Stetson University College of Law is expanding its programs for veterans this year. The college is increasing the number of Yellow Ribbon scholarships that it offers student veterans from three to 10, a new Student Veterans Organization has started this semester on campus, and a new legal assistance program for veterans is in the works.
Student Jeffrey Harvey leads a recent meeting of the Student Veterans Organization on the Gulfport campus. Photo by Steven Lacks.
The Tampa Bay area on the west coast of Florida is home to one of the largest concentrations of military veterans in the U.S. The need for expanded programming, including academic and legal services for both veterans and active military, is substantial.
“Veterans take an oath to support and defend the Constitution when they become members of the military. These additional scholarships will allow more veterans to continue to fulfill that oath as members of the legal profession. It is, in a very real sense, a continuation of service to the nation,” said Professor Charles Rose, director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson Law.
Stetson’s new expanded programs for veterans will provide law students with an opportunity to receive more scholarships, learn more about the expanding field of veterans law, and sharpen their legal skills while helping to serve the area’s growing veteran population.
“The new student organization will create a network of student veterans on campus that can provide peer support, increase awareness and participation in pro bono projects that help veterans, and provide a forum for a collaborative discussion on resolving issues that affect not only veterans, but the military and legal professions at large,” said Jeffrey Harvey, president of the Student Veterans Organization at Stetson. “One way we hope to do this by organizing events where students can learn skills like time and stress management from the military culture.”
Stetson Law student veteran Javier Centonzio is spearheading Heroes Weekend, a series of community events that includes a parade and musical performances in honor of the service and sacrifice of our active military and veterans, on Nov. 10, 12 and 13, on the Gulfport waterfront.
The Florida Bar and Stetson Law are co-sponsoring Veterans Law Accreditation Training for practicing lawyers from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St.
Prospective students are invited to learn more about the Stetson Law experience at Law School Information Day, starting at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, on the Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.
For more information about Stetson’s resources for veterans, including its work with the Yellow Ribbon program, please visit our Veterans Resources Page.
Stetson University College of Law inducted seven members into its Hall of Fame on Oct. 29 in Gulfport. Note: See the Hall of Fame 2011 Flickr set to view images from the event.
This year’s inductees include:
Professor Robert Batey
Professor Robert Batey
Robert Batey joined Stetson Law’s faculty in 1977 and has taught a wide range of legal courses. He was the first Stetson professor to teach courses on sentencing, law and literature, sexual orientation and the law, and juvenile law. He was the first moot court and Lambda Legal Society adviser. He has written extensively on criminal justice, law and literature, and related topics. Since 1995, Professor Batey has been a member of the Families Against Mandatory Minimums organization.
Albert Farrah was the inaugural dean of Florida’s first law school, Stetson Law, from 1900-1907. Dean Farrah instituted “practice court,” believed to be the first trial advocacy program in the country. Farrah was also one of the first law deans to hire a woman on the faculty. He went on to serve as the first law dean of both the University of Florida and the University of Alabama.
General Roy Stanley Geiger ’07- award presented posthumously
Roy Stanley Geiger earned his law degree from Stetson Law in 1907. During World War II, he became Commanding General of the First Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force. His most famous victory was the success of his Marine Aircraft Wing at Guadalcanal. General Geiger was awarded in excess of 25 decorations, including a Presidential Citation for the battle of Guadalcanal, a Distinguished Service Medal, and a World War II Victory Medal. Camp Geiger at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina is named after the war hero. Geiger was promoted to four-star rank posthumously by the 80th Congress in 1947.
Amelia G. Govan co-founded Stetson’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) in 1979 with fellow student Malcolm J.L. Harper. Today, Judge Govan is an administrative law judge with the Labor Standards Office for the District of Columbia. She is a member of the judicial council of judges, the Florida and D.C. bars, and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kenneth A. Marra is a judge with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He started his legal career in the U.S. Department of Justice’s highly competitive Honors Program in Washington, D.C., where he was assigned to represent the interests of Native Americans. He continued working in that area of law in private practice before being appointed to the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County. Judge Marra is also the recipient of Stetson Law’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Irene H. Sullivan is the author of Raised by the Courts: One Judge’s Insight into Juvenile Justice. Judge Sullivan retired in 2010 after serving 12 years as a Circuit Court Judge in the Unified Family Court of Florida’s sixth judicial circuit − handling juvenile delinquency, dependency and domestic violence cases. She has served on numerous advisory boards including the MacArthur Foundation and the American Bar Association’s Youth at Risk Commission.
