The University of Pittsburgh School of Law is pleased to recognize Dean Jerry Dickinson’s continued scholarly contributions during the 2025–2026 academic year, marked by the publication of three major articles in leading law journals.
Dean Dickinson’s recent scholarship explores constitutional theory, home rights, federalism, and the evolving relationship between state and federal constitutional development. Together, these articles reflect his ongoing commitment to research, writing, and the intellectual life of legal academia while serving as Dean of Pitt Law.
Taking Homes, Yale Journal on Regulation (2025)
This article examines the constitutional anomaly that homes receive special protection across the Bill of Rights but remain underprotected under the Takings Clause. Dean Dickinson argues for stronger constitutional safeguards for homes against eminent-domain takings.
The Constitutional Penumbras of Home Rights, William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal (2026)
This article explores constitutional theory, home rights, and the Bill of Rights, tracing how home-centered protections have developed through constitutional text, doctrine, and longstanding constitutional interpretation, arguably creating a penumbra-like theory of home rights akin to the penumbra of privacy rights once proclaimed by Justice William Douglas.
Abortion (Re)Federalization, Utah Law Review (2026)
This article examines how Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization may create a form of bottom-up constitutionalism in which state abortion-law innovations could eventually inform renewed federal constitutional protections.
“As Dean, I remain deeply committed to the intellectual life of legal academia,” Dean Dickinson said. “The administrative responsibilities of leading a law school are significant, but my love for research, writing, and scholarship continues to energize me. Scholarship is not separate from leadership; for me, it is part of how I understand the mission of a law school, the role of faculty, and the obligation to contribute ideas to the profession.”
Dean Dickinson also noted the influence of former Pitt Law Dean John Murray, whose example as both a law school leader and active scholar continues to inspire him.
“I draw inspiration from the example of former Dean John Murray, who demonstrated that a dean could lead an institution with energy and seriousness while also remaining deeply engaged as a scholar,” Dickinson said. “His example reminds me that the deanship and the scholarly life can reinforce one another when both are grounded in service to legal education.”
Through these publications, Dean Dickinson continues to contribute to important national conversations in constitutional law, property law, federalism, and legal theory, while advancing Pitt Law’s mission as a center of rigorous scholarship and public impact.