Joe Nocera’s New York Times column, “The Ugliness Started with Bork” Oct. 22, 2011, vividly illustrates why informed citizens are so frustrated with contemporary punditry. Nocera offers four points: 1. Contemporary politics is marked by an unwillingness of Democrats and Republicans to work together and a profound mistrust of each side by the other. I… continue reading

I was honored to preside last Monday over this year’s Constitution Day lecture given by John Palfrey, Henry N. Ess III Professor of Law and Vice-Dean for Library and Information Services at Harvard Law School. He spoke eloquently about the internet’s contributions to the worldwide flourishing of democracy, and shared his research detailing how… continue reading

People often ask me why I traded the contemplative professorial life for the administrative chores of a law school dean.  Many privileges and responsibilities make institutional leadership rewarding, but none more so than the chance publicly to champion the values of higher education while representing no client other than the truth.  I am grateful to… continue reading