2023 marks the 100th anniversary of The American Law Institute (ALI), whose mission is "to clarify, modernize, and improve the law" through its highly respected publications and projects. While the Restatements of the Law are likely the ALI's best-known publications (due to their frequent citation and endorsement by courts, which can "adopt the Restatement view" of a particular topic), the ALI has also developed important codifications like the Model Penal Code and the Uniform Commercial Code, among other publications, studies, and projects.
The Goodson Law Library is joining the celebration of the ALI Centennial with an exhibit on Level 3 of the Library. From Monday, March 20 through the end of spring semester classes, visit the main floor of the library and the Riddick Rare Books and Special Collections Room (accessible on weekdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm) to learn more about the history of the ALI and of Duke Law faculty contributions to their seminal publications.
The Library is also co-presenting an ALI Centennial panel discussion with the Office of the Dean on Thursday, April 6 in room 3037 at 12:30 pm. Our distinguished panel of experts includes:
- David F. Levi (Dean Emeritus, Duke Law): ALI President
- Andrew Gold (Professor, Brooklyn Law; Duke JD’98): co-editor of The American Law Institute: A Centennial History (forthcoming from Oxford University Press)
- Deborah A. DeMott (Professor, Duke Law): Reporter, Restatement (Third) of Agency
- Brandon L. Garrett (Professor, Duke Law): Associate Reporter, Principles of the Law, Policing
For additional information about the history and work of the American Law Institute, check out the timeline website for The ALI’s First Century. A pre-publication draft of Prof. DeMott's chapter in the forthcoming Centennial History volume is also available for download on SSRN. The Duke University community can view current and past drafts of ALI publications, codifications, and other projects in HeinOnline's American Law Institute library. To locate particular ALI publications, or for help accessing materials mentioned here, be sure to Ask a Librarian.