A giant of Wayne Law

A passionate teacher, a brilliant legal scholar, an inspirational mentor, a devoted colleague and a dear friend — those are just a few of the titles that Professor Peter J. Henning held throughout his accomplished life.

The beloved professor passed away in January 2022 after battling an aggressive form of frontotemporal dementia. He was 65.

“Wherever one went, it seemed there was someone who knew, and loved, Peter. He was tirelessly and joyfully devoted to his profession, and we will miss him greatly,” said Dean Richard A. Bierschbach. “He will be remembered as wise, curious, enthusiastic and fair.”

Professor Henning taught at Wayne Law for 28 years. Before that, he had a notable career as a senior attorney in the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Professor Henning was a nationally recognized scholar in the fields of corporations, white collar crime and criminal law. He authored or co-authored five casebooks; seven treatises; an academic book on public corruption; and dozens of law review articles, symposium pieces, and book chapters.

“Hardworking, razor sharp, a nationally recognized, unparalleled scholar, and all with a sense of humor that charmed,” recalled Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus John Dolan.

Professor Henning was a Fulbright Scholar in Croatia and an elected member of the prestigious American Law Institute (ALI). For more than a decade, he was chair of the Criminal Law and Procedure Drafting Committee of the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

For years, he also wrote biweekly columns on white collar crime for The New York Times. Professor Henning was widely recognized as a go-to source for local and national journalists seeking to unpack complex legal issues.

“He always was straight to the point and made the story easy to comprehend,” said Rob Davidek, news director for WWJ Newsradio 950. “His comments and thoughts no doubt helped thousands of our listeners gain more knowledge on a number of stories.”

But perhaps Professor Henning will be most remembered by his students. He was voted Teacher of the Year at Wayne State University Law School four different times and received the Donald H. Gordon Award for Excellence in Teaching — the highest teaching honor bestowed by the Law School.

“Peter was one of my favorite law school professors. He was smart, funny, fair and highly entertaining,” said Wayne Law alumna Ericka Matthews-Jackson, senior director of undergraduate admissions at Wayne State University. “Whether it was teaching the mock class for the Law School Open House, engaging with donors and alumni at the Annual Golf Outing, or hosting admitted students for lunch, he was an enthusiastic supporter.”

Henning is survived by his wife, Karen McDonald Henning, and his three daughters, Molly, Alexandra and Grace.

“The numerous tributes from Professor Henning’s former students bring out the dominant themes of Peter’s teaching and his life — his humor, his passion and his kindness,” added Dean Bierschbach. “These traits made him beloved not only by his students, but by everyone at the Law School.”