Don Guter, the former Duquesne University law dean whose removal in December sparked a campus outcry, is the new president and dean of Houston's oldest law school, officials announced today.

The decision by South Texas College of Law follows a nationwide search. Mr. Guter was law dean at Duquesne from 2005 through 2008 and had remained on the law school's faculty after he was ousted from that job.

He begins his new job Aug. 1 at the private, independent school with 1,200 students.

"The board, faculty, and staff of South Texas College of Law are thrilled," South Texas board chairman Mike Hays said. "We feel extremely fortunate to have a person of his stature and caliber join the college."

Mr. Guter, a Duquesne graduate, served as Navy judge advocate general from 2000 to 2002 and had a 32-year career in the service.

"I feel really good about this," Mr. Guter said this morning. "The law school is really well situated. It's got a wonderful mission which is not unlike ours (at Duquesne) -- to give people a chance to go to law school. It started out as a night school, just like Duquesne's."

In December, Duquesne President Charles Dougherty gave Mr. Guter 24 hours to resign or to be removed. Amid the outcry that followed, Dr. Dougherty indicated he acted because Mr. Guter did not adequately "perform as a part of the university's administrative team" or "effectively manage the school."

His supporters, including some donors who withheld support, cited accomplishments under Mr. Guter, including a 97 percent student pass rate among first-time bar exam takers this year. Some 200 who protested on campus in January said Mr. Guter was the victim of a personal vendetta.