Leo Katz

Leo Katz is the Frank Carano Professor of Law, focusing on criminal law, legal theory, and their intersections with moral philosophy and social choice theory. His research explores foundational legal concepts like coercion, deception, consent, and legal stratagems. He has authored influential books such as Why the Law Is So Perverse and edited Foundations of the Criminal Law. His work has been supported by a Guggenheim Fellowship.

His research interests span legal paradoxes, ethical dilemmas in law, and the structural limitations of legal frameworks. Notable contributions include analyses of legal indeterminacy, punishment models, and the strategic exploitation of legal loopholes. He collaborates frequently, co-authoring papers on topics like systemic legal cycling and non-economic properties of law.

Katz’s scholarship bridges law and moral philosophy, addressing how legal systems navigate contradictions between societal norms and enforceable rules. His recent work emphasizes the inherent complexities of legal design and decision-making processes.