Phil Berger, UNC dean? What we’ve learned about that rumor | Opinion

At the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, some faculty members have become so wary of political meddling that they’re sharing a rumor that the next dean of the UNC School of Law could be state Senate leader Phil Berger.

The far-fetched idea gained currency after the long-serving senator lost his Republican primary in March. At 73, Berger may simply retire from public life when his term ends at the conclusion of this year. But he may also be looking for a prestigious place to land after the Senate.

One prominent law school professor said of Berger eyeing the job, “I’ve heard the rumor, too. In North Carolina, who is to say what might happen?” But another professor said, “I have not heard any rumor along those lines.”

Here’s what we know:

The senator’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

The university said it has scheduled open forums for each of the final three candidates for the job to be held for April 13, April 16 and May 4. A spokesperson told me that the university does not comment on searches.

We also know this: Berger is closely connected to the law. He is a lawyer in his hometown of Eden, he has shaped state law since becoming president pro tempore of the Senate in 2011, and his son is a state Supreme Court Justice.

Could Berger intervene in the process and put himself in contention?

There’s certainly intrigue surrounding Berger and the law school. Sources close to former law school dean Martin Brinkley say Berger was irritated that Brinkley, as the head of the search for a new dean of the UNC School of Government, rejected a candidate being pushed by Berger and Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby.

After that, state funding for a new law school building stalled. Brinkley, who is still on the law school faculty, announced in 2025 that he was stepping down as dean, partly out of concern that his presence was impeding funding for the new building, the source said.

A Dean Berger certainly could help open state funding for a new law school.

It’s an unlikely scenario, but it’s possible given how Republican state lawmakers under Berger’s leadership have inserted themselves into selecting the university’s leaders, ending it policies on diversity, equity and inclusion and supporting the creation of the new, conservative-friendly School of Civic Life and Leadership.

Does Berger have one more such move in him as he heads out the door? One more thing we know: a school full of lawyers would strenuously object.

Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@newsobserver.com