In Memoriam: Juliet Moringiello, by Chris Odinet

Memorial to Professor Juliet Moringiello

It is with immense sadness and a very heavy heart that I share the news of Professor Juliet Moringiello’s passing. The legal academy has lost a brilliant scholar, an exceptional mentor, a skillful administrator, and an amazing colleague. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing Juliet have also lost a very dear friend.

Juliet’s contributions to commercial, contract, and property law were formidable. Indeed, her scholarship on commercial law and virtual property/digital assets helped shape our contemporary understanding of these complex issues. But I would offer that while her academic achievements were indeed significant, it was Juliet’s commitment to mentorship that truly defined her career and her character.

I first met Juliet briefly at a conference during my second year as a young assistant professor while I was on the faculty at Southern University. Despite our brief acquaintance, she immediately took an interest in my work and development. What followed was years of mentorship that transformed my career and shaped my understanding of what it means to be a good teacher, scholar, and colleague. Juliet reviewed countless drafts of my papers, offering meticulous written comments and spending hours on the phone discussing my (often ill-formed) ideas and arguments. Her approach perfectly balanced supportive encouragement with intellectual rigor. She was never harsh, but she also never hesitated to challenge me when my ideas needed refining or when my arguments required a stronger defense.

Eventually, what began as mentorship became a rich academic collaboration. Over the years, we co-authored multiple law review articles and book chapters on commercial law and digital assets. I treasure those experiences now more than ever.

To be sure, Juliet’s generosity extended far beyond her work with me. Throughout her career, she wrote countless recommendation letters, served as a reference for faculty members changing institutions, and penned nomination letters for commercial law scholars seeking invitation to join the American Law Institute. In short: she brought others with her. She understood the importance of sharing her success, and she took joy in the achievements of her colleagues, students, and mentees.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Juliet’s important contributions to law reform through her work with the Uniform Law Commission—indeed, they were substantial. She served on multiple drafting committees for commercial law revisions, bringing both scholarly rigor and practical wisdom. I had the honor of working alongside her on various projects, twice having served as a reporter with her as committee chair. Through these experiences, Juliet taught me and countless others about the intricacies of law reform work and the importance of thoughtful legislative drafting. She understood that commercial law must serve real-world needs while maintaining conceptual coherence, and she helped shape reforms that achieved both goals—most recently through the 2022 amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code.

Juliet was also instrumental in connecting young scholars with valuable opportunities with the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section. She believed deeply in bridging the gap between legal academia and the legal practice, and she understood that the best commercial law scholarship is informed by both theoretical insights and practical realities.

At the AALS conference this past January, Juliet received the Commercial & Consumer Law Mentorship Award. This recognition celebrated what she did best—investing in others. As she approached what was to be her retirement, this honor acknowledged a lifetime of service to our field.

What makes Juliet’s sudden passing all the more impactful is that she had so much more to give. While she had planned to retire from teaching, those who knew her understood that “retirement” for Juliet would simply mean channeling her boundless energy in new directions—including her passion for skiing, where she excelled both as a skier and as an instructor!

On a personal note, I have lost not just a mentor and colleague, but a true friend. Juliet celebrated my successes as if they were her own. She always offered me wisdom and perspective and modeled intellectual curiosity, professional integrity, and personal warmth, all in equal measure.

To my mind, the best way to honor Juliet’s memory is to follow her example—to pursue excellence in our research, to engage meaningfully in law reform, and above all, to mentor generously and with genuine care for others. We are all diminished by the loss of Professor Juliet Moringiello but we are also immeasurably enriched by her life and legacy.

Christopher K. Odinet (right), Professor of Law & Mosbacher Research Fellow, Texas A&M University School of Law; proud and grateful mentee of Professor Juliet Moringiello.