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Stetson University College of Law ties as top American advocacy school Legal research and writing program ties as nation’s third-best

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law has once again tied as the best school in the nation for trial advocacy training in the 2006 graduate school rankings from U.S. News & World Report. The magazine also recognized Stetson’s legal research and writing program, which tied for third in the nation.

Since the magazine started ranking law schools in 1995, Stetson has consistently ranked at or near the top for advocacy training, placing first seven of those years. This was the first year the magazine ranked the research and writing programs.

“Stetson provides its students with an outstanding education and is particularly strong in the area of skills training. Our faculty work very hard to teach students the skills, such as advocacy and legal writing, they need to be successful attorneys. Our students also work very hard to master these skills. These rankings reflect the thousands of hours of effort our faculty and students devote to achieving true excellence,” said Dean Darby Dickerson, who served as legal writing director from 1996 through 2004.

Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy emphasizes the College of Law’s commitment to training in this specialty. “Stetson could not be more proud of this honor that recognizes its long-standing commitment to train law students to be exceptional lawyers. Stetson has pioneered successful advocacy training and intends to remain a leader in this area,” said Professor and Center Director Roberta Flowers.

Stetson’s trial teams have won many awards at competitions this school year, including the Frédéric Eisemann Award for winning a world championship at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition, March 18-24 in Vienna, Austria. Stetson University College of Law is Florida’s first law school. It has educated lawyers for more than a century, and offers full- and part-time programs leading to the J.D., J.D./M.B.A., and LL.M. degrees. Stetson is the headquarters for the National Conference of Law Reviews

Madison Mosley, Stetson Law library director, professor and community leader, dies

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law Director of the Law Library and Information Services and Associate Professor of Law Madison Mosley died Tuesday, March 29, 2005. He was 55.

“Dr. Mosley was an extraordinary individual. He was kind, intelligent, and very dedicated to Stetson and the library,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “He was a talented and highly-trained library professional. His loss is a tremendous loss to the Stetson community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Dr. Mosley joined the Stetson staff in 1993 after earning his law degree from the College of Law. He served as reference librarian and associate director before being appointed library director in February 2001.

Dr. Mosley was an active member of the American Library Association and the ALA’s Black Caucus; American Association of Law Libraries and the AALL’s Southeastern Chapter; Florida Library Association; Association of College and Research Libraries; Florida Bar and National Bar Association. He was also an active member of the community, serving as a member of the Avon Park city council, the co-chair of St. Petersburg’s Citizens Review Committee for the Police Department and the parliamentarian of the city’s African-American Voter Education Committee.

In addition to his Stetson law degree, Dr. Mosley earned his bachelor’s degree in library science and English from Florida State University in 1971, his master’s degree in library science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1974, and his doctorate in library science from Florida State University in 1980.

There will be a public viewing Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at Steele’s Family Funeral Services, 207 Burns Lane S.E. in Winter Haven. The memorial service is scheduled for Monday, April 4, at 1 p.m., at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 1012 E. Line St., Leesburg, Fla. In lieu of flowers, the Mosley family requests donations be sent to Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707, in honor of Dr. Mosley.

Two top forensic minds to team for free lecture at Stetson Law

Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Renowned forensic expert Dr. Michael Baden will return to Stetson University College of Law with Dr. Peter Dean for a lecture at noon on April 4 in the Great Hall of Stetson’s Gulfport campus. The speech, “Forensic pathology on both sides of the pond,” is free and open to the public.

The presentation is part of the 2005 Law, Science and Technology Lecture Series from Stetson’s National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law.

“We are fortunate to have two such gifted forensic pathologists explaining the history of and latest developments in forensic pathology on both sides of the Atlantic.” said Professor Carol Henderson, Clearinghouse director.

Dr. Michael Baden
Dr. Michael Baden served as the chairman of the Forensic Pathology Panel of the U.S. Congress Select Committee on Assassinations, which investigated the deaths of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Former Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, Dr. Baden has been involved with many other high-profile cases including the death of John Belushi, the re-autopsy of Civil Rights Leader Medgar Evers and the autopsies of the victims of TWA Flight 800.

Dr. Baden is widely published in national and international medical journals, the author of the book “Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers,” and has been the subject of nine HBO specials.

Dr. Peter Dean
Dr. Peter Dean serves as a coroner in Suffolk and Essex, England, and practices clinical forensic medicine in London. He has written numerous professional papers on forensic medicine and the book “Medico-Legal Essentials in Healthcare.”

He is regularly called as an expert witness on clinical forensic medicine, child abuse and adult sexual assault. He also advises forensic aspects of television drama series such as “Silent Witness” and “Waking the Dead” for the BBC. Dr. Dean has a particular interest in the historical development of forensic medicine, which will be part of this lecture.

Stetson University College of Law wins world championship

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law became the first American law school since 1996 to win the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition, held March 18-24 in Vienna, Austria. Teams from 150 law schools in 47 countries competed.

Stetson received the prestigious Frédéric Eisemann Award for winning. In its 12th year, the competition is the largest gathering of law schools in one place for such an event, as well as the largest involving private international law. The competition provides an opportunity for law students to present arguments on a hypothetical international business dispute to distinguished international arbitrators, scholars and jurists.

The championship team consisted of law students Katherine Hurst, Ryan Jones, Megan Schultz, Burks Smith and Tom Yaegers, with Kathryn Christian assisting on the memoranda. Professors Jack Graves and Stephanie Vaughan coached the team.

“The enormity of this accomplishment is difficult to put into words,” Graves said. “The best and the brightest in international commercial law and arbitration gather in Vienna for a competition celebrating 25 years of work by the United Nations in international trade law. The opportunity to see our students win it all in this prestigious event was simply incredible. I have never been more proud of a group of young men and women.”

Stetson defeated the University of Vienna in the final round. The team defeated Columbia University, the National University of Singapore, Queen’s University (Canada), and the University of Notre Dame (Australia) in earlier elimination rounds.

Professor Dr. Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler, president of the Swiss Arbitration Association, chaired the arbitration panel in the final round. In announcing Stetson as the winner of the final round, she analogized the award to an Olympic gold medal.

“This team worked together in perfect harmony,” said Vaughan, Stetson’s moot court adviser. “This group of special and unique students worked together as a cohesive unit for six months and traveled together for two weeks. Bringing home the world championship to the United States, and directly to Stetson, is indescribable. I have never been more excited for my students and Stetson.”

The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot highlights the importance of the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods (governing international sales of goods between businesses from member states) and the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration. The goal of the moot is to foster the study of international commercial law and arbitration.

The moot also serves as an opportunity for many of the foremost authorities on international commercial law and arbitration to gather for the week to attend conferences and serve as arbitrators for the student arguments. Each year’s moot also highlights one of the many sets of institutional arbitration rules. This year, the hypothetical parties to the moot problem chose the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration.

The team received a generous contribution from the International Law Section of the Florida Bar to help cover the cost of its travel and participation in the moot.

Stetson Law inducts Judge Susan Schaeffer into Hall of Fame

Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law recently inducted Judge Susan F. Schaeffer as the newest member of its Hall of Fame. Judge Schaeffer was inducted during a ceremony following her taking senior status after 22 years on the bench.

“With all of Stetson’s distinguished alumni, I feel especially honored to be chosen early in the process as one of Stetson’s elite,” said Judge Schaeffer.

Judge Schaeffer graduated at the top of her 1971 class at Stetson. During her judicial career, she left an indelible imprint on the justice system in Florida as both a jurist and advocate for the trial court system. As chair of the Trial Court Budget Commission, she helped establish equitable funding of trial courts throughout Florida.

Susan Schaeffer attended elementary school in Canton, Ohio, and moved to St. Petersburg in 1955 before entering the ninth grade at Northeast High School. While in high school, Judge Schaeffer was a first-class athlete at a time when women’s sports were not always a priority.

She earned an associate of arts degree in 1962 from St. Petersburg Junior College. She went on to Florida State University and earned a bachelor’s in accounting in 1964. A gifted student, music and theater helped balance her life. Later in life, as a judge, she found time to lend her talents outside the courtroom to community events and programs.

After graduating from Florida State, she worked as a field agent for the Internal Revenue Service for three years and then began law school at Stetson.

