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September 19 - 25, 2004 |
Seeking New Name for Up & Coming
The weekly newsletter of The John Marshall Law School needs a new name. All members of the John Marshall community are invited to submit a suggestion to Assistant Dean John M. McNamara at 6mcnamar@jmls.edu by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 24th. A $25 gift certificate to Starbuck's will be awarded to the person who submits the name selected by the administration. The new name will premiere in October.
Detroit Attorney Outlines Case Against Iraqi Subcontractors in Abu Ghraib Abuses
Professor Mark Wojcik (left) and student Zubadia Qazi (center) of the International Law Students Association welcomed Detroit attorney Shereef Akeel to The John Marshall Law School where he spoke on his work on behalf of former Abu Ghraib prisoners in Iraq.
A year ago, Shereef Akeel was a Detroit attorney handling a typical caseload. Now he is making headlines as a lead attorney in a case against two American subcontractors in Iraq whose actions are alleged to have had a direct impact on the prisoners in the Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad.
Akeel recently returned from a fact-finding mission to Iraq meeting with past detainees. He says what Americans know of Abu Ghraib is just the tip of the iceberg. Abuses went on in prisons throughout Iraq, Akeel says, and he has heard the stories first-hand from many of the tortured.
Akeel got involved in the case when a man came to his Detroit office. The man carried a Swedish passport. A native of Iraq, the man returned to Iraq in 2003 to help rebuild the country. He carried $79,000 in cash "because there is no banking system in Iraq now. Everything is done with cash," Akeel explained.
The man was stopped by American forces, his savings was taken from him and he was thrown into the Abu Ghraib Prison. He was never charged. The torturous acts that have been reported in American newspapers were done to him, Akeel said. But when the man first came into his law office, Akeel, like everyone else in the world, was unaware of what was happening at Abu Ghraib.
"I didn't understand the magnitude of his request. What he was telling me was so unbelievable, that I was convinced he did not make it up," Akeel said. A month later, the pictures hit the newspapers.
Today Akeel is representing him and others in a class-action suit against CACI International Inc. of Arlington, Va., and Titan Corp. of San Diego. Titan provides Arab-language translators, and CACI was contracted for interrogation services.
Using the Alien Tort Claims Act of 1789, a law passed to take action against pirates, Akeel has gone into court arguing the companies are responsible for human rights abuses. The law allows, in some circumstances, a review of tort claims that occurred in violation of international law. It is the likely option for Akeel, because L. Paul Bremmer, administrator of the U.S. government's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Affairs, signed Law 17 that gave immunity to all U.S. personnel and international contractors in Iraq.
Akeel said his case against the corporations is being argued on a profit basis. The corporations will only continue to be awarded contracts if they show results. "How were (the results) measured? By information gathering."
And to gather information, Akeel alleges the contractors used torture. The lawsuit, to be heard in California, asks for unspecified monetary damages, and the companies' prohibition for future government contracts.
"Because of globalization, corporations want to maximize the bottom line," he said. As a consequence, they set aside their social responsibilities under the Geneva Convention, he argues.
Akeel believes we have lost sight of the value of human life, especially on foreign soil. "I have to ask why a U.S. soldier who dies in Iraq is valued with a $250,000 life insurance policy, but an Iraqi death is set at $2,500."
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Hartman Receives Public Service Award from ISBA
Second-year student Colleen Tierney (right), president of John Marshall's chapter of Delta Theta Phi, and the Student Bar Association representative to the Illinois State Bar Association, presents Allison Hartman (left) with her public service award.
Allison Hartman (J.D. '04), was recently honored with the 2004 Public Service Award from the Young Lawyers Section/Law Student Division of the Illinois State Bar Association. The award recognizes Hartman's "meritorious public service and professional responsibility."
Hartman is director of Power for Women, a small not-for-profit organization that has been teaching self-defense to women for more than 30 years. As part of the joint Chicago Bar Association/Women's Bar Association of Illinois Committee on Issues Affecting Women as They Age, Hartman participated in a panel discussion during the organization's Symposium on Women and Employment. She volunteers for a number of other organizations, including the Newberry Library and the Chicago Humanities Festival.
While a J.D. student at John Marshall, Hartman was president of John Marshall's chapter of Lambda Alpha, and secretary of Delta Theta Phi. She was a student adviser and tour guide, and spoke as an older returning student at the law school's open houses.
Hartman is currently pursuing an LL.M. degree in real estate law.
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Negotiation Team Tryouts
Negotiation Team tryouts will be held in Room 402 on Thursday, September 23rd and Tuesday, September 28th from 1 to 4 p.m. All eligible students please sign up on the sheet outside Room 506.
