More news and stories

Law School > Feature Archive

Feature Archive

Summer 2008

In Memoriam: Rapheal M. Prevot Jr., JD'84

Rapheal M. Prevot Jr., JD'84, a devoted Indiana Law supporter and 2004 recipient of the School's Distinguished Service Award, died at his home June 25, 2008, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 49 years old.

"The Law School has lost one of its greatest champions and friends, and our students have lost a devoted mentor," said Dean Lauren Robel. "For more than 15 years, Rapheal made countless trips to Bloomington, reaching back to pull the next person forward. He was much loved by all of us, and he leaves an unfillable void."

Read more on Rapheal Prevot Jr.

Spring 2008

Thai Students Study Business Law at IU

Assumption students Thirty-seven LLM candidates from Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand, recently wrapped up their study of American law at the IU School of Law. The Law School undertakes the Assumption University program each Spring, when 30 to 40 Assumption LLM candidates travel from Thailand to Bloomington following the second and final year of their coursework for two weeks of study in the United States.

Read the story.

Fidler Gives Testimony to the House of Lords on Global Infectious Disease Threats

On May 12, 2008, David P. Fidler, James Louis Calamaras Professor of Law, provided the House of Lords Ad Hoc Committee on Intergovernmental Organisations oral testimony on policy, legal, and governance challenges concerning global infectious disease threats. The Ad Hoc Committee invited Fidler to provide oral testimony on the basis of his written testimony submitted in February 2008.

Read the story.

Baker & Daniels Sponsors Pro Bono, Public Interest Award to Honor Albrights

In honor of Terry Albright, JD'65, and his wife, Judy, who passed away Jan. 15, Baker & Daniels LLP has sponsored the Terry and Judy Albright Pro Bono and Public Interest Award. The award's inaugural recipient, 2008 Indiana Law graduate Alex Kornya, has made significant contributions to providing access to justice through pro bono and public interest service.

Read the story.

Johnsen Testifies at 'Secret Law' Hearing

Dawn Johnsen On April 30, Professor Dawn Johnsen testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution. The hearing addressed secret opinions, agency rules, and executive pronouncements that have the force of law.

Johnsen testified that the Bush Administration OLC has been "terribly wrong" to withhold the content of much of its legal advice to the president, especially when it advised that the executive branch could disregard federal laws. She pointed out that it was only because of leaks that the public learned — belatedly — about legal opinions on extreme methods of interrogation, the government's domestic surveillance program, and the use of secret prisons overseas to detain and interrogate suspected terrorists.

Read the story.

Read her summary on the Slate legal blog.

Senator Lugar to Serve as Graduation Speaker Saturday

U.S. Sen. Richard G. Lugar will be the keynote speaker on Saturday, May 3, for Indiana Law's Graduation Recognition Ceremony. The ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. at the IU Auditorium.

The School is awarding 211 Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees and 69 Master's or Doctor of Juridical Science degrees to international students from over 15 countries.

Lugar, a fifth-generation Hoosier, is the longest-serving senator in Indiana history. He was first elected to the Senate in 1976 and was most recently re-elected in 2006 with 87 percent of the vote. He is the Republican leader of the Foreign Relations Committee and a member and former chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

Read the story.

Annual Awards Recognize 'Serious' Teaching

The Trustees Teaching Awards, the Leon H. Wallace Teaching Award, and the Leonard D. Fromm Public Interest Faculty Award, given annually, pay tribute to the School's continued and steadfast commitment to quality instruction.

Read the story view the video, or listen to mp3 audio.

New Alumni Fellows Honored by Indiana Law

On April 11, five distinguished graduates were inducted into the Academy of Law Alumni Fellows, the highest honor Indiana Law bestows upon its graduates. William Lawrence, JD'79; Elliott Levin, JD'66; Frank McCloskey, JD'71 (posthumous); Maryann Mukete, JD'74; and Roger Pardieck, JD'63, were honored for the distinction they have brought to the School, to the profession, and to their respective communities.

In addition, Sylvan Tackitt, LLB'33, was presented the Golden Barrister Award for his longstanding service spanning an astounding 75 years.

Learn more about the inductees.

PILF President Offered Harvard Scholarship

Public Interest Law Foundation president Jennifer Nagourney is one of 25 people recently offered a full scholarship and stipend to attend Harvard University through the Zuckerman Fellowship program. Nagourney, who will start in the fall, plans to pursue a master's degree in education policy and management.

Read the story.

Val Nolan, JD'49, Passes Away

Val Nolan Remembered as a supportive colleague, a curious intellectual, and an inspirational and humorous teacher, Val Nolan Jr., JD'49, made enormous contributions throughout his fascinating and varied life. The emeritus professor of law and biology passed away on March 27, 2008, at the age of 87.

Read the story.

Singleton Awarded Thomas Ehrlich Award for Service Learning

Earl Singleton, clinical professor of law and director of the Community Legal Clinic, was awarded the Thomas Ehrlich Award for Service Learning. He was one of 21 university-wide faculty members honored during the 2008 Founders Day celebration March 30.

Read the story.

Conference Participants Discuss Complex Global Problems

The Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies recently hosted panelists from around the world for its annual symposium and a lively discussion on the theme of "Operationalizing Global Governance." Participants grappled with the impact of globalization on the rising networks of both state and non-state actors who are increasingly responsible for addressing complex world issues such as the protection of human rights and the achievement of sustainable environmental practices.

Read the story.

New Rankings List Indiana Law 14th in Nation

Indiana Law has been ranked No. 14 in the nation and fourth among public institutions in a new listing of the top 25 law schools. The rankings are by Vault, an online service that provides career information for students, graduates and employers, including law firms. Vault's first-ever law school rankings are based on a survey of law firms and focus on the employability of law school graduates.

Read the story.

Williams Briefs UN on Burma's Constitutional Referendum

Burma On March 4, David Williams, John S. Hastings Professor of Law, was one of four outside experts at a United Nations meeting convened in New York by the Social Science Research Council and the Conflict Prevention Peace Forum. The meeting was designed to brief Ibrahim Gambari, UN Special Envoy to Burma and Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Political Affairs on issues related to Burma's upcoming constitutional referendum.

Read the story.

Baker & Daniels Establishes Pro Bono Fellowships at the Law School

Baker & Daniels, LLP, has donated $10,000 to fund two Pro Bono Fellows who will develop and coordinate pro bono opportunities for law students with Baker & Daniels attorneys, as well as with other attorneys in the community.

Read the story

Indiana Law Students Continue Pro Bono Work in New Orleans

New Orleans House During Spring Break 2008, 18 Indiana Law students headed to New Orleans to lend their legal expertise to the hurricane recovery effort. They worked with the New Orleans City Attorney's Office, Desire Street Ministries, and New Orleans Advocacy Center. This was the law students' fifth service trip to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast.

Read the story.

