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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.

Stetson establishes Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law formally announced the creation of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy during its 26th Annual National Conference on Higher Education Law and Policy, Feb. 20-22. The new Center will build on the renowned programs established by its founding co-directors, Stetson Law professors Robert D. Bickel and Peter F. Lake.

The Center will prepare Stetson students for careers in higher education law and policy through concentrated courses, internships and other previously unavailable opportunities.

“The Center will offer graduate students a Juris Doctor program that includes classroom, research and practicum experiences focusing on higher education law,” Bickel said. “Through the Center, we will also be able to continue our nationally recognized work in interdisciplinary legal education by exposing students and working professionals to the intersection of law and policy, and the emerging field of comparative higher education law.”

Professors Bickel and Lake are pre-eminent figures in higher education law. They are the authors of The Rights and Responsibilities of the Modern University: Who Assumes the Risk of College Life? and have published numerous articles and papers about higher education law and policy.

The center’s first major event was the conference at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort on Clearwater Beach. The annual conference is the largest professional development project for higher education administrators and attorneys nationwide.

The sessions featured nationally recognized speakers and panels on issues affecting higher education policy, student athletes, the effect of recent Supreme Court decisions, developments in employment law, and crime deterrence.

The conference also marked the beginning of cooperation with England’s Oxford Center for Higher Education Policy Studies. Together, the institutions will work on furthering comparative higher education law and policy in both academic and student affairs. The foundation for this partnership began last summer at Stetson’s Comparative Higher Education Roundtable at New College, Oxford University. Through this relationship, several distinguished lecturers from the United States and the United Kingdom also will visit the Stetson campus this spring.

The Center will allow Stetson to offer regional, national and international conferences and programs in this vital area. Stetson also will partner with other universities and legal organizations to advance the issue of law and higher education within the United States and globally.

 

March 5- Stetson Law moot court teams excel in competitions

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s moot court teams excelled in two recent competitions, placing as a regional finalist in the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition and winning top awards in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

“Stetson’s Moot Court Board had an outstandingly successful weekend,” said Professor Stephanie Vaughan, moot court team adviser. “The students who competed won awards for their writing abilities and oral advocacy skills. Good lawyers need both; great lawyers have both.”

Stetson’s ABA Moot Court Team, consisting of Brent Bigger, Erika Knowlan Russell and Dana Harris, placed as a regional finalist in the competition in Washington, D.C., and advanced to the national competition in April in Chicago. Stetson Law Professor James Underwood coached the team.

The team defeated Loyola-Chicago, Baylor, defending national champion Yale and Duke. Russell was recognized as the eighth best advocate.

The Jessup International Moot Court Team received the best memorial (best brief) and best oralist trophies and placed second in the Regional Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Atlanta. In its 45th year, the Jessup competition features more than 500 law schools from more than 80 countries.

Stetson’s team consisted of Katie Christian, Chris Donovan, Dawn Hewitt, Eric Koenig and Bryan Schiller. Koenig tied for the First Place Oralist award, and the team took the First Place Memorial (top brief) award. Stetson Law Professor Rick Graves coached the team.

Stetson went undefeated in the preliminary rounds against St. Thomas, Barry, Ole Miss and University of Miami. The team advanced to the semifinals and final round, where they narrowly lost to a team from the University of Georgia.

Stetson to present free People’s Law School sessions

Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s People’s Law School will present two free programs in the coming weeks at its Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St., on timely legal issues.

  • March 31, 6 p.m., “How to do free legal research on the Internet,” Professor Sally Waters
  • April 14, 6 p.m., “Harassment and discrimination in the workplace,” Professor Michael Finch

The People’s Law School is a continuing series of free programs to provide information about legal issues of general interest. The series is not intended to offer legal advice to individuals or groups, or to substitute for legal counsel provided by a personal attorney.

RSVP to Stetson by calling (813) 228-6625.

How to do free legal research on the Internet
Professor Sally Waters will discus how to find free legal information such as cases, statutes, regulations and government information for the federal and state levels. She will cover the best legal Web sites and demonstrate how to use them.

Professor Waters has led the reference desk in Stetson’s Law Library for 23 years. She teaches advanced legal research and has made presentations to the National Association of Law Placement, Southeastern Association of Law Libraries, Central Florida Association of Law Libraries and the Tampa Bay Library Consortium about legal research and using the Internet. She is a frequent contributor to “Stumpers,” an e-mail list for hard-to-answer legal questions.

Harassment and discrimination in the workplace
Professor Michael Finch will provide an overview of law governing sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, including what is permitted and what is prohibited in the workplace and the process of raising complaints.

Professor Finch teaches civil rights law and is a practicing lawyer who has handled these types of cases. Finch is widely published and also teaches in the areas of civil procedure, conflict of laws, appellate practice, constitutional litigation, and law and behavioral science. His work has appeared in the Minnesota Law Review, the Wisconsin Law Review, the Ohio State Law Journal, and the Business Lawyer. His work has been cited by numerous federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2006, Aspen Publishing Company will publish An Illustrated Guide to Civil Procedure, a book Professor Finch is co-authoring with Professor Michael Allen.

