Category: Uncategorized
AJMLS Alumnus and Professor Quoted in AJC on Immigration
When it comes to the debate on U.S. immigration; neither U.S. Rep Doug Collins (Class of 2008) or Professor Joseph Rosen are strangers to the discussion.
In an article recently published by the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC), both Collins and Rosen, along with several other law professors were given the opportunity to share their views on revamping the nation’s immigration system.
The article quotes Professor Rosen, who teaches Immigration Law at AJMLS, as saying; “This is the opportunity for the president through executive action, and (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) attorneys through prosecutorial discretion, to do the right thing. It is time for America to show the compassion and justice that are the foundations of this country.”
Prior to serving the 9th District of Georgia, Collins earned his law degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School over his first term representing District 27 in the Georgia House of Representatives, and has also served the community as the senior pastor at Chicopee Baptist Church.
Prior to founding the Joseph H. Rosen Immigration Law Group, Professor Rosen served more than 30 years with the U.S. government. For 20 of those years Joe was an FBI Special Agent and a U.S. Customs Special Agent. Rosen is an Adjunct Professor of Law at John Marshall Law School (teaching Immigration Law, Seminar: Asylum & Refugee Law), past President of the North Fulton Bar Association, a former contract legal instructor with the U.S. government, and a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
You may click here to view the article in its entirety.
AJMLS Celebrates Pro Bono Month This October
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) and the Office of Pro Bono Outreach and Externships (PBOE) celebrates Pro Bono Month this October as part of Georgia’s Pro Bono Month and National Pro Bono Week.
Year round, the AJMLS Pro Bono Program reinforces the mission of the law school – promoting the development of a student body and faculty with a strong social conscious and dedication to improving the legal system and society.
Highlighted October Events & Opportunities
Would you like to coach a high school Mock Trial Team?
Please attend the informational meeting on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at 1:00PM in Room 302 or email Travis Foreman at toforeman@johnmarshall.edu.
Home for Good: Overcoming Legal barriers to Reentry Team
Meets every Wednesday in Room 302 at 5:15PM.
Guns Rights and Wrongs: Balancing the Interests
Monday, October 6, 2014, 4:00PM-7:00PM
Blackburn Conference Center Auditorium and Reception Hall, 1405 Spring Street, Atlanta, GA 30309
School Discipline Legal Workshop
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett
12 Bethesda Church Road in Lawrenceville, Saturday, October 11, 2014, 10:00AM-12:30PM
Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center & Children’s Advocacy Center (GSAC-CAC)
Is looking for students to assist attorneys assisting victims of sexual assault. Interested students should contact Ms. Seterria Brodnex, Victim Assistance Attorney: 770-497-9122 Ext. 31.
Additional Information & Contacts
Judge Renata Turner, Assistant Dean of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning
Bridgett Ortega, Assistant Director of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning
Professor Mears Discusses the Upcoming Execution of Marcus Wellons
Marcus Wellons, convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 1989 is set to be executed on June 17, 2014 at 7 p.m.
However, instead of a three-drug cocktail formerly used, the state of Georgia wants to use one drug — sodium pentothal — to execute Marcus Wellons. In small doses, it is a sedative. The state wants to use a custom-maker to actually make the drug — because the drug manufacturer that normally makes it won’t sell it to conduct executions. However, the identity of the new manufacturer that will make the lethal injection meant for Marcus Wellons is remaining a secret; making Wellons the new face of the argument over how to carry out Georgia’s death penalty.
“It’s an experimentation process that’s going on here. And they’re doing it in secret,” said Mike Mears, a lawyer, former mayor of Decatur, and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School professor who has opposed the death penalty his entire legal career.
A new state law allows the state to keep secret who made the drug that would put Wellons to death. “I get drugs to treat an animal, and they have to tell me more than the state of Georgia is telling us about how they’re going to kill Marcus Wellons,” Mears said.
Marcus Wellons is due to die today, on the gurney in Jackson — unless his attorneys successfully challenge the secret source of the chemicals that would kill him. The full article and video can be found at 11Alive. For more information on Professor Mears, view his faculty profile.
Professor Rapping Speaks on Unequal Representation for the Poor
A recent article from The Guardian calls on Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School professor Jonathan Rapping to discuss unequal representation for the nation’s poor. In the article by Sadhbh Walshe, the issue of wealth and its connection with acquittals, not-guilty verdicts, and reduced sentences were discussed. Professor Rapping insists that, “Money determines who sits in jail pre-trial. It determines who takes a plea deal, it determines who gets to have a trial and it can influence the outcome of a trial. This is not how our legal system is supposed to work.”
