Land Use Prof Blog

Are the most productive environmental law scholars writing about land use?

Bridget Crawford and Emily Waldman at Pace have been doing some interesting research (especially considering the fact that neither one is an environmental law or land use professor). They have put together a list of the most productive environmental law scholars at the top ten environmental law schools. It is admittedly a narrow list, and I am not sure what it can tell us. Perhaps it gives guidance to those of us hoping to get our environmental law programs into the top ten. If so, the message appears to be (1) write more or (2) hire Dan Farber.

What I found interesting about this list in reference to our earlier discussions (here and here) of land use versus environmental law, is that these non environmental law scholars did not appear to make such a distinction. Specifically notable, is the prolific John Nolon ranks number 2 on the list. He is undoubtedly  a land use prof and yet recognized in this study as an environmental law scholar. See we should all just be one big happy family.

 - Jessica Owley

Protest and Public Space

Listening to events unforld in Tahrir Square reminds me once again the topography of protest. Land use lawyers are only to aware how spatial the right to free speech is in practice, location is so often central to the message.

It makes me sigh inwardly to think again of the imminent eviction of Brian Haw from Parliament Square in London, who has been protesting there and survived various legal battles since 2001.

The Prime Minister David Cameron is apparently insistent that he will have to be moved by April after a decade of protest. Why? For the Royal Wedding, obviously. He mustn't spoil Kate and Will's big day. Sigh. 

Antonia Layard