2Ls Schlafer, DeHem Win Moot Court Competition

Moot Court winners Brian R. DeHem, left, and John T. Schlafer, right, both 2Ls, topped fellow competitors Christina L. Clark and Francis Granados, to win in the final argument of the 2007–2008 Sherman Minton Moot Court competition. The spring competition problem, Banta v. Mancini, involves the right of a state prisoner to obtain post-conviction DNA testing through a Section 1983 lawsuit — a question on which the circuits are currently split.

Read the story, view the video, or listen to mp3 audio.

Indiana Law Seminar Featured at Rule of Law Workshop

On Feb. 1, the Indiana Law seminar on "Counterinsurgency and Rule of Law Operations" was featured at a workshop on "Military Support to Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform," organized by Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) and the Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL). The seminar was taught during the fall 2007 semester by David P. Fidler, James Louis Calamaras Professor of Law and director of the Indiana University Center on American and Global Security.

Read the story.

New Frontiers Grant to Expand Center's Scholarship Potential

The Indiana University Center for Law, Society, and Culture will expand its scholarship potential thanks to a grant from IU's New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities program. The interdisciplinary Center, which serves as a catalyst for research innovation and curricular enhancement in several pertinent fields of study, will use the grant to host a year-long reading group and workshop series during the 2008-09 academic year to explore "New Directions in Law & Society Scholarship."

Read the story.

EELC Sends Three Students to Venture Capital Competition

For the third straight year, Indiana University is sending a team to compete in the international Venture Capital Investment Competition. This year's team includes 3L's Matt Martin, Ben Schmidt, and Lili Yan, all from the Elmore Entrepreneurship Law Clinic.

Read the story.

Article Discusses Baseball Doping in Latin America

IU Law School David P. Fidler, the James Louis Calamaras Professor of Law, and Arturo J. Marcano, LLM'98, a Venezuelan attorney and sports law expert, recently published a groundbreaking article on addressing the use of performance enhancing drugs in the Latin American minor league operations of Major League Baseball. Their article, "Fighting Baseball Doping in Latin America: A Critical Analysis of Major League Baseball's Drug Prevention and Treatment Program in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela," was published in the University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review, Volume 15, Issue 2 (Fall 2007), pp. 107-201.

Read the story.

Top Trial Lawyer Teaches Tactics at Indiana Law

Widely recognized as one of the top U.S. trial lawyers prior to his retirement, John F. "Jack" Kimberling, JD'50, is currently serving as a visiting professor offering his unparalleled litigation expertise to Indiana Law students.

Read the story.

Students Receive AJA Essay Awards

Indiana Law students were awarded two of the top three prizes for the 2007 American Judges Association (AJA) annual essay contest.

Read the story.

FLEP Student Honored at Insight Bowl

Insight Bowl Army Capt. Jonathan E. Fields (center), a second-year law student participating in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps's Funded Legal Education Program, was honored for his military service during the Insight Bowl held Dec. 31 in Tempe, Ariz.

Read the story.

Fall 2007

Tinder Confirmed to 7th Circuit

The Honorable John D. Tinder, JD'75, alumnus of Indiana University School of Law Bloomington In a 93-0 vote, the Senate confirmed U.S. District Judge John Daniel Tinder, JD'75, of Indianapolis to a seat on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

President Bush nominated Tinder to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Court, based in Chicago, is the last stop before the U.S. Supreme Court for cases from Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Tinder, who is the first jurist with Indiana roots appointed to the 7th Circuit in two decades, was supported in his nomination by Indiana senators Richard Lugar, a Republican, and Evan Bayh, a Democrat. And the American Bar Association gave Tinder the highest rating—"well qualified."

Read the story.

Contemporary Curriculum Focuses on Legal Profession

Indiana Law introduces The Legal Profession, an innovative new course that responds to the most important study on legal education in decades.

Learn more.

Korea and China Partnerships Strengthened

Zhejiang University Vice President Jun Zhu, President Yang Wei, IU President Michael McRobbie and Vice President Patrick O'Meara (l-r) conduct the signing ceremonyIn China, Dean Lauren Robel and Acting Executive Associate Dean Joseph Hoffmann recently finalized new partnership agreements with top-ranked law schools in China and Korea. Indiana Law's strong relationships with China's Zhejiang University and Korea's Yonsei University, Sungkyunkwan University, Ewha Woman's University, and Chung-Ang University will continue through these agreements.

Read the story.

Director of Admissions Retires After 40 Years

Director of Admissions Pat Clark retires at year-end after decades recruiting and admitting thousands of Indiana Law students.

Read the story.

Buxbaum Delivers 9th Snyder Lecture in UK

Hannah Buxbaum, Associate Dean for Research and Louis F. Neizer Faculty Fellow, presented "National Jurisdiction over Global Business Networks," to the University of Cambridge Lauterpacht Centre for International Law this month.

Read more or listen.

Family Law and Psychology Issues Bring Experts to Indiana Law

In November, well-known scholars in family dispute resolution, judges, and psychology experts participated in For the Sake of the Children: Advances in Family Dispute Resolution, a working conference.

View conference program.

Cooper Delivers 2007 Stewart Lecture in Labor & Employment Law

Laura J. Cooper Alumna Laura J. Cooper, a distinguished scholar in labor law and workplace dispute, presents "Privatizing Labor Law: The Role of Arbitrators in Implementing Neutrality/Card Check Agreement," on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at noon in the Law School's Moot Court Room. The first woman to receive tenure on the Minnesota law faculty, Cooper is known for innovations in technology- and simulation-based pedagogy.

Read the story.

Harvard, Virginia Publish Ochoa's Research

Professor Christiana Ochoa's important investigations of customary international law and the Odious Debt Doctrine appear this fall in several leading law journals.

Read the story.

Conkle on Statehouse Prayer

Constitutional law expert Daniel O. Conkle weighs in on a federal appeals court decision that set aside a ban on sectarian prayer at the Indiana House of Representatives.

View media release.

Indiana Court of Appeals Visits for Oral Argument

A full audience heard arguments in the case of Shafer and Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corp. v. Justin Stichnoth and Corraine Stichnoth, held on campus Oct. 29.

Case synopsis.

Professor Testifies in Mukasey Hearings

Dawn Johnsen Recent confirmation hearings for Michael B. Mukasey, nominee for Attorney General of the United States, included testimony from Indiana Law's Professor Dawn Johnsen.Johnsen, a well-known expert in constitutional law and former acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel under President Bill Clinton, was among a panel of experts and former U.S. Department of Justice officials who testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary on October 18.

Learn more.

Cate Considered Top Computer Privacy Expert

Fred H. Cate ranks ninth among Computerworld's top 25 privacy experts in the U.S.and Europe.

Read the story.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Oral Argument

Join us Thursday for a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces oral argument, one event during this first-ever Military Justice Week at Indiana Law.

View schedule.

Fairfield Lectures in Second Life Virtual World

Avitar of Professor Joshua Fairfield Professor Joshua Fairfield, e-commerce law expert, gave a presentation within the Second Life virtual world.

Read the story.

Student, Alumni Honored for Writings

Doug Hass, 3L, and 2007 graduates Rebecca Stachel and Kellen Ressmeyer have recently been honored for their writings in national competitions.

Learn more.

Oct 5–6: Celebrating Our Alumni

Attend the Distinguished Service Awards, celebrate Professor Dworkin, or get involved in today's Indiana Law.

Alumni Weekend 2007

Elmore ELC Dedicated

A ceremony including remarks by IU President Michael McRobbie marked the Elmore Entrepreneurship Law Clinic's formal dedication on Oct. 5.

Learn more.

Indiana University-BloomingtonCate's Findings Noted by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff recently cited remarks Indiana Law's Fred H. Cate made to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board in 2006.

Read the story.

New Nonprofit Legal Clinic

Announcing a Nonprofit Legal Clinic that cultivates professional-skill development in a growing and highly visible area of the law.

Learn more.

Admissions On the Road

Florida. Wisconsin. Washington, D.C. Indiana Law is on the road to meet you and answer your questions. When are we in your city?

View calendar.

Paths to Democracy: An International Conversation About Constitutional Stories

Constitutionalists from Spain, South Africa, Burma, Liberia, Mexico, and Kyrgyzstan speak about the dynamic processes of constitutional narrative during an open conference event on Sept. 27.

Learn more.

Sands on International Rule of Law

Hear "Poodles and Bulldogs: the US, Britain and the International Rule of Law," a public lecture by Philippe Sands. The University College London professor and author of Lawless World spoke on Sept. 24.

Learn more or watch the video.

Scholarships Benefit Liberian Law School

A Firestone grant is supporting three Liberian law students and helping to secure the post-civil war rebuilding of the University of Liberia School of Law faculty.

Read the story.

Leaffer Visits East Asia

Intellectual property law expert Marshall Leaffer spent the month of July in China (Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong) and Taiwan (Taipei and Kaohsiung) visiting with Indiana Law alumni, touring our partner institutions, and meeting his counterparts in the field of IP.

Read the story.

Constitution Day 2007: The Constitution & National Security

Faculty panelists during Constitution Day 2006 at Indiana University School of Law-BloomingtonProfessors Pat Baude, Fred Cate, and Dawn Johnsen take the stage for a Constitution Day panel and community discussion, hosted by the American Constitution Society.

Get details or watch the video.

Herring Delivers 2007 Smith Lecture

Oxford's Jonathan Herring, 2007 George P. Smith, II Visiting Professor-Chair, gave his public lecture "Entering the Fog: On the Borderlines of Mental Capacity" Sept. 12.

Read the story.

Lopez Receives Distinguished Latino Alumni Award

Art Lopez Arthur Lopez, JD'83, is the recipient of Indiana University's 2007 Distinguished Arthur Lopez, JD'83, earned IU's 2007 Distinguished Latino Alumni Award for his outstanding achievements as founder of nonprofit swim club Nadar Por Vida and as a lifelong champion for the disadvantaged.

Learn more.

Indiana Law Class of 2010

Students at Indiana University School of Law-BloomingtonWith top nine percent LSAT scores and more than 20 students boasting higher degrees, this year's entering students continue a tradition of excellence.

Read the story.

Announcing 2007 DSA Winners

For extraordinary dedication to service, alumni Lowell E. Baier, JD'64, Jane E. Raley, JD'82, and Kenneth R. Yahne, JD'68, earn recognition as Indiana Law's 2007 Distinguished Service Award recipients.

Learn more.

Alumni Honor 'Trailblazer' Frank Motley

As former Dean of Admissions, Motley influenced the lives of more than half of the School's living alumni base. National Bar Association alumni recently presented him with a Leadership Service Award.

Rapheal Prevot Jr., JD'84, and Dean Lauren Robel, JD'83, presented the award, which honors Motley for his "more than 20 years of outstanding service as a trailblazer for diversity in admissions and for his overall contributions to the African-American legal community." As dean of admissions, Motley admitted nearly 5,000 students, more than half of Indiana Law's living alumni base. He continues service to Indiana University as current associate vice chancellor for academic support.

Read the story or view the photo gallery.

Conference Inspires Collaboration

Some 20 legal educators attended the 2007 Big Ten Aspiring Scholars Conference to hone teaching and research skills. In addition to workshop sessions for individual scholarship projects, the group addressed the topic of teaching as they might address any other research subject. A presentation on teaching techniques by Jennifer M. Robinson, an IU education expert; analysis of the recent Carnegie Foundation's recent report Educating Lawyers; and a simulation of Indiana Law's interactive Labor Law course represent just a few of the forums presented to attendees.

Read the story.

New Faces, Appointments

From research to career services, our 2007-08 faculty and staff additions represent a commitment to quality legal education.

Meet them.

Meet Jennifer Norton, JD'08

An ICLEO participant, Norton found her passions for family law and criminal defense as a summer clerk for the Indiana Court of Appeals and an Indiana Legal Services and Protective Order Project volunteer.

Read her story.

Tinder Nominated to 7th Circuit

The Honorable John D. Tinder, JD'75, alumnus of Indiana University School of Law Bloomington President George W. Bush recently nominated Hon. John D. Tinder, JD'75, to serve on the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago. If confirmed, he will be the first Hoosier jurist appointed to the 7th Circuit in two decades.Tinder's nomination will go to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and then to the full Senate for a vote. Upon confirmation, he would have a lifetime appointment under Article III of the U.S. Constitution. Tinder was selected to fill the vacancy left by Judge Daniel A. Manion, who will take senior status.

Read the story.

Buxbaum Named Academic Leadership Program Fellow

Associate Dean for Research and Louis F. Neizer Faculty Fellow Hannah Buxbaum was named among IU's five 2007-08 Academic Leadership Program Fellows. Her scholarship and significant university service point to her growing achievements as an academic leader.

Read the story.

38 Researchers Join Law Firms Working Group

Professor William Henderson of Indiana University School of Law Bloomington Led by Professor William Henderson, more than 12 teams of law and social science scholars are now conducting groundbreaking work on the legal profession through the LFWG, a joint initiative of Indiana Law and the American Bar Foundation.

Read the story.

New Washington Public Interest Program

Nonprofit or government internships and an on-site companion seminar taught in Washington, D.C., round out this new clinical offering.

Learn more.

Environmental Law Society Makes National Ripples

Jay Heeter, second-year student and national co-chair of the National Association of Environmental Law Societies is motivating Indiana Law's ELS chapter as it becomes a national force.

Read the story.

