News Archives - Page 26 of 138

Diversity Week 2021 packed with informative, thought-provoking programming

Stetson Law’s Student Bar Association will host Diversity Week 2021 from March 1-5 featuring daily programming aimed at driving contemplation and conversations about diversity at the college and beyond.

SBA Diversity Week is also supported by the campus-wide Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Social Justice Advocacy concentration, and Stetson Law’s representatives of the Florida Law Schools’ Consortium on Racial Justice. All events are open to students, faculty and staff.

This year’s theme is “Representation & Racial Justice.” In addition to the virtual programs and inspired by the ABA’s 21-day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge, SBA invites the Stetson Law Community to join in a “Representation and Racial Justice Challenge.” Each event has corresponding selected readings, podcasts, and TED Talks to further participants’ understanding and knowledge on issues related to representation and racial justice. The readings are also intended to provide a framework for the discussion in the related virtual programs.

How do I participate in the Challenge?
Complete the curated materials listed by event, by Friday, March 5. There is no “test” or turning in of an assignment, but rather this is a personal challenge intended to expose you to new ideas and perspectives. The below selections were made by the student organizations representatives for Diversity Week and support the organization’s associated event or program.

Schedule at a Glance

(Please see Campus Docket or Engage for participation links.)

Monday March 1

12 p.m.: Color of the Law: Conversation on the History of Residential Segregation Hosted by the Black Law Student Association and the Social Justice Advocacy Concentration Challenge Video: The Segregation Myth: Richard Rothstein Debunks an American Lie | NowThis

6:00 p.m: How to be a Better Ally
Hosted by the Jewish Law Student Association and Stetson Law Democrats
Challenge Article: 9 phrases that allies can use instead of getting defensive

Tuesday, March 2

11:45 a.m.: Discussion with Nathan Bruemmer
Hosted by Lambda Legal Society

5:30 p.m.: Behind the Mask: An Inside Look at Health Inequity
Hosted by the Health Law Advocates and Black Law Student Association
Challenge Article: Racial Health Care Disparities already existed in America— the coronavirus just exacerbated them

Wednesday, March 3

12:30 p.m.: Poetry in the Law: A Disability Perspective Hosted by the Stetson Law School Disability Allied Law Students Association
Challenge: Read: Poetry in the Law – A Disability Perspctive.docx

6:00 p.m.: The Intersection of Systemic Racism & Black Women’s Health
Hosted by Florida Association of Women Lawyers at Stetson and American Civil Liberties Union
Challenge TED Talk: The trauma of systematic racism is killing Black women,” T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, TED2017

Thursday, March 4

6:00 p.m.: HBA’s First Gen Survival Guide
Hosted by the Hispanic Bar Association
Challenge Article: “Addressing Barriers Confronting First-Generation College Students From Hispanic Families,” UCLA Department of Psychology

Stetson Law honors Desmond Meade with public service award

Desmond Meade, bottom row, received the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award during the annual Inns of Court ceremony held virtually on Feb. 22, 2021. Pictured, top row from left, keynote speaker Justice Edwin Cameron and Dean Michèle Alexandre.

Desmond Meade received the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award during the annual Inns of Court event held virtually on Feb. 22, 2021.

The prestigious Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding contributions to public service, the justice system, and the community.

During his acceptance speech, Meade shared how in 2005 he was a convicted felon, homeless, and addicted to drugs. He was tired of struggling and contemplated taking his own life. Instead, he found the strength to seek help and began rebuilding his life. By 2014, he had earned a law degree from Florida International University College of Law.

Meade became the president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) and chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy. He led the FRRC to a historic victory in 2018 with the successful passage of Amendment 4, a grassroots citizen’s initiative that restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions. Amendment 4 represented the single largest expansion of voting rights in the United States in half a century.

The overarching philosophy that drives Meade’s work and life is to always strive to find something within himself to give back for the betterment of others. People who appear to have nothing in life but who are joyful are so because they share what they have with others, he said.

“If we empower the weakest in our community, we empower the community as a whole,” Meade said during his acceptance speech.

And in that, Meade truly embodies the spirit of his award’s namesake – William Reece Smith, Jr., a legendary Florida lawyer who dedicated more than 60 years working to increase the legal services available to people who could not afford them.

“I honor you for your work in every way,” Justice Edwin Cameron told Meade during the event, adding that he found every part of Meade’s presence at the ceremony – from his survival, return to citizenship, and work accomplished – deeply moving.

