News Archives - Page 69 of 138

Stetson hosts Earth Day event on the Gulfport campus

Stetson University College of Law students celebrated Earth Day on April 21 on the Gulfport campus with an environmentally-focused art show, music, healthy snacks and informational booths on sustainable living. The Stetson student Environmental Law Society, Student Wellness Society and Food Law Society sponsored the event.

Students at Stetson Law in Gulfport celebrate Earth Day.

Student Katie Cleveland worked with student organizations to coordinate the event.

Stetson’s Earth Day event for students provided information on local organic farms and healthy eating, alternative transportation and sustainable food production.

The event featured a sports and recreational area to encourage exercise and bicycle checkups to promote alternative transportation.

A free public art show, Sustainable Farming: Art for Advocacy, featured work by local artists and students at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. The theme of the show was the destructive environmental impact of industrial farming.

“We hope that the art show engages people in a fun way to learn more about the negative impacts of industrial farming,” said Stetson Law student Jessica Prats, who spearheaded the art show with Stetson’s Environmental Law Society.

Prats is a student in Stetson Law professor Lance Long’s Environmental Advocacy class. Students in the class were challenged to choose an environmental issue and develop a plan to raise public awareness about the issue.

Stetson accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame

Stetson University College of Law is accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their professions and have affected a profound, positive influence on the law school.

The annual event is held each October. The 2013 inductees were Professor Paul Barnard ’58, James W. Martin BS ’71, JD ’74 and Judge Raphael Steinhardt ’63.

For biographies and videos about past winners, please see Stetson’s Hall of Fame website.

To submit a nomination, please use theHall of Fame Nomination form 2014 and send by May 2 to Patricia Toups in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707. E-mails are also accepted at [email protected].

Stetson Law wins awards for written and oral advocacy at international competition in Hong Kong

Stetson University College of Law students received awards for excellence in written and oral advocacy at the Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong on April 6.

(L-R): Professor Joseph Morrissey, Jeremy Bailie, Alisa French, Carmen Herrera Valverde, Yesica Liposky, Rachel Lopez Sanchez, Paul Crochet and Professor Stephanie Vaughan. Not pictured: Davis Watson III. Photo courtesy Michael and Mariane Crochet.

The team, including Stetson Law students Jeremy Bailie, Paul Crochet, Alisa French, Carmen Herrera Valverde, Yesica Liposky, Raquel Sanchez Lopez and Davis Watson III, received honorable mention awards for both the Claimant’s Memorandum and the Respondent’s Memorandum at the international advocacy competition. Crochet also earned an honorable mention award for individual best oralist.

Stetson and Harvard were the only teams out of 22 American teams to receive accolades for both written submissions.

“With over 700 students participating, this is an incredible feat,” said Stetson Law Professor Joseph Morrissey, who co-coached the team with Professor Stephanie Vaughan. Vaughan is also associate director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson.

This year, Stetson’s Vis East team also included two J.D./Grado exchange students.

“They were incredible ambassadors for Stetson and a wonderful example of the international nature of our team and our law school,” said Professor Morrissey.

The Vis Moot was started in 1994 by the United Nations Commission on Trade Law (UNCITRAL) to foster the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes.

This year, for the first time, a team from Kabul, Afghanistan, competed, having been sponsored by the U.S. government under an initiative to bring developing countries into this global dispute resolution training program.

Stetson’s Center for Excellence in International Law is home to the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, the Institute for Caribbean Law and Policy, and hosts international advocacy competitions and offers study abroad opportunities around the world.

To learn more about international programs at Stetson, visit http://www.law.stetson.edu/international.

Stetson co-sponsors Second Law and Rhetoric Colloquium

Stetson University College of Law co-sponsored the Second Law and Rhetoric Colloquium on April 11 and 12, hosted by the Communication Studies Department at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. Stetson hosted the first Law and Rhetoric Colloquium last March on its Gulfport campus.

The Law and Rhetoric Colloquium group gathered April 11 and 12.

Professor of Law Kirsten K. Davis, Ph.D., the director of Stetson’s new Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, was co-organizer of the event along with University of Alabama Communication Studies Professor Dr. Clark Rountree.

The colloquium followed a public address by well-known contemporary language and interpretation scholar Stanley Fish. Following Fish’s address, which examined the rhetoric of the majority and dissenting opinions in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case on the Second Amendment, D.C. v. Heller, colloquium participants spent a day with Fish discussing competing views of law and rhetoric.

“Stanley Fish is one of the most recognizable public intellectuals of our time,” said Dr. Davis, who teaches and writes about legal rhetoric. “It was quite an honor to talk with him about the way the language of law operates to persuade. Bringing those kinds of insights about language and persuasion to legal education is central to the mission of Stetson’s new Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication.”

In addition to teaching courses on legal writing at Stetson, Davis teaches courses addressing law and rhetoric, legal ethics, and the First Amendment. She is the author of several law review articles applying rhetorical theory to legal texts and practices. Her most recent article, “’The Reports of My Death are Greatly Exaggerated’: Reading and Writing Objective Legal Memoranda in a Mobile Computing Age,” is published in the Oregon Law Review and uses rhetorical theory to consider the rhetoric of advice-giving and legal writing in a high-tech age.

