Merle Weiner

Merle Weiner is the Philip H. Knight Professor of Law at the University of Oregon School of Law. She has been affiliated with the university since 1997, specializing in family law, gender-based violence, and international family law. Her academic roles include teaching courses such as Family Law, International and Comparative Family Law, and Gender-Based Violence and the Law.

Prof. Weiner earned her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, an LLM with First Class Honors from Cambridge University, and a JD cum laude from Harvard Law School. She has held clerkships, practiced securities litigation, and taught at the University of Iowa College of Law before joining Oregon.

Her research focuses on domestic violence and international child custody, particularly the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. She co-authored the first U.S. casebook on international family law and published groundbreaking work on reimagining family law through a 'parent-partner' status. Her recent articles address legal reforms for pet-related emotional distress and survivor safety in custody disputes.

Prof. Weiner founded and directed the Domestic Violence Clinic, securing funding through grants to sustain its operations. She actively engages in legal advocacy, submitting comments on Title IX and domestic violence policy reforms. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical legal solutions for vulnerable populations.

Her contributions span over three decades, with notable publications in family law, torts, and international legal frameworks. She remains a leading voice in reshaping legal responses to domestic violence and child welfare.