Robert A. Garda, Jr.

Robert A. Garda, Jr. serves as the Eleanor Legier Sarpy Distinguished Professor of Law at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where he teaches Contracts, Commercial Transactions, International Commercial Transactions, First Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment, and Education Law. A member of the Loyola Law School faculty since 2002, Professor Garda has established himself as a leading scholar in education law with a particular focus on students with disabilities and charter school issues.

Professor Garda earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1994, where he served as Articles Editor on the Duke Law Journal, and his B.A. from Duke University in 1990. Prior to entering academia, he worked as a partner at the Salt Lake City firm of Fabian & Clendenin, focusing on education law, commercial litigation, and employment law, after externing for Justice Zimmerman of the Utah Supreme Court.

His research interests center on education law with special emphasis on legal issues relating to students with disabilities, affirmative action, and charter schools. Professor Garda has published extensively in top law reviews including the North Carolina Law Review, Florida Law Review, and Journal of Law & Education. His scholarship examines the rights of students with disabilities to exercise public and private school choice, the impact of Supreme Court jurisprudence on religion clauses in schools, and racial and socioeconomic diversity in educational settings.

Professor Garda has received significant recognition for his work, including the 2010 Good Apple Award from the Appleseed Network and the 2009 Gillis Long Poverty Law Center Public Service Award. He was voted Favorite Professor of the Year for 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 by Loyola Law students.

• 2010 Good Apple Award from the Appleseed Network
• 2009 Gillis Long Poverty Law Center Public Service Award
• Favorite Professor of the Year 2008-2009
• Favorite Professor of the Year 2009-2010

Professor Garda has held significant leadership positions including past national Chair of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Education Law and service on the Louisiana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Mental Health Advocacy Services and on several non-profit boards related to special education. His public service extends to work with the Louisiana Bar Foundation, Louisiana Appleseed, and national and local public interest groups on education and disability issues. He is frequently consulted by Louisiana media on education matters, demonstrating the real-world impact of his scholarship.

Professor Garda maintains an active role in addressing educational challenges through his board memberships and collaborations with organizations focused on special education, working to bridge the gap between academic scholarship and practical implementation of education law principles.