Rodney A. Smolla

Rodney A. Smolla, is an award-winning author and respected first amendment scholar. [ [http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0004,hentoff,12008,6.html The Scorned Law Professor] ] [ [http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-baer01jan07,1,6058384.story?page=2&cset=true&ctrack=1 Mad Max] ] He is currently the Dean of the Washington and Lee School of Law.

Smolla went to Yale University as an undergraduate and to Duke University Law School, where he finished first in his class. After his graduation, Smolla served as clerk for Charles Clark, a judge on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, in 1978–1979.

Smolla began his academic career at DePaul University College of Law in 1980. After jobs at University of Illinois College of Law, University of Arkansas School of Law, and University of Denver College of Law, he served as a professor at Marshall-Wythe School of Law, where he was also director of the Institute of Bill of Rights Law. In 2003, he was named dean of the University of Richmond School of Law. Smolla became dean of Washington and Lee on July 1, 2007.

In 2002, Smolla argued "Virginia v. Black" before the Supreme Court of the United States. The case revolved around the constitutionality of Virginia's cross burning statute. [" [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=01-1107 Virginia v. Black] "] [ [http://www.slate.com/id/2075301/ Virginia burning] ]

Smolla serves on the board of directors of Media General corporation. [ [http://www.mediageneral.com/investor/governance/bios/smolla.htm Media General Board of Directors] ] He has also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the topic of reporter's privilege. [ [http://law.richmond.edu/news/view.php?item=195 Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee] ]

In addition to his scholarly work, Smolla is a regular contributor to "Slate Magazine". He has written eleven books, including "Jerry Falwell v. Larry Flynt: The First Amendment on Trial" and "Deliberate Intent: A Lawyer Tells the True Story of Murder by the Book". His "Free Speech in an Open Society" won the William O. Douglas Award. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE4D91030F935A15754C0A964958260 Adjusting the Volume] ] He edited "A Year in the Life of the Supreme Court", which won the ABA Silver Gavel Award. [ [http://law.wlu.edu/faculty/profiledetail.asp?id=238 Rod Smolla faculty page] ]

References

External links

* [http://law.wlu.edu/deansearch/smolla.asp Rodney A. Smolla Named Dean of the Washington and Lee School of Law]
* [http://www.slate.com/?querytext=smolla&id=3944&action=fulltext Smolla at Slate Magazine]