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Student Activities
September 20
Phi Alpha Delta is sponsoring a blood drive in the Sargis-Miner student lounge. If possible, please donate to this much needed program.
The Corporation Law Association/Career Services Office are co-sponsoring a program at 12:45 p.m. in room 300. Watch for postings.
September 21
The Black Law Student Association will meet at 4:45 p.m. in room 216.
The Justinian Society will meet at 12:00 p.m. in room 201. Pizza will be served.
The first SBA N.O.W. (Networking Opportunities at Work) program of this semester will feature Assistant State's Attorney and John Marshall alumnus, Joy Nelson. Prominent members of the judiciary will also be speaking. This program is co-sponsored by the Criminal Law Society. Professor Timothy O'Neill will moderate the event at 12:30 p.m. in room 216. Bring your brown bag lunch. Dessert and sodas will be provided.
The Christian Legal Society will meet at 12:35 p.m. in room 1105.
September 22
The American Constitutional Society will meet at 12:30 p.m. in room 300.
The Public Interest Council will meet at 5:00 p.m. in room 216.
September 23
The American Constitutional Society, Gay and Lesbian Legal Alliance and Amnesty International are co-sponsoring a program at 12:30 p.m. in room 216. Mr. Thomas Sullivan will be speaking on the current state of the Illinois capital punishment reform.
Delta Theta Phi will meet at 12:00 & 5:00 p.m. in room 527.
September 24
The Vocal Ensemble is a group of staff, faculty and students whoare interested in forming a chorus to entertain at our annual holiday party. If you are interested, please see Miss Criss, room 212.
Barrister's Ball tickets are now on sale now from Miss Criss or Monica Panel. Buy your tickets early so that you do not miss this special event. The ball will be held this year at the Drake Hotel.
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Brehon Society Charity Raffle
The Brehon Society is raffling off Notre Dame-Boston College Tickets with a parking pass. The raffle will end with a drawing at Irish Eyes on Thursday September 23rd (need not be present to win). The Society will be hosting a Guest Bartending event at Irish Eyes on September 23rd beginning at 7 p.m. All students are invited to attend. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Tips generated from the guest bartending will also benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
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Previous Issues of Up & Coming
Faculty Activity and Publications
Professor Karen Halverson
Activities
She spoke to approximately 100 Swift School 6th graders on Friday, September 10 about mediation to introduce the students to the topic, which will be integrated into the 6th grade curriculum. The children asked many questions about mediation and litigation.
Professor Mark E. Wojcik
Activities
He has been appointed as Co-Chair of the ABA Section of International Law's Committee on International Criminal Law; he will also continue to serve as Co-Chair of the International Criminal Law Committee of the ABA Criminal Justice Section.
He has also been re-appointed as Vice Chair of the International Health Law Committee of the ABA Section of International Law.
He spoke on August 24 as a guest lecturer in a new LL.M. course on International Agriculture Law. The course, which is offered through the John Marshall Center for International Business and Trade Law, is being taught by Adjunct Professor Lynne Ostfeld. He spoke on antidumping and countervailing duty cases involving agricultural products.
On September 3, he served as moderator of a program on "Abu Ghraib Prisoners Seek Compensation in U.S. Courts: The Alien Tort Statute and the Latest from Iraq," a program co-sponsored by the John Marshall International Law Society with Amnesty International, the Muslim Law Students Association, the American Constitution Society, and the Global Legal Studies Program. The program featured Mr. Shereef Akeel, an attorney for the Abu Ghraib Prisoners. Mr. Akeel described his meetings in Iraq with persons who had been held in the Abu Ghraib Prison and 22 other detention sites in Iraq.
On September 7, he welcomed a visiting delegation of intellectual property professionals from Sri Lanka. The program was attended by a number of John Marshall faculty members and students who are interested in international intellectual property law.
On September 9, Professor Wojcik was one of 27 bar association leaders participating in the Second Annual joint bar association program organized by the Filipino American Bar Association and The John Marshall Law School. He appeared as the current President of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC). Professor Ann Lousin was also in attendance, representing the Armenian Bar Association.
On September 15, 2004, he spoke on "International Careers" at Northern Illinois University School of Law in DeKalb, Illinois. He was joined by Patrick M. Kinnally of the Aurora law firm Kinnally Krentz Loran Hodge & Herman, P.C., and by Lewis F. Matuszewich of the law firm Chmiel & Matuszewich. The presentation was attended by students and by NIU Dean LeRoy Pernell.