Cameron was the keynote speaker who delivered The William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished lecture in Ethics. A South African judge and human rights lawyer, his speech addressed the “moral catastrophe” of mass incarceration, calling it a “deadly epidemic” that leads to reduced life expectancy, higher infant mortality, and higher rates of severe illness in the affected population, which is disproportionately composed of Blacks and other minorities.

He examined the issue from both South Africa’s history with apartheid and America’s history with slavery. Both democracies face threats to the rule of law, and the deep scars of racial injustice still reverberate. While the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, South Africa is not far behind at the 12^th highest rate. Both countries have responded to rising crime rates with misguided efforts for law and order, including the “war on drugs” rallying cry, to impose long and harsh sentences.

Using the blunt instrument of law and punishment to address what, in many cases, are public health issues, is what Cameron meant by “misguided efforts.” He said that prison reform is a hopeless concept without also making a profound commitment to social reform.

“Why do we turn our gaze from the horrors of prisons?”

Cameron gave four reasons:

Hannibal Lecter syndrome – The notion that some people are truly dangerous and should be imprisoned.
Genuine fear of crime and damage to what is precious to us – For example, South Africa has one of the highest violent crime rates, and citizens are truly afraid.
Genuinely perplexed about crime – There is no consensus on the main motivators behind it, therefor making the root causes difficult to definitively identify and address.
If society’s institutions of governance fail to address crime in some fashion, citizens will resort to retribution themselves – In South Africa, he said, vigilante/mob justice murders are an issue.

We must be careful of social conundrums we don’t fully understand, Cameron said, but mass incarceration is not the answer. Prison abolition demands better, more practical answers to bigger issues such as livable wages, clean water, affordable housing, mental illness, and health care, he said.

About Inns of Court

The Inns of Court is a tradition used to train barristers in London that focuses on maintaining close mentoring relationships between lawyers-to-be and eminent scholars, lawyers, and judges. Local dignitaries, federal, circuit and county judges, Tampa Bay lawyers, area Inns of Court members and Stetson students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the virtual event.

Stetson Law proud to maintain Military Friendly® School designation

GULFPORT, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law has earned the 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School designation with an additional Bronze ranking.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly ® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. The 2021-2022 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey response set and government/agency public data sources, within a logic-based scoring assessment. Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans, are measured.

Dean Michèle Alexandre — Michèle Alexandre

“Stetson Law honors all of those who have served in our nation’s military and is proud to have more than 30 U.S. military veteran alumni from all branches of the service,” said Dean Michèle Alexandre. “Our school aims to be a place where veterans feel welcome and comfortable pursing their educational goals, while also employing our skills and knowledge to help the veterans in our community with their legal needs.”

Stetson Law participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program to help offset the cost of attending law school to an unlimited number of veterans or eligible dependents. Each veteran or eligible dependent receives up to $5,000 per academic year from Stetson Law, over and above any Post-9/11 GI Bill® for Private Schools benefits.

Since its dedication in 2012, Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute, under the leadership of military veteran and attorney Stacey-Rae Simcox, has helped to increase legal services to military members, veterans and their families through its Veterans Advocacy Clinic and pro bono service initiatives. The clinic provides assistance to Tampa Bay area veterans who need legal help appealing decisions denying Veterans Administration disability benefits.

The College has also partnered, since 2017, with the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, Bay Area Legal Services, and Gulfcoast Legal Services to form a medical-legal partnership (MLP). The MLP provides pro bono legal representation and consultation to veterans who receive care at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and may not otherwise be able to afford legal representation on civil law issues.

Stetson is located near MacDill Air Force Base, the headquarters of U.S. Central Command and one of the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest command stations, and the Tampa Bay region of Florida has one of the largest concentrations of veterans in the U.S. To learn more about resources for student veterans and members of the military at Stetson University College of Law, visit https://www.stetson.edu/law/admissions/veterans/index.php.

South African judge and human rights lawyer to speak at Stetson Law

President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to be honored with award

Edwin Cameron and Desmond Meade will be featured in the annual Inns of Court event. — Edwin Cameron (left) and Desmond Meade will speak at the annual Inns of Court event.

For Immediate Release

GULFPORT, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law will host prominent South African judge and human rights lawyer, Edwin Cameron, for The William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Lecture in Ethics as part of the annual Inns of Court event, which will be held virtually on Monday, Feb. 22.

Also during the event, Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), will receive the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award.

“We are thrilled to welcome two outstanding leaders in human rights to the Stetson Law community. We look forward to hearing more from them on the issues surrounding mass incarceration and the specific social justice challenges impacting South Africa and the United States,” said Dean Michèle Alexandre. “It promises to be a wonderful and illuminating afternoon.”

