Stetson University College of Law alumnus Brian L. Tannebaum ’94 has created an award for students who excel in their first-year criminal law course. The Brian L. Tannebaum High Grade Award in Criminal Law rewards Stetson students earning the top grade in each section of their criminal law class with a financial award of $500.
To date, five Stetson Law students have received the award. Student Kacie Hohnadell described receiving the Brian L. Tannebaum High Grade Award as one of the most gratifying experiences of her law school career.
“It was very rewarding for my hard work and dedication to be recognized,” said Hohnadell. “In addition to receiving the award, I had the opportunity to have dinner and a wonderful conversation with Mr. Tannebaum. His generosity and encouragement were inspiring, and I truly enjoyed meeting him.”
On a recent visit to Stetson to speak to students, Tannebaum was asked if he would attach his name to the High Grade Award in Criminal Law.
“I went to law school to become a criminal defense lawyer,” said Tannebaum. “Through trial advocacy classes and the trial team, Stetson established my foundation.”
The award will continue to recognize rising criminal defense stars at Stetson Law through 2014.
Tannebaum is a highly respected criminal defense attorney and the immediate past-president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is managing partner of his Miami firm, Tannebaum Weiss, PL, which recently expanded to offices in Tampa.
For more information about the Brian L. Tannebaum High Grade Award in Criminal Law or giving to Stetson, contact the College Relations Office at 727-562-7818 or [email protected].
The brief urges the Court to grant certiorari in American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock, a case on appeal from the Montana Supreme Court that upheld Montana’s century-old ban on corporate political expenditures. Along with Montana’s historic ban, the brief urges the Court to consider the experience of federal elections in the past two years since Citizens United, including the growing trend of candidate-specific Super PACs spending millions of dollars during elections.
“American Tradition Partnership presents the Supreme Court the first opportunity to revise its stance in the controversial Citizens United v. FEC, which granted corporations the First Amendment right to spend unlimited funds in federal elections,” said Professor Torres-Spelliscy, an expert in constitutional law and campaign finance issues.
Montana’s Supreme Court held that Montana’s ban on corporate political expenditures, enacted by a citizen initiative in 1912, was justified by the state’s history of corporate political corruption. Plaintiffs in the cases are requesting that the Court reverse the Montana state court ruling without considering any of the evidence of Montana’s history of political corruption.
“This is a perfect opportunity for the Supreme Court to review the contours of Citizens United’s holding in light of two factual records: (1) Montana’s experience with corporate political abuses in the last century, and (2) the potential for modern corporate corruption in the era of Super PACs,” said Professor Torres-Spelliscy.
Professor Torres-Spelliscy is joined by professors from Columbia Law School, University of California Irvine School of Law, State University of New York, University at Buffalo Law School, University of Miami School of Law, University of Michigan Law School, Harvard Law School, American University Washington College of Law, and Fordham University School of Law.
Editor’s Note: Professor Torres-Spelliscy has written for and been quoted in numerous national news outlets on the topics of election reform and voters’ issues. She is available for interviews by calling Brandi Palmer in the Communications Office at Stetson University College of Law at (727) 562-7381 or by e-mailing her at [email protected].
Nicole Martingano, a third-year law student at Stetson, experienced a severe and unexpected hardship at the age of 19 that motivated her to go to law school.
Stetson Law student Nicole Martingano aspires to be a prosecutor.
In 2006, Martingano was an undergraduate student at the University of Florida in Gainesville with uncertain academic plans. On Feb. 25 of that year, Martingano’s life changed dramatically when she was hit head-on by a drunk driver.
After the accident, Martingano suffered from left-side paralysis and was in a coma for 11 days. She was hospitalized for three months and had to undergo occupational, speech and physical therapy to recover. As a result of the car accident, Martingano has a steel plate in her arm and a titanium rod in her leg.
It took a year for her to fully recover from the car accident. Martingano had problems with her long- and short-term memory, and struggled putting words together.
“How it affected my family was the hardest part of dealing with the accident,” said Martingano. “They went through more pain then I did. Physical pain is nothing compared to emotional pain.”
The doctors told Martingano that only 90 percent of her brain would revert back to normal functioning. Six years after the accident, she still struggles with her hand-eye coordination and her ability to run. She recently received a scholarship awarded to victims of sudden traumatic brain injuries.
