University of Colorado Law School News

Ted Turner Talks about Business and Energy

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST

Ted Turner, co-chairman of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, spoke to a packed audience at Colorado Law yesterday as the featured entrepreneur, presented by Silicon Flatirons Center, ATLAS, and ITP. Before the interview, Dean Getches presented Turner with Colorado Laws inaugural Entrepreneurs for Good Prize. Watch the interview. During the interviewed led by Silicon Flatirons Entrepreneurship Director Professor Brad Bernthal, Turner spoke about working for his fathers advertising billboard business, the risk of starting a 24-hour news channel at CNN, and the Time-Warner mergers. Turner also discussed his new environmental mission and told the audience that if he were looking for a job today, it would be in clean, renewable energy, predicting that it will be a growth industry. He is lobbying Congress to get a clean energy bill through before a December global conference. Throughout his career, Ted Turner has received recognition for his entrepreneurial acumen, sharp business skills, leadership qualities, and his unprecedented philanthropy. Whether in billboard advertisement, cable television, sports team ownership, sailing, environmental initiatives or philanthropy--Turner's vision, determination, generosity, and forthrightness have consistently given the world reason to take notice. Turner holds many titles: co-chairman of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; chairman of the Turner Foundation, Inc., which supports efforts for improving air and water quality, developing a sustainable energy future to protect the earth's climate, safeguarding environmental health, maintaining wildlife habitat protection, and developing practices and policies to curb population growth rates; chairman of the United Nations Foundation, which promotes a more peaceful, prosperous and just world; chairman of Turner Enterprises, Inc., a private company, which manages his business interests, land holdings and investments, including the oversight of two million acres in 12 states and in Argentina, and more than 50,000 bison head; and partner in the Ted's Montana Grill restaurant chain, which operates more than 55 locations nationwide.

Colorado Law Wins National Criminal Mock Trial Competition

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Colorado Law mock trial team won the 19th Annual Cathy Bennett National Criminal Trial Competition at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Fall Meeting in November in Portland, Oregon. The winning team included 3Ls Katharine Decker, Michael Nicoud, Marissa McGarrah, and Jason Slothouber. Eleven other teams were invited to competed and Colorado Law came out victorious and did not lose a single round. The criminal problem involved the obstruction of justice, and the team won the championship round as the defense. Additionally, Michael Nicoud was awarded and recognized as the best oralist in the competition. The team is coached by Brian Domingues of the Jefferson County DAs office and Professor Ann England.

Colorado Law is Pilot Site for Cutting Edge MindManager Software

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law School is proud to announce that it is a pilot site for MindJets MindManager advanced mind mapping software. Piloting the software places the law school on the cutting edge of both technology and legal education. Every student, faculty, and staff member has been given a free copy of MindManager, a significant gift of $179 per license. MindJet designed MindManager to boost productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency by helping the user to create mind maps¯a graphical diagram showing the relationships between thoughts by visually connecting ideas and information. Using the software, law students can move beyond an everyday outline by arranging and connecting information from class into a multi-dimensional space. MindManager can also be used by staff to help with day to day activities, organizing projects, and keeping track of emails and documents and by faculty as a teaching tool. Professor Paul Ohm has used the MindManager software as a visual learning tool during his lectures for several years, and he and Professor Derek Kiernan-Johnson were instrumental in attracting MindJet to use Colorado Law as a pilot site. The software is used by 1.5 million professionals in all types of industries including consulting, education, finance, government, healthcare, and telecommunications. Colorado Law joins major corporations and institutions like CocaCola, NBC, Hewlett-Packard, Oxford University and the Federal Aviation Administration in using the software.

CEES and Professor Krakoff Receive Grant for Tribal Energy and Climate Change Adaptation Plans

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MDT

University of Colorado-Boulder Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) recently awarded Professor Sarah Krakoff and CEES Research Fellow Julie Teel seed funding for a new project, American Indian Tribes, Climate Change, and Energy: Law and Policy Analysis and Solutions. The first phase of this project will focus on the development of culturally appropriate Tribal Energy Action and Climate Change Adaptation Plans in consultation with three American Indian tribes in the Southwest and tribal organizations. Among the goals of the project are to assess the ecological, cultural, and legal impacts of climate change, recommend legal and policy measures to facilitate tribally appropriate adaptation to climate change, and analyze renewable energy and energy efficiency options, barriers, and solutions for the three tribes.

Professor Pizzi and the Death of the American Trial

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Professor William Pizzi was one of Loyola University Chicago School of Law's featured speaker at this year's annual Philip H. Corboy Lecture. Yesterday's lecture features prominent speakers on some aspect of advocacy, and is open to the professional community. His topic was the "Death of the American Trial." Professor Pizzi is one of the countrys distinguished scholars in comparative criminal procedure. His book, Trial Without Truth, which is a critique of the criminal trial system, was the focus of his talk.

3L Harvey Running for State House

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law 3L Steven Harvey officially kicked off his campaign on September 12 for the Democratic seat in the Colorado House of Representatives District 28 in Littleton. The Republican Party has traditionally held the District 28 seat. Recognizing the challenge, Steve strongly believes winning is possible. With a campaign staffed by volunteers, Steve is focused on using social networks, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, to attract and open discussion between people. There is only one thing on which we should never compromise, and that is that we steadfastly remain reasonable people of good will doing the very best we can. As a former high school social studies teacher, Steve left teaching to come to Colorado Law on a full merit scholarship with every intention of being involved in public policy formation. We are faced with a dogma of mutual indifference, even belligerence, wrapped in a flag that was never woven for that purpose. For more information visit Steve Harvey for Colorado.

Professor Squillace Testifies before Congress on Coal Mine Methane and Uranium Leasing on Public Lands

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Mark Squillace testified yesterday before the House Resources Committee on two provisions of the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2009. The first would amend the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to give a federal coal lessee ownership of the embedded natural gas. In exchange, the lessee would be obligated to develop the methane rather than venting it into the atmosphere if it is feasible to do so. I was especially proud to testify about the methane provision, remarked Professor Squillace, because the proposed statutory language was largely based upon a proposal that I drafted for the Committee. The venting of methane at underground coal mines poses a serious environment problem because methane is a potent greenhouse gas¯about 23 times stronger than CO2. A single underground coal mine in Colorado, for example, vents enough methane to heat nearly 50,000 homes a year, and emits the equivalent of about 3% of the CO2 emitted from all of the power plants in Colorado, noted Professor Squillace. Professor Squillace also testified in favor of a provision that would remove uranium from the General Mining Law of 1872 and place it under the Mineral Leasing Act. The uranium-leasing proposal is important because it would give the U.S. Department of the Interior discretion to decide where and how uranium development is going to occur. Many of these new claims are located on fragile lands on the Colorado Plateau, Controversy over new uranium claims erupted last year due to the proximity of many of these new claims to the Grand Canyon. Given the special risks associated with developing radioactive materials like uranium, it makes sense to have the government deciding where and how mining will occur, Squillace commented. Read Professor Squillaces testimony.

Recent Graduate Quinn Educates PUC on Privacy Considerations Implicated by Smart Grid Technologies

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Hard work during the school year has real-world applications for a Colorado Law School recent graduate. In the fall of 2008, Elias Quinn 09 completed a seminar paper for Professor Paul Ohms Information Privacy seminar on privacy considerations implicated by smart grid technologies. A smart grid is a power grid managed by specialized computer programs that collect data from consumers to deliver electricity from suppliers efficiently. It is designed to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability of the energy supply.Quinns early research illustrates how information gathered through these technologies can be used to gather intimate details of a consumer's daily life and potentially invade their privacy. He examined the adequacy of existing protections for such information, concluding that current regulations need to address this new privacy threat. Quinn subsequently worked with Professor Brad Bernthal and continued to develop his research in the spring of 2009 while he was a student in the Samuelson-Glushko Technology Law & Policy Clinic. As part of his outreach and final project for the clinic, Quinn met with the Colorado Public Utility Commission (PUC) to share his conclusions about the competing policy issues surrounding the development of the smart grid, including supporting technology innovations while protecting consumer privacy. Quinn also made recommendations for regulating the consumer information gathered by the smart grid. The result is that the Colorado PUC has used his paper as the framing document to open an investigatory docket addressing the privacy consequences of smart grid deployment. Quinn will be speaking to the Colorado Bar Association's Communications and Technology Law section

James Rogers, Duke Energy CEO & President, Talks about 21st Century Energy Efficiency

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 MDT

James E. Rogers, the CEO and President of Duke Energy, was the invited lecturer for the 2nd Annual Schultz Lectureship Series, funded by the generosity of John H. and Cynthia H. Schultz. Dean David Getches introduced James Rogers to a full house as, not typical nor predictable. As newly re-elected CEO of the 3rd largest emitter of carbon, Rogers strongly believes in a commitment to the environment. His lecture began with a hope that there will be greater understanding about the way toward energy efficiency in the 21st century, which should include the use of solar, wind, and nuclear power. His solution encompasses affordability and reliability of electricity and energy efficiency. It can be achieved by modernizing and decarbonizing the generational supply of electricity in our country while making communities more energy efficient. He is delighted about the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Waxman-Markey Bill that would incentivize companies to become more energy efficient. The bill would cap greenhouse gas emissions and put a price on carbon. Throughout the lecture, Rogers advocated for energy efficiency NOW. Energy efficiency must be cathedral thinking based on a common vision, faith the project can be completed, and a commitment, but it must be implemented on China time.

Professor Spain Earns Membership on Prestigious Council on Foreign Relations

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Anna Spain, whose research centers around of international law and conflict resolution, has been elected to term membership in the Council on Foreign Relations, an accomplishment presented to a highly selective group of young scholars working in government, media, non-governmental organizations, law, business, finance, and academia who demonstrate exemplary insight into international policy matters early in their academic careers. The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, and other leaders and members of the community in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries. It was founded nearly a century ago as part of the League of Nations (the predecessor to the United Nations). The term membership program allows its members to interact with seasoned foreign-policy experts and participate in a wide variety of events designed especially for them.

Colorado Law Summer Conferences Draw Scholars from Around the World

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Laws seven Summer Conferences provided professors and practitioners the opportunity to share their scholarship and discuss current issues in their specific field of law. Emerging Family Law Scholars and Teachers Annual Conference Professor Clare Huntington helped organize the annual conference for emerging family law scholars and teachers that kicked off Colorado Laws Summer Conference Series. Participants worked on articles and book chapters that the participants had written and sharing teaching tips. Professor Huntington presented the introduction and one chapter from her draft book, Flourishing Families: Positive Psychology and Contemporary Family Law. With 40 participants from all around the country, she feels the conference, was a huge success and that all who attended benefitted from the intellectual exchange and shared camaraderie. Junior Tax Scholars Conference In June, two Colorado Law tax professors, Miranda Fleischer and Victor Fleischer, hosted a summer works-in-progress research conference for a handful of tax scholars from across the country. Topics included international tax, executive compensation reform, and regulatory gamesmanship and tax planning. The Fleischers originally co-founded the "Junior Tax Scholars" conference at Colorado in 2006 with colleagues from NYU and Columbia law schools. Property Works in Progress Conference On June 1-3, nearly 50 leading property scholars gathered for this third annual conference organized by Professor Nestor Davidson. Participants came from across the country and as far away as Europe and Israel to hear formal presentations and share insights in less formal roundtable sessions. The Conference has become the leading venue for property scholars across a range of perspectives and methodologies, providing a rare crosscutting platform for one of the most exciting areas of contemporary legal scholarship. The Martz Conference on Natural Resources Law and Policy The Natural Resources Law Centers (NRLC) Annual Summer Conference took place from June 3-5 and played host to leading faculty, scholars, public officials, and students who gathered to discuss the current issues that dominate the field of natural resources law and policy. As director of NRLC, Professor Mark Squillace hosted the event and announced the NRLCs decision to name the annual summer conference in honor of Clyde Martza teacher, lawyer, scholar, and public servant who was instrumental in founding the NRLC in 1982 and who spent 15 years at Colorado Law teaching natural resources law. This years conference, titled Western Water Law, Policy, and Management: Ripples, Currents, and New Channels for Inquiry, centered around western water law, focusing on how the increasing demand for water is overwhelming the ability to manage change and accommodate the diversity of interests and values related to water resources. Participates had interactive discussions with expert panelists regarding topics such as environmental challenges and infrastructure and engineering topics related to water management. Silicon Flatirons Center: Feld-Weiser One-on-One On June 10, Professor Phil Weiser conducted the third interview in a series of interviews with Brad Feld, a local venture capitalist, as part of Silicon Flatirons' Entrepreneurship Initiative. The interview focused on the challenges and importance of finding life-work balance. Feld feels that "balance improves the quality/quantity of work that you can get done and he has become more effective at accomplishing stuff." The interview also addressed how to develop strategies to both work hard and work effectively as well as how to define success not just in work, but in life. Conference on Legal Information: Scholarship and Teaching The teaching of legal research was the focus of this annual conference organized by Professor Barbara Bintliff, and held at Colorado Law on June 21-22. Participants included law professors, law library directors, legal research faculty, and law librarians from across the United States. The focus this year was on theoretical and practical aspects of legal research instruction. Specifically, it addressed how to integrate training in practical lawyering skills and professional ethics into the teaching of legal research. Participants summarized their discussions in the Boulder Statement on Legal Research Education document that expresses in a new way the principles of legal research instruction. New Thinking in Climate Change Law and Policy Works-in-Progress Symposium On August 6-7, fourteen law professors who write about climate change and related issues gathered in Boulder for a two-day workshop involving intensive group discussion about each participants current draft paper. Law professors from Stanford, Yale, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and CU attended and participated in a lively conversation about climate change and the many conundrums that it presents. Professor Sarah Krakoff presented a paper examining the motivations of participants in local climate action groups, and linking the findings to implications for the governments role with respect to regulating carbon emissions. Professor William Boyd presented a paper focusing on how climate change and new technologies are transforming the political and governance possibilities for addressing the gradual disappearance of the worlds tropical forests. The conference was hailed by one participant as perfect and several others saying it was the best academic gathering they had been to. Plans are already afoot to host another workshop next year.

Colorado Law's BioChar Conference Gains National Attention in The Economist

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MDT

More than 300 scientists, scholars, politicians, and student gathered at Colorado Law School to discuss the virtues, manufacturing, and benefits of biochar during the North American Biochar 2009 Conference hosted by The Center for Energy and Environmental Security (CEES). Details of the conference were covered in an article appearing in the science and technology section of the August 27th edition of The Economist. Biochar is essentially charcoal that can be made from the slow, controlled burning of organic materials such as corn scraps, yard waste, and offcuts from forestry and timber production. Infusing soils with biochar helps crops to grow and helps soils to retain plant nutrients. Recently, biochar has also been touted as a new tool to attack the problem of global warming by providing a way of extracting CO2 and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was among those who attended the conference. His remarks provided a high-level perspective when he described biochar as the type of advancement in agriculture and energy that is in line with the Presidents vision. Colorado Law Professor Lakshman Guruswamy was cited in the article when he suggested an added benefit of biochar could be provided if farmers living in poor and developing countries were given access to the technology. Many of these poor farmers burn wood, trash, and dung indoors for heating and cooking. The dark soot released into the air contributes to global warming because it absorbs heat. More notably, it also kills more than one million people per year who inhale the soot. The pyrolytic stoves that produce biochar from organic vegetation generate almost no soot while providing the same amount of heat. Coordinating an effort to bring smaller, pyrolising stoves to people in poorer countries could have several benefits at little cost, he said. Listen to a podcast of Professor Guruswamy talk about energy justice and how one-third of the worlds population--more than 2 billion people--are without access to adequate energy sources, resulting in harmful health effects.

