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March 16 - 22, 2003 |
Patricia Mell Named Dean of The John Marshall Law School
The John Marshall Law School Board of Trustees named Patricia Mell as the law school's 11th dean. She is the first woman and the first African-American to lead the 104-year-old institution. Mell will assume the position of dean on July 1, 2003, as Dean Robert Gilbert Johnston steps down from the position he has held since 1995.
"I am excited and honored to accept the dean's position at The John Marshall Law School that has so many things going for it," Mell said. "I look forward to working with all the law school's constituencies to build upon its successes. Its history of inclusion and diversity is something we can all be proud of, and its strengths at instructing students in both the theory and practice of law have served its graduates well.
"With each success, you discover another great potential. Together we will be working to turn the law school's potentials into successes in the 21st century," she said.
"We went through a national search and have hired an outstanding candidate," said Thomas Durkin, a member of the board and chair of the decanal search committee. The John Marshall Law School began its search for a dean in spring 2002 when Johnston announced he was stepping down from the dean's position. He has been a member of the faculty and administration for more than 35 years.
Mell is a professor at Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law where she has been a member of the faculty since July 1996, and served as associate dean for Academic Affairs from 1998 to 2001. She currently is a visiting professor at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law teaching criminal law and a white-collar crime seminar.
The new dean received a J.D. in 1978 from Case Western Reserve University Law School in Cleveland, and in 1989 participated in the Economics for Law Professors, George Mason University Program at Dartmouth College. She received her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
After graduating law school, Mell was an assistant attorney general for the Ohio Attorney General's Office in the consumer frauds and crimes section and charitable foundations section. In 1983, she served as the corporation counsel for the Ohio Secretary of State's Office, serving as chief administrator and legal counsel of the corporations section and legal advisor to the Uniform Commercial Code Section.
She went into teaching in 1984 as a visiting assistant clinical professor at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, and the following year was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Toledo College of Law. From 1986 to 1991, Mell was an assistant professor and then promoted to associate professor at Widener University School of Law in Delaware.
She moved to Michigan in 1991 joining the firm of Lewis White and Clay in Detroit and was an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School. She began her career at Detroit College of Law in August 1992, and was promoted to full professor in July 1996. Her areas of expertise are criminal law, the legal aspects of e-commerce, corporations and agency and partnership.
Mell also enjoys teaching the rights in art. "I'm a docent for the Detroit Institute of Art, and the course is an outgrowth of my work there and my love of art." She also has an interest in computers and privacy, and her article on national security under the USA Patriot Act will be published in the Denver Law Review spring 2003 issue.
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Outstanding Women Lawyers Recognized by The John Marshall Law School
The John Marshall Law School is sponsoring a program, "Stepping Up to the Challenges: Outstanding Women and Their Work in the Law," from 2 to 5 p.m., March 27, at the Union League Club in Chicago.
The program, organized to celebrate the proud tradition of the law school admitting and educating women from all walks of life during the past 100 years, will applaud the accomplishments of women today in the legal profession and address what can be done for women who will join the legal profession in the future.
Commissioner Leslie E. Silverman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will give the keynote address. A panel discussion moderated by Professor Susan Connor of The John Marshall Law School will feature alumna Crystal Caison, inspector general for the Illinois State Treasurer's Office; Mary Dempsey, commissioner of the Chicago Public Library; Bernard M. Judge, editor and publisher of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer; alumna Amy Kovalan, associate dean of administration and chief financial officer at Northwestern University School of Law; and alumna Dixie Lee Peterson, deputy general counsel for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services at Cook County Juvenile Court.
All proceeds from the event will benefit The John Marshall Law School Women's Scholarship Program. The cost to attend is $25. The program is free for law school students, but a contribution to the schiolarship fund is recommended.
For additional information or to register for the program, contact the Department of Event Management at 312.987.1420 ext. 578.
