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March 17- Stetson University College of Law promotes three to dean positions

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law is proud to announce the promotions of three faculty members to dean positions.

Royal C. Gardner is the new Vice Dean, and Professor John F. Cooper is Associate Dean for International and Cooperative Programs. Professor Theresa Pulley Radwan will serve as Associate Dean of Academics, effective in July.

“I have thought a lot about these decisions, and I am excited to have assembled such a talented and dynamic group,” said Stetson Dean Darby Dickerson.

The three new deans join Tampa Campus Associate Dean Jan Majewski, Associate Dean of Students Phebe Kerr and Assistant Dean of Admissions Pamela Coleman, whose duties will remain the same.

Vice Dean Gardner joined the Stetson Law faculty in 1994 after working for the Army General Counsel’s office and the Department of Defense. He was appointed Associate Dean in August 2001. His title change to Vice Dean took place March 1, and his change in responsibilities will occur in July.

Associate Dean Cooper joined the Stetson Law faculty in 1985. He has served as Interim Director of International and Graduate Programs since August. Dean Cooper is the author of several books on taxation and Florida Constitutional law.

Professor Radwan joined the Stetson faculty in 2001. Before joining Stetson, Professor Radwan practiced with the firm of Thompson, Hine & Flory LLP in Cleveland, Ohio, and taught at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

March 11- Stetson Law moot court teams place near top in two competitions Bankruptcy Moot Court wins award for best brief

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law moot court teams had two strong finishes and won top awards in recent competitions.

The Bankruptcy Moot Court team placed third and received awards for the best brief and best oral advocate runner-up at the 12th Annual Judge Conrad B. Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition at St. John’s University College of Law in Queens New York, the only competition of its kind in the country.

Stetson’s team consisted of Leslie Case, Sabine Neumann and Eric Page, who received the oral advocate honor.

“They represented Stetson well, and we should be very proud of their success,” said Stetson Professor Theresa Radwan, who coached the team.

Stetson’s Civil Rights Moot Court team placed second in the National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition in Minneapolis, sponsored by the University of Minnesota Law School.

Stetson’s team of Christine Jalbert and Koinonia Martin Givens went undefeated for six rounds of arguments to advance to the final round, where they were defeated by a team from Brigham Young University. The competition drew teams from 39 schools from across the country.

“We now have the reputation as being the team to beat,” said Stetson Professor Ann Piccard.

March 11- Stetson Law student elected 5th Circuit Governor of ABA Law Student Division

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law student Ashley Gay was elected governor of the 5th Circuit of the American Bar Association Law Student Division at the group’s spring meeting. With Gay’s election, the last four 5th Circuit governors have been Stetson students.

“I am truly very honored to have been elected by the 5th Circuit to represent the schools in Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Puerto Rico,” Gay said. “As governor, I want to work with the student leaders of the circuit to continue maintaining and developing the strength and unity that we currently have.”

Ashley replaces outgoing 5th Circuit Governor Edwin Valen, also a Stetson student.

“Ashley’s election to this position reflects Stetson’s exceptional involvement and presence in the American Bar Association, as well as the confidence southeastern law students have in her ability to represent them to the National Board of Governors,” Valen said.

Also at the spring meeting, Stetson swept membership awards given by the ABA Law Student Division. The awards were for overall membership, most improved membership and overall highest percentage membership.

Stetson students received some individual honors as well. Marisa Davies was awarded the Silver Key by the ABA/LSD for her work as executive lt. governor for the 2003-2004 year and Jeff Bauer was awarded the division’s Certificate of Appreciation for his exceptional work as lt. governor of Voluntary Income Tax Assistance for the 2003-2004 year.

March 10- ABA national competition at Stetson Law March 12-13

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

Gulfport, Fla. – For the second consecutive year, the American Bar Association Law Student Division’s client counseling national champion will be crowned at Stetson University College of Law during the National Client Counseling Competition, March 12-13.

The top 15 teams from schools as far away as Hawaii, Washington and British Columbia will face-off in four rounds of competition Saturday. The national champion will go on to compete at the International Client Counseling Competition in Glasgow, Scotland, later this spring.

“It is an honor that Stetson has hosted three international or national client counseling competitions within the past three years,” said Professor Kelly Feeley.

Students from approximately 100 law schools from around the country and Canada participated in 12 regional competitions last month. The regional winners advanced to compete at Stetson.

The events will kick off Friday night with a reception and an awards banquet in Stetson’s Great Hall.

