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
- Nick Harkaway, Gnomon
- Bio
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Lara Schwartz specializes in civil discourse and campus speech, constitutional law, civil rights, politics, communications, and policy. Drawing on her experience 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
- AU Project on Civil Discourse
- 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.
Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities
Media Appearances
- 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.
Congressional Testimony
- 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.
Selected Publications
- "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.
Films/Documentaries
- Executive produced, scripted, and cast PSA www.aapd.com/30seconds
Professional Certifications
- Member (inactive) of the bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Fourth Circuits.
AU Experts
Area of Expertise
Civility and civil discourse; free speech on college campuses; judicial nominations; LGBT rights; disability rights
Additional Information
Lara Schwartz teaches in the Department of Government and is the Director of the Project on Civil Discourse. Prior to joining the SPA faculty, she served as Director of Strategic Engagement at the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy; 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. Prof. Schwartz has appeared on national and local radio and television programs the Diane Rehm Show, C-Span Washington Journal, the Kojo Nnamdi Show, and CNN. As a ghost-writer, she has published dozens of op-eds in papers of record such as the Boston Globe, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Hartford Courant, Los Angeles Times, among others. Under her own byline, she has published in legal journals such as the Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law and the Savannah Law Review. In addition to publications such as the DC Legal Times, and Huffington Post, she has been a guest blogger for the blogs of the American Constitution Society and the American Association of University Professors.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.