Colorado Law Welcomes New Faculty and Visiting Professors

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law School welcomes five new faculty members and three returning visiting professors this fall. Three of the new resident faculty specialize in international law and will head up the new, comprehensive international law curriculum this fall. Colorado Law also welcomes a new clinical professor and professor of American Indian Law. New Full-Time Faculty Kristen Carpenter has comes to our law school as a seasoned professor, having taught law for six years before joining Colorado Law. She earned her JD at Harvard Law School before going on to practice at Hill & Barlow, PC, in Boston. Her areas of expertise are property law and American Indian law. Violeta Chapin is joining Colorado Law as an Associate Clinical Professor teaching the Criminal Defense Clinic. Since 2002, Professor Chapin was a trial attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. She received her JD from New York University School of Law. Justin Desautels-Stein will be teaching public international law and legal theory. He comes to Colorado from Washington, DC where he practiced for three years in the Antitrust and Competition Group at Latham & Watkins. He received his JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law and his LLM from Harvard Law School. Alexia Brunet Marks wilwill be teaching Torts, national security, and international business and trade courses. She taught law at Northwestern University School of Law as a Visiting Assistant Professor and was Special Counsel to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She received her JD from Northwestern University School of Law Anna Spain will be teaching public international law, international dispute settlement, human rights and mediation. She previously taught at UCLA Law School and served as the Deputy Director of the UCLA Burkle Center for International Law. Professor Spain practiced international law as an Attorney-Adviser at the U.S. Department of State Office of the Legal Adviser. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School. Visiting Professors Naomi Gale is returning to Colorado Law after being a Schusterman Visiting Professor for the 2008-09 academic year. She obtained her LLB from the Herzliya Interdisciplinary College of Law, specializing in criminal, family, and small claims and is a member of the Israeli Bar. She will be teaching a course in Jewish/Israeli law. Hannah Garry joins Colorado law for her third year as a visiting professor, teaching International Criminal Law. She obtained her JD at UC Berkeley School of Law and has practiced as a Legal Officer in the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal and as an Associate in the international law firm, Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Deringer LLP, in its New York office. Robert Nichols joins Colorado Law as a Teaching Fellow for the fourth academic year. He began teaching ethics and administrative law at the school in 2006.

Professor Marks named Searle-Kauffman Fellow on Law, Innovation, and Growth

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Alexia Brunet Marks has been selected by Northwestern Law's Searle Center on Law, Regulation, and Economic Growth in Chicago as a 2009-10 Searle-Kauffman Fellow on Law, Innovation and Growth. Professor Marks is one of 16 Searle-Kauffman Fellows. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has launched an ambitious project on Law, Innovation, and Growth to foster research on the dynamic efficiency of laws and regulations that can spur economic growth. As part of this effort, the Searle Center will hold the Searle-Kauffman Institute on Law, Innovation, and Growth over the course of three meetings in academic year 2009-10. As a Fellow, Professor Marks will attend three institutes designed to spur creativity among the participants through a series of discussions centering on articles selected by the discussion leaders. In each of the discussions, participants will focus on how insights from the articles can be extended to research on law and economic growth.

Colorado Law Welcomes the Class of 2012

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Dean David Getches made his traditional Welcome Speech to the Class of 2012 and addressed the first-year law students as the futures trusted representatives, judges, political and community leaders, and solvers of a generation of problems not yet imagined. The Class of 2012 has 166 students ranging from 20 to 48 years of age. Approximately 30% of the class is from a diverse racial or ethnic background. Students hail from 94 colleges and universities around the country. Many speak a second language in addition to English, including American Sign Language, Arabic, Hindi, Nepali, and Mandarin Chinese. Some have a variety of careers before law school including a coal mine worker, a jazz pianist, a belly dancer, a Seattle Seahawks drumline drummer, and six people were staff members on state or federal legislative committees. See Facts & Figures for details about this class. Volunteerism is a major cornerstone of the class with volunteers from Teach for America, for human rights in Mexico, a UN project for environmental protection in Egypt, a Chilean orphanage, a founder of an organization to promote organ donation, and a founder of an organization to take action on the abuses in Darfur. The Dean emphasized a commitment to certain timeless values that the students must accept when choosing to enter the legal profession. You will lead the profession and our society on a new path, guided by old valuesintegrity, honor, a commitment to serve, and a belief in equal access to justice and the rule of law. The incoming class will join the ranks of alumni who are trusted legal representatives, defenders and prosecutors, political leaders, and judges across the state of Colorado and the nation.

Professor Ohm Appointed to Two Prestigious Groups

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Paul Ohm has been invited to join two prestigious technology working groups: the Center for Democracy (CDT) and the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF). The CDT is non-profit public interest organization working to keep the Internet open, innovative, and free. It recently established an academic non-resident Fellows program in which Professor Ohm is among the first of ten notable academics to be invited to participate. This first group of scholars hales from across the country and includes professors from UC Berkeley School of Information, NYU Law School, University of California at Berkeley School of Law and School of Information, Harvard's Berkman Center, and the Oxford Internet Institute. The program facilitates collaboration between scholars and the CDT staff in addressing the complex legal and policy issues facing the Internet. Each member was selected because of their impact on Internet policy. "We are grateful that such innovative thinkers have accepted our invitation to serve as non-resident Fellows, said CDT President and CEO Leslie Harris Professor Ohms second appointment is to the board of the FPF, a new Washington, DC-based think tank that focuses on data privacy practices. Ohm is joining an advisory board comprised of attorneys, scholars, and industry leaders. The board will serve as advisors to the FPF in, support of transparency, user control and the advancement of responsible data practices.

Dean Getches Receives Clyde Martz Award for Excellence in Teaching

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 MDT

The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation awarded Dean David Getches the Clyde O. Martz Award for Excellence in Teaching. Getches received the award today at the opening of the Foundations 55th Annual Institute in San Francisco before an audience of 650 people. Immediate Past President of the Foundation Craig Carver presented the award, stating that Getches was selected in recognition of his outstanding career in teaching natural resources law. The Foundation is an educational organization based in Westminster, Colorado, whose governing organizations include 31 law schools, several state bar associations, and numerous oil and gas and mining associations. The award was created in the name of Clyde Martz who began his teaching career at Colorado Law and was a founder of the Foundation which began at the School in 1952 where it was housed for many years. Revered by generations of students, Martz went on to serve two U.S. Presidents in high positions in the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of the Interior. He practiced law in Denver at Davis Graham & Stubbs. In accepting the award Getches said, It is especially satisfying to receive an award named after Clyde Martz who, in his teaching, public service, and law practice, exemplified the kind of mentor we as teachers all aspire to be. The award carries with it a $2,500 prize that Getches donated to the Clyde Martz Endowment, which was recently created to support Colorado Laws Natural Resources Law Center.

Law Professors Awarded Outreach Grants

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 MDT

The CU-Boulder Outreach Committee awarded Colorado Law two grants for Fall projects that extend faculty expertise to external audiences. Professor Jill Tompkins was awarded a $4,000 Outreach Grant for a community education and foster home recruitment trip to Northern Cheyenne. She hopes it changes the future for some Northern Cheyenne children, their families and the Tribe. The project is called Stopping the Loss of Tribal Children: Indian Child Welfare Act Community Training. Professor Amy Schmitz and Professor Cecilia J. Pang from CUs Department of Theatre & Dance were awarded a $5,000 Outreach Grant to produce and distribute a video In Fine Print. Professor Schmitz is hopeful that they can reach and help many Colorado consumers through this video!

Law Alumni Board Welcomes New Members

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 MDT

The Law Schools Alumni Board announces the election of seven new members to serve four-year terms beginning in the 2009-10 academic year. The 2009-2010 Board Chair is Eric Rothaus 01 and the Chair-Elect is Jan N. Steiert '78. Carolyn McIntosh 81, Denver, CO. Ms. McIntosh is a partner at Patton Boggs where she works on environmental and natural resources litigation and compliance. Previously, Ms. McIntosh served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Colorado for Superfund and hazardous waste management and as a special assistant attorney general to the State of Montana, implementing its Superfund program. Ms. McIntosh has also served on a number of local government boards and commissions, including 12 years on the Lafayette City Council, the last four years of which she served as the mayor of Lafayette. Ms. McIntosh also works with Colorado local governments on planning, transportation and appropriations issues. Anthony F. Prinster 66, Grand Junction, CO. Mr. Prinster is currently Of Counsel at Hoskin, Farina & Kampf where he practices corporate, business, real estate, and estate planning law. In 1987, after several years of practicing law, he joined City Market, the grocery store chain founded by the Prinster family in 1924 on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. He built the chain to 38 stores in western Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. He was president from 1990 until 2001. Meshach Rhoades 04, Denver, CO. Ms. Rhoades is President of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the recipient of the 2006 Outstanding New Hispanic Lawyer honor. She is currently acting as in-house counsel for Qwest Communications. Before joining Qwest in 2008, Meshach was a member of Holland & Harts Litigation and Intellectual Property Departments and clerked for U.S. Senior District Court Judge Kane. Active in the community, Ms. Rhoades also sits on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals Colorado, is a board member of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, Co-Chair of CBAs Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee, and a member of Alfred J. Arraj Inn of Court. She is the Regional Deputy for the National Hispanic Bar Association and was recently appointed to its Commission on Women in the Profession. Michael R. Savage 96, Washington, DC. Mr. Savage is currently a Senior Vice President at U.S. Trust, the Private Bank of Bank of America. Prior to that appointment, he was Senior Manager in Ernst & Youngs Private Client Services practice for 10 years. Before leaving Colorado, Mr. Savage practiced law in Denver at Friedlob, Sanderson, Raskin, Paulson & Tourtillot and was a Denver Assistant City Attorney. He is a member the District of Columbia Bar, Colorado Bar, and Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council. Lance Sears 75, Colorado Springs, CO. Mr. Sears is the co-founder of Sears & Swanson, P.C. He is a past President of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, was elected to represent Colorado as a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America for six years, and was Chair of the Colorado State Judicial Performance Commission. He has lectured in over 40 states, at national forums, and all over Colorado, on subjects involving trial skills and tactics, personal injury law, commercial torts and legal ethics. He is certified as a Diplomat of Trial Advocacy by the National College of Advocacy, and is on the faculty and Board of Trustees of the National College of Advocacy. He is on the Colorado Bar Ethics Committee and is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. Named 2007 Superlawyer under the category of plaintiffs personal injury practice.

Three New Fellowships Funded by MillerCoors and Kennedy Childs & Fogg

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Thank you for stepping up! A heartfelt Thank you to MillerCoors (Cornell Boggs and Al Timothy) for their generous funding of the MillerCoors Center for Energy and Environmental Studies Research Fellowship and the MillerCoors Byron R. White Center for Constitutional Law Research Fellowship and to Kennedy Childs & Fogg, P.C., (Mark A. Fogg 79 and John Mann 86) for their generous funding of the Kennedy Childs & Fogg Research Fellowship to explore the developing law of jurisdiction related to internet transactions.

2L Catherine Ruhland Places Second in ABA Writing Competition

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Catherine Ruhland, was the 2nd Place winner of the 2008-09 American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section's Law Student Writing Competition of 13 submissions. The name of Ruhlands submission is Judicial Redundancy and Pre-Empting Tort Claims with Federal Regulation. The second place winner receives $500 cash and an announcement in the Section's magazine, The Brief. The goal of the competition is to encourage and reward law student writings on legal subjects within the scope of the Section and general and current interest. Congratulation to Ms. Ruhland on an excellent article!

Professor Moss Part of White House Press Conference Call

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Scott Moss was invited to be one of five legal experts on a conference call the White House organized today to brief, and field questions from, several dozen reporters on the Supreme Court Nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor. This was the first time in recent history that the White House press office arranged for nongovernment officials to brief reporters. The other four legal experts included Harvard Law Professor Martha Minow, Paul Smith, a partner at the firm Jenner & Block, University of North Carolina School of Law Professor William Marshall, Kevin Russell, a partner at Howe & Russell and an author of the influential SCOTUSblog.

Professor Loewenstein Named Monfort Professor of Commercial Law

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Dean Getches appointed Professor Mark Loewenstein as the Monfort Professor of Commercial Law. The endowment required that the appointment have a national reputation in commercial, corporate, securities or tax law. Professor Loewensteins expertise and reputation in the field of corporations and business associations is unmatched. His recent articles on corporate governance and accountability have achieved considerable notice and citation, and he has continued to publish widely used teaching books (e.g., Business Enterprises, 2008; Agency, Partnership and the LLC, 2007). Dean Getches said, His history of influential scholarship is longstanding. In addition, Mark is a revered teacher. We are all honored to have him as a colleague. Please congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.

"Other Diversity Key for High Court," Editorial by David Getches

Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Dean David Getches' editorial in today's Denver Post was titled Other diversity key for high court." President Obama is poised to appoint a Supreme Court justice to succeed David Souter. Almost certainly, the appointmentor those that follow, as the two eldest remaining justices (John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg) retirewill satisfy the call to add women and minorities to the court. This is a political necessity and, partly for that reason, race and gender are perhaps the least important kinds of diversity lacking on the court. At the University of Colorado Law School this year, retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was asked how being a woman affected her decision-making. She replied, "Oh dear, why is that important? Wouldn't a wise old woman make the same decision as a wise old man?" What she left unsaid was how one becomes wise and moves beyond knee-jerk ideology. The more diverse the life experience, the wiser a judge is likely to be. Now, the life experiences of the justices are strikingly similar. Of the nine justices: Seven are Republican Seven graduated from either Harvard Law School or Yale Law School Five are Roman Catholic All came from federal appeals courts (seven from courts in Washington Boston, or Philadelphia) On the other hand: Only one justice ever served on a state trial court (Souter) No sitting justice has been a state legislator or member of Congress Only four justices have had more than two years' experience in private practice Only two were born, raised or spent any significant time west of the Mississippi River (Anthony Kennedy and Stephen Breyer, both in California) None has been a criminal defense attorney Only one has served in the military (Stevens) Does any of this matter? With many of the court's thorniest cases involving federalism or the constitutionality of state laws, it might be appropriate to have former state legislators or other top state officials among them. Once Souter (a former New Hampshire attorney general) steps down, none of the justices will have any state government experience. In cases where the court must parse and apply complex federal laws, it might be useful to have some justices who are former members of Congress. Though many tough cases involve executive power or the propriety of administrative conduct, only one justice (Clarence Thomas) has headed an executive branch agency. The largest numbers of petitions to the court come from prisoners seeking writs of habeas corpus, so expertise in representing criminal defendants might be useful. A disproportionate number of Supreme Court cases involve public lands, American Indian rights, and watersubjects endemic to the American West in which the current justices lack expertise or interest. Having greater diversity of life experiences can also make the court less ideologically hidebound. Confirmation hearings will dwell tediously on the perennial issue of abortion rights. More important, however, are the qualities of character and experiences that equip a justice for applying and interpreting law to the toughest cases the nation has to offer, in situations that cannot yet be imagined. So solid is the ideological bent for some of today's justices, however, that consensus on a decision is rare; the unanimous decision is becoming an endangered species on the Supreme Court, and 5-4 split votes are more common than ever. For justices to be more than vestigial remnants of the politics of presidential administrations that appointed them, they need a diversity of experiences. This will enable them to understand the implications of applying revered constitutional principles to real life situations never contemplated by the Founders.

Congratulations to the Class of 2009!

Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

After three years of intense study, the 161 members of the University of Colorado Law School Class of 2009 graduated with much celebration tonight. This was the first class to start at the Wolf Law Building. After the traditional procession across the Boulder campus to Macky Auditorium, led by bagpipes, the faculty and administrators applauded the class as it entered the auditorium. The Commencement Ceremony started at 6:00 pm with a welcome speech by Dean David Getches, who noted how much the countrys state of affairs had changed in three years, in ways that could not be foreseen. Professor Paul Campos recognized the members of the Order of the Coif and introduced the Honorary Order of the Coif Recipient, Roy Romer 52. Class President Joe Neguse made a short speech recounting class jokes and told each member of the class to congratulate themselves. Class Vice President Michael Fredregill recognized this years student and faculty awards, Class Treasurer Benjamin Parrott presented the class gift to the Loan Repayment Assistance Program, and Class Secretary Elisabeth Mankamyer introduced Roy Romer, who was also the Keynote Speaker. Romer had three points of guidance for the graduates for their careers: 1) be lifelong learners, 2) your view of the truth is always partial; continue to listen especially to those who oppose you, and 3) understand that can take jobs either for the ego or the task. Romer said, I am indebted to this institution. He ended with telling the class, You are in an exciting time and have the skill of the mind. There is joy in using the mind. Its what makes life exciting. Then, Registrar Cindy Gibbons read the names of each graduate, who received their diploma from Associate Dean Dayna Matthew and congratulations from Dean Getches. And, as tradition, Dean Getches read the Charge by Dean Emeritus Don Sears (Dean, 1968-1973). The commencement celebrations included much food and music at the Law School late into the night. Congratulations Class of 2009!

Professor Bruff's Book Wins Awards

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

This year's Colorado Law Jules Milstein Faculty Writing Award, with a cash stipend, goes to

Professor Harold Bruff for his book Bad Advice: The President’s Lawyers in the War on Terrorism. The Milstein Award recognizes the best piece of faculty scholarship for the year.

In September 2008, Bruff received the 2008 Chicago-Kent College of Law/Roy C. Palmer Civil Liberties Prize for his book. The $10,000 prize is awarded to a writer whose work “explores the tension between civil liberties and national security in contemporary American society.”