When she was lying in the hospital bed in Gainesville, Martingano said she made a decision to deter drunk driving by speaking to her peers and by one day becoming a prosecutor.
Since the accident, Martingano has turned her near-fatal injuries into a public awareness campaign. She has spoken to thousands of students at colleges and high schools about the consequences of drunk driving.
At Stetson Law, Martingano is honing her advocacy skills as a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, and she has recently become a Student Ambassador at Stetson. Next spring, Martingano plans to participate in Stetson’s Prosecution Clinic.
“As an advocate, my goal is to be a prosecutor, and I’m determined to deter crimes like the one I was a victim of,” said Martingano. “More expensive fines don’t necessarily deter people from driving drunk. Having the experience deters people. Community service deters people.”
For more information on Martingano’s life-changing experience, visit her website at How to Save A Life: www.htsalife.com.
Stetson University College of Law graduate Jason L. Turner ’04 and his family have established an endowed scholarship to support students concentrating in the area of elder law. With his mother, Laura Turner, and grandmother, Maurelle Hooks, the family created the LeRoy Y. Hooks Elder Law Scholarship to honor Jason Turner’s late grandfather, a life-long professional educator who lost his life to Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Jason L. Turner '04.
The first scholarship will be awarded in the fall to a Stetson Law student who is pursuing a J.D. certificate of concentration in elder law.
“I am incredibly proud to announce a new elder law scholarship at Stetson in honor of my grandfather, LeRoy Y. Hooks,” said Turner, who is a partner in the Nashville law firm of Keller, Turner, Ruth, Andrews, Ghanem & Heller, PLLC. “Because of his tremendous courage and integrity during his life, my family has established the LeRoy Y. Hooks Elder Law Scholarship to ready future Stetson lawyers to assist the elderly in similar end-of-life issues.”
“This thoughtful gift will support scholarships for students concentrating in the much-needed area of elder law,” said Interim Dean Royal Gardner. “As our population ages, more people will need legal advocates who can assist them in matters ranging from estate planning and social security to Medicare and Medicaid issues. This scholarship reinforces Stetson’s commitment to assist students in becoming advocates who make a difference in people’s lives.”
Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law offers specialized courses, research projects, and continuing legal education. Students who focus their studies on elder law can take pursue a J.D. Certificate of Concentration in elder law or enroll in the LL.M. in Elder Law program. Stetson is also home to the Eleazer Courtroom, the first courtroom in the nation designed to be a model for accessibility for the aging and elderly. Stetson’s elder law programs are led by Professor Rebecca Morgan, who holds the Boston Asset Management Chair in Elder Law.
“We are grateful for the remarkable generosity of Jason Turner and his family,” said Professor Morgan. “This scholarship will make a significant difference for the recipient pursuing studies in the elder law curriculum.”
Stetson University College of Law is opening a new Veterans Law Institute on May 31 in Gulfport, Fla. The institute will serve the growing population of active duty military, veterans and their families in the Tampa Bay area, one of the largest concentrations of military veterans in the U.S. The institute’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic will provide representation to veterans seeking government benefits as well as those appealing decisions denying benefits.
WHO: The Honorable Bruce E. Kasold, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, will present the keynote address at the opening of Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute.
WHEN: Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute ribbon-cutting ceremony begins at 12 p.m.
WHERE: The event will take place at the new Veterans Law Institute, 6101 13th Ave. S. in Gulfport, adjacent to Stetson’s Gulfport campus.
Parking will be available at Stetson’s main campus at 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport. Visitors with mobility issues may be dropped off at 62nd St. S. and 13th Ave. S. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside the Great Hall on campus.
WHAT: The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include music, a color guard presentation, the singing of the National Anthem, and a tour of the facility that will house Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute.
“The Veterans Advocacy Clinic represents a new era in Stetson’s historical commitment to both veterans’ rights and experiential legal education,” said Professor Cynthia Batt, the Director of Clinical Education.
The institute was part of a Solo Practice Network developed by Stetson Law to assist graduating students and alumni in starting, building and sustaining successful law practices. Through the Solo Practice Network, Stetson Law supports alumni in the solo and small practice community.