Walshe goes on to say: Public defenders today are dealing with caseloads that far exceed the recommended federal maximums established in 1973, and they’re cutting back on case spending because of it. “No matter how zealous, talented or passionate an attorney is,” says Rapping, “they cannot perform at their best when they are overworked and under-resourced.” Pit that lawyer against a team of high-powered attorneys with their accompanying “expert” witnesses, investigators, scientific tests, gloves and all, and someone who relies upon the Sixth Amendment doesn’t stand a chance.
Read the full article at The Guardian. An in-depth profile of Professor Rapping can be found on the law school’s faculty page.
AJMLS Students Participate in Law Day at the Georgia Bar
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School students recently participated in Law Day. Law Day is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law, to recognize the role of the courts in our democracy, the importance of jury service and maintaining the integrity of the courts. The official Law Day designated by Congress in 1961 is May 1st.
Georgia holds Law Day during the month of May at different locations around the state like churches, the Georgia Bar, community centers, and high schools. This year’s Law Day event was held at the Georgia Bar. The theme set by the American Bar Association for this year was ‘American Democracy and the Rule of Law: Why Every Vote Matters’ due to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The event was held in conjunction with Atlanta Public Schools (APS), several Georgia Bar Associations and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The morning session was focused on educating APS high school students and registering them students to vote. AJMLS students participated in registering students and providing voter simulations. The evening session was a CLE for attorneys open to the public.
Panel discussions were held with leaders from the League of Women Voters, Counsel of the GA Democratic Party, Georgia Republican Party, Georgia State Law Professors, The Carter Center, Amnesty International, UGA Law Professors, the Human Rights Network, SVP of Legal at CNN, the Georgia Secretary of State, Civil Rights Activists, Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients and a US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
Jonathan Rapping Earns National Recognition with Inaugural Purpose Economy 100 Award
Nearly 80 percent of the 12 million people who move annually through America’s criminal justice system cannot afford a lawyer. As a result, many innocent defendants plead guilty simply because they cannot afford to take their case to trial, and the public defender system is so overwhelmed by crushing volume, that adequate and meaningful defense fails them as well. For Jonathan Rapping, the injustice in the U.S. justice system is simply unacceptable, and now everyone is taking note of his exploding and impactful non-profit organization, Gideon’s Promise.
Gideon’s Promise, based in Atlanta, yet armed with a national reputation, works tirelessly to inspire, mobilize and train legal professionals to provide the highest quality defense representation to people unable to afford an attorney. And work zealously to ensure that those accused of crimes, who are most vulnerable in our society, have the same access to criminal justice as everyone else.
“For the past seven years, we at Gideon’s Promise have worked tirelessly to ensure ‘equal justice for all’ is not just an empty promise, but a reality that is consistent with our Constitution and its founding ideals,” says Rapping. “Being honored with the Inaugural Purpose Economy 100 truly validates that our work to change the status quo is vital, and that our public defenders are making justice a reality every day.”
It is because of this ground-breaking work that Rapping was recently honored as one of the Inaugural Purpose Economy 100, an honor that he shares with Melinda Gates, Rick Warren, former Vice President Al Gore and Jonathan Trent among others. A complete list of winners can be found at www.PurposeEconomy.com.
“The Purpose 100 highlights and celebrates the work of those shifting the paradigm on what is possible for all of us through work that reignites purpose,” says Aaron Hurst, CEO of Imperative and innovator/creator of The Purpose Economy. “By founding Gideon’s Promise and training more than 250 public defenders over the past seven years, Jon more than exemplifies that calling. He is a pioneer working to bring equal justice back to our judicial system. I look forward to watching Jon and Gideon’s Promise continue strengthening the resources available to public defenders.”
Last year, Rapping and Gideon’s Promise were featured in the HBO documentary, “Gideon’s Army,” which follows three young public defenders, trained by Rapping and Gideon’s Promise, in their sometimes breaking quest for equal justice in indigent defense. The organization has now trained more than 250 public defenders, who each see an average caseload of 300 per year.
Rapping is a nationally renowned speaker and author – advocating for better standards in the criminal justice system by delivering powerful and varying keynotes at conferences and institutions across the country. His national outreach includes audiences at law schools, organizations committed to justice, bar associations and public defender offices and systems.
