John Barton ’68 devoted his academic career to the examination of questions at the intersection of science and the law. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His scholarship was focused on international law concerns ranging from national defense to issues surrounding the distribution of intellectual property across the developed and undeveloped world. His most recent work involved the transfer of technologies, including vaccine, steel, and technologies for mitigating climate change between scientifically sophisticated and developing nations, and the development of a political theory of international organization and globalization.

Professor Barton chaired or was a member of more than a dozen academic and international advisory commissions. Most recently he led the International Commission on Intellectual Property Rights. Before joining the Stanford Law School faculty in 1969, he was an engineer with Sylvania Electronic Defense Laboratories.

Professor Barton was also a Senior Fellow (by courtesy) at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.