General Counsel Judith Leonard will retire February 2023

Judith Leonard has served as the general counsel of the Smithsonian Institution since 2009. She serves as the principal legal advisor to the Board of Regents, the Secretary and other Smithsonian officials.

Leonard has served as the general counsel of the Smithsonian since 2009 following a decade as the vice president and general counsel of the University of Arizona where she also taught higher education law. Previously, Leonard was an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Education and General Counsel of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Executive Office of the President in Washington, D.C.

“Judith began her tenure as General Counsel during a time of great change at the Institution,” said Secretary Lonnie Bunch. “She helped my predecessors and the Board of Regents navigate complex issues and address critical governance and leadership reforms.  Her thoughtful insights have assisted all of us during her tenure.”

The Smithsonian’s general counsel directs and coordinates all legal matters and prepares legal opinions relevant to the operations of the Institution, including coordination with the Department of Justice on litigation matters, representation in administrative proceedings, engagement and management of outside counsel and management of the team of lawyers and support staff who provide the legal advice and representation to the entire Institution.

Leonard helped develop and modernize the Office of the General Counsel, expanding it in size and expertise, including through the increased use of paralegal talent. As the Smithsonian grew more complex, Judith increased the office’s subject-matter expertise in areas such as ethics, digitization, intellectual property and social media. The office also broadened its external impact, most notably with the conference, Legal Issues in Museum Administration, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in March. Leonard also helped the Institution manage through the pandemic and emerge into a post-pandemic operations mode.

“Although I am saddened to see her depart,” Bunch continued. “I know you all will join me in wishing her well as she pursues the next step in her professional career. We will begin a search for her successor within the next few months.”

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