Spring 2007

Fischman Leads Refuge Law & Policy Field

Professor Rob Fischman Indiana University School of Law Bloomington Recognized for contributions to scholarship and on-the-ground conservation, Professor Robert Fischman's research is leading the way in wildlife refuge law and policy, strengthening connections between environmental law's pollution control and resource management fields.

Learn more.

Iraq UN Ambassador to Teach in 2007-08

Ambassador Feisal Amin Istrabadi, a 1988 alumnus and a principal drafter of Iraq's interim constitution, returns to teach on transitional justice and the trial of Saddam Hussein.

Learn more.

Meet Mindy Boehr, JD'08

Student Mindy Boehr Heading into her third year, Mindy Boehr spent her summer at the EPA's Washington, D.C. headquarters. She is one of only eight students selected from more than 2,000 applicants admitted to the 2007 EPA Honors Program.

Boehr's idea of environmental activism is action. She's wanted to become a lawmaker or legislative aide since her time as an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska. So, with her biochemistry degree and an impressive background of research and internships, she set out for Indiana's prestigious environmental law program.

Read her story.

IU Awards Taliaferro 2007 DASA

Vi Taliaferro Viola Taliaferro, JD'77, is one of five Indiana University alumni recently named as recipients of IU's 2007 Distinguished Alumni Service Award. The award is the university's highest honor, reserved solely for alumni. It recognizes outstanding career achievements and significant contributions benefiting the recipient's community, state and nation, or IU. A passionate advocate and a wise and resolute judge, Taliaferro has devoted her life to strengthening families and protecting children.

Read the story.

$3 Million Gift Names Elmore Entrepreneurship Law Clinic

A $3 million gift from father-son alumni David and D.G. Elmore will support scholarships for Entrepreneurship Law Clinic, joint-JD/MBA, and business-law students. In their honor, the ELC will be formally renamed during Alumni Weekend 2007.

Learn more.

Class of 2007 Demonstrates Talent, Loyalty

This year's graduates go on to courts, major firms, government agencies, and multinational corporations in at least 18 states, Washington, D.C., and China. And their class giving campaign shattered records.

Learn more.

Dworkin Retires from 'Very Best Job'

Students for decades have named him among the finest teachers of their lifetimes. This spring, Roger Dworkin announced his retirement.

Read the story.

FTC's Harbour to Address Class of 2007

Pamela Jones Harbour, JD'84 Pamela Jones Harbour, 1984 alumna and currently a commissioner with the Federal Trade Commission, will share her wisdom as Indiana Law's 2007 commencement speaker. "We are very proud to count Pamela Jones Harbour among our graduates," said Dean Lauren Robel. "She is a wonderful role model for our students, and hers is the kind of success to which we hope they will aspire."

Learn more.

Teaching Makes Indiana Law 'Very Special Place'

Five professors received our annual Trustees Teaching Awards, Leon H. Wallace Teaching Award, and Leonard D. Fromm Public Interest Faculty Award. A Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award was given to retiring professor Roger Dworkin. Find out what our winners said about their students and about teaching at Indiana Law.

Read the stories.

Cate Leads IU Cybersecurity to 'Excellence'

Professor Fred H. Cate at the 2007 Managing Conflicting Requirements Conference The National Security Agency named IU a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. Indiana Law's Fred H. Cate, Distinguished Professor and director of the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research (CACR), helped the program climb to the top.

Learn more.

Geyh's Inaugural Kimberling Lecture Wows Crowd

Professor Charles Geyh draws a laugh during the lecture A nationally recognized scholar on issues involving the judiciary, Professor Charles Geyh presented "Preserving Public Confidence in the Courts in an Age of Individual Rights and Skepticism" to a full house on April 13.

"You can't go to a meeting of lawyers or judges today and swing a tuna without hitting on the concerns about judicial independence and confidence in the courts," said Geyh, John F. Kimberling Professor of Law, during the chair's inaugural lecture.

Read the story.

Indiana Law Welcomes 2007 ALAF, Honors Maurer

Linda Chezem, JD'71; V. William Hunt, JD'69; George P. Smith, II, JD'64; Milt Thompson, JD'79; and Hon. John Tinder, JD'75, were honored April 13 as among Indiana Law's Academy of Law Alumni Fellows. Michael S. Maurer, JD'67, received the Indiana University Foundation's President's Medal for his service, leadership, and loyalty to the Foundation and the University.

Learn more or view the ceremony.

Presidential Power in an Age of Terror

The IU Center for Law, Society, and Culture hosted its interdisciplinary, spring 2007 symposium, addressing the hot-button debate about presidential power in the United States.

Learn more.

Latinos and the Law Conference

Prominent scholars and practitioners gather for Latinos & the Law: Is Our Past Also Our Future?, March 29-30. Register online to earn 7.5 Indiana CLE credits while taking part in discussions on some of the most pressing issues for today's Latino community, including immigration, human rights, and civic participation.

Register now.

Constituting Equality Conference

Conference March 23-34 at Indiana Law Panelists from five continents considered constitutional mechanisms for promoting gender equality at Indiana Law's March 23-24, 2007 Constituting Equality conference. Topics included religious law; electoral gender quotas; reproductive and other substantive rights; and the role of women in the process of constitution-making.

Learn more.

Exclusive Q & A: Lee Hamilton, JD'56

When it comes to alumnus Lee Hamilton, political wisdom is no oxymoron. Insights he's gained from high-profile, nonpartisan roles in issues from the 9-11 Commission to the Iraq Study Group and his 34 years in Congress make this interview a must-read.

Read the story.

60 Minutes 'Killings in Haditha' Features Alumnus

"In an insurgency situation, Marines don't get a second chance," Neal A. Puckett, JD'84, said in a special double segment of CBS's 60 Minutes. "If they aren't able to fire first, they die." Puckett and Mark Zaid act as Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich's civilian attorneys. Wuterich is charged with the murders of 18 Iraqis in the town of Haditha.

Read more.

Law Students Compete in National Venture Capital Competition

Three JD/MBA students travel to Georgia Tech this month for the highly-competitive Venture Capital Investment Competition. Kamran Khan and Patty Troy, both fourth-year JD/MBAs, and third-year JD/MBA Devin Schaffer were recruited to join the Kelley MBA team in an intense three-day strategic competition.

Read the story.

2007 Finalists Impress U.S. Court of Appeals Judges, Seasoned Alumnus

Congratulations to students Renee Beaver and Mickey Weber, who emerged as 2007 Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition winners. Distinguished judges and a standing-room only crowd heard Beaver, Weber, and fellow finalists Jeffrey Peabody and Greg Knapp argue the student-written problem of Mertens v. Raines, Charlevoix, and the City and County of Arcadia, a case presenting issues from cell phones as tracking devices to Hurricane Katrina's effect on legal matters.

Learn more.

