Charles Fried

Charles Fried (1935-2024) was a preeminent legal scholar and the Beneficial Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, where he taught for over six decades from 1961 to 2023. His expertise spanned civil rights, contract law, constitutional law, and U.S. Supreme Court matters. Fried's illustrious career included serving as the U.S. Solicitor General (1985-1989), arguing 25 cases before the Supreme Court, and as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (1995-1999). He authored influential books such as "Contract as Promise" and "Modern Liberty and the Limits of Government," along with numerous scholarly articles. Fried's teaching encompassed a wide range of subjects, including Contracts, Constitutional Law, and Appellate Advocacy. He was known for his innovative approach to legal education, developing the successful online course ContractsX in 2015. Fried's intellectual leadership, integrity, and thoughtful approach to legal and policy issues influenced generations of Harvard Law students and left an indelible mark on the field of law. At the time of his passing in January 2024, he was working on a book titled "Why I Changed My Mind," reflecting his ongoing intellectual engagement throughout his distinguished career.