Foonberg named the Solo Practice Network among major contributions from the State of Florida to the American legal system.
“Solo does not mean alone,” Foonberg said. “You are never alone. You always have other lawyers to help you, especially solos.”
Ninety Stetson Law alumni participated in the first Solo Practice Institute. Stetson Law alumni also served as mentors to Solo Practice Institute participants.
Alumnus Dr. Adam Levine, who partners in his own law practice, presented on the topic of attracting and managing clients at Stetson’s Solo Practice Institute.
“I prefer being hands-on and being able to interact with clients of my choosing,” Levine said. “I want clients to call and reach me on the phone.”
The Solo Practice Institute curriculum included instruction on the nuts-and-bolts of running a solo practice. Topics included solo practice management basics; time, billing and collections; advertising and marketing; attracting and maintaining clients; hiring, staffing and personnel management; ethics and solo practice; and research skills and resources.
A Pre-Institute Workshop focused on developing a business plan and on personal development programs including Improv Comedy for Communication Skills, a “Women in Solo Practice” panel, and an introduction to media relations.
Regular workshops and seminars, providing more depth in each subject, will be scheduled for future dates at both the Tampa Law Center and the Celebration campus of Stetson University.
For more information about the Solo Practice Institute, please visit Stetson Law online or contact Aaron Swift, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, at [email protected] or 727-562-7819.
Lt. Cmdr. Nieva M.S. Brock, who serves as staff judge advocate and ethics counselor to the director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), will present the commencement address at Stetson University College of Law at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 12. Commencement is scheduled to take place in the courtyard on Stetson’s Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.
Lt. Cmdr. Nieva M.S. Brock
A total of 317 students are scheduled to walk at Stetson’s law school commencement, including 48 part-time J.D. students, nine LL.M. in elder law students, 12 LL.M. in international law students, and 28 J.D./M.B.A. students.
Brock is an expert in the military rule of law. She has taught courses on classified information to prosecutors and defense counsel in all military services and provided training on protecting children online for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In addition to her current role with NCIS, Brock’s distinguished military career includes serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and providing support around-the-clock to special agents working on criminal investigations around the globe.
Stetson’s Amnesty International hosted a panel discussion, “Demand Dignity Campaign: A Panel on Homeless Advocacy,” on April 10 at Stetson Law in Gulfport.
The purpose was to bring awareness to the plight of those who become homeless, and to provide students with an opportunity to learn how to help the homeless community through legal action and community activism.
Two of the panelists, Allen Parks and Gregory Rolle, were formerly homeless individuals who now serve on advocacy boards for the community. Parks works with the Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Board, and Rolle serves as the pastor of Justice Ministries for the Holistic Mission Christian Community. Also serving on the panel was Kirsten Clanton, an attorney at Southern Legal Counsel, who is also an advocate for the issue of homelessness.
“We had to find ways to get out of our situation, by selling copper wire or selling fish on the sidelines,” said Rolle. “Even with doing that, there is still a lack of dignity in the homeless community — feeling ashamed because of the shoes on our feet or because we can’t use a public restroom.”
The Demand Dignity Campaign is an international campaign to ensure that those who are homeless or in poverty have basic human rights. Some of these rights include the right to clean water and the right to access public restrooms.
Public policy is based on the premise that society wants homeless individuals to get out of poverty and be integrated back into the workforce and society, but the panel argued that local laws and ordinances often hinder the only opportunities homeless people have to get out of dire situations.
“What struck me about this discussion was the lack of concern from the community and local government officials,” said second-year law student Katherine Heffner. “As soon-to-be lawyers, I feel this issue is of integral importance and feel that we should familiarize ourselves with the plight of the homeless so that we can use our talents to help them.”
Every spring semester, the International Programs Office at Stetson University College of Law hosts a study abroad course that provides students with the opportunity to learn about the legal structure of a different country and then actually visit it in person.
This spring, the course was Rome-Select Topics/International Law, the country of interest was Italy, and I had a personal opportunity to participate. The topics covered in this course were the development of Republicanism, law and advocacy, the legal profession in ancient Rome, and its effect on modern civil law systems.
