Joseph H. H. Weiler

Joseph H. H. Weiler is a University Professor and the Joseph Straus Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, where he also holds the European Union Jean Monnet Chaired Professorship. He serves as Director of the Jean Monnet Center for International and Regional Economic Law and Justice. Professor Weiler is a renowned expert in European Union law, international law, and the intersection of law and religion.

Professor Weiler's academic journey began with involvement in Mauro Cappelletti's "Integration Through Law" project at the University of Florence and the European University Institute. His scholarly work spans European Court of Justice jurisprudence, fundamental rights, and the complex relationship between legal systems and religious traditions.

His research interests encompass European Union Law, International Law, Law and Religion, WTO Law, and Fundamental Rights Jurisprudence. Professor Weiler is particularly known for his meticulous analysis of European Court of Justice decisions, as demonstrated in his 2017 Masterclass at the Max Planck Institute where he examined landmark cases including Hauer, Melloni, and Ruiz Zambrano.

• European Union Law
• International Law
• Law and Religion
• WTO Law
• Fundamental Rights Jurisprudence
• Comparative Public Law

Professor Weiler has demonstrated a unique interdisciplinary approach throughout his career, bridging legal scholarship with literary expression. His 2000 novella "Removed" explores the long shadows of National Socialism on German universities. He has also published significant scholarly works including "Thou Shalt Not Oppress a Stranger" in EJIL (1992).

As an educator, Professor Weiler emphasizes the importance of the oral tradition in legal teaching while maintaining a strong text-oriented approach to legal interpretation. He believes in the dialectical relationship between written text and oral tradition, noting that "the text is the beginning point" but "the oral tradition is indispensable" for effective legal education.

Professor Weiler is fluent in multiple languages and has reflected on how linguistic diversity enriches legal scholarship, though he acknowledges the practical dominance of English in international law. His teaching philosophy incorporates Jewish humor and self-irony as tools to create an egalitarian learning environment where "the timid cannot learn."