Since its inception in 1969, the National Client Counseling Competition has prepared law students for situations they will encounter when they begin to practice their profession. It focuses on teaching students to ask the right questions, build a rapport with the client and advise the client on legal options and the likelihood of success.

The competition simulates a law office consultation in which law students, acting as attorneys, are faced with a client situation. The students conduct an interview with a person acting as the client and then explain how they would move forward with the hypothetical situation.

March 4- Stetson Law dedicates new Tampa Law Center and Campus

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law recently dedicated its new Tampa Law Center and Campus. Dignitaries, members of the judiciary and local public officials were on hand for the event.

“This is a significant milestone in the history of our law school and the city of Tampa,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “The Tampa campus will create invaluable opportunities for our students and will be a great resource to the Tampa Bay legal community.”

Stetson University President H. Douglas Lee thanked the city of Tampa for its assistance with the project and for what it means to potential law students.

“The College of Law is committing its financial and professional resources to enhance legal education and services for the people of Tampa, our state and the nation.” Lee said. “Stetson University will now be sharing in selected ways the resources of each of our colleges at four geographic locations – DeLand, Celebration, Gulfport/St. Petersburg and now our crowning jewel – Tampa.”

The Tampa Law Center and Campus opened for classes Jan. 15. Located at 1700 N. Tampa St., just off Interstate 275, it is the first law school in Tampa. Approximately 130 students have classes in Tampa during the spring semester.

The Stetson Law Center and Campus will be a major hub for legal activity in downtown Tampa and will house evening law classes, the Tampa branch of the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and continuing legal education programs. This unique combination makes the William Reece Smith Jr. Courtroom only the third location in the country and the first in Florida where a law school and sitting court will share space.

“Stetson continues to be a pioneer in the legal community by opening this beautiful campus. It’s been educating lawyers for more than a century and has now honored Tampa with its first law and Florida with its first teaching courtroom,” said Miles A. McGrane III, president of The Florida Bar. “I look forward to seeing this campus and its students grow and prosper.”

Included in the festivities was a special dedication of the W. Gary Vause Atrium, commemorating the work of late Stetson Dean W. Gary Vause who spearheaded the design and construction of the Tampa campus.

The three-story, 73,500-square-foot building reflects the same Spanish-Mediterranean architecture of Stetson’s Gulfport campus, including a tower that overlooks downtown Tampa.

“The Tampa Law Center and Campus is more than just a law classroom,” said Jan Majewski, Tampa campus associate dean. “This will become the epicenter for the Tampa Bay legal community to meet, learn and work.”

The first and second floors house classrooms, a state-of-the-art courtroom, a law library and other law school space. The third floor contains chambers and offices for the Florida Second District Court of Appeal. The general contractor is Angle & Schmid and the architectural firm is FleischmanGarcia.

For information on attending classes at the Stetson University College of Law’s Tampa Law Center and Campus, contact the Admissions Office at (727) 562-7802 or [email protected].

For high-resolution photos of the event visit: http://www.law.stetson.edu/Communications/dedication.asp

March 4- Celebrated forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee to speak March 15 at Stetson Law

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Forensic science expert Dr. Henry Lee, internationally known for his work in the O.J. Simpson trial, will speak at noon Monday, Mar. 15, in Stetson University College of Law’s Great Hall. His speech, “New Advances in Forensic Science,” is free and open to the public.

Dr. Lee’s appearance is a presentation of Stetson’s National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law.

“Having such a leader in the world of forensic science come to campus is a privilege,” said Carol Henderson, clearinghouse director and Stetson professor. “This is an incredible opportunity for our students to learn from one of the top minds in the field.”

Dr. Lee has assisted law enforcement agencies worldwide with thousands of investigations, including high-profile cases such as the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey and the 1993 suicide of White House Counsel Vincent Foster. He also has testified as an expert witness in many investigations and court cases.

An editor for several academic journals, Dr. Lee is widely published as an author of books and professional journal articles. He has instructed at more than 800 workshops and seminars.

Dr. Lee is Chief Emeritus for the Connecticut State Police and is a professor and the founder of the forensic science program at the University of New Haven.

For more information, please call the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at (727) 562-7316.

March 3- Hundreds to compete national mock trial tournament at Stetson Law March 5-7

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Mock trial teams from colleges and universities nationwide have fought to earn a chance to compete in the American Mock Trial Association’s National Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament March 5-7 at Stetson University College of Law.