Stetson Law student Valeria Obi during a spring visit to Rome. Photo courtesy Meagan Randle.
This course was spearheaded by Stetson Law professors Marco Jimenez and Candace Zierdt. Both professors are extremely knowledgeable about the ancient legal structure of Rome and served as great resources for learning about the area.
The first half of the course was spent in the classroom at Stetson Law in Gulfport, Fla., where I learned about the development of law and advocacy from ancient Rome through modern society.
The class was heavily focused on classroom discussion. This provided an opportunity for everyone to share their opinions on course topics. Students facilitated the majority of classroom discussions.
Through these discussions, I learned all about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the evolution of religion in Rome, the first legal code (The Twelve Tables), Roman architecture and influential leaders of Rome.
During spring break, March 17-24, I actually had the chance to visit Rome in person and visit the places I studied about in class. Visit Flickr to view more photos>>
One of the sites I visited while in Rome was the ancient Roman Forum, which is surrounded by the ruins of other ancient government buildings. These buildings were used for centuries and were the center of Roman life. The Forum served as the venue for elections, public speeches, criminal trials and other major events that took place. My visit to the Forum was enhanced by insights from the class discussions.
Along with the Forum, I also toured the Supreme Palace of Justice, which houses the Roman Supreme Court. This building is enormous and beautifully decorated with ancient paintings. While there, I also had an opportunity to attend a hearing to see how Roman legal proceedings differ from those in the U.S.
Stetson students spent Spring Break in Rome learning about the Roman legal system. Photo courtesy Meagan Randle.
Another interesting site that I visited was the Catacombs, which served as the underground burial place for Christians in ancient Rome. The Catacombs extend for nearly 12 miles and are currently still being excavated. I got the opportunity to walk through the chilled tunnels and even saw remains in some of the plots.
I also visited Vatican City, which is the smallest independent state in the world. The Vatican is actually located in Rome where its territory consists of a walled enclave. Inside the Vatican are several museums that improved my understanding of ancient Roman art as well as the different Popes of Rome.
The Vatican is also where the Sistine Chapel is located. The Sistine Chapel served as the official residence of the Pope. I was absolutely amazed by the Renaissance architecture and paintings by very famous artists including Michelangelo.
My favorite places among those we visited were Pompeii and Herculaneum, both partially buried cities that are also still being excavated. These cities are the result of a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius. What’s really fascinating about these cities is the fact that part of them is still buried under the ash and debris from the volcanic eruption. We were able to walk through these ancient cities and visualize what life used to be like for the inhabitants.
Overall, my experience in Rome was absolutely captivating and breathtaking. While I did see much of Rome, there is still so much more to see. I appreciate everything I’ve learned from the course because this once unfamiliar culture has inspired me to learn even more about it. Although next year the country selected for Stetson’s spring break abroad will be different, I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone who hasn’t had the opportunity to travel internationally.
For more information about this course or any other study abroad programs, students should contact the Office of International Programs at [email protected].
Students from the National Law University in Jodhpur, India, traveled from the other side of the world to win Stetson University College of Law’s 16th Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition on March 31 in Gulfport, Fla. More than 80 teams competed worldwide, and the top 26 were invited to Stetson for the International Finals.
A team of students from the National Law University in Jodhpur, India, won the International Environmental Moot Court Competition this year at Stetson University College of Law.
Student Aritra Roy of the National Law University in Jodhpur, India, was named best oralist in the championship round of the international competition. University of California Hastings placed second. A team of students from China University of Political Science and Law received the Spirit of Stetson Award.
The 26 teams represented 12 countries including Australia, Brazil, China, India, Ireland, the Philippines, Nepal, South Korea, Ukraine, U.S., Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Most schools competed in regional rounds around the world for a chance to advance to the prestigious international finals hosted by Stetson Law on March 29-31.
This year, students argued a moot case about a nuclear accident and sovereign default. Last year, students examined a case on the topic of oil pollution and the marine environment.
“The moot gives students an opportunity to engage in discussions about current global environmental challenges,” said Interim Dean Royal Gardner, director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law & Policy at Stetson. “I was greatly impressed with the level of knowledge and advocacy skills that the students demonstrated.”