In 2007, Judge Sullivan received Stetson’s Ben C. Willard Award for distinguished humanitarian achievements that have benefited Florida citizens and people throughout the world. Judge Sullivan is also the recipient of the St. Petersburg Bar Association Judicial Appreciation Award and the Children’s Justice Award from the Salvation Army. Judge Sullivan was one of only four women in her law class at Stetson.
C. Allen Watts is a city, county and local government law attorney with the law firm of Cobb Cole and has practiced in many areas of land use and administrative law, including environmental regulation, governmental law, education law, concurrency, wetlands and habitat conservation, and related trial and appellate practice. He is a member of the board of directors of 1000 Friends of Florida. Watts is a founding member of the Stetson Law Review and served as editor-in-chief. He served as a Stetson University adjunct professor in the School of Business Administration and as board advisor with the College of Arts and Sciences. He also served as a founding member of the faculty of Campbell University School of Law from 1976-78.
Professor Judith Scully is working on a pro bono initiative at Stetson that is inspiring law students to reach out to educate juveniles and the community about the harsh consequences of the criminal punishment system.
Professor Judith Scully met with students in the Juvenile Justice Initiative at Stetson.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to sentence juveniles who have not committed murder to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Juveniles resentenced in Florida courts following the Supreme Court decision still face lengthy sentences. For many kids, being caught up in the adult justice system can mature into a life of crime, with repeat offenses and arrests.
A Nov. 21, 2010, article by Lloyd Dunkelberger in the Ocala Star-Banner reported that there were more than 100 people sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole for non-murder crimes that they committed as juveniles. “Florida has sentenced far more juveniles to such sentences than all other states combined,” Dunkelberger wrote.
“Intervention and education at an earlier age can help shut down the school-to-prison pipeline,” said Professor Scully, an expert in criminal law who also leads the Innocence Initiative at Stetson.
Approximately 40 law students showed up at the first meeting of the Juvenile Justice Initiative at Stetson in Gulfport a few weeks ago. There are already two students enrolled in externships working with juvenile cases this semester.
Student Robson Powers, one of the members of the Juvenile Justice Initiative student organization, is working in an externship at a criminal defense firm. Powers said that he joined the Juvenile Justice Initiative at Stetson because he believes that juveniles should be treated as juveniles and not be tried in adult courts.
“The misguided notion of ‘adult time, adult crime’ goes against the fabric of juvenile court,” said Powers. “Juveniles are different and deserve rehabilitation, not incarceration.”
Students in the Juvenile Justice Initiative met Nov. 2 to brainstorm ways to help juveniles.
Powers took several classes on criminal and juvenile law and wrote a seminar research paper on the disproportionate number of minority juveniles who get transferred to adult court in Florida. Before law school, Powers helped prepare federal prosecutions at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida in the criminal division.
Besides providing externships for students in the juvenile criminal law field, Stetson’s Juvenile Justice Initiative will bring a speaker series to campus and introduce a Street Law Program into Pinellas County middle schools in the spring.
Student Amy Ray is developing the proposal and curriculum for the Street Law Program, designed for at-risk middle school students.
By giving juveniles the necessary information to make informed decisions, providing them with tools and alternatives to crime, and illustrating the consequences of illegal behavior, Ray said that she hopes that Street Law can intervene at a critical point to help break the school-to-prison cycle.
Ray is finishing both her master’s degree in public health and law degree. She already has a master’s in criminal justice focusing on the theoretical aspects of delinquency, and she has studied violence as a public health concern.
“If this initiative can be implemented effectively in the community, then it has the power to grow outside of the county,” Ray said. “I’d like to see it partner with the Florida Department of Health as a way to grow.”
Annaliese Bullock, a founding member of the Juvenile Justice Initiative, said that she has always had a desire to work with youth, even before coming to law school. Bullock is researching diversion programs and crossover youth. Diversion programs offer youth an alternative to prison time, and steer them in the direction of counseling, community service, or similar alternatives that will improve their situation. Crossover youth are those who are involved in both the juvenile dependency and delinquency system.
Students in the Juvenile Justice Initiative at Stetson met to discuss programs to serve the needs of juveniles caught up in the criminal punishment system.
“I’d like to see the Juvenile Justice Initiative Street Law Program help educate local youth about the law, their rights and overall human rights,” Bullock said. “I’d also like to see the program grow to educate Stetson students about youth issues and to encourage community relationships.”
Professor Scully said that she hopes that this initiative will inspire students and others to see juvenile law as an important area of law and not just as a stepping stone to other careers.
