Paul Campos
Encyclopedia
Paul F. Campos is a law professor, author and journalist currently on the faculty of the University of Colorado
in Boulder
. His books include Against the Law (with Pierre Schlag and Steven D. Smith, 1996), a collection of essays regarding legal thought in contemporary America; Jurismania (1998), a scathing critique of the American legal system; and The Diet Myth (2005) (previously published as The Obesity Myth in 2004), an expose of the hysteria surrounding weight
and health in the Western world today. Campos writes a weekly opinion column for the Scripps Howard News Agency which appears in newspapers around the nation. He has also been a frequent guest on CNN
, MSNBC
, and other major networks to discuss legal and political issues.
Campos received his A.B. (1982) and M.A. in English (1983) from the University of Michigan
and in 1989 his J.D. from the University of Michigan School of Law.
Campos's legal scholarship has focused largely on questions of legal interpretation, and especially on the ways in which law can become a kind of substitute pseudo-religion
in a secularized culture. In 2003, the Colorado Daily
named him "Best University of Colorado Professor" in its annual "Best of Boulder" edition.
Campos's weekly column often focuses on what he considers curious societal phenomena, such as the origin of the chicken sandwich, the University of Michigan
's decision to keep Tommy Amaker
employed for six years, the differing attitudes of University of Notre Dame
football fans toward coaches Tyrone Willingham
and Charlie Weis
, and the presidency of George W. Bush
. More recent efforts have been directed at The Process used at the University of Michigan to fill its football coaching vacancy, and the resulting incestuous hire of Brady Hoke (47-50 career mark).
His writing also appears on the blog Lawyers, Guns and Money.
In August 2011, Campos began a blog, Inside the Law School Scam. Initially posting anonymously, he critiqued the current law education system in a manner reminiscent of in Against the Law. Knowing that his identity was soon to be outed, he claimed responsibility for the blog on August 20. Campos admitted that he wrote a second, anonymous blog, titled Inside the Law School Scam , in which he was harshly critical of the value proposition of a law school education. The blog has attracted criticism from other legal scholars, including Brian Leiter
.
Outside the legal community, he is perhaps best known for his 2004 book The Obesity Myth (later published as The Diet Myth) which reviews research that, in Campos's estimation, calls into question the connection between obesity and mortality rates. Other writing on the topic of anti-obesity discrimination includes a 2009 column in The Daily Beast
suggesting that there is strong prejudice against overweight women, but not overweight men, among pundits hypothesizing about who Barack Obama
would pick to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the departure of David Souter
.
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
in Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
. His books include Against the Law (with Pierre Schlag and Steven D. Smith, 1996), a collection of essays regarding legal thought in contemporary America; Jurismania (1998), a scathing critique of the American legal system; and The Diet Myth (2005) (previously published as The Obesity Myth in 2004), an expose of the hysteria surrounding weight
Overweight
Overweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary...
and health in the Western world today. Campos writes a weekly opinion column for the Scripps Howard News Agency which appears in newspapers around the nation. He has also been a frequent guest on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, and other major networks to discuss legal and political issues.
Campos received his A.B. (1982) and M.A. in English (1983) from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and in 1989 his J.D. from the University of Michigan School of Law.
Campos's legal scholarship has focused largely on questions of legal interpretation, and especially on the ways in which law can become a kind of substitute pseudo-religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
in a secularized culture. In 2003, the Colorado Daily
Colorado Daily
The Colorado Daily is a newspaper published in Boulder, Colorado, by Prairie Mountain Publishing Co. LLC, a unit of MediaNews Group. The Daily is operated out of the offices of Boulder's Camera newspaper...
named him "Best University of Colorado Professor" in its annual "Best of Boulder" edition.
Campos's weekly column often focuses on what he considers curious societal phenomena, such as the origin of the chicken sandwich, the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's decision to keep Tommy Amaker
Tommy Amaker
Harold Tommy Amaker is the current head coach of the Harvard University men's basketball team. He has also served as head basketball coach for the University of Michigan men's basketball team and at Seton Hall University. He played point guard and later served as an assistant coach at Duke...
employed for six years, the differing attitudes of University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
football fans toward coaches Tyrone Willingham
Tyrone Willingham
Lionel Tyrone "Ty" Willingham is a former American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Stanford University , the University of Notre Dame , and the University of Washington , compiling a career college football record of 76–88–1.-Early career:Willingham attended...
and Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Weis is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators. For five years, from December 2004 through 2009, he was the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame...
, and the presidency of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. More recent efforts have been directed at The Process used at the University of Michigan to fill its football coaching vacancy, and the resulting incestuous hire of Brady Hoke (47-50 career mark).
His writing also appears on the blog Lawyers, Guns and Money.
In August 2011, Campos began a blog, Inside the Law School Scam. Initially posting anonymously, he critiqued the current law education system in a manner reminiscent of in Against the Law. Knowing that his identity was soon to be outed, he claimed responsibility for the blog on August 20. Campos admitted that he wrote a second, anonymous blog, titled Inside the Law School Scam , in which he was harshly critical of the value proposition of a law school education. The blog has attracted criticism from other legal scholars, including Brian Leiter
Brian Leiter
Brian Leiter is an American philosopher and legal scholar who is currently John Wilson Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School, and founder and Director of Chicago's new Center for Law, Philosophy, and Human Values and the editor of the Philosophical Gourmet Report. He taught from...
.
Outside the legal community, he is perhaps best known for his 2004 book The Obesity Myth (later published as The Diet Myth) which reviews research that, in Campos's estimation, calls into question the connection between obesity and mortality rates. Other writing on the topic of anti-obesity discrimination includes a 2009 column in The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast is an American news reporting and opinion website founded and published by Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker as well as the short-lived Talk Magazine. The Daily Beast was launched on October 6, 2008, and is owned by IAC...
suggesting that there is strong prejudice against overweight women, but not overweight men, among pundits hypothesizing about who Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
would pick to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the departure of David Souter
David Souter
David Hackett Souter is a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He served from 1990 until his retirement on June 29, 2009. Appointed by President George H. W. Bush to fill the seat vacated by William J...
.