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Stetson Law moves graduation location due to rain

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law is moving graduation ceremonies from the Gulfport campus to the Pasadena Community Church, 227 70th St. S., St. Petersburg, due to inclement weather. The commencement ceremony will begin Saturday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m.

  • Directions to Pasadena Community Church: From Stetson Law in Gulfport,

head south on 61st St. S. towards 15th Ave. S. Turn right on 15th Ave. S. Turn right on Gulfport Blvd. S. (22nd Ave. S.). Turn right onto Pasadena Ave. S. (first major intersection). Turn left onto Central Ave. Turn left onto 70th St. S.

Link to Stetson online for a detailed map to the rain location here:
http://justice.law.stetson.edu/graduation/location.asp.

  • The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. to allow time for graduates and visitors to report to the new location. Students should report to Hamilton Auditorium at 1:45 p.m. and faculty should report to the Gathering Room.
  • The graduation reception will take place at the church.
  • The book signing with commencement speaker Chris Matthews will take place immediately after graduation in the reception hall at the church.
  • The law library will be open for visitors on campus from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • The Internet Webcast of the ceremony has been canceled.

 

Stetson Law accepting nominations for William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Tampa Bay, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law is accepting nominations for the 2007 William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award, which recognizes outstanding service to the community and to the law. The award will be presented at Stetson’s spring honors and awards ceremony on May 11 on the Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.

Stetson established the William Reece Smith Jr. Award in 1990. William Reece Smith Jr., the award’s namesake and its first recipient, is past president of the American, International and Florida Bar associations. His relationship with Stetson began in the 1950s, and he has been a distinguished professorial lecturer since 1991.

“This annual award recognizes outstanding public service to the community and to the legal profession,” said Stetson Law Dean and Vice President Darby Dickerson.

Previous winners included community service leader Louie N. Adcock Jr.; Community Law Program, Inc. trustee Murray B. Silverstein; Tampa Safe and Free founder Rochelle Reback; and pro bono advocate Sylvia Walbolt.

Nominations should be sent by March 30 to Todd Marrs, director of alumni and annual giving at Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707.

Stetson Law hosts premier conference on law and higher education

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law hosts the 28th National Conference on Higher Education, Feb. 17-21 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 1160 Gulf Blvd., on Clearwater Beach, Fla.

The conference for higher education administrators and attorneys presents current legal issues in higher education.

The topics of this year’s law and higher education discussions and workshops include:

  • Free expression and hate speech on campuses
  • Emerging issues for students with disabilities
  • The legacy of the civil rights movement
  • Faculty rights and protected works
  • Federal immigration law and compliance
  • Accountability of administrators
  • Tort law and recreation, sports and field trips
  • Hazing cases
  • Campus sexual assault
  • Emergency management
  • Managing economic crises
  • Nondiscrimination law and employment implications

Presenters from around the country include:

  • Joan VanTol, corporate counsel for the Law School Admission Council.
  • Dr. Gwen Dungy, executive director of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
  • Ted Shaw, director-counsel and president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc.
  • USF Professor Raymond Arsenault, author of Freedom Riders.
  • Conference Chair and Stetson Law Professor Robert Bickel who co-authored the Rights and Responsibilities of the Modern University: Who Assumes the Risks of College Life? with Stetson Law Professor Peter Lake.

To register for this event, please contact the Office of Conferences and Events at Stetson at 813-228-0226, e-mail [email protected] or visit
http://www.law.stetson.edu/conferences/.

To learn more about upcoming higher education programs at Stetson, please visit the Center on the web at http://www.law.stetson.edu/excellence/HigherEd/ or call 727-562-7392.

The mission of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy is to advance the field of higher education law and policy by:

  • conducting quality research and producing outstanding scholarship in the area of higher education law and policy
  • presenting interdisciplinary conferences and special programs in areas affecting higher education law and policy and by
  • forging productive relationships with other organizations devoted to the advancement of law and higher education both within the United States and throughout the world.

Judge Stringer continues to be role model for young people

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Tampa, Fla. – Judge Thomas E. Stringer Sr., a celebrated jurist with Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal, repeatedly inspires countless young people to follow their dreams of pursuing a legal career. Stetson University College of Law’s first African-American law graduate continues the tradition Feb. 16 as he meets with minority high-school students at Stetson’s Tampa Law Center at 1700 N. Tampa St.

The Judge Stringer Youth Prelaw Conference, now in its seventh year, is part of Stetson’s celebration of Black History Month. The youth conference will feature a mock trial in Stetson’s William Reece Smith Jr. Courtroom.

“Early intervention is crucial to drop out prevention,” said Admissions Director Laura Zuppo. “By allowing young people to view life on a college campus, we hope to inspire them to pursue college degrees and a legal education.”

Stetson’s Admissions Office, the Black Law Student Association and the ABA Law Student Division will sponsor the annual event, which is made possible by a grant from the Law School Admissions Council.

