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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.

Nearly 300 new graduates recognized during December 2020 commencement ceremonies

On Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, Stetson University College of Law celebrated three separate commencement ceremonies recognizing graduates from three classes: December 2019 Class, May/August 2020 Class, and the December 2020 Class.

Commencement may have looked different this year, but the staff at the College of Law worked hard to ensure students had as close to a traditional ceremony as possible. The events were held outdoors with limited attendance to follow CDC guidelines on physical distancing. Other safety protocols included a face mask requirement for all attendees and wellness screenings prior to entering campus.

In some ways, the changes were par for the course for the Class of 2020. Rachel Wise, outgoing Student Bar Association president, said their class – having begun law school during Hurricane Irma and finished during worldwide shutdowns from COVID-19 – had “become experts in adapting to change.”

“After perhaps one of the most memorable years in history, and three years learning how to truly master change, we emerged together today as graduates ready to enter the legal profession and make positive change,” Wise said in a pre-recorded speech.

Stetson University College of Law Dean Michèle Alexandre said the graduates showed resilience and grit as they dug deep to overcome every hurdle placed in their path this year.

“I am so proud of who you are as humans, scholars, and legal minds,” she said. “In answering the call to become an attorney, you are beginning your purpose in life. You now have the tools to be change agents and justice warriors who can transform the world.”

Lori Baggett, J.D. ’02, the managing shareholder of the Tampa office of Carlton Fields, delivered the commencement address during the 11:30 a.m. ceremony. She was also recognized with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her award-winning legal work, leadership in the community, and ongoing dedication to the College of Law.

“I’m sure a lot of us feel like we’ve been bludgeoned by chance,” Baggett said, but noted when graduates are faced with adversity, they should look for things they can control.

“You have agency over your life.”

Baggett explained that deliberate intent plus substantive action can lead to success, but success would look different for each of them – they should define it themselves, create their own happiness, and make their mark on this world. Then, they have an obligation to share that success with others by giving back to their communities.

The students already have a foundation in volunteerism, as Stetson Law has a pro bono requirement for graduation. The December 2019 and May 2020 graduates volunteered more than 34,000 hours of community service.

Stetson University President Dr. Christopher F. Roellke, called on them to continue to incorporate agency, empathy and, most importantly, kindness, as they embark on their professional lives.

“Please add kindness to your practice,” he said.

Graduating Class Stats

December 2019 Graduates

Total – 26

J.D. – 18 (including four from the part-time program)

LL.M. in Advocacy – 1

LL.M. in Elder Law – 6

Master of Jurisprudence in International and Comparative Business Law – 1

May/August 2020 Graduates

Total – 257

J.D. – 237 (including 20 from the part-time program, 10 who received J.D./MBA degrees, and two who received J.D./Grado degrees [student who complete the J.D./Grado dual-degree program receive both a J.D. from Stetson and a Spanish law degree, called a Grado, from the University of Granada])

LL.M. in Advocacy – 4

LL.M. in Elder Law – 4

LL.M. in International Law – 7

Master of Jurisprudence in Aging, Law and Policy – 2

Master of Jurisprudence in Healthcare Compliance – 3

December 2020 Intended Graduates

Total – 32

J.D. – 22 (including seven from the part-time program)

LL.M. in Advocacy – 5

LL.M. in Elder Law – 2

LL.M. in International Law – 3

Graduation messages from Commencement Speakers

Maureen Breakiron-Evans, Chair, Stetson University Board of Trustees

Greg Coleman, Chair, Stetson College of Law Board of Overseers

Kevin Iurato, President, Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association

Rachel Wise, Stetson Law ’20 and Outgoing Student Bar Association President

Commencement Brochure

Recordings of Commencement Ceremonies

8:30 a.m. Ceremony

11:30 a.m. Ceremony

2:30 p.m. Ceremony

Commencement Photo Gallery

View all of the Commencement photos on our Zenfolio website.

