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American and Caribbean Law Initiative visits Stetson

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The American and Caribbean Law Initiative visited Stetson in November. Stetson Law, one of ACLI’s newest members, hosted the Caribbean Law Clinic from Nov. 1-4 on the Gulfport and Tampa campuses. This is the first time the clinic met in Florida.

“This clinic was not a competition,” said Professor Dorothea Beane, who spear-headed Stetson hosting the Caribbean Law Clinic’s inaugural visit to Florida. “It was a unique opportunity for American and Caribbean law students to work together to solve legal problems.”

Participating students discussed their research and prepared for presentations together.

The founding mission, according to the ACLI web site, is to create programs to encourage cultural diversity and increase communication among countries in the Caribbean and “to advance the common interest of its members in the growth and development of the Caribbean Basin by facilitating collaborative relationships and by strengthening its legal development and institutions.”

ACLI is the brainchild of Professor John Knechtle, Florida Coastal School of Law.

Several schools across the Caribbean Basin and in the United States have joined the initiative.
The member schools to date are as follows:

  • Eugene Dupuch Law School, Nassau, Bahamas.
  • Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C. (unable to attend this year)
  • Hugh Wooding Law School, Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Norman Manley Law School, Kingston, Jamaica.
  • Nova Southeastern University Shepherd Broad Law Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
  • Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Fla.
  • Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Houston, Texas.

The ACLI and Stetson College of Law thank the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division for its invaluable contribution to the Nov. 3, 2006 American Caribbean Law Initiative Clinic.

To learn more, please visit: http://www.fcsl.edu/acli/.

Nation’s leading conference on science, technology and the law in St. Petersburg, Fla. Nov. 2-5

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. –
WHERE: The Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg.

WHEN: Nov. 2-5

WHO: Speakers include:

  • Dr. Jan Garavaglia (“Dr. G” on TV), Chief Medical Examiner for Osceola and Orange Counties, providing an inside view of forensics and TV.
  • Glenn R. Schmitt, Acting Director of the National Institute of Justice.
  • Dr. James Young, Special Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for the government of Canada, talking about using forensics to manage pandemics and mass disasters.

Additional:

  • Tracking of sexual predators
  • Identity theft
  • Forensic psychology
  • Science, law and law enforcement of methamphetamine
  • Biogeographical ancestry prediction based on DNA
  • Fingerprint evidence
  • Less than lethal devices
  • Case law update
  • Technology, research and education

Sponsored by the National Institute of Justice and the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology, and the Law at Stetson University College of Law.

Stetson student arbitration teams win regional ABA competition in Miami

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Student arbitration teams from Stetson University College of Law won both first and second place at the ABA Law Student Division Regional Arbitration Competition Oct. 14-15 in Miami.

Two teams from Stetson Law beat out competitors from the University of Alabama School of Law and Cumberland School of Law in the semi-finals. The winning Stetson teams competed in the finals against one another.

Stetson Professor Kelly Feeley coached the winning teams with Professor Roberta Flowers, director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy.

The Stetson student team of Stacy Appleton, Curtis Hutchinson, Jason Martell and Rachael Wood took first place and the team of Megan Lattz, Shannon McMahon, Sarah Olsen and Stu Weissman placed second in the competition.

Both Stetson teams will compete next month in Texas at the National Arbitration Competition.

Student Jennifer Cowan helped prepare the teams.

University of Maryland School of Law students win prestigious Tournament of Champions competition at Stetson College of Law

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – After three days of intense competition, a team of law students from the University of Maryland won the prestigious 2006 Tournament of Champions hosted by Stetson University College of Law, Oct. 26-28.

Sixteen law schools from across the country sent their finest for the annual competition, sponsored by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

The University of Maryland School of Law student team of Jessica Butkera, Jason Downs, Sig Libowitz and Rachel Simmons took home the first place James H. Seckinger Trophy. Best advocate went to Mike Seely from South Texas College of Law in the preliminary round and Rachel Simmons from the University of Maryland School of Law in the final round.

Washington University in St. Louis School of Law placed second in the competition.

During competition, students try a real-life case that has been slightly modified before a distinguished panel of judges. Judges for the competition included Executive Assistant State Attorney Beverly Andringa and Public Defender Bob Dillinger of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, State Attorney Earl Moreland of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Chief of the Felony Division from the State Attorney’s Office Mark Lewis and Assistant Public Defender Anna Frederiksen-Cherry of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

The competition began in 1989 and recent winners include Temple University School of Law, who took home the first place trophy in 2005, and Stetson University College of Law, who won in 2004.

Stetson University College of Law seminars educate seniors about consumer fraud in November

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law invites local seniors to free seminars in November in the Eleazer Courtroom at the Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.

Seminars include:

  • “Charity Fraud,” Nov. 2, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., presented by Karen Williams, Elder Consumer Protection fellow, Stetson University College of Law.
  • “Medicare: How it Works,” Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., presented by Robert Archer, area coordinator, Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE).

Parking is available at the college at the corner of 61st St. S. and 15th Ave. S. and a shuttle service is available from the parking lot. Seminar attendees may also be dropped at the entrance to the school before parking their vehicles.

