Fredrick E. Vars, JD

Fredrick E. Vars, JD, is the Robert W. Hodgkins Chairholder of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law. His areas of expertise include mental health law, property, and trusts and estates. He is the author (with Ian Ayres) of the 2020 book Weapon of Choice: Fighting Gun Violence While Respecting Gun Rights and the 2026 book Through the Fire: How People with Mental Illness Are Empowering Each Other. Inspired by his own experiences with bipolar disorder, his suicide prevention proposal (Donna's Law) was featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Professor Vars's academic articles have appeared in numerous law reviews and peer-reviewed medical journals, including JAMA and the New England Journal of Medicine. He frequently publishes op-eds on firearm and mental health issues in major media outlets, including the Washington Post, the LA Times, and The Hill.