More than 450 undergraduate college students comprising 46 teams from 40 different institutions are expected to participate. Competitions will take place at the Gulfport campus of Stetson Law and the Circuit Civil Courtroom in downtown St. Petersburg. Local judges and attorneys will judge the trials.

“Stetson, as the top advocacy law school in the country, is thrilled to be hosting this superb collegiate advocacy competition,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “We are glad to see so many students interested in this area and working hard to hone their skills.”

There are four rounds of competition, with one taking place Friday night, two Saturday and the final round is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Stetson. Concurrent with the finals, there will be an All-American Honors round. The top four teams from this tournament advance to the national championships in April in Des Moines, Iowa.

March 2- Stetson Law seeks nominations for the 2004 Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award

Contact Aaron Reincheld
Communications Specialist
(727) 562-7381

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law is seeking nominations for the 2004 William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award. The award will be presented at the law school’s spring graduation events. The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 29.

“Wm. Reece Smith has dedicated his professional career to public service and access to justice, and this award in his honor recognizes individuals who have given their time and talents to help others and to improve their communities and the justice system,” said Dean Darby Dickerson.

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

Stetson University College of Law recently dedicated the William Reece Smith Jr. Courtroom at the new Tampa Law Center and Campus. The state-of-the-art courtroom 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.
Nominations should be sent to Dean Darby Dickerson, Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707.

February 23- Stetson Law trial team wins regional ATLA trial competition Team advances to national competition in March

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

Gulfport, Fla. – The Stetson University College of Law trial team won the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s Regional Student Trial Advocacy Competition in Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 19-22. With the victory, the team advances to the national competition Mar. 11-13 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Stetson team of Nicole Deese, Joel Elsea, Chris Hersem and Shawn McMillen defeated a team from the University of Georgia in the finals. The team went undefeated in the competition through three preliminary rounds and won against a University of Florida team in the semifinals. Sixteen teams from Florida, Georgia and Texas participated in the competition.

A second Stetson team consisting of students Meredith McCall, Slade Dukes, Steven Kay and Sheetal Brahmbhatt also went undefeated in preliminary rounds before facing off against the University of Georgia team in the semifinals.

Trial team graduate Creighton Shafer ’98 coached Stetson’s teams, who were also accompanied by advisor and Stetson Law Professor Pamela Bell.

“I am extremely proud of all the students who competed in the ATLA Regional competition,” Bell said. “They were all extremely professional and represented Stetson well. The final round was tough, but in the end, their skill and conduct made it evident they were the best team. We look forward to the challenges presented in the national competition.”

This victory continued a string of recent success. Stetson trial teams finished first and second in the southeast regionals of the National Trial Competition earlier this month, won The Florida Bar Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition last month and finished first and second in the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers’ Honorable E. Earle Zehmer Memorial Mock Trial Competition in November.

February 16- Stetson Law to dedicate new Tampa Law Center and Campus Feb. 21

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law will dedicate its new Tampa Law Center and Campus at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Dignitaries, members of the judiciary and local public officials are expected to attend.

“This is a significant milestone in the history of our law school and the city of Tampa,” said Dean Darby Dickerson. “The Tampa campus will create invaluable opportunities for our students and will be a great resource to the Tampa Bay legal community.”

Stetson University President H. Douglas Lee thanked the city of Tampa for its assistance with the project and for what it means to potential law students.

“Stetson is committing its financial and professional resources to enhance legal education and services for the people of Tampa, our state and for the nation.” Lee said. “We praise the city and people of Tampa for your vision. Stetson is proud to be your partner.”

Included in the festivities will be a special dedication of the W. Gary Vause Atrium at 1:15 p.m. The atrium commemorates the work of late Stetson Dean W. Gary Vause who spearheaded the design and construction of the Tampa campus.

The Tampa Law Center and Campus opened for classes Jan. 15. Located at 1700 N. Tampa St., just off Interstate 275, it is the first law school in Tampa. Approximately 130 students will have classes in Tampa during the spring semester.

The Stetson Law Center and Campus will be a major hub for legal activity in downtown Tampa and will house evening law classes, the Tampa branch of the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and continuing legal education programs. This unique combination makes the William Reece Smith Jr. Courtroom only the third location in the country and the first in Florida where a law school and sitting court will share space.

“The Second District is very excited to finally have the opportunity to work with Stetson in creating Florida’s first teaching courtroom,” said Chief Judge Second District Court of Appeal Chris W. Altenbernd.

