Learned Hand: The Lower Court Judge with Supreme Influence

This video examines the extraordinary influence of Judge Learned Hand, arguably America's most celebrated jurist who never reached the Supreme Court. Despite serving "only" on the federal district and appellate courts, Hand authored over 2,000 opinions that continue to shape American law today. Discover how his revolutionary judicial philosophy of restraint and intellectual humility produced landmark decisions, including the famous "Hand Formula" for determining negligence. Hand's legacy offers timeless lessons in the pursuit of justice through measured judgment and intellectual honesty.

Publius, your humble host for No. 86. My name comes from the pen name Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay used when they wrote 85 publicly printed letters now known as the Federalist Papers. I am a student curious to learn more about our government, institutions, and legal system. I will be your representative as I ask questions, interview experts, and offer insights in our videos and podcasts.

As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.