Over the years, Judge Schaeffer established a tradition of firsts.
First in her 1971 Stetson Law graduating class …one of only three female students

  • First female chief assistant public defender in Pinellas County
  • First female criminal defense attorney rated “A” by Martindale Hubbell
  • First judge to receive the St. Petersburg Bar Association’s Judicial Appreciation Award
  • First recipient of the William J. Castagna Award for Judicial Excellence
  • First female chief judge in the 6th Judicial Circuit
  • First chief judge in the 6th Judicial Circuit elected to three consecutive terms

Judge Schaeffer’s work with the Florida Advance Judicial College and the National Judges College achieved yet another first as she created the first widely used judge’s manual on the penalty phase of capital murder trials.

A high-resolution video on Judge Schaeffer’s impressive career is available at: http://gpiis03.law.stetson.edu/media/on-demand/schaeffer_01.asx.

Information and links about advance directives

Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – An advance directive is your instructions that you make in advance about your health care in the event that you are not able to make your own health care decisions. There are two types of advance directives: a health care surrogate and a living will.

To learn more about Florida advance directives, visit http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm (click on living will information) or www.flabar.org (click on consumer services).

Stetson Law team wins spot in national mediation competition

Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – A team from Stetson University College of Law won the regional round of the American Bar Association’s Representation in Mediation Competition, March 12-13 in Wisconsin. Stetson is one of two schools from the regional competition to advance to the national competition April 13-14 in Los Angeles.

The winning Stetson team consisted of students Carrie Cherveny and Lesley Parrish Lentz. They were coached by Stetson law professors Kelly Feeley and Darryl Wilson.

“Professor Wilson and I are so proud to have coached the teams and to have had them represent themselves and Stetson with such skill and professionalism,” Feeley said.

Stetson defeated a team from Marquette University Law School to advance to the national competition. The team defeated Ohio State University and Northern Illinois University in earlier rounds.

Stetson Law seeks nominations for the 2005 Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law is seeking nominations for the 2005 William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award. The award will be presented at the law school’s spring graduation Honors and Awards ceremony on May 13. The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 8.

“Wm. Reece Smith’s professional career is the standard of dedication to public service and access to justice that all legal professionals should strive to meet,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “This award honors Reece and recognizes individuals who help others, their communities and the justice system.”

William Reece Smith Jr., the award’s namesake and its first recipient, has served as president of the International Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Foundation, American Bar Endowment, National Conference of Bar Presidents, the Florida Bar and Hillsborough County Bar Association. His relationship with Stetson Law began in the 1950s, and he has taught as a distinguished professorial lecturer since 1991.

The state-of-the-art courtroom at Stetson’s Tampa Law Center is named for Smith. It serves as a classroom and training area for Stetson students and also houses oral arguments for the Florida Second District Court of Appeal Tampa Branch.

Last year, the honor was awarded to Sarasota elder law attorney Mary Alice Jackson. She is chair of the Hospice of Southwest Florida board of directors, former chair of the Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar, and a member and leader of many service and professional organizations.

Nominations should be sent to Dotti Bressi, Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707.

Stetson Law host to national mock trial tournament

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

Gulfport, Fla. – George Washington University won the American Mock Trial Association’s National Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament at Stetson University College of Law on March 13. Forty-eight teams of undergraduate college students representing 42 institutions attended this competition.

The final round was judged by Federal Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington of the Middle District of Florida; U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas B. McCoun III of the Middle District of Florida; and State Attorney Bernie McCabe of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

George Washington won the Dean W. Gary Vause Division and defeated Yale University, champions of the Honorable Jerry R. Parker Division, in the finals. The Vause Division is named after late Stetson Law Dean W. Gary Vause and the Parker Division after late Judge Jerry R. Parker from the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal. Competitions took place at the Stetson Law Gulfport campus and the Circuit Civil Courtroom in St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay judges, attorneys and Stetson professors judged the trials.

“Stetson was proud to host such a prominent competition featuring the top college advocates from across the nation,” said Roberta Flowers, Stetson Law Professor and director of the college’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy. “As one of the top advocacy law schools in the country, we are glad to see so many students sharpening their talents.”

Southern Methodist University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City received the Spirit of AMTA Award, which honors professionalism. The AMTA Congressman Neil Smith Award for lifetime achievement was given to Manchester Community College Coach Bob Bowland, who was unable to attend the competition because of his fight with cancer.