98.6 Percent Employment for Class of 2006

An aggressive career services program and a crop of outstanding graduates saw a 98.6 percent employment rate for Indiana Law's class of 2006. More than 62 percent of Indiana graduates explore careers outside Indiana, including placement in 20 of the top 25 Am Law 200 firms.

See our placement success.

Bell Participates in Town Hall Meeting on New Orleans

Professor Jeannine Bell served on a panel discussing "New Orleans: Then and Now" at IU's Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. Designed to raise awareness of continuing Katrina-related problems, the panel also included Roslyn Smith, former associate superintendent of New Orleans Public Schools; Ronicka Harrison, a New Orleans native and Teach for America member; and IU students Matthew Morrow and Tom Corson-Knowles, who have made several Gulf Coast service trips.

Read the story.

Stanford's Karlan Delivers 2007 Harris Lecture

Pamela S. Karlan Stanford law professor Pamela S. Karlan, the 2007 Addison C. Harris Lecturer, will address "The Establishment and Free Exercise Turns in the Law of Democracy" on Feb. 16, in the Law School's Moot Court Room.

The annual Harris lecture is named for Addison C. Harris, a Wayne County native and former professor and president of Indiana Law. Established by his widow, India Crago Harris, the lecture seeks to instruct "lawyers and students of the law in the higher and more advances questions and theories thereof." Past Harris lecturers have included some of our nation's most distinguished scholars.

Read the story.

Hear Prof. Craig Bradley Discuss U.S. Supreme Court Inner-Workings

James L. Calamaras Professor of Law and former Supreme Court clerk Craig Bradley offers an IU Alumni Association Mini University Conversation that takes you inside the U.S. Supreme Court. Visit the link below to hear his take on the legacy of the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, his impressions of new chief justice John Roberts, and more.

Listen.

Indiana Law's Hoffmann featured on PBS special The Supreme Court

Joseph Hoffmann Harry Pratter Professor of Law Joseph Hoffmann appears on an unprecedented television series exploring the history, impact, and drama of America's highest court. PBS' The Supreme Court airs Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. EST. Hoffmann, who clerked for late Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist from 1985 to 1986, was interviewed for episode four in the four-part series, "The Rehnquist Revolution."

Read the story.

Indiana Law Hosts Supreme Court Oral Argument Jan. 30

Indiana Law welcomes the Indiana Supreme Court Tuesday, Jan. 30. The Court will hear Richard Brown v. State at 12 p.m. in the School's Moot Court Room. The case involves a criminal conviction through the Marion County Superior Court and a vacated Indiana Court of Appeals ruling. The Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction over the appeal and will hear the public, 40-minute argument in Bloomington, with a Q&A to follow.

Learn more.

New Hires Add Dimension to Indiana Law Scholarship

Innovative scholars Jody Madeira and Timothy William Waters join Indiana Law this fall, bringing diverse interests and enterprising research to a high-achieving faculty. Previously a Climenko Fellow and Harvard lecturer in law, Madeira's cutting edge work ranges from the constitutional rights of transgendered individuals to capital punishment and victim's families. Waters's widely-published research includes public international law, human rights, ethnic conflict, and European and Islamic law issues.

Read the story.

Robinson One of 10 'Up-and-Coming Young Black Lawyers'

In recognition of Black History Month and the more than 44,000 practicing African American lawyers, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) spotlighted 10 Up-and-Coming Young Black Lawyers. Prominent senior attorneys nationwide weighed in, and named Laurie N. Robinson, JD'98, and current assistant general counsel for CBS Broadcasting, Inc. among them.

Read the story.

Fairfield Weighs in on New 'Real' World

Online role playing and virtual property are posing new questions for everyone from lawyers to gamers. That's why media outlets—from the Washington Post to the Financial Times—are practically knocking down Joshua Fairfield's door.

In the Washington Post's recent "Where real money meets virtual reality, the jury is still out," Indiana Law's Fairfield noted that "there are legal reasons to believe that property rights to objects can exist in a virtual realm." These synthetic playgrounds are now grossing millions, and the tax- and intellectual property-related legal issues abound.

Read the story.

Fall 2006

Schutter's Financial Aid Guidance 'Off the Charts'

Jim Schutter, Indiana Law associate director of financial aid, was honored with the 2006 Staff Merit Award in the professional staff category for Indiana University's Bloomington campus.

"I can think of no one more devoted to terrific student service than Jim," said Dean Lauren Robel. "Every year when the results of the Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE) come back, we are off the charts in comparison to other schools in our students' satisfaction with their counseling on financial aid issues."

Read the story.

Led by Alumnus Hamilton, Group Releases Key Report on Iraq

Lee Hamilton listens to a question at a public lecture Lee H. Hamilton, an active Indiana Law alumnus, served as vice chair of the 9-11 Commission and for more than three decades in Congress. Now, as co-chair of the Iraq Study Group, Hamilton's legacy takes on historical consequence with the Dec. 6 release of the bipartisan committee's bold report.

The independent group's recommendation to the administration: withdraw U.S. combat forces responsibly. "The current approach is not working, and the ability of the United States to influence events is diminishing," Hamilton said in an article by the Associated Press, "Many Americans are understandably dissatisfied. Our ship of state has hit rough waters. It must now chart a new way forward."

Read the story.

William B. Gould Delivers First Annual Stewart Lecture

William B. Gould IV, an influential voice on worker-management relations, Stanford professor, and former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, presented Indiana Law's inaugural Stewart Lecture in Labor and Employment Law. Gould's speech was the first to memorialize his former colleague and friend, William R. Stewart, JD'59, via the William R. Stewart Memorial Fund for Labor and Employment Law.

Listen to the lecture or read more.

Introducing the New Washington Public Interest Program

Starting in spring 2008, select third-year students committed to public interest careers will spend their final semester gaining real-world experience in Washington, D.C. through the new Washington Public Interest Program. Nonprofit or government internships and a unique on-site companion course taught by Bloomington Professor A. James Barnes round out this new opportunity that will build career networks and deepen a strong connection to active D.C.-area alumni.

Read the story.

Henderson, Dau-Schmidt Awarded $160K LSAC Grant

Powered by a $160,000 grant from the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington faculty members William Henderson and Kenneth G. Dau-Schmidt serve as co-principal investigators for "The Production, Content, and Consumption of Legal Scholarship: A Longitudinal Analysis." Indiana University is the administering institution for the project, which will culminate by providing a novel research database for the legal academy and profession.

Read the story.

New Disability Clinic and Criminal Law Externship Expand Clinical Program

Indiana Law introduces the Disability Law Clinic and Criminal Law Externship Program, new additions to an enhanced clinical program. Carwina Weng oversees the Disability Clinic, a three-credit course designed to help low-income clients obtain federal disability benefits, and through the Criminal Law Externship, students perform hands-on work with prosecutors and public defenders for academic credit.

Learn more.