Bruff’s book examines the “relationship between American presidents and their legal advisors—particularly in times of crisis.” He uses President George W. Bush’s claims of unilateral executive power in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to illustrate some of his assertions that, “strong interpretation of the constitutional separation of powers by presidential legal advisors could lessen the tensions between national security interests and the rule of law.”

Professor Bruff will travel to Chicago-Kent this fall to present his work. His expertise in constitutional and administrative law has served him in the Office of Legal Counsel where he has been a legal advisor for the Justice Department, the White House and executive agencies.

Assistant Dean Trujillo Meets with Senators Bennet and Menendez on Education

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) hosted a roundtable with Hispanic community leaders from Colorado and across the nation to discuss the need to ensure that all children in America have equal access to a complete, competitive, and affordable education. In the meeting, Bennet highlighted the need to reform our system of public education and make sure all children are given the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive in America. Colorado participants in the meeting included Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo, David Card of the Escuela de Guadalupe, and Michael O'Hagan of the Arrupe Jesuit High School.

Professor Davidson Appointed to U.S. HUD

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Associate Professor Nestor Davidson has accepted an appointment as principal deputy general counsel at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which works with communities across the country to promote homeownership, affordable rental housing, community development, and fair housing. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve with Secretary Shaun Donovan and Helen Kanovsky, President Obamas choice for general counsel, at a time when we face significant challenges in every area of HUDs mandate, said Davidson. Professor Davidson previously served as special counsel to the secretary of HUD and practiced affordable housing development and finance law at the firm of Latham & Watkins. He has also served on the Board of Commissioners of the Boulder Housing Partners, as Chair of the Board of Boulder County Advocates for Transitional Housing, and on the Board of Directors of Thistle Communities. Davidsons scholarship and teaching focuses on affordable housing, community development, sustainability in housing and land use, and related issues. While we will miss Nestors enormous contributions to the law school during his leave of absence in Washington, we understand the importance of his service to the Administration and the country, said Dean David Getches. His expertise is perfect for this position.

Alumnae Betty Nordwind Honored by Harriett Buhai Center

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT

At their 24th Annual Theater Benefit, the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law honored alumna Betty L. Nordwind 71 with the Zephyr M. Ramsey Award. The Harriett Buhai Center in Los Angeles protects victims of domestic violence and improves the well-being of children living in poverty through free family law assistance and legal education to the poor. Nordwind joined the Center in 1987 as Executive Director and has taken it from a staff of two to twenty persons, in addition to establishing the Centers Child Support Project. Non-profit law has been her lifes work.

Alumnus Hank Brown Receives Prestigious Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Award

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Hank Brown 69, former United States Senator and CU President, received a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Award as an outstanding Coloradan in Community Service for his years of service to Colorado and the nation. Brown donated the $35,000 cash award to University scholarships. Were honored to recognize Hank Brown for his service to Colorado as legislator, educator, philanthropist and statesman, said Dorothy Horrell, president of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Known for his tireless work, fiscal responsibility and commitment to excellence, Brown has received numerous awards, including Whos Who in Finance and Industry and 2008 Citizen of the West. He currently serves as senior counsel at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, is an adjunct professor at Colorado Law, and chairs the board of the Daniels Fund, one of Colorados largest foundations. Created in 1984, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation award program seeks to honor achievement and motivate future leaders. Each year, the awards recognize one outstanding Coloradan in each of three disciplines science and medicine, arts and humanities and community service for contributions made to enhance the quality of life for residents of Colorado. Bonfils-Stanton chose Brown as the recipient in the Community Service category for his years of service to the State of Colorado and the nation. Past recipients include chemist Thomas Cech and physicist Carl Wieman, two University of Colorado researchers who went on to win Nobel Prizes. Former Gov. Dick Lamm, restaurateur Noel Cunningham and developer Dana Crawford have also received the award.

Students Witness Fujimori Trial

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Three Colorado Law studentsJessica Kaplan, Alex San Filippo-Rosser, and Sarah Frenchand three DU Law students travelled to Lima, Peru, over Christmas break to serve as international legal observers for three days of the trial of former president Alberto Fujimori. He was accused of authorizing the counter-insurgency actions of a death squad known as La Colina that killed 25 people in 1991 and 1992. Peru is the first country in history to try and convict a democratically elected leader for human rights violations; Fujimori was found guilty of mass murder and kidnapping and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The students also interviewed the three judges on the case, the families affected by the massacres, and the Attorney General of Peru. "It was historic that Peru put its former president on trial for human rights violations even though his actions helped end terrorism in the country and he was still quite popular, said French, a Peruvian-American. I admire the Peruvian justice system for seeking justice and truth and evaluate whether the means used to achieve an end were justified."

Professor Ohm Writes ISP Essay for Canadian Government

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada invited Professor Paul Ohm and 13 other leading international academics and professionals working in telecommunications, law, privacy, civil liberties, and computer science to contribute to the Offices deep packet inspection (DPI) website to help Canadians understand the impact the components of the technology that underlies networked society. Professor Ohms essay, The Greatest Threat to Privacy, discusses the many dangers of your Internet Service Provider (ISP), from reading your emails to spying on users. Companies could pay to see what you look at on the web and use that information to place specific pop up adds on your screen. What is DPI? This network management tool is used in targeting marketing campaigns and advertisements at specific individuals. It allows network providers to peer into the digital packets that compose a message or transmission over a network. It has been used to maintain the integrity and security of networks, searching for signs of protocol non-compliance, viruses, malicious code, SPAM, and other threats. DPI technology raises privacy concerns because it can look into the content of messages sent over the Internet.

Professor Weiser Appointed to Justice Department's Antitrust Division

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Philip J. Weiser, associate dean for research, and executive director of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship, has accepted an appointment as deputy assistant attorney general for International, Policy and Appellate Matters at the U.S. Department of Justices Antitrust Division, starting in July. Before joining Colorado Law and CUs Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program (ITP) in 1999, Weiser served as a senior counsel to Joel Klein, assistant attorney general in charge of the antitrust division. We are proud that Phil has the opportunity to serve in this important position, explained David Getches, dean of the law school. His talents as a strategic thinker, administrator and leader will be missed at CU, but they will be put to good work in Washington. During his leave of absence, the law school will ensure that the Silicon Flatirons Center and our strength as a leading center for technology and entrepreneurial law continue to develop. Weiser has held visiting professorships at New York University, the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. He is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the New York University School of Law. Over the years, Weiser has taught and written in the areas of competition policy and technology law, establishing himself as one of the nations leading experts in these areas. He recently served as the lead agency reviewer of the Federal Trade Commission for the Presidential Transition Team and serves as a co-chair of the Colorado Innovation Council. The opportunity to serve with Christine Varney, President Obamas choice to lead the antitrust division, and return to the Justice Department is just too compelling to pass up, Weiser said. It is difficult to leave so many friends, an institution I cherish and a center whose development has been a labor of love. I am very confident that the Silicon Flatirons Center will continue to flourish under the leadership of Colorado Law Professors Paul Ohm and Brad Bernthal, ITP Professor Dale Hatfield, and others who will ensure the center continues to make powerful impacts in telecommunications policy, information policy/intellectual property and entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship Week and the New Venture Challenge

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT

The University of Colorados inaugural Entrepreneurship Week began April 13 with a luncheon on starting companies at CU and culminated April 17 with the announcement of winners of the CU New Venture Challenge, the universitys first business-plan competition for students and faculty. The week was a campus-wide initiative comprising the Silicon Flatirons Center, the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, the ATLAS Institute, the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program, the Engineering Entrepreneurship (E-Ship) Program, the University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office, and numerous students and faculty members. Governor Bill Ritter helped mark the weeklong events on April 16 by announcing information and communications technology (ICT) as a pillar of the states economic-development strategy. Ritter delivered the keynote address at a conference titled Putting the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Perspective at Colorado Law. The event brought leading academics and business people to campus to discuss entrepreneurship as a horizontally integrated ecosystem, in contrast to the traditional top-down structure of corporate America. The governor committed to promoting Colorados Front Range as a national hub for technological entrepreneurship, noting that the area has one of the countrys most highly educated populations, as well as high concentrations of software engineers, aerospace workers, and university researchers. The teams competing in the New Venture Challenge provided a window into the exciting, high-caliber innovations and business ideas emerging from CU. Eight teams presented their plans before a panel of judges, made up of investors, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and service professionals in the community. Four teams were chosen to continue to the finals. The four judges were Paul Berberian, co-founder and former CEO of Raindance; Catharine Merigold, general partner of Vista Ventures; Ryan McIntyre, managing director of The Foundry Group; and Nancy Pierce, co-founder of Carrier Access. · First prize went to the non-profit organization Knova Learning, which aims to operate and manage public charter schools · Second prize to 3QMatrix, a biomedical company developing products to heal wounds based on patented material from CU · Third prize to Fetcht, a social networking venture that intends for its users to create targeted networks for knowledge gaining purposes · A special computer science award was given to TechoShark, Inc., which is developing a mobile smartphone application surrounding social networking · An honorable mention to Ap.igy, which will provide customizable application programming interfaces for businesses · A most innovative award was given to Conifer Quantum Technology based on its plan surrounding efficient solar energy conversion devices The April 16 conference also included presentations of academic research and discussions by panelists: · The first panel focused on how to recognize disruptive technologies that change the marketplace. Participants included moderator Professor Phil Weiser, executive director of the Silicon Flatirons Center; David Cohen, co-founder of TechStars; Heather Gates-Massoudi, director of venture capital services technology, media, and telecommunications for Deloitte Services; Tom Moore, president of Viasat Satellite Holdings and founder of WildBlue Communications; and Karl Ulrich of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Ulrich discussed his upcoming book, Innovation Tournaments, which compares the process of successful innovation to a competition where numerous raw ideas are filtered for quality until only the best remain. · A second panel on the elements of an entrepreneurial culture featured moderator Professor Brad Bernthal; Paul Jerde, executive director of CU's Deming Center for Entrepreneurship; James Linfield, a partner at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP; Jana Matthews, CEO of the Jana Matthews Group; AnnaLee Saxenian, dean of the School of Information at the University of California at Berkeley; and Michael Zeisser, senior vice president at Liberty Media Corporation. Saxenian presented her research on elements of entrepreneurial ecosystems, which she described as a shift away from a model of corporate hierarchies to one of regional communities where careers are specialized, flexible, and likely to span across many different companies. · The third panel discussed how, and how not, to capitalize on innovation, featuring moderator Jason Mendelson, managing director at The Foundry Group; Paul Berbarian, co-founder of Raindance Communications; Steve Georgis, CEO of ProStor; and Sue Kunz, founder of Solidware Technologies. The group of serial entrepreneurs traded war stories about hiring the right and wrong employees, borrowing money from relatives, and sleeping on the office floor while working 20 hours a day to get a company off the ground.

Students Recognized at Boulder Pro Bono Awards

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT

At yesterdays Boulder County Legal Services (BCLS) Annual Pro Bono Luncheon, 11 Colorado Law clinic students were recognized for their work on family law cases in Boulder County. Congratulations to Wunpenn Zaborek, Vivan Vassall, James Francel, Leanne Hamilton, Megan Nishikawa, Michael Nicoud, Jessica Kaplan, Mackenzie Morgan, Garen Gervey, Frank Haug, and Kevin Allen. The two Civil Practice Clinics put in almost 800 hours of pro bono time in 2008-09 to Boulder County Legal Services. Each year, lawyers and law students who have donated time to pro bono work for the indigent are recognized and thanked at this annual luncheon.

Students Teach Consumer Empowerment to Public

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT

The Boulder County Housing Authority and 10 students in Professor Amy Schmitz's Consumer Empowerment class offered a free public seminar this past weekend on how to be a savvy consumer .Students tailored their 25-minute presentations to address issues that have arisen due to the current economic crisis. The seminar covered a variety of important consumer issues, including apartment leases, dangerous home loans, arbitration, toy safety, gift cards, credit cards, payday loans, credit counseling, and bankruptcy. The 20 community members that attended were most interested in apartment leases, as it seemed like they had been taken advantage of by a landlord in some way at some point. Also, there numerous questions regarding credit and repairing or guarding one's credit.

Clinic Students Succeed in Immigration Court

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MST

Student attorneys in Civil Practice Clinic won two cases in U.S. Immigration Court in March. These asylum cases, which they had been working on for two semesters, involved research on immigration law, country conditions, brief writing, hiring expert witnesses, interviewing and preparing clients and witnesses, working with interpreters, and presenting their cases at trial. The first team (3L Garen Gervey, 3L Frank Haug, and 2L Kevin Allen) represented a Sudanese man, a member of the Fur tribe, who was persecuted by the Sudanese government for his political beliefs. The second team (3L Mackenzie Morgan, 2L Jessica Kaplan and 2L Michael Nicoud) represented a young man from Eritrea who was persecuted for his religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness. Professor Norman Aaronson said, I received compliments on the students' performances from the judge and a Department of Homeland Security attorney. The clinic has been fortunate to have the assistance of an immigration attorney, Jim Salvator 91, on both cases.

Energy Justice in Guatemala

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

CEES is pleased to announce that it has entered into an introductory partnership with the Philanthropiece Foundation to collaboratively create a blueprint for action in Guatemala that will reduce energy poverty and promote empowerment of women by increasing the availability of appropriate and sustainable energy technologies. The blueprint will build on existing activities undertaken by Government ministries, NGOs, entrepreneurs, policymakers, lawyers, educators, and community members in Guatemala and integrate social, technological, and economic approaches to alleviating energy poverty. The ultimate goal is to contribute to a political and legal environment in Guatemala that nurtures community-based and women-focused solutions to energy and environmental challenges. Project Partner: PhilanthropiecePiecing Together a Better World, www.philanthropiece.org.

28th Alumni Awards Banquet

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

At the 28th Annual University of Colorado Law School Alumni Awards Banquet, the alumni honored four distinguished alumniBritt Banks of Newmont Mining, Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, Peter Dietze of Dietze & Davis, and philanthropist Myra Monfort on Thursday, March 12th, at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The banquet showcased four exceptional award recipients, entertaining speakers, and a wonderful new venue. As one of the schools signature alumni events, the banquet drew 350 members of the legal community and raised $35,000 for student scholarships, thanks to the generous contributions of law firms, businesses, nonprofits, alumni, and friends. Following an hors d'oeuvre happy hour in the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom, the Law Alumni Board Chair Brian Meegan opened the banquet and thanked past and present board members for their dedication. Then the Banquet Chair, Board Chair-elect, and Master of Ceremonies Eric Rothaus recognized all previous alumni award winners and thanked the 36 sponsors, advertisers, and in-kind donators. Following a fabulously presented three-course dinner, Governor Bill Ritter (Class of 81), one of last years award recipients, spoke about the award recipients and their overall accomplishments. Dean David Getches welcomed guests and reviewed Colorado Laws accomplishments over the past year, expressing gratitude for such a wonderful turn out and fundraising efforts considering the difficult economic times. Stanley Dempsey (Class of 64) introduced Britt D. Banks (Class of 88), who received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Corporate Counsel for serving top legal roles, including Executive Vice President of Legal & External Affairs, at Newmont Mining Corporation for 12 years, where he had oversight responsibility for environmental affairs, sustainable development, reclamation and closure, government relations, corporate communications, and security. John Suthers (Class of 77) introduced Colorado Secretary of State Bernie A. Buescher (Class of 74), who received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Sector for his 12 years as a public servant to the state of Colorado, including reorganize the Colorado State Fair, serving as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance, and served two terms in the Colorado House of Representatives. CU Regent Michael Carrigan (Class of 94) introduced Peter C. Dietze (Class of 62), who received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Small Firm Practitioner for managing Dietze & Davis for more than 40 years in Boulder. In addition, Dietze was elected to serve three terms on the CU Board of Regents. For the first time at the Banquet, the Law Alumni Board presented Colorado Laws highest alumni honor, the William Lee Knous Award. Meegan spoke to the prestige of this award given to one alumni each year in recognition of outstanding achievement and sustained service to the Law School. Former CU President Hank Brown (Class of 69) introduced Myra H. Monfort-Runyan (Class of 75) who was presented the Knous Award for distinguishing herself as a loyal alumna, serving on the Law Alumni Board and supporting Colorado Law in pursuing its educational mission, as a fine attorney and legal advisor working in industry, and as a committed community member and citizen, enthusiastically giving of her time and resources to educational and other causes of critical importance to the well-being of society. Dean Getches stated that the quality of this years award recipients reminds us that our most important mission is developing and inspiring young people to become leaders of our profession. Thank you especially to the Keystone Sponsors: Gibson Dunn & Crutcher; Myra Monfort; Morrison & Foerster; Qwest; and Wheeler Trigg Kennedy. And, to our Flagstone Sponsors: Arnold & Porter; Colorado Bar Association: CLE; Davis & Ceriani; Davis, Graham & Stubbs; Denver & Colorado Bar Associations; Dufford & Brown; Faegre & Benson; Fisher & Phillips; Holland & Hart; Husch Blackwell Sanders; Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe; Isaacson Rosenbaum; Krendl Krendl Sachnoff & Way; Monfort Family Foundation; Moses Wittemyer Harrison & Woodruff; Newmont Mining Corporation; Otten Johnson Robinson Neff & Ragonetti; Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons; and Snell & Wilmer.