Student Jessica Becht plans to pursue a career in juvenile law after graduating and is a researcher for the Juvenile Justice Initiative Street Law Program. An internship in college with a Circuit Court Family judge working in dependency and delinquency court sparked her interest. She said that she hopes that the Juvenile Justice Initiative will help show law students the importance of being advocates for young people and how to be more responsive to the diversity of issues raised by juvenile criminal law.
Judge Irene Sullivan, former circuit court judge in the Unified Family Court, is teaching a Juvenile Law Seminar this semester at Stetson. The class she co-taught with Professors Judith Scully and Robert Batey at Stetson on juvenile law last semester inspired the Juvenile Justice Initiative.
“Clients in juvenile defense are often underprivileged, low-income kids, some struggling with learning disabilities and poverty,” Professor Scully said.
Becht said that education is the first step toward fixing the problem of juvenile crime in the area.
“Community advocacy and community education are part of the broader definition of advocacy and we, at Stetson, specialize in teaching advocacy,” Professor Scully said.
On Oct. 25, a crowd of faculty, students and alumni helped celebrate Stetson Law’s Pride Scholarship for students at an evening reception at the Mindy Solomon Gallery in St. Petersburg. Stetson Law alumni Matthew Bachman ’07, Elizabeth C. Barnes ’11, Thomas Yaegers ’05, and professors Robert Batey, Joseph Morrissey, Jason Palmer and Ellen Podgor joined the Pride Scholarship committee to show their support for law students who dedicate themselves to extracurricular activities and service related to LGBTQIA issues.
Stetson Law students, alumni and faculty gathered to support the Pride Scholarship at the Mindy Solomon Gallery on Oct. 25.
“The Pride Scholarship is an important component of Stetson’s efforts to assist students who give back to the community in this important and needed legal area,” said Professor Podgor.
“The law is rapidly changing in Florida and the country regarding the rights of the LGBTQIA community,” said alumna Elizabeth Barnes. “By sponsoring and promoting this scholarship, Stetson is not only showing its support for our community; it is also showing that the Stetson tradition of leadership and excellence extends beyond moot court and trial team. This scholarship fosters knowledge and leadership in Stetson students and alumni, empowering them to be leaders in a rapidly changing and important realm of the law.”
Since graduating this year, Barnes has joined the board of the Pinellas County ACLU.
“It is important to celebrate diversity among students, because by embracing diversity, the entire student body as a whole will be more successful,” alumnus Matthew Bachman said.
While he was still a student at Stetson Law a few years ago, Bachman was recognized by the Gulfport City Council for helping to expand the city’s human rights ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identification. Around the nation, more than 100 local city and county governments have anti-discrimination ordinances that include sexual orientation or gender identification.
To learn more about scholarship programs at Stetson Law, visit the Admissions page here. To learn more about giving to Stetson, call 727-562-7818 or e-mail [email protected].
It’s been more than a year since President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), but the Stetson Law community, like much of the rest of America, remains abuzz over the contentious legislation.
Professor Michael Allen talks with students about Obama's healthcare overhaul on Oct. 25. Photo by Steven Lacks.
In a room packed with law students, Professor Michael Allen gave a presentation on the constitutionality of PPACA for Stetson Law’s American Constitution Society in Gulfport on Oct. 25.
Professor Allen began his presentation with a brief history of cases he anticipates will influence the Supreme Court, should the constitutionality question make it that far up the judicial ladder.
Three federal appellate courts have already issued decisions. The 6th Circuit, pointing to the effect of health care on interstate commerce, ruled two-to-one that the individual mandate clause is constitutional, while the 11th Circuit ruled two-to-one in the opposite direction. The 4th Circuit, in contrast, declined to decide the constitutionality question entirely, citing procedural grounds.
“These cases collectively provide the Supreme Court with the opportunity to address a wide range of constitutional issues, ranging from the power of Congress to ‘tax’ or ‘regulate commerce among the several states,’” Professor Allen said. “But they also provide the means for the justices to avoid the constitutional issues entirely by relying on a statute that could limit the jurisdiction of the federal courts to enjoin certain revenue raising statutes.”
Ultimately, the question of whether the individual mandate is constitutional might never reach the Supreme Court; the Court may not even decide whether or not to hear the case until next year.
“It is a cliché,” Professor Allen said, “but only time will tell how the Court decides to confront this issue, let alone how it will ultimately be resolved.”
Professor Jack Bass spoke with Stetson Law students on Oct. 21. Photo by Steven Lacks.
Writer and civil rights scholar Jack Bass met with faculty and students at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport on Oct. 21. He talked to Stetson Law students on Friday about the First Amendment and the events that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Bass received the 1994 Robert Kennedy Book Award grand prize for his book, Taming the Storm: The Life and Times of Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. and the South’s Fight over Civil Rights.
