About

Final Decisions covers appellate jurisdiction and procedure: recent decisions, cert petitions, scholarship, rule changes, and more—including monthly roundups of notable decisions and developments. It is a source for judges, litigators, and law professors looking to learn more about appellate jurisdiction and procedure, stay current in these areas, and gain insight into future developments.

I’m a law professor at the University of Toledo College of Law. I research federal appellate jurisdiction and procedure, primarily if and when parties can appeal. I have published several articles and essays in this area and have several more in the works. My article Rules, Standards, and Experimentation in Appellate Jurisdiction won the 2014 Howard B. Eisenberg Prize from the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, which is awarded to the best article in the field of appellate practice and procedure. I have also received several teaching awards, including a University Outstanding Teacher Award, Outstanding Professor Award from the 2015 and 2019 graduating classes at the University of Toledo, the Beth Eisler First Year Teaching Award from the 2019 first-year class, and the Lee Ann Pizzimenti Educational Excellence and Distinguished Service Award.

Before becoming a law professor, I clerked for Judge Edward C. Prado on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and practiced law at Jones Day in the Issues & Appeals group. I started my teaching career at as a Visiting Associate Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, where I also graduated from law school.

Last updated March 26, 2023.