To register for these programs or to learn more about upcoming seminars for seniors at Stetson, please call the Elder Consumer Protection Project at 727-562-7800 Ext. 7715.

If your attendance requires any aids or services as addressed in the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call two weeks prior to the event.

Stetson is a national leader in the field of elder law and has partnered with the Florida Attorney General’s Office, AARP and the legal community to increase public awareness of consumer fraud against senior citizens.

The Eleazer Courtroom, dedicated in September 2005, is the nation’s first “elder-friendly” courtroom.

Stetson University College of Law offers two bankruptcy law conferences

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law will offer a conference on bankruptcy law and practice in December.

The College of Law will present:

  • The 31st annual Alexander L. Paskay Seminar on Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Dec. 8-9, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 1160 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater Beach.

Faculty from around the country will teach this two-day seminar chaired by the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay. The faculty includes the Honorable Bruce A. Markell, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge, Las Vegas, NV; the Honorable Cecilia G. Morris, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Poughkeepsie, NY; Susan M. Freeman, vice president of the American College of Bankruptcy; Professor Richard Lieb, director of St. John’s University School of Law’s Institute for Bankruptcy Policy; Louis M. Phillips, former U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana; Mark A. Redmiles, Chief of the Civil Enforcement Unit for the U.S. Trustee Program; and John Rao, contributing author and editor of numerous books on bankruptcy and consumer law.

The seminar addresses important bankruptcy issues including the impact of the Bankruptcy Reform Act.

To register for this program, please call the Office of Conferences and Events at the College of Law at 813-228-0226, visit the web site at
http://www.law.stetson.edu/cle.

Stetson Law participates in National Guantánamo Teach-In Oct. 5

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. –

 

  • WHERE: Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, Fla., Mann Lounge
  • WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • WHO: Journalists are invited to attend

Stetson College of Law, together with colleges and universities around the country, will participate in a virtual teach-in on Oct. 5 addressing Guantánamo and the American detention policy. The teach-in will be aired in Stetson Law’s Mann Lounge via simulcast from Seton Hall Law School.

Seven sessions simulcast throughout the day address the unique issues that members of the press, medical field, religious community and military face as a result of the Guantánamo detention.

Scholars, journalists, lawyers and leaders from around the country will provide the panels for each aired session. The Stetson Law faculty will be fielding questions about the sessions intermittently throughout the day.

To learn more about the teach-in, schedule and session topics, please visit:
http://law.shu.edu/guantanamoteachin/page3.htm.

Stetson student organizations invite community to annual art show Oct. 14

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Intellectual Property Law Society and the Entertainment and Sports Law Society at Stetson University College of Law invite the community to their annual art show on Saturday, Oct. 14. The annual IPLS/EASL Art Show and Fundraiser will showcase local artists from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Great Hall at Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus at 1401 61st St. S.

“The goal of this show is to raise awareness of local talent and raise funds for future events that benefit both the Stetson community and the local public,” said IPLS Vice President of Events and Speakers Robert Varkonyi.
Well-known artists and talented students from the community will show their work. Showcased artwork will be available for display and purchase, and participating artists will donate art for an auction to support the fundraiser.

“Following its successful debut last year, the show this year will highlight an even greater variety of artwork,” said Alla Zagrebelsky, president of IPLS. “We have invited artists working in a variety of media, including painting, photography, glass and jewelry.”

Admission to this event is free and open to the public. Live music and refreshments will be available. For more information about the event, please contact IPLS President Alla Zagrebelsky at [email protected].

Stetson University College of Law inducts six members into Hall of Fame

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
727-562-7889

Tampa Bay, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law inducted six new members into its Hall of Fame during a gala ceremony on Sept. 23 at its Gulfport campus. The Hall of Fame now includes 32 members.

“All of these individuals have reached the pinnacle of their professions and have affected a profound, positive influence on Stetson University College of Law,” said Dean Darby Dickerson.

This year’s inductees include:

  • Dorothy “Dotti” Bressi

Dr. Dorothy Bressi worked almost six years at Stetson University College of Law as Associate Vice President of College Relations before she died on July 2, 2006, following complications from leukemia. During her time at Stetson, she led the successful Cornerstone Campaign, which raised more than $30 million in five years. She was instrumental in increasing student scholarships, awards, new faculty chairs, professorships and research programs.

  • Justice Carol W. Hunstein ’76

The Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and 1976 graduate of Stetson Law, Carol Hunstein is a compelling role model for those attempting to overcome adversity. By the age of eleven, she had battled cancer and polio and then saw her mother die. At age 23, she was a divorced, single mother who had just lost a leg from returning cancer. In 1984, she was elected the first female Superior Court Judge in DeKalb County, Ga. In 1992, Georgia’s governor nominated her as only the second female Supreme Court Justice in the state. During her years on the bench, she has been a tireless champion of racial, ethnic and gender equality. Her work created Georgia’s state and local domestic violence task forces and countless training programs for judges, lawyers and court personnel.

  • Congressman E. Clay Shaw Jr. ’66

Congressman E. Clay Shaw Jr. has represented South Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1981. After 25 years in Congress, Shaw is the second-most senior Republican on the Committee on Ways and Means, and the next in line to become chair of the full committee. Stetson University awarded him the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1984 and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2002.

