliated faculty

Jovana Davidovic faculty headshot

Jovana Davidovic

jovana-davidovic@uiowa.edu
319-335-0031
Ali Hasan

Ali Hasan

Affiliated Faculty
ali-hasan@uiowa.edu
319-335-1836
James Toomey

James Toomey

Associate Professor
james-toomey@uiowa.edu
Professor Toomey’s research applies philosophical and empirical methods to essential questions at the intersection of bioethics and private law theory, from whether genes can be owned to when the law ought to intervene in the decision-making of those with dementia.

Funding

Law & Philosophy at Iowa is generously funded by a University of Iowa Mid-Career Award, the College of Law, the University of Iowa Arts and Humanities Initiative and the Department of Philosophy.