nick lewis

Congratulations to 2023 graduate Nicholas R. “Nick” Lewis for winning the Top Gun XIV National Mock Trial Competition. His effort created a historic win, as no school has won this tournament two times in a row. Lewis was undefeated throughout the tournament. 2023 graduate Emily P. Johnson served as Lewis’ co-chair/technical advisor and Associate Director of Advocacy Joe Lester served as coach. Top Gun is an invitation-only event for law schools that have excelled at mock trial competitions during the past year or otherwise distinguished themselves in their dedication to trial advocacy training.

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Congratulations to the School of Law's American Constitution Society student group for receiving a programming award from the national organization. The award is presented to the "strongest chapters who have conducted at least 18 substantive and compelling events during the school year." Notably, in March, the law school's ACS chapter was named Student Chapter of the Week

orford

On May 25, the Supreme Court issued its decision on Sackett v. EPA, No. 24-454 (2022). Assistant Professor Adam D. Orford, whose interdisciplinary research investigates legal and policy approaches to environmental protection, has shared his thoughts on the implications of this decision: “Today, the Supreme Court significantly curtailed the scope of the federal government's regulatory jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, excluding millions of acres of previously regulated wetlands from federal oversight, and potentially reducing the number of surface water bodies under federal protection. This decision, which is consistent with recent Supreme Court precedent reading federal environmental laws very narrowly, shifts the decision about whether to protect newly non-federal wetlands and other waterbodies over to the states, many of which will favor real estate development over environmental protection. Lacking further federal legislation, the decision will significantly reduce U.S. EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulatory oversight of land-disturbing activities.”

Tony waller becoming NALP president

During April, Assistant Dean for Career Development Tony Waller became the president of NALP (the National Association for Law Placement), an international association of over 3,000 legal career professionals who advise law students, lawyers, law offices and law schools. Of note, he is the first person from the state of Georgia to serve in this leadership capacity in more than two decades.  

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The Veterans Legal Clinic has successfully helped two women obtain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. In one case, the clinic helped a woman veteran who lived for years with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from a military sexual trauma: a rape by another service member. Second-year student Eli F. Klenberg and third-year students A. Ligon Fant, Riley Gardner, Trisha D. Hyatt, Lauren A. Johnson and Bethany L. Strain developed the evidence that supported her claim. The decision resulted in increased monthly benefits and recognition by the VA of the long-term impact of the trauma. In the second case, the clinic assisted the widow of a Vietnam veteran who died of stomach cancer resulting from chronic substance use to self-treat his post-traumatic stress disorder caused by his experiences in service. Class of 2022 graduates Margaret Uhler and Jack Mayo identified and researched the medical links between his mental and medical conditions that materially contributed to this win. The decision resulted in a substantial retroactive award and ongoing monthly payments to the widow.