Appointment of Dean of Rutgers School of Law–Newark

April 17, 2009

Members of the Rutgers Community:

Chancellor Steven Diner and I take pleasure in announcing the appointment of John J. Farmer Jr., distinguished lawyer and former New Jersey attorney general, as dean of Rutgers School of Law–Newark. He will begin his tenure as dean on July 1, 2009.

One of our state’s most respected former public officials and attorneys, John Farmer brings a deep knowledge of legal affairs and practice as well as outstanding leadership abilities. These attributes will translate into dynamic advocacy and advancement for the law school.

Mr. Farmer served as attorney general from 1999 to 2002, heading the 8,000-employee New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. In his tenure, he argued school funding and criminal justice matters before the state Supreme Court, eliminated racial profiling practices in the New Jersey State Police, and created the Office of Inspector General to investigate allegations of official impropriety and corruption. He was the first chair of the New Jersey Domestic Preparedness Task Force after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Later he served as senior counsel for the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, popularly known as the 9/11 Commission.

Currently in private practice, Mr. Farmer is an adjunct professor of law at Rutgers School of Law–Newark, teaching New Jersey Constitutional Law and National Security Law. In addition, he serves as senior advisor to the Special Envoy General for Middle East Regional Security, advising on development of the rule of law in the Palestinian Authority territory.

Dean Farmer, who holds a B.A. from Georgetown and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, has had articles published in Rutgers Law Review, Seton Hall Law Review, and the New York Times. His book, The Ground Truth: The Story Behind America’s Defense on 9/11, will be published next year.

As we anticipate Dean Farmer’s arrival, we thank the members of the search committee for their hard work and thoughtful recommendations. We also take this opportunity to applaud outgoing Dean Stuart L. Deutsch for his dedicated service in this post since 1999. Dean Deutsch will return to the faculty as University Professor of Law.

John Farmer is a highly respected and deeply talented attorney and public figure. He will be a tremendous asset to the law school and the university. Please join us in welcoming John to the deanship and in thanking Stuart for his leadership over the past decade.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey