As State Solicitor General of Virginia from 2004 to 2008, he was responsible for the Virginia State Government's U.S. Supreme Court litigation (except capital cases) as well as lower court appeals involving the constitutionality of statutes or politically sensitive issues. He argued two cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and thirty-one cases in the lower appellate courts. A recipient of a National Association of Attorneys General Best Brief Award, he co-authored five U.S. Supreme Court merits briefs, eleven amicus briefs, and more than fifty briefs at the petition stage.
His scholarship focuses on constitutional law in education contexts. In addition to co-editing three books, he has authored or co-authored three monographs, ten book chapters, and more than forty articles in scholarly journals. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Education Law Association, the Editorial Advisory Committee of the Education Law Reporter, the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Educational Reform, the Advisory Board of the Encyclopedia of Higher Education Law, the Editorial Board of the Journal of College & University Law and as a Contributing Author to the Yearbook of Education Law. He has presented more than fifty speeches at regional, national, and international conferences. He is a Fellow of the National Association of College and University Attorneys - the organization's highest honor for legal scholarship and contributions to higher education law.
Prior to becoming Christopher Newport University's first in-house counsel, he was Interim General Counsel at Old Dominion University, chief counsel for Norfolk State University, and litigation counsel for the Colorado State University, the Colorado Department of Education, and the Colorado School of Mines. He began his legal career as judicial clerk to Judge Ronald E. Meredith of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Having spent his entire career in government service, he is profiled in Beyond The Big Firm: Profiles of Lawyers Who Want Something More (Alan B. Morrison & Diane T. Chin, eds., 2007).
A Harry S. Truman Scholar and a Rotary Foundation International Ambassadorial Scholar to Australia, he received his B.A. Summa Cum Laude from Hanover College and his M.A . with Honours from the University of Melbourne, Australia. His J.D. is from the University of Virginia where he was a published member of the Virginia Law Review and research assistant to constitutional law professor A.E. Dick Howard.
He serves as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), teaches an adult Sunday school class, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the local chapter of the American Red Cross. He is married to the Rev. Julie U. Thro, and has three children (Sandra, Will, & Noah).Books | Monographs | Book Contributions | Scholarly Journals | Magazines / Newspapers
Encyclopedia Entries
BOOKS
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Derek Langhauser, Robert M. O'Neil, & William E. Thro (eds.), Free Speech in Higher Education: Important Protections and Permissible Regulations (2008) (National Association of College and University Attorneys, Washington, D.C.).
Melissa Rooker & William E. Thro (eds.), The NACUA Handbook for Lawyers New to Higher Education (2nd ed. 2007) (National Association of College and University Attorneys, Washington , D.C.).
Karl F. Brevitz, Brian A. Snow & William E. Thro (eds.), The NACUA Handbook for Lawyers New to Higher Education (1st ed. 2003) (National Association of College and University Attorneys, Washington, D.C.).
MONOGRAPHS
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William E. Thro, Why You Cannot Sue State U: A Guide to Sovereign Immunity (1st ed. 2001) (National Association of College and University Attorneys, Washington, D.C.).
William E. Thro, Why You Cannot Sue State U: A Guide to Sovereign Immunity (2nd ed. 2007) (National Association of College and University Attorneys, Washington , D.C.).
Elizabeth B. Meers & William E. Thro, Race Conscious Admissions & Financial Aid After the University of Michigan Decisions (2004) (National Association of College and University Attorneys, Washington, D.C.).
CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOOKS
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William E. Thro, Students In Higher Education, in Yearbook of Education Law 2008 202 (Charles J. Russo ed., 2008) (Education Law Association, Dayton, Ohio).
William E. Thro, Students In Higher Education, in Yearbook of Education Law 2007 200 (Charles J. Russo ed., 2007) (Education Law Association, Dayton, Ohio).
William E. Thro, Student Rights , in Education Law (Charles J. Russo & Ralph Mawdsley, eds., 2007 update, 2008 update) (Law Journal Press, New York).
William E. Thro, The Duty to Discipline: The Constitutional and International Obligations of American and South African Schools to Maintain Order, in Perspectives On Learner Conduct 273 (I.J. Oosthuizen, J.P. Rossouw, C.J. Russo, J.L. Van Der Walt, & C.C. Wolhuter, eds., 2007) (Platinum Press, Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa).
William E. Thro, Judicial Enforcement of Educational Safety and Security: The American Experience , in South African Education Law Association at Ten 1107 (Johan Beckmann, ed., 2006) (Van Schaik Publications, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa).
William E. Thro, Students in Higher Education, in Yearbook of Education Law 2006 211 (Charles J. Russo ed., 2006) (Education Law Association, Dayton, Ohio).
David S. Doty & William E. Thro, Student Rights , in Education Law (Charles J. Russo & Ralph Mawdsley, eds., 2005 update) (Law Journal Press, New York).