Stetson to present free People’s Law School sessions(2)

Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law’s People’s Law School will present three free programs in March and April at its Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St., on timely legal issues.

  • March 8, 6 p.m., “Basic business organizations: What consumers and business owners need to know,” Professor Joseph Morrissey
  • March 31, 6 p.m., “How to do free legal research on the Internet,” Professor Sally Waters
  • April 14, 6 p.m., “Harassment and discrimination in the workplace,” Professor Michael Finch

The People’s Law School is a continuing series of free programs to provide information about legal issues of general interest. The series is not intended to offer legal advice to individuals or groups, or to substitute for legal counsel provided by a personal attorney.

RSVP to Stetson by calling (813) 228-6625.

Basic business organizations: What consumers and business owners need to know
Professor Joseph Morrissey will discuss the basic types of businesses: sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations. The discussion will focus on the fundamental concepts of limitation of personal liability and limiting tax exposure.

Professor Morrissey specializes in corporate, securities and international private law. He practiced corporate and securities law at Mayer, Brown & Platt in Chicago and later ran the firm’s office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, formerly a part of Soviet Central Asia. In Uzbekistan, Professor Morrissey was a founding member and director of the local American Chamber of Commerce, which focused on local law reform issues. Professor Morrissey also practiced corporate law with Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago and managed a Russian asset portfolio for UniFund Inc. in Geneva, Switzerland.

How to do free legal research on the Internet
Professor Sally Waters will discus how to find free legal information such as cases, statutes, regulations and government information for the federal and state levels. She will cover the best legal Web sites and demonstrate how to use them.

Professor Waters has led the reference desk in Stetson’s Law Library for 23 years. She teaches advanced legal research and has made presentations to the National Association of Law Placement, Southeastern Association of Law Libraries, Central Florida Association of Law Libraries and the Tampa Bay Library Consortium about legal research and using the Internet. She is a frequent contributor to “Stumpers,” an e-mail list for hard-to-answer legal questions.

Harassment and discrimination in the workplace
Professor Michael Finch will provide an overview of law governing sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, including what is permitted and what is prohibited in the workplace and the process of raising complaints.

Professor Finch teaches civil rights law and is a practicing lawyer who has handled these types of cases. Finch is widely published and also teaches in the areas of civil procedure, conflict of laws, appellate practice, constitutional litigation, and law and behavioral science. His work has appeared in the Minnesota Law Review, the Wisconsin Law Review, the Ohio State Law Journal, and the Business Lawyer. His work has been cited by numerous federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2006, Aspen Publishing Company will publish An Illustrated Guide to Civil Procedure, a book Professor Finch is co-authoring with Professor Michael Allen.

Joy McCann Foundation establishes distinguished professorship for professionalism at Stetson Law

Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
727-562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – The Joy McCann Foundation donated $500,000 to Stetson University College of Law to endow the William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Professorship. The honor celebrates the work of Stetson Law Distinguished Professorial Lecturer and Florida legal legend William Reece Smith Jr.

The distinguished professorship will be awarded to a full-time College of Law faculty member with a demonstrated commitment to both professionalism and the mentoring of students. The gift also provides financial support for special projects the distinguished professor chooses to pursue.

“We focus on making our community a better place to live; one way we do this is through our support of education,” said Joy McCann Daugherty, chair of the foundation. “The high quality of Stetson as an institution is reflected in its faculty. Professor Smith has been a stalwart force in the Tampa legal community for many years, and the McCann Foundation is proud to support Stetson by honoring Reece.”

The professorship requires the honoree to be a leader at Stetson and in the professor’s field of study. The recipient must also be a role model in their community for the profession.

“This distinguished professorship will enable our faculty to develop innovative programs to enhance the teaching of professionalism at the College of Law,” said Stetson Dean Darby Dickerson. “We are privileged to have the name William Reece Smith Jr. permanently linked with such an academically significant program.”

William Reece Smith Jr.’s relationship with the law school dates back to 1954, when he taught as an adjunct professor. He has served as distinguished professorial lecturer since 1991. He has served as the 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. Professor Smith has diligently worked to improve access to legal services to the poor for more than 40 years. He founded Florida Legal Services and served as its first president. The courtroom in Stetson’s Tampa Law Center is named in his honor.

About the Joy McCann Foundation
The Joy McCann Foundation is a private family foundation committed to community enrichment and the development of mentors in the health, science and legal professions. Chaired by Joy McCann Daugherty and Dr. Robert Daugherty, the foundation has made grants totaling nearly $10 million over the past five years to non-profit organizations and educational institutions in Florida.

The foundation has as one of its goals a priority in funding mentoring to develop future leaders in the health, science and legal professions. Programs and awards established by the foundation are intended to identify and honor mentors who serve as role models, encouraging others through their actions, professional work and attitude to become leaders at academic institutions and within professional disciplines.