Bob Bauer

Bob Bauer is Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the New York University School of Law and co-director of NYU Law's Legislative and Regulatory Process Clinic. He has had a distinguished career in law and politics, serving as White House Counsel to President Obama from 2009 to 2011, and holding significant roles in presidential commissions under both Obama and Biden administrations.

His educational background includes a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law (1976) and a BA from Harvard University, magna cum laude (1973).

Bauer's research focuses on critical areas of American law and governance:

• Administrative Law - examining the structure and function of government agencies
• Constitutional Law and Theory - exploring foundational principles of American governance
• Election Law - addressing challenges to electoral integrity and process
• Legal Ethics - considering professional responsibilities in political contexts
• National Security Law and Practice - analyzing the intersection of security concerns and legal constraints

Bauer's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with pressing legal and political questions facing American democracy. His recent publications, particularly The Unraveling: Reflections on Politics Without Ethics and Democracy in Crisis (2024) and After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency (2020), address fundamental challenges to democratic norms and institutions. His work often bridges theoretical legal analysis with practical political considerations, reflecting his extensive experience in government.

Among his notable achievements:

• Listed in "America's Leading Political Law Lawyers" (Chambers USA, 2009)
• Recipient of the Burton Award for Legal Achievement for Legal Writing (Library of Congress, 2000)

Bauer has served in significant advisory roles, including as co-chair of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration (2013) and the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court (2021). His practical experience informs his academic work, creating a valuable bridge between theory and practice in constitutional and election law. As a Contributing Editor of Lawfare, he regularly engages with contemporary legal debates through opinion pieces in major publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, and Atlantic.

His career exemplifies the integration of scholarly inquiry with practical legal and political engagement, making significant contributions to understanding and strengthening American democratic institutions.