University of Richmond names John G. Douglass dean of the law school
April 1, 2008
The University of Richmond has named acting dean John G. Douglass, a distinguished legal scholar, educator and practitioner, as dean of the Richmond School of Law.
Douglass joined the Richmond law faculty in 1996 and teaches criminal law, evidence, criminal procedure, and trial advocacy. He has served in various leadership roles at the law school and the university. Douglass was honored with a University of Richmond Distinguished Educator Award in 1999. He has served as acting dean since July 1, 2007.
Douglass will continue on the ambitious course set by the law faculty and Richmond President Edward L. Ayers. The agenda includes continuing development of the law school's academic centers, such as the National Center for Family Law, Judge Robert R. Merhige Jr. Center for Environmental Studies, Intellectual Property Institute and Institute for Actual Innocence.
"Dean Douglass has provided strong interim leadership, and I am delighted that he has agreed to lead the school for the longer term and build on its ever-increasing momentum," said Ayers.
Before joining the Richmond law faculty, Douglass was assistant U.S. attorney with the Department of Justice in Richmond and served on the staff of independent counsel Lawrence Walsh in the Iran-Contra investigation. He also was a partner at the Richmond firm of Wright,
Robinson, McCammon, Osthimer & Tatum and an associate at McGuire, Woods & Battle. Douglass served as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Douglass has a long record of service to the bar and to the community. He is a member of the VSB-VBA Joint Committee on Dispute Resolution, the Virginia Model Jury Instructions Committee, the Commission on Virginia Courts in the 21st Century and the MCV Hospitals Ethics Committee.
Douglass earned his bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, and was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa at Dartmouth College. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. He has deep roots in Richmond, where he has lived, raised his family and practiced law for most of his life.
"The University of Richmond law school has a rich tradition that combines the best in professional education, community engagement and scholarly excellence," said Douglass. "We are at a moment of remarkable opportunity to build on that tradition while we challenge ourselves to pursue new and creative ways to prepare our students for twenty-first century careers. I am honored that President Ayers and our faculty have invited me to serve as dean during this time of great possibility."