In March, longtime dean of Harvard Law School John F. Manning (B.A. ‘82, J.D. ‘85) was announced as the new provost of Harvard University, leaving his position at the law school vacant. The Harvard Black Law Student Association recognizes the significance of this period of transition. Recent decisions from the Supreme Court and other tragedies, such as the police killing of Sonya Massey, impress upon us the importance of legal education. We have noted in previous statements the importance of producing new waves of law students “with a commitment to justice” to engage the difficult problems of the day.
As an entity with a historical connection to socially progressive legal practice, HBLSA desires the the appointment of a Dean meeting the following criteria:
- A dedication to broad accessibility to legal education, especially for first generation and low-income students
- A dedication to avoiding marginalization of historically disadvantaged groups at Harvard Law School
- A dedication to the advancement of Black legal scholars and scholarship on topics impacting Black Americans.
In addition to the aforementioned broad criteria, we also express our desire for the incoming Dean to commit themselves to the following policy goals:
- Continue instituting a full need-based financial aid policy
- Increase of the ceilings for the Low Income Protection Program (LIPP)
- Expand the Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF)
- Codify curricula requirements surrounding the legal history of enslavement and broad disenfranchisement of people of color
- Expand clinical programs focused on issues surrounding racial justice.
- Hire another critical race theory scholar as a professor at Harvard Law School
In line with these selection criteria, HBLSA is excited to communicate its preference amongst candidates for Dean Manning’s successor as Dean of Harvard Law School:
David B. Wilkins (B.A. ‘77, J.D. ‘80), Lester Kissel Professor of Law
Wilkins boasts a remarkable career, having served on the Harvard Law Review, clerked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and co-authored Problems in Professional Responsibility for a Changing Profession, one of the eminent casebooks in legal studies today. He also has served as Harvard Law School’s Vice Dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession, and as a faculty associate of the Harvard University Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics, further solidifying his place as a towering figure in legal ethics.
Stephanie Robinson (J.D. ‘94), Lecturer on Law
Robinson carries a rare expertise across several fields including government, politics, media, and art. In the field of politics, she served as Chief Counsel to the late Senator Ted Kennedy (A.B. ‘56) and also held the title of both President and CEO of the Jamestown Project, a democracy-focused think tank. She is a respected voice in media, having contributed to leading outlets and publications, such as Washington Post, C-Span, NPR, and Fox News. In addition to her success as a criminal and civil litigator, she has also been a Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. Throughout her life, Robinson has demonstrated a talent for connecting with people in order to achieve meaningful, egalitarian outcomes.
Ronald Sullivan (J.D. ‘94), Jesse Climenko Clinical Professor of Law
Sullivan is one of the most impressive litigators in our nation’s history, with a record of overturning thousands of wrongful convictions. Professor Sullivan has provided defense representation for such figures as President Bill Clinton, former NFL player Aaron Hernandez, and the six Black teenagers involved in the high-profile “Jena Six” case. At Harvard Law School, Professor Sullivan is the faculty director of the Harvard Trial Advocacy Workshop and Faculty Director, Emeritus, of the acclaimed Harvard Criminal Justice Institute. Sullivan’s professional life illustrates an instinctive regard for civil rights and due process.
Any one of the three of the above individuals are fantastic candidates for the position of Dean and we would look favorably upon their selection.