Aaron-Andrew P. Bruhl Shapes Legal Thought and Inspires Future Lawyers

Aaron-Andrew P. Bruhl, Rita Anne Rollins Professor of Law and Kelly Professor for Excellence in Teaching, is a leading scholar in statutory interpretation, federal courts, and the legislative process. His contributions span rigorous academic research, award-winning teaching, and influential public commentary. 

Bruhl’s research has been published in many of the nation’s top law journals. Recent articles include “Understanding the Mechanisms of Interpretive Change” (North  Carolina Law Review, Vol. 103, 2025), “Law and Equity on Appeal” (Columbia Law Review, Vol. 124, 2024), and “Supreme Court Litigators in the Age of Textualism” (Florida Law Review, Vol. 76, 2024). “Statutory Backups for Endangered Constitutional Rights” is forthcoming in the Iowa Law Review.

Bruhl’s scholarly publications have been cited by state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He was elected to the American Law Institute in 2014 and has offered expert commentary for television, radio, magazines, and national wire services. He is one of the country’s ten most highly cited scholars in the field of legislation and statutory interpretation.

Recently, he was quoted in Politico discussing the political ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, and he authored an opinion piece for Bloomberg Law on how Congress might respond to shifting judicial doctrines. 

On social media, particularly Bluesky, Bruhl actively engages with legal scholars and the public, sharing insights on statutory interpretation and current legal debates. His posts reflect a thoughtful, sometimes humorous, take on the evolving landscape of American law. 

Since joining William & Mary in 2015, Bruhl has earned accolades for his teaching, including the Plumeri Award for Faculty Excellence and the Walter L. Williams, Jr., Teaching Award, voted by the graduating class of 2020. He is known for his engaging courses on legislation, civil procedure, administrative law, and federal courts, where he challenges students to think critically about legal doctrine and think strategically about achieving client goals. 

In 2022, Bruhl was honored with the John Marshall Award. Given annually at the end of the spring semester, the award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated “character, leadership and a spirit of selfless service to the Law School community.”

Bruhl earned his B.A., summa cum laude, in philosophy, politics, and economics from Pomona College, and holds a master’s degree in political theory from the University of Cambridge. He received his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he served as book reviews editor for the Yale Law Journal and also worked on the Yale Law & Policy Review and the Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities. As a student, he was awarded the Emerson Prize for Distinguished Paper on Legislation.

After law school, Bruhl clerked for the Hon. Carolyn Dineen King on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He then worked as a litigation associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Jenner & Block LLP. His work focused on federal appellate litigation and included cases involving election law, the First Amendment, federal Indian law, and copyright law.

Bruhl exemplifies the William & Mary Law School tradition of combining scholarly rigor with civic engagement. His work continues to shape legal thought and inspire future generations of lawyers and scholars.