Professor D’Agostino Interviewed Regarding Bankruptcy Laws
In a recent article from CardHub, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School professor Robert D’Agostino and other legal experts answered common questions individuals have regarding bankruptcy. CardHub offers an easily-accessible search engine and relevant articles for individuals to use to find a credit card that suits their personal and financial needs. However, due to the increase of bankruptcy filings and subsequent increase in societal reliance on credit cards, CardHub sought out legal experts to answer general questions about bankruptcy in an effort to educate its audience.
Professor D’Agostino was asked, “What part of the bankruptcy process do you think people understand least?” He replied, “The issue of what is and what is not dischargeable . This particularly true of tax liabilities and the IRS’s ability to impose a 100% penalty on bankrupt small business owners when the business has not paid its required taxes. BAPCA has clarified and broadened the law applicable to what assets of an individual do not become part of the bankruptcy estate. The ‘mini’ chapter 11 has made that process more accessible and less expensive for small business.”
To view the entire article and read what other experts said about bankruptcy, click here.
The National Jurist Names AJMLS Among the Best Law Schools for Practical Training
In the March 2014 issue of The National Jurist, the magazine names the law schools with the most comprehensive experiential learning offerings. By analyzing the information each school provided to the American Bar Association in December, the magazine was able to assign a letter grade to each law school. Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s Office of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning earned a “B” for their efforts to provide students with a quality and in-depth variety of pro bono and externship opportunities. Congratulations to Director Renata Turner and Assistant Director Bridgett Ortega for all their hard work and dedication to improving the student experience at the law school. To read the full article, click here.
AJMLS Alumna to Head Law Office in Lodz, Poland
The Joseph H. Rosen Immigration Law Group, founded by Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School adjunct professor Joseph Rosen, recently opened an office in Lodz, Poland. The branch will be managed by recent John Marshall alumna and lawyer, Alina Sokol. Sokol graduated from the law school in May 2013 with an LL.M. in American Legal Studies. In her role, Sokol and the office will assist Polish citizens and businesses with issues surrounding U.S. immigration. Congratulations to Sokol on this accomplishment and to Professor Rosen on expanding his practice.
For more information on the Joseph H. Rosen Immigration Law Group, click here. A link to the Polish office can be found here.
AJMLS Founds New Student Organization – Veteran Law Students Association
Students at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School recently founded the Veteran Law Students Association to support all veterans regardless of their branch of service, time of service, or any other distinguishing characteristic. VLSA was also created to promote continued service by the members of its organization.
Membership is neither based on past military service nor lack thereof. Students pursuing a Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M) or any other degree programs authorized by Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School qualify for membership in the VLSA.
President of VLSA and AJMLS student Domonique Jackson-Russell strongly encourages student, faculty and staff support of the newly founded organization. In a recent announcement to the law school, Jackson-Russell said, “We hope that you will consider joining and supporting the VLSA as we continue to serve, whether that be at the law school, legal community or general public.”
VLSA’s first meeting will be October 7, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. in Room 707. During the meeting members will discuss VLSA’s upcoming scholarship fundraiser event. Non-members are welcome to attend.
Visit VLSA’s OrgSync page for further information regarding the organization. For immediate questions, contact Dwayne Clay, Brian Huckaby or Domonique Jackson-Russell. To view a complete list of the law school’s student organizations, click here.
AJMLS Meets with Local Lawmakers to Discuss Recidivism and Re-entry Support for the Formerly Incarcerated
The Office of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning kicks off Pro Bono Month with two separate meetings with some of Atlanta’s most influential political and community leaders to discuss strategies to reduce recidivism, ensure successful re-entry and increase public knowledge. The law school was identified as a major contributor helping formerly incarcerated persons effectively re-enter society. The first meeting will be with Fulton County Commissioner Joan Garner followed by a meeting at the Governor’s Office of Transition, Support and Re-entry.
The department is also excited to announce their 4th Annual Re-entry Forum to be held at the law school’s Blackburn Conference Center on October 24, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Every year Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School partners with individuals, agencies and organizations that support prisoner re-entry efforts by breaking down barriers, helping individuals and families’ transition, and advocate just treatment and transition that support preventing or reducing recidivism.
In addition to recognizing the individuals and organizations that are making great strides in the community, we also facilitate informative and interactive public discussion between academics, community, religious leaders, ex-offenders, government agencies, non-profit groups, and law students. The forum will culminate with the development of an action plan that will make the criminal justice system less devastating for families and communities impacted by incarceration.
Professor Mears Reappointed to the Post-Conviction Capital Representation Committee of the State Bar
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Professor Micheal Mears was recently reappointment to a very important State Bar of Georgia committee. He has been honored to be appointed to the Post-Conviction Capital Representation Committee. This committee of the State Bar deals with matters relating to the post conviction of defendants in death penalty cases and reports any recommendations to the Board of Governors.
In discussing his appointment, Professor Mears stated, “I know that we all serve the Bar in various ways and serve on important committees and task forces.” He went on to say, “I am especially proud of this Committee Assignment over these past years because it has given me such a great opportunity to continue the work of so many lawyers, both prosecutors and defense attorneys, in addressing the life and death issues of the death penalty.” Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School congratulates Professor Mears on his most recent appointment.
Upcoming Gideon’s Army Premiere Receives Increased Media Attention
The upcoming HBO premiere of the documentary Gideon’s Army is already receiving rave reviews from national publications and local papers. The film follows the personal stories of Travis Williams, Brandy Alexander and June Hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the Deep South challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point. Backed by mentor and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School professor Jonathan “Rap” Rapping, a charismatic leader who heads the Southern Public Defender Training Center (now known as Gideon’s Promise) they struggle against long hours, low pay and staggering caseloads so common that even the most committed often give up in their first year.
Gideon’s Army in the Press
Daily Report Covers HBO Documentary Premiere of AJMLS Professor’s Non-Profit Organization
Scheduled to air on HBO on July 1, Gideon’s Army, which features the law school’s own Professor Jon Rapping’s non-profit organization Gideon’s Promise, held a private screening on June 11. The Daily Report was one of the many media outlets present to cover the event. They reported:
“Three years in the making, Gideon’s Army tells the stories of two Georgia public defenders, Travis Williams and Brandy Alexander, and Mississippi lawyer June Hardwick as they fight for their clients while juggling enormous caseloads and big student loan payments on low salaries.
Gideon’s Army provoked crying, laughter and spontaneous applause during the Atlanta screening. In the film Williams and Alexander work doggedly to help two clients, both teenage boys charged with armed robbery, fight prosecution in a system where high bonds, steep mandatory sentences and limited resources wear down even the most dedicated public defenders.
HBO bought Gideon’s Army after seeing just 20 minutes of footage, Porter said. The film went on to win the Sundance Film Festival’s Editing Award in January.”
To view the full Daily Report article, click here. Once again, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School is appreciative of the attention and community support Professor Rapping and his organization have received.
AJMLS Professor Joins Group of National Experts at the White House
Professor Rapping was among a group of national experts invited to the White House on June 5, 2013 to discuss Judicial Vacancies and the Importance of the Courts. With five unfilled vacancies on the Eleventh Circuit and Northern District of Georgia, four of which are considered judicial emergencies, the situation is particularly pressing for Georgians. Professor Rapping then joined a small Georgia delegation to meet with staff for Senators Isakson and Chambliss to discuss the problem of unfilled vacancies on Georgia’s federal courts and the risk it poses to the efficient functioning of our judicial system. Once again, another exciting accomplishment for our faculty.
VIDEO: Professor Burch Interviewed by 11 Alive to Discuss Bibles in State Park Lodging
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Associate Professor Kathleen Burch was recently interviewed by 11 Alive News reporter Brenda Wood to discuss the issue of banning Bibles in guest rooms and lodges at state parks in Georgia after a visitor complaint. To view this interesting debate, click here for the video.
AJMLS Graduate Elected Mayor of Forest Park, Georgia
AJMLS graduate David Lockhart (’11) was recently elected as Mayor of Forest Park on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. Carla McMillan, Judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals will swear him in at 7 p.m. on May 6, 2013 at Forest Park City Hall. Congratulations on your accomplishment!
AJMLS Director of Admissions Tells the AJC ‘It’s Never Too Late for Law School’
In a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AJMLS Director of Admissions Rebecca Stafford spoke with Martha Foster about the why nontraditional students thrive at our law school. “We take a very holistic approach, taking into account the applicant’s experience and ability to overcome life’s obstacles,” Stafford said. “When students apply, we encourage them to attach an addendum to their application to explain any gaps in their life or work experience, or to state anything they feel is important about themselves that may not be asked on the application form.”
