A personal note on Pepperdine

A number of friends have inquired about published reports that I was interviewed for the position of Dean of the Law School at Pepperdine University.  In response to an invitation from the University to be considered for the position, I made a trip out to Malibu to meet the faculty, staff, students, and administration.  I was deeply impressed by the intellectual and moral seriousness of the people I met and by the remarkable Christian spirit of the Law School and the entire University.  I had never been to Pepperdine before, but it was clear to me immediately that it is a very special place.  I would have been honored to serve as Dean of the Law School.  For family reasons, however, my wife and I decided that we cannot at this stage move far away from the east coast.  It was therefore necessary for me to decline Pepperdine's kind invitation to return for a second visit in connection with the Dean search.  I sincerely hope that the Law School will be blessed with a great Dean. I know that several outstanding candidates are under consideration.