The Informant
March 29, 2011
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1L Advocacy Idol sponsor Michael Galligan (top left) with the 2011 finalists (front row) Leandra Varney, Alicia McMurray, Austin Fleishour and Austin Purvis, (Back row) Nikolas Vaselopulos and Michael Stahl.
Austin Purvis wins Advocacy Idol competition
Twenty-four first-year UT law students participated in the Fourth Annual Advocacy Idol competition March 23. With the help of their second- and third-year law student coaches, these Idol participants prepared a five-minute opening statement in the first-degree murder case of State of Rockytop v. Roger “Rambo” Matthews. Panels of judges from various state and federal courts, as well as Michael Galligan, sponsor of the competition, selected the top six advocates: Alicia McMurray, Austin Fleishour, Leandra Varney, Michael Stahl, Nikolas Vaselopulos and Austin Purvis. The six finalists were coached by Anthony Raiford, Rachel Watson, Chelsey Hadfield, Nicholas Lee, Danielle Greer and Eric Mauldin, respectively.
After a final round, the en banc panel of nine judges, the Honorable Michael Galligan presiding, named Austin Purvis the 2011 Advocacy Idol. Nikolas Vaselopulos placed second, and Michael Stahl finished third.
All of the advocates demonstrated skill in organization, delivery and substantive technique in giving their opening statements, showing great promise as future advocates. These first-year students, their coaches and the student bailiffs are to be commended for an enjoyable and successful competition.
2L Rachel Watson and Professor Karla McKanders featured in AALS newsletter
In October 2010, 2L Rachel Watson and Professor Karla McKanders participated in an international leadership exchange program with Saving Children Through Healthcare and Outreach in Swaiziland, Africa. The spring 2011 issue of the newsletter of the American Association of Law Schools Section on Africa includes a feature story on their experience. Read MORE (please go to the lower righthand corner of page 5).
Docket Day Tuesday, March 29
The College of Law will host the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals on Docket Day on Tuesday, March 29, in Room 237. The morning docket will begin at 9 a.m. with the afternoon docket beginning at 1 p.m. Students are free to observe throughout the day, but are asked to come and go as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the proceedings.
Advocacy Center to host author Cait Clarke March 30
The Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution will host Cait Clarke, author of “Dare to Ask,” on Wednesday, March 30, at noon in Room 136. Clarke is the director of federal programs at Equal Justice Works and has 18 years of experience teaching, training and coaching law, leadership, management and negotiation for attorneys and others in the legal arena. More information about Clarke can be found here.
Clayton Center speaker on "Great Crash" March 31
Professor Michael Perino of St. John's University will discuss his recently published book, "The Hellhound of Wall Street: How Ferdinand Pecora’s Investigation of the Great Crash Forever Changed American Finance" on Thursday, March 31, from noon until 1 p.m. in Room 132. The program is sponsored by The College of Law’s James L. Clayton Center for Entrepreneurial Law and the College of Business Administration’s Center for Corporate Governance.
In the worst depths of the Great Depression, former prosecutor turned Senate inquisitor Ferdinand Pecora captivated the country with his investigation of Wall Street. Pecora revealed how the country’s elite financiers manipulated stocks, dodged taxes and collected enormous bonuses for peddling shoddy securities to unsuspecting Americans. The sensational headlines galvanized public opinion for reform, paving the way for Congress to radically reshape financial regulation.
“The Hellhound of Wall Street,” which is part biography of Pecora and part courtroom drama, chronicles a chapter of national history that has nearly been forgotten. Perino also will highlight the story's remarkable contemporary relevance, reminding us again of the delicate and crucial relationship between Wall Street and government.
Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Law Women's 7th annual Chili Cook-Off
The Law Women's seventh annual Chili Cook-Off will be this Thursday, March 31, beginning at 7 p.m. at Toddy's Back Door Tavern in Bearden. Rump Court will follow after the Chili Cook-Off. All proceeds will go towards the YWCA's Victim Advocacy Program. Admission is $5 at the door and includes tasting of chili from each team. Raffle tickets will be sold as well, with more than 50 prizes being offered from 27 vendors. Space is available for additional teams, and the winning team takes home a cash prize. Last year's team won more than $100. Team registration is accepted through Wednesday, March 30. Contact Carrie Pond at carrie.pond@gmail.com to register your team. Registration is $25 for up to four team members. Contact Pond or Kati Sanford Goodner (kati.goodner@gmail.com) for more information.
Protecting Children symposium to be held April 1
The Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy and the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution will be hosting an upcoming symposium entitled "The Politics of Protecting Children" on April 1 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the College of Law in Room 132. The symposium will focus on legal and political issues facing child protection. Panels will include discussions about guardian ad litems, political and ethical challenges, landmark litigation and best practices for attorneys from the juvenile judge’s point of view. Robert Schwartz, the executive director of the Juvenile Law Center in Philadelphia, Pa., will bring his national expertise and provide a keynote on “Revisiting Luzerne County: Promoting Fairness, Transparency and Accountability in Juvenile Court.” The entire law school community is invited. CLE will be provided (7 hours, with 3 hours dual). The program ends at 4:45 p.m.
FACULTY
From Greg Stein, Associate Dean for Faculty Development
An excerpt from Professor Tom Davies's 1999 article on the original Fourth Amendment, first published in the Michigan Law Review, has been included in an anthology of significant Fourth Amendment articles edited by Professor Cynthia Lee of George Washington University. In addition, a book review by Professor Tracey Maclin of Boston University, to be published in the Michigan Law Review, favorably discusses the article by Davies.
Congratulations to Professor Joan Heminway, who has been named this week's "Quest Scholar of the Week." Read MORE.
"Contracts: Transactions and Litigation (3d)," by Professors George Kuney and Bob Lloyd, has just been published by West Academic Publishing. As with the earlier editions, the book emphasizes the importance of context to the application of legal principles and discusses the overlap between the knowledge and skills of a litigator and those of a transactional attorney.
Professor Glenn Reynolds recently published a review of Michio Kaku's "Physics of the Future" in the Wall Street Journal. Read MORE.
FROM THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY
Event of interest:
-- The Ready for the World Café, an international buffet operated by students in the advanced food production and service management class, opens for the semester on Feb. 7 and will run through April 21. The café will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the Hermitage Room on the third floor of the University Center. Diners will pay $11 for the all-you-can-eat buffet or $9 for a plate of food to carry out.
STUDENTS
Research assistant needed in immigration and asylum law
Research assistant needed to work approximately 10 hours per week. Research will be in the area of immigration and asylum law. Students interested in the position should send a resume, current transcript and writing sample to Professor Karla McKanders at mckanders@utk.edu. Any questions regarding the position can be sent by email or telephone at (865) 974-571.
Animal humane rights writing competition
The Committee on Animals and the Law of the New York State Bar Association announces its fourth annual student writing competition. The deadline for submission is June 30. MORE
Securities arbitration law writing competition
Entries are being accepted for the James E. Beckley Writing Competition in Securities Arbitration Law sponsored by the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association. The entry deadline is Oct. 3, 2011. MORE
CAREER SERVICES
Upcoming programs offered through the Bettye B. Lewis Career Center:
-- No programs this week.