Lillian R. BeVier

  • David and Mary Harrison Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus

Lillian BeVier taught constitutional law (with special emphasis on First Amendment issues), intellectual property (trademark, copyright), real property and torts from 1973-2010 at the Law School, and now teaches a January Term course on judicial philosophy.

At Stanford Law School, BeVier was revising editor for the Stanford Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif. Before coming to Virginia, she was associate professor of law at the University of Santa Clara Law School; practiced law with Spaeth Blase Valentine & Klein in Palo Alto, Calif.; served as research associate to Professor William F. Baxter at Stanford University Law School, working on the FAA-ABA study of the legal aspects of airport noise and the sonic boom; and was assistant to the general secretary and assistant staff legal counsel for Stanford University.

BeVier received the University of Virginia Alumni Association Distinguished Professor Award in 2006. The Raven Society elected her to membership in 1993 and honored her with the faculty award in 2010. She delivered the Henry Miller Memorial Lecture at Georgia State Law School in 2005, the Coen Memorial Lecture at the University of Colorado Law School in 2000, and the David C. Baum Lecture on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at the University of Illinois Law School in 1996. In 1999, at the invitation of the Supreme Court Historical Society, she spoke to the Society on Free Expression in the Warren and Burger Courts. Suffolk University awarded her an honorary S.J.D. degree in 1998. In the fall of 2003, she was a visiting scholar at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Having been nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate in 2003, she served as vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation until 2009. She serves on the national Board of Visitors of the Federalist Society. Within the Charlottesville community, BeVier has served as chair of the Board of Trustees of St. Anne’s-Belfield School and of the Martha Jefferson Hospital. She is currently chair of the board of the Martha Jefferson Health Services Corporation and of Piedmont CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates).

Scholarship Profile: An Inclusive Approach to the Regulation of Free Expression (Virginia Journal 2000)

Education

  • J.D.
    Stanford Law School
    1965
  • B.A.
    Smith College
    1961

Books

Is Free TV for Federal Candidates Constitutional?, AEI Press (1998).
Campaign Finance “Reform” Proposals: A First Amendment AnalysisPolicy Analysis No. 282 , Cato Institute (1997).
Judicial Review of Local Land Use Decisions in Virginia: A Report to the Joint Land Use Task Force of the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League (with Denis J. Brion), University of Virginia Institute of Government (1981).

Book Chapters

The Invisible Hand of the Marketplace of Ideas, in Eternally Vigilant: Free Speech in the Modern Era, University of Chicago Press, 232–255 (2002).
As Law Professor: The Practically Perfect Job, in Women Lawyers: Perspectives on Success, Law & Business, 213–228 (1984).

