American law professor, novelist, and essayist. Born in Washington, D.C., Carter grew up in Washington, New York City, and Ithaca, New York. While earning a B.A. in history at Stanford University, he became managing editor of the Stanford Daily; at Yale University, where he received his J.D. in 1979, he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Carter's many articles about law and society have appeared in publications as varied as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today. His seven nonfiction books include the autobiographical Reflections of an Affirmative Action Baby (1991) and The Dissent of the Governed: A Meditation on Law, Religion, and Loyalty (1998). Carter's first novel, The Emperor of Ocean Park (2002), was an enormous best seller; his latest thriller is Jericho's Fall (2009). Since 1982 Carter has taught at the Yale Law School. See also stephencarterbooks.com.