After fifteen years of dedicated service to UDC Law, Professor John C. Brittain is bidding farewell to our community. Since joining the faculty in 2009 and during his time as Acting Dean from 2018 to 2019, Professor Brittain brought a lifetime of legal experience and a strong commitment to civil rights to our classrooms and community. His work will leave a lasting mark on the law school and everyone who had the chance to learn from him.
Professor Brittain’s career spans some of the most pivotal moments in civil rights litigation. He was part of the original legal team in Sheff v. O’Neill, the landmark school desegregation case in Connecticut, and has filed briefs in nearly a dozen U.S. Supreme Court cases. From defending race-conscious education policies to fighting for equitable funding for Maryland’s HBCUs, his work consistently advanced justice for underserved communities.
As he embarks on his next chapter, Professor Brittain leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of students and lawyers. We thank him for his service, wisdom, and unwavering pursuit of justice.