Photo caption: Colloquium participants (seated L-R): Dr. Katie Langford, Texas Tech University, Department of Communication Studies; Dr. Clark Rountree, University of Alabama Huntsville, Department of Communication Arts; Dr. John Lyne, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Communication; (standing L-R): Professor Linda Berger, University of Nevada Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law; Dr. Omar Swartz, University of Colorado Denver, Department of Communication; Dr. Kirsten Davis, Stetson Law; Dr. Jeff Todd, Florida Coastal Law School; Professor Joe Sery, University of San Francisco, Communication Studies; Dr. Katie Rose Guest Pryal, University of North Carolina School of Law; Dean Jay Mootz, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law; and Professor Colin Starger, University of Baltimore Law School.

University of California, Hastings College of Law wins Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition

The University of California, Hastings College of Law won the 18th Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition on April 12 at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla.

The University of California, Hastings College of Law team won the IEMCC at Stetson. Pictured with team coaches.

The University of California defeated the National Law University, Jodhpur, India, in the final round for the international championship.

Ateneo de Manila Law School, Philippines, received the best memorial award, and Vinayak Panikkar, National Law University, Jodhpur, India, was named best final-round oralist. Paula Plaza, University of Philippines College of Law, was the best oralist in the preliminary rounds.

The team from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, was honored by their peers with the Spirit of Stetson Award, recognizing civility, justice and fair play.

Fourteen teams from around the world won the chance to compete at Stetson Law in Gulfport, Fla. Students traveled this year from the Bahamas, Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Ireland, and The Philippines.

The University of California-Hastings team with Professor Royal Gardner, director of Stetson's Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy. — The University of California, Hastings team with Professor Royal Gardner, director of Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy.

To learn more about the International Environmental Moot Court Competition at Stetson, visit http://www.law.stetson.edu/international/iemcc/.

Stetson’s bar passage is again #1 in the state

Stetson University College of Law’s bar passage rate is again number one in the state, with 85 percent of all graduates passing the February bar exam on the first try, far exceeding the statewide average of 72.9 percent.

Stetson Law’s bar passage was also number one in the state on the Florida bar exam in July, with 89.3 percent of Stetson graduates passing.

“I am proud of the great work of our graduates,” said Stetson Law Dean and Professor of Law Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “The bar exam is an important milestone and Stetson is dedicated to helping prepare our graduates for the legal profession.”

Stetson’s bar preparation program is designed to help graduates succeed, with bar preparation workshops, an essay-grading program and study plan, and Bar Preparation Services staff members available to guide students through the process of bar admission.

Stetson’s bar passage rate has continued to climb over the past decade.

Best-selling author, animal rescue advocate David Rosenfelt speaks to standing-room only crowd at Stetson

Stetson University College of Law’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida presented a talk and book-signing by best-selling mystery novel author and animal rescue advocate David Rosenfelt on April 14 on Stetson’s Gulfport campus.

David Rosenfelt spoke at Stetson Law in Gulfport on April 14.

Animal rescue advocates gathered with author David Rosenfelt on Stetson's Gulfport campus. — Animal rescue advocates gathered with author David Rosenfelt on Stetson’s Gulfport campus.

Rescue dog Ruby attended the lecture by animal advocate, author David Rosenfelt.

The free event drew a standing-room only crowd of animal advocate enthusiasts, law students and professors, members of the local community, as well as rescued Golden Retrievers and their owners.

“It’s always exciting to put on events that relate to the intersection of people’s interests,” said third-year student Lane Cryar, president of Stetson’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and executive editor of the Stetson Law Review. “We have a vibrant community here at Stetson with diverse activities and areas of practice, and participating in events like this enables us to converse with fellow dog lovers and animal advocates at Stetson and in our surrounding community.”

Rosenfelt is the Edgar and Shamus Award-nominated author of 16 books including the Andy Carpenter mystery series featuring a litigator who directs a dog rescue organization. An avid animal lover, Rosenfelt created the Tara Foundation, a charitable organization which has rescued more than 4,000 dogs. His most recent book, Dogtripping, tells the story of the author’s adventures moving across the country from California to Maine, while accompanied by 25 rescue dogs in three RVs.

Stetson is one of only a handful of law schools in the U.S. with courses in both animal law and international animal law as well as an established therapy dog program for students during exam-time. Stetson professor Peter Fitzgerald is an expert in international trade and animal law who is an advocate for Golden Retriever rescue and therapy dogs.

Stetson University College of Law Sponsors Nation’s Largest Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament

The final round of the American Mock Trial Association’s tournament, with 48 teams from undergraduate schools across the nation, will be sponsored by Stetson University College of Law and hosted by the University of Central Florida, April 11-13, in Orlando, Fla.

The 2014 AMTA National Championship Tournament will include four rounds, with each mock trial round consisting of a team representing the prosecution competing against another representing the defense. The two divisions at the national tournament are named for prominent members of the Stetson Law community, including the “Eleazer Division” for Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus William Eleazer and the “Jacob Division” for Dean Emeritus and Professor Bruce R. Jacob.

