Chief Counsel of Brennan Center for Justice Featured Speaker for April 6 Henry Lecture

For immediate release    
Media contact: Evie Klopp Holzer, (405) 831-0709

NORMAN – The chief counsel of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law will be the featured speaker in the 2012 Henry Lecture Series on Friday, April 6, at the University College of Law. Frederick A. O. Schwarz, Jr., will speak to students at noon on “Why Citizen Access to Government Information is an Essential Element of Democracy and Liberty” in the Kerr Student Lounge on the first floor of the OU law school, 300 Timberdell Road in Norman.

The Brennan Center is a non-partisan public policy and law institute that focuses on the fundamental issues of democracy and justice. In 2002, Schwarz joined the Brennan Center, where he has tried cases, testified frequently before Congress and most recently, co-authored Unchecked and Unbalanced: Presidential Power in a Time of Terror with Aziz Huq (The New Press, 2007; paperback 2008).  

Schwarz earned an A.B. magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1957 and a juris doctor magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1960, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Schwarz previously practiced at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, where he was a litigation partner with a broad and varied practice. In 1989, he chaired the commission that extensively revised New York City’s charter. From 2003-08, he chaired the New York City Campaign Finance Board.  Schwarz was awarded the New York State Bar Association’s Gold Medal for distinguished service in the law.

“We are so grateful for the Henry Lecture Series at the College of Law, and are honored to have Fritz Schwarz joining us as this year’s lecturer,” said OU Law Dean Joe Harroz. “The Henry Lecture series has brought many notable speakers to OU Law such as 2009-2010 White House Counsel Greg Craig, Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Stephen Breyer with the U.S. Supreme Court, Michael McConnell from Stanford Law School, Elizabeth Garrett from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and Elizabeth Warren from Harvard Law School. We are very much looking forward to Mr. Schwarz’s comments.”

The Henry Lecture Series is an annual event initiated in 2000 to inspire and educate future generations of scholars, lawyers and public servants. Five attorneys in the Henry family graduated from the OU College of Law: the Honorable Lloyd H. Henry and his sons, the Honorable L. Wayne Henry and Oklahoma City University President Robert H. Henry, and the Honorable Charles T. Henry and his son, Brad Henry, Governor of Oklahoma from 2003 to 2011.

“Fritz Schwarz is one of our nation’s most knowledgeable public lawyers,” Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry said. “Graduating magna cum laude from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School, he served as counsel twice to important U.S. Senate committees and served as corporation counsel of New York City. He became a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 1969 and now is chief counsel of New York University’s prestigious Brennan Center for Justice. No contemporary issues of public policy have evaded his thoughtful consideration.”

For additional information and for accommodations based on disability, call (405) 325- 4702.