Another aspect Stafford mentioned that allows traditional and nontraditional students to thrive at AJMLS is the small community feel and personalized attention students receive from faculty, staff, alumni, and the administration. “We only have 650 students across our entire program; it is a small community. You will know the faculty and our alums are very active in events on campus. Networking starts right after orientation.”
The AJC also spoke with AJMLS student Ginger Fowler about her nontraditional path to law school and the power of perseverance. “You are never too old to go back to school to learn,” Fowler said. “There are so many things you can do with a law degree.” At one point, Fowler remembers telling the Office of Admissions, “You know what? That LSAT score tells you nothing about me, my tenacity or my dedication. Somebody, at some point, is going to let me in.” She was right and two days after that phone call she was accepted to the law school. Now a few short years later, Fowler will join her fellow classmates on May 18th for the 2013 Commencement Ceremony.
To read the full article, click here. To learn more about the rigorous, innovative, and specialized J.D. programs offered to full-time and part-time students, visit www.johnmarshall.edu.
European Law Journal Appoints Associate Dean Van Detta to Permanent Board of Peer-Review Referees
Merkourios, Utrecht Journal of International and European Law, has appointed Jeffrey Van Detta, Associate Dean for Scholarship and Professor of Law at AJMLS, to its Permanent Board of Referees.
Merkourios is an Open Access, peer-reviewed, student-led law journal, which focuses on international and European law. The Journal provides immediate, open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the community of scholars and to a wider public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
Merkourios is affiliated with Utrecht University and Urios. Utrecht University, located in Utrecht, Netherlands, is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. See http://www.uu.nl/EN/Pages/default.aspx Urios is the Utrecht Study Association for International and European Law. Founded in 1981, Urios has a membership of 250 students, which includes both Utrecht students and exchange students. The mission of Urios is to introduce students to International and European law on a more practical level, as explained on its webpage at http://www.urios.org/1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=55
The Referee Board is a new initiative that the 2012-2013 Board of Editors of Merkourios has inaugurated. By establishing the Permanent Board of Referees, Merkourios aims to further develop the Journal by achieving higher standards of academic quality and by enhancing cooperation within its network of referees and authors.
Members of the Permanent Board of Referees report their professional opinions on the academic quality of articles that the student Editors have previously reviewed and identified as worthy of further consideration for publication. Rendered on the basis of anonymous peer review, the reports from the Journal’s Referees are a determinative factor in the Journal’s final publication decisions.
Merkourios appointed Associate Dean Van Detta as a member of the Permanent Board of Referees based on his expertise and scholarly publications in the areas of Trans-National Commercial Law, International Business Transactions, International Civil Litigation, Private International Law, Employment and Labour Law, and Jurisprudence. Associate Dean Van Detta teaches courses encompassing those areas in AJMLS’s J.D. Program, American Legal Studies LL.M. Program, and Employment Law LL.M. Program.
“I believe very passionately in the kind of scholarly work carried on by Merkourios, in which both law students and experienced faculty collaborate in evaluating and publishing scholarship of the highest calibre,” Associate Dean Van Detta commented. In his view, “that is an ideal combination of talents, perspectives, and expertise for the dynamic areas of legal scholarship which Merkourios embraces.”
The most recent issue of Merkourios—the General Issue 2013 (Vol 29, No 76)— may be viewed at http://www.merkourios.org/index.php/mj/issue/current
Associate Dean Van Detta also has three articles of his own in the publication process thus far this year: Some Legal Considerations For EU-Based MNEs Contemplating High-Risk Foreign Direct Investments In The Energy Sector, 9 South Carolina J. Int’l L. & Bus. __ (Issue 2, Spring 2013); Transnational Legal Services In Globalized Economies: American Leadership, Not Mere Compliance, With GATS Through Qualifying LL.M. Degree Programs For Foreign-Educated Lawyers Seeking State-Bar Admissions, 12 Hofstra J. Int’l Bus. & L. ___ (Spring 2013); and Politics And Legal Regulation In The International Business Environment: An FDI Case Study Of Alstom, S.A., In Israel, 21 U. Miami Bus. L. Rev. 301 (Spring 2013).