Society of Wetlands Scientists honors Professor Royal Gardner

Stetson's biodiversity institute director Royal Gardner visited the Okavango Delta, Botswana in May. — Stetson’s biodiversity institute director Royal Gardner at the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Royal Gardner, professor and director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, received a 40^th Anniversary Award from the Society of Wetlands Scientists (SWS) during a virtual ceremony Dec. 1, 2020.

The awards are presented to those who maintain high level and sustained contributions to wetland research, practice, education, communication, and support to the SWS.

“He is one of the ‘unsung heros’ of our Society, whose work has strengthened wetland protection and better positioned SWS to advocate for wetlands both in the US and globally,” wrote Siobhan Fennessy, professor of Environmental Studies and Biology at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, in her nominating letter.

Max Finlayson, an adjunct professor with the Institute for Land, Water & Society at Charles Sturt University in Albury, Australia, also nominated Gardner for the award, citing his extensive contributions, in particular the development of legal briefings on behalf of or that were endorsed by SWS.

“This listing speaks for itself,” Finlayson wrote.

The works include:

Brief for Aquatic Scientists and Scientific Societies as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents, County of Maui v. Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund, No. 18-260 (U.S. July 19, 2019) (cited in majority opinion, 140 S. Ct. 1462, 1470 (2020)).

Brief of American Fisheries Society et al. as Amici Curiae in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction or Stay, California v. Wheeler, No. 3:20-cv-03005 (N.D. Cal. May 26, 2020).

Brief of the Society of Wetland Scientists as Amicus Curiae in Opposition to Plaintiff States’ Motion for Summary Judgment and in Support of Upholding the Clean Water Rule, North Dakota v. U.S. Envtl. Prot. Agency, No. 3:15-cv-59-DLH-ARS (D.N.D. July 24, 2018).

Brief of the Society of Wetland Scientists as Amicus Curiae in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, New York v. Pruitt, No. 18-cv-1030 (S.D.N.Y. May 7, 2018).

Brief of Dr. M. Siobhan Fennessy et al. as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents and in Support of Upholding the Clean Water Rule, Murray Energy Corp. v. U.S. Envtl. Prot. Agency, No. 15-3751 (6th Cir. Jan. 20, 2017).

“These have been important for SWS as it strengthens its position as a voice for wetland researchers and practitioners with an ability to provide reasoned cases in the complex area of legal compliance and rulings. The effort in coordinating such Briefs is enormous…” Finlayson wrote.

In addition to his legal contributions, Gardner was recognized for his active participation in SWS, including serving on the board of the SWS Ramsar Section and long-standing membership in the Ramsar Convention’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel, which he joined in 2006 and chaired for two terms between 2013-18.

About The Society of Wetland Scientists

SWS was formed in 1980 by Richard Macomber, a biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Board of Rivers and Harbors. The organization provides a forum for scientists and managers to work together on SWS’s mission, which is to promote understanding, conservation, protection, restoration, science-based management, and sustainability of wetland. Today, SWS has over 3,000 members in more than 60 countries.

Managing shareholder of Tampa Carlton Fields office will deliver commencement address this weekend

GULFPORT, Fla., (Dec. 1, 2020) — Lori Baggett, J.D. ’02, the managing shareholder of the Tampa office of Carlton Fields, will deliver Stetson Law’s commencement address on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in the Plaza Mayor Courtyard on the Gulfport campus, 1401 61^st St. S.

Other featured speakers will include Stetson University President Dr. Christopher F. Roellke and Stetson University College of Law Dean Michèle Alexandre.

The ceremonies will include graduates from three classes: December 2019 Class, May/August 2020 Class, and the December 2020 Class. The summer 2020 commencement ceremonies were rescheduled because of COVID-19.

Stetson Law will celebrate three separate commencement ceremonies that day – at 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The graduates have been divided among three outdoor ceremonies throughout the day to allow for physical distancing and other safety protocols. Students are limited to two guests. The ceremonies will be webcast live so additional family and friends can participate. Other precautions include a face mask requirement for all attendees and wellness screenings prior to entering campus.

