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September 14 - 20, 2003 |
Bar Representatives Celebrate Diversity In Legal Profession
Special guests at the ethnic bars' diversity celebration are (from left) Illinois Appellate Court Justice Anne M. Burke, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans (J.D. '69), Dean Patricia Mell, and Jessica Arong O'Brien (J.D/LL.M. '98), who organized the program.
A celebration of diversity brought together representatives from 16 ethnic bar associations and their supporters for a special Sept. 4 "swearing-in" ceremony at The John Marshall Law School.
The program was spearheaded by Jessica Arong O'Brien (J.D./LL.M. `98) and hosted by the Filipino American Bar Association and The John Marshall Law School. Members of the judiciary, law firms and bar associations applauded as representatives from 16 distinct groups pledged to work together.
Congratulating the group were Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, Illinois Appellate Court Judge Anne M. Burke, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, and Patricia Mell, dean of The John Marshall Law School.
Representatives included Jessica Arong O'Brien of the Filipino American Bar Association; William Tu of the Asian American Bar Association; Z. Scott of the Black Women Lawyers' Association; David W. Krula of the Bohemian Lawyers' Association of Chicago; Ernest Ling of the Chinese American Bar Association; Larry Rogers of the Cook County Bar Association; Lonny Ben Ogus of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers.
Harry J. Secaras of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois; Karina Ayala-Bermejo of Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois; Bina Sanghari of the Indian American Bar Association; Thomas M. Battista of the Justinian Society of Lawyers; Caroline Kim of the Korean American Bar Association.
Cathy Rath of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago; Dawn
E. Bode of The Advocates Society;
Elizabeth Budzinski of the Women's Bar
Association of Illinois; and Daniel Cotter of the Young Lawyers Section of the
Chicago Bar Association.
Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans had these representatives raise their right hands as they pledged their time and efforts for cooperation among their organizations. The ceremony was another step in a "new beginning" for the legal profession this year, Judge Evans said. He called attention to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action at the University of Michigan's Law School, and the election of Dennis Archer as the first black president of the American Bar Association as other "firsts" for diversity.
Justice McMorrow told the story of her days as a Cook County assistant state's attorney working diligently on a case that went up before the Illinois Supreme Court. She was informed that she would no longer be on the case, because women didn't argue before the court. It is ironic that today she is a sitting member of the court, and its chief justice.
"My being elected was just over due," Justice McMorrow argued. "Many issues affected women as much as men," and now all opinions are represented on the court.
"The coalitions symbolized by those here, and the growth in diversity represents how much good can be done," she said. "There is room for all of us."
Attorney General Madigan said her diverse staff is making it easier for Illinois residents to get their petitions heard. "Diversity is a true asset, whether it's in the classroom or the boardroom," she said, and urged students to apply for positions within her office.
Dean Mell reminded guests that there is much to be celebrated, and much to be done. From its first days in 1899, The John Marshall Law School has done its part enrolling people not because of their race, ethnic background or class in society, but rather on their abilities and desire to learn the law.
This year, The John Marshall Law School celebrates the 100th anniversary of graduating its first woman, Jessie Cook, with a law degree. In 2004, the law school will celebrate the graduation of its first African-American, James Randle.
"Minority graduates of John Marshall continue to break barriers as partners in majority law firms, judges at all levels of the bench, presidents and founders of various organizations and government officials," she said.
And despite the Supreme Court's ruling in the University of Michigan case, "history would indicate that the struggle for access to legal education is not over. Vigilance is indeed required. But there is also hope. Schools like John Marshall remain committed to providing an exemplary legal education to the best-qualified and most talented applicants of all types. Just look at our record, at our history as we embark on our second century of providing legal education," she urged the audience.
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Faculty Activity and Publications
Professor John D. Ingram
Publications
His article, "Racial and Ethnic Profiling", will be published in the Thurgood Marshall Law Review, volume 29/1, late this fall.
Professor Timothy O'Neill
Publications
His article, "Rethinking Miranda: Custodial Interrogation From A Fourth Amendment Perspective," will be published by the U.C. Davis Law Review in April, 2004. His article, "Two Concepts of Liberty Valance: John Ford, Isaiah Berlin, And Tragic Choice On The Frontier," will be published by the Creighton Law Review in February, 2004. His OP-ED piece, "How Long Would It Take You To Earn Six Million Dollars?" appeared in the Chicago Tribune August 22. His column, "Troubling Murder Ruling May Be On Shaky Ground," appeared in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin August 1.
