Barbara D. Underwood
Encyclopedia
Barbara D. Underwood is New York Solicitor General
. She was initially appointed to her position by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
in January 2007, and reappointed in 2011 by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
, to Dr. Robert Underwood and Mildred Underwood. She grew up in Belleville, New Jersey
, and is the eldest of three daughters. Underwood graduated from Radcliffe College
in 1966 and received her law degree
from Georgetown University Law Center
in 1969.
of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
and then Associate Justice
Thurgood Marshall
of the Supreme Court
. After leaving the court, Underwood was a law professor for 10 years at the Yale Law School
. She also has taught at Brooklyn Law School
and at New York University School of Law
.
In 1998, Underwood was appointed by United States Attorney General
Janet Reno
to be Principal Deputy Solicitor General under Solicitor General
Seth P. Waxman
. Underwood held that position for three years, and then served as Acting Solicitor General from January to June 2001.
Underwood is the attorney for the states in American Electric Power Co. v. Connecticut, 10-174, which went to the United States Supreme Court.
since 1982. She is married to Martin Halpern, a composer, librettist, poet, playwright, and former Brandeis University professor of playwriting and dramatic literature. They live in Brooklyn
and have one son, Robert, born in 1986.
Underwood is the cousin of actress Betty Aberlin
, best known for playing Lady Aberlin on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
.
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
. She was initially appointed to her position by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
in January 2007, and reappointed in 2011 by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
Early life
Underwood was born in Evansville, IndianaEvansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, to Dr. Robert Underwood and Mildred Underwood. She grew up in Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
, and is the eldest of three daughters. Underwood graduated from Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
in 1966 and received her law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 1969.
Legal career
After graduation, Underwood clerked for Chief Judge David L. BazelonDavid L. Bazelon
David Lionel Bazelon was a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.-Early life, education, and career:...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
and then Associate Justice
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. After leaving the court, Underwood was a law professor for 10 years at the Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
. She also has taught at Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School is a law school located in Brooklyn Heights, in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.-History:Founded in 1901 by William Payson Richardson and Norman P. Heffley, Brooklyn Law School was the first law school on Long Island. Using space provided by Heffley’s business school, the law...
and at New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
.
In 1998, Underwood was appointed by United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
to be Principal Deputy Solicitor General under Solicitor General
United States Solicitor General
The United States Solicitor General is the person appointed to represent the federal government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. The current Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 6, 2011 and sworn in on June...
Seth P. Waxman
Seth P. Waxman
Seth Paul Waxman was the 41st Solicitor General of the United States. He was nominated by President Clinton on September 19, 1997, and confirmed by the United States Senate on November 9, 1997...
. Underwood held that position for three years, and then served as Acting Solicitor General from January to June 2001.
Underwood is the attorney for the states in American Electric Power Co. v. Connecticut, 10-174, which went to the United States Supreme Court.
Family
Underwood has lived in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
since 1982. She is married to Martin Halpern, a composer, librettist, poet, playwright, and former Brandeis University professor of playwriting and dramatic literature. They live in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and have one son, Robert, born in 1986.
Underwood is the cousin of actress Betty Aberlin
Betty Aberlin
Betty Aberlin is an American actress, poet, and writer.Born as Betty Kay Ageloff in New York City, Aberlin had a regular role on The Smothers Brothers Show. She worked on various TV spots, and played Lady Aberlin on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood...
, best known for playing Lady Aberlin on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, also known as Mister Rogers, is an American children's television series that was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. The series is aimed primarily at preschool ages, 2-5, but has been stated by Public Broadcasting Service as "appropriate for all ages"...
.
External links
- Underwood Appointed Principal Deputy Solicitor General, United States Department of JusticeUnited States Department of JusticeThe United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
press release, 11 March 1998.