Professor Hart Receives Serving Communities Award

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

Professor Melissa Hart received the first CU Institute for Ethical and Civic Engagement Annual Serving Communities Award for a faculty member yesterday. She embodies the values and actions of an engaged citizen whose work contributes to the vitality of the communities we serve and who contributes to CU-Boulders civic mission, said the Institute director Peter Simons. Professor Hart serves as a role model and is integral and essential to CUs vision of a campus that fosters civic engagement and campus-community partnerships.

Vulnerability Inspires Two Law Students to Produce Film

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

This February, Emily Walker (09) and Jonathan Litwiller (09) visited Emory Law School in order to interview experts in vulnerability and the law for a full-length documentary film they are making titled, The Vulnerability Project. They interviewed Emory Professor, Martha Fineman, an internationally recognized law and society scholar, and a leading authority on family law and feminist jurisprudence. They also interviewed Colorado Law Professor, Laura Spitz, who has been a visiting professor at Emory for the 2008-09 academic year. As part of their visit to Emory, they attended a workshop on Incarcerated Mothers and met with various grassroots organizers. The documentary builds on a short film they made for Professor Spitz's Gender, Law & Public Policy class last year. The idea behind the film is to get people talking about vulnerability. The most interesting aspect of the project is the wide array of feelings and thoughts about vulnerabilitythe more people we talk to, the more we realize that no one experiences vulnerability in the same way, says Walker. Walker and Litwiller were inspired to make a film as a different way of communication. Law school forces you to communicate through written and oral advocacy on a regular basis. The film project gives us the opportunity to communicate through a different medium, added Walker. The film will be finished this May and premiere next fall at Colorado Law.

Mock Trial Program Helps Prepare Students for Family Law

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

Budding surgeons can practice their skills on high-tech virtual patients. Architects can try out various building designs in small-scale wind tunnels to see whether theyll work in reality. Psychologists and other therapists rely heavily on role playing to hone the skills theyll need in the field. The same kind of experiential instruction and participation is working for soon-to-be lawyers who choose to practice in the complex and often high-stakes world of family law. Sixteen law students from the University of Colorado and University of Denver law schools recently gathered for a mock trial clinic offered by the Colorado Supreme Court and the Office of the Childs Representative in partnership with the CU and DU law schools. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to get a chance to try out your skills in a safe way, Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey told the students before the clinics first stage in the Colorado Supreme Court courtroom. In this setting, the mistakes you make dont affect anybody. The fourth annual clinic, which began Feb. 24, brought together five students from the Rocky Mountain Childrens Law Center of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and eleven students from the Juvenile Law Clinic at the University of Colorado at Boulder Law School. The students and faculty were organized into four teams to run separate mock settlement conferences in preparation for mock trials scheduled for March 2 at the Sturm College of Law and March 4 at the CU Law School. The mock-trial competition will be judged by Jefferson County Judge K.J. Moore and the Hon. Edward Richardson, a retired Florida judge. Among the faculty conducting the settlement conferences this year were two former Colorado Law students who now work as family court facilitators in the Colorado court system: Julia Kneeland (07) and Janet Lee (06). Joining them were Barbara Bosley, family court facilitator in the Denver Juvenile Court, and Loretta Koehler, family court facilitator in the First Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin counties). I think because I had been in their shoes not too long before, I knew exactly how they were feeling, said Lee, who is the family court facilitator in the 17th Judicial District, which encompasses Adams and Broomfield counties. Lee went through the mock trial program as a student in 2006 and has returned in each of the following years to help train soon-to-graduate students. For so many students, when youre in law school, when youre trying to figure out what area to practice in, many are scared off by family law, she said. Its a really good opportunity to introduce students to this area of law. There are upsides to it a real sense of doing something thats improving the lives of the children of Colorado. Kneeland, the family court facilitator in the 2nd Judicial District (Denver), is relatively new to family law, having graduated with a focus on civil law and having clerked for a Denver District Court judge until May 2008, when she took her current job. She said she was attracted to family law to help people resolve emotional disputes in a way thats fair to each party, and wants to impart that sense of enthusiasm to law students. Its important to increase awareness of what a unique field of practice family law is and what opportunity you have to impact peoples lives, Kneeland said. I like that you get to interact with people before they begin the adversarial process. You have the opportunity to help people sort out their problems in a way thats mutually beneficial to all the parties.

AAJ Trial Team Wins Regional Competition

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Colorado Law Trial Team traveled to San Diego this past weekend to compete in the American Association for Justices regional student advocacy competition. The competition is an annual mock trial event. Only two winners from each region advance to the National Finals. This years team from Colorado Law placed first at the regional level and will travel to Florida to compete at the National competition in April. The team of four students is Anthea Mustari (09), Jason Slothouber (10), Michael Nicoud (10), Marissa McGarrah (10).

Team Players: Colorado Law Professors Help Transition to Obamas New Administration

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

Professors Phil Weiser and Helen Norton both recently served on the Presidential Transition Team. In particular, both served as team leads of the agency review process. The role of the teams was to review key federal departments, agencies, and commissions, and to provide brief memos addressed to the President and his administration containing information needed to make strategic policy, budgetary, and personnel decisions. Professor Weiser was a lead agency reviewer at the Federal Trade Commission and helped write the team memo. During his time on the transition team, Professor Weiser talked to well over 100 people, ranging from those at the agency to former agency officials to consumer and business groups to academics in an effort to gather different perspectives and ideas. Professor Norton is no stranger to transition. Before joining the Colorado Law faculty, she spent more than 15 years in Washington, DC, in various capacities, including a stint as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice under the Clinton administration. This past fall, Professor Norton was asked to take the lead on the six-person transition team charged with reviewing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the nations largest civil rights enforcement agency. After extensive document review and interviews both inside and outside the agency, her team put together a series of strategy memos that identified the Commissions key policy, management, and budgetary opportunities and challenges.

Native American Moot Court Competition & COnstitution Conference

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Colorado and Denver Law Schools co-hosted the 2009 National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition yesterday. This years moot court problem involved Chapman v. Fort Howe State University, which challenged the fictional public universitys tuition waivers to American Indian students who have heritage that they can trace to the American Indian tribes that inhabited Colorado historically as violating a proposed (but defeated) November 2008 Colorado constitutional prohibition on using racial or gender preferences in state-funded programs. Out of 42 teams and 17 schools, best oral advocate honors went to the Columbia and University of Hawaii teams, and best brief honors were awarded to the South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Columbia teams. Held in conjunction with the Native American Moot Court Competition, Colorado Law hosted its first public Indian law conference, Native Americans, Race and the Constitution Conference, with featured leading academics and litigators in the field of federal Indian law, including Steve Moore 79 of NARF and Professor Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie of the University of Hawaii. This conference focused on topics complementing the moot court competition problem, issues of race, tribal status, and the protection of American Indian religious exercise, including sessions on Native Hawaiians and Tribal citizenship determinations. Professor Sarah Krakoff moderated the conference, and Professor Jill Tompkins, American Indian Law Clinic Director and conference coordinator said, Coordinating the conference with the competition was a wonderful opportunity to bring leading Indian law scholars to take a timely look at the myriad constitutional challenges that American Indian tribes and Native Hawaiians are confronting on a daily basis. The conference was sponsored by the American Indian Law Program and the Byron R. White Center for the Study of Constitutional Law.

New Symposium on Sustainable Urban Development

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

The ELEVATE 2009: Climate Change and the New Frontiers of Urban Development symposium brought together more than 30 of the nations leading thinkers and practitioners in real estate, law, business, and public policy for a groundbreaking symposium about sustainable land use and real estate development. The two-day conference was hosted by Colorado Law in conjunction with the CU Leeds School of Business Real Estate Council Annual Conference. Featured speakers included some of the most visionary urbanists at work today, including writer and social critic James Howard Kunstler; noted University of Pennsylvania professor Witold Rybczynski; and architect, design entrepreneur, and American urban innovator Teddy Cruz. Interdisciplinary panels discussed how policy design, social forces, and the private market intersect and accelerate or impede sustainability practices. Speakers, panelists, and attendees explored sustainable economic, social, and environmental solutions to pressing issues in the areas of housing, transportation, energy, and economic development. ELEVATE 2009 marked the launch of CUs newest environmental program, the Initiative for Sustainable Development (ISD), an interdisciplinary program housed in the School of Business working closely with the Law School. ISD will pursue the best ideas, practices, and policies in the growing field of sustainable land use and real estate development to build and train the next generation of development professionalsdevelopers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, engineers, planners, designers and policymakerswho are committed to sustainable, triple-bottom-line approaches to real estate and economic development, who have the mind-set and skill set to balance commerce and the common good. With the looming crisis of climate change and other threats, we are being forced to reconsider basic assumptions about growth, energy, land use, transportation, and housing, says ISD Director William Shutkin. Theres a lot of money to be made in the transition to a sustainable society. Few sectors of our economyor of the global economyare more vital to the transformation climate change requires of us, adds Professor Nestor Davidson, and this symposium could not have be a more timely opportunity to refocus the industry toward the right alignment of policy and development strategy. The symposium was sponsored by: Boulder Green Building Guild; Business Catapult; Chelsea Green Publishing; Climate Smart; Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy; Enterprise Community Partners Green Communities; Housing Colorado; INC Innovation Network for Communities; Island Press; Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; Local Initiatives Support Corporation; Main Street Resources; MIT Press; Namaste Solar; New Belgium Brewery; Rockefeller Foundation; Rocky Mountain Institute; Sonoran Institute; University of Colorado Center for the American West; University of Colorado Center for Energy and Environmental Security; University of Colorado College of Architecture & Planning; University of Colorado Law School; University of Colorado Leeds School of Business; University of Colorado Leeds School of Business Deming Center for Entrepreneurship; Urban land Institute; Urban Ventures; and U.S. Green Building Council.

Professor Wesson Named This Years Gilbert Goldstein Faculty Fellow

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

The 2009-10 Gilbert Goldstein Faculty Fellowship was awarded to Professor Marianne Wesson. Topping the list of applicants, she will be using the fellowship to continue work on her latest book Unquiet Grave: The Supreme Court and the Hillmon Case. The book details the 19th Century case that sought to determine who was buried in John Hillmons grave. While the mystery remains unsolved, the case did result in the formation of an important rule of evidence.

Professor Moss Testifies Before Judiciary Committee

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

On February 23rd, Professor Scott Moss went before the Colorado State Judiciary Committee to give oral testimony regarding Senate Bill 110. The legislation works to expand the anti-discrimination law currently in place by providing punitive damages, compensatory damages, and attorneys fees to employment discrimination plaintiffs. Professor Mosss expertise in this area comes from his prior experience as a plaintiff's employment lawyer. He has litigated individual and class action cases of discrimination, harassment, and minimum/overtime wage violations.

Moot Court Team Wins Regional Rounds in National Trial Competition

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Colorado Law student team of Tyrone Glover 09, LaKischa Cook 09, and Katharine Decker 10 placed first in the regional competition of the 34th Annual National Trial Competition in Oklahoma on February 12-14. The NTC is sponsored by the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers. This year, 152 law schools, approximately 300 teams, competed in fourteen regional competitions across the nation. Colorado Law competed from law schools in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The two winning teams from each regional competition advance to the national rounds in San Antonio to compete in this prestigious mock trial tournament on March 26-28. This years case involved a criminal action in which the State of Lone Star asserts that Defendant Kelly Taylor murdered Rob Cañas, a state district court judge; a previous trial resulted in a mistrial. Congratulation to them and good luck in finals.

19th Century Case Inspires a Different Kind of Legal Writing

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

After his first year of law school, Brent Jordheim ('09), spent part of his summer working with Professor Marianne Wesson, assisting with her research on the Hillmon case. The case is an elaborate story of a cattle dealer who journeyed west to find land but was shot when his companion's gun accidently went off. The controversy arose when it was discovered that Hillmon had taken out a massive life insurance policy right before he left and that another man, who looked a lot like Hillmon, went missing around the same time that Hillmon died. Twenty years, five trials, two Supreme Court appeals, and one settlement later, the mystery remains: who was buried in John Hillmon's grave? Jordheim, who majored in English literature as an undergraduate, has always had a passion for writing and got permission from Professor Wesson to write a play about the case. Using court transcripts, newspaper articles, and other evidence gathered by Professor Wesson, Jordheim completed a working draft of his first play within two months. By the fall of his 2L year, Jordheim was listening to professional actors from the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) complete a table reading of his script. Several drafts later, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival continues to be involved with Jordheim's script and is planning a staged reading for the fall of 2009 at the law school. Funding for the reading was donated in part by Colorado Law alumna Dr. Ruth Wright ('72) and her husband Kenneth Wright. As CFS expand its reptoire to include no-Shakespearean works, it hopes the reading will generate interest in the play that will lead to a full production. CFS is eager to broaden its appeal to a wider audience, which it hopes to do by involving the law school and attracting law students and legal professionals. Jordheim, now editor-in-chief of the University of Colorado Law Review, says that the entire experience has been one of the greatest highlights of his law school career. The opportunity to build a relationship with Professor Wesson, someone who has been able to combine her love of writing with a legal career, has been inspiring for Jordheim.

Clinical Student Goes Before Copyright Office to Change Federal Law

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

Blake Reid (10), a student in Colorado Laws Glushko-Samuelson Technology Law and Policy Clinic, is headed to Washington, DC, to stand before the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress in a triennial rulemaking proceeding. Reid is representing Alex Halderman, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan. The proceeding is directed toward considering exemptions from the anti-circumvention measures of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Reid and Halderman, with the help of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Colorado Law Professors Paul Ohm, Harry Surden, and Brad Bernthal, are seeking an exemption from the DMCA for good-faith security research on PC-based digital rights management systems. In support of the proposed exemption, Reid and Halderman have garnered the endorsement of many academic and professional security experts from institutions and companies such as Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, RSA, Google, and AT&T. Reid and Halderman have also submitted a related filing to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advocating for better disclosures to consumers about digital rights management and security issues, and plan to participate in hearings in front of the FTC later this spring.

CEES Analysts Invited to Present at Copenhagen Climate Congress

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

Elias Quinn (09) and Adam Reed (08), analysts at Colorado Laws Center for Energy and Environmental Security (CEES), will be travelling to Copenhagen to present their work at the Copenhagen Climate Congress 2009. The Congress is the premier scientific lead-in meeting to the Conference-of-Parties 15 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Congress aims to compile existing and emerging scientific data to guide public officials in making enlightened decisions with respect to the balancing of adaptation and mitigation in the societal response to climate change. Reed and Quinn have been invited to present posters and give remarks at the Potentials and Limits of Biofuels and Integrating National and International Approaches sessions. Reed will present Life-cycle analysis and renewable fuel goals: a regulators Scylla and Charybdis. Quinn will present Attempts to insulate carbon-regulated economies from under-regulated imports, and the inadvertent integration of the worlds carbon markets under NAFTA, based on an article he published in Climate and Carbon Law Review in February 2008. Funding for their trip to Copenhagen is being provided by the CU Renewable & Sustainable Energy Initiative and the Colorado Energy Research Institute.

Professor Weiser Named to Portfolios Top Tech Policy People to Watch List

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

Professor Phil Weiser was featured as a person to watch in the tech field by Portfolio Magazine. The list featured 12 people whose achievements and positions make them notable in their fields and whose influence we will likely see in the future of technology policy and innovation. Included on the list were such notables as Fred Humphries, Managing Director of Federal Affairs at Microsoft Corporation; Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman, U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The article highlighted Professor Weisers efforts to raise the profile of Colorado Law's Silicon Flatirons Center, his former position as an attorney for the Justice Department's antitrust division, his appointment as co-chair to the Federal Trade Commission review team during the Obama-Biden transition, and his new project to promote reform of the Federal Communications Commission.

