Donald J. Guter

Donald Joseph Guter (born June 26, 1948) is an American educator, lawyer and retired United States Navy rear admiral who was the 10th president and dean of South Texas College of Law Houston from 2009 to 2019. He previously served as the 10th dean of the Duquesne University School of Law from 2005 to 2008, when he was dismissed by Duquesne University president Charles J. Dougherty over a tenure battle.

Guter retired from active duty as the 37th Judge Advocate General of the Navy, the Navy's senior uniformed lawyer, from 2000 to 2002, having previously been Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command from 1997 to 2000. He served as a special legal counsel to Chief of Naval Operations Frank Kelso in the aftermath of the Tailhook scandal, and was a notable opponent of the suspension of habeas corpus of Guantanamo Bay detainees under the George W. Bush administration.

Early life and education

Born on June 26, 1948, Guter was raised in Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1970 with a B.A. degree. He gained admission to the Pennsylvania Bar upon receiving his Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University Law School in 1977, graduating from the Naval Justice School the same year. His first assignment was on the as a gunnery officer, administrative officer and legal officer consecutively from 1970 to 1973, with more than 30 months of overseas deployment to the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Guter succeeded Hutson as the 37th Judge Advocate General of the Navy on June 9, 2000. He protested the Bush administration's plans to convene special military commissions (without hearings before the Supreme Court) for Guantanamo Bay detainees in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, but was overruled.

He relinquished the office to his deputy, Rear Admiral Michael F. Lohr on June 28, 2002.

Academic career

After retirement, Guter became chief executive officer of the Vinson Hall Corporation, a nonprofit continuing care retirement community, from August 2002 to July 2005, and a member of the board of trustees of the Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation in support of the former role. As dean, Guter updated Bar exam preparatory services, sought greater involvement from the school's 6500 alumni and recruited Professor Jan M. Levine as the school's first full-time legal research and writing director. Guter remained at Duquesne as a law professor until the end of the academic year. The dismissal sparked protests from the student population. Guter stated that among his intentions as dean were to "increase the (college's) endowment" and "raise the school’s national profile, because South Texas isn’t very well known outside this part of the country". He assumed office on August 1, 2009.

Guter was recognized as one of Houston's most admired CEOs by the Houston Business Journal in July 2019. He departed the college the following month on August 1, 2019, relinquishing his post to Michael F. Barry, who previously served as assistant dean of St. Mary's University School of Law.

Personal life In the 2024 United States presidential election, Guter endorsed Kamala Harris.

Awards and decorations

Surface warfare insigniaDefense Distinguished Service MedalLegion of Merit with two award starsMeritorious Service Medal with two award starsNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal with bronze service starVietnam Service Medal with bronze service star