Duke University School of Law will rename its Program in Public Law to the Richard A. Horvitz Program in Constitutional and Public Law thanks to a $5.46 million gift from Rick Horvitz and his wife, Erica Hartman-Horvitz.
The program that initially launched in 1998 pushes for students to have a better understanding of national public institutions, constitutional frameworks and the principles and laws that public officials are influenced by. It practices these goals by law school visits, hosting conferences on current issues relevant to scholars and public officials and presenting talks by leaders in the government, private practice and the media.
“Building on a history of strength in constitutional and public law at Duke, the Horvitz Program will support a community of expert scholars in the field and help students and the public understand the role constitutional and public law plays in our system of government,” said Duke University President Vincent E. Price.
Horvitz’s motivation for the gift was to ensure that the program will maintain its teaching in constitutional law and support its staff and students.
“Constitutional law and public law are what differentiate our country from the rest of the world, particularly some of the autocratic regimes where you see what the lack of a meaningful constitution means for the people of the country,” Horvitz said.
Horvitz is a member of the Duke Law School’s Board of Visitors.
