Richard Bilder, who served for more than 50 years as a University of Wisconsin Law School professor and renowned international law scholar, died Jan. 18, 2025, in Madison; he was 97.
Bilder was an expert in international and foreign relations law, international organizations, admiralty law, contracts and torts. He was extremely active in the American Society of International Law, where he held such roles as vice president and journal editor and earned the Manley O. Hudson Medal in 2016.
"His body of international law scholarship is legendary and will surely continue to teach and inspire for decades to come," said UW Law Dean Dan Tokaji, noting his dozens of papers and close to 17,000 downloads on SSRN.
According to his family obituary, Bilder’s book, “Managing the Risks of International Agreement,” remains “a crucial reminder of the necessity for thoughtful and strategic international cooperation in an ever-changing world.” He wrote well into his 90s, with his last paper being published in 2020.
Bilder was born in New Jersey and split his early adult years between serving his country and pursuing his education. He joined the U.S. Navy toward the end of World War II, then earned a bachelor’s degree in political theory from Williams College in 1949 and became a Fulbright Scholar at Cambridge University. Bilder returned to service during the Korean War and went on to earn his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1956. Notably, he continued on in the Naval Reserve and retired as a commander.
Before becoming a professor, Bilder worked as an attorney in the Office of Legal Adviser at the U.S. State Department. In this capacity, he traveled to Antarctica in 1957 as part of the International Geophysical Year, a cooperative event involving 67 nations.
In his free time, Bilder enjoyed swimming and spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
His family is planning a memorial celebration; details are pending.
Submitted by Law School News on January 27, 2025
This article appears in the categories: Faculty, Features