Students from Middleton High School and Tampa Bay Academy of Hope are expected to attend.

Stetson Law trial team again wins the Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Stetson University College of Law Trial Team won the Florida Bar Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition for the second year in a row on Jan. 18 in Miami.

This is the 17th time the team has won the competition. Student teams from eight Florida law schools competed.

Stetson’s team of Matthew Easterwood, Johanna Castellon, Anthony Wilson and Rachael Wood defeated students from the University of Florida in the final round of the state-wide competition.

Also competing were Andrew Hill, Ann Fiddler, Petra Risco-Adam and Tony Perez.

Stetson professor and trial team program director Professor Lee Coppock coached the winning team with former trial team member John Grant III.

“Stetson is honored to win another top spot in this premier annual competition,” said Professor Coppock. “We strive to train our students to be outstanding advocates and professionals.”

Stetson has won first place in more national-level trial competitions than any other law school in the nation and has consistently ranked as a top law school for trial advocacy by the U.S. News & World Report since it started rankings.

Ebony Scholars visit Stetson Law for annual college scholarship workshop

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – On Jan. 20, Stetson law professors and students invited local high school students from the Ebony Scholars club to the Gulfport campus to learn about preparing for the scholastic and financial rigors of a college education.

Stetson Professor Dorothea Beane partnered with Stetson’s Black Law Student Association to offer the weekend workshop. Seminar topics included “Funding Your College Education,” “Preparing for College and Beyond,” and “What Parents Need to Know About the Hidden Costs of College.”

The Ebony Scholar students and their families learned about computer-based research for scholarships in Stetson’s state-of-the-art law library.

“This program strengthens Stetson’s commitment to the community to support academic excellence,” said Professor Beane, who believes that mentoring can be key in shaping the futures of young people.

The Ebony Scholars program was started more than two decades ago by retired Pinellas educator Vyrle Davis to honor African-American students for their scholastic and community achievements and to challenge them to continue their education.

The Ebony Scholars program annually targets elementary school students who are recommended for awards. The students must maintain a 3.3 grade point average in middle school and a 3.0 average in high school to stay in the program. As 11th graders, they are invited to join the Ebony Scholars academic club, where they meet monthly to discuss career and college opportunities and social etiquette. They also complete an eight-week Toastmasters International youth leadership program to develop communication and leadership skills.

An annual luncheon in May honors graduating seniors and their parents. Various scholarship awards are available for the students.

Stetson promotes technology chief and development officer

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Daniel Orie has been promoted to chief technology officer and Karen Griffin has been promoted to director of development at Stetson University College of Law.

In the new position, Orie will continue to assist with the college’s new technology initiatives, including developing an intranet and distance education programs.

Orie was formerly executive director of information technology at the College of Law. Prior to joining the law school, he led information systems at Stetson University in DeLand.

Griffin will focus on planned giving, major gifts and corporate and foundation giving in her new role.

Griffin previously directed corporate and foundation relations at the law school. She was director of institutional and government grants at Stetson University in DeLand prior to joining Stetson law school.

Stetson hires new directors to oversee alumni and campus operations

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – William Weller has been selected as the new executive director of operations and Todd Marrs has been selected as the new director of alumni and annual giving at Stetson University College of Law.

Weller will oversee several non-academic support units on the Gulfport and Tampa campuses of the College of Law.

Weller was formerly executive vice-president of Crescent Communications Corp. in North Carolina and vice-president of corporate operations for Beasley Broadcast Group in Florida and North Carolina. He is a 2004 graduate of Stetson University College of Law.

Marrs will oversee the college’s annual fund campaign and will be responsible for alumni programming and involvement.

Prior to coming to Stetson, Marrs held positions in alumni relations and development at the University of Tampa.

Bones producer to visit Stetson’s Gulfport campus Feb. 5

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Kathy Reichs, a top forensic anthropologist, novelist and producer of the Bones television series, will discuss forensics and crime fiction Feb. 5 in a program sponsored by Stetson University College of Law’s National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law.

“Forensic Anthropology: From Crime Scene to Crime Fiction” will be presented in Stetson’s Great Hall at noon. Another presentation, “Forensic Dentistry,” featuring forensic dentistry specialist Robert Dorion, will be offered as part of the same program. The two presentations are free. A light lunch will be served.

Developed by 20th Century Fox Television, Bones is seen Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on the Fox Network. Its story lines are inspired by stories written by best-selling author Reichs. The episodes feature a character named Dr. Temperance Brennan, who, like Reichs, is a forensic anthropologist.

Reichs has worked to identify individuals in mass graves in Guatemala; victims of 911 at Ground Zero; and war dead from World War II. She will sign books from her best-selling Temperance Brennan series, which includes Déjà Dead, Death du Jour, Deadly Decisions, Fatal Voyage, Grave Secrets, Bare Bones, Monday Mourning, Cross Bones and Break No Bones.