  • J. Ben Watkins ’49

Attorney J. Ben Watkins has actively practiced law since graduating from Stetson University College of Law in 1949. Watkins has been a lifelong supporter of Stetson, graciously donating his resources, expertise and time. He served on the law school’s board of overseers for more than two decades during times of tremendous expansion and academic growth at the Gulfport campus.

  • John R. Wood ’51

A Sarasota lawyer and municipal judge, John Wood practiced law for 55 years before retiring in 2006. He specialized in legal work for financial institutions and volunteered thousands of hours of pro bono service. While serving in World War II he was in the Bataan Death March and was a prisoner of war for 42 months. After the war, Wood attended Stetson University College of Law. A fellow POW, General Jonathon Wainwright, presented Wood with his law degree upon graduating from Stetson in 1951.

  • J. Lamar Woodard

J. Lamar Woodard, professor and law librarian emeritus, joined Stetson University College of Law in 1971. Under his guidance, the library grew from a collection of 61,000 volumes and a small staff to a new facility with over 366,000 volumes, seven full-time librarians and 10 staff members.

To learn more about Stetson’s Hall of Fame, please visit:

http://justice.law.stetson.edu/HallofFame/2006_inductees.asp.

Stetson University College of Law releases Florida’s First Law School: A History of Stetson University College of Law

Contact Frank Klim
Executive Director of Communications
727-562-7889

Tampa Bay, Fla. – Carolina Academic Press has just published Florida’s First Law School: A History of Stetson University College of Law. The book is authored by Stetson Professor of Law Emeritus Michael Swygert and Gary Vause, former dean of the law school who died in 2003 before completion of the book.

A supremely researched book, Florida’s First Law School describes and analyzes the rise in prominence of Stetson University College of Law from its strong beginnings in 1900 through its mid-life crises during the Great Depression and World War II, and its upward march after its 1954 relocation to the Tampa Bay area. It is a history about the people whose personalities and visions meshed to propel a small, poor law school into the dynamic, secure law center it is today. It is a story unlike any other in the chronicles of American legal education.

The nation’s pre-eminent legal scholars have praised Florida’s First Law School:

“This history is truly a monumental work —a monument to the progress of Florida’s oldest law school, a monument to those who labored to insure that progress, and a monument to its authors, two of Stetson’s most distinguished faculty members.”
—Wm. Reece Smith Jr., former president of the International, American and Florida Bar associations, Rhodes Scholar, and Distinguished Professorial Lecturer at Stetson University College of Law

“This readable book is an important contribution to the growing literature on the history of legal education, and is must-reading for anyone interested in the evolution of American law schools.”
—James W. Ely, Jr., Milton R. Underwood Professor of Law and Professor of History at Vanderbilt University

“This is a vivid, detailed chronicle of the hundred-year-long history of Stetson University College of Law —step-by-step, year-by-year. Stetson law graduates will relish every word of it. Others, too, will learn from it what it takes to make an outstanding educational institution.”
—Harold J. Berman, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law at Emory University and James Barr Ames Professor of Law Emeritus at Harvard University

“Filled with people and personalities, this book nicely situates the College’s history within the broader contexts of the history of the state of Florida and the development of American legal education.”
—Walter F. Pratt, Jr., Dean and Educational Foundation Distinguished Professor of Law at The University of South Carolina School of Law.

“This book may be the most comprehensive history of a law school ever written. It tells a rich story of the ups and downs of Florida’s oldest law school, and in the process nicely chronicles not only one hundred years of law teaching in Florida, but also the transformation in the character of law students.”
—Stephen B. Presser, Director of American Society of Legal History and Raoul Berger Professor of Legal History and Professor of Business Law at Northwestern University

The book is available at the Stetson University College of Law bookstore by calling 727-562-7806, on the Stetson Law web site at
https://justice.law.stetson.edu/bookstore/history/.
or through Carolina Academic Press at
http://www.cap-press.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you would like to schedule an interview with Professor Swygert, please call the Communications Office at Stetson University College of Law at 727-562-7889.

Student Moot Court Teams win best brief at Orlando competition

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Students from Stetson University College of Law moot court teams won best brief awards at the Workers’ Compensation Moot Court Competition in Orlando on Aug. 13 and 14.

The Stetson student team of Sam Cooley and Todd Parrish authored the winning brief. Cooley was also a member of the team that took home an award for best memorial at the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in March. This was Parrish’s first competition. Moot court alumnus Dan Green coached the team.

The second student team of Andrew Hill, Emily Morgan and Jason Stearns wrote the brief that placed as runner up in the competition. Stetson Law moot court alumni Jennifer Card and Nancy Slack Meyer, of Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Kiernan, Mueller & Lancaster, L.L.P., coached the team which advanced to the final round of competition.

“Being honored with awards for the top two briefs in this competition speaks volumes about the strength of Stetson’s legal writing program,” said Professor Stephanie Vaughan, moot court advisor and co-director of the legal research and writing program.

Florida State University won the competition overall.