18th Annual Women in Law Day a Success

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Womens Law Caucus hosted its longest-running event, Women In Law Day (WILD), this past weekend. The invite list was long and included local high school students, students accepted to Colorado Law for the fall, and current students from the University of Colorado, the University of Denver, Colorado State, Flatirons Community College and Wyoming University. Danielle Luber (10) is the WILD chair and organizer of this years event. She used connections made over the summer by members of the Womens Law Caucus to secure panelists and send out invitations. WILD aims to give women who are interested in a legal career exposure to law school and the practice of law, says Luber. The all-day event included a panel discussion given by women from five different sectors of law including the government, private practice, and in-house counsel. Several Colorado alumni who participated in the panel were Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons Partner Kristin Bronson (97), U.S. Department of Education civil rights attorney Sandra Roesti, (02), and Colorado Law School Legal Writing Professor Natalie Mack (04). A second panel consisting of Colorado Law students hosted a question and answer session and Professor Amy Schmitz presented a mock Contracts class. Students who attended felt it was an interesting and enlightening day. One attendee said she, Enjoyed being with other women to discuss law openly and honestly with students and practitioners.

Professor Hart Receives Award from Hispanic Bar Association

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association awarded Professor Melissa Hart their Outstanding Community Service Award for 2008 at the CHBA Annual Banquet tonight. The award recognizes its recipient's contributions to the state of Colorado, its Bar, and in particular, to the members of the Hispanic Bar. Professor Hart received the award because of her work on preserving equal opportunity in Colorado, particularly her effort on the Amendment 46 question last election season. She was compelled to get involved in the equal opportunity issue because her scholarship focuses on addressing the persistent problems of stereotyping and bias which research reveals can only be solved through conscious, affirmative efforts to avoid that bias. As a law professor who sees so many of her own former students already making significant contributions to the State and to the legal profession, it reinforces for her how essential it is that Colorado continues to ensure that the community of law students in the state is one of inclusiveness and excellence. Governor Ritter and Senator Bennett also spoke at the banquet.

Congratulations to Alumni Named as Super Lawyers 2008

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Law congratulates our 155 alumni nationwide who have been named to the Super Lawyers 2008 and Rising Stars 2008 lists. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who are selected annually by the legal journal Law & Politics based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. They represent the top 5 percent of attorneys in each state. Rising Stars is a recognition of the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state¯those who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to the list. At this time, Rising Stars are only published for lawyers in California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming 15 Alumni Newly Named Super Lawyers Phil Barber, Phillip D. Barber, CO William K. Brown, Holland & Hart, CO Bruce Dierking, Dill Dill Carr Stonbraker & Hutchings, CO David Eisner, Heckenbach/Ammarell, CO Brian Hanson, Baird Hanson Williams, CO David L. Harrison, Moses Wittemyer Harrison & Woodruff, CO Victoria Koury, Bogue & Paoli, CO Henry I. Lowe, Lowe Fell & Skogg, CO Zach C. Miller, Davis Graham & Stubbs, CO Edward Nugent, Nugent & Palo, CO J. Marcus Painter, Holland & Hart, CO Manuel Ramos, Colorado Legal Services, CO Michael D. Shimmin, Vranesh & Raisch, CO Michael C. Theis, Hogan & Hartson, CO Constance Wood, Constance Beck Wood, CO 5 Alumni Named Rising Stars 2008 Brian T. Cooper, Stuber Cooper Voge, TX Amy Christensen, Hughes, Kellner, Sullivan & Alke, MT John T. Morgan, Amazon.com, WA Megan Murphy, Thorner Kennedy & Gano, WA Sheila H. Potter, Bullivant Houser Bailey, OR

New Software Regulation Clearing House Launched

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 MST

The Software Regulation Clearing House, conceived of and managed by Professor Paul Ohm and funded by a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, tracks governmental regulation of software development. It is a definitive online searchable database of statutes, administrative regulations, and case law¾Federal, State, and Foreign¾that either mandate or prohibit particular features or functionality in software. The Clearing House is publicly available and constantly updated to reflect changes in the law. The database currently contains more than 470 federal and state regulations. Examples include the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's anti-circumvention provisions, the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, the Broadcast Flag, and proposed Spyware legislation. Legal scholars can look generally at state regulation of software and software developers can understand how law impacts their activities. Professor Ohm plans to add readable analysis to each of the regulations in order to make the database more accessible to non-lawyers.

Reforming the FCC Conference

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 MST

Is the Federal Communications Commission truly equipped to deal with immediate challenges that it will face? A leading group of academics, current and former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials, and leaders from the public interest community gathered in Washington, DC, to discuss how to reform how the FCC operates. The event was a great success, with many productive outputs. They compared future visions, explored historical lessons and, though a series of papers specially written for this conference, offered a comprehensive set of recommendations for the creation of an FCC well-prepared to confront contemporary challenges. Reforming the Federal Communications Commission is a joint project of Public Knowledge and Silicon Flatirons Center. On the website, readers can view: · Professor Phil Weiser's paper, FCC Reform and the Future of Telecommunications Policy · Response papers to Weisers paper C-SPAN covered the event. Viewers can watch videos of the following sessions: · As the conferences keynote event, former FCC members discuss the future of the commission under the new administration at the National Press Club. · "The Past as Prologue: Lessons From History on the Road to Reform" is a panel discussion moderated by Phil Weiser on how well the FCC has performed. · "The Future of the FCC as an Institution" is a panel discussion moderated by Gigi Sohn of the future of the FCC, including how the FCC can do better job in the future on issues such as managing spectrum, net neutrality, and media ownership.

Vital Projects Fund Provides Start-up Funding for New Sustainable Community Economic Development Clinic

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Law School recently received financial support from the Vital Projects Fund to launch an innovative, interdisciplinary CU clinic course for law, business, and planning students to participate in real-world sustainable community economic development projects. This new Sustainable Community Development (SCD) Clinic will provide free, comprehensive professional services for underdeveloped Colorado communities to pursue economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable opportunities. The SCD Clinic builds on Colorado Laws nationally recognized expertise in entrepreneurship, real estate, and environmental and energy law and policy. In addition, the Clinic combines the Law Schools expertise with those of the Leeds School of Business and the School of Architecture and Planning. Several community development groups and organizations have been unanimous in their support for the Clinic and some have offered potential partners on clinic projects. These groups have included: the Urban Land Conservancy, Enterprise Community Partners, the Denver Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Enterprise Fund, Boulder Housing Partners, Housing Colorado, and Colorado Legal Services, among others. Examples of the type of cases such a clinic would accept include: · A single mother completes a nine-hour work day and looks forward to having dinner with her young children. But instead of going directly home, she must ride the bus an extra thirty minutes to get to the nearest supermarket. There is no grocery store in her struggling neighborhood. Or childcare. Or after-school activities. Or job training. What would it take to convince a developer to build commercial space in the neighborhood? Is there a local community member who might want to run her own licensed day care business? How might the community come together to cluster employment opportunities, retail needs, and vital community services in a compact, revitalized, walkable neighborhood? · A community struggles to meet the demand for affordable housing. The municipality may have some land available for new housing, but it does not have the funds for building and the land may need environmental remediation. The community would like assistance researching funding opportunities, and wants to ensure that any new housing is green as well as affordable. What kind of funds might be available to the community? How does the community find out how to build green and still stay within budget? How can urban brownfields be reclaimed safely? What are the contours of the new housing development might it include uses other than just housing? · A small business that for years supplied parts for local industry now faces closure as the local economy shifts. While traditional industry increasingly faces challenges, new businesses are opening that build on Colorados energy economy boom. How might local entrepreneurs, particularly in communities in need, tap into these emerging markets? Where might they find seed capital and training to retool for the sustainable energy economy? Questions regarding the SCD Clinic should be directed to Professor Deborah Cantrell.

Silicon Flatirons Center Hosts Law and Ethics of Networking Monitoring Conference

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 MST

On December 5, the Silicon Flatirons Center hosted a conference on the Law and Ethics of Network Monitoring, consisting of three expert panel discussions around five different themes. (1) For Network Management v. Network Monitoring the panelists opinions varied on the level to which they felt personal data collection for advertising purposes constituted a violation of privacy. (2) With regards to Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), Mark Eckenwiler, a director at the Department of Justice (he spoke on his own behalf), believed the ECPA is technology neutral, citing the fact that while the internet did not exist when the law was written, it still has applicability. (3) Under the Consent topic, the panelists agreement that monitoring without user consent is wrong, ambiguity arose on what constitutes consent, both in terms of the law as well as the ethics. Several panelists commented that the consent exception has been relatively narrowly construed by the courts even in cases as extreme as inmates using prison phones. (4) For Responsibilities of ISPs v. other companies, the panelists discussed whether an ISP should be held to a higher standard of privacy protection than other types of companies such as Google, since an ISP provides purely transit of data and not party to the conversation as a website would be and the breadth of personal data to which an ISP has access. Arguments against different standards for ISPs focused on concerns over making distinctions in rules by company types. Regulating in a company-type specific way is in many ways analogous to technology-specific legislation they can easily be circumvented on technicalities. (5) For Non-legal Regulation of Network Monitoring, federal or state legislation is not the only way to enforce, or at least encourage, some level of restraint in monitoring. Read a complete summary of the conference.

Colorado Law receives $5 million endowed gift from litigator, Quiznos founders

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 MST

For University of Colorado at Boulder Law School students, experiential education is about applied learning -- acquiring experience and skills by working as lawyers on actual, current cases for clients in need. Thanks to a new $5 million endowed chair donated to the law school by local philanthropists Richard F. and Rick E. Schaden, Colorado Law students will be better equipped to incorporate real-world practice into their schooling. The endowment, donated by the Schaden Family Fund, will enhance Colorado Law's clinical programs, externships, appellate and moot-court competitions, and voluntary pro bono work. It will enable the hiring of a senior professor to oversee the school's experiential education programs, and allow more students to participate. "With the Schaden Chair in Experiential Learning, we will establish and staff an Experiential Education Program that builds linkages with faculty involved in experiential education and those doing traditional classroom teaching," said David H. Getches, dean of Colorado Law. "The Schadens' gift allows us to strengthen our program, and acknowledges the importance of experiential education," said Colorado Law associate professor and director of clinical programs Deborah Cantrell. Colorado Law has been a leader in hands-on legal education since the school was one of the nation's first to establish its legal aid and defender clinic 60 years ago. Today, students can get academic credit working on cases in one of Colorado Law's nine clinics, in areas ranging from civil and criminal cases to entrepreneurial law to American Indian law. In addition to helping students connect theory with practice, Colorado Law's clinics provide free legal services for underserved clients who could otherwise not afford assistance. Another aspect of Colorado Law experiential education is externships, in which 70 students now participate, at government agencies, corporate legal offices, nonprofits or private law firms. Students also gain experience in moot court competitions --Colorado Law's teams are among the best among U.S. law schools, with one team winning a national championship last year, and another placing second in the nation's most prestigious competition. In November, the Colorado Law team won the regional finals in the National Moot Court competition and will soon compete in the national championship in New York. "In addition to giving greater coherence to our entire curriculum, from the theoretical to the practical, Colorado Law's Experiential Learning Program involves our students in the community -- instilling the legal profession's ideal of service to society, and meeting the needs of underserved people," said Getches. "I believe that experiential education is essential," said Richard F. Schaden. "This concept gives lawyers in training an opportunity to deal with real people with real problems." The endowment will help Colorado Law forge links between these programs and classroom curriculum. "Suppose a student chooses to take my Family Law clinic, because they're really interested in family law," Cantrell said. "There may be a trial or moot-court competition related to it -- but they don't hear about it, because there's no central location where they can find these sorts of resources. This gift will enable these connections to be made." The $5 million endowment is the largest of several recent Colorado Law gifts involving the Schadens. Richard Schaden provided substantial support for the Wolf Law Building, and another 2007 gift enabled the law school to double student moot-court participation. Richard F. Schaden, of Boulder County, is an aeronautical engineer, businessman, restaurateur, highly recognized trial lawyer, and founding partner of the aviation and public-interest law firm Schaden, Katzman, Lampert and McClune. His son Rick E. Schaden of Denver, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Colorado at Denver in 1987, and is founder, chairman, and (with his father) majority shareholder of Quiznos, building the company since 1991 to more than 5,000 franchises worldwide. Both Schadens are founding partners of Consumer Capital Partners, a nationally recognized private investment, concept development, strategic advisory, and causal marketing firm that is actively developing new restaurant and retail concepts including Smashburger, its latest. A video news release on Colorado Law legal clinics is available on the CU-Boulder news Web site at www.colorado.edu/news.

Professor Spitz to Testify Before Georgia Senate Study Committee on Bankruptcy Law

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 MST

Professor Laura Spitz has been invited by Georgia State Senator Ed Tarver to provide testimony about consumer bankruptcy law to the Georgia Senate Study Committee on Bankruptcy Homestead Exemptions. The Committee is being chaired by Senator Tarver, and is hearing submissions from a variety of constituencies¾including debtors, attorneys and bankers¾on the possibility of raising the homestead exemptions for consumer bankruptcy debtors in Georgia. The hearing is set for November 25, 2008, and is open to the public.

Winner of the 2009 Regional National Moot Court Competition

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Laws Rothgerber Moot Court board proudly hosted the November Regional 11 round of the nations most prestigious moot court competitionThe National Moot Court Competition. To make it to semi-finals, a team had to be undefeated in both preliminary rounds, and the Colorado Law was the only school to have both of its teams make it to the semi-finals of the twelve teams from Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming law schools. Colorado Laws Petitioners team was Amy Kramer, Melanie Jordan, and Ben Parrott. The Respondents team of Don Andrews, Thea Mustari, and Joe Neguse won First Place and Best Brief. Neguse won the competitions Best Oralist Award for his masterful performance arguing both sides of his issue. The two issues were 1) does Section 2 of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act exceed Congress' power under the Fourteenth Amendment and violate the Establishment Clause and 2) does the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act limit tuition reimbursement only to children who have received public special education and related services through attendance at a public school? The final round against the University of Utah was judged by District Judge John L. Wheeler; the Solicitor General for the State of Colorado, Dan Domenico; and attorney Alan Jensen. Mike Wautlet 08 of Faegre & Benson, who was a member of last years regional first-place and national second-place team, expertly coached the two teams, assisted by student coach Tyrone Glover. Andrews, Mustari, and Neguse will travel to New York to represent Region 11 in February at Nationals. More than 50 attorneys, judges, and faculty participated in the competition, as judges and in scoring briefs. Hugh Q. Gottschalk of the American College of Trial Lawyers presented the awards to the participants.

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 MST

Professor Hart Files Title VII Brief with US. Supreme Court

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 MST

Professor Hart authored and filed a brief with the US Supreme Court today on behalf of the National Women's Law Center and 35 other civil rights organizations. The amicus brief supports the position of respondent Noreen Hulteen in AT&T v. Hulteen, a case the Court will hear this spring. The case presents the question whether a company violates Title VII's prohibition against sex discrimination when it calculates an employees benefits with a penalty on pregnancy leave taken before the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. First-year student Louis Brands Savage and second-year student Zachary Mountin volunteered their time, as part of the Public Service Pledge Program, to serve as research assistants for this pro bono project.

New JD/LLB Dual Degree Program with Alberta

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law and the University of Alberta announced a new and ambitious international Dual Degree Program today. Students will be able to earn a J.D. and its Canadian equivalent, an LL.B (Bachelor of Laws), in this four-year program, spending two years at each school. In North America, foreign trade has become more common for even the smallest business and a need for lawyers versed in multiple legal systems has emerged. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, from 1993 to 2007, trade among the NAFTA nations more than tripled, from $297 billion to $930 billion. Additionally, business investment in the United States has risen by 117 percent since 1993. Law degrees from both the United States and Canada will prepare students to serve Denver law firm clients conducting business internationally, offering them a distinct advantage in this job market. National law firms are becoming global firms, representing international securities firms, investment management companies, and other financial institutions on pertinent regulatory issues. A lawyer with this dual degree can cover any transnational issues in cross-border securities, transactional, commercial, insurance litigation, subrogation, recovery, immigration, real estate, or energy and natural resource law. We are delighted to forge this alliance that builds on the strengths and common interests of two great schools, said Colorado Law School Dean David Getches. It will open new opportunities for study and career development for our students and research and teaching for our faculties. The two law schools have similar centers and programs in natural resources, energy, constitutional, health, business, jurisprudence, and native people law. Attending the Signing Ceremony was CU-Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson, Dean Getches, Alberta Dean of Law David Percy, Alberta Professor Wayne Renke, Jamie Canton from the Consulate General of Canada Office in Denver, and numerous CU-Boulder faculty and students. This is the first program of its kind in Western Canada, said Dean Percy. In an era of increasing internationalization, it will offer exciting opportunities to University of Alberta students and especially for students who plan to practice in Alberta, with its heavy reliance on north-south trade. Like CU, the University of Alberta is a top-ranked institute. It is listed among the top 60 global universities by Newsweek and is one of Canadas largest research-intensive universities. Colorado Law offers seven additional dual degree programs in conjunction with other CU schools, including masters of business administration, public administration, science in telecommunications, urban and regional planning, and environmental science, and doctorates in environmental science and medicine.