AJMLS Students Awarded First Place at Regional Transactional LawMeet
On Friday, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School sent two teams to compete at the 2013 Regional Transactional LawMeet competition hosted by Emory University. Before the competition, teams were assigned a side in a transaction – buyer or seller – and exchanged drafts of a contract. At the event the teams met in person to negotiate the contract. The law school is pleased to announce that our team, consisting of Bentley Adams, Benjamin Stidham, and Amy Zapatka, was awarded first place on the seller side.
Also competing at the Regional meet were one or more teams from the following schools: University of Georgia, Emory University, University of Tennessee, Washington and Lee University, Loyola University, William & Mary University, and Nova Southeastern University. Due to our team’s outstanding achievement at the Regional meet, the team has been invited, along with the University of Georgia (which was awarded best team for the buyer), to represent the Southeast at the 2013 National Transactional LawMeet in Philadelphia in late March. This was a great accomplishment for the team.
Congratulations to Bentley, Benjamin, and Amy for representing John Marshall and its outstanding student body.
AJMLS Announces New Assistant Dean for Career Development
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School is pleased to announce Ivonne Betancourt will now serve the law school in the role of Assistant Dean for Career Development. Since 2006, she has been a vital part of the success the Career Development Office has experienced. “Ivonne has done an incredible job growing the Career Development Office during her time at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Students are highly satisfied with the assistance she and her staff provide as they look for jobs,” said Richardson Lynn, Dean of the law school. “Our placement rate has been remarkable, even during the last few tough years in the economy, and she will supervise the same effort at Savannah Law School. The title “Assistant Dean” merely recognizes her outstanding service to John Marshall.”
On behalf of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, thank you Ivonne for your hard work and dedication to the school. Congratulations on a job well done and we wish you continued success in your new position!
Dean Cieply to Participate in Experts Roundtable at Emory University
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Associate Dean of Academics and Associate Professor Kevin Cieply was recently invited to join an experts roundtable hosted at Emory University by its International Humanitarian Law Clinic. The event, titled “The Application of the Law of Armed Conflict in Situations of Organized Crime and Armed Conflict” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on January 22, 2013 at the university. The focus of the program centers around the clinic’s goal to promote the law of armed conflict and fight to eliminate torture, war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
Dean Cieply is joined by many notable and respected experts in the field from Jennifer Daskal of Georgetown Law School and Geoffrey Corn of South Texas College of Law to Sandy Hodgkinson, Former Chief of Staff, Deputy Secretary of Defense and many more. Congratulations Dean Cieply for being selected to lend his expertise to this event. For the full list of roundtable participants, click here.
AJMLS Ranked No. 13 of Top 50 Most Diverse Law Schools
The National Jurist recently ranked every ABA-accredited law school in the nation to find the school with the most diverse student population. Their results landed Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in the Top 20. The November 2012 issue of the magazine ranks AJMLS number 13 among schools like the University of the District of Columbia (#1), American University (#25), and Harvard Law School (#43).
To determine how the schools would be ranked, The National Jurist judged each school based on six elements: percentage of minority faculty, percentage of African-American students, percentage of Asian and Hawaiian students, percentage of Hispanic students, percentage of American Indian students and other minorities, and percentage of Caucasian students. Each school was assigned a number from one to 10 in each category.
Schools that matched the U.S. national average for any race, received a seven. However, schools with 30 percent or higher than the national average, received a 10. The National Jurist offers this example, “13.1 percent of the U.S. population is black. Florida Coastal School of Law, with 13.2 percent black students, received a seven. Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, with a 24.2 percent black student body…received a 10.”
For the full article, click here.
AJMLS Professor and Staff Member Elected to the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Georgia
Michael Oeser, Associate Professor and Bridgett Ortega, Assistant Director of the Office of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning were elected to the ACLU of Georgia’s Board of Directors at the November 10th Annual Meeting.
Professor Oeser and Mrs. Ortega join Professor Kathleen Burch who has served on the ACLU Board for the past two years and is Co-Chair of the Legal Committee. The law school also partners with the ACLU of Georgia in the Civil Liberties Seminar where students work on ACLU cases.
Founded in 1920 as a response to the Palmer Raids, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that seeks to defend the principles and freedoms embodied in the Bill of Rights. To accomplish this goal, the ACLU advocates for civil liberties in courts, legislatures, and communities all over the United States at both the federal and state level. As a result of its dedication, there is no non-governmental organization that has more frequently argued in front of the Supreme Court of the United States than the ACLU.
AJMLS is extremely proud of Professor Oeser and Mrs. Ortega and thank them for their continuous commitment to impacting the lives of others through service.