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Stetson student arbitration team becomes new national champion at ABA competition

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Tampa Bay, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s team of Megan Lattz, Shannon McMahon, Sarah Olsen and Stuart Weissman won the American Bar Association Law Student Division National Arbitration Competition in Austin, Texas Nov. 18.

The Stetson student team beat a team from Texas Tech University School of Law and last year’s national champs from the University of Texas School of Law.

A second team of Stetson students performed well during the preliminary rounds of competition.

“This win was such an incredible accomplishment for our teams,” said Professor Kelly Feeley, who helped prepare the teams with Professor Roberta Flowers, director of Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy. “Each team member performed with such grace, talent and professionalism that we could not have been any prouder. The new national champions represent this year’s top professional and ethical student advocates.”

During competition, the student arbitration teams prepare and present opening statements, witness examinations, exhibit introductions, evidentiary presentations and summations. Stetson’s arbitration teams include members of the Client Skills Board, Trial Team and Moot Court.

For more information about the competition, please visit the ABA web site at
http://www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions/arbitration/home.html.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Harry Lee Anstead receives Stetson’s J. Ben Watkins Award

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Stetson Law Review presented Florida Supreme Court Justice Harry Lee Anstead with the J. Ben Watkins Award for Excellence in the Legal Profession on Nov. 17.

Justice Anstead was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Governor Lawton Chiles on Aug. 29, 1994. During his tenure, Justice Anstead initiated a number of changes to internal court procedures to improve the quality and efficiency of the judicial process. He also spear-headed a comprehensive statewide program to improve professionalism among judges, lawyers and law schools in the state. This initiative led to the creation of the Supreme Court of Florida’s Commission on Professionalism and the permanent Center for Professionalism at the Florida Bar. Justice Anstead advanced to the highest judicial office in state government on July 1, 2002, when he became Florida’s 50th chief justice, serving in that capacity through June 2004.

The Stetson Law Review presents the J. Ben Watkins Award to someone who has contributed significantly to the legal community. Inducted into Stetson’s Hall of Fame in September 2006, Watkins has actively practiced law since graduating from Stetson University College of Law in 1949. He served on the law school’s board of overseers for more than two decades and was instrumental in forming the Stetson Law Review.

Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles wins International Environmental Moot Court Competition at Stetson Law

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – A team of students from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles are the winners of the 11th annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition at Stetson University College of Law. The final rounds of competition were held Nov. 8-11.

More than 60 teams competed worldwide in regional competitions for a chance to come to the international finals at Stetson. Teams gathered at Stetson Law from Australia, Brazil, India, the Philippines and the United States. This year’s winners from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, CA defeated a team from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia.

“I was very impressed with the students’ advocacy skills and knowledge of international law,” said Professor Royal C. Gardner, who heads the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson Law.

The final round of competition at Stetson was judged by Dr. Wil Burns, editor-in-chief of the Journal of International Wildlife and Policy, Birgit Van Hout, executive director of Community Tampa Bay, and William Thomas, chair of the ABA International Environmental Law Committee.

Stetson student Client Skills Board Negotiation team wins regionals in Ft. Lauderdale

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – A Stetson student Client Skills Board Negotiation team from Stetson University College of Law won first place at the Regional ABA Law Student Division’s Negotiation Competition in Ft. Lauderdale Nov. 5.

The winning team of Stetson students Kelly Van Wey and Jossy Dieguez will head to a national competition in February. Twenty-four teams competed.

Stetson Law Professor Catherine Cameron coached the Stetson student teams at the competition at Nova Southeastern University Law Center.

“This competition provides a great opportunity for students to hone their negotiation skills,” said Professor Cameron. “I am very proud that each of the teams we sent to the competition placed and that our winning team is on their way to the nationals.”

Stetson sent three teams to the competition. Additionally, the team of David Ganderton and Amy Kiser placed third and the team of Emily Morgan and Doug Goldin placed sixth in competition.

For more information about the competition, please visit the ABA web site at
http://www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions/negotiation/home.html.

Stetson Law invites prospective law students to the Gulfport campus Nov. 18

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law invites prospective law students to its annual Law School Information Day from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 1401 61st St. S. in Gulfport.

The program features a simulated law class, a faculty-moderated law student panel, campus tours, and information about law school admissions, financial aid for law school and legal careers. Prospective students can also learn more about Stetson’s international and part-time law programs and its award-winning trial and moot court teams.

“Law Day is an opportunity for prospective law school students to get an overview of both law school and the Stetson experience,” said Laura Zuppo-Headley, director of admissions. “They can experience a mock first-year class, learn what it is like to be a law student, meet faculty and take tours of campus with current students.”

Last year’s event drew more than 300 people from across the state and nation to Stetson’s Gulfport campus.

To learn more and to register for this free event, please visit Stetson online at http://justice.law.stetson.edu/admissions/lawschoolinformationday.asp.
The deadline to register is Nov. 13.

Local high school and law students debate international human rights in November

Contact Brandi Palmer
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Students from Lakewood High School and Stetson University College of Law will debate international human rights policies Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall at the Stetson University College of Law Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.

The debate entitled “Working Together for the World: What’s in it for the U.S.?” is open to the public and invites community discussion during an open microphone session.

Patricia Gomez, assistant director of international programs at Stetson Law, will host the debate and Darden Rice, who represents the League of Women Voters, will moderate. Birgit Van Hout, executive director of Community Tampa Bay, and Dr. Susan Zucker, director of technology and distance education for the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson Law, will provide the program’s keynotes. Lakewood High School students MacKenzie Deck and Niraj Singh will discuss whether the U.S. should work towards international compliance with the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Stetson Law students Gyula Szilagyi and Ahmad Yakzan will discuss presidential power to overrule the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights during threats to national security.

The event, a local effort of the national “The People Speak” campaign to facilitate discussion of international issues, has traditionally attracted an average of 100 people annually to the law school campus.

Another The People Speak event at 6 p.m. on Nov. 8 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Snell Isle Blvd. N.E. in St. Petersburg, features Stetson Law Professor Michael Allen presenting “(In)Security in America through the Lens of Immigration: The Importance of the Salad Bowl.”

The People Speak was created in 2003 by the United Nations Foundation and a nonpartisan group of concerned organizations to provide forums for Americans to participate in policy discussions. The People Speak sponsored thousands of such grassroots events and hosted dozens of signature events with ABC News since its inception in 2003.

For more information about The People Speak, please visit:
http://www.thepeoplespeak.org.

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.