Congratulations to third-year law student Porter A. Tynes who was named the recipient of the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Robert C. Watson Award, which recognizes student articles that display “original and creative thought or information” and contribute knowledge to the field of intellectual property law. Tynes was honored for his journal note “Truth That Lies: How Literal Falsity Lost the Consumer and How to Restore It” appearing in the Journal of Intellectual Property Law, which is now publishing as the Georgia Journal of Law and Technology.
The Appellate Litigation Clinic recently argued Corpus v. Fitzpatrick before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Third-year student Elijah T. Echols presented the case while fellow third-year student Eliana R. “Eli” Werbel helped with preparation.
Brumby Distinguished Professor in First Amendment Law Sonja R. West presented “Capitulation and the Free Press” as part of the panel titled “Chilling Effects, Capitulation, and the Limits of Judicial Relief” at the University of North Carolina School of Law First Amendment Law Review Symposium “Retaliation, Coercion, and the First Amendment” during November.
Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic successfully argued against motions to dismiss in Gwinnett County Superior Court as part of a civil suit for a survivor who was sexually abused by a stepsibling. Second-year law student Anthony E. Hill drafted the responses to the motions and presented oral argument under the supervision of Staff Attorney Brian Atkinson (J.D.’13), with the support of Clinic Director Emma M. Hetherington (J.D.’11).
Dean Usha R. Rodrigues published “Defending Shareholder Democracy” in 68 Corporate Practice Commentator 371 (2026) (reprinted from 60 Wake Forest Law Review 683 (2025)).
Since September, the Jane W. Wilson Family Justice Clinic has provided representation to 21 victims of domestic violence and stalking in protective order cases in Athens-Clarke and Hall counties. Under the leadership of Clinical Associate Professor and Wilson Family Justice Clinic Director Christine M. Scartz, the clinic students have also provided legal advice and consultations on domestic violence and family law matters to an additional 127 people from across Georgia.
Hosch Professor & Community Health Law Partnership Clinic Director Jason A. Cade presented his article “Welcome to the Trump Administration’s Board of Immigration Appeals. The Immigrant Always Loses.” (Yale Law Journal) at the American Immigration Lawyers Annual Chapter Conference hosted by Drake University Law School during October.
Clinical Associate Professor & First Amendment Clinic Director Clare R. Norins was featured by Newsday regarding First Amendment protections. The article titled "Ex-Firefighter Sues; Fired After Facebook Comment" was written by Jim Baumbach and published 10/7/26.
Class of 2026 School of Law graduate Kellianne E. Elliott presented her work on the First Amendment Clinic's legislative watch project as part of the panel titled “Success Stories” at the Access & Accountability 2026: Restoring Accountability & the Rule of Law conference at Yale Law School during October. The legislative watch project is a tool that provides research and analysis to educate members of the public on proposed laws implicating free speech and press rights and government transparency.
Associate Professor Christian Turner was featured in Columns regarding the increasing importance of human relationships and interdisciplinary research with the advent of generative artificial intelligence. The article titled "Legal researcher believes human relationships are still the answer in the age of AI" was written by Adam Wynn and published 10/30/26.
Congratulations to third-year law students William P. “Wil” Stowers and Elijah T. Echols for capturing the trophy in the 2026 Florida/Georgia-Hulsey/Gambrell Moot Court Competition. Their win adds to UGA's outstanding performances in this annual University of Georgia/University of Florida courtroom battle and brings our school’s overall tournament record to 30-12-2! The team was coached by Director of Advocacy Emerita Kellie Casey and Adjunct Professor Cole M. Harper.
Brumby Distinguished Professor in First Amendment Law Sonja R. West recently served as an advising faculty member for the Aspiring Free Speech Scholars Workshop. The event was cosponsored by the Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and the Stanford University Hoover Institution.
Stembler Family Distinguished Professor in Business Law Christopher M. Bruner was featured by WHYY, a National Public Radio affiliate in Philadelphia, regarding Delaware’s proposal to create a new form of company managed entirely by artificial intelligence. The article titled “U.S. House Oversight Committee questions Delaware’s lack of transparency on AI-run companies initiative” was written by Sarah Mueller and published 10/28/26.
The University of Georgia School of Law will participate in a free legal clinic to be held in Troup County on October 30. Multiple clinics from the law school will be available to assist local residents. The LaGrange Daily News article titled “Troup to host fourth annual free legal clinic” was written by Tommy Murphy and published 10/27/26.
Hosch Professor Jason A. Cade, Smith Professor Hillel Y. Levin, Assistant Professor Meighan Parker, Associate Dean Laura Phillips-Sawyer and Alston Chair Anne M. Tucker recently presented or published their scholarship at Yale Law School, the New York University School of Law, the University of Texas Civitas Institute, the University of North Carolina School of Law and the Harvard Business School.
The School of Law regrets to share news of the passing of Erica J. Hashimoto, who was a member of the law school’s faculty from 2004 to 2016. She served as the school’s associate dean for clinical programs and experiential learning and held the Allen Post Professorship. In 2015, Hashimoto was awarded UGA’s highest recognition for excellence in instruction at the undergraduate and graduate levels, a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship. In addition to teaching courses in criminal law, evidence and criminal procedure, she created and oversaw the law school’s Appellate Litigation Clinic. Please keep the Hashimoto family in your thoughts and prayers during this sorrowful time.
Congratulations to third-year students Caleb A. Smith and Lionel A. Rubio on winning the national Elder Law Moot Court Competition. Third-year students Emma M. Cagwin and Olivia M. Henderson finished the tournament as quarterfinalists. In addition, Henderson was named the competition’s best advocate and Cagwin was recognized as the third-best advocate. This is the second consecutive year UGA Law has won the top trophy at this competition.
Joan Gabel, University of Pittsburgh chancellor and UGA School of Law graduate, will deliver the fall undergraduate Commencement address at UGA on Dec. 11 in Stegeman Coliseum. In recognition of her contributions to higher education, Gabel will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the undergraduate ceremony. The honorary degree acknowledges those whose accomplishments have had an enduring impact and is the university’s highest recognition short of an earned doctorate.
The Veterans Legal Clinic recently obtained an honorable service characterization for a client from the military board, who had initially been discharged under an other than honorable conditions characterization. Third-year students Sara T. Helton and Nathan C. Whisamore were the final student team to work with the client through a multi-year process, producing the written submission to the military board requesting the client’s service characterization be upgraded to under honorable conditions.
Associate Dean & Cleveland Distinguished Chair Nathan S. Chapman reviewed Wendell Bird’s Religious Speech and the Quest for Freedoms in the Anglo-American World in an article in 40 Journal of Law and Religion 315 (2025).