When she enrolled at Stetson Law, Irene Sullivan’s three children were 7, 6, and 2 years old. At the time, she wasn’t planning on spending her career advocating for youth in the legal system – but given her own experience as a mother, cases involving minors always caught her eye. Though she started out in private practice in corporate and family law, an opportunity to… » Read more

Steve Binder, creator of the Homeless Court Program, spoke at the 2023 Inns of Court banquet. Speaking to members of the Stetson Law community gathered in the Great Hall, Steve Binder reflected on the transformative potential of a career in law – especially in helping society’s most vulnerable.  Known for developing the Homeless Court Program in San Diego, which dozens of other communities have since… » Read more

Dean Michèle Alexandre, Dr. Jules Coleman, and Professor Kristen Adams The Annual Inns of Court event looked a little different in 2022 than most years, but the spirited hybrid event offered the Stetson Law community compelling conversation, fresh insights, and a few laughs along the way. The yearly event invites students, faculty, and local Inns of Court chapter members to dine, network, and hear remarks… » Read more

Dr. Jules Coleman As part of a monthlong visit to the Stetson University College of Law campus, author, scholar of law, and Yale University Professor of Philosophy Jules Coleman will give the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Distinguished Lecture at the College’s Annual Inns of Court event. Dr. Jules Coleman is a prolific author who has written a dozen books and over 100 scholarly articles and… » Read more

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

President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to be honored with award Edwin Cameron (left) and Desmond Meade will speak at the annual Inns of Court event. For Immediate Release GULFPORT, Fla. – Stetson University College of Law will host prominent South African judge and human rights lawyer, Edwin Cameron, for The William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Lecture in Ethics as part of the annual… » Read more

James Forman Jr. Jan. 30, 2020 – Stetson University College of Law is excited to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Yale Law School Professor James Forman Jr. to campus as the keynote speaker for the Annual Inns of Court Banquet and Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Distinguished Lecture on Feb. 5, 2020. Professor Forman is the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School,… » Read more

The late Wm. Reece Smith Jr. at Stetson University College of Law Dec. 2, 2019 – Stetson University College of Law is currently accepting nominations for the prestigious William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award, which recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the legal profession and community.  This year’s award will be presented at the Annual Inns of Court Banquet in the Great… » Read more

(L-R): Professor Deborah Weissman and Richard C. Woltmann. Stetson University College of Law’s annual Inns of Court Banquet on Jan. 24 in St. Petersburg honored Bay Area Legal Services pioneer Richard C. Woltmann with the Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award. Stetson established the Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Award in 1990 to honor outstanding contributions to public service, the justice system, and the community.… » Read more

Federal Public Defender Donna Lee Elm received the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., Public Service Award during the annual Inns of Court Banquet on Jan. 24 in St. Petersburg. Adam J. Foss, founder and president of Prosecutor Impact, provided the keynote address. Elm is the Federal Defender for the Middle District of Florida. She has taken two cases to the U.S. Supreme Court, Curtis Johnson in… » Read more

Stetson University College of Law presented this year’s prestigious William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award to both Pamela Wiener Dubrule and Kathleen S. McLeroy during the annual Inns of Court Banquet and William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Lecture in St. Petersburg on Jan. 18. Dubrule has dedicated decades to providing public service to low-income individuals. She committed her career to public service, working for… » Read more

Maryellen McDonald, the executive director of Disability Rights Florida who has improved the conditions of institutionalized disabled Floridians, was presented with Stetson University College of Law’s prestigious William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award during the annual Inns of Court banquet on Jan. 26 in St. Petersburg. Michael Perlin, an internationally recognized expert in mental health law who has spent his career championing the rights… » Read more