Law

Melville's Legacy for Law and the Humanities

Co-sponsored by the University of Cincinnati College of Law and the Law & Humanities Institute

Melville’s Legacy for Law and the Humanities is a two-day symposium exploring the enduring impact of Herman Melville’s work on legal thought, literature, and the humanities. Hosted at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and co-sponsored by the Law & Humanities Institute, the event brings together distinguished scholars in law, literature, and music to examine Melville’s themes—from Billy Budd and Bartleby to his reflections on slavery, whaling, and authority.

  • Location: University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • Date: Friday Oct. 24th - Saturday Oct. 25th
Register

Room Block with Special Pricing: GRADUATE CINCINNATI HOTEL

Law and Literature Conference - 151 Goodman Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

Event Block Dates Available to Book: 10/23/2025 - 10/25/2025 (Must Book Within These Dates

  1. Reservations Direct:  1-800-991-5028
  2. Hotel Front Desk: 513-487-3800

Reservation Web Link: Graduate by Hilton Cincinnati - Law and Humanities Institute Conference 10/23/25-10/25/25  (link forthcoming)

8:45–9:15 a.m

Registration & Light Refreshments – College of Law Atrium

9:15–11:00 a.m.

Panel #1: Billy Budd, Revisited (Again), with Other Melville Moments as Well

  • Brook Thomas, UC-Irvine: “Melville’s ‘Victory of Law’: Lee and Lincoln, Battle Pieces and Billy Budd.”

  • Richard Weisberg, Emeritus, Cardozo Law: “How the Plot Line of Billy Budd, Sailor Can be Comprehensively Stated Using Only Five Words, While Still Recognizing that the Story Speaks to Every Feature of Our Lives.”

  • Robin West, Georgetown Law: “Melville on Law, Heaven and Hell.”

  • Discussant: Joseph P. Tomain, UC Law
  • Venue: Room 160

10:45–11:00 a.m.

Break – College of Law Atrium

11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Panel #2: Melville’s Gift to Our Continuing Thoughts on Whaling, Slavery, and Naval Discipline

  • David Caudill, Villanova Law: “Law, Ethical Criticism, and Moby-Dick.”

  • Paul Finkelman, Emeritus, Albany Law: “Slavery, the Law, Melville, and Mistreating Sailors and Soldiers: Musings about Robert Cover, Captain Vere, and Chief Justice Shaw; or, Was Herman Really Concerned About Slaves, or Even Slavery?”

  • Todd Grabarsky, USC Law: “Melville’s Reasonable Constitution.”

  • Discussant: Rachel Smith, UC Law

  • Venue: Room 160

12:30–1:45 p.m.

Luncheon

  • Keynote Address by Richard Danzig, Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy:

    “Billy Budd: A Study in No Exit, No Voice, Loyalty and Disloyalty.”

  • Venue: Room 170

2:00–4:00 p.m.

Musical Performance: Selections from Operatic Adaptations of Melville Stories

  • Venue: Cohen Family Studio Theater, UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)

    Guides will be available at the College of Law to accompany participants to CCM.

  • Robert K. Wallace, Northern Kentucky University: “Melville, Opera, and the Law: Britten’s Billy Budd and Heggie and Scheer’s Moby-Dick.”

  • Additional Comments: Vernon Hartman, CCM – “Staging Melville.”

Featured Performers from CCM:

  • Sang Bin Park, baritone

  • Jack O’Leary, baritone

  • Cameron Howard, tenor

  • Will Ryan, bass

  • Calvin Stoval, piano

8:45–9:15 a.m.

Registration & Light Refreshments – College of Law Atrium

9:15–11:00 a.m.

Panel #3: Melville’s Stories Prior to Billy Budd

  • Sanford Levinson, University of Texas Law: “Bringing Starbuck to Center Stage in Moby-Dick.”

  • Dr. Marguerite Allen: “Murder on Wall Street: Bartleby, the Scrivener.”

  • Discussant: Richard Weisberg, Emeritus, Cardozo Law

  • Venue: Room 160