Commissioner Leslie E. Silverman
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BLSA Team Competes To Quarterfinals
Hope Carter and Briana Milton represented The John Marshall Law School at the annual Black Law Students Association Moot Court Competition earlier this month. The team advanced to the quarterfinal round, and Carter won 2nd best oralist honors.
The team argued two major issues at the competition. First, using a 1st Amendment analysis, can a book incite lawlessness and violence, and if that is the case, can the publisher be held liable. Second, what are the issues of reparations against the publisher.
The team was coached by Professors Linda Crane, Kevin Hopkins and Allen Kamp.
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Schedule of Events
March 16
- PLI Patent Bar Exam Review Course, Room 1200, 9:00 a.m.
- Giles Sutherland Rich Moot Court Competition, Moot Courtroom, 1:00 p.m.
March 17
- Faculty Assembly, Room 1200, 12:00 p.m.
March 18
- A Practical Approach to Domestic and Foreign Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret and Copyright Documentation, Room 526, 6:00 p.m.
March 19
- Small Business Concerns in Providing Employee Benefits, Room 402, 12:00 p.m.
- Career Services - "Dress for Success," Room 3East, 12:30 p.m.
- Career Services - "The Reality of International Law Careers," Room 3East, 4:00 p.m.
March 21
- Board of Visitors, Courtroom and Room 409, 9:00 a.m.
- Career Services - Alumni Mentor Lunch, Room 1200B, 12:30 p.m.
- Culturefest, Room 2East, 5:00 p.m.
March 22
- Spring PMBR Program, Room 1200, 9:00 a.m.
- Board of Visitors, Courtroom and Room 409, 9:00 a.m.
- BLSA Tutoring Program, Rooms 402, 403, 1:00 p.m.
March 23
- Spring PMBR Program, Room 1200, 9:00 a.m.
March 24
- Faculty Works in Progress, Room 1103, 12:00 p.m.
March 25
- Center for R.E. Law Annual Reception, Room 3East, 5:00 p.m.
- Native American Bar Association Meeting, Room 1203, 6:00 p.m.
- A Practical Approach to Domestic and Foreign Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret and Copyright Documentation, Room 526, 6:00 p.m.
March 26
- Faculty Forum, Room 428, 12:00 p.m.
- The True Role of an ERISA Attorney in Mergers and Acquisitions Deals Seminar, Room 402, 12:00 p.m.
- Career Services - Alternative Careers with Lisa Abrams, Room 409, 12:45 p.m.
March 27
- "Stepping Up to the Challenges: Outstanding Women and Their Work in the Law," Union League Club, 2:00 p.m.
March 28
- Comprehensive Exam-January 2004 Graduates, Room 200, 9:00 a.m.
- Special Faculty Meeting on Bar Exam, Room 1200, 12:15 p.m.
- Admitted Students Reception, Room 3East, 5:00 p.m.
March 29
- Comprehensive Exam-January 2004 Graduates, Room 200, 9:00 am.
- Spring PMBR Program, Room 1200, 9:00 a.m.
A complete online listing of events scheduled at The John Marshall Law School can be found at the following URL: http://www.jmls.edu/calendar.htm
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Contents
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Careers in Corporate Law Examined
The Corporate Law Association and the Career Services Office recently co-sponsored a program, "Corporate Law 101: An Insider's Guide to Corporate Practice." Speakers (back row, from second left) Brandon Bell, of Arnstein & Lehr; Michael Silverman (J.D. '93), of Smith Bucklin & Associates, Inc.; and Alfredo Avila (J.D. '00), of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, visited the law school to discuss their work experiences. Welcoming them to the law school were student members of the Corporate Law Association (back row, left) Michael McCaskey and Renata Biernat (back row, right); and (front row, from left) Corporate Law Association member Darren Barhaugh; Nancy J. Thompson, assistant dean for Career Services; Professor Ann Lousin, who moderated the program; and Corporate Law Association members Rozina Briskovic and Jason Slowinski.