Articles & Reviews

The State Action Principle and Its Critics (with John C. Harrison), 96 Virginia Law Review 1767–1835 (2010).
Can Freedom of Speech Bear the Twenty-First Century’s Weight?, 36 Pepperdine Law Review 415–426 (2009).
Freedom of Speech vs. Anti-Discrimination Laws, 31 North Carolina Central Law Review 207–238 (2009).
What Is the “Free Press”?, 11 Chapman Law Review 243–275 (2008).
First Amendment Basics Redux: Buckley v. Valeo to FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, 2006-2007 Cato Supreme Court Review 77–113 (2006).
Full of Surprises—and More to Come: Randall v Sorrell, the First Amendment, and Campaign Finance Regulation, 2006 Supreme Court Review 173–200 (2006).
The Journalist’s Privilege—A Skeptic’s View, 32 Ohio Northern University Law Review 467–484 (2006).
The First Amendment on the Tracks: Should Justice Breyer Be at the Switch?, 89 Minnesota Law Review 1280–1317 (2005).
Controlling Communications That Teach or Demonstrate Violence: “The Movie Made Them Do It”, 32 Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics 47–54 (2004).
McConnell v. FEC: Not Senator Buckley’s First Amendment, 3 Election Law Journal 127–145 (2004).
United States v. American Library Association: Whither First Amendment Doctrine, 2003 Supreme Court Review 163–195 (2003).
What Ails Us?, 112 Yale Law Journal 1135–1178 (2003).
A Commentary on Public Funds or Publicly Funded Benefits and the Regulation of Judicial Campaigns, 35 Indiana Law Journal 845–849 (2002).
Campaign Finance Regulation: Less, Please, 34 Arizona State Law Journal 1115–1121 (2002).
Intersection and Divergence: Some Reflections on the Warren Court, Civil Rights, and the First Amendment, 59 Washington & Lee Law Review 1075–1093 (2002).
Mandatory Disclosure, “Sham Issue Advocacy”, and Buckley v. Valeo: A Response to Professor Hazen, 48 UCLA Law Review 285–304 (2000).
The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994: A Surprising Sequel to the Break Up of AT&T, 51 Stanford Law Review 1049–1125 (1999).
The Issue of Issue Advocacy: An Economic, Political, and Constitutional Analysis, 85 Virginia Law Review 1761–1792 (1999).
Where Is the Center of Democracy?: A Reply to Professor Neuborne, 93 Northwestern University Law Review 1075–1082 (1999).
Religion in Congress and the Courts: Issues of Institutional Competence, 22 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 59–65 (1998).
The Moment and the Millennium: A Question of Time, or Law?, 66 George Washington Law Review 1112–1118 (1998).
The New—Unimproved—Federalist Papers (reviewing Alan Brinkley, Nelson W. Polsby, & Kathleen M. Sullivan (eds.), The New Federalist Papers: Essays in Defense of the Constitution) 1 The Green Bag Second Series 321–326 (1998).
Give and Take: Public Use as Due Compensation in Pruneyard, 64 University of Chicago Law Review 71–82 (1997).
Law, Economics, and the Power of the State, 21 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 5–10 (1997).
Panel Discussion: Revolutionizing Campaign Finance—An Appraisal of Proposed Reforms (with David Simon, Steven Stockmeyer & William Thomas), 13 Journal of Law & Politics 163–198 (1997).
Panel Discussion: Judicial Engineering of Social Policy—Costs and Benefits (with Robert McConnell et al.), 28 Arizona State Law Journal 167–194 (1996).
The Integrity and Impersonality of Originalism, 19 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 283–291 (1996).
Information about Individuals in the Hands of Government: Some Reflections on Mechanisms for Privacy Protection, 4 William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal 455–506 (1995).
Thoughts from a “Real” Woman, 18 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 457–464 (1995).
Campaign Finance Reform: Specious Arguments, Intractable Dilemmas, 94 Columbia Law Review 1258–1280 (1994).
Judicial Restraint: An Argument from Institutional Design, 17 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 7–12 (1994).
Rehabilitating Public Forum Doctrine: In Defense of Categories, 1993 Supreme Court Review 79–122 (1993).
Some Anxious Thoughts about Utopian Dreams: A Reply to Professor Smolla, 1993 University of Chicago Legal Forum 187–195 (1993).
Competitor Suits for False Advertising under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act: A Puzzle in the Law of Deception, 78 Virginia Law Review 1–48 (1992).
On the Enduring Dilemma of Judicial Review, 39 Emory Law Journal 1229–1244 (1990).
Reconsidering Inducement, 76 Virginia Law Review 877–936 (1990).
What Privacy Is Not, 12 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 99–103 (1989).
A Comment on Professor Wolfson’s “The First Amendment and the SEC”, 20 Connecticut Law Review 325–333 (1988).
Liberty Fund, Inc. Symposium on the First Amendment and Securities Regulation (with Alfred C., Aman et al.), 20 Connecticut Law Review 383–477 (1988).
Hands off the Political Process, 10 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 11–14 (1987).
Money and Politics: A Perspective on the First Amendment and Campaign Finance Reform, 73 California Law Review 1045–1090 (1985).
The Free Exercise Clause: A View from the Public Forum, 27 William & Mary Law Review 963–974 (1985).
Justice Powell and the First Amendment’s “Societal Function”: A Preliminary Analysis, 68 Virginia Law Review 177–201 (1982).
Like Mackerel in the Moonlight: Some Reflections on Richmond Newspapers, 10 Hofstra Law Review 311–340 (1982).
An Informed Public, an Informing Press: The Search for a Constitutional Principle, 68 California Law Review 482–517 (1980).
The First Amendment and Political Speech: An Inquiry into the Substance and Limits of Principle, 30 Stanford Law Review 299–358 (1978).
Review of Donahue, Kauper & Martin, Cases and Materials on Property, 73 Michigan Law Review 620–629 (1975).

