Bridget McCormack
Encyclopedia
Bridget Mary McCormack is a professor at the University of Michigan Law School
in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She also serves as Michigan Law School's associate dean of clinical affairs. She is the founder and co-director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, the first exclusively non-DNA innocence clinic in the country. In 2010, she was awarded the Justice For All Award for that work. Additionally, the Washtenaw County Bar Association presented McCormack the Patriot Award for work upholding American constitutional values in 2011.
A courtroom veteran, McCormack teaches criminal law and legal ethics. As the associate dean responsible for overseeing all of the law school’s clinical programs, she also launched and worked in a pediatric advocacy law clinic focusing on children with health problems, and a domestic violence clinic. Her academic work focuses on practical experience in legal education.
at New York University School of Law
, where she earned her JD in 1991 and won the Ann Petluck Poses prize for advocacy.
McCormack started her legal career in New York, first as trial counsel at the Legal Aid Society and then at the Office of the Appellate Defender. She taught at Yale Law School
in New Haven, Connecticut as a Robert M. Cover Fellow from 1997-98. She joined the faculty of the University of Michigan Law School in 1998, and has served as its associate dean of clinical affairs since 2003.
When recommending her for the associate dean position to the University Board of Regents, Michigan Law School Dean Jeffrey S. Lehman
wrote: “Professor McCormack is an extraordinarily gifted teacher who has earned the admiration and respect of students and colleagues alike. She has a subtle and powerful mind, an astonishing work ethic, and an infectious commitment to her craft.”
As of January 1, 2011, the Michigan Innocence Clinic has exonerated four innocent people who were wrongfully convicted in non-DNA cases: DeShawn Reed, Marvin Reed, Dwayne Provience and Julie Baumer.
Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure. In 2008, she testified before the Detroit City Council about its investigation of the city attorney's role in the case involving former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
, currently on leave serving as a special assistant to the president on President Barack Obama's
Domestic Policy Counsel. The couple has four children. Her sister, Mary McCormack
is an actress, best known for her lead role in the current series “In Plain Sight
” on the USA Network
. Her brother, Will McCormack, is an actor and screenwriter.
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She also serves as Michigan Law School's associate dean of clinical affairs. She is the founder and co-director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, the first exclusively non-DNA innocence clinic in the country. In 2010, she was awarded the Justice For All Award for that work. Additionally, the Washtenaw County Bar Association presented McCormack the Patriot Award for work upholding American constitutional values in 2011.
A courtroom veteran, McCormack teaches criminal law and legal ethics. As the associate dean responsible for overseeing all of the law school’s clinical programs, she also launched and worked in a pediatric advocacy law clinic focusing on children with health problems, and a domestic violence clinic. Her academic work focuses on practical experience in legal education.
Education and Background
McCormack majored in political science and philosophy at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut graduating in 1988 with highest honors. She was a Root-Tilden ScholarRoot-Tilden Scholarship
OverviewThe is a full-tuition public service scholarship for students at New York University School of Law.-The Program:...
at 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....
, where she earned her JD in 1991 and won the Ann Petluck Poses prize for advocacy.
McCormack started her legal career in New York, first as trial counsel at the Legal Aid Society and then at the Office of the Appellate Defender. She taught 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...
in New Haven, Connecticut as a Robert M. Cover Fellow from 1997-98. She joined the faculty of the University of Michigan Law School in 1998, and has served as its associate dean of clinical affairs since 2003.
When recommending her for the associate dean position to the University Board of Regents, Michigan Law School Dean Jeffrey S. Lehman
Jeffrey S. Lehman
Jeffrey Sean Lehman is an American scholar, lawyer and academic administrator who is currently serving as the chancellor and founding dean of the Peking University School of Transnational Law in Shenzhen, China...
wrote: “Professor McCormack is an extraordinarily gifted teacher who has earned the admiration and respect of students and colleagues alike. She has a subtle and powerful mind, an astonishing work ethic, and an infectious commitment to her craft.”
Michigan Innocence Clinic
As an experienced litigator in federal and state courts at all levels, McCormack is well aware of the challenges facing the judicial system. Though rare, DNA-based exonerations have shown that wrongful convictions sometimes happen. On the premise that the legal system fails whenever the guilty go free or the innocent are imprisoned, McCormack co-founded the Michigan Innocence Clinic in 2008 to address the difficult issue of wrongful convictions in cases where there is no DNA evidence.As of January 1, 2011, the Michigan Innocence Clinic has exonerated four innocent people who were wrongfully convicted in non-DNA cases: DeShawn Reed, Marvin Reed, Dwayne Provience and Julie Baumer.
Scholarship and Professional Activities
McCormack is an authority on constitutional law, criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, and legal ethics, and has published articles on those subjects. McCormack also serves on the Association of American Law SchoolsAssociation of American Law Schools
The Association of American Law Schools is a non-profit organization of 170 law schools in the United States. Another 25 schools are "non-member fee paid" schools, which are not members but choose to pay AALS dues. Its purpose is to improve the legal profession through the improvement of legal...
Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure. In 2008, she testified before the Detroit City Council about its investigation of the city attorney's role in the case involving former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Personal
McCormack's father is a former United States Marine and retired small business owner, and her mother is a clinical social worker. She is married to University of Michigan Law School professor Steven CroleySteven Croley
Steven Croley is a lawyer and professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His research and writing focuses on administrative law, civil procedure, good government, and regulatory policy. -Education and Background:...
, currently on leave serving as a special assistant to the president on President Barack Obama's
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
Domestic Policy Counsel. The couple has four children. Her sister, Mary McCormack
Mary McCormack
Mary Catherine McCormack is an American actress. Best known for her work in television, she has had leading roles as Justine Appleton in the series Murder One , as Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper in The West Wing and as Mary Shannon in In Plain Sight .Her film roles include Private...
is an actress, best known for her lead role in the current series “In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight is an American dramatic television series on USA Network. The series revolves around Mary Shannon , a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office of the Federal Witness Security Program , more commonly known as the Federal Witness Protection Program...
” on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
. Her brother, Will McCormack, is an actor and screenwriter.