Legal scholar in the United States (1953–2024)
Christopher Fairfield Edley Jr. (January 13, 1953 – May 10, 2024) was an American lawyer and the Dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law from 2004 to 2013.[ 1] He served as President of The Opportunity Institute , an organization he co-founded with Ann O'Leary in 2016.[ 2]
Early life
Edley was born on January 13, 1953,[ 3] to Christopher F. Edley Sr., President of the United Negro College Fund , and Zaida Coles Edley, an actress and speech therapist.[ 4] He was raised in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , and New Rochelle, New York .[ 5]
Career
Edley was a leading figure in Democratic policy circles for four decades, serving as a senior member of five presidential campaigns, as an economic policy and budget official under Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton , and as a chair of the Obama-Biden transition team.[ 6] In 2011 he was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as co-chair of the congressionally chartered National Commission on Equity and Excellence in Education.[ 7] [ 8]
Edley completed his undergraduate studies in mathematics at Swarthmore College , later serving on its Board of Managers, a position which his father had also held. Edley next attended Harvard Law School , becoming a professor of Administrative Law . Working with Gary Orfield , Edley founded the Harvard Civil Rights Project .[ 9]
Edley served as an advisor to President Clinton's One America Initiative , was a member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights , and chaired President Clinton's 1998 Affirmative Action Review. In the 2008 presidential election , he supported and advised candidate Barack Obama , one of his former students at Harvard Law School.[ 10]
Having served since 2004, Edley resigned as Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law at the end of 2013 to undergo treatment for prostate cancer . In 2016, he returned to teaching law at Berkeley and served as interim dean of the UC Berkeley School of Education between 2021 and 2023.[ 5]
According to legal journalist Emily Bazelon , Edley "has written thoughtfully and moderately about affirmative action ."[ 10]
Personal life
Following two divorces, Edley married Maria Echaveste , the former deputy chief of staff for U.S. President Bill Clinton . He died from complications of surgery in Stanford, California on May 10, 2024, at the age of 71.[ 11] [ 12]
Published works
References
^ "Berkeley Law - Faculty Profiles" . UC Berkeley School of Law. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014 .
^ "New Non-Profit, The Opportunity Institute, Takes Unique Approach to Social Mobility" . The Opportunity Institute. February 16, 2016.
^ Who's Who Among African Americans . Gale / Cengage Learning. May 1, 2003. ISBN 9780787659158 .
^ McLellan, Dennis (May 8, 2003). "Christopher F. Edley, 75; Former Chief of United Negro College Fund" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024 .
^ a b Marquard, Bryan (June 9, 2024). "Christopher Edley Jr., Civil Rights Advocate in White House and Academia, Dies at 71" . The Boston Globe . Retrieved June 30, 2024 .
^ "Dean Edley to Help Obama with White House Transition - Berkeley Law" . Berkeley Law . November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2016 .
^ "Christopher Edley Jr" . Alliance For Excellent Education . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2016 .
^ Watson, Jamal (May 12, 2024). "Christopher Edley, Prominent Legal Scholar, Passes Away" . Diverse . Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ "Christopher Edley Jr" . The Opportunity Institute . Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016 .
^ a b Bazelon, Emily (November 26, 2007). "On the Advice of Counsel" . Slate . ISSN 1091-2339 . Retrieved June 30, 2024 .
^ Risen, Clay (May 13, 2024). "Christopher Edley Jr., Civil Rights Expert Heard by Presidents, Dies at 71" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ "Tragic News – The Passing of Chris Edley, Visionary and Beloved Dean" . Berkeley Law . May 11, 2024. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024 .
External links
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