Dorion has been the director of forensic dentistry at the Ministry of Public Security in Québec since 1973. He is a founding member and past president of the American Board of Forensic Odontology and has lectured at forensics conferences around the world.

The National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law, a program of the National Institute of Justice, provides a comprehensive online database of legal and scientific research. It educates lawyers, judges and law enforcement personnel about new developments in forensic technology and forensic evidence handling in the courts.

To learn more, or to RSVP for the program, call 727-562-7316 or visit the web site at http://www.ncstl.org/.

Janet Reno to speak at Stetson University College of Law

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno will serve as the William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Lecturer at Stetson’s Annual Inns of Court Banquet on Jan. 25.

Reno was the 78th attorney general of the United States and the first woman to hold the post. She was the first woman appointed to be a state attorney for Florida. Reno helped win congressional approval of the 1994 crime bill, the biggest crime legislation in U.S. history.

“We are honored to have Ms. Reno join the Stetson community for this year’s Inns of Court event,” said Professor Roberta Flowers. “Her distinguished career as both an advocate and leader is an inspiration to both the legal community and to our students.”

The banquet and lecture, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Mirror Lake Lyceum in St. Petersburg, brings together invited dignitaries, federal, circuit and county judges, area attorneys, Inn members and Stetson students.

Reno will be making a special presentation at the Ninth International Wildlife Law Conference on Stetson’s Gulfport campus Jan. 26 and she will address a Stetson student leadership luncheon.

The Inns of Court is a tradition originally used to train barristers in London. It focuses on maintaining close mentoring relationships between lawyers-to-be and eminent scholars, lawyers and judges.

William Reece Smith Jr. has been a distinguished professorial lecturer at Stetson Law since 1991 and has taught at the law school since 1954. He is the past president of the American, International and Florida bar associations. He has received numerous legal awards, including the ABA’s Gold Medal and the Florida Bar Foundation’s Medal of Honor. Smith is of counsel and is chair emeritus of Carlton Fields P.A.

The William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Lecture is made possible by a generous gift from Joy McCann Culverhouse.

New Inn of Court named for Stetson Professor and Dean Emeritus Bruce Jacob

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Bruce R. Jacob Criminal Appellate Inn of Court was officially named on Oct. 18 for Stetson University College of Law Professor and Dean Emeritus Bruce Jacob.

Professor Bruce Jacob teaches and researches primarily in the areas of criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law and administrative law at Stetson. He was vice president of Stetson University and dean of Stetson College of Law from 1981 through 1994, and dean of Mercer University Law School from 1978 to 1981.

“This came as a complete surprise and it is an incredible honor. I am very grateful to the members of the Inn,” said Jacob.

Jacob began his career in 1960 as an assistant attorney general for the state of Florida and represented the respondent in the Supreme Court’s Gideon v. Wainwright decision in 1963, involving an indigent criminal defendant’s right to counsel. He later was appointed by the Supreme Court to represent the petitioner in Kaufman v. United States, decided in 1969. He was professor and director of clinical programs at the Ohio State University College of Law from 1971 to 1978, representing and training law students to represent indigent defendants in criminal trials and appeals. He established a program at the Emory University Law School in 1965-1969 and co-founded a program at Harvard Law School in 1969 and 1970 to provide legal assistance to indigent prison inmates.

The Inn announced that it is the first of its kind, being composed primarily of students from an evening law program and specializing in appellate law. Other members include judges, professors, attorneys and recent graduates.

The Inn’s first meeting was this year on Sept. 20 at the Tampa Law Center.
The American Inns of Court, composed of judges, lawyers, law professors and law students, meet regularly to discuss ethics, skills and professionalism. The American Inns of Court Foundation was formally organized in 1985.

Judge and former Hispanic Woman of the Year speaks at Stetson’s graduation Dec. 16

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Honorable Virginia M. Hernandez Covington, judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, speaks at Stetson’s commencement Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. in the college’s courtyard in Gulfport.

Judge Covington was named Tampa’s Hispanic Woman of the Year in 2003. She has served on the federal bench since 2004 as a U.S. district judge. Judge Covington has taught throughout Latin America on trial advocacy practices and procedures and has lectured on asset forfeiture, money laundering and complex prosecutions to prosecutors and law enforcement personnel nationwide.

“Judge Covington is an outstanding role model and we are very privileged to have her join us as this year’s graduation speaker,” said Dean Darby Dickerson.

During the graduation ceremony, 111 students are expected to walk, including one student with a Master of Laws degree in international law. Eighteen students will graduate from the part-time law program. Nine students will receive a dual J.D. and MBA degree.

Among the graduating class:

  • Marina Braginskaya, a student intern for U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington, D.C.
  • Jane Geddes, a former Ladies Professional Golf Association golfer and 1987 LPGA champion.
  • Brian Redar, the only student member of the American Bar Association Board of Governors.
  • Jason Whittemore, son, and Erin Whittemore, niece of Judge James Whittemore, who presided over the controversial Terri Schiavo case.