Reports & Datasets

StatementCampaign Finance Reform: Proposals Impacting Broadcasters, Cable Operators and Satellite Providers , US Government Print Office 24–34 (2001).
StatementThe Constitution and Campaign Reform , US Government Print Office 41–46 (2000).
Statements (with John C. Harrison)The Propriety of the Taxpayer-Funded White House Data Base , US Government Printing Office 121–145 (1996).
TestimonyCampaign Finance Reform Proposals of 1996 , US Government Print Office 363–370 (1996).
Testimony3 Nomination of Robert H. Bork to Be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , US Government Print Office 2927–2934 (1989).

Op-Eds, Blogs, Shorter Works

Citizens United Vindicates Fundamental First Amendment Principles, UVA Lawyer 33–34 (2012).
For Corporations, Constitutional Issues: A Guest Column, New Orleans Times-Picayune (November 14, 2009).
Should the Press Be Liable? Quality Control in the Market for Political Information, American Enterprise 38–45 (May, 1994).
No New Ground for Press Freedom, Virginia Law Weekly 1, 3–4 (October 1, 1976).

Current Courses

No courses were found for this instructor.

All Courses

Constitutional Law II: Freedom of Speech and Press
Copyright Law
Seminar in Ethical Values
Property
Trademark and Unfair Competition Law

IN THE NEWS

04/30/2020
Why a Written Constitution? (The Federalist Society)
07/05/2018
Judge Thapar and Judicial Duty (National Review)
06/28/2018
Ottawa Hills Grad Could Be What President Trump Wants in Supreme Court Nominee (The Blade)
11/14/2009
For Corporations, Constitutional Issues (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
06/30/2007
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference (C-SPAN)
10/04/2006
Law Professors Receive Distinction: BOV Appoints Three Professors as David and Mary Harrison Distinguished Professors of Law (Cavalier Daily)
02/01/2006
Controversial Issues Will Set Tone for Alito's Term (Newsday)
01/24/2006
High Court Remands Ruling in Campaign-Law Challenge (The Washington Times)
12/01/2005
Clues from Judge Alito's Past (NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - PBS)
09/14/2005
Day Three of Roberts Hearings (NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - PBS)
07/25/2005
A Good Woman Isn't Hard to Find (The Weekly Standard)
07/15/2005
Commentary: From Feminist Left, Unfair Judgement (The Boston Herald)
12/06/2004
Thinking Outside the Judge Box (National Review Online)
06/10/2003
Today's Events in Washington (Bulletin's Frontrunner)
03/27/2003
Bowling Green State University Philosophy Center Plans Conference On Freedom Of Speech (AScribe Newswire)
09/09/2002
Talk of the Nation (NPR)
05/06/2002
Changing of The Guard at D.C. Legal Aid (Legal Times)
04/08/2002
The Practice (Connecticut Law Tribune)
04/04/2002
Legal Service Corporation (White House Weekly)
03/23/2002
Judicial Canon Fire (National Journal)

AT UVA LAW

Fireside Chat With Professor Lillian BeVier and Vice Dean Leslie Kendrick
Originalist Perspectives on Stare Decisis
Federal Jurists To Teach Classes on Supreme Court, Role of Judges
Not a Crash Course: January Term Classes Foster Interest in Specialized Topics
Insight From the Trenches: 7 J-Term Courses That Pair Outside Experts with UVA Law Professors
U.S. Federal Judge, Professor Teach Course Offering UVA Law Students Insight on Judicial Decisions
Experts Discuss Parameters of Free Speech at Law Review Symposium
Lillian BeVier — Law School’s First Tenured Female Professor — Ends Career at Head of the Class
Lillian BeVier — Law School's First Full-Time Female Professor — Ends Career at Head of the Class
Faculty Panel Reviews Previous Supreme Court Term
Supreme Court Still Divided, Professors Say