printable versionNYU scholar named Law School dean
Larry Kramer
Larry Kramer, a professor and associate dean at New York University School of Law, will succeed Kathleen Sullivan as dean of Stanford Law School, President John Hennessy announced May 12.
Kramer, 45, is the associate dean for research and academics and the Russell D. Niles Professor of Law at NYU. He has written extensively in the areas of constitutional law and history, federal courts, conflict of laws and civil procedure. He will begin his tenure as dean and Richard E. Lang Professor of Law Sept. 1.
"Professor Kramer is a dynamic and thoughtful legal scholar and educator," Hennessy said. "This combination of outstanding scholarship and commitment to training the next generation of lawyers makes him a compelling choice for Stanford Law School because those values are at the core of the school's mission. I am delighted that he will be joining the university's senior academic leadership and building on Kathleen's legacy."
Kramer said he felt a mixture of excitement and fear about his new position. He said he was looking forward to leading the Law School with the help of the faculty.
"Obviously, I want to get a good feel for the place," Kramer said. "I don't view my job as taking [the school] someplace alone. I want to learn from the faculty where we should go."
Kramer graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from the University of Chicago Law School in 1984. He clerked for Judge Henry J. Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit and then for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan. Kramer joined the faculty at the University of Chicago Law School in 1986 and became a full professor in 1990. He moved to the University of Michigan Law School in 1991 and then to NYU in 1994.
His most recent book, The People Themselves: Popular Constitutionalism and Judicial Review, was released last week by Oxford University Press. He has published several other books as well as dozens of journal articles.
Provost John Etchemendy, who co-chaired the search committee with law Professor Richard Craswell, said Kramer is a perfect fit for Stanford and noted that he adds to the Law School's national eminence in the area of constitutional law.
The search committee also included Law School faculty members Marcus Cole, Thomas Grey, Deborah Hensler, Mark Kelman, Michael Klausner and Maude Pervere; history Professor Jack Rakove; senior associate provost Stephanie Kalfayan; law student Micah Myers; and alumnus William Neukom.
"Stanford is probably unique in having an unbroken run of four constitutional scholars at the helm of its Law School over the last generation," Etchemendy said. "Moreover, Larry Kramer is widely considered to be among the best and the brightest of the new generation of leaders in legal education. I am certain that he is the right person to build on the school's tradition of excellence and take it to the next level."
Craswell noted that Kramer is highly respected by his peers nationally.
"Larry Kramer is someone whose colleagues in legal education believe to be one of the next great law school deans," Craswell said. "We were delighted to be able to bring him to Stanford in that role."
Sullivan announced last fall that she would complete her tenure as dean this summer. At that time, Hennessy asked Sullivan to serve as the inaugural director of a new Stanford Center on Constitutional Law. Upon completing a one-year sabbatical, she will return to teaching and leadership of the center.