In addition to hosting the International Environmental Moot Court Competition, Stetson offers an advanced LL.M. degree in international law and is also home to the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy.
This semester, Stetson launched the Edward & Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series to raise awareness about important legal and environmental issues and to bring experts in the field to the Stetson University community and public.
Kenneth Feinberg, an attorney who has mediated some of the nation’s most challenging and widely known disputes, met with honors students, visited a class, and presented the Nichols Distinguished Lecture to more than 100 students on March 29 at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport.
Kenneth Feinberg speaks at Stetson University College of Law during his presentation of the Nichols Distinguished Lecture.
Feinberg presented “Unconventional Responses to Unique Catastrophes: Tailoring the Law to Meet the Challenges.”
Professor Michael Allen introduced Feinberg by saying, “Lawyers are problem-solvers. We help people resolve issues … Our speaker today may be the king of problem-solvers.”
An expert in mediation and alternative dispute resolution who has been appointed to two presidential-level commissions, Feinberg is perhaps best known for his roles with the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund, and the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund following the tragic Virginia Tech shootings.
“Every once in a while, a tragedy captivates the public,” Feinberg explained. He said that a tragedy or meltdown that galvanizes the public and officials to think outside the box requires an unconventional response. Feinberg has worked to help victims of the 911 terrorism attack, the 2008 financial meltdown, the Gulf oil spill environmental catastrophe, Virginia Tech shootings and Agent Orange claims.
He cautioned that while compensation programs are largely a success and the right thing to do under the circumstances, it is important to be cognizant of the problems that arise when small segments of the population receive special treatment.
Kenneth Feinberg, left, offers career advice to Stetson Law second-year student Frank Y. Leung. “For me, it was exciting and refreshing to meet someone who has done so much and yet who is also so approachable,” said Leung about Feinberg.
“Bad things happen to good people every day in this country,” Feinberg explained, “and there are not programs put in place to compensate everyone.”
Feinberg stressed that lawyers serving the public interest do vital work. “I think we are all here at Stetson engaged in the most noble of professions,” he said.
“If you want to mediate, arbitrate, problem-solve, get as much experience as you can,” Feinberg told the law students in the audience. “Get involved with CLEs, clinics, pro-bono and get exposure.”
The Nichols Foundation Prominent Speakers Series was established at Stetson in 1995. The series’ namesake is Perry Nichols, who was among the nation’s most successful trial lawyers and past president of both the American Trial Lawyers Association and the International Trial Lawyers Association.
Florida Supreme Court Justices Fred Lewis, Barbara J. Pariente and Peggy A. Quince spoke with students at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport on March 26 about the role of the judicial system and Florida’s merit retention system. All three justices formerly served as chief justices of Florida’s highest court. Stetson Law Professor Theresa Radwan moderated a noon-time panel discussion with the three justices.
Professor Theresa Radwan led a panel discussion with (L-R) Justice Peggy Quince, Justice Fred Lewis and Justice Barbara Pariente.
Next November, voters will decide whether the justices will keep their jobs for another six-year term.
The process of merit selection of appellate judges was added to the Florida Constitution decades ago at the initiation of Florida then-Governor Reubin Askew and an amendment was added to the Florida Constitution in 1976 requiring appellate judges to stand for merit retention by vote.
Before merit retention, judges were chosen in partisan elections in which candidates ran as nominees of the Republican or Democratic parties. Campaigning judges sometimes used money donated by attorneys who practiced before them in court and several Florida judges were charged with ethics violations.
“If we want to keep a fair judicial system, it’s up to us,” Justice Quince told the Stetson Law students. “I think we have a good system where people have to be vetted to get on the court, and every six years we decide if these judges are doing their jobs.”
Quince said that the judicial system is intended to be a fair and impartial part of a functioning democracy. The one-time zoology major described how watching the Civil Rights Movement unfold piqued her interest in the law and inspired her to pursue a legal career.
“The essential role of any judge is to uphold the constitution and interpret the constitution,” Justice Pariente said, adding that judges cannot allow opinions to be influenced by the politics of the day.
Justice Lewis, a veteran of the U.S. Army, said that he believes firmly in the judicial branch’s ability to resolve human disputes through fairness. He told the law students in the audience, “By offering to participate, you will make the system better.”
