Sept. 9, 1929 - April 20, 2026 Few individuals have embodied the story and spirit of Cooley Law School more profoundly than Polly Brennan. While generations of graduates have come to know the vision and determination of Cooley’s founder, the late Michigan Supreme Court Justice Thomas E. Brennan Sr., those closest to the law school recognize that behind that vision stood a steadfast partner whose belief, sacrifice, and encouragement helped turn an ambitious dream into a lasting institution. To many in the Cooley community, Polly was far more than the wife of the school’s founder. She was a witness to the law school’s earliest moments, a trusted advisor during its most uncertain days, and a constant source of encouragement for those who supported her husband’s vision. Judge Brennan himself often referred to her lovingly as his “sainted wife, Polly,” a tribute that reflected both his affection and his deep appreciation for her unwavering support. Polly understood better than anyone the motivation behind her husband’s determination to establish a new law school in Michigan during the early 1970s. At a time when law school admissions were extraordinarily competitive and opportunities were limited to only a select few, Judge Brennan believed deeply that legal education should not be reserved exclusively for the privileged or traditional student. He envisioned a law school that would open doors to working adults, first-generation students, and aspiring lawyers who otherwise might never have had the opportunity to pursue the profession. As a family raising six children, the Brennans took a leap of faith and opened Cooley Law School in 1972. From that moment forward, Polly became one of Cooley’s earliest champions.
Read More
In the middle of their study of Contract law, students encounter a cluster of cases dealing with when courts should grant some form of relief to parties who unknowingly enter into contracts beset by misunderstanding, mistake, or ignorance. I call this cluster “the Law of Confusion.” Reading the cases, students are at least as confused as were the parties to the lawsuits that they are being asked to study.
I retired in December, 2021, and I had the honor of being asked to present a lecture on what I learned from my career. In that lecture, I discussed five "lessons" I have learned that made my career more productive and more enjoyable. You can watch the 30-minute lecture in the video, or if you want the “Cliff Notes” version, here are the 5 lessons below - Cooley Professor Emeritus Kimberly E. O'Leary
I have previously blogged about ways to boost an article’s readership. Since then I have learned of a really simple additional way. We all know that to increase readability, use short words and short sentences. It turns out that using a short title for your article can increase the likelihood that it will be read. And cited by others.
THE PAST The "Looking Back: 1930s" article in the January 2022 Michigan Bar Journal concludes by briefly noting "a failed constitutional amendment which would have moved Michigan away from an elected judiciary." The ballot measure would have instituted non-partisan appointment of Michigan’s Supreme Court justices. Since that 1938 defeat, the State Bar has initiated or supported petition drives to put the question of non-partisan judicial selection back on the ballot three more times.
Fraud is the deliberate misrepresentation of a material fact, made with the intention of inducing reliance in another person, which causes a loss of money or property. It can have both criminal and civil consequences.
I have previously blogged about the unfortunate case of Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal. In a poll of law professors, Willie and Lucille Peevyhouse were voted “The Most Screwed Victims in Case-law History.”
Recent posts have described a process for showcasing your scholarship. It’s done by creating a digital archive to display and preserve your published articles. Part One featured the Social Science Research Network (SSRN). Part Two compared Google Scholar (GS) and other platforms.
“I am sympathetic to the prosecutor’s cause for gun safety reform, but at this point, the ends do not justify the means.” - Former Judge and Cooley Law School Criminal Law Professor Jeffrey Swartz.
Part One: Use SSRN To Archive Articles explains how to use the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) to create an online archive of your articles. A decade after SSRN was founded in 1994, Google launched a similar platform, Google Scholar (GS), and later added profiles. GS profiles too can be used to create an online archive to display and preserve publications.