Class of 08 Celebrates 94% Bar Passage

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law graduates who took the Colorado bar exam for the first time this July achieved a 94% passage rate, compared to a 78% passage rate for the state. In the past 27 years, the Colorado Law July bar passage rate for first-time takers has dropped below a 90% only five times. In 1997 and 1999, the rate reached 97%. Also, congratulations to Celene Shepard (08) who attained the third highest score on Arizonas July bar exam.

Professor Robert Nagel Publishes Book Describing the Driving Force Behind Judicial Activism

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Nagels fourth and latest book, Unrestrained: Judicial Excess and the Mind of the American Lawyer, explores the driving force behind judicial activism. This book examines judicial appointments over the past 40 years and how despite the fact that they have been largely by republican presidents, activism continues to appear in majority of Supreme Court decisions. Professor Nagel observes that every justice put on the court during that period of time has commented that the court needs to be restrained by applying law, not making it. However, this has not happened in practice. The book explains that the basic reason for this begins with the way we train modern American lawyers. The way that they are trained to think in school removes the restraints and impediments that should bind judges. Judges tend to be very capable, well-educated and successful lawyers. Professor Nagel argues that once they have been socialized by those experiences, its hard not to be extremely aggressive in the use of power. The background ideas and assumptions that are at play today are influenced by legal realism movement and critical legal studies. The book notes that these types of judicial decisions often stifle disagreement and censor important beliefs and important traditions. In this way, it is a pertinent issue for all citizens. The book has been hailed by critics as a unique, well-executed, and insightful.

Professor Hart Interviewed on KCPR about Amendment 46

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Listen to the interview. Professor Melissa Hart spoke with Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner today about Amendment 46 and its potential effects on Colorado. The measure is designed to prohibit discrimination and preferential treatment by Colorado government. Hart, who has been working against the measure on her own time not-affiliated with CU, argues that the amendment is not directed at eliminating quotas or point systems since these are already illegal in Colorado. Instead, she warns that the measure will abolish, modest equal opportunity programs like training, outreach, and mentoring that enable communities who have traditionally been underrepresented in education, employment, and in the economic life of our community to have a fair chance to participate. These programs have increased the economic diversity and accomplishment of our state. This amendment will likely impact Colorado Law. Hart urges voters to look at what happened in California and Michigan, where similar measures were passed. Their college and graduate school classrooms saw a dramatic reduction in the representation of different cultural backgrounds and racial groups. Eliminating those programs is just a bad idea as a matter of policy for our state.

Clinic Receives Cy Pres Award from Alumnus

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Alumnus Robert Hill (70) and co-counsel John Evans, Avi Rocklin, Tom McFarland, and Gabriel McFarland led a class action suit against Shelter Mutual Insurance Company for not disclosing all the terms of coverage to persons buying insurance. As part of the negotiated settlement, Hill and his co-counsel successfully requested that the court award about $10,000 of cy pres funds to Colorado Laws Clinical Education Program. The Clinical Program will use the money to support its legal work on behalf of indigent clients. Clinic Director Deborah Cantrell noted, We are so grateful when Colorado Law alumni find opportunities to support the Law Schools public service tradition. Cy pres awards are integral to the Clinical Programs ability to fully represent its low-income clients.

Colorado Law Professors Join Top Law Schools as Visiting Faculty

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Three of Colorado Laws professors were invited to be visiting professors at the nations top law schools. Professor Phil Weiser is spending the Fall of 2008 teaching at New York Universitys School of Law in New York City. He graduated from NYU in 1994 and is returning to his alma mater to teach a Law and Innovation Seminar and a Telecommunications Law course. At Colorado Law, Professor Weiser founded the Journal on Telecommunications & High Technology Law and the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. He teaches in the areas of telecommunications and information policy. This fall, Professor Lakshman Guruswamy is visiting the University of California Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law. He is on a research sabbatical to investigate issues surrounding energy justice. At Colorado Law, Professor Guruswamy teaches International Law, International Environmental Law, and U.S. Environmental Law, and is widely published in these subjects in legal and scientific journals and is also the Director of the Center for Energy & Environmental Security. Professor Laura Spitz is visiting Emory Law School in Atlanta, Georgia, for the 200809 academic year, and teaching courses in bankruptcy and commercial transactions. At Colorado Law, she teaches Contracts, Advanced Contracts, Commercial Transactions, and Bankruptcy. Her research focuses on the effects of economic integration and trade liberalization on transnational and domestic regulation in North America.

Dean Trujillo Appointed to Two Education Boards by Gov. Ritter

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo has been appointed to Governor Bill Ritters P-20 Subcommittee on Systems Transformations and to the Get Smart Schools Board of Directors of the Donnell Kay Foundation. The P-20 Education Coordinating Council was formed last year by an executive order from the Governor. The council consists of subcommittees aiming to reform Colorados educational system in grades K-20 so that it can better meet the demands of the modern workforce. As a committee member this year, Dean Trujillo will be focusing on halving the high school drop-out rate. Get Smart Schools is a group whose mission is to start more than 100 new schools that will meet Colorados educational goals for grades K-12. It is aimed at low-income and underserved students whose academic success is currently falling short of the states standards. As a member of the Board, Dean Trujillo will help establish a direction and provide a vision for the group as well as foster working relationships with the staff at the schools.

Professor Ohm Talks with the New York Times About Privacy on the Internet

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Paul Ohm is featured as a legal expert in the Bits section of The New York Times. This section focuses on the technology industry, including government policies. The article profiles Professor Ohms latest paper, The Rise and Fall of Invasive ISP Surveillance, and discusses how Internet service providers (ISPs) are using new technologies to track what their customers are doing online, including what sites they visit, what they download, and what they purchase. ISPs have been planning to sell this information to advertisers so that they can more effectively target consumers. Even though Congress has growled loudly enough to get Internet service providers to back off their plans to sell information about their customers Web surfing to advertising companies, one prominent legal expert argues that the law governing the issue should still be made tougher. (New York Times) Professor Ohm feels that monitoring individuals on the internet threatens privacy and his paper addresses this issue. The paper asserts that internet privacy should be protected under the Electronic Communication Privacy Act. Although this law was originally enacted to regulate telephone companies, the laws should also apply to some of the monitoring that ISPs engage in as well. While some monitoring is okay, it should be limited to sniffing out hackers and other security issues. Additionally, Professor Ohm feels, the law is overly complex and ambiguous, and should be clarified. His article proposes simplifying the overall structure and making it harder for customers to waive their privacy rights.

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Law Invited to Inaugural Moot Court National Championship

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MDT

As one of the top 16 moot court programs in the nation, Colorado Law has been invited to participate in the inaugural Moot Court National Championship, hosted by the Blakely Advocacy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center in January 2009. Programs will earn points through strong performances in major moot court tournaments throughout the United States. In the trial advocacy world, the NITA Tournament of Champions has done wonderful things to put outstanding students and programs on display, as well as to tighten the community, said Gabrielle Marks Stafford, Director of Colorado Laws Moot Court Programs and the faculty coach. A moot court analogue is a welcome, welcome thing.

Colorado Law Welcomes This Year's New and Visiting Faculty

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Dean Getches, the faculty, staff, and students welcome the new and visiting faculty for the academic year 2008-09. Four new full-time faculty members will join Colorado Law this fall as associate professors. · William Boyd is an energy lawyer at Covington & Burling in Washington, DC, and received his JD from Stanford Law School and a PhD and MA from the University of California at Berkeley. Catharine DuBois will be our new legal writing professor. She is currently an Associate at Jenner & Block in Chicago and worked as an Associate for Jones Day in New York. She served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Steven D. Merryday of the U.S. District Court in Florida. She received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from Indiana University in Bloomington. · Andrew A. Schwartz is an intellectual property lawyer at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York and received his JD from Columbia University School of Law. · Harry Surden is the inaugural fellow at the Stanford Center for Computers and the Law (CodeX) and received his JD from Stanford Law School. The visiting faculty members for next year include: · Professor Hannah Garry has graciously agreed to spend a second year teaching Public International Law, International Arbitration, and International Law, in addition to exciting skills-based experiences for students. · Professor Aya Gruber will join Colorado Law next spring from Florida International University College of Law, teaching International Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure. · Professor Maureen Weston 92 will visit this fall from Pepperdine, teaching Legal Ethics & Professionalism and Alternative Dispute Resolution. · Mr. Young Kim will be a Scholar In Residence, bringing corporate and international business expertise to teach three courses, including International Business Transactions and Advanced Contracts. Mr. Kim, who holds an appointment as a Fulbright Senior Specialist through 2012, is at Williams, Bax & Saltzman in Chicago.

Professor Collins Speaks about Telluride Land Case on NPR

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Collins Speaks about Telluride Land Case on NPR Listen to the interview: Telluride State Supreme Court Ruling and Private Landowners. Today, Professor Rick Collins spoke on NPRs Colorado Matters (KCFR), regarding a recent Colorado Supreme Court case in which the justices decided that that the southeastern town of Telluride could take land outside its city limits in order to protect an undeveloped piece of land. KCFRs Ryan Warner also interviewed House Minority Leader Mike May regarding this case and about concerns of property rights advocates. May is proposing a constitutional amendment that would be on the ballot by 2010, at the soonest. When asked what protection landowners have against their property being condemn, Professor Collins said, The most important constitutional protection for landowners is always the requirement for just compensation, which deters any jurisdiction from condemning property. It has to pay for it. Moreover, the particular procedures under Colorado law are a better guarantee of payment than is generally true in some other states. One must have a statute authorizing it, so if a city wants to condemn property, its own ordinances must authorize the condemnation ordinance. The Issue Telluride residents claim that a $50 million, 570-acre meadow on the northwestern side of their town helps preserve the town's historic character so they want it conserved for open space. The land, however, is outside its boundaries. The June 2 court ruling affirmed the earlier San Miguel District Court decision and found the state constitution allows home-rule municipalities to condemn property for any lawful, public, local, and municipal purpose, rejecting developers' arguments to overturn the town's use of eminent domain. A law passed in 2004 made it illegal for cities and towns to condemn land for open space, park, or recreational purposes. Read the Colorado Supreme Court Case No. 07SA101, Town of Telluride v. San Miguel Valley Corp.

Professor Hart Debates Affirmative Action Initiatives on TV

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Watch or read the public television Democracy Now debate. Watch the NBC Your Show debate. On two television appearances this week, Professor Melissa Hart spoke against anti-affirmative Amendment 46, which will be on the ballot this November. She volunteers as President of Coloradans for Equal Opportunity, a group that is opposed to Amendment 46 (Initiative 31). She is one of the authors of a competing amendment, Colorado Equal Opportunity Initiative or Initiative 61, which would allow Colorado to maintain its affirmative action programs. On the June 29 Channel 9 "YourShow" and the June 30 Democracy Now television programs, Professor Hart debated the merits of affirmative action programs with Jessica Peck Corry, the Executive Director of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, which is the name of the proposed anti-affirmative action constitutional amendment, Amendment 46. She is also the Director of the Campus Accountability Project and Property Rights Project at the Independence Institute, a Colorado-based free market think tank. Washington, California, and Michigan already have similar initiatives and Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska will all be voting this November to end affirmative-action programs. Affirmative-action opponents failed to gather enough signatures in Missouri and Oklahoma to get their initiatives on the state ballots. Ms. Corry believes that, We have class-based problems in this country. In Colorado, in particular, we have about a 70% white population. We have incredible levels of advantage or disadvantage based on geography, based on parent income and theres not a single affirmative action program that would be destroyed through this initiative if these programs are open to everybody based on race and gender. Professor Hart rebutted with, I cant disagree that theres a class-based problem in the country that also needs addressing, but class is not the only issue and there are still disadvantages in our society that come with being a woman or minority, regardless of your family income. People face discrimination on a regular basis. If this initiative passes, programs such as a CU program that gives girls interested in engineering and math an opportunity to develop that interest in high school.

Professor Guruswamy Addresses World Renewable Energy Congress

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Lakshman Guruswamy has been asked to give the plenary address at the World Renewable Energy Congress (WREC) in Glasgow, Scotland, this July. The proposed topic of Professor Guruswamys speech is based on a current Center for Energy and Environmental Security project titled, Global Warming, Energy Insecurity and Energy Justice: The Path Not Taken. Professor Guruswamy will focus on the idea that any reaction to dilemmas caused by global warming should not be undertaken at the expenditure of the energy poor. He says that, the term energy poor refers to over a billion and a half people that live in rural and urban slum areas without electricity, and includes the nearly billion and a quarter impoverished humans who live on less than one dollar a day. To be invited to deliver a plenary address along with some of the most influential renewable energy experts and decision-makers in the world is an honor, stated Professor Guruswamy. WREC is a conference held every two years where energy experts participate in the conversation of energy. The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the European Commission are among the prestigious organizations sponsoring the conference.

Law Students Win ACS Moot Court Competition

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Two of Colorado Laws most recent graduates Patrick Theissen and Cash Parker won the finals of the American Constitution Societys (ACS) Constance Baker Motley National Moot Court Competition. Held today at the ACS Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the final argument was against a team from Berkeley and judged by Judge William Fletcher of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Richard Roberts of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and Justice Peter Rubin of the Court of Appeals of Massachusetts. Student coach Grant Sullivan said that our students did an exceptional job against some extremely strong competition. Thank you for all your hard work and support of this competition. Congratulations to Cash, Patrick, Melissa Hart, Grant, and to all who worked with our victorious team, said Associate Dean Dayna Matthew. In the semi-final rounds, the Colorado Law team had won against a Georgetown team at Georgetown, and Berkeley had defeated Duke at the competition held at Colorado Law School in March.

NRLC Holds Annual Summer Conference

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MDT

The Natural Resources Law Center held its annual summer conference at the Law School June 4-6. This years theme for the conference was Shifting Baselines and New Meridians Water, Resources, Landscapes, and the Transformation of the American West. The conference examined the effects on the West due to population growth and Climate change and how these factors are beginning to affect the legal and political institutions. Director of the NRLC and professor, Mark Squillace, said that the legal and political institutions that evolved to manage these natural resources have, for the most part, served us well, but it is far from clear that these institutions are capable of adapting as quickly and as extensively as may be necessary to serve us in the future. Several of the panels included Water for the 21st Century, The Urbanizing West Limits to Water, Limits to Growth, and The Politics of Change and Natural Resources. Noteworthy was a lively exchange between Lynn Scarlett who is the current Bush Administration Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior and David Hayes who is the former Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior under the Clinton Administration, on the issue of natural resources as it should be addressed in the upcoming elections and by the next administration.

CU Law Wins Alumni Golf Tournament

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law alumni brought home the boot! At the 6th Annual CU vs. DU Law Alumni Golf Tournament: "Battle for the Barrister's Boot." The teams playing for CU had a higher average, thereby winning the highly coveted Barrister's Boot Trophy for their alma mater to proudly display. The weather was perfect again this year for an afternoon of golf and dinner for the 85 golfers at the Pinehurst Country Club. All proceeds from yesterday's event go to benefit scholarship funds at both schools. Thank you to our generous sponsors: Gold Sponsors Baker & Hostetler Merchant & Gould Silver Sponsors Greenberg Traurig Kamlet Shepherd Lindquist & Vennum Montgomery Little Soran & Murray Wheeler Trigg Kennedy Hole Sponsors BKD Holland & Hart Hole-in-One Sponsor Terry Minnick of Mercedes Benz of Littleton Beer Sponsors Superior Liquor Boulder Beer Water Bottle/Program Sponsor Colin Kresock of Moreton Risk Services Special Thanks GolfTec Teching Professionals

Professor Hart Successful in Getting Initiative 61 Approved by Court

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 MDT

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled today in favor of a group of clients represented by Professor Melissa Hart in a pro bono election law project. Professor Hart has been representing three Colorado citizens seeking to put an initiative on the November ballot that would offer an alternative approach to the States nondiscrimination obligation. The supporters of Initiative #61 proposed their initiative (which they call the Colorado Equal Opportunity Initiative) in response to an initiative placed on the ballot by Californian Ward Connerly. The Connerly Initiative, which mirrors provisions passed in California and Michigan, would eliminate all affirmative action by the State of Colorado. The Colorado Equal Opportunity Initiative states a clear disapproval of discrimination and illegal preferential treatment, but preserves the States ability to act consistently with the U.S. Constitution and to enact modest equal opportunity programs. The case in the Supreme Court had raised the question whether Initiative #61 met the single-subject standards required to set a title for a ballot initiative. The Supreme Court found that it did meet those standards. Proponents of Initiative #61 may now begin collecting signatures to place the initiative on the ballot. As often happens in these disputes, however, the proponents had already begun to pursue other options, and had drafted a second alternative initiative this one #82. Professor Hart has been representing the proponents as this second alternative makes its way through the administrative process for inclusion on the ballot. This pro bono work is one of many election-related matters for which Colorado Law professors and students have taken an interest. This spring, 1L Jeff Rezmovic provided the impetus for an Election Law student organization. Students participated actively in the caucuses, and are planning to continue involvement in the election cycle at all levels in the fall.

Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo Receives Estrella Award

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Assistant Dean of Students Lorenzo Trujillo and his wife Ellen were presented the 2008 Estrella Award. Mr. Trujillo received the award as recognition for establishing a monthly community-based legal clinic at the Centro San Juan Diego and in recognition of Mrs.Alires-Trujillos services as an elder law attorney with Colorado Legal Services. The purpose of the legal clinic is to provide Spanish-speaking individuals access to justice and present them with resources to answer their basic legal questions. Assistant Dean Trujillo said that the legal clinic was established in collaboration with many lawyers, primarily immigration lawyers, who want to serve community needs and to demystify the law and its procedures. The award was given at the Las Madrinas Tribute, which is a fundraising event for the Centros education program to promote Spanish-speaking immigrant families. Centro was founded in 2003 by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. Empowerment is done through the Centros Pastoral Services and Family Services.

Colorado Law Hosts Mock Medical Malpractice Trial

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law and the CU-Denver School of Medicine have collaborated on creating one of the first of its kind in the country and possibly unprecedented medical malpractice course to help medical students practice in a litigious society. Associate Dean Dayna Matthew, CU-Denver Counsel Patrick ORourke, and School of Medicine professor of ethics Jackie Glover created the medical schools malpractice course to cover all facets of a court case including depositions to the actual trial. Medical students learn about legal proceedings in case they will need to interact with the legal system whether it is for a malpractice suit or if they are called upon as an expert witness. They are also taught how to avoid medical malpractice. At yesterdays first mock medical malpractice trial, held at the Wolf Law Building, all CU fourth-year medical students served as jurors in the trial. After watching the proceedings from depositions to closing arguments, the students were called on to render a verdict.

Commencement 2008

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 MDT

The morning started with breakfast in Boettcher Hall followed by the faculty procession across the Boulder campus to the Coors Events Center, led by the traditional bagpipes. The faculty and staff applauded the Class of 08 as it proceeded into the Center while the Boulder Brass played Pomp and Circumstance. This is the first time that the Law School Commencement has been held at the Coors Events Center. The Commencement Ceremony started at 9 am with a welcome speech by Dean David Getches. Professor Paul Campos recognized the members of the Order of the Coif and presented the Honorary Order of the Coif to Jim R. Carrigan, a former Colorado Law professor and has dedicated his 55-year legal career to public service and education. Judge Carrigan was a Colorado Supreme Court Justice, U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado, Regent of the University of Colorado, and professor. Class President Michael Wautlet made an excellent speech recounting the past three years and reflecting the change students have gone through. Class Vice President Christopher Fry recognized student and faculty awards, while Class Treasurer Tina Wainright presented the class gift, a memorial fund established in the memory of Jenn Shelton. The Class of 2008 Jennifer Lee Shelton Memorial Scholarship was established after she unexpectedly passing away this past December. Jenns parents, Jerry and Jan Shelton, were at the ceremony and accepted her degree posthumously on behalf of their daughter. Class Secretary Joseph Chen introduced the keynote speaker, Chief Judge Robert Henry of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Oklahoma. His speech included laughter, reflection, and the bible story of Abraham arguing with God to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Judge Henry ended his speech with comparison: like Abraham, lawyers should argue with judges, and like God, judges will sometimes accede to the arguments. Unique to this years commencement, the Class of 2008 asked a for a Native American song and drum presentation, which was performed by Good Feather Drum Group. Finally, Registrar Cindy Gibbons read the names of each graduate who received their diploma from Associate Dean Dayna Matthew and from Dean Getches. As tradition, Dean Getches read the Charge by Dean Emeritus Don Sears (Dean, 1968-1973). The Sears Charge You have now received the Juris Doctor degree. Please do not take undue pride in this title, for in the final analysis the test of your professional fitness will lie not in your title, but rather in your service to society and in the extent to which you combine professional skills with humane concern, legal learning with intense integrity, great energy with high ideals. What kind of lawyer you will be depends in large part on the kind of person you are. I hope you may continue to grow and that, in the years to come, you will live the most challenging life of all: the life of the mind, the life of service. To you all, we wish great success in your chosen profession.

Tom Lustig, Natural Resources Litigation Clinic Professor and Alumnus, Passes Away

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Tom Lustig 74, the senior staff attorney of the National Wildlife Federations Rocky Mountain Natural Resource Center and Adjunct Professor for Colorado Laws Natural Resource Litigation Clinic, passed away May 8 due to complications with his ongoing battle with cancer. It is with profound sadness that I let you know of the passing of our dear colleague, friend, and alumnus Tom Lustig, said Dean Getches. He has brightened our lives and gave us, our students, and the environmental issues for which he fought his best, and that was an enormous gift and legacy. A memorial service was held at his residence in Boulder. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. The Tom Lustig Memorial Fund is part of the NWF. Donations can be made in one of three ways: (1) by calling the NWFs toll free number 1-800-822-9919; contributions can be made by credit card and donors should specify that the gift is in memory of Tom; (2) online with a credit card; click on Donate Now then the green tab that states other ways to donate then memorial and tribute programs; and (3) by personal check noting the Tom Lustig Memorial Fund, attention to Pattie Beattie at the National Wilflife Fund, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive in Reston, Virginia 20190.

Alumnus Norman Brownstein Receives the University Medal at Commencement

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 MDT

CU-Boulder honored seven people at the May 9 spring commencement ceremony. During the ceremony, CU-Boulder presented the University Medal to Norman Brownstein 68 in recognition of his significant contributions to the civic, cultural, political, and business lives of Colorado citizens. He is a founding member and chairman of the board of the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck law firm. He is nationally recognized for his experience in real estate law, commercial transactions, and public policy advocacy, and was named one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" by the National Law Journal. Outside of his legal work, Brownstein is well known for his commitment to the health and wellness of Colorado citizens. He has given to numerous charities in the health sciences disciplines and spent countless hours serving as current or past director of organizations such as the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine and Rose Medical Center. Brownstein also has been a major supporter of CU's Anschutz Medical Campus, the Colorado Law, and other CU academic and athletic programs. Also at the commencement ceremony, CU-Boulder presented honorary doctoral degrees to Sister Helen Prejean, William E. "Bud" Davis, David L. DiLaura, David Wilson Jr., Long-Sheng Ma, and Dale N. Hatfield.

Bintliff, Meas, & Jackson Honored at CU Alumni Association Awards Ceremony

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Several members of the Colorado Law community received awards at the CU-Boulder Alumni Associations 78th Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony this evening. Professor Barbara Bintliff was awarded the 2008 Robert L. Stearns Award. In addition, two Colorado alumni Judge Charles Dennis Maes 72 and Gary M. Jackson 70 were awarded the 2008 George M. Norlin Award. Barbara Bintliff, the Nicholas Rosenbaum Professor of Law and director of the William A. Wise Law Library, was presented the Stearns Award in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the university. The Stearns Award recognizes achievement of members of the current CU-Boulder faculty and staff. Professor Bintliff was one of the first women at CU-Boulder to hold an endowed chair, served as Chair of the Boulder Faculty Assembly and the Boulder Athletics Board, served on the Chancellors Executive Committee and the previous Presidential Search Committee, and much more. The George Norlin Award, the Associations highest aware, recognizes the most outstanding CUBoulder alumni who throughout their lives have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their chosen field and a devotion to the betterment of society and their community. Mr. Jackson is a partner at DiManna & Jackson. Alumnus W. Sonny Harold Flowers, Jr. 71 of Hurth, Yeager, Sisk & Blakemore nominated Mr. Jackson because of his efforts at building our Colorado community. He added, This award is so richly deserved. Gary has contributed in so many ways to the lives of so many. Please spread the light! Judge Maes is the Chief Judge for the 10th Judicial District. Alumna Bernadette Langbein 78 nominated Judge Maes because he has been heavily involved with multiple initiatives in his effort to get Pueblo youth and their families away from the courts and back into the schools. This is in addition to his countless hours in the court and support of young lawyers and judges throughout the state.

Silicon Flatirons Center Launches Entrepreneurs Unplugged

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

On April 24, 2008, the Silicon Flatirons Center launched Entrepreneurs Unplugged, an initiative which provides a meeting place for students, faculty and community members with technical or business backgrounds and an interest in entrepreneurship. Each monthly Entrepreneur's Unplugged meeting will feature food, drink and - most importantly - an experienced entrepreneur to discuss his/her start-up experiences. The new Silicon Flatirons series resumes in September and will continue during the 2008-09 school year. The April 24 meeting attracted an overflow audience of 100 attendees from across engineering, business and law. Guest entrepreneur Dan Caruso, founder and CEO of the Zayo Group, provided information about his experience as one of the leading technology entrepreneurs in Colorado. Jason Mendelson, Managing Director of the Foundry Group (and a leading venture capital firm) and Robert Reich of Me.dium (who founded and leads the New Tech MeetUp) moderated a question and answer session between the audience and Dan. Other notable guests included Paul Jerde and Steve Lawrence of the Deming Center (the Business Schools entrepreneurship arm), and Kurt Smith from the Engineering Management Program, who announced the engineering schools e-ship program.

Professor Squillace Discusses Sustainability

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

This morning on KGNU (88.5 FM Boulder), Professor Mark Squillace discussed sustainability as a part of a greater discussion on Earth Week. The full broadcast of Professor Squillaces discussion is available on the KGNU website.

1L Oral Argument Competition

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

At the end of each year, first-year law students participate in an oral argument competition for the chance to win the title of Best Oralist and 2nd Place Oralist. Each legal writing professor selects the top four oral advocates from each of their Appellate Court Advocacy class to participate in the competition. This years 12 semi-finalists included: Richard Chandler, Erica Chavez, Hillary Cohn, Grant Fevurly, Jonathan Geiger, Katie Gray, Jason Greene, Gordon Hadfield, Rachel Mentz, Trina Ruhland, Ben Schler, and Ashley Spicer. The first round of arguments took place on Saturday, April 19, where 6 finalists were selected to compete in the final rounds. Those finalists included: Hillary Cohn, Gordon Hadfield, Rachel Mentz, Trina Ruhland, Ben Schler, and Ashley Spicer. The finals were held in the Wittemyer Courtroom on Monday, April 21, where Ashley Spicer won the competition and runner-up honors went to Ben Schler. The judges presiding on the bench were third-year Moot Court Board members Todd Blair, Melanie Jordan, Ben Meade, Grant Sullivan, Trevor Updegraff, and Michael Wautlet.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Imparts Wisdom to Students

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law and the Center of the American West collaborated to sponsor a visit by former Justice Sandra Day OConnor. Having stepped down from office, the U.S. Supreme Court's 102nd Justice and its first female member spoke candidly about her place in history. In her private talk at the law school today, she discussed her career, advising students to take opportunities even if it is not a top position right away. Students asked questions about her Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action, taxes, and Indian law. Justice OConnor also spoke about the rule of law and independent judiciary, citing differences in state judiciary systems and opining about recent state proposals. She advised students to care about the judiciary in the stare youre in and encourage them to be responsible, impartial, and fair. Justice O'Connor is a native westerner and the coauthor of the memoir Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest, a collaboration between Justice O'Connor and her brother Alan that recounts their experiences growing up on a ranch along the Arizona-New Mexico border. The Center presented her with the 2008 Wallace Stegner Award, given to individuals who have contributed to the culture and identity of the American West.

Professor Hart Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Associate Professor Melissa Hart filed an amicus brief in the case of Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville that will appear before the United States Supreme Court next term. The case looks at the issue of whether an employee is entitled to legal protection from retribution following an employer-initiated investigation into accusations of sexual harassment. The brief looks at the social science aspect and specifically at the research that illustrates the residual damage from sexual harassment, the reluctance and fear of victims in reporting sexual harassment, and the role employers can play in dissuading harassment and support the reporting of harassment. The brief was filed on behalf of the National Womens Law Center and 31 other organizations including the AARP, the ACLU, and the National Partnerships for Women and Families.

Urban and Indoor Air Pollution in Developing World Discussed by CEES

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Laws Center for Energy and Environmental Security and Camco Global hosted a discussion last night on urban and indoor pollution problems in the developing world. The "Fuel For Life: Energy Justice For The Developing World" conference featured leading innovators and entrepreneurs working to address urban and indoor air pollution in the developing world through improved transportation and cooking technologies. "Cooking is a universal part of life, but for the over 1.5 billion people who depend on coal and traditional biomass for their indoor cooking and boiling of water, it is also a source of disease and death," said Professor Lakshman Guruswamy, director of the center. "Pollution from cooking on an open fire or with a traditional stove results in the premature death of over 1.5 million children and women from pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, lung cancer and asthma, and also causes chronic respiratory ailments and debilitating sickness." Speakers included Professor Bryan Willson and Paul Hudnut. Willson is a professor of mechanical engineering at Colorado State University and founder of the school's Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory. He is also the founder and co-founder of numerous sustainable energy companies and nonprofits, including Solix Biofuels and Envirofit International. Hudnut is founder of CSU's Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Program, co-director of the school's Global Innovation Center for Energy, Health and the Environment and co-founder of Envirofit International. He also teaches entrepreneurship at the College of Business. According to Guruswamy, both Willson and Hudnut are pioneering the design of retrofits that dramatically reduce pollution caused by millions of two-stroke engine vehicles. They estimated they could reduce two-stroke pollution by 90 percent using clean, fuel-efficient direct injection technology. Two-stroke engines emit extremely high levels of particulates that annually result in thousands of deaths, many more thousands of cases of respiratory illness and other social and environmental ills in Asian cities, said Guruswamy.

CU Law to Host 2009 National NALSA Moot Court Competition

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

CU Law to Host 2009 National NALSA Moot Court Competition Colorado Law, along with the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, have won the bid to co-host the 2009 National Native American Law Students Association annual moot court competition. The bid award was made at the NNALSA annual conference in Albuquerque in early April of this year. The competition is scheduled to take place in late February 2009, and will be held in various loctions throughout the Wolf Law Building. Gerald Harris, president of Colorado Laws NALSA says, Whats really exciting is that the competition, as good as we hope it turns out to be, will be but a part of a larger event that will include an Indian law conference, cultural events, and much more. Recent host law schools include Arizona State (2008), University of Minnesota (2007), and UCLA (2006). Approximately 60-80 teams are expected to compete, but the number could be as high as 100. Harris also says that more information on volunteer opportunities will be sent out later this year.

Federal Broadband Policy Needed: Editorial by Professor Weiser

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

An editorial by Professor Phil Weiser titled Broadband For All in todays Rocky Mountain News. Read full article. By all accounts, broadband is the fastest growing consumer electronics technology in U.S. history. Nonetheless, other countries have enjoyed faster growth in their adoption of broadband, spurring concerns that the U.S. is losing its status as a leader in the Internet age. There are a number of reasons why the international comparisons are questionable, but those reasons do not justify the lack of federal policy leadership in this area. As many have observed, the Bush administration has largely failed to develop any framework for broadband policy. This policy of benign neglect is most unfortunate because broadband is not just like any consumer electronics technology. Rather, it provides a crucial platform for delivering education (bringing advanced courses into every home and school), providing health care (allowing doctors to offer diagnoses at a distance), and driving economic development (enabling Internet-based businesses to be located anywhere). Thankfully, Gov. Bill Ritter recognized the importance of broadband deployment in his Colorado Promise, calling for the development of a Broadband Infrastructure Task Force to develop a strategy for addressing the issue. This task force is now up and running as a part of the Governor's Innovation Council. In my view, however, allowing another three or five or seven years to lapse before deciding to take action is not a risk we should take. If we do, we will ensure that young, talented individuals will not locate in areas not served by broadband and that those who are already there will leave them, thereby undermining Colorado's standing vis-a-vis other states and in the world economy more generally.

