Professor Barry Cushman

About the Author

Professor Barry Cushman is a distinguished legal historian and the Elizabeth D. and Richard A. Merrill Research Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law. With a Ph.D. in History from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia, he has dedicated his career to exploring the intricate intersections of law, history, and constitutional development in America. Cushman's scholarship illuminates the human elements behind landmark judicial decisions, drawing on archival research and narrative flair to bring the inner workings of the Supreme Court to life. His notable work, Of Courtiers and Kings: More Stories of Supreme Court Law Clerks and Their Justices (Constitutionalism and Democracy), offers captivating vignettes of the relationships between justices and their clerks, revealing the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shape constitutional law. A sought-after lecturer and commentator, Cushman continues to influence legal education and public understanding of the judiciary's pivotal role in democracy.