CCDPS Conference: Toward Constitutional Democracy in Burma

Leaders in the Burma Democracy Movement gathered at the Law School this month to sharpen and translate a constitutional draft that has been in the making for more than a decade. Jointly-sponsored by Indiana Law's Center for Constitutional Democracy in Plural Societies and the IU Institute for Advanced Study, the event featured private workshops and several public forums.

Read the story.

Film Features Dawn Johnsen Alongside Koh, Obama, Sunstein

Professor Dawn Johnsen's research on the Reagan-Meese Agenda served as the impetus for a recent film titled Quiet Revolution. Produced by the Alliance for Justice, participants in the film include Johnsen; Bruce Ackerman, Drew S. Days III, Harold Koh, and Judith Resnik of Yale Law School; Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor for Slate Magazine; U.S. Senator Barack Obama; and David Straus and Cass Sunstein, of the University of Chicago School of Law. Bradley Whitford, of NBC's The West Wing, narrates the film.

Read the story.

Cate active in privacy and national security debates

Fred H. Cate is a hot commodity in national discourse concerning information privacy and security issues, especially related to identity theft and national security.

Read the story.

New Clinics Add Disability and Criminal Law Opportunities

Indiana Law introduces the Disability Law Clinic and Criminal Law Externship Program, new additions to an enhanced clinical program. Carwina Weng oversees the Disability Clinic, a three-credit course designed to help low-income clients obtain federal disability benefits, and through the Criminal Law Externship, students perform hands-on work with prosecutors and public defenders for academic credit.

Learn more.

CCDPS Conference: Toward Constitutional Democracy in Burma

Leaders in the Burma Democracy Movement gather at the Law School this month to sharpen and translate a constitutional draft that has been in the making for more than a decade. Jointly-sponsored by Indiana Law's Center for Constitutional Democracy in Plural Societies and the IU Institute for Advanced Study, the event features private workshops and several public forums during the next two weeks.

Read the story.

Indiana Law Partners with Korea's Ewha Institute for Law and Bioethics

Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington announces a partnership with Ewha Institute for Law and Biotehics at Seoul, Korea's Ewha Woman's University that encourages cooperative conferences, seminars, and research activities, and exchanges of faculty and students interested in developing and regulating ethical bio research.

Read the story.

Law School Hosts Indiana Court of Appeals Argument

The Indiana Court of Appeals will hear the case of Hartford Casualty Insurance Company v. Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the Law School's Moot Court Room. Two judges and two attorneys boast ties as Indiana Law alumni, including Hon. Paul D. Mathias, JD'79, and Hon. Michael P. Barnes. Indiana Law alumni Thomas H. Bryan, JD'69, represents the appellant, and Steve Barber, JD'74, argues for the appellee.

Read the case synopsis.

For Judicial Ethics, Audiences Seek Geyh's Expertise

Charlie Geyh Professor Charles Geyh, an expert in judicial ethics and author of the newly-released book, When Courts and Congress Collide: The Struggle for Control of America's Judicial System, testified before the House Judiciary Committee during a recent congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. regarding the impeachment investigation of Los Angeles-based federal judge Manuel L. Real.

Read the story.

John S. Applegate Named IU's First Presidential Fellow

John S. Applegate Indiana University President Adam W. Herbert has named John S. Applegate, Indiana Law executive associate dean and Walter W. Foskett Professor of Law, as the first IU Presidential Fellow. During this prestigious opportunity, modeled after the White House Fellows program, Applegate will assist the president in a wide range of projects including the presidential transition process next spring and summer. (more)

Fidler, Cate, Johnsen Weigh in on Controversial Constitutional Issues

Professors David Fider, Fred Cate and Dawn Johnsen at a Constitution Day panel, 2006 Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington professors David Fidler, Fred Cate, and Dawn Johnsen took the stage for a campus-wide panel event in honor of Constitution Day. Their topic: "Developments in Constitutional Law and National Security: Perspectives on Hamdan, ACLU v. NSA, and the ABA Signing Statement Report."

Though serious, Fidler (Hamdan v. Rumsfeld), Cate (ACLU v. NSA), and Johnsen (ABA Signing Statement Report) offered rousing insights into some of the nation's hottest constitutional debates including the role of international law in modern U.S. government, the detention and treatment of terrorism suspects, the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program, and presidential power in the Bush administration. (more)

Indiana Law Celebrates Conservation Center Grand Opening

On Sept. 29, alumni, friends, and Law School community members marked the grand opening of the Conservation Law Center, Inc. a nonprofit advocate for natural resource conservation that works intimately with Indiana Law's new Conservation Law Clinic.

Richard Lazarus, a Georgetown law professor, former IU Law faculty member, and environmental law expert returned to Bloomington to deliver a special public lecture in honor of the celebration. (more)

Professor Barnes advises Department of Energy, Serves on National Panel

Professor A. James Barnes was reappointed to the Department of Energy's Environmental Management Board by Secretary Samuel Bodman and recently was named to a National Academy of Public Administration Panel headed by Louisiana State University President Sean O'Keefe.

As a member of the DOE board, Barnes will help advise the DOE concerning the management of hazardous and radioactive materials as well as the remediation of problems from past disposal or management activities. (more)

Partnership with China's Fudan University Advances Global Reach

Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington recently announced its official partnership with China's Fudan University of Shanghai.

In addition to beginning a student and faculty exchange program, the two universities recently applied for a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development to fund additional students from Fudan University to study at IU and to invest in a new Center for Comparative Legal Culture. (more)

Welcome class of 2009!

Some 211 JD students joined Indiana Law this week. The JD class of 2009 boast impressive academic credentials — with LSAT scores in the 90th percentile and a median GPA of 3.57. Sixty percent are nonresident, bringing new perspectives, professional experience and higher degrees in 68 diverse fields, including microbiology and nuclear engineering to our community.

These JD candidates are joined by an impressive group of international graduate students. We welcome 70 students, including our first from Afghanistan and Liberia, as well as students from Latin America, Saudi Arabia, Europe, and from our partner schools in China, Thailand, Korea, and Taiwan. (more)

Indiana Law Congratulates the 2006 Distinguished Service Award Recipients

Congratulations to Indiana Law alumni Feisal Istrabadi, JD'88, Abigail Kuzma, JD'81, Elizabeth Shuman-Moore, JD'82, and C. Daniel Yates, JD'73, recently named as this year's Distinguished Service Awardees! These graduates possess the high ideals that define our Indiana Law community.

Their distinguished accomplishments of service to their communities and the Law School will be honored during an evening celebration at Alumni Weekend 2006, Sept. 29 and 30.