Other honored speakers have pre-recorded messages that will be available to view on the Graduation website that day.

About Lori Baggett

In addition to being the keynote speaker, Lori Baggett will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Saturday. Her firm, Carlton Fields, is the third-largest law firm in the Tampa Bay area with 96 local attorneys and more than 300 nationwide. She represents companies in labor and employment law issues, with an expertise on workplace safety and health matters, and is one of a handful of Florida lawyers with OSHA 30 certification. She has been named to The Best Lawyers in America for Construction Law, Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite, and Florida Super Lawyer.

Throughout her career, Baggett has held many leadership roles and focused on promoting diversity in the legal profession. She co-chairs the Women’s Alliance group at Carlton Fields. She is also a past fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, a national organization of corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners dedicated to building a more open and diverse legal profession.

Attorney Baggett continues to be involved with the Stetson community by serving a second term as a member of the Stetson Law Alumni Association and was recently inducted into the U.S. Supreme Court with other Stetson alumni. She established the Baggett Family Scholarship at Stetson Law for African American students who exhibit academic and personal leadership.

For more information about the event, visit our Graduation Events page.

New donation will create an environmental law clinic and environmental justice institute

GULFPORT, Fla. (Nov. 25, 2020) — Stetson University College of Law is excited to announce a new alumnus gift to establish the Dick and Joan Jacobs Public Interest Environmental Law Clinic.

The goal of the Clinic will be to support greater stakeholder participation in environmental policy and decision making in the courts, agencies, and legislatures. An initial focus of the Clinic will be to:

represent scientific societies, individual scientists, and public interest plaintiffs in amicus curiae briefs;
advise stakeholders on developing public comments on rulemakings; and
promote the rights of citizens to engage in public debate.

Dick and Joan Jacobs have provided a $200,000 gift to use in a matching challenge geared toward funding the establishment of the Dick and Joan Jacobs Public Interest Environmental Law Clinic. They hope friends and colleagues, as well as like-minded individuals interested in shaping environmental policies, will help expand the project.

The ultimate objective is to create an Institute of Environmental Justice with an expansive array of public interest services to the legal and lay communities, as well as governmental organizations, while offering law students opportunities to provide hands-on services as part of their legal training.

“The kids have got to become the difference makers,” Dick said. “We just can’t keep repeating the past. That’s why you go to law school – to be a difference maker. An Institute for Environmental Justice will give students the chance to have an impact on environmental policies while they are still lawyers in training and, we hope, inspire them to continue that work after graduation.”

The Jacobs, through a $100,000 initial gift, had already created The Dick and Joan Jacobs Biodiversity Institute Endowment Fund that provides financial support for the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy to assist it in performing and expanding its mission, including supporting the position of a Biodiversity Fellow. They have also generously provided a 15 percent distribution from their estate plan for future funding.

In addition, in 2016, the couple established The Dick and Joan Jacobs Environmental Externship Fund to ensure students would have the financial means to engage in experiential, “dirty hands, wet feet” learning opportunities related to climate change, environmental justice and more. Thanks to this fund students have had unique opportunities, including travel to India for an externship with the Wildlife Trust of India and to Honduras to attend a scientific meeting for the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles.

“We are so thankful to Dick and Joan Jacobs not only for their generosity and dedication to Stetson Law, but also for their expansive vision that merges their desire for environmental justice with the law school’s goal of providing experiential learning and training practice-ready advocates,” said Dean Michèle Alexandre. “It’s a natural partnership and one that I believe will produce work that could shape environmental law and policy not only in the state of Florida, but also nationally and internationally.”

About Dick and Joan Jacobs

Dick and Joan Jacobs graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1954. They married in 1953 and moved to Florida in 1957 after Dick’s military service. He had a successful life insurance career before deciding to enroll at Stetson Law. He graduated in 1967 magna cum laude and first in his class.

