Barbara D. Underwood

Barbara D. Underwood
New York Solicitor General
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2007
Appointed by	Andrew Cuomo
Preceded by	Caitlin Halligan
Acting Solicitor General
In office January 2001 – June 2001
Preceded by	Seth P. Waxman
Succeeded by	Theodore Olson
Principal Deputy Solicitor General
In office 1998–2001
Appointed by	Janet Reno
Personal details
Born	August 16, 1944 Evansville, Indiana
Alma mater	Radcliffe College Georgetown University Law Center

Barbara D. Underwood (born August 16, 1944) is New York Solicitor General. She was initially appointed to her position by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in January 2007, and reappointed in 2011 by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Early life

Underwood was born in Evansville, Indiana, to Dr. Robert Underwood and Mildred Underwood. She grew up in Belleville, New Jersey, and is the eldest of three daughters. Underwood graduated from Radcliffe College in 1966 and received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1969.

Legal career

After graduation, Underwood clerked for Chief Judge David L. Bazelon of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and then Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall of the Supreme Court. After leaving the court, Underwood was a law professor for 10 years at the Yale Law School. She also has taught at Brooklyn Law School and at New York University School of Law.

In 1998, Underwood was appointed by United States Attorney General Janet Reno to be Principal Deputy Solicitor General under Solicitor General Seth P. Waxman. Underwood held that position for three years, and then served as Acting Solicitor General from January to June 2001.

Family

Underwood has lived in New York City since 1982. She is married to Martin Halpern, a composer, librettist, poet, playwright, and former Brandeis University professor of playwriting and dramatic literature. They live in Brooklyn and have one son, Robert, born in 1986.

Underwood is the cousin of actress Betty Aberlin, best known for playing Lady Aberlin on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

External links

• Underwood Appointed Principal Deputy Solicitor General, United States Department of Justice press release, 11 March 1998.