American Realism
- Theory
- American Realism
- Jurist
- Karl Llewellyn
- Description
A leader of American Legal Realism: law is best understood not as fixed rules but as what officials — especially judges — actually do. Llewellyn distinguished 'paper rules' from the 'real rules' of practice and urged study of law in action. Builds on Holmes's predictive view; argues against formalist, mechanical jurisprudence.