Dick commenced his legal practice in 1967, and the law firm he led grew to be the largest on Florida’s West Coast. In 1983, he took a leave of absence from his firm to assist a troubled bank, for which he served as president during its final three years. Dick joined Johnson Pope in 2015, reuniting with several of the attorneys from Dick’s original firm who are now Johnson Pope attorneys. He has authored and co-authored several books and legal publications, including: Crash Landing–Surviving a Business Crisis, which outlines lessons learned from the bank crash; Wonderlust, a book of his photography and lessons learned trekking seven continents; and most recently, Democracy of Dollars, a book about our troubled system of constitutional government.

Throughout his career, Dick has been active with the Florida Bar and within his community, currently serving as Trustee of St. Petersburg College’s Institute for Strategic Policy Decisions. He speaks frequently on climate change and sea level rise. In December 2020 he will be inducted into Stetson University College of Law Hall of Fame.

How you can help

If you would like to contribute to the Dick and Joan Jacobs Public Interest Environmental Law Clinic, you may do so on our Giving page.

New Stetson Tax Innovators Exchange goes virtual with first conference

Nate Wadlinger, Lecturer at Florida State University and a certified public accountant, shares his presentation during the Stetson Tax Innovators Exchange.

By George Thurlow

On Nov. 13, 2020, Stetson University College of Law and the Tax Law Society sponsored the first Stetson Tax Innovators Exchange (S.T.I.X.) featuring experts in the fields of environmental taxation and tax technology.

Speakers included Professor Roberta Mann from the University of Oregon School of Law, David Blair, a partner at Crowell & Morig, accountant Nate Wadlinger, and Daniel Town and Daniel Raymer—both recent Stetson Law graduates who crafted award-winning environmental taxation papers.

Mann discussed how tax policy can impact innovation and the environment, focusing on automation, entrepreneurship, and working from home. Blair examined the recent Internal Revenue Code 45Q carbon capture tax credit developments and the necessity for economic incentives for environmental action. Wadlinger explained how artificial intelligence can improve tax practice—including a program that could calculate the odds of success on a particular tax dispute in a particular jurisdiction, which can be an invaluable tool in determining whether a potential dispute is worthwhile to pursue.

Town presented on his paper “From Futile to Utile: Addressing the key role of Florida’s Electric Utility Companies in mitigating Sea-Level Rise,” which focused on addressing sea-level rise through the lens of electric companies – the highest emitters of carbon. He proposed three solutions: a gradual increase in taxes and fees on some aspects of Florida electric utility companies, offering tax credits and subsidies for transitioning to more environmentally-friendly power generation, and reforming electric utility regulations as an incentive to adopt a more climate-conscious, public welfare approach — all while maintaining a profit-making structure that can both maintain revenue and reduce the impact of sea level rise in Florida.

Raymer shared his paper “Plastic Tax: An Alternative to Plastic Alternatives,” which focuses on the consequences of rising sea-level on Florida’s economy and proposes a hybrid of upstream and downstream taxes on targeted single-use plastics that will not only potentially deter overuse of such plastics, but also generate an adequate disaster fund to alleviate the state’s burden of funding the future damages and revenue loss caused by the threat of rising sea levels.

S.T.I.X. was also sponsored by the Tax Section of The Florida Bar and included Florida CLE. This year’s seminar was open to the public and free of charge. Organizers plan to make it an annual event.

Hurricane Eta Update

Dear Stetson Law Community,

Based on guidance from the National Weather Service, Pinellas County Schools and the advice of our own safety officers, Stetson University College of Law will close today at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11, through Thursday, November 12. We will continue to monitor the situation and will make an announcement if more develops. If there are no further developments, we will reopen on Friday, November 13.

Please note that exams currently scheduled for Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 have been rescheduled.