Summer 2006

Upward Bound Students Participate in Mock Trial

Clinical Professor Earl Singleton with other Upward Bound participants More than 100 Upward Bound students observed or participated in a mock trial held July 20 in the Law School's Moot Court Room. Four high school students in the program, who have also been interning at the Law School this summer, tried a criminal case in front of Judge Viola Taliaferro, JD'77. In addition to the student attorneys, seven high school students served as parties, witnesses, or court staff in the case, and 10 students served as jurors. The other students in the program observed the proceedings. (more)

Professor William Henderson's research on fire

Professor William Henderson Indiana Law's William Henderson has the 12th-most downloads per paper among all SSRN law authors nationwide who have published at least three new papers within the past year. Henderson boasts an impressive 233 downloads per paper.

The distinction is no surprise. Henderson is increasingly recognized as a leading authority on the empirical study of law firms and the legal profession—one of the hottest current legal topics.

The up-and-coming professor is one of six founding editors of the Empirical Legal Studies blog, the newest hub for legal and academic discourse on empirical legal studies.

An active IU Law & Society Association member, Henderson spearheaded Indiana Law's internationally-attended Globalization of the Legal Profession Symposium, and is currently drafting a joint agreement with the American Bar Foundation to continue studies on the legal profession.

His prominent research includes an in-depth examination of the LSAT and law school exams, published in the Texas Law Review. He also focuses on the areas of demography and public school systems, the law firm as a business, and corporate regulation.

Professor Gene Shreve Announces $1 Million Gift

Prof. Gene Shreve Forget every single bad lawyer joke you've ever heard. Turn instead to the best case scenario. Subject is Gene Shreve, Richard S. Melvin Professor of Law, and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Having led students through the process of law school for more than 30 years, Shreve is an IU institution unto himself. "I still marvel at life and our endless potential for growth," he says before continuing, "I think it remarkable that year after year, the Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington has been populated by truly wonderful people." (more)

Lewis Building Opens to Clinics and Writing Faculty

Where members of the Indiana Law community once grabbed a slice at Garcia's Pizza or shopped at Sole Sensations, they can now lunch at Qdoba or the new-and-improved Dagwood's or take a break at the Aveda salon.

The Lewis Building, owned and developed by Indiana Law alumnus Elliot R. Lewis, JD'87, opens this summer, and the Indiana Avenue address is even more convenient for law students and professors. It's a much-needed addition to the Law School campus.

Named for its developer, the Lewis Building houses three commercial properties on its ground floor. Indiana Law clinics and Legal Research and Writing faculty offices occupy its second and third floors. Located on Indiana Avenue, next to The Gables and just across from the Law School, the new structure's Law School space is tailored specifically for its new tenants.

"The new facility provides the kind of space that really enhances our growing clinical programs," said Colleen Pauwels, law library director and building committee member.

"Some of the clinics have been in Beck House—a nice, old house—but it hasn't offered the kind of space the clinic programs need," Associate Dean for Clinical Education Julia Lamber said. "The new building has two interview rooms and a mediation room, where students are able to meet with clients, and there is teaching space designed with clinical teaching in mind."

Indiana Law's hotbed of clinics brings noteworthy faculty, including Conservation Center director William W. Weeks, JD'79, and new faculty Carwina Weng and Mark Need, JD/MBA'92, to Bloomington. Clinical colleagues Amy Applegate, Earl Singleton, JD'86, and the School's Legal Research and Writing faculty also call the Lewis Building home.

ACS Chapter Earns National Recognition

ACS chapter members receive an award Indiana Law's chapter of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy received the 2006 Chapter of the Year Award at this year's national convention.

Professor Dawn Johnsen, a well-known expert in constitutional law, sponsors the Indiana Law chapter of ACS and helps students bring events such as debates, forums, and visits by nationally renowned speakers to campus throughout the year. (more)

Students Pave Way for Stem Cell Patent Development

Illustration of DNA Helix Work by two Indiana Law students on a revolutionary research development tool marks a successful inaugural year for the School's Entrepreneurship Law Clinic.

Charles Logsdon, JD'06, and Megha Patel, now a third-year student, worked with Cook Group, Inc., the IURTC, and the IU Medical School to create a map of stem cell patents. Both students boast PhDs in biology and interest in intellectual property law. Former ELC director Timothy Boeglin calls the pair a testament to Indiana Law's diverse incoming students and to a burgeoning, distinguished intellectual property program. (more)

Fisher Represents State before U.S. Supreme Court in Hammon v. Indiana

Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher, JD'94 Thomas M. Fisher, JD'94, Solicitor General of Indiana, recently served as respondent in the U.S. Supreme Court case Hammon v. Indiana. General Fisher was accompanied at counsel table at the Supreme Court, and assisted in the briefing of the case, by Deputy Indiana Attorney General Nicole Schuster, JD'01. The case presented the question of whether an oral accusation made to an investigating officer at the scene of an alleged crime constitutes a "testimonial" for purposes of the Confrontation Clause.

The United Sates argued as an amicus curiae that the accuser's statements were testimonial and therefore should not have been admitted at trial. Fisher argued that these statements were not testimonial and therefore were properly admitted. Fisher split time with Irving Gornstein, assistant to the Solicitor General. The case was argued in tandem with Davis v. Washington, which also questioned whether an alleged victim's statements to a 911 operator naming her assailant constitute testimonial statements subject to Confrontation Clause restrictions enunciated in Crawford v. Washington.

After clerking for Judge Michael Kanne of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Fisher served as Special Counsel to Attorney General Steve Carter and, in 2005, was appointed to the new post of Indiana Solicitor General.

Speakers Offer Insight, Laughs to Class of '06

Raphael Prevot Jr. JD'84 and Maurice Williams 3L A sunny Saturday, May 6, saw 285 Indiana Law students claim hoods and diplomas. The guest speaker was Rapheal Prevot, JD'84, and the student speaker was Maurice Williams.

Prevot spoke about his experiences as a lawyer and as labor relations counsel for the National Football League and the opportunities that shaped his legal career.

He said his motivation for success was anchored in a desire to do something good for society. "It is not always what you learn in a law book that is going to make you a successful lawyer; it is a combination of a lot of things," he said. "Compassion, humility, dignity, courtesy, ethics, a sense of never losing sight of where you come from, and being able to reach back and give back to your community are big parts of practicing law."

Read the complete story.

Spring 2006

Professor Fred Cate on Identity Theft

Graphic showing Fred Cate holding letters in a mailbox "In February 2005, ChoicePoint, one of the nation's largest information brokers, announced that criminals had obtained access to its records on more than 160,000 people. The announcement set off an avalanche of similar reports of personal data held by institutions being lost, stolen, or improperly accessed. Bank of America, Lexis-Nexis, HSBC, Polo Ralph Lauren, the University of California Berkeley, Ameritrade, Northwestern University, DSW Shoe Warehouse, Time Warner, and, in the fall of 2005, the IU Kelley School of Business were among the more than 120 institutions that reported breaches involving personal, often sensitive, information about 57 million Americans.

The breaches have prompted considerable concern and numerous stories in the press about the risk that they pose for identity theft. Legislators in 22 states responded by passing new and more stringent laws requiring institutions who suffer breaches to notify individuals and take other steps to guard against the compromised data being used to commit identity theft."

