Donald E. Darling Jr.

I grew up in a working class family in Delaware, the second oldest of 9 children. Given the size of my family and the economic demands placed upon my parents, I was often called upon to play a major role in rearing my younger siblings. I often say I've done it all from changing diapers to attending PTA meetings. As a de facto parent I gained invaluable firsthand insight into the intricate workings of relationships between parents and their children.

I began my undergraduate studies at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, in 1986. In 1990 I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland at College Park, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and an emphasis in sociology and psychology.

I studied law at Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. Through the student exchange program I attended the University of Minnesota Law School (Minneapolis, Minnesota) and the University of Oslo School of Law (Oslo, Norway). I received my Juris Doctorate degree from Hamline School of Law in 1995.