Congratulations to third-year students M. Paige Finley and Peyton R. Stuart for receiving the State Bar of Georgia's 2020 Law School Excellence Award presented by the bar's Access to Justice Committee and Pro Bono Resource Center. The honor recognizes law students who have "excelled in participation in support of a civil pro bono or legal aid program" or have "been instrumental in the development of a civil pro bono program satisfying previously unmet civil needs or extended services to underserved segments of the population."
Callaway Chair Elizabeth Chamblee Burch was featured on Bloomberg Law regarding Bayer AG's Roundup litigation strategy. The article titled "Bayer Deal Pays Roundup Plaintiff to Keep Fighting It in Court" was written by Joel Rosenblatt and published 4/21/21.
Associate Professor Jonathan Peters was featured in Variety regarding the Biden administration's agenda relating to tech industry issues. The article titled "How Much Should Tech Giants Fear the Biden Administration?" was written by Kevin Tran and published 4/20/21.
Assistant Professor Thomas E. Kadri presented "Platform Federalism" as part of the University of Arkansas School of Law's faculty workshop series during April.
Associate Professor Fazal R. Khan was featured on WUGA-FM's "Athens News Matters" regarding a vaccine passports. The segment titled "Vaccine Passports" was reported by Alexia Ridley and Devon Zwald and aired 4/16/21.
The Appellate Litigation Clinic recently won a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit relating to a Fair Housing Act issue in the case Webb v. United States Veterans Initiative. The clinic was appointed as amicus curiae on behalf of Webb, a disabled military veteran who claimed that U.S. Vets had deprived him of preferred housing based on his sex. Judge David S. Tatel wrote the opinion and said: "We appointed counsel to appear as amicus curiae in support of Webb and appreciate the outstanding efforts by appointed counsel and the student counsel who argued the case." Third-year student Mollie M. Fiero presented oral argument, and third-year student Jason N. Sigalos helped write the brief. The victory was covered by Bloomberg Law in the article titled "Homeless Veteran Can Sue Nonprofit for Bias in Housing Placement." It was written by Bernie Pazanowski and published 4/16/21.
Callaway Chair Elizabeth Chamblee Burch was featured in a Reuters article regarding future opioid trials and settlements. The article titled "Drug Companies to Face First Opioid Trial Following Pandemic Delays" was written by Nate Raymond and Brendan Pierson and was published 4/16/21. The article appeared in U.S. News & World Report and the Insurance Journal, among other places.
Congratulations to first-year students Katherine E. Hoffecker and Justin W. Tilghman and to all of the other participants who made the 2021 First-year Moot Court Competition such a great success. On Friday, the final round was judged by UGA President Jere W. Morehead, Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge and University Professor & Kilpatrick Chair of Corporate Finance and Securities Law Usha Rodrigues. Hoffecker was named champion and Tilghman finished as finalist. Hoffecker also received the Morehead Moot Court Award.
Brumby Distinguished Professor in First Amendment Law Sonja R. West's research was featured in The New York Times regarding the U.S. Supreme Court and its references to the press. The article titled "The Supreme Court's Increasingly Dim View of the News Media" was written by Adam Liptak and published 4/19/21.
Congratulations to all who were honored as part of the law school's 2021 Awards Day. This annual event provides an opportunity for the School of Law community to pause and recognize the many achievements of its students, faculty and recent graduates.
Distinguished Research Professor & Shackelford Distinguished Professor in Taxation Law Emeritus Walter Hellerstein presented on OECD International VAT/GST Guidelines at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Global Workshop on Implementing a Comprehensive Valued Added Tax/Goods and Services Tax Digital Strategy during April.
Assistant Professor Thomas E. Kadri presented "Platform Federalism" as part of the Wake Forest University School of Law's faculty workshop series during April.
As part of Athens Startup Week, the School of Law's Business Law Clinic held two free pop-up legal clinics for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs. Clinic participants received guidance on issues such as choosing and structuring a business entity, how to divide equity among co-founders, intellectual property protection, licensing and permits, and complying with regulations. Organized by the university's Innovation District in collaboration with Athensmade and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Athens Startup Week in April was designed to showcase the growing entrepreneurship community in Athens and at UGA, and to help turn innovative ideas into products, business ventures and nonprofits.
in the 28th Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. They argued against a team from France with arbitrators from Greece, Ukraine and India. As part of their preparation, the team also competed in Fordham University's Vis Pre-Moot and the German law firm Bodenheimer's first Pre-Moot tournament. The School of Law team was coached by Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge and third-year student Sarah Anne Nelson.
Cleveland Distinguished Chair of Legal Ethics and Professionalism & Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Lonnie T. Brown Jr. was featured on "The World" public radio news program regarding former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, the subject of Brown's book. The segment titled "Former Attorney General Ramsey Clark dies at 93" was reported by Rupa Shenoy and aired 4/12/21.
Hosch Professor Lori A. Ringhand is one of five faculty members at the University of Georgia who have been awarded the institution's highest teaching honor, the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship. "This year's Meigs Professorship honorees are exemplary educators who engage students at all levels through innovative instruction and experiential learning," said S. Jack Hu, the university's senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. "They are committed to positioning their students for success, not only in the classroom but throughout their lives."
A University of Georgia pilot program launching this month involving faculty and staff will further the university's efforts to foster a more welcoming and supportive campus community. Based on recommendations issued by the Presidential Taskforce on Race, Ethnicity, and Community, the university is implementing a pilot Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD) training, beginning this year with two groups of UGA faculty and staff. The law school's Sarah Ehlers and Morgan Tickerhoof will participate in the program, which aims to build the capacity of communities and organizations to engage, live and thrive despite their differences through a dialogue process that shifts the goal of conversation from problem solving to mutual understanding.
The School of Law regrets to announce former Assistant Professor Emily Calhoun passed away March 27, 2021. She served as an assistant professor in Athens from 1974 to 1978 and taught Torts, Evidence, Federal Courts, Women and the Law, and Rights of the Confined. She will be missed by law school faculty, staff and students.
Post Professor Melissa J. "MJ" Durkee published "Welcoming Participation, Avoiding Capture: A Five-Part Framework" in 114 American Society of International Law Proceedings 39 (2021).
Associate Dean and Martin Chair of Law Andrea L. Dennis presented as part of the Race & Evidence: Beyond Neutrality program at Cardozo School of Law during April.