William E. Thro, The American Paradox: How Constitutional Values Inhibit the Achievement of Quality Education, in Equal Educational Opportunities 137 (Charles J. Russo, Johan Beckmann, & Jonathon D. Jansen eds., 2005) (Van Schaik Publications, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa).
William E. Thro, Students in Higher Education, in Yearbook of Education Law 2005 216 (Charles J. Russo ed. 2005) (Education Law Association, Dayton, Ohio).
Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, Student Equal Protection and Due Process, in Contemporary Issues in Higher Education Law 257 (Joseph Beckham & David Dagley eds., 2005) (Education Law Association, Dayton, Ohio).
SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
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Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, Higher Education Implications of Parents Involved for Community Schools, - Journal of College & University Law - (forthcoming 2009).
William E. Thro, Respecting The Democratic Process: The Roberts Court And Limits On Facial Challenges, 9 Engage: The Journal of the Federalist Society's Practice Groups 54 (October 2008).
Rika Joubert & William E. Thro, Sexual Harassment in Elementary and Secondary Education: A Comparative Analysis of South Africa and the United States, 233 Education Law Reporter 1 (2008).
William E. Thro, The Constitutional, Educational, and Institutional Implications of The Majority and Concurring Opinions In Parents Involved For Community Schools, 231 Education Law Reporter 495 (2008).
Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, Curricular Control and Parental Rights: Balancing the Rights of Educators and Parents in American Public Schools, 12 Australia & New Zealand Journal of Law & Education 91 (2007).
William E. Thro, The Roberts Court At Dawn: Clarity, Humility, and the Future of Education Law, 222 Education Law Reporter 491 (2007).
William E. Thro, Academic Freedom: Constitutional Myths and Practical Realities, 19 Journal of Personnel Evaluation In Education 135 (2007).
William E. Thro, American Exceptionalism: Some Thoughts on Sanchez-llamas v. Oregon, 11 Texas Review of Law & Politics 219 (2007).
Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, The Constitutional Rights of Politically Incorrect Groups: Christian Legal Society v. Walker as an Illustration, 33 Journal of College & University Law 361 (2007).
William E. Thro, The Future of Sovereign Immunity, 215 Education Law Reporter 1 (2007).
William E. Thro & Charles J. Russo, Sordid Business: The Supreme Court Confronts the Constitutionality of Racial Preferences in K-12 Education, Federalist Society White Paper (2007).
William E. Thro, Limiting Judges: A Review of Ralph Rossum's Antonin Scalia's Jurisprudence, 33 Journal of College & University Law 169 (2006).
William E. Thro, The Spending Clause Implications of Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Individual Rights, 7 Engage: The Journal of the Federalist Society's Practice Groups 69 (October 2006).
William E. Thro & Charles J. Russo, The Constitutionality of Racial Preferences in K-12 Education After Grutter & Gratz, 211 Education Law Reporter 537 (2006).
William E. Thro, The Constitutionality and Current Status of the Solomon Amendment, 4 NACUA Notes (2006).
William E. Thro, Judicial Enforcement of Educational Safety & Security : The American Experience, 24 Perspectives in Education 65 (2006).
William E. Thro, A Pelagian Vision for Our Augustinian Constitution: A Review of Justice Breyer's Active Liberty, 32 Journal of College & University Law 491 (2006).
Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, The Meaning of Sex: Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education and Its Potential Implications, 198 Education Law Reporter 777 (2005).
William E. Thro, Toward A Simpler Standard for Abrogating Sovereign Immunity, 6 Engage: The Journal of the Federalist Society's Practice Groups 65 (October 2005).
William E. Thro, The School Finance Paradox: How the Constitutional Values of Decentralization and Judicial Restraint Inhibit the Achievement of Quality Education, 197 Education Law Reporter 477 (2005).
William E. Thro, No Direct Consideration of Race: The Lessons of the University of Michigan Decisions, 196 Education Law Reporter 755 (2005).
William E. Thro, The Finance Paradox: How American Constitutional Values Inhibit the Funding of Quality Education, 22 Perspectives in Education 99 (2004).
William H. Hurd & William E. Thro, The Federalism Aspect of the Establishment Clause, 5 Engage: The Journal of the Federalist Society's Practice Groups 62 (October 2004).
William E. Thro, That Those Limits May Not Be Forgotten: An Explanation of Dual Sovereignty, 12 Widener Law Journal 567 (2003).
William E. Thro & Derek P. Langhauser, Emerging Limitations on Federal Authority, 176 Education Law Reporter 505 (2003).
William E. Thro, A Question of Sovereignty: A Review of John T. Noonan, Jr.'s Narrowing The Nation's Power: The Supreme Court Sides With the States, 29 Journal of College & University Law 745 (2003).
William E. Thro, Judicial Paradigms of Educational Equality, 174 Education Law Reporter 1 (2003).
William E. Thro, Immunity or Intellectual Property: The Constitutionality of Forcing the States to Choose, 173 Education Law Reporter 17 (2003).
