Dublin Law Professor Addresses Free Speech and Religious Tolerance
The John Marshall Law School will welcome Professor Neville Cox of Trinity College Dublin Faculty of Law as the Sept. 12 speaker for the Trinity College Dublin Lecture Series.
Cox will address "Freedom of Speech vs. the Protection of Religious Sensibilities: The Future of Blasphemy Law" at a 12:15 p.m. presentation in Room 1200. Cox will examine freedom of speech law, especially in the context of United States law, and its application as it relates to religious beliefs. Cox is examining these issues following reaction by Muslims to cartoons published in a Danish newspaper in 2004 and to "The Satanic Verses" authored by Salman Rushdie.
The book and cartoons were considered blasphemous, but it has been suggested, Cox argues, that there was a clash of fundamentalisms: the fundamentalism of religious devotees who were shocked and offended by such publication, versus those who believe in the "free speech" fundamentalism and argue that there should be an inherent right to publish such material, irrespective of the fact that it shocked and offended.
It is arguable, Cox believes, that the reason why the issue generated such heated reaction in both cases was because neither side was prepared to concede ground to the other but rather sought to demonize it as unacceptable fundamentalism.
Cox is a fellow of Trinity College Dublin and senior lecturer in law and director of Postgraduate Teaching and Learning at Trinity College Dublin Faculty of Law. He authored a book on blasphemy law in 2000.
Summer Experience Convinces John Marshall Student Environmental Law Is His Niche
Brad Schweiger's concern for the environment translated into nine weeks of serious efforts to protect America's open spaces.
Schweiger was a summer intern for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), a non-for-profit service organization that assists government employees who raise concerns about government infringements. By allowing the employees to remain anonymous, PEER uses the information to bring the concerns to the forefront.
"It was a phenomenal experience," he said. A native of Janesville, Wisc., Schweiger said he loves the outdoors and is a camper and backpacker. "At PEER, I learned a lot about applying the law, and the work confirmed for me that I do want to practice environmental law."
Schweiger got the position by searching the environmental law websites. His expenses in Washington were underwritten, in part, with a summer grant presented by John Marshall's Student Bar Association.
The third-year law student at The John Marshall Law School worked with attorneys in PEER field offices across the country on a variety of issues. That gave him a good sense of what the concerns were for different regions and how offices try to work within the government system to resolve the issues.
One of Schweiger's major assignments this summer was assisting with research on the case of National Parks Service Police Chief Teresa Chambers who, in 2003, was terminated from her position allegedly because she confirmed information that was in a soon-to-be-released government document for the Washington Post. The report laid out how the number of Park Service Police was dropping, despite the concerns raised by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Chambers continues to fight her termination. Schweiger spent time going through archives and other sources looking for government documents that relate to the case.
His major environmental project was working on research and drafting materials to be included in PEER's letters to the U.S. military arguing against the government's policy of outsourcing all environmental functions at both West Point and White Sands to the lowest bidder, after the military declared the work "commercial in nature."
In July, the U.S. Army decided against that move at the West Point Military Academy in New York. Schweiger worked with PEER staff on efforts to get a similar status for the Army's largest base, the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
"Government employees have a different agenda for environmental efforts than contractors do," Schweiger said. "It's important to keep the work with people who know and respect the land."
Brad Schweiger works on research documents of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility in Washington, D.C., where he interned this past summer.
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Namibian Law Professor Discusses Human Rights Issues at The John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Professors Mark E. Wojcik (right), director of Global Legal Studies; Kevin Hopkins (second from left), director of Asian Alliances; and William B.T. Mock (third from left), associate dean of Academic Affairs, welcomed Professor Nico Horn (fourth from left), of the University of Namibia Faculty of Law in Windhoek, Namibia. Horn directs the Human Rights and Documentation Center at that university, and he came to discuss a range of human rights issues, including corporate social responsibility and the rule of law. Also welcoming Horn to the law school was John Marshall Adjunct Professor Michael Schlesinger (left), of Robbins, Salomon & Patt, Ltd.
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Faculty Activity and Publications
Professor Mark E. Wojcik
Activities 
He was named Chair of the Publishing Committee of the American Bar Association Section Officers Conference (SOC). The SOC, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, is a special gathering of officers from each of the American Bar Association sections, divisions, and forums. The Publishing Committee of the SOC discusses issues relating to all of the section, forum, and division book publications, academic and professional journals, newsletters, and e-publishing.
