Barbara A. Perry

Job Title:
Carter Glass Professor of Government and Executive Director, Center for Civic Renewal

Subjects or issues this person can knowledgeably discuss:
The U.S. Supreme Court, constitutional law, affirmative action in education (especially the 2003 University of Michigan decisions and 2006 Jefferson County, Ky., school-assignment case), civil rights and liberties (especially religion), the presidency, civic engagement, the retirements and appointments of Supreme Court members, Catholics and women on the Supreme Court, first ladies (especially Jacqueline Kennedy, Dolley Madison and Hillary Clinton), John F. Kennedy and the Kennedy family, U.S. Sen. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Professional achievements or current responsibilities:
Perry is a senior fellow at the University of Louisville's McConnell Center (2006-07). In 1994-95, she served as the judicial fellow at the U.S. Supreme Court in the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice, where she received the Tom C. Clark Award.

Educational background:
B.A. University of Louisville; M.A. (Oxon); Ph.D. University of Virginia.

Current or recent research:
Perry's new book, "The Michigan Affirmative Action Cases: Gratz, Grutter, and the Triumph of Sandra Day O'Connor," is on the 2003 Supreme Court decision upholding affirmative action in higher education. She had a seat for oral arguments before the Court Dec. 4, 2006 in Meredith v. Jefferson County Public Schools and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, both involving school assignments in K-12 on the basis of race. Perry also has begun to research a political biography of Rose Kennedy that will be based on the 250 boxes of her archives recently released at the John F. Kennedy Library.

Books or significant articles published:
"The Supremes: An Introduction to the Supreme Court Justices" (2d ed., 2008); "Jefferson's Legacy to the Supreme Court: Freedom of Religion"; "Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier"; "The Priestly Tribe: The Supreme Court's Image in the American Mind"; "Freedom and the Court: Civil Rights and Liberties in the United States," with Henry J. Abraham; "A 'Representative' Supreme Court? The Impact of Race, Religion, and Gender on Appointments." She also has contributed articles to numerous journals and law reviews, as well as op-ed pieces to newspapers.

Current or recent professional memberships, activities or awards:
Member of the American Political Science Association, Law and Courts Section; Southern Political Science Association; Supreme Court Historical Society; and Judicial Fellows Alumni Association.

Experience with news media:
Extensive interviews for, among others, MS-NBC, C-Span, NPR, PRI, BBC, Public Radio (Wisconsin, Virginia, District of Columbia) and Radio Free Europe. Widely quoted in magazines and newspapers (including New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, AP, Cox and Knight-Ridder News Services).

Summary of expertise:
An expert on the U.S. Supreme Court, Perry has interacted with most of the current justices and follows constitutional law and the inner workings of the Court. She has written a book for publication in summer 2007, "The Michigan Affirmative Action Cases: Gratz, Grutter, and the Triumph of Sandra Day O'Connor," on the 2003 Supreme Court decision upholding affirmative action in higher education. Perry also has a seat for oral arguments before the Court Dec. 4, 2006 in Meredith v. Jefferson County Public Schools and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1. Both cases involve school assignments in grades kindergarten through 12 on the basis of race. In addition, she has published books and articles on the Kennedy presidency and family. She also has expertise in studies of first ladies.

Key Terms:
Supreme Court, affirmative action in education, government, politics, justice system, law, the Constitution, civil rights, race, religion, Michigan affirmative action precedents, Gratz, Grutter, Kennedy, McConnell, Jefferson County