Athens, Ga. – U.S. Congressman John Barrow will deliver the keynote address at the University of Georgia School of Law’s Commencement on Saturday, May 17.
A Georgia native, Barrow is currently serving his second term in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 12th District of Georgia. Before being elected to Congress, he served for 14 years on the Athens-Clarke County Commission, of which he is a charter member, and he operated a successful law practice.
Barrow earned his bachelor’s degree in history from UGA in 1976 and his law degree in 1979 from Harvard University, where he was one of the youngest members of his law school class.
At this year’s Commencement, approximately 205 students will be honored for the completion of all requirements for a Juris Doctor degree. Additionally, 10 Master of Laws candidates, who have completed one year of graduate legal study, will be recognized.
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on the quadrangle in front of the law school on UGA’s North Campus. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved to Stegeman Coliseum.
Allison M. “Allie” Scott, president of the graduating class of 2008, will provide the official welcome, and Brendan F. Murphy, president of the Student Bar Association, will introduce Barrow. Additionally, Scott and Justin T. Jones, both co-chairs of the Legacy Gift Committee, will present the 2008 class gift to Steven P. Gilliam, Law School Association president, who will welcome the new graduates into the alumni association.
Other Commencement speakers will include Georgia Law Dean Rebecca H. White and Paul M. Kurtz and Gabriel M. Wilner, associate deans. The senior class has chosen Dan T. Coenen, University Professor and Hosch Professor of Law, and David E. Shipley, Cobb Professor of Law, to serve as honorary marshals and to read the names of the graduates.
Two additional members of the platform party will be Marc A. Galvin, law school registrar and Ira Edwards Jr., Athens-Clarke County sheriff, who will lead the graduation procession as is tradition.
Georgia Law is currently ranked as one of the top 11 public law schools in the nation.