About Cameron

Cameron retired in August 2019 after 25 years’ service as a judge, the last 11 in South Africa’s highest court, the Constitutional Court. Before that, he served in the Supreme Court of Appeal for eight years, and the High Court for six.

A human rights lawyer before his decades on the bench, Cameron fought for LGBTI equality, including the historic inclusion of sexual orientation in the South African Constitution. As someone living with HIV, he was a fierce critic of President Thabo Mbeki’s AIDS denialist policies. He was also the first senior official in Africa to state publicly that he is living with HIV/AIDS, for which Nelson Mandela once referred to him as “one of South Africa’s new heroes.”

Cameron received numerous honors for his legal and human rights work, including a special award by the Bar of England and Wales in 2002 for his “contribution to international jurisprudence and the protection of human rights.” He has written two prize-winning memoirs, Witness to AIDS (2005) and Justice: A Personal Account (2014).

He currently serves as Chancellor of Stellenbosch University and was appointed Judicial Inspector of Correctional Services.

About Meade

Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually become the president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, and a graduate of Florida International University College of Law.

He led the FRRC to a historic victory in 2018 with the successful passage of Amendment 4, a grassroots citizen’s initiative that restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions. Amendment 4 represented the single largest expansion of voting rights in the United States in half a century.

In 2019, Meade was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World and was named Floridian and Central Floridian of the Year.

About Inns of Court and William Reece Smith Jr.

The Inns of Court is a tradition used to train barristers in London that focuses on maintaining close mentoring relationships between lawyers-to-be and eminent scholars, lawyers and judges. Local dignitaries, federal, circuit and county judges, Tampa Bay lawyers, area Inns of Court members and Stetson students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the virtual event.

Highlights of the event include The William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Lecture in Ethics, a series that was created from an endowment to bring renowned lecturers in litigation ethics to Stetson and to pay tribute to William Reece Smith Jr., as well as the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award to recognize individuals who have provided outstanding contributions to public service, the justice system, and the community.

Smith was a legendary Florida lawyer who dedicated more than 60 years to the legal profession, working to increase the legal services available to people who could not afford them. He was a member of the Stetson University College of Law Hall of Fame, joined the Stetson Law faculty in 1954, and was named a distinguished professorial lecturer in 1991.

NOTE: Members of the media interested in attending the event should contact the Communications Office via the information below.

Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers recognizes revered alumni

On Feb. 13, 2021, the Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers unanimously passed resolutions to honor the service of Sammy Cacciatore, Rhea Law, Bernie McCabe and Bonnie Forman – all esteemed alumni with a legacy of helping elevate their alma mater and the legal field. The resolutions recognize their years of selfless devotion to both the College and the advancement of legal education.

Sammy Cacciatore

Sammy Cacciatore is a Double Hatter, earning a bachelor’s degree from Stetson University and his Juris Doctor in 1966. He began his career as an Assistant Public Defender and in 1967 joined the Law Office of James Nance, which would later be known as Nance & Cacciatore, where he continues to practice personal injury litigation.

In Jones v. Hoffman, Cacciatore pioneered efforts to establish comparative negligence as the standard in Florida. This ultimately resulted in the change to this standard throughout the country, transforming the way injured people are compensated.

He gives generously of his time and resources to many professional and nonprofit organizations, including: the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; Brevard County Bar Association; Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court; Florida Supreme Court’s Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases; Florida Justice Association; Florida Bar Board of Governors; Coastal Conservation Association; Several Judicial Nominating Commissions, Florida State Courts; Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church; Coastal Conservation Association; and the Back Country Fly Fishing Association.

Despite his many interests and obligations, Cacciatore has always maintained time for his alma mater, being appointed to the Board of Trustees of Stetson University in 2000 and serving as a member of the Board of Overseers since 1995.

Rhea Law

Law is a 1979 Stetson Law alumna who practiced in the areas of higher education, economic development, government, and land use law. During her career, she served as chief executive officer and chair of the board of Fowler White Boggs, PA and as chair of the Florida Offices of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, PC.

Her professional and nonprofit organizations are many and varied, including: the American Bar Association; American Bar Foundation; Enterprise Florida, Inc.; Leadership Council on Legal Diversity; Tampa Bay Technology Forum; Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce; Leadership Tampa; Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research; Tampa Bay Defense Alliance; Tampa Bay Partnership; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Multicultural Advisory Council; Health Professions Conferencing Corporation; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute National Board of Advisors; MacDill Air Force Base Support Council; Tampa Bay Metro; Tampa Bay Partnership; Tampa Electric; Peoples Gas Board of Directors; Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation; The Florida Council of 100; United States Law Firm Group; University of South Florida Board of Trustees; and University of South Florida Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation.

