Richard Primus
Encyclopedia
Richard Abraham Primus is an American legal scholar. He currently teaches United States constitutional law
at Michigan Law School. In 2008, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
for his work on the relationship between history and constitutional interpretation. Primus is occasionally mentioned as a potential future United States Supreme Court nominee.
Primus graduated from Harvard College
with an A.B., summa cum laude, in social studies
. He then earned a Doctor of Philosophy
in politics
at Balliol College, Oxford
, where he was a Rhodes Scholar and the Jowett Senior Scholar. After studying law at Yale Law School
, Primus clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
and for United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
.
Primus then practiced law at the Washington, D.C. office of Jenner & Block
before joining the Michigan Law School faculty in 2001. He has taught as a visiting professor at Columbia Law School
, New York University School of Law
, and the University of Tokyo
.
He is a son of Dr. Romana Strochlitz Primus, a retired allergist and clinical immunologist, and Charles Primus, a retired professor of theology at Notre Dame
and lawyer. Primus is married to Eve Lynn Brensike, assistant professor of criminal law at Michigan Law School.
United States constitutional law
United States constitutional law is the body of law governing the interpretation and implementation of the United States Constitution.- Introduction :United States constitutional law defines the scope and application of the terms of the Constitution...
at Michigan Law School. In 2008, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
for his work on the relationship between history and constitutional interpretation. Primus is occasionally mentioned as a potential future United States Supreme Court nominee.
Primus graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
with an A.B., summa cum laude, in social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
. He then earned a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he was a Rhodes Scholar and the Jowett Senior Scholar. After studying law at 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...
, Primus clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
and for United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsburg was appointed by President Bill Clinton and took the oath of office on August 10, 1993. She is the second female justice and the first Jewish female justice.She is generally viewed as belonging to...
.
Primus then practiced law at the Washington, D.C. office of Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block is a U.S. law firm with offices in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Approximately 450 attorneys serve a wide range of clients in corporate litigation, business transactions, and in the public sector. Jerold S. Solovy was the longtime Chair of the firm, but on Sept...
before joining the Michigan Law School faculty in 2001. He has taught as a visiting professor at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, 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....
, and the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
.
He is a son of Dr. Romana Strochlitz Primus, a retired allergist and clinical immunologist, and Charles Primus, a retired professor of theology at Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and lawyer. Primus is married to Eve Lynn Brensike, assistant professor of criminal law at Michigan Law School.