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International Case Against Saudi Arabia Outlined Thursday by Federal Judge
On Thursday, March 19, The John Marshall Law School will host distinguished visitor, Edward D. Re, who was former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of International Trade and Professor Emeritus (Retired) at St. John's University School of Law for a 2 p.m. presentation marking the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Saudi Arabia v. Nelson, as it relates to the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act. His presentation will be in the Baim Moot Courtroom.
Proceedings from this public discussion will be published by The John Marshall Law Review, which is sponsoring this event along with the International Law Society.
Judge Re will speak on the topic of whether there should be a "human rights exception" to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which currently shields most governments from liability for various human rights violations.
Joining Judge Re will be Professor Anthony D'Amato of Northwestern University School of Law, who was the attorney who argued the Saudi Arabia v. Nelson case before Judge Re, who was sitting by designation on the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Judge Re found that Saudi Arabia should be held liable for acts of torture it committed; the U.S. Supreme Court reversed that decision and protected Saudi Arabia under the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act.
Professor Mark Wojcik will provide additional background commentary on the case and on the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and on this historic public discussion between the attorney and the judge.
Judge Re will also speak on Wednesday to the International Law Society on "The Reality of Careers in International Law." He will also visit Professor Karen Halverson's Thursday evening class on International Business Law and Professor Wojcik's Wednesday afternoon class to discuss legal writing and oral argument. In addition to his work in the field of international law, Judge Re is also internationally recognized as a legal writing expert and advocate, and his book on Brief Writing and Oral Argument is well known around the world.
Judge Re previously visited John Marshall as a Distinguished Jurist in Residence.
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Faculty Activity and Publications
Professor Kathryn J. Kennedy
Activities
She participated in the Cook County Expedited Child Support Training Program on March 7, 2003. She explained litigation aspects of qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) and qualified medical child support orders (QMCSOs) to judges, administrative hearing officers, state's attorneys, public defenders and administrative support staff who handle child support cases in the Cook County Domestic Relations Division.
Professor William Mock
Activities
During spring break he visited the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law as part of the ABA/AALS septennial site evaluation team. He served in a dual role as a member of the ABA team and as the AALS Reporter. This is the third semester in a row that he has served on a site evaluation team, having visited Wayne State University Law School for septennial site evaluation in Spring 2002 and John Marshall Law School (Atlanta) for initial accreditation site evaluation in Fall 2002. At the recent AALS Annual Meeting, Professor Mock spoke about citizens' information rights during the war on terrorism, during the Section on Privacy panel presentation. He was also elected to the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on North American Cooperation.
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Student Activities
March 18
A reminder to the chief officers of all student organizations - Dean Powers Student Advisory Committee meeting - 12:15 p.m., room 216.
March 20
The Corporation Law Association will meet at 12:45 p.m. in room 201. Several speakers will be present to discuss arbitration and mediation.
The Christian Legal Society will meet at 11 a.m. in room 1005.
March 21
The Annual Culture Fest will be held in the student lounge from 6 to 9 p.m. All of our ethnic student organizations will be represented with food from their countries. This is a "Meet and Greet" evening and all are welcome. Raffle drawings will be held. Admission is $5.00.
The Board of Visitors is a school advisory group made up of distinguished practitioners, judges, academicians and businesspersons. They will be visiting our school and would like to talk with students at 1 p.m. in room 216. Please stop and introduce yourself and express any concerns or interests you might have about the school. Refreshments will be served.
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Trademark Team Wins Best Brief
The John Marshall team of Peter Young and Brian Chelsek placed third overall and won "best brief" honors in regional competition against 20 schools for the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Law Moot Court Competition.
The third-year students argued reverse confusion in a problem that had a small firm of ethnic foods arguing against a multi-national corporation that had a trademark similar to that of the small firm.
Young and Chelsek argued both sides of the problem, and their brief for the appellant was argued on the multi-national firm's side.