Law was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Stetson University in 2019 and has served two terms as a member of the Board of Overseers, beginning in 2007 and then again beginning in 2013.

Bernie McCabe

McCabe was a Double Hatter, earning his bachelor’s in 1969 and Juris Doctor in 1972. He began his career as the Assistant State Attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Florida and went on to serve as the Division Director, Executive Assistant State Attorney, and Chief Assistant State Attorney before being elected as State Attorney for Pinellas and Pasco counties in 1992. He was continually reelected to the position and worked until his passing in 2020.

McCabe dedicated his life and career to many professional and nonprofit organizations aimed at protecting the rights of others, including: the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association; National District Attorneys Association; Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board; Pinellas County Substance Abuse Advisory Board; Suncoast Family YMCA; Pasco and Pinellas Public Safety Coordinating Councils; Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council; Pinellas County Health and Human Services Coordinating Council; Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association; and Pinellas Police Standards Council.

He also was a steadfast presence at Stetson Law, being appointed to the Board of Overseers in 1994, supervising the Stetson Prosecution Clinic for 28 years, teaching young law students as an Adjunct Professor, serving as judge for various mock trial competitions at the law school, and hiring and mentoring many Stetson Law alumni.

Bonnie Forman

Foreman is a 1967 graduate of Stetson University who shared her love of learning by teaching elementary school in Pinellas County, Fla., for 34 years. Her late husband, Edward D. Foreman, was a 1967 graduate of Stetson University and a 1971 graduate of Stetson University College of Law. She established the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award in 2005 in his memory. The award is given each spring to the “best all-around student” who has demonstrated a passion for the legal profession and commitment to community service.

Foreman also established the Edward D. Foreman Scholarship and the Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series at Stetson Law. The lecture series features world renowned experts in the areas of environmental law and environmental science.

She has given generously of her time and resources and been associated with many nonprofit organizations, including: the SPCA Tampa Bay; Pace Center for Girls; Pinellas Education Foundation; and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Foreman was also appointed to the Board of Trustees of Stetson University and to the Board of Overseers of Stetson University College of Law in 2007.

Stetson Law brings home the Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition trophy for the 25th time

Jan. 22, 2021 – The Stetson University College of Law Trial Team won the Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition for the 25^th time in 38 years!

Team members Alicia Roddenberg, Samantha Simmons, Lauren Cleveland, and Tyler Hillier kept the winning streak alive after participating in the three-day competition, which was held virtually this year. Roddenberg was named Best Advocate.

“Our folks were fantastic,” exclaimed David A. Demers, JD ’72 and one of the team’s three coaches. “It is no exaggeration that as individuals and as a group, they are among the most special people we have had the opportunity to coach.”

Susan Demers and Donald Anderson III, JD ’98, also coached the teams. A second Stetson team of Magner Tiuso, Hillary Hazeltine, Bryan Lawlor, and Jasmine Mattear made it to the quarter final round of the competition.

The Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar annually conducts the prestigious Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition for mock trial teams from Florida’s accredited law schools. Each school is invited to send two teams to the competition, which is held over three days and culminates with the final round presided over by a distinguished Federal or State Court judge.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to @stetsonlaw on winning the first ever virtual Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition! @TheFlaBar pic.twitter.com/DUFzTmiYkU
— TrialLawSection (@triallawsection) January 22, 2021

Stetson’s program in trial advocacy is nationally ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report (2021) and has a history of excellence in the Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition. A Stetson team won the inaugural competition in 1983. You can view a complete list of the competition winners throughout its 38-year history on the Trial Lawyers Section website. Learn more about Stetson Law’s advocacy program on our website.

New Compassionate Release Practicum addresses urgent need in justice system

In the fall of 2020, Stetson Law created a Compassionate Release Practicum to work with attorneys at the Middle District of Florida’s Federal Public Defender Office to meet the high volume of cases in need of compassionate release petitions.

Spearheaded by criminal law Professors Ellen S. Podgor and Judith Scully, the new practicum gave students the opportunity to help prepare compassionate release appeals for those who are currently incarcerated.

COVID-19 hit prisons extremely hard, leaving many without relief.  The initial compassionate release provisions of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 offered little assistance for those serving time in prison. The First Step Act changed the compassionate release process, expanding criteria and allowing easier access to courts.

“Meeting a need in society while also learning important legal skills, allows Stetson Law students a rare opportunity during these difficult times,” Podgor said.

Officials in the federal defender’s office, including Adeel Bashir, Laura Daines, and Stetson graduates Adam Labonte and Juliann Welch, agreed the passage of in the First Step Act constitutes historic criminal justice reform. Having the opportunity to partner with Stetson Law and forge meaningful relationships with future professionals while fulfilling the Act’s purpose in helping redress past inequities in the justice system has been a wonderful experience for all involved.

