Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney General, passed away this morning at the age of 78 due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease, according to Reno’s sister.
We asked College of Law Professor Bill Banks for his thoughts on Reno’s passing.
“She brought a level of independence and absolute integrity to the Justice Department that has been seldom seen in the modern era,” says Banks. “When she made mistakes (such as the 1993 raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas), she admitted she was wrong, and she enforced the law and passed judgment without regard to partisan advantage. In the area of national security, AG Reno brought an outsider’s view to National Security Council and Cabinet discussions, and she insisted on taking time to independently review the facts, including her response to the attempt on former President Bush’s life in Kuwait, and to the Africa Embassy bombings in 1998.”
A runner for most of her life, Marla Runyan L’25 crossed yet another finish line when she walked the stage in May to accept her diploma from the College of Law. While this was quite an achievement, she is no…
College of Law Distinguished Professor Nina Kohn is helping to create “gold standard” legislation on some of the most important issues facing older adults and individuals with cognitive disabilities. Based on her legal expertise, including in the area of elder…
In June 1776, from a rented room in Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson penned the first draft of the document that would forge a nation. The stakes were high, amidst the ongoing war with the British, to find the right words to…
Ken Pontarelli ’92 credits the University for changing his life, opening up opportunities to pursue his passions and achieve professional success that allows him to focus on the public good. In return, he and his wife, Tracey, are paying it…
Three decades ago, Terence J. Lau L’98 walked the corridors as an eager student in the College of Law, then located in White Hall. He knew he had been given a rare chance—and a full scholarship—to be a part of…
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