Professor Michael Polelle
Publications
His lead article, "Racial and Ethnic Group Defamation: A Speech-Friendly Proposal," 23 Boston College Third World Law Journal 213 (Spring 2003), will be cited in Professor Dan Dobbs 2004 pocket-part supplement of his national treatise, The Law of Tort.
Professor Mark E. Wojcik
Publications
His book, Illinois Legal Research, was published by Carolina Academic Press and is now available at John Marshall in Beck's Bookstore.
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Student Activities
September 16
The Brehon Society will meet at 12:00 p.m. Room TBA - watch for postings. Discussion will center on upcoming events and the election of a new Vice-President.
The Christian Legal Society will meet at 11:00 a.m. in room 531.
September 17
The Hispanic Law Student Association will serve pizza at its first meeting. The meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. in room 201.
September 20
Phi Alpha Delta District Conference will be held at John Marshall at 8:30 a.m. in room 1200. A boat cruise will follow.
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Contents
Other LinksReturn to The John Marshall Law School Home Page
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Professor Wojcik Proves There's Nothing Boring About Legal Research
For more than five years, Professor Mark Wojcik of The John Marshall Law School scoured the annals of Illinois. Like a great detective, he uncovered research secrets that will prove invaluable to any attorney, librarian, paralegal, researcher or law student in Illinois. He has now collected them into the book "Illinois Legal Research," just published by Carolina Academic Press.
The book is divided into 12 chapters, covering everything from directions on how research effectively, to background on the Illinois Constitution, judicial decisions, court rules, statutes and legislative histories, local ordinances, and administrative regulations.
Many of the items deal specifically with how to "look up" information, but there also are plenty of interesting tidbits in the book. For example, did you know that a large part of the territory we now know as Illinois was once part of the state of Virginia? Or that there is no official version of the Illinois Compiled Statutes? Or that Illinois Appellate Court decisions before 1935 are not binding?
Professor Wojcik has taught legal research and writing at The John Marshall Law School for more than 10 years. Over that time, he gained insights into a variety of legal research techniques that were unfamiliar to many practitioners, and passed them on to his students.
He felt these nuggets of knowledge deserved a larger audience, and decided to collect them for publication. His scraps of notepaper were his "legal research secrets," but he felt these nuggets of knowledge deserved a larger audience. And, the research needed to be in print.
"There's so much research done only on computers these days that attorneys don't know about the print sources that are in the library. And there are so many new developments in how to do research - and how to do it cost effectively. I'm hoping that this book will be part of the desk reference collection, because it can save an attorney a couple of hours in finding the information they need," Wojcik noted.
His research took him through law libraries across the state, including the one housed at the Illinois Supreme Court, and to other libraries including the Chicago Historical Society.
His book includes a citation guide with examples on how to cite cases under the Bluebook and the new Association of Legal Writing Directors Citation Manual, an appendix with contact information for the Illinois courts and administrative agencies, and a legal research quiz that researchers can use to test their knowledge.
Wojcik is a prolific writer, and his pieces are often cited. He has authored "Introduction to Legal English," written for lawyers and law students who speak English as a second language. That book is used around the world, and is now in a second edition published by the International Law Institute in Washington, D.C. He also co-authored the first casebook to explore legal issues relating to HIV and AIDS.
Wojcik is a member of the Outreach Committee of the Legal Writing Institute, and a member of Clarity, a British-based group that promotes legal writing in plain English.
At The John Marshall Law School, Wojcik is teaching Lawyering Skills and a special seminar in International Criminal Law this semester. He will teach Lawyering Skills and International Trade in the spring semester.
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Schedule of Events
September 15
- Russian Delegation Meeting, Room 1200B, 12:00 p.m.
September 17
- Morning Bakery with the Deans, Student Lounge, 8:15 a.m.
- Intellectual Property Advisory Board Meeting, Room 402, 12:00 p.m.
September 18
- Career Services - AM Coffee Talk, Room 1200B, 9:45 a.m.
- Young Alumni Meeting, Room 403, 5:30 p.m.
September 19
- ABA-IPL Section Seminar, Room 1200, 8:00 a.m.
September 22
- Career Services Meeting, Room 402, 2:30 p.m.
September 23
- INTA Corporate Roundtable Host Recruitment, Room 1200A, 9:00 a.m.
- Career Services Program - Government Honors Programs, Room 409, 12:45 p.m.
September 26
- FAST Start Program, Room 1200, 12:00 p.m.
September 27
- Admission Open House, Room 200, 10:00 a.m.
- FAST Start Program, Room 1200, 1:30 p.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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Irish Attorneys Improve Advocacy Skills at John Marshall