“Having sat in the same seats as these students, it’s especially rewarding to help them pursue their interest in criminal justice and witness firsthand the work of public defense,” Welch added.

Interested students completed an application, and 10 were selected to participate in the inaugural practicum. They worked on five compassionate release petitions during the fall semester. For spring 2021, through a one-credit Compassionate Release Appellate Practicum, six students are again working with the federal defenders’ office in presenting on appeal the “extraordinary and compelling” reasons why relief should have been granted by the court. The class instruction and work are done virtually, allowing the law students to have real life exposure to social justice advocacy.

Professor Judith Scully. — Judith Scully

“The opportunity to represent a client in a compassionate release case is transformational for the student,” said Scully. “And for the client, it can literally be the difference between dying in prison or living as a free person in the community.”

The students who have participated in the program agree they have gained much from the experience.

“In less than four months, I went from not knowing what the First Step Act was, to drafting compassionate release motions for actual federal inmates incarcerated in Florida,” said Stetson Law student Tyler Spayd. “The practicum really helped sharpen my research, writing, and advocacy skills. More importantly it gave me a real chance to help effect change in the life of another person. For that the practicum stands out in my mind as the best experience I’ve had thus far in law school.”

Dean Michèle Alexandre joins law deans in public statement on 2020 election and events at the Capitol

Stetson Law campus image of buildings and flags in entrance.

157 Law Deans Publish Rare Joint Statement on the 2020 Election and Events at the Capitol

January 12, 2021

Today, 157 Law School Deans from schools across the country published a statement addressing the 2020 election and the events that took place in the United States Capitol last week. The statement marks a rare occasion. It is unusual for such a diverse group of law deans to come together to speak as one on an issue that falls outside the ambit of legal education.

“The violent attack on the Capitol was an assault on our democracy and the rule of law,” reads the statement. “The effort to disrupt the certification of a free and fair election was a betrayal of the core values that undergird our Constitution. Lives were lost, the seat of our democracy was desecrated, and our country was shamed.”

The joint statement goes on to reflect upon the roles that lawyers played in recent events and affirm the deans’ commitment to working together to repair the damage to democratic institutions and rebuild faith in the rule of law.

“Many lawyers and judges worked honestly and in good faith, often in the face of considerable political pressure, to ensure the 2020 election was free and fair. However, we recognize with dismay and sorrow that some lawyers challenged the outcome of the election with claims that they did not support with facts or evidence. This betrayed the values of our profession.”

The deans conclude with a call to action. “As legal educators and lawyers ourselves, we must redouble our efforts to restore faith in the rule of law and the ideals of the legal profession. We have enormous faith in the law’s enduring values and in our students, who will soon lead this profession. We call upon all members of the legal profession to join us in the vital work ahead.”

To read the full statement and see the list of signatories, please click here.

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Stetson Law community mourns the loss of alumnus and longtime supporter Bernie McCabe

Bernie McCabe with his Stetson Law Hall of Fame award in 2009.

The Stetson Law community mourns the loss of alumnus and Board of Overseers member Bernard J. “Bernie” McCabe Jr., who died on Jan. 1, 2021, at the age of 73.

“His death is a tremendous loss for us and the community,” said Dean Michèle Alexandre.

Bernie McCabe, right, during law school.

McCabe was a “Double Hatter,” earning his BA in 1969 and JD in 1972. While at the College of Law he was chief justice of the honor court, on the editorial board of the first Stetson Law Review, and was elected president of his senior class. He also worked in Stetson’s first Prosecution Clinic, which helped cement his future career path.

After graduating from Stetson Law, he was hired as an Assistant State Attorney. He moved up the ranks in the office and ultimately was elected to State Attorney of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida in 1992, a position he held until his death.

Fred Schaub is a Stetson Law alumnus who worked with McCabe for more than 35 years in the prosecutor’s office and taught with him in the Stetson Prosecution Clinic for 28 years. He said McCabe advised young prosecutors to be mindful of their professionalism and ethics, to take the difficult cases and not look for the easy way out, and above all, to “always do the right thing and you can never make a mistake.”

“Bernie McCabe was one of the brightest people I’ve ever met” and a “tremendous trial lawyer,” Schaub said.

Through the years, McCabe earned a reputation as a diligent and ethical prosecutor with a concern for his community. He managed the State Attorney’s Office during a period of extreme growth and change and implemented several new initiatives to address specific community concerns, including domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, and family dependency.

