Michael D. Gilbert

Michael D. Gilbert is a Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, serving as Vice Dean (2021-2025) and Director of the Center for Public Law and Political Economy. His research examines election law, legislation, law and economics, misinformation, corruption, and prosocial behavior in legal systems. Gilbert holds a J.D. and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, where he received National Science Foundation grants and Olin Fellowships.

His interdisciplinary work bridges constitutional design, behavioral economics, and democratic theory. Recent publications explore institutional gridlock, election administration resilience, empathy in legal compliance, and market-based misinformation solutions. Gilbert's scholarship demonstrates consistent focus on optimizing legal frameworks for democratic accountability and ethical governance.

Awards include UVA’s All-University Teaching Award and Student Council Distinguished Teaching Award for pedagogical excellence. He leads the Corruption Lab for Ethics, Accountability, and the Rule of Law within UVA's Democracy Initiative and co-founded the international research network Convergencia.