Release date: April 7, 2006
Contact: Elaine Justice at 404-727-0643 or elaine.justice@emory.edu

Law School Dean Named at Emory

David Partlett has been named dean of Emory University School of Law. Partlett, who currently is dean of Washington and Lee University Law School, is expected to begin his tenure July 1.

"This is a tremendous moment for the law school," says Provost Earl Lewis. "The pool of candidates was rich and included many highly accomplished scholars. We are delighted to appoint someone of David Partlett's caliber, who is a proven academic administrator, recognized scholar and person of high integrity."

"David Partlett will be a wonderful addition to both the Emory community and the Atlanta and Georgia legal communities," says Ben Johnson, chair of the Emory Board of Trustees and member of the search committee. "Not only is he steeped in the law with a broad legal perspective, but he also is a person of substantial personal magnetism and charm. He brings both a U.S. and global perspective to the law and legal education, and he has experience as a student, faculty member and dean at some of the nation's very best law schools, which will be a substantial asset as he begins his work at Emory."

"I am truly honored by this appointment," says Partlett. "Emory University Law School is one of America's premier institutions and boasts an absolutely sterling faculty. I am thrilled to be joining the Emory University community."

Partlett, 58, has served as vice president, dean and professor of law Washington and Lee University School of Law since 2000. A native of Australia, he earned his LL.B. degree from the University of Sydney School of Law in 1970, an LL.M. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1974, and an S.J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982.

Prior to his tenure at W&L, Partlett was a visiting associate professor of law at Vanderbilt University during the 1987-88 academic year and subsequently joined the faculty full time. At Vanderbilt he served as a senior fellow in the Institute for Public Policy Studies, and as acting dean of Vanderbilt University Law School in 1996-97.

From 1974-75, Partlett served as a senior legal officer for the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department in Canberra, Australia, where he was responsible for policy advice on the Racial Discrimination Act and other related human rights legislation. He then served as principal law reform officer for the Australian Law Reform Commission before joining the faculty of the Australian National University in 1978. He was a member of the faculty there through 1987 and served as associate dean from 1982-85.

He is a member of the American Law Institute, the curriculum committee of the American Bar Association, American Society of Law and Medicine and Selden Society. He has taught courses on torts, judicial remedies and professional liability and authored books on torts, defamation and free speech, child mental health and medical malpractice.

Partlett is married to Nan Partlett and the couple has two children.

Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. For nearly two decades Emory has been named one of the country's top 25 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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