Winners of each division will meet on Sunday, April 13, during a final championship round that will be live streamed on http://www.trialteamucf.com/final-championship-round.html.

Each year, American Mock Trial Association hosts 25 regional tournaments and eight opening round championship tournaments leading into the national championship tournament.

Stetson wins Robert Merhige Jr. National Environmental Negotiation Competition

The Stetson University College of Law Alternative Dispute Resolution team won the Robert Merhige Jr. National Environmental Negotiation Competition at the University of Richmond Law School in Virginia, March 21-23.

(L-R): Rachel Ellis and Charlyne Topiol.

Stetson sent two teams of students. The Stetson team of Rachel Ellis and Charlyne Topiol beat 19 teams from across the country.

The team of Amber Cain and Aimée Canty also competed successfully in the preliminary rounds.

Professor Lance Long, who teaches environmental advocacy and legal research and writing, coached the Stetson teams.

“I could not have been prouder of how our teams prepared, performed and showed professionalism throughout the competition,” said Professor Long.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert R. Merhige Jr., the namesake of the competition, showed a sincere commitment to the environment during his career on the bench, imposing a $13 million fine against Allied Chemical for polluting the James River and Chesapeake Bay. Judge Merhige presided over groundbreaking cases including the desegregation of Virginia schools in 1972 and the admittance of female students to the University of Virginia in 1970.

To learn more about the ADR Board at Stetson, visit the Center for Excellence in Advocacy.

Stetson students win National Voir Dire Tournament

Stetson University College of Law’s trial team of Ashley Goodman, Khalil Madani and Victoria San Pedro won the National Voir Dire Tournament on April 5 in Kansas City, Mo. The team also won the professionalism award in the competition.

(L-R): University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law professor and advocacy director S. Rafe Foreman, Khalil Madani, Ashley Goodman, and Victoria San Pedro. Photo by University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law visiting professor L. Michaelle Tobin.

Goodman was named Best Advocate and San Pedro was named Best Chair in the competition.

Joseph Murray ’08, Stetson’s advocacy center director Professor Charles Rose and Erika Wilson ’12 coached the winning team.

“Our students were chosen by their peers as the best in professionalism and excellence, two qualities that distinguish advocates as the very best,” said Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy Rose.

Sixteen teams from around the country competed.

Stetson’s trial advocacy program is regularly recognized as the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

To learn more about advocacy at Stetson, visit www.stetson.edu/law/advocacy.

Stetson students spearhead second annual bike rally on the Gulfport campus

Dozens of Stetson University College of Law students were joined by Gulfport Mayor Sam Henderson on April 4 for a free community bike rally starting in the horseshoe on Stetson’s Gulfport campus.

For the second year in a row, Stetson students organized a bike rally to raise awareness about alternative transportation.

“How many of you bike to work or school regularly?” Professor Lance Long asked the crowd. Several hands shot up, including the Gulfport mayor.

Mayor Henderson told the group that the City of Gulfport has approved plans to create a Gulfport loop for bicyclists connecting the Skyway Trail and Pinellas Trail. Bicyclists will have easier access to Clam Bayou, the waterfront, and the shops in downtown Gulfport.

Bike rally participants planned to bike approximately four miles from Stetson’s Gulfport campus to downtown Gulfport.

For more information about the bike rally, email [email protected].

Judge Vaughn Walker presents Nichols Foundation Prominent Speaker Lecture

Former Chief Judge Vaughn Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California presented the Nichols Foundation Prominent Speaker Lecture at Stetson University College of Law on April 4.

Judge Walker helped strike down California’s ban on same-sex marriage in 2010, the first federal court decision declaring a constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples. He also presided over several notable high-profile cases including a copyright infringement lawsuit between Apple and Microsoft and matters dealing with NSA surveillance.

Judge Walker spoke to students about “Social Attitudes and the Law” in the Great Hall at Stetson Law.

“You will learn a few things about how the law works and how it applies,” Judge Walker told the students in the audience preparing to enter the legal field. He discussed how the law changes over time to reflect social change.

“Social change is very slow and in fact quite glacial,” said Judge Walker.

He described how the roles of African Americans in society have changed greatly since the 1700s, from citizens with restricted rights to President of the United States.

Judge Walker described how views of gays and lesbians have also changed in the U.S. and the connection between legal and social changes.

In 1973, the American Psychological Association stated that homosexuality is not a mental disease or defect. Increased prominence of gays and lesbians in the media and public life improved social acceptance, yet the legal landscape did not evolve the same way, Judge Walker said.

Judge Walker explained that the constitutional landscape as late as 1986 was still hostile to gays and lesbians. He described how a pivotal case, Lawrence v. Texas, determined that homosexual relationships had the same rights as heterosexual relationships.

“It was only in 2003 that the dam began to break on the legal front,” Judge Walker said.

The Nichols Foundation Prominent Speaker Series was established in 1995 to enrich academic life at Stetson. The series’ namesake is Perry Nichols, among the nation’s most successful trial lawyers and past president of both the American Trial Lawyers Association and International Trial Lawyers Association. Previous lecturers include prominent business leaders, government officials, legal scholars and practitioners.