Foley, Adrian M., Jr.

English

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A Tribute to Elizabeth F. Defeis - Dean of Seton Hall Law School 1983-1987

Seton Hall University Libraries

ELIZABETH F. DEFEISA TRIBUTE TO ELIZABETH F. DEFEISDean of Seton Hall Law School 1983-1987Adrian M. Foley, Jr. *Elizabeth Defeis is a prodigious figure in the law. She hasmanaged to excel in many avenues of legal endeavor; three leapto mind immediately-Scholar-Teacher-Crusader.A consummate constitutional law scholar, she has long beenrecognized as a writer, teacher and an acknowledged authority inall matters constitutional, both domestic and foreign. She haslectured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, andAsia. A prolific writer, she has contributed greatly to the field ofresearch in constitutional law, particularly in matters concerningthe first and fourteenth amendments. Students by the score haverecounted stories of her brilliant lectures on constitutional law atSeton Hall Law School.Her signal success was of course no surprise to those whoknew her from her early days. A Fulbright scholar, she gaineddeep respect for the law and its needs when she served as a litiga-tor in the trial courts of New York City; first, in a prestigious WallStreet law firm and later as an Assistant District Attorney underRobert Morganthau.Her conviction that a full and complete knowledge of ourconstitutional system was the cornerstone of the law led her toaccept a position as a teacher of constitutional law at Seton HallLaw School, where her outstanding career led almost inevitablyto her selection as Dean of the law school.As Dean, she was able to advance most forcibly a crusadewhich she had begun as a law professor. She was a pioneer bothat Seton Hall and in bar association activities throughout thecountry in the cause of women-and-the-law issues; a cause whichhad long been neglected and perhaps would have been evenlonger in emerging if not for her efforts. The cause which shechampioned and to which she still responds is that of guarantee-ing to women both in the law and society all of the full rights andprivileges accorded to them as citizens and lawyers which are yettoo often irrationally limited. She was one of the first to under-take making women-and-the-law issues an integral part of lawPartner of the firm of Connell, Foley & Geiser, Roseland, New Jersey. B.S.cum laude Seton Hall University; LL.B. Columbia University School of Law.539SE TON HALL LA W REVIEWschool curriculum. In the early 1970's, her sponsorship and en-couragement led to the first appointment of women delegates tothe National Law Students Association, where issues specificallyand peculiarly appropriate to women could be debated and actedupon. Dean Defeis continues to be one of the country's foremostspokespersons in that field as well as in all issues stemming fromthe first and fourteenth amendments.Following an illustrious chain of Law School Deans at SetonHall, Elizabeth devoted herself to the work of continuing the im-provement of the excellence of the school and its faculty, andinsuring that the true image of Seton Hall be projected and rec-ognized beyond the borders of New Jersey. No one could possi-bly have worked harder and with more dedication than has DeanDefeis in bringing national recognition to the school. The excel-lence of programs initiated by her and shown throughout theland have brought to the Bar of the United States recognition ofthe superb quality of Seton Hall Law School, its faculty, and itsgraduates.My own feelings for Elizabeth Defeis, the person, compel meto say a word of the privilege that has been mine to know herbeyond her professional role. I have come to know her as one ofthe most warm, generous, ever helpful friend to all manner ofmen and women. She is always ready to offer her help makingher own time and personal activities a secondary consideration.Her answer to every call for advice or assistance is "What can Ido? Where do you want me?" The quintessential Manhattanite,she will leave even her beloved New Jersey Shore home when-ever her aid is sought.I salute Elizabeth Defeis-Teacher--Crusader--Great Law-yer-and most important of all, Lady. Perhaps John Gay hadElizabeth in mind when he wrote, "And when a Lady's in thecase, you know all things give place."540 [Vol. 18:539

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A Tribute to Elizabeth F. Defeis - Dean of Seton Hall Law School 1983-1987

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