Congratulations to third-year students Lindsey K. Adams, D. Briana Barnett and Nia N. Waller for finishing as national finalists in the 16th Annual Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition. Instructor Joe Lester served as coach. He was assisted by 2021 alumna Joi A. Siler.
During the 2021-22 academic year, more than 435 School of Law students enrolled in one of the school's 17 clinic/externship programs and cumulatively engaged in 94,129 service-learning hours. Nearly 28,000 of those hours occurred under the direct supervision of law school faculty members directing in-house clinical programs – all of which provide access to justice services for underrepresented communities and individuals.
The Criminal Defense Practicum, in partnership with the DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office and the Southern Center for Human Rights, secured a full acquittal for its client facing a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. Practicum Director Elizabeth Taxel served as lead counsel throughout the nine-day trial in DeKalb County Superior Court. Third-year students Charles A. "Charlie" McKeown and Hailey S. Laurie provided ongoing trial support alongside administrative assistant Jessie Des Jardines, who created the trial’s exhibits and demonstratives.
The First Amendment Clinic, directed by Clare R. Norins, was featured in The Current regarding the clinic's amicus brief in the Georgia Supreme Court case involving Camden County’s spaceport project. The article titled “Georgia Supreme Court to weigh validity of Spaceport Camden vote” was written by Mary Landers and published 10/4/22. The brief urges the court to uphold the Georgia Constitution’s petition-and-referendum power that Camden County voters used to block the county’s purchase of the land to build the spaceport.
Clinical Assistant Professor & First Amendment Clinic Director Clare R. Norins authored a guest column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in which she says supporting free speech on campus is critical for protecting American democracy. The article titled "Campuses must support First Amendment rights of students" was published 10/4/22.
Associate Professor Jonathan Peters published "Dominion's lawsuit is no slam dunk - but neither is Fox News' defense" in Vanity Fair (9/22/22).
Interim UGA Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, University Professor & Kilpatrick Chair of Corporate Finance and Securities Law Usha Rodrigues was featured in The New York Times regarding the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into the Digital World/Trump Media merger. The article titled "'Defund the S.E.C.' Becomes a Rallying Cry on Trump's Social Media Site" was written by Matthew Goldstein and published 10/5/22.
Callaway Chair of Law Emeritus Ronald L. Carlson published Carlsons' Guide to Evidence Authentication: Essential Foundations for Georgia Advocates, 2d ed. (LexisNexis, 2022) (with M. Carlson).
Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge presented as part of the "Year in Review" panel at the 11th Annual Conference of the Atlanta International Arbitration Society during September.
Regents' Professor of International Law & Woodruff Chair in International Law Diane Marie Amann was featured on Voice of America regarding international law and developments in the Russia-Ukraine war. The article titled "International lawyers: Putin's annexation is legally null and void" was written by Evgeny Komarov and published 10/2/22.
Among the first cases to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court for the October 2022 term will be Sackett v. EPA, No. 24-454 (2022). At stake is the definition of “waters of the United States” and the area of land that is subject to Clean Water Act wetlands protection or land available to be developed – an issue of enormous environmental and economic consequence. School of Law Assistant Professor Adam D. Orford provides background on the case and its implications.
Callaway Chair Elizabeth Chamblee Burch was featured on Bloomberg Law regarding Johnson & Johnson multidistrict litigation. The article titled "Walmart, CVS Face Suits Blaming Common Painkiller for Autism" was written by Jeff Feeley and published 9/30/22. It was reprinted by outlets across the country including The Denver Post.
Assistant Professor Thomas E. Kadri was featured on Gray Television regarding congressional action against data collectors. The segment titled "Proposed 'do not sell my data' bill could be key for domestic violence survivors" was reported by Molly Martinez and Natalie Grim and aired 9/29/22. It was aired by multiple stations across the country.
Wilner/UGA Foundation Professor in International Law Harlan Grant Cohen presented on "Sustainable Development and the Multiple Aims of Trade Law" at the American Society of International Law International Economic Law Interest Group Biennial Conference held at the Texas A&M University School of Law during September.
Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge published International Civil Litigation in United States Courts, 7th ed. (Aspen Publishing, 2022) (with G.B. Born).
UGA Associate Provost & Kirbo Chair Elizabeth Weeks presented "Federal COVID Mandates" as part of the "Then & Now: The Constitution & Vaccine Mandates" panel at the National Vaccine Law Conference held at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School during September.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden signed the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sexual Abuse Victims Act of 2022, which eliminates the statute of limitations for a variety of federal civil claims, such as the sexual abuse of a minor and sexual exploitation of children. To help child sexual abuse survivors and their advocates, the Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic – which is the first of its kind in the nation – has created a resource guide explaining common questions about the new law that can be found on the clinic's website.
The Appellate Litigation Clinic has won its case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Third-year student Roby A. Jernigan presented oral argument in the case Jordan v. State of Georgia during July. The clinic's client was stabbed 11 times by his cellmate while two officers watched from outside his door. The question raised was whether the officers violated Jordan’s Eighth Amendment rights by failing to prevent the attack and by failing to intervene once it started. Class of 2022 graduates Tinsley J. Stokes and Mark L. Bailey helped write the briefs.
Regents' Professor of International Law & Woodruff Chair in International Law Diane Marie Amann published "International Child Law and the Settlement of Ukraine-Russia and Other Conflicts" in 99 International Law Studies 559 (2022).
Associate Professor Lindsey Simon was featured on Legal Newsline regarding mass tort bankruptcy reform. The article titled "Attorney panel scrutinizes proposed legislation that would ban divisional merger bankruptcies" was written by Juliette Fairley and published 9/21/22.