Bass, who has authored or co-authored eight non-fiction books about the South, is an expert in Southern politics, race relations and the role of law in shaping the civil rights era.
A journalist and journalism professor, Bass was twice named the South Carolina “journalist of the year,” and is Professor Emeritus of Humanities and Social Sciences at the College of Charleston.
Stetson Law students Diana Evans and John Henley, coached by Professor Michael Allen, won the Best Petitioner’s Brief Award at the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition, in Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-16. Evans also tied for the Best Oralist Award at the competition.
The competition is hosted by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association and the George Washington Law School. During the final round, the students argued in front of the actual judges of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Stetson’s award-winning Moot Court Board competes year-round in interscholastic competitions across the U.S. and around the world. Competitions cover a wide variety of legal fields.
William and Mary School of Law winners (L-R): Emily Riggs, Janani Iyengar, Caitlyn Cotter and Janet Lee.
A team of students from William and Mary School of Law won first place at the National Pretrial Competition at Stetson University College of Law on Oct. 16 in Gulfport. Student Emily Riggs, of William and Mary School of Law, was named Best Advocate in the Final Round.
A team from Charleston School of Law received the Best Brief Award.
The National Pretrial Competition, now in its fourth year, attracts students from around the country. This year, 16 teams—the largest number ever—competed on Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus.
“Because the competition captures what lawyers do each and every day, it helps prepare students for the rigors of the legal practice,” said Professor Brooke Bowman, Moot Court Advisor and competition committee member. “This is a unique competition in that students write two briefs, present motion arguments, present evidence, and make closing arguments.”
Best Brief team from Charleston School of Law, (L-R): Suzanne Hogg, Chuck Dukes, Angel Daniels and Kevin Pratt.
Stetson Law is home to the top-ranked trial advocacy program in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about advocacy at Stetson Law, visit the Center for Excellence in Advocacy.
To download high-resolution images from this event, visit Stetson Law’s Flickr page here.
Former Marine and current Stetson Law student Javier Centonzio is spearheading Heroes Weekend, a series of public events to honor military service men and women and veterans on Nov. 10, 12 and 13 in Gulfport.
The public is invited to enjoy a free concert, a parade and a musical performance benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. Centonzio joined forces with the American Legion Post 125, the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Gulfport to create the Heroes Weekend.
Events include:
Thursday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m.: The South Pasadena Community Band performs a free concert sponsored by the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce at the Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. S. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 12, 4 p.m.: The City of Gulfport sponsors a parade along Beach Blvd. in Gulfport. Those interested in participating in the parade should contact Gail Biron with the City of Gulfport at (727) 893-1118 or [email protected]. The deadline to register for the parade is Nov. 8.
Sunday, Nov. 13, 5:30 p.m.: “JELVIS” will be performing a “Tribute to Elvis” at the Gulfport Casino. The tickets are $10 each and will be sold at the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce and at the American Legion Post 125. Tickets will also be sold at the door. Tables that seat eight can be reserved in advance for $200. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 6 p.m.
Reservations, tickets or additional event information:
Through a partnership between the Florida Audubon Society and Stetson University, nine students from Stetson’s DeLand and Law campuses have been awarded scholarships to attend the Conservation Leadership Initiative (CLI) as part of Florida Audubon Society’s statewide conference in Lake Mary, Fla., on Oct. 14.
The 2011 Audubon Assembly is an annual event that brings together conservation leaders, scientists, educators, the business community, environmentally concerned citizens and Audubon state, local and chapter staff to take action for Florida’s environment. The Conservation Leadership Initiative is being sponsored by Disney.
As part of the CLI program, scholarship recipients will participate in a co-mentoring experience in which they will be paired with Audubon mentors to network, share and learn from each other. The students will choose one of four nature-inspired walking workshops showcasing successful conservation projects and programs including: Orlando Wetlands Park; Lyonia Preserve in Deltona; conservation tour along Wekiva River; and an ecological tour of the Wekiva River Mitigation Bank. They will also attend a Take Action Lunch, afternoon learning sessions and an evening reception.
“We’re delighted to collaborate with Florida Audubon to identify and develop the next generation of environmental leaders for our state and nation,” said Dr. Grady Ballenger, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.
“We have strong undergraduate programs at Stetson in the environmental sciences, and our College of Law has a special emphasis on environmental law,” Ballenger said. “Our students will benefit from testing their academic understandings against the pressing issues that Audubon Society members face as citizens, naturalists, educators, and business and political leaders. We hope, moreover, that our students will use the networking opportunities Audubon is providing to strengthen their understandings about advocacy and careers in conservation.”