“Bernie McCabe was an outstanding State Attorney who accomplished so much during his distinguished career,” wrote Bob Gualtieri, Stetson Law alumnus and Pinellas County Sherriff. “He dedicated his life to public safety.”

McCabe working the Prosecution Clinic. — McCabe working in the Prosecution Clinic.

McCabe also served his alma mater in many ways. He joined the Board of Overseers in 1994, taught young law students as an Adjunct Professor, served as Prosecution Clinic supervisor, served as judge for various mock trial competitions at the law school, and hired and mentored several Stetson Law alumni, including current Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls.

“Among prosecutors and law enforcement officers, Bernie McCabe was a towering, heroic figure,” Sprowls wrote. “A true public servant, he led a life committed to justice, fairness and truth. Bernie was my mentor and my friend. I will miss him more than I can put into words, but I also know that I will carry the lessons I learned from him with me through all the days of my life.”

Christine E. Cerniglia, associate professor and director of Clinical and Experiential Education who worked with McCabe for years on Stetson’s Prosecution Clinic, said he was a fierce supporter of clinical education.

“He truly believed in mentoring the next generation of lawyers and dedicated time every Monday evening to provide guidance and discuss the law with students,” she said. “He was passionate about the law and guiding students in his clinic. To think about his dedication and the number of students he personally mentored is truly humbling. We will miss him on campus and our Stetson clinical community feels a great loss. We will honor his legacy in some way that showcases his dedication to student learning.”

McCabe receiving the Ben C. Willard Award.

McCabe received several distinguished alumni recognitions, including the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award for continuous support of time and gifts to the College of Law in 2003, induction into the Stetson Law Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Ben C. Willard Award for humanitarian achievements and efforts to benefit the citizens of Florida in 2015.

He was also active in a variety of local, state, and national non-profit and legal organizations, including the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the National District Attorneys Association, Past President of the First Step Corporation, Chairman, Pinellas County Substance Abuse Advisory Board, the Juvenile Justice Board, the S.A.V.E. Advisory Board, the State Advisory Board for the Network for Severely Emotionally Disturbed Students, and the Florida Sentencing Commission.

McCabe is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Denise, and their children, Jennifer and Patrick.

Local nonprofit recognizes Stetson student with education award

Nicholas Lewis won the 2020 Environmental Education Program Award from Keeping Tampa Bay Beautiful for a project he created as part of the Environmental Advocacy class.

Nicholas Lewis, a 3L in the Environmental Law Concentration, won the 2020 Environmental Education Program Award from Keeping Tampa Bay Beautiful for a K-12 lesson plan he developed for the organization’s Environmental Education Center.

Keeping Tampa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) is an organization that promotes environmental stewardship through volunteer and educational opportunities, including litter cleanups, invasive plant removal, and more. The Environmental Education Center is located on the Hillsborough River with sections for composting, beekeeping, and other interactive learning opportunities. Though they had the physical resources in place, they lacked a full curriculum on environmental topics. That’s where Lewis came in.

“I absolutely love being outdoors and learning outdoors,” he said, adding that his goal was to encourage kids to get outside and learn about all of Florida’s flora and fauna and how they work together.

“We’re part of something bigger. We’re part of an ecology.”

Lewis took the Environmental Advocacy class at Stetson during his 2L year, and his lesson plan evolved from the class coursework and requirements.

“The Environmental Advocacy class provides an opportunity for students to devise and implement a project that they are passionate about and believe will effectively help the environment,” said Professor Lance Long. “Nicholas’s project was important because it focused on educating our youth about the importance of recognizing our limited resources and taking action to care for the environment.”

Lewis served as a Boy Scout and Eagle Scout growing up, so he drew upon his experience with their educational programs to develop a progressive age plan for topics such as sustainability, environmental stewardship, and natural resources. He broke those down into vocabulary lessons and classroom activities. For example, elementary students might make rock buddies when learning about geology or build wind-powered cars with Legos. Lessons for older students broached more complex subjects, including land use and sustainability regulations, environmental statutes, urban planning, and green economy.

“These lesson plans have become a valuable addition to our curriculum,” noted KTBB organizers.

“We are truly grateful to our partners, sponsors, and volunteers for their extraordinary dedication to help Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful,” said Debra Evenson, executive director for Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. “We are proud to honor Nicholas Lewis for being an exemplary steward of the environment and help make a difference in our community.”

Lewis, who has a BA in political science with focus on national resources, sustainability and land use, said he has always been interested in environmental topics. He serves as the treasurer of Stetson’s Environmental Law Society and has spent most of his school breaks working with the planning department in his hometown of Winter Park, Fla. He hopes to continue that after graduation.