The top four teams from this tournament advance to the National Championship Tournament in April in Des Moines, Iowa.

Stetson Law Team Wins National Environmental Negotiation Competition

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

Gulfport, Fla. – A Stetson University College of Law negotiation team won the Robert R. Merhige Jr. National Environmental Law Negotiation Competition March 3-4 in Richmond, Va. The winning team consisted of students Lalitha Alladi and Kate Garber.

This is the second consecutive year that Stetson has won this annual competition. Twenty teams from around the country competed in the prestigious event.

A second Stetson team of students, Neil Andrews and Monica Lopez were semifinalists in the competition.

“I am so proud to have coached these teams and to have seen them represent Stetson with such professionalism and talent,” said Professor Kelly Feeley.

National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson launches leading scientific database

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

Gulfport, Fla. – The National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson University College of Law recently announced the creation of its comprehensive online database at its new Web site, http://www.ncstl.org. The Clearinghouse has assembled the available scientific, technological and relevant legal resources into a “one-stop” searchable tool for judges, lawyers, scientists and law enforcement officials.

The database includes a comprehensive bibliography from the last five years of court decisions and commentary, scholarly publications, links to available full-text articles, books and other relevant publications on science and the law. It also provides links and news from scholarly programs around the country. Free registration at the site unlocks more helpful functions, such as additional search tools.

“Getting this information online is a quantum leap in helping the professionals who need it,” said Professor Carol Henderson, Clearinghouse director. “We have received very positive feedback on the site. We’re in the planning stages of making this site into an even greater resource by offering continuing education programs and other training available online.”

Giants in the forensic science, law enforcement and legal communities have been enthusiastic in their support of the Clearinghouse. “The National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law database is the most exciting new development for the law enforcement and forensic science communities in years,” said Dr. Henry C. Lee, one of the world’s foremost forensic scientists and star of Court TV’s Trace Evidence: The Case Files of Dr. Henry Lee.

The Clearinghouse was created to help professionals stay current on science and technology developments and various legal challenges. The online database is one of their efforts to help professionals navigate the vast terrain of existing case law, scientific journals, reports, publications and other resources.

The Clearinghouse has partnered with a number of other universities and organizations nationwide, such as the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law at Duquesne University School of Law. Students at various educational institutions will soon help to expand the database.

“We will have a national network of researchers assisting us,” Henderson said.

NCSTL continues to develop other resources for the legal and scientific communities to provide timely, accurate and useful information to promote justice. The Clearinghouse offers an ongoing lecture series on the Stetson Law Gulfport campus, designed to inform the public, legal professionals and the law enforcement community about advances in science and technology. Henderson is speaking to groups nationwide and internationally, including lectures in Argentina, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

A variety of other projects are in the works as well. Henderson will participate in the Department of Justice’s national strategy meeting “Identifying the Missing” in April. The meeting is an important part of President Bush’s DNA Initiative and will address missing person cases and unidentified human remains.

Stetson University College of Law announces new associate vice president

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law recently appointed Deborah Brown as associate vice president for legal affairs and human resources.

Her duties will include coordinating legal issues involving the College of Law, legal compliance and prevention planning, and human resource and employee relations matters, such as staff cultivation, benefits and policy development.

“Many members of the Stetson community have worked with Ms. Brown as a student, alumna and attorney, and I cannot think of a better person for this position,” said Dean Darby Dickerson.

In 2004, Brown was selected as one of “Florida’s Legal Elite” by Florida Trend magazine. A 1987 graduate of Stetson Law, she received the College’s Outstanding Alumna Award in 2003.

She is board-certified in labor and employment law, and holds certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Among her other accomplishments in her 17 years in labor and employment law, she was a shareholder at Thompson, Sizemore & Gonzalez P.A. and director of employee relations for Walt Disney World Co., one of the largest single-site employers in the United States.

An active member of several legal organizations, Brown serves on The Florida Bar Judicial Administration and Evaluation Committee and is on the board of directors for the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind. Brown has chaired various bar committees, including the Labor and Employment Law Committee of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Labor and Employment Law Section of The Florida Bar, and The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee. She was chair of the Board Certification Committee for Labor and Employment Law in 2003-2004.