Emeritus Robert Drinan, S.J., Professor of Law George Brown passed away on March 13, 2026, after more than 50 years at Ï㽶Ðã Law. The inaugural Drinan Professor, he served as Interim Dean of the Law School, 2010-2011, and was a specialist in the field of federal-state relations and government ethics. In both areas he drew on his extensive experience in state government.
Professor Brown served as Legislative Assistant to the Governor of Massachusetts and as Assistant Attorney General of Massachusetts. In 1994, Governor William Weld appointed him Chair of the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission.Ìý
Professor Brown was a prolific and internationally known scholar.Ìý In the field of federal-state relations, he was best known for his articles on the jurisdiction of federal courts and on the federal grant-in-aid system. He also served as Chair of the Section on Federal Courts of the Association of American Law Schools.
In the field of government ethics, he wrote several articles on recent judicial developments. His more recent research focused on the role of the courts in the War on Terror.
More on Prof. Brown's remarkable career can be found in the Ìý on his passing.