“My heart’s always been in planning,” he said.

His goals are to advocate for more feasible and sustainable development in light of Florida’s population growth, bearing in mind the need to address sea level rise and other environmental challenges.

Four new endowments honor key Stetson Law figures

Clockwise from top left: Professor Dorothea Beane, Judge Thomas B. McCoun III, Dean Michèle Alexandre, and Judge Robert E. Jagger.

Stetson University College of Law is pleased to announce new scholarships created in honor of some of our treasured alumni and faculty. Each opens a world of possibilities for both students and those who are looking for ways to give back.

Robert E. Jagger Public Defender Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Robert Jagger’s family – including his wife, Mrs. Jo Ann Jagger, and sons, The Hon. Edwin Jagger, J.D. ’91 and Robert F. Jagger – to honor his memory.

Robert E. Jagger, J.D. ’58, was the first Public Defender for the Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court in 1961 and served in that role for 35 years. At the time, he was believed to have been the longest standing elected Public Defender in the country. Jagger received numerous national, state, and local awards. He was an adjunct professor at Stetson Law for many years and served several terms on the law school’s Board of Overseers. He was known for his devotion and commitment to the legal profession, and he worked to establish and mentor the students in the Public Defender Clinic at Stetson Law. In 2005, Jagger was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the College of Law.

The ideal recipient of the Robert E. Jagger Public Defender Scholarship will have successfully completed the Public Defender Clinic Program or be enrolled in the program, will be in good academic standing, and aspire to pursue a career in public service.

The Hon. Thomas B. McCoun III Scholarship

Thomas McCoun’s wife and children, Mrs. Jennie McCoun, Bullitt, Jonathan, Cameron and Katie, established this scholarship in his honor.

Judge McCoun, J.D. ’77, lived an accomplished and dutiful life. He practiced law for 41 years, serving the last 24 years as a Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. Judge McCoun taught as an adjunct professor at the College of Law for many years. He valued active church membership, coaching his children in various sports, teaching Sunday school, and was the go-to dictionary and mathematician for the family.

Candidates for this scholarship should participate in the federal judicial externship program, be a member of the trial team or in the Trial Advocacy Concentration, demonstrate a financial need, and be in good academic standing.

Dean Michèle Alexandre Scholarship

William R. Nunno, J.D. ’71, created this new scholarship as a way to both thank the College of Law for giving him “the opportunity to become a lawyer,” and to recognize Dean Alexandre for her good governance of the law school.

“I am endowing this scholarship in the name of Dean Alexandre to honor her for the exemplary leadership role she has taken at Stetson University College of Law,” he said.

Nunno was a solo personal injury practitioner from 1972 until his daughters joined his law firm 20 years ago. He has been appointed by the Superior Court of New Jersey and has served as a personal injury arbitrator for over 30 years. His daughters, Alisa Nunno Di Chiara and Tracie Nunno D’Amico, are also Stetson Law graduates and certified Civil Trial Attorneys. Nunno said a photo of the College of Law, along with his and his daughters’ degrees, hang in the client waiting room of his office.

“I think of Stetson every time I go into that room and how proud and lucky I was to be given by Stetson a chance to become a lawyer,” he said. “Hopefully a third generation of Stetson Law degrees will hang on that wall someday soon.”

The Dean Michèle Alexandre Scholarship is intended for students with financial need in either the full-time or part-time J.D. programs.

Professor Dorothea A. Beane Scholarship

A distinguished committee of Stetson College of Law BLSA alumni created this scholarship to honor the work and career of Professor Beane.

She is a Stetson Law legend with more 30 years teaching Federal Pre-Trial Practice, Civil Procedure, International Human Rights Law and The Law of International Tribunals. Beane was founder and director of the Stetson University College of Law’s Summer Abroad Program in the Hague, Netherlands, and has worked extensively in the Hague on matters involving international criminal law and human rights. She was awarded the College of Law Teaching Excellence Award in 2005.

The Professor Dorothea A. Beane Scholarship is intended to attract and retain black students with enormous potential each academic year at the College of Law. Scholarship consideration may be given to first generation African American college students and students with financial need. Eligible first-year students qualify, as do eligible 2L or 3L African American students either in the full-time or part-time J.D. program.

How to Give

Considering making Stetson Law, and specifically one of our new scholarship opportunities, part of your year-end giving plan. Money alone does not make a law school successful. However, Stetson University College of Law cannot transition from a great law school to an internationally recognized institution without financial support. There are many ways to give, and every gift counts no matter the size.

