Professor Palmer named Tulane Law Review Alumnus of the Year

Tulane Law School Professor Vernon Valentine Palmer, a globally recognized leader in comparative law and one of the Law School’s most distinguished scholars, has been named Alumnus of the Year by the Tulane Law Review in celebration of the journal’s historic 100th volume.

The honor recognizes Palmer’s lifelong contributions to legal scholarship, his deep ties to the Tulane Law Review, and his enduring influence on generations of students and scholars. A Tulane Law graduate and former Law Review member himself, Palmer earned his LL.B. with honors in 1965 before embarking on a career that would help shape the field of comparative law worldwide. 

“Vernon has been a fixture at Tulane and has educated thousands of lawyers on the importance of civil law, comparative law, legal history, mixed jurisdictions, and many other subjects," said Professor Ron Scalise, a civil law scholar himself and the faculty advisor of the journal.  "His scholarship has helped shape not only Louisiana civil law but the law of jurisdictions around the globe.  On a more personal note, he has immeasurably impacted my own career, and I am very proud and fortunate to call him a friend.”

The Law Review feted Palmer in early April during its annual banquet, where former and current review members spanning the decades celebrated the journal’s long history and the contributions Palmer has made to law, and specifically, Louisiana’s unique civil law traditions.

Founded in 1916, the Law Review is the Law School’s flagship academic journal and a nationally respected publication edited by students. The 2025–26 academic year marks its 100th volume, a milestone that highlights more than a century of legal scholarship and student editorial excellence. 

Palmer’s selection as Alumnus of the Year underscores both his scholarly achievements and his longstanding connection to the Law Review. Over a career spanning more than five decades at Tulane, he has become one of the world’s foremost authorities on civil law and mixed legal systems, publishing extensively on comparative law, legal history, and obligations. 

He currently serves as the Thomas Pickles Professor of Law and co-director of the Eason Weinmann Center for Comparative Law, and his work has taken him across Europe, Africa, and beyond as a visiting professor and international advisor. 

Palmer’s scholarship and global impact have earned him numerous prestigious honors. He was named one of the world’s “great comparatists” by the International Academy of Comparative Law in 2022 and has received France’s Legion of Honor and the Palmes Académiques for strengthening transatlantic legal ties. 

Most recently, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Comparative Law, recognizing “extraordinary scholarly contributions” that have shaped the direction of comparative law in the United States. 

Throughout his career, Palmer has remained deeply committed to Tulane Law School and its academic mission. His teaching, mentorship, and scholarship have influenced generations of students, many of whom have followed in his footsteps as leaders in legal academia, practice, and public service.

The Tulane Law Review’s recognition of Palmer during its centennial volume reflects not only his individual accomplishments, but also the enduring relationship between the journal and the scholars it has helped launch. As the Law Review enters its second century, Palmer’s legacy stands as a testament to the intellectual rigor, global perspective, and tradition of excellence that define Tulane Law.