Business prof awarded Doctor of Law degree by University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge, established in 1209, lists among its notable alums some of the world’s brightest minds and famous people, including famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who founded the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at Cambridge, philosopher Bertrand Russell, Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe, iconic 17th century physicist Sir Isaac Newton, Oscar-nominated actor Sir Ian McKellen, and Charles, Prince of Wales. 

The LLD is one of six higher doctorates awarded by the University of Cambridge, along with the Doctor of Divinity (DD), the Doctor of Letters (LittD), the Doctor of Science (ScD), the Doctor of Medicine (MD; an advanced degree in the UK--​not ​the standard medical credential), and the Doctor of Music (MusD). While the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, most often obtained for supervised research, is a relatively new feature of academic life at Cambridge, higher doctorates have been available since the Middle Ages. 

To qualify for the earned LLD (the degree may also be conferred on an honorary basis), someone must be an “established scholar” whose “original contribution to the advancement of the science or study of law” offers “proof of distinction.” An applicant, who must already hold another degree from the University, submits a body of written work that makes “important and original contributions to the advancement of the science or study of law, gives proof of his or her academic distinction, and entitles him or her to be regarded as an authority in the field or fields of knowledge in which the work is submitted.” The Cambridge Faculty of Law emphasizes that “[t]he level of attainment required for a higher doctorate is very substantially higher than that required for the PhD degree and its award carries great prestige within the University.”

Fewer than 20 higher doctorates, and only one or two LLDs, will be awarded by the University of Cambridge in a typical academic year. No other La Sierra faculty member, and no other Seventh-day Adventist scholar, holds a higher doctorate from Cambridge or any of the United Kingdom’s other ancient universities. Additionally, no member of the faculty at any of the top 20 U.S. law schools, as measured by scholarly impact in 2012, holds the Cambridge LLD. Only two hold the DCL, the equivalent degree from the University of Oxford.

Chartier graduated from La Sierra in 1987 and was honored with the University President’s Award. He earned a PhD in theology from Cambridge in 1991 and a law degree in 2001 from UCLA, also receiving the Judge Jerry Pacht Memorial Award in Constitutional Law. He began his application for the LLD in the fall of 2013, finalizing it in February of 2014 after he had submitted three scholarly books and five articles—all at or related to the intersection of law and philosophy—along with a framing essay.

As a self-described “left-wing market anarchist,” Chartier has established himself as a leading voice defending bottom-up social organization and against state-secured privilege for well-connected elites, authoring, editing, or co-editing 10 books and over 40 scholarly journal articles. His recent work includes the authored books “Radicalizing Rawls” and “Anarchy and Legal Order” and the edited collection “The Future of Adventism.” In December 2013 Fox Business television host and pundit John Stossel interviewed Chartier about “Markets Not Capitalism,” co-edited with Charles W. Johnson, which looks at the ways in which “politically secured privilege distorts markets so that they work disproportionately for the benefit of the politically connected,” according to Chartier.

The Faculty of Law at Cambridge reviews an LLD candidate's application once it is submitted. If it determines that the submitted work has the potential to qualify the applicant for the LLD, it appoints two examiners—ordinarily one senior academic from Cambridge and another from outside the university—who further study the work and determine whether the candidate should be awarded the degree. 

In Chartier’s case the review process took over 16 months. The examiners who reviewed Chartier’s work were Nigel Simmonds, professor of jurisprudence at Cambridge, and Chandran Kukathas, professor of political theory and chair of the Department of Politics at the London School of Economics.

According to Professor Simmonds, “the degree of LLD is awarded in recognition of a substantial body of distinguished scholarly publication which makes a significant contribution to learning. Professor Chartier’s work amply satisfies this requirement.”

Chartier received his LLD degree at the Senate House in Cambridge on Oct. 24. The degree ceremony itself, called a congregation, has hardly changed for 800 years; it is conducted almost entirely in Latin. Each recipient of the LLD degree is entitled to wear a scarlet gown and hood during academic ceremonies. Chartier will be spotted wearing his new regalia at future commencements and convocations.

Chartier’s next projects include a study of the potential connections between “anarchy” in international relations and international law and bottom-up governance at the domestic level; an examination of the place of alternative medicine in American law, with a focus on the test-case of homeopathy; an analysis of the relationship between natural law theory and the project of scientific naturalism; and an edited collection focused on classical liberal and libertarian theories of class.

He described himself as “very honored and excited” by the LLD. “It’s really great to know that distinguished peers read, value, and respect your work,” he said. “I’ve got immense regard for the University of Cambridge, and it’s a real delight to be linked with its tradition of academic excellence in this way.”

Chartier also cited the role of his school’s dean in making possible his receipt of the LLD. “I am exceptionally grateful to my dean, John Thomas, without whose consistent and enthusiastic support I would not have completed and published the research on the basis of which I qualified for this degree,” Chartier said.