Stetson Law welcomes 2 new members to Hall of Fame

Stetson University College of Law inducted Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs and Dr. Madison M. Mosley Jr. into its prestigious Hall of Fame on Dec. 9, 2020. For the past 16 years, Stetson Law has honored distinguished luminaries in the legal and academic arenas at its annual Hall of Fame event. Previous inductees include Charles A. Dana, William R. Eleazer, and Dolly Hand. Traditionally a black-tie affair held in Stetson’s Great Hall, this year’s event was virtual — shared live on YouTube because of the pandemic.

Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs, JD ‘67

Dick Jacobs

Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs is a 1967 graduate of Stetson Law. Prior to attending law school, he spent nearly a decade building a highly successful career in the life insurance business. That experience shaped his early legal career as a tax attorney. He co-founded a law firm that grew to about 100 lawyers, with offices in Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater, and a satellite office in London. He served as Chair of the Tax Section of The Florida Bar.

In the late 1970s, clients asked him to join them in forming Park Bank of Florida. The bank grew fast and became a public company. When it began to flounder, Jacobs took over as CEO of the bank in hopes of righting the ship. His efforts were for naught, and the bank failed in 1986. It was the biggest learning experience of his life, and his book, Crash Landing: How to Survive a Business Crisis, was born of his efforts to understand how a well-meaning professional could fail.

Jacobs came to realize there was more to life than work and began pursuing new projects in venture travel and environmental conservation. His journeys, which took him to the seven continents, are what Jacobs would later call “dirty hands, wet feet” experiences that opened his eyes to how much of the rest of the world lived. In 2015, he published Wonderlust, a book of his photography and lessons learned from crisscrossing the globe.

His conservation work brought Dick back to Stetson Law for many fruitful collaborations. In 2016, he and his wife created the Dick and Joan Jacobs’ Environmental Law Externship Fund to provide financial assistance for students to pursue the “dirty hands, wet feet” experiences. This year he launched The Stetson Environmental Tax Policy Writing Competition for students to develop innovative tax law policies to fund solutions for sea level rise.

Amidst all his traveling and philanthropic work, Jacobs had returned to practicing law with Holland & Knight, then Trenam Kemker with a focus on health care law. He was editor and prime author of Health Care Law – Mergers and Acquisitions of Physician Practices and was ultimately named to Best Lawyers in America and a Florida Super Lawyer for his work in this area.

He went Of Counsel at Trenam in 2011 at the age of 80 and retired fully in 2013. Characteristically, Jacobs retirement lasted only two years. In 2015, he reunited with several attorneys from his original firm at Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP, where he remains on staff as Senior Counsel.

Jacobs latest book, Democracy of Dollars, is slated to be released in January. His vision for Stetson Law continues to expand, with the creation of a Center for Environmental Justice underway. It will provide students an opportunity to help architect environmental policies.

Madison M. Mosley Jr., JD ‘92

Madison M. Mosley Jr.

Madison M. Molsey Jr. is a 1992 graduate of Stetson University College of Law. Prior to attending Stetson, he earned a bachelor’s degree in library science and English from Florida State University in 1971, a master’s degree in library science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1974, and a doctorate in library science from Florida State University in 1980.

Mosley spent his early professional career in various librarian roles before becoming director of the library at Florida Community College in Avon Park from 1982 to 1989.

He was an active member of the community, serving two years on the Avon Park City Council before moving to St. Petersburg to attend Stetson Law, where he earned the best speaker award in his research and writing section. He joined the Stetson Law staff after graduation in 1993, serving as reference librarian and associate director before being appointed library director in February 2001.

Mosley remained heavily engaged in professional and civic organizations. He served as co-chair of the St. Petersburg’s Citizens Review Committee for the Police Department, and the parliamentarian of the city’s African-American Voter Education Committee. He was an active member of the American Library Association and the ALA’s Black Caucus; the American Association of Law Libraries and the AALL’s Southeastern Chapter; the Florida Library Association; the Association of College and Research Libraries; the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative; The Florida Bar; and the National Bar Association.

Mosley’s most prolific work was as an executive board member of the Florida Library Association, also known as FLA. He was named to the organization’s Transformers Honor Roll in 1996 for his efforts to improve the quality of service to library users. He served as president from 1999 to 2000. He championed plans to establish a Spouse or Partner category for annual conference registration, moved to establish a standing committee on leadership development, and recognized the need for electronic access to FLA information. He tried to visit every Friends of the Library group he could reach to encourage their participation and support.

Mosley was considered a leader in the field who made significant contributions to libraries and librarianship. He mentored many students and other librarians throughout his service to Stetson, the community, and the profession. Mosley continued these efforts and his service as library director until his unexpected and untimely death on March 29, 2005, at the age of 55.