John F. Preis
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Profile
Professor Jack Preis is an expert in civil rights litigation. He has published widely in the field and regularly represents victims of government abuse at the trial and appellate level, usually in cases involving police excessive force or mistreatment of incarcerated persons. While a law professor, Preis has argued before the United States Supreme Court, as well as the Fourth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits. His scholarship has appeared in the Virginia Law Review, Notre Dame Law Review, and the Indiana Law Journal, among other venues.
Professor Preis teaches or has taught Torts, Civil Procedure, Legislation & Regulation, Federal Courts, Constitutional Torts, and Remedies. In addition, he teaches a course of his own design titled Civil Litigation Fundamentals. The course pulls together the most common strands of law and practice involved in civil litigation, including torts, contracts, jurisdiction, pleading, discovery, evidence, choice of law, motion practice, remedies, statutes of limitations, insurance law, enforcement of judgments, and appeals. The course is supported by comprehensive textbook written by Preis.
Preis obtained a B.S. from Cornell University where he studied Agricultural Economics. After working as a commodity trader for several years, Preis attended Vanderbilt University School of Law where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review.Expand All-
Presentations
Presenter, "Sovereign and Qualified Immunity for Virginians," Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (May 2021)
Presenter, "Policing Post-2020: Recipes for Review and Reform," University of Richmond School of Law Carrico Center (April 2021)
Presentations Prior to 2019
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Memberships
Chair, AALS Section on Remedies
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Bar Admissions
Washington, D.C.
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Professional Experience
Professor of Law (2013 - present)
University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond, VAAssociate Professor of Law (2010 - 2013)
University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond, VAAssistant Professor of Law (2008 - 2010)
University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond, VAVisiting Assistant Professor of Law (2006 - 2008)
Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, NYVisiting Assistant Professor of Law (2005 - 2006)
Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, KSAssociate (2001 - 2004)
Wilmer Cutler Pickering LLC, Washington, DCJudicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth (2000 - 2001)
United States District Court, Washington, DCCommodity Trader (1994 - 1997)
Archer Daniels Midland, Co., Decatur, IL
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Presentations
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Publications
Books
Civil Litigation Fundamentals (December 2023).
Journal ArticlesOfficer Intent and Excessive Force, Ohio State Law Journal (2025).
Qualified Immunity and Subjective Knowledge, Wake Forest L. Rev. (2025).
The Role of Virginia Evidence Law in Colas v. Tyree, 57 University of Richmond Law Review - Docket Call 141 (University of Richmond) (2023).
Jurisdiction and "Definitional Law", 60 William & Mary Law Review Online 93 (2019).
Jurisdictional Idealism and Positivism, 59 William & Mary Law Review 1413 (2018).
Qualified Immunity and Fault, 93 Notre Dame Law Review 1969 (2018).
A Further Note on Federal Causes of Action, 67 Florida Law Review Forum 78 (2016).
The Dormant Commerce Clause as a Limit on Personal Jurisdiction, 102 Iowa Law Review 121 (2016).
How the Federal Cause of Action Relates to Rights, Remedies, and Jurisdiction, 67 Florida Law Review 849 (2015).
In Defense of Implied Injunctive Relief in Constitutional Cases, 22 William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal 1 (2013).
How Shall the Constitution be Enforced? A Preview of Minneci v. Pollard, Richmond Law 12 (2012).
The False Promise of the Converse-1983 Action, 87 Indiana Law Journal 1697 (2012).
Constitutional Enforcement by Proxy, 95 Virginia Law Review 1663 (2009).
Alternative State Remedies in Constitutional Torts, 40 Connecticut Law Review 723 (2008).
Reassessing the Purposes of Federal Question Jurisdiction, 42 Wake Forest Law Review 247 (2007).
Jurisdiction and Discretion in Hybrid Law Cases, 75 University of Cincinnati Law Review 145 (2006).
Witch Doctors and Battleship Stalkers: The Edges of Exculpation in Entrapment Cases, 52 Vanderbilt Law Review 1869 (1999).
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In the News
Commentary: 'It is the law'? Youngkin's model policies for trans students are anything but (Richmond-Times Dispatch)
Fri., Sep. 15, 2023What are consequences for Va school boards who don't follow transgender policies? (WTKR)
Wed., Aug. 23, 2023Why parent calls Virginia's new guidance on transgender students 'very scary' (WTRV)
Sun., Jul. 23, 2023Qualified immunity and government accountability (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Fri., Sep. 11, 2020Family leave is a win-win (Richmond Family Magazine)
Tue., Oct. 30, 2018Gavin Grimm cases starts over? (Newsradio 1140 WRVA)
Tue., Mar. 7, 2017As Trump rolls back transgender bathroom rights, supporters and opponents sound off (HealthDay)
Thu., Feb. 23, 2017Op-ed: The folly of bathroom bills (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Mon., Jan. 9, 2017Op-ed: Magna Carta's rule of politics (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Sat., Jun. 20, 2015It may be legal for these police officers to racially profile you in Virginia (The Washington Post)
Wed., Mar. 4, 2015Correspondent of the Day (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Sat., Aug. 10, 2013'Simple apology' and man tells rape accuser he would drop lawsuit (CBS 6)
Tue., Aug. 6, 2013Removal before service not allowed (Virginia Lawyers Weekly)
Fri., Mar. 8, 2013Interview on Bloomberg Law (Bloomberg Radio)
Sat., Nov. 24, 2012 - Links