Read more of Distinguished Professor Fred H. Cate's article in the May/June Indiana Alumni Magazine on "Identity theft: What the numbers tell us and what you can do about it."

Johnsen Reviews Justice O'Connor Biography

Professor Dawn Johnsen "This story of the first woman justice should be widely read and enjoyed by women and men all along the ideological spectrum," writes Indiana Law Professor Dawn Johnsen in a recent Legal Times book review of Joan Biskupic's recently published Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice.

"Biskupic covers familiar ground well and adds detail about the justices' decisions, deliberations, and disagreements that will edify even close observers of the Court," said the review. The professor praises Biskupic's poignant storytelling and the timeliness of the O'Connor story in light of recent Supreme Court appointments and in a time when many women still struggle to navigate the work-and-family tightrope.

Prior to teaching, Johnsen followed a distinguished career in Washington, D.C., as acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel and legal director of NARAL Pro-Choice America and has been hailed by peers as an "incredible legal talent" and "a future federal judge or U.S. Attorney General."

At Indiana Law, Johnsen is active in securing student clerkships and teaches Constitutional Law, the First Amendment, and a seminar in Separation of Powers.

Prevot, Williams to Deliver Law School Commencement Addresses

Raphael Prevot Jr. JD'84 and Maurice Williams 3L Rapheal M. Prevot Jr., a 1984 graduate and current labor relations counsel for the National Football League, and student standout Maurice Williams will address graduates during the 2006 Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington commencement ceremonies.

Prevot's job is the stuff of locker room dreams. From his New York City office on Park Avenue, he serves as labor relations council for the NFL's management council, a job that includes defending the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement and representing teams in disputes with players. The cases he works on make headlines. (more)

Indiana Law's Uslan to Address IU Bloomington Graduates

Michael Uslan, JD'76, who has become one of Hollywood's most accomplished movie producers, will speak to IU's Class of 2006 during the May 6 commencement ceremonies.

University President Adam Herbert said he believes Uslan's presence will make the commencement ceremonies a memorable experience. "Former IU President Herman B. Wells once said that our 'alumni's achievements represent the fruits of the university's efforts in teaching and learning.' Michael Uslan has earned three degrees from IU and proves the truth of this statement. His career offers clear evidence of the fact that IU prepares students to follow their passion in imaginative ways," Herbert said.

"In addition to delighting the American public with his films and books, Michael is both an academic innovator and a great benefactor of IU," he added. "In 1971, he taught the nation's first accredited course on comic books at IU. His gift to the Lilly Library of more than 30,000 comics and graphic novels provides scholars insights into 21st-century popular culture and graphic design. We are honored to welcome him back to his alma mater. I have no doubt that his commencement address will motivate, challenge and inspire the members of the class of 2006."

Uslan is an acclaimed author of children's books and executive producer of 1989's Batman (Warner Bros.) and 2005's Batman Begins (Warner Bros.). An author, scholar, and attorney, Uslan credits his experience as an IU student with empowering him to realize his grandest aspirations. In addition to stories from his time as an IU student and how he ascended the ranks of the comic book and movie-making industries, Uslan plans to tell this year's graduates what he has told various student groups over the years. The core message, he said, is "to take something you're passionate about and make it your work."

The Indiana Law alumnus visited the School in April as a 2006 inductee to the Academy of Law Alumni Fellows. He sits on the Intellectual Property Advisory Board and visits the school often as a Practitioner in Residence, donating his time to counsel law students and guest lecture in classes. His inspirational words have twice been selected for the Law School's commencement ceremonies.

Annual Awards Recognize Exceptional Teaching

The Trustees Award, Leon H. Wallace Teaching Award, and Leonard D. Fromm Public Interest Faculty Award, granted annually, serve as highly-coveted emblems for our faculty's continued and steadfast commitment to quality instruction.

Legal Aid Harbors New Meaning for Student Volunteers

Indiana Law student Jen Nagourney felt helpless and detached when she watched Hurricane Katrina sweep over the gulf coast from land-locked Bloomington seven months ago. So when an e-mail from the Student Hurricane Network (SHN) about law-related relief opportunities popped up in her inbox, she took action.

"I thought, 'I have to do something with this,'" she said. "What blew me away were the people saying 'yes.' They wanted to help any way they could. It was exciting to see law students, who could have taken a vacation, express such an interest." (more)

Professor Kevin Brown in April's ABA Journal

A presentation by Professor Kevin Brown during the American Bar Association's midyear meeting is featured in the April 2006 ABA Journal. The article, titled "Minority Opinion," frequently notes studies and comparisons the Indiana Law professor used to bring to light modern injustices.

The presentation was part of a panel titled, "From Dred Scott to Rosa Parks and Hurricane Katrina: Where Do We Go From Here?," which examined constitutional law through the eyes of black America using historical and modern landmarks.

"Although the Constitution is traditionally viewed as a protector of individual rights and a symbol of equality and justice, it is perceived differently by those whose families and forebears experienced it as an instrument of repression," Brown said in the article. He used National Center for Education Statistics figures to support what he termed the de facto segregation of U.S. public schools. The NCES studies show that white students attend mostly-white schools while black students attend mostly-black schools. "The reality is that at this time we simply do not have the power to support integration," he said.

Brown and fellow speakers—Craig B. Futterman, law professor at University of Chicago, and Phillip C. Aka, a political science professor at Chicago State University—hope that "recognizing and understanding" these causes can influence the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and encourage commitment to affirmative action.

At Indiana Law, Brown"s research interest is motivated by the effort to bridge the vast cultural gap that exists in American society between its majority and minority populations. He teaches a variety of courses including "Torts," "Law and Education," and "Race, American Society, and the Law," and is author of numerous articles and book chapters on the convergence of law, education, and race theory.

See accomplished Indiana Law faculty quoted and featured in hundreds of major news outlets.

Indiana Law Announces 2006
Academy of Law Alumni Fellows Inductees

Poster of Academy of Law Alumni Fellows inductees for 2006 The Indiana Law community congratulates the 2006 Academy of Law Alumni Fellows for their outstanding achievements in the legal world and in the community at large. This year's fellows are David G. Elmore, JD'58, Robert P. Kassing, JD'64, Masuji Miyakawa, Class of 1905, James G. Richmond, JD'69, Frank Seales Jr., JD'74, and Michael E. Uslan, JD'76.

The School affords this distinction to alumni whose careers are defined by exceptional personal achievement and dedication to the highest standards of the profession. With careers ranging from U.S. senators to federal judges and managing partners of national law firms, Academy fellows bring honor to the legal profession and enhance Indiana Law's national and global reputation. Induction into the Academy is the highest honor the School of Law bestows upon its graduates.

Read the inspirational stories of the six 2006 inductees to the Academy.