On September 17, 2004, he spoke in East Peoria Illinois as part of the CLE program "Truth or Consequences: A Practitioner's Guide to Criminal Dispositions and Collateral Consequences." The CLE program was presented by the ISBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section, co-sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division and the Criminal Justice and International & Immigration Law Sections. His topic was "Rights of Non-Citizens When Arrested: Enforcing the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations after Avena."
On September 18, 2004, he spoke as part of the John Marshall alumni CLE program to review and preview significant decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. His portion of the program focused on international decisions from the 2003-2004 Supreme Court term, including Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain (involving claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act and the Alien Tort Statute); Republic of Austria v. Altmann (involving retroactive use of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to recover art stolen by the Nazis); F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. v. Empagran S.A.(involving extraterritorial applications of antitrust law); Intel Corporation v. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., (involving use of federal courts to compel discovery for use in foreign proceedings); Olympic Airways v. Husain (interpreting the meaning of "accident" under the Warsaw Convention); Grupo Dataflux v. Atlas Global Group, L.P., (involving diversity jurisdiction and the status of partnerships that have partners located abroad); Department of Transportation v. Public Citizen (involving cross-border trucking issues arising under NAFTA); and other cases relating to international law issues.
On September 20, he gave two talks in Carbondale at the Southern Illinois University School of Law on the topic of careers in international law.
Publications
Mark E. Wojcik & Melinda Lord, Human Rights Law, 38 International Lawyer 499 (2004) (review of international legal developments during 2003).
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Schedule of Events
September 20
- Phi Alpha Delta Blood Drive, Student Lounge, 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- Career Services - Corporate Law Association, Room 300, 12:30 p.m.
September 21
- Self Study Meeting, Room 1101, 12:00 p.m.
- SBA, Room 216, 12:30 p.m.
- BLSA, Room 216, 4:30 p.m.
- Writing Workshop, Room 1105, 5:00 p.m.
September 22
- Chinese Program, Room 529, 9:00 a.m.
- Writing Workshop, Room 529, 12:30 p.m.
- Career Services - Government Honors Programs, Room 1200, 12:45 p.m.
- American Constitutional Society Meeting, Room 300, 1:30 p.m.
- Insights Program Make-Up, Room 1200, 3:30 p.m.
- Career Services - Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Room 201, 5:00 p.m.
- Public Interest Law Council, Room 216, 5:00 p.m.
September 23
- Online Course Training, Rooms 1100 and 1102, 8:00 a.m.
- Update on European IP Law Conference, Room 1200, 8:30 a.m.
- Justinian Meeting, Room 201, 12:00 p.m.
- ACS/GALLA/Amnesty, Room 216, 12:30 p.m.
- Negotiation Team Tryouts, Room 402, 1:00 p.m.
- Writing Workshop, Room 1105, 5:00 p.m.
September 24
- Online Course Training, Rooms 1100 and 1102, 8:00 a.m.
- Multistate Diagnostic Exam, Room 201, 9:00 a.m.
- Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee Meeting, Room 1101, 12:00 p.m.
- Insights Program Make-Up, Room 1200, 12:00 p.m.
- Therapeutic Justice Program, CBA Building, 2:00 p.m.
September 25
- Yom Kippur Observance No Classes
- Alumni/HLSA/BLSA Mentoring program, Room 1200, 12:00 p.m.
- Insights Program, Room 300, 1:30 p.m.
- Sprague Scholars Dinner, Offsite Location, 6:00 p.m.
September 27
- Insights Program, Room 1200, 12:00 p.m.
- Faculty Executive Committee Meeting, Room 402, 12:15 p.m.
- Student Affairs Committee Meeting, Room 402, 3:00 p.m.
September 28
- Negotiation Team Tryouts, Room 402, 1:00 p.m.
September 29
- Chinese Program, Room 529, 9:00 a.m.
- Career Services - Careers in Public Service, Room 1200, 12:45 p.m.
- Writing Workshop, Room 403, 4:00 p.m.
October 1
- Last day to withdraw from classes
- Minority Mock Trial Competition, Room 3East and Courtroom, 8:00 a.m.
- 'E-lection: Is E-Voting Ready for Prime Time' Symposium, Room 1200, 8:45 p.m.
- Multistate Diagnostic Exam, Room 201, 9:00 a.m.
- Employee Benefits Business Meeting, Room 402, 12:00 p.m.
October 2
- Minority Mock Trial Competition, Room 3East and Courtroom, 8:00 a.m.
- Bar Exam Essay Program, Room 409, 8:30 a.m.
- CIBTL Advisory Board Meeting, Room 1200B, 9:30 a.m.
- Insight Program, Room 300, 1:30 p.m.