Rodney  A. Smolla

Biography

Dean Smolla is nationally recognized as a scholar, teacher, advocate, and writer. His wide-ranging scholarship includes four legal treatises, a casebook on the First Amendment, a coauthored casebook on constitutional law, and scores of articles in the nation's top law reviews. He also writes widely for general audiences, including popular books such as Deliberate Intent (Crown 1999), Free Speech in an Open Society (Alfred A. Knopf 1992), Jerry Falwell v. Larry Flynt (St. Martin’s 1988), and Suing the Press (Oxford University Press 1986). His commentary appears frequently in national print and electronic media.

Smolla's writings have won frequent recognition, including the ABA Silver Gavel Award and the William O. Douglass Award. He has also won numerous awards for his teaching, including the Virginia State Counsel of Higher Education Distinguished Faculty Award. Smolla has also been a nationally prominent advocate in cases involving constitutional law, civil rights, and mass media. He has presented oral argument in state and federal courts throughout the nation, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

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Dean, Washington and Lee University School of Law, 2007 - present ; Dean, University of Richmond School of Law, 2003-2007; Allen Professor of Law, University of Richmond, 1998-2007; Visiting Professor, Duke University, 1992; Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law, College of Wlliam & Mary Marshall Wythe School of Law, 1988-98; Visiting Professor, University of Denver College of Law, 1987-88; Professor of Law, 1987-88, Associate Professor of Law, 1984-87, Assistant Professor of Law, 1983-84, University of Arkansas School of Law; Assistant Professor of Law, University of Illinois College of Law, 1981-83; Assistant Professor of Law, DePaul University College of Law, 1980-81; Associate, Mayer, Brown & Platt, 1979-80; Clerk, Hon. Charles Clark, United States Court of Appeals, 5th Cir., 1978-79.

Dean Smolla's Blog at The Huffington Post