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Mark G. Kelman

Mark G. Kelman
Professor (by courtesy), Political Economy
MarkG.Kelman
Professor of Political Economy (by courtesy)
James C. Gaither Professor of Law, Stanford Law School
Academic Area: 
Political Economy

Research Statement

Professor Kelman's recent research has focused on three topics: why abstract beliefs about the nature of heuristic reasoning have significantly distinct implications for polcymaking; whether there are universally held moral intuitions, whether those that have been identified have been properly identified, and whether such intutions, if they exist, are normatively important; a vareity of features of surgical decision making in cases in which evaluating even known outcomes may be difficult.

Bio

A prolific scholar whose jurisprudential interests range from law and economics to cognitive psychology, Mark G. Kelman has applied social science approaches to diverse legal fields including criminal law, taxation, administrative regulation, and disability law. His most recent book focused on the implications of the debate over the nature of heuristic reasoning for a variety of legal theoretic and policy issues (including methods of reducing crime, debates over whether values are incommensurable, debates over whether there are significant, universal “moral” beliefs.) In addition to being a long-time teacher of both criminal law and property law to first-year students, he has served as the academic coordinator, academic associate dean, and vice dean at the law school. Before joining the Stanford Law School faculty in 1977, Professor Kelman was the Director of Criminal Justice Projects for the Fund for the City of New York.

Academic Degrees

  • JD, Harvard Law School, 1976
  • BA, Harvard University, 1972

Academic Appointments

  • At Stanford University since 1977
  • Professor of Law, Stanford Law School, 1982-present
  • Vice Dean, Stanford Law School, 2004-2006
  • Associate Academic Dean, Stanford Law School, 1999-2001
  • Academic Coordinator, Stanford Law School, 1994-1996

Professional Experience

  • Director of Criminal Justice Projects, Fund for the City of New York, 1976-1977

Publications

Journal Articles

Hedonic Psychology and the Ambiguities of Welfare
Mark G. Kelman. Philosophy & Public Affairs. 2005, Vol. 33, Issue 4, Pages 391–412.
Law and Behavioral Science: Conceptual Overviews
Mark G. Kelman. Northwestern Law Review. 2003, Vol. 97, Issue 3.

Books

American Criminal Law: Cases, Statutes, and Comments (2nd edition)
Markus D. Dubber, Mark G. Kelman New York: Foundation Press, 2008.
Strategy or Principle? The Choice between Regulation and Taxation
Mark G. Kelman Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, December 3, 1999.

Courses Taught

Degree Courses

2013-14

GSBGEN 382: Thinking Like a Lawyer

Open to all non-law graduate students at the University, this course will provide non-law students an analytical framework for understanding the core concepts of the law and familiarize students with how lawyers analyze and structure their work....

2012-13

GSBGEN 382: Thinking Like a Lawyer

Open to all non-law graduate students at the University, this course will provide non-law students an analytical framework for understanding the core concepts of the law and familiarize students with how lawyers analyze and structure their work....