My second installment is up at ELS Blog and answers this question in the affirmative.
George J. Stigler: The Father of Empirical Law and Economics?
Joshua D. Wright, George J. Stigler: The Father of Empirical Law and Economics?, Truth on the Market (August 15, 2006), https://truthonthemarket.com/2006/08/15/george-j-stigler-the-father-of-empirical-law-and-economics/