The Informant
February 3, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Death Penalty program this Friday-Saturday
The Tennessee Law Review's Death Penalty Colloquium and CLE Program will be held here in the COL, Room 132, on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6-7. It has attracted international attention (Japan sending a newspaper reporter! Australian law school seeking the book itself! Registrants coming from law schools from Virginia to California!), and we're having very prominent speakers. Full info is at www.law.utk.edu/cle/09Deathpenalty.shtml
Beth Offshack, Amber Turner to represent the College
Congratulations to Bethany Offshack on her election as Representative for the College of Law on the Academic Affairs Committee of the Employee Relations Advisory Organization, and also to Amber Turner on her election as Alternate for this committee. "The law school is very fortunate to have Beth and Amber representing the College, and we are confident they will have much to contribute," said Dean Doug Blaze. If you have comments or topics to bring up in future ERC meetings, please contact Beth at 4-7416 or email at boffshac@utk.edu.
Law Women hosting events this week
This week is going to be Go RED Week sponsored by Law Women! The group will have a table set up in the Commons Monday through Thursday during the free hour. Representatives will be selling little red dress pins, valentines, and cute candy bags all to benefit the American Heart Association. People can also text to donate. If you are super busy this week and can't stop by the table, you can text "RED" to 90999 and $5 will be donated to AHA on your cell phone bill.
Rump Court this week will also be part of the Go RED Week, so look for the email from Ben Peacock for more information on that later this week.
Law Women hope that everyone can take the time to stop by and donate. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States; if you have a mother or a sister, this issue should be important to you, and I hope that you will stop by and find out more information. This whole week is a lead-up to National Wear Red Day on Friday.
FACULTY
Prof. Kuney joins others in amicus brief
Prof. George Kuney and a group of law professor have submitted their amicus curiae brief to the United States Supreme Court in Travelers v. Bailey (In re Johns-Manville). The brief argues that the scope of a bankruptcy court’s “related to” jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. section 1334(b) is not so broad as to allow the court to enjoin creditors from pursuing independent, direct claims against a non-debtor party. In the alternative, if that jurisdiction does exist, such injunctions constitute a taking in violation of the 5th Amendment and a denial of the right to a jury trial provided for by the 7th Amendment. The case is set to be heard later this term.
STUDENTS
Student Bankruptcy Law Writing Competition
The Bankruptcy Litigation Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute has announced its first annual ABI Bankruptcy Law Student Writing Competition. For details, click here. Prof. George Kuney is happy to meet with students wishing to discuss topics relating to section 363 sales and plans of reorganization.
LEWIS CAREER CENTER
-- Mock Interview Program for 1Ls, Monday through Friday, Feb. 2-6, times TBA, Lewis Career Center.
-- Professional Etiquette Dinner & Workshop for 1, 2, and 3Ls, Thursday, Feb. 5, 6 p.m., The Foundry on the Fair Site.
-- The Business of Practicing Law, "Lawyer Roles in Tomorrow's Firms," for 1, 2 and 3Ls, Monday, Feb. 9, 12-12:50 p.m., Room 135.