Lara Schwartz Professorial Lecturer Department of Government

Additional Positions at AU: Director, Project on Civil Discourse; SPA Honors Program Director
Degrees: AB, English and American Literature, Brown University 1993
JD, Harvard Law School 1998
Languages Spoken: English and Legalese
Favorite Spot on Campus: Ampitheater
Favorite Place in Washington DC: In the shade.
Book Currently Reading: Chemerinsky and Gillman, Free Speech on Campus
Bio: Lara Schwartz specializes in civil discourse and campus speech, constitutional law, civil rights, politics, communications, and policy. With over a decade as a legislative lawyer, lobbyist, and communications strategist in leading civil rights organizations, Lara brings an advocate’s-eye view to her teaching. Prior to joining the SPA faculty, Lara served as Director of Strategic Engagement at the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy. Previously she served as Courts Matter director at Media Matters, Legal Director at the Human Rights Campaign, and Vice President of External Affairs at the American Association of People with Disabilities. Lara worked in litigation at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom and Gilbert, Heintz, and Randolph. She also served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald Lee Gilman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Lara has appeared on national and local radio and television programs and written op-eds published in national papers and local papers of record.

See Also: Lara's Huffington Post Blog
For the Media: To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.; AU Experts

Teaching

Kojo Nnamdi Show January 31, 2011 “Online Parenting Wars.”
Brookings Institution: “Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty: A Reconciliation,” March 12, 2009.
American Constitution Society 2008 Annual Convention-- Panel session: Rights in Conflict: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Religious Liberty; Rights in Conflict: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Religious Liberty (Windows Media Player).
Diane Rehm Show, May 2003 and September 2009.
CNN Situation Room 2009, and other appearances on CNN and MSNBC.
C-Span Washington Journal, California Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision May 16, 2008.
Federalist Society Panel Discussion: Gay Marriage and the Role of the Judiciary, October 23, 2008.
Federalist Society online Debate Series Hate Crimes Legislation, August 17, 2009.
Concerned Women for America Convention 2004.
Numerous appearances on radio programs around the country.
Justice Talking (NPR) - Gay Marriage, August 30, 2004.

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and District of Columbia. “Ensuring a merit-based employment system: an examination of the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel.” July 12, 2007.

"Advocates of Dignity Can Do Better Than Death." Savannah Law Review, Spring 2016.
"Area Man Supports Garland Nomination?" -With John Burns, SPA 2016, ACS Blog
“No Forsaking our Core Principles.” Legal Times, May 26, 2008.
"Straight Talk about Hate Crimes Bills: Anti-Gay, Anti-Transgender Bias Stalls Federal Hate Crimes Legislation," Georgetown Journal of Gender & the Law 7, 2006, p. 171-186.
Dozens of ghost-written op eds.

Member (inactive) of the bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Fourth Circuits.