The Stetson students attending include:
Bekah Burket of Casselberry, Fla., a senior environmental science and chemistry double-major
Logan Dodson of Riverview, Fla., a freshman biology major
Tyler Garibay of Visalia, Calif., and Dania Beach, Fla., a sophomore psychology major (with minor in Spanish)
Ariana Gonzalez of Plant City, Fla., a second-year law student
Tyce Herrman of Verona, Ill., a senior environmental science and philosophy double-major
Jeannie Miller of Manassas,Va., a junior environmental science major
Elise Pautler of Tampa, Fla., a second-year law student
Sara Potts of North Port, Fla., a first-year law student
Angelina Suarez of Deerfield Beach, Fla., a senior biology major (with a minor in environmental science)
“You have to prove that you deserve the job,” Tampa Bay Business Journal president and publisher Bridgette Mill told students gathered at the Student Leadership Development Committee luncheon at Stetson Law in Gulfport on Oct. 4.
Tampa Bay Business Journal publisher Bridgette Mill spoke Oct. 4 at Stetson Law.
Mill came to publishing from a background in broadcast journalism and advertising to become a leader at one of the largest privately held business journals in the world. This year, the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce honored Mill with the “2011 Business Woman of the Year” award. She spoke to Stetson students about the positive effects communication can have on individuals.
“Business and life are about people and how you communicate with them,” Mill told the crowd. Although Mill said she has a passion for journalism, she said she is also inspired to consider law school in the future.
Stetson student Danielle Weaver-Rogers said she was inspired by Mill’s message.
“She talked about being a leader in the community, but still being a part of the community,” said Weaver-Rogers. “I think she shared a wonderful message: how being a leader or being in a position of authority still allows you to be personable by using effective communication.”
Bridgette Mill addressed Stetson Law students at the the Student Leadership Development Committee luncheon.
Students attending the luncheon received one credit toward Stetson’s Leadership Certificate, which is presented at graduation. The Student Leadership Development Committee is comprised of student leaders who plan and implement monthly leadership luncheons and an annual leadership retreat for students. This month’s topic was communication and leadership.
The next Leadership luncheon will take place in November. The Student Leadership Development Committee will also be bringing back its monthly essay contests. The contest is open to all Stetson students and the winner will receive a gift certificate and have an essay published in Stetson’s student news blog, The Brief.
“Around the world, the elderly struggle for fundamental social and political rights, and face poverty, lack of healthcare and support systems,” said Dr. Israel “Issi” Doron, a law professor and practicing attorney from Israel, who talked with Stetson Law students on Sept. 29 in Gulfport. “Women, children, people with disabilities have a convention, yet older people are not a protected class.”
Dr. Israel Doron spoke with students at Stetson Law on Sept. 29. Photo by Steven Lacks.
Dr. Doron spoke with students about how the field of elder law is expanding into traditional practice areas and across international borders. He is visiting the Stetson Law Gulfport campus through November.
“Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law is well known throughout the world, and I am honored to have this opportunity to visit for two months to work with faculty and students,” said Dr. Doron.
Dr. Doron, an expert in aging issues and social policy, is a lecturer at the School of Social Work, Department of Gerontology, and Faculty of Law at the University of Haifa, Israel.
He said he has seen a boom in the area of elder law in the past 10 years. Declining birth rates, coupled with increased longevity, have resulted in aging populations around the world. Aging populations require unique legal services, dealing with issues ranging from patients’ rights to equal work opportunities for seniors and the elderly.
In addition to serving on the faculty at the University of Haifa, Dr. Doron works with the Association of Law in the Service of the Elderly, an Israeli NGO that promotes the rights of the elderly in Israel through advocacy and legal activities. His interests span comparative law, public international elder law, and private international elder law. Dr. Doron plans to return to Israel in January to direct the Gerontology Department at the University of Haifa.
Stetson offers an LL.M. degree in elder law, directed by Boston Asset Management Chair in Elder Law and Elder Law Center director Rebecca Morgan. In 2010, Dr. Doron edited the book, Theories on Law and Ageing: The Jurisprudence of Elder Law, in which Professor Morgan contributed a chapter.
Stetson Law’s Elder Law LL.M. program offers practicing attorneys a convenient online curriculum. Stetson is also home to the elder-friendly Eleazer Courtroom, dedicated in 2005 as a model for accessibility. The Journal of International Aging, Law & Policy is housed at Stetson.
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