Publications
His article, "Should You Be a Faculty Research Assistant?" appeared in the September 2007 American Bar Association Student Lawyer Magazine. The magazine introduced the article by stating, "[a] law professor explains why you should work as a research assistant, how to get the job, and how to do it well."
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Student Activities
September 3
No classes
September 4
The Diversity Committee will meet at 5 p.m. in room 532.
September 5
The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association will meet at noon and 5 p.m. in room 201.
September 8
The Phi Alpha Delta District Conference will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 300
Anyone interested in the legal fraternity Delta Theta Phi, the Children's Law Society or the American Constitutional Society, please see Marilyn Criss in room 212.
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Schedule of Events
September 3
September 4
- Veterans Legal Support Clinic Meet and Greet, Room 529, noon.
September 5
- Alumni Board Executive Committee Meeting, Conference Room, 11th Floor East, 11:30 a.m.
- Alumni Association Board Meeting, Room 800, CBA Building, noon.
- CSO: US Dept. of Justice Career Info Session, Room 1102, 5 p.m.
- Sunguard Advanced Pension Conference - co-sponsored by the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits, Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
September 6
- Welcome Back Reception for Faculty and Deans, Room 3East, 4 p.m.
- Sunguard Advanced Pension Conference - co-sponsored by the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits, Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
September 7
- National Fair Housing Conference, Room 1200, 8 a.m.
- BYOB - Bring Your Own Brain, Room 428, 10 a.m.
- Sunguard Advanced Pension Conference - co-sponsored by the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits, Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
September 8
- National Fair Housing Conference, Room 1200, 8 a.m.
- Bar Exam Savvy Test (BEST), Room 1103, 9 a.m.
- Insights I, Room 409, 12:30 p.m.
- Sunguard Advanced Pension Conference - co-sponsored by the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits, Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
September 9
- Bring Your Own Brain (BYOB), Room 428, 10 a.m.
September 10
- IP Master Class on Patent Law and Practice in China, Room 1103, 9 a.m.
- Faculty Executive Committee Meeting, Room 1105, 11 a.m.
- Bar Essay Exam Program (BEEP), Room 216, 11:30 a.m.
- Insights I, Room 409, 12 p.m.
- Faculty Assembly, Room 503, 12:15 p.m.
- Center for Intellectual Property Law Dinner Honoring Dr. Lulin Gao, Chicago Room - The Standard Club, 6 p.m.
September 11
- IP Master Class on Patent Law and Practice in China, Room 1103, 9 a.m.
- Executive Compensation Institute - 409A Compliance - co-sponsored by the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits and the Chicago Bar Association , 9 a.m.
- IBT Lucerne Meeting, Room 1101, 12:15 p.m.
September 12
- The John Marshall Foundation Open House, 11th Floor East Conference Room, 8 a.m.
- IP Master Class on Patent Law and Practice in China, Room 1103, 9 a.m.
- Bar Essay Exam Program (BEEP), Room 216, 11:30 a.m.
- Visiting Professor Neville Cox Lecture, Room 1200, 12 p.m.
- Career Services Office: Solomon Info Sessions, Room 1103, 12 p.m.
September 13
- IP Master Class on Patent Law and Practice in China, Room 1103, 9 a.m.
- Bar Essay Exam Program (BEEP), Room 201, 5:30 p.m.
September 14
- IP Master Class on Patent Law and Practice in China, Room 1103, 9 a.m.
- The John Marshall Foundation Golf Invitational, Hickory Hills Country Club, 11:30 a.m.
September 15
- Chicago Prosecutorial Symposium, The John Marshall Law School
- Bar Essay Exam Program (BEEP), Room 200, 9:30 a.m.
- Insights I, Room 409, 12:30 p.m.
September 16
- Bar Exam Savvy Test (BEST), Room 1103, 9 a.m.
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Contents
Dublin Law Professor Addresses Free Speech and Religious Tolerance
Summer Experience Convinces John Marshall Student Environmental Law Is His Niche
Namibian Law Professor Discusses Human Rights Issues at The John Marshall Law School
Faculty Activity and Publications
Student Activities
Schedule of Events
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