William E. Thro, Review of Murray Sperber's Beer and Circus: How Big-Time College Sports Is Crippling Undergraduate Education, 28 Journal of College & University Law 233 (2001).
Brian A. Snow & William E. Thro, The Significance of Blackstone's Understanding of Sovereign Immunity for America's Public Institutions of Higher Education, 28 Journal of College & University Law 97 (2001).
Brian A. Snow, William E. Thro, & Stephanie Clemente, The Problem of Determining Title IX Liability, 154 Education Law Reporter 1 (2001).
William E. Thro, The Education Lawyer's Guide to the Sovereign Immunity Revolution, 146 Education Law Reporter 951 (2000).
William E. Thro & Brian A. Snow, The Subtle Implications of Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 141 Education Law Reporter 409 (2000).
William E. Thro, The Eleventh Amendment Revolution in the Lower Federal Courts, 25 Journal of College & University Law 501 (1999).
William E. Thro, A New Approach to State Constitutional Analysis in School Finance Litigation, 14 Journal of Law & Politics 525 (1998).
William E. Thro & Brian A. Snow, The Conflict Between the Equal Protection Clause and Cohen v. Brown University, 123 Education Law Reporter 1013 (1998).
William E. Thro, The Constitutionality of Eliminating De Facto Segregation in the Public Schools, 120 Education Law Reporter 895 (1997).
William E. Thro, The Constitutional Problem of Race-Based Scholarships and a Practical Solution, 111 Education Law Reporter 625 (1996).
Brian A. Snow & William E. Thro, Still on the Sidelines: Developing the Non-discrimination Paradigm Under Title IX , 3 Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy 1 (1996).
William E. Thro, Judicial Analysis During the Third Wave of School Finance Litigation: The Massachusetts Decision as a Model, 35 Boston College Law Review 597 (1994).
Brian A. Snow & William E. Thro, Redefining the Contours of University Liability: the Potential Implications of Nero v. Kansas State University, 90 Education Law Reporter 989 (1994).
William E. Thro, The Significance of the Tennessee School Finance Decision, 85 Education Law Reporter 11 (1993).
William E. Thro & Brian A. Snow, The Significance of Cohen v. Brown University for the Future of Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Athletics, 84 Education Law Reporter 611 (1993).
William E. Thro, The Role of Language of the State Education Clauses in School Finance Litigation, 79 Education Law Reporter 19 (1993).
William E. Thro, The Implications of Coalition for Equitable Educational Funding v. State for the Future of Public School Finance Litigation, 69 Education Law Reporter 1012 (1991).
William E. Thro, The Third Wave: The Implications of the Montana, Kentucky, and Texas Decisions for the Future of Public School Finance Reform Litigation, 19 Journal of Law & Education 219 (1990).
William E. Thro, Note, To Render Them Safe: The Analysis of State Constitutional Provisions in Public School Finance Reform Litigation, 75 Virginia Law Review 1639 (1989).
MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS
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William E. Thro, Dawn of Roberts Court Heralds A New Era, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sunday, July 15, 2007, at E1.
Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, Supreme Court to Review the Constitutionality of Racial Preferences in K-12 Schools, 72 School Business Affairs 40 (December 2006).
Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, Parents, Educators, and the Courts: Who Directs the Education of Students?, 72 School Business Affairs 39 (July/August 2006).
William E. Thro & Charles J. Russo, Judges and the Rule of Law: Reflections for School Business Officials , 72 School Business Affairs 40 (May 2006).
Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education: Right Result, Wrong Reasoning , 71 School Business Affairs 39 (November 2005).
Elizabeth B. Meers & William E. Thro , Race Conscious Financial Aid: After Michigan (parts I-II), 6 Student Aid Transcript 6 (Issue 1 - 2005) & 16 Student Aid Transcript 20 (Issue 2 - 2005).
Charles J. Russo & William E. Thro, Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education: Does Title IX Extend to Retaliation Claims, 71 School Business Affairs 20 (April 2005).
William E. Thro, The Constitutional and Legal Issues Surrounding the Use of Race-Based and Gender-Based Scholarships (parts I-II) , 8 Higher Education Law Bulletin 1 (Issue 4 - 2000) & 9 Higher Education Law Bulletin 1 (Issue 1 - 2001).
William E. Thro, The Past, Present, & Future of School Finance Litigation , American Bar Association Public Sector Lawyers' Division Newsletter 3 (August / September 1992).
ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRIES
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William E. Thro, Black, Hugo in 1 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 78 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Eleventh Amendment in 1 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 285 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Federalism in 1 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 328 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Marshall, John in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 528 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Rehnquist Court in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 677 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Roberts, John in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 703 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Roberts Court in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 703 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, School Finance Litigation in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 741 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Thorough & Efficient Systems of Education in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 822 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Title IX & Athletics in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 834 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, Title IX & Sexual Harassment in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 836 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
William E. Thro, U.S. Supreme Court Cases In Education in 2 Encyclopedia Of Education Law 857 (Charles J. Russo, chief ed., 2008) (Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California).