Following is the reschedule information:

Civil Procedure (All Sections). Exams are moved to Monday, November 23 at 1:30 p.m. Room assignments will be updated and available online next week.

Evidence, Section 3 (Boals). Exam moved to Tuesday, November 24 – 1:30 p.m. Room assignments will be updated and available online next week.

Insurance Law (Lake). Exam moved to Tuesday, November 24 – 1:30 p.m. Room assignments will be updated and available online next week.

International Business Transactions (Nagle/Adams). Exam moved Tuesday, November 24 – 1:30 p.m. Room assignments will be updated and available online next week.

Sales & Leases (Zierdt). Exam moved to Tuesday, November 24 – 1:30 p.m. Room assignments will be updated and available online next week.

All other exams are not affected and will proceed as scheduled.

During this time, the library, gym, bookstore and the café will be closed. We will let you know when they will reopen.

The pantry will remain open to dormitory students. Additionally, students should feel free to reach out to Residential Life at [email protected] and Student Affairs at [email protected] for any questions.

Due to Hurricane ETA’s size and unpredictable nature, we must remain cautious. We will be communicating with you by text, email, and the website. If you haven’t already done so, sign up for “Stetson Hatter Alerts” on my.stetson.edu. Do monitor local news media, the National Weather Service, and www.pinellascounty.org and search ALERTPinellas. If you have any questions, reach out to Public Safety at [email protected]. Your safety is our highest priority. Please continue to listen to reports and to stay safe.

Dean Alexandre

Lawyers Prepped And Ready Ahead of Any Election Issues

By Fallon Silcox
Bay News 9
Nov. 3, 2020

Excerpt

“It’s not unusual at all to have litigation follow our elections. It may be unfortunate because we would like to have the answers, and oftentimes the presence of of litigation doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong it just happens,” said Louis Virelli, Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law.

Professor Virelli said candidates having lawyers ready ahead of a big election just makes sense, and he said it’s a complete misconception that if elections don’t end on Tuesday night, there’s something wrong.

This article was originally published on the Bay News 9 website on Nov. 3, 2020, with the headline, “Lawyers Prepped And Ready Ahead of Any Election Issues.”

Florida Law Schools’ Consortium for Racial Justice hosts first forum on civil rights

The Florida Law Schools’ Consortium for Racial Justice held its formal launch with a timely panel on Oct. 27, 2020, called “Civil Rights Litigation and Coalition Building in the 21st Century Forum.”

The inaugural event, which was held virtually and open to students from all 12 Florida law schools, included a brief introduction to the FLSCRJ and a reiteration of the important role the Florida law school community will have in its work toward racial justice.

The panel featured Michele Rayner-Goolsby, who will represent District 70 in the Florida House and will be one of the first openly LGBTQ women of color elected to Florida’s Legislature, and Jotaka L. Eaddy, the founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies, LLC, a social impact consulting firm committed to advancing transformative change and global impact.

You can listen to the entire conversation here:

Each law school has a point person students can contact for more information about how to get involved with FLSCRJ at their school. Those individuals are:

About FLSCRJ

The Deans of the 12 law schools in Florida formed the Florida Law Schools’ Consortium for Racial Justice (FLSCRJ) in June 2020 in response to longstanding and current acts of racist violence. The collective aims to leverage the strengths and educational roles of every law school in the state to assist community organizations fighting for racial justice and policy reform throughout Florida.

The 12 law schools in Florida understand that law schools’ highest duty is to train intellectually strong and culturally competent lawyers who seek justice. Inherent in legal training is the expressed expectation that lawyers hold a special responsibility to denounce injustice, particularly in the state of Florida. Law schools in Florida therefore have an obligation to teach students how to speak up when they see wrongs. FLSCRJ will emphasize lawyers’ roles in advancing social justice and help law students develop the consciousness they need to speak out against inequalities.

Each law school will designate at least one student fellow to work with FLSCRJ every year. The fellows will collaborate with groups in Florida that have long pursued anti-racism initiatives.