Nora Demleitner

Nora V. Demleitner (born December 11, 1966) is the Roy L. Steinheimer, Jr. Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law. Prior to this she served as the Dean of W&L Law.

Early life and education

A native of Germany, Demleitner earned a bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Bates College in 1989 and a law degree in 1992 from Yale Law School, where she served as symposium editor of the Yale Law Journal. She also earned a master's degree in international and comparative law from Georgetown University Law Center in 1994.

From 1992 until 1993, Demleitner worked as a law clerk for then-United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Judge -- and future U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice -- Samuel Alito.

Professional career

In 1994, Demleitner became a professor at St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 27. She earned tenure in 1998 upon her earliest eligibility. In the fall of 1999, Demleitner worked as a visiting professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School. Demleitner joined the faculty of the Hofstra University School of Law in 2001. On December 21, 2011, Demleitner was named dean of Washington and Lee University School of Law. Dean Demleitner is a member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the European Law Institute. Nora Demleitner stepped down as Dean of Washington and Lee's School of Law at the end of the 2015 academic year and became a member of the faculty at W&L after a sabbatical year.

2009 Supreme Court of the United States vacancy

On May 17, 2009, National Public Radio legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg speculated that Demleitner was among those being considered by President Barack Obama to replace David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court. "I was very surprised that NPR mentioned me," Demleitner told Newsday. "It's an incredible honor to be mentioned." Demleitner also told Newsday, however, that she had not been contacted by anyone from the Obama administration.

Politics

Demleitner is a self-described liberal Democrat who supports abortion rights.

See also

• Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates