James C. Duff
Encyclopedia
James C. Duff is the president and CEO of the Freedom Forum
, the nonpartisan foundation dedicated to the First Amendment and media issues and which runs Washington, D.C.’s Newseum
, the First Amendment Center
, and the Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University
in Nashville, Tennessee.
Honors Program in 1975 with a degree in political science and philosophy, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and was a "walk-on" on the university’s basketball team. After studying at the University of Edinburgh
in Scotland in 1974, he returned to the U.S. in 1975 and worked for four years as an aide in the chambers of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger
. He graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1981, then worked at the law firm Clifford
and Warnke, where in 1990 he became a partner. In 1991, a large contingent of Clifford and Warnke lawyers and staff, including Mr. Duff, merged with the firm of Howrey and Simon
. Duff's practice focused on antitrust and commercial litigation and international trade.
's Administrative Assistant, now called "Counselor to the Chief Justice," serving as his liaison with the other branches of government and as Executive Director of the Judicial Fellows Commission. Preceding Sally Rider as the equivalent of the Chief Justice's chief of staff, Duff assisted Rehnquist in his roles as chair of the Judicial Conference of the United States
and the Federal Judicial Center
Board and as presiding officer of the U.S. Senate’s 1999 presidential impeachment trial.
From 2000 to 2006, Duff served as the managing partner of the Washington
office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
, a law firm
based in Memphis, Tennessee
. There he represented the Federal Judges Association before Congress as well as the Freedom Forum
.. He also represented the University of Kentucky's federal government interests in Washington and at the request of NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand, in 2006 he authored an overview and report to the NCAA on its rules and procedures. Duff has taught Constitutional Law at Georgetown University as an adjunct professor for ten years.
In September 2005, Duff was a pallbearer at Rehnquist's funeral, alongside seven of Rehnquist's former law clerks. Duff authored a tribute to Chief Justice Rehnquist in the November 2005 edition of the Harvard Law Review and spoke at the unveiling Ceremony for the William H. Rehnquist bust in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court in December 2009.
From July 2006 through September 15, 2011, Duff served as Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
. He was appointed in April 2006 by United States Chief Justice John Roberts
. On May 31, 2011, Duff announced that he was stepping down to assume his current position at Freedom Forum
.
Freedom Forum
The Freedom Forum was created in 1991 under the direction of Al Neuharth, former publisher of USA Today newspaper. Funding was provided by a foundation started by publisher Frank E. Gannett in 1935, called the Gannett Foundation...
, the nonpartisan foundation dedicated to the First Amendment and media issues and which runs Washington, D.C.’s Newseum
Newseum
The Newseum is an interactive museum of news and journalism located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. The seven-level, museum features 15 theaters and 14 galleries. The Newseum's Berlin Wall Gallery includes the largest display of sections of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany...
, the First Amendment Center
First Amendment Center
The First Amendment Center is an advocacy group in the United States that works to preserve and protect First Amendment freedoms through information and education. The Center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of free-expression issues, including freedom of speech, of the press and of...
, and the Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in Nashville, Tennessee.
Education and early career
Duff graduated magna cum laude from the University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
Honors Program in 1975 with a degree in political science and philosophy, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and was a "walk-on" on the university’s basketball team. After studying at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in Scotland in 1974, he returned to the U.S. in 1975 and worked for four years as an aide in the chambers of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger
Warren E. Burger
Warren Earl Burger was the 15th Chief Justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986. Although Burger had conservative leanings, the U.S...
. He graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1981, then worked at the law firm Clifford
Clark Clifford
Clark McAdams Clifford was an American lawyer who served United States Presidents Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter, serving as United States Secretary of Defense for Johnson....
and Warnke, where in 1990 he became a partner. In 1991, a large contingent of Clifford and Warnke lawyers and staff, including Mr. Duff, merged with the firm of Howrey and Simon
Howrey LLP
Howrey LLP was a global law firm that practiced antitrust, global litigation and intellectual property law. At its peak Howrey had more than 500 attorneys in 16 locations worldwide.-History:...
. Duff's practice focused on antitrust and commercial litigation and international trade.
Legal and political career
From 1996 to 2000, Duff was Chief Justice William RehnquistWilliam Rehnquist
William Hubbs Rehnquist was an American lawyer, jurist, and political figure who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States and later as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States...
's Administrative Assistant, now called "Counselor to the Chief Justice," serving as his liaison with the other branches of government and as Executive Director of the Judicial Fellows Commission. Preceding Sally Rider as the equivalent of the Chief Justice's chief of staff, Duff assisted Rehnquist in his roles as chair of the Judicial Conference of the United States
Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference of the United States, formerly known as Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, was created by the United States Congress in 1922 with the principal objective of framing policy guidelines for administration of judicial courts in the United States...
and the Federal Judicial Center
Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
Board and as presiding officer of the U.S. Senate’s 1999 presidential impeachment trial.
From 2000 to 2006, Duff served as the managing partner of the Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C. is a large U.S. law firm and lobbying group with offices in the Southeastern United States, Washington, D.C. and London, England. According to the National Law Journal's 2010 rankings, it is the 72nd largest law firm in the United States, and...
, a law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
based in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. There he represented the Federal Judges Association before Congress as well as the Freedom Forum
Freedom Forum
The Freedom Forum was created in 1991 under the direction of Al Neuharth, former publisher of USA Today newspaper. Funding was provided by a foundation started by publisher Frank E. Gannett in 1935, called the Gannett Foundation...
.. He also represented the University of Kentucky's federal government interests in Washington and at the request of NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand, in 2006 he authored an overview and report to the NCAA on its rules and procedures. Duff has taught Constitutional Law at Georgetown University as an adjunct professor for ten years.
In September 2005, Duff was a pallbearer at Rehnquist's funeral, alongside seven of Rehnquist's former law clerks. Duff authored a tribute to Chief Justice Rehnquist in the November 2005 edition of the Harvard Law Review and spoke at the unveiling Ceremony for the William H. Rehnquist bust in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court in December 2009.
From July 2006 through September 15, 2011, Duff served as Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
Administrative Office of the United States Courts
The Administrative Office of the United States Courts is the administrative agency of the United States federal court system. It was established in 1939.The AO is the central support entity for the federal judicial branch...
. He was appointed in April 2006 by United States Chief Justice John Roberts
John Roberts
John Glover Roberts, Jr. is the 17th and current Chief Justice of the United States. He has served since 2005, having been nominated by President George W. Bush after the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist...
. On May 31, 2011, Duff announced that he was stepping down to assume his current position at Freedom Forum
Freedom Forum
The Freedom Forum was created in 1991 under the direction of Al Neuharth, former publisher of USA Today newspaper. Funding was provided by a foundation started by publisher Frank E. Gannett in 1935, called the Gannett Foundation...
.
Personal life
Duff and his wife, Kathleen Gallagher Duff, live in Bethesda, Maryland, and have three children.External links
- The Supreme Court Fellows Program
- Serving in the Chief Justice's Shadow (Information about Sally Rider)