Donald H. Gjerdingen

Donald H. Gjerdingen is a Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, where he has been teaching since 1988. His courses include Introduction to Law, Torts, Wills and Trusts, and American Constitutional Law for Foreign Lawyers.

• Education: B.A. from Carleton College (1971), J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law (1976), LL.M. from Yale Law School (1978)

His research focuses on legal theory, particularly the intellectual structure of American legal thought, with emphasis on law and economics, constitutional law, and trusts and estates. He has published extensively on topics like the Coase Theorem, perpetuities, and the psychology of common-law reasoning.

His recent publications include the 2021 book A SHORT & HAPPY GUIDE TO THE RULE and a series of articles from the 1980s analyzing the intersection of economics and legal philosophy. His work spans disciplines such as legal education, property law, and historical jurisprudence.

• Scientific Awards: Rabb Emison Award (2001), Leon Wallace Teaching Award, IU Trustees Teaching Award

Professor Gjerdingen has advised numerous J.D. students and international graduate students while contributing to legal scholarship through his books and articles. His career reflects a commitment to legal education reform and interdisciplinary analysis in law.