Celebrating the Scholarly Legacy of Professor James Gardner
Professor James Gardner, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Bridget and Thomas Black Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law was honored at GardnerFest.
The work of Professor James Gardner, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Bridget and Thomas Black Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law, has profoundly shaped the field of election law and contemporary thinking about American democracy. Upon announcing his transition to emeritus status, Gardner was honored at “GardnerFest,” a scholarly gathering held on November 14 at Harvard Law School and organized by Professor Guy-Uriel Charles.
Gardner is widely regarded as a leading constitutional theorist and a pioneer in election law. His scholarship has challenged scholars to confront fundamental issues such as democratic decline, the limits of federalism, and the tension between democratic ideals and political reality. His influential works include What Are Campaigns For? and the co-edited casebook Election Law in the American Political System.
Rather than focusing on past achievements, GardnerFest centered on the ideas that continue to animate Gardner’s work. During the event, Gardner presented new, unpublished research on digital communication and democracy, introducing the concept of “deilocracy”—a form of rule shaped by fear and timidity amplified through online platforms.
The gathering brought together scholars from multiple generations, reflecting Gardner’s lasting influence as a thinker, teacher, and mentor. As he enters emeritus status, Gardner remains actively engaged in examining the future of American democracy, marking not an end to his work, but a new chapter in his intellectual life.