The three-story, 73,500-square-foot building reflects the same Spanish-Mediterranean architecture of Stetson’s Gulfport campus, including a tower that overlooks downtown Tampa.

“The Tampa Law Center and Campus is more than just a law classroom,” said Jan Majewski, Tampa campus associate dean. “This will become the epicenter for the Tampa Bay legal community to meet, learn and work.”

The first and second floors house classrooms, a state-of-the-art courtroom, a law library and other law school space. The third floor contains chambers and offices for the Florida Second District Court of Appeal. The general contractor is Angle & Schmid and the architectural firm is FleischmanGarcia.

For information on attending classes at the Stetson University College of Law’s Tampa Law Center and Campus, contact the Admissions Office at (727) 562-7802 or [email protected].

February 13- Darby Dickerson selected Dean of Stetson University College of Law

Contact Mary Anne Rogers, Frank Klim

(386) 822-7215, (727) 562-7889

DeLand, Fla. – Darby Dickerson has been named the new Vice President and Dean of the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport/St. Petersburg. Dean Dickerson has served as Interim Dean of the College of Law since May 2003, after then-Dean Gary Vause announced his retirement.

“We considered some of the best legal education professionals in the country, and Dean Dickerson is clearly the best choice to continue leading the Stetson University College of Law,” said Stetson University President H. Douglas Lee. “She has earned the respect and confidence of the faculty and administration at the Law School and Stetson’s main campus in DeLand, as well as with the Board of Trustees and the Law Board of Overseers.”

“I am honored and thrilled to be selected Dean,” Dickerson said. “The Stetson University College of Law is an extraordinary educational institution, and I look forward to leading the school to even greater heights. The College of Law has outstanding students, faculty and staff, and I know that we will be a great team in propelling the school forward.”

A 12-member Dean Search Committee, comprised of representatives from the faculty, alumni, staff, Law Board of Overseers and the Student Bar Association, was formed in July 2003. Three finalists were selected in January and brought to campus to meet and present their vision of the future of Stetson Law to faculty, staff and students. The Search Committee made its recommendations to President Lee in early February with strong support for Darby Dickerson to be named Vice President and Dean of the Stetson University College of Law. President Lee concurred and gained approval of the Stetson University Board of Trustees.

About Dean Darby Dickerson:

Darby Dickerson joined the Stetson faculty in August 1995. She became associate dean in January 2000, received tenure in August 2000 and her full professorship in August 2001. She has served as the director of legal research and writing since spring 1996. She was promoted to vice dean in August 2002 where she served until being named Interim Dean in May 2003. Dean Dickerson received her B.A. and M.A. from The College of William and Mary, and earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School, where she served as senior managing editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review and as a member of the Moot Court Board.

Before joining Stetson’s faculty, she clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and worked as an associate at Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, a firm in Dallas. In 1995, she was selected as the Outstanding Young Lawyer in Dallas. Dean Dickerson teaches research and writing and federal pretrial practice. She writes in the areas of legal writing and citation, and litigation ethics, and is the author of the ALWD Citation Manual, which has been adopted by professors at approximately 100 law schools.

In 1997, Dean Dickerson received Stetson University’s Teaching Excellence Award; in 1998 and again in 2000, she received the University’s Homer and Dolly Hand Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship. In addition to her work at Stetson, she is President-Elect of the Ferguson-White Inn of Court in Tampa and a director of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross.

February 11- War crimes investigator to speak Thursday at Stetson Law

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

Gulfport, Fla. – Dr. Helena Ranta is internationally known for her human rights work and investigative work with the United Nations, including testimony at the trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic at the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague.

Dr. Ranta will speak at noon Thursday in Stetson University College of Law’s Classroom A as part of a series from the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson. Her speech, “Forensic Investigations of Human Rights Violations in Kosovo,” is free and open to the public.

A forensic odontologist in the Department of Forensic Medicine at University of Helsinki, Dr. Ranta is also Coordinator of Disaster Victim Identification and International Missions with the Finnish government. Dr. Ranta and her work have been the subject of several BBC documentaries.

Dr. Ranta has published over 60 articles on molecular biology, forensic medicine, forensic odontology and international humanitarian law among other topics. She graduated with a Doctor of Dental Science in 1972 and a Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of Helsinki. She is a board member of the Finnish League for Human Rights and a member of the Advisory Board for International Human Rights Affairs to the Finnish government.

For more information, please call the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at (727) 562-7316.