Law Topics at Conference on World Affairs

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

This week, CU-Boulder hosted the epic, 60th Annual Conference on World Affairs, bringing hundreds of impressive speakers on almost any imaginable topic to the campus. A number of law-related lectures took place at the Wolf Law Building, including: Oh, SCHIP!! Desperate for Health Care Panelists: Peter G. Bourne, Sandra Person Burns, Mike Franc, John K. Zwerling, Moderator: Richard Valenty ARIA Inside the Courtroom Panelists: John K. Zwerling Moderator: David Getches The Death Penalty on Trial Panelists: Lou Dubose, Mike Farrell, John K. Zwerling Moderator: Michael Radelet In the Flesh: Human Trafficking Panelists: Shahnaz Bukhari, Charles Jess, Judith Morrison, Joy Zarembka Moderator: Dorothy Rupert Beyond the Fence: Immigration Solutions Panelists: Lou Dubose, Judith Morrison, Antonio Sacre, Isaiah (Ike) Wilson, III Moderator: Christina Fiflis DUET Tobacco Litigation: Justice Department Blowing Smoke Panelists: Sharon Eubanks, Peter Pringle Moderator: Emily Calhoun

Attorney Training Program in Family Law

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

The Colorado Supreme Court and Office of the Childs Representative, in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Childrens Law Center at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and University of Colorado Law Schools Juvenile Law Clinic, held the third annual multidisciplinary attorney training program yesterday. The competition consisted of settlement conferences and a mock trial in a fictional termination of parental rights case to cultivate well-trained lawyers to be able to meet the complex legal needs of children and families. Local youth were used as jurors for the trials. This training program was created from the Colorado Judicial Branchs Court Improvement Program, which recognizes the importance of family law education.

Clinical Program Receives $20K from Alumnus Settlement

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Alumnus Glen Gordon 90 was plaintiffs class counsel in a 12-year disability rights lawsuit against the Colorado Department of Revenue for its practice of charging people who applied for handicapped parking placards. As part of the settlement of the class action, Gordon successfully requested that the court allocate a portion of cy pres funds ($20,000) to Colorado Laws Clinical Education Program. The Clinic will use the funds to cover expenses in its work to help people applying for Social Security disability benefits whose claims have been denied. Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Programs Deborah Cantrell said she was thrilled when she found out about the cash infusion.

Guest Hayden Gore Speaks on Fujimori Trial in Peru

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MST

Hayden Gore of the Denver Justice and Peace Committee was invited by Visiting Associate Professor Hannah Garry to speak today at Colorado Law on the ongoing Alberto Fujimori trial in Peru. He recently spent February in Peru observing the trial of former President Alberto Fujimori and accompanying the family members of the victims from the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta University massacres for which Fujimori stands accused. Mr. Gore provided an insider's view into the recent developments of the court case, shared his reflections on the testimony of the death squad agents that carried out the massacres, and described the events that lead up to this historic trial. For background on the case against Fujimori, read Mr. Gores blog about the trial for Amnesty International USA.

Students Teach Consumer Skills to Public

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Law hosted the First Annual Consumer Skills Seminar, Be a Savvy Consumer, which was offered to the public jointly by the Boulder Community Housing Authority (BCHA) and Professor Amy Schmitzs Consumer Empowerment Service-Learning Seminar at Colorado Law. The seminar focused on how to be a savvy consumer in areas such as apartment leasing, automobile purchases, online contracts, and more. Law students covered each topic using a booklet they wrote, How to be a Savvy Consumer, which BCHA and other local organizations will distribute to Boulder County consumers. More than 20 community residents attended the four-hour seminar, along with numerous government and non-profit officials. This seminar benefits all involved because it provides outreach and service to the community while significantly enhancing students understanding and analysis of the law in action said Professor Schmitz. Her Consumer Empowerment course is part of a series of service learning courses she has taught over the past several years. Christopher Hudak of BCHA echoed Professor Schmitzs sentiments, stating, We are truly grateful to Colorado Law and their students. This seminar highlighted some of the issues of the growing economic crisis with which our community is grappling, and we were happy that the law school has joined in Boulder County's efforts to inform consumers about community resources for dealing with some tough consumer issues. Jill Kenney, a second-year law student, gave a presentation regarding manufactured homes, a topic that is critical to consumer protection. For me, this was truly an enlightening experience. Im glad I could help prepare members of our community so they can better protect themselves.

Financial Literacy Bill: Editorial by Professor Schmitz

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MST

Professor Amy Schmitzs editorial titled SPEAKOUT: Let's Help Our Kids Learn Financial Ropes appeared in todays Rocky Mountain News. Read the complete editorial. April is Financial Literacy Month. President Bush is currently touting his establishment of a President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy. Meanwhile, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter also has noted the importance of educating our children to live and work in today's market, proposing his Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids. But despite such initiatives, Colorado's financial literacy bill seems to have fallen off the radar screen. Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of legislators proposed House Bill 1168 requiring addition of financial literacy content to K-12 math classes in Colorado's schools. News stories lauded the bill, and everyone from bankers to students testified in support of it at committee hearings. They all stressed the necessity for financial education in the schools to equip Colorado's youth with the tools for survival in today's economy. The bill nonetheless lingers in the Appropriations Committee with little sign of life. We need to do more as a state. If passed, HB 1168 would require Colorado to invest state economic and human resources in establishing usable model standards and materials for K-12 math classes. To be sure, the bill's $550,000 price tag appears hefty, but policy-makers may be able to conserve costs by borrowing from other states' programs and building on model standards that Jump$tart, the National Council on Economic Education and others already have developed. Moreover, investing in financial literacy education will pay huge dividends for our state's financial future. Indeed, we simply cannot afford to send our youth into today's economic jungle without adequate educational protection.

Alumnus Produces Death Penalty Film

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Law alumnus Douglas Bry 78 has produced The Life Penalty, a film about the death penalty and specifically about the jury selection work of another Colorado Law alumnus David Wymore 76, who successfully exonerated Timothy Masters, a Fort Collins resident who had been convicted in 1998 for the murder of Peggy Hettrick. Wymore worked tirelessly for three years along with co-counsel Maria Liu, eventually gaining Masters freedom through the use of DNA evidence. The film was shown as part of the Boulder International Film Festival and the South Africa International Film Festival. It is available as part of the 4 Disc DVD set, The Life Penalty and Selecting a Colorado Jury, approved by the Colorado Supreme Court for 13 CLE credits. Proceeds will go to the David Wymore College of Criminal Defense and Jury Selection, which is being coordinated by Associate Clinical Professor Ann England. Visit their website to see a preview of the film and to order.

"Political Vets Square Off in Colorado" Editorial by Professor Moss

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

Associate Professor Scott Moss discusses the political candidates in Colorado in an editorial titled Political Vets Square Off in Colorado, printed in todays Politico website. He explains that Colorado is emerging as the classic purple state, neither reliably Democrat blue nor Republican red on the political map. He makes not that a Senate Democratic win could give Colorado an all-Democratic slate of the top three officeholders (governor and senators) just four years after an all-Republican top three. Moss mentions Bush, Ritter, Salazar, Udall, Schaffer, and Coors.

1st Place Winner in Regional Constitutional Moot Court Competition

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Laws third-year students Cash Parker and Patrick Thiessen won the regional round of the American Constitution Society Constance Baker Motley Moot Court Competition held at Georgetown Law School this past weekend. The team will travel back to Washington D.C. in June to compete in the final national competition against a team from University of CaliforniaBerkeley School of Law. The judges for the final round at Georgetown were Judge Henry Kennedy from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge Vanessa Ruiz from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and Lisa Brown, ACS Executive Director and former Counsel to Vice-President Al Gore.

Technology Law & Policy Clinic Goes to Washington DC for Spring Break

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

Second year law student Paul Shoning summarized how he spent his 2008 spring break: Spring break. While most law students enjoyed a week off from classes before starting the push toward final exams, students from Colorado Laws Samuelson-Glushko Technology Law & Policy Clinic (TLPC) received a behind-the-scenes look at regulatory and legislative advocacy. Four TLPC students joined Associate Clinical Professor Brad Bernthal and Silicon Flatirons Fellow Jill Van Matre in Washington, DC, for meetings with legal advisors at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), legislative aids on Capitol Hill, and other communications industry insiders. The trip was made possible by a generous donation from Patton Boggs. The TLPC met people with unsurpassed expertise ranging from a former FCC Chairman Dick Wiley of Wiley Rein, to FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate, to the Chief of the FCCs Office of Engineering and Technology Julius Knapp, to majority counsel for the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Students had the opportunity to lead ex parte meetings at the FCC. Additional discussions with legislative aids and Congressional staffers yielded a valuable understanding of the inner workings of the legislative process. Perhaps most inspiring was the realization that an independent legal clinic like the TLPC can provide a valuable service to policy-makers who often lack the time or resources to conduct their own rigorous and even-handed policy analysis. A final highlight of our trip was a TLPC dinner with the growing contingent of Alumni and Friends of CU Law School in DC. Nick Alexander (Class of 01), who was instrumental in coordinating several DC meetings, joined roughly 15 alumni and friends of the Silicon Flatirons Center for the dinner. As Colorado Law continues to build a national reputation for technology policy expertise, we look forward to expanding this growing network.

27th Alumni Awards Banquet - Ritter, Pelican, and King

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

The 27th Annual University of Colorado Law School Alumni Awards Banquet, the law alumnis signature event, was held on the evening of Thursday, March 20, at the Hyatt Regency Denver. In addition to being the largest awards banquet ever430 people in attendancethe banquet showcased three exceptional award recipients, inspiring speakers, and a wonderful new venue. Thanks to a record $78,000 in sponsorships from the law schools many friends and supporters, the Law Alumni Scholarship will receive more than $41,000. Thank you especially to our Lead Sponsors: Arnold & Porter, Faegre & Benson, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Otten Johnson Robinson Neff & Ragonetti, and Wheeler Trigg Kennedy. Following an hors d'oeuvre happy hour in the hotels Capital Foyer, guests were welcomed into the dining hall. Kara Veitch, the Law Alumni Board Chair, opened the banquet and Brian Meegan, the Banquet Chair and Chair Elect, thanked the 40 sponsors, advertisers, and in-kind donators, and past alumni board members. Following a fabulously presented three-course dinner, Dean David Getches welcomed guests, reviewed Colorado Laws accomplishments over the past year and paid special tribute to former Dean and Professor Emeritus Don Walter Sears. Pat Furman (Class of 80) presented David Barash who gave a special heart-felt tribute to his brother Daniel B. Barash (Class of 02), for which 1,000 donors have contributed more than $500,000 for a scholarship in his name. Peter C. Dietze (Class of 62) presented Neil C. King (Class of 56) with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Solo/Small Firm Practitioner for being one of Boulder, Colorado's most recognized legal figures in the areas of land use and real estate development. John Suthers (Class of 77) presented Judge Steven T. Pelican (Class of 71) with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Judiciary. He is one of the highest rated judges by attorneys and non-attorneys in the Fourth Judicial District (Colorado Springs) during his 22 years on the bench. Dean Getches introduced former CU President Hank Brown (Class of 69) and thanked him for all that he had done for CU in a time of need, for which the audience gave him a standing ovation. President Brown introduced Governor Bill Ritter (Class of 81) with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service and Governor Ritter spoke about the importance of his legal education with teaching him how to think and learn. Dean Getches said, The quality of the award winners this year eminds us that our most important mission is developing and inspiring young people to become leaders of our profession. All recipients were accompanied by their adoring families, which they each thanked for their support. The banquet was a huge success because of the dedication of our great alumni!

2nd Congressional District Candidates Debate Energy Issues

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

Last night at Colorado Law, Colorados Second Congressional District candidates Joan Fitz-Gerald (D), Jared Polis (D), and Will Shafroth (D) squared off in a debate over what the United States should do to achieve energy security and halt global warming. At the time, there was no Republican candidate in the race for the congressional seat now held by Mark Udall. With about 300 in attendance at the event sponsored by Colorado Laws Center for Energy & Environmental Security (CEES), each candidate described how the nations coal, oil, and gas might be converted into a renewable-energy civilization of the future. "The great thing about this election is that no one here is just horrible on this issue," Polis told the audience. "The real challenge will be to find the leadership to break the influence that the oil and gas industry wields in Congress." Fitz-Gerald mentioned the necessity for more R&D for coal. Polis does not believe that clean-coal technology is in our future. And Shafroth would oppose additional coal power plants until the technology reduces more carbon emissions. A video of the debate can be found on the CEES website.

American Constitutional Society Moot Court Competition

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

This past weekend, Colorado Law hosted the 2008 western regional Constance Baker Motley National Moot Court Competition in Constitutional Law. Apropos of the upcoming general elections and the fact that in 38 states judicial candidates must stand for election, the 24 student teams debated issues on state elections and their role in helping ensure a fair and independent judiciary. Almost 65 alumni and other members of the legal community¯including 15 members from the state and federal judiciary¯graciously volunteered to judge the competition. Many remarked about how impressed they were with the quality of the law students arguments. Professor Melissa Hart, a Steering Committee member for the Denver Lawyers Chapter of American Constitutional Society (ACS) and the faculty advisor for the law schools student chapter, organized the event. ACS named Colorado Law as the Student Chapter of the Week. The University of Colorado Law School did a spectacular job pulling together logistics for a Regional round of the 3rd Annual ACS Constance Baker Motley Moot Court Competition. Not only did they help organize and staff the event but also they were in the score room, tallying up scores and helping make sure everything ran smoothly. Holding the Moot Court competition was a huge endeavor that they handled effortlessly. But thats just icing on the cake for this chapter. This school year they have planned a number of excellent events for their student body, including a talk by Prof. David Cole on his book, Less Safe, Less Free, a discussion with Senior Judge John Kane of the U.S. District Court of Colorado on Endemic Secrecy in the Practice of Law and a preview of the Supreme Court docket with Professor Melissa Hart. ACS is a national organization of lawyers, judges, law students, and others interested in ensuring that the fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice enjoy a meaningful place in American law.

U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Holds Live Session

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit visited the law school again this year. Yesterday, judges and law clerks talked to students about the work of the court and the benefits of doing a judicial clerkship. Then the court held a live session, with Judges Timothy M. Tymkovich, Class of 1982, Neil M. Gorsuch, and James A. Parker from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by designation, presiding. The session gave students the opportunity to hear actual cases.

UN Assist. Secretary Gen. for Legal Affairs Johnson Talks about International Tribunals

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Law was very pleased to welcome the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Larry Johnson today for a talk on the role and efficacy of war crimes tribunals. Mr. Johnson was on the team that drafted the Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), creating the first war crimes tribunal since Nuremburg. That Statute became the blueprint for the Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia tribunals. In addition, Mr. Johnson works as a Professor of Global Affairs at NYU. He is also currently working on setting up the Lebanon tribunal. His talk The Proliferation of UN War Crimes Tribunals: What Works and What Doesn't? provided an overview of the objectives, legal basis, applicable law, composition, and financing of the tribunals, comparing and contrasting each. He noted that each tribunal is context-specific and has been set up accordingly. He also pointed out that the convictions and sentences of 70 people to date indicate the courts effectiveness. Tensions between defense rights and prosecutorial strategy on behalf of victims have hampered the tribunals efficiency at times. Nevertheless, he questioned whether they were any more expensive than domestic trials as has been claimed. The Doman International Law Society sponsored the talk.

ABA Awards Colorado Law with Bronze Key for Increased Membership

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

The American Bar Association awarded Colorado Law with this years Bronze Key award for having strengthened law student participation in the programs and activities of the ABA Law Student Division, and for having achieved the most improved Association/Division membership in the Fifteenth Circuit. The Bronze Key Award is one of ABAs Membership Awards awarded to schools by the circuit governor at each spring circuit meeting to the school representative with: the highest number of members at his/her school, the highest increase in members, and the highest percentage of members. Congratulations to all our students who participated in recent ABA events, said Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo. ABA membership and participation by Colorado Law students is an important aspect of active engagement in self-governance and policy decision-making in the legal profession. Our students presence and voice at the national level is reflective of their current and future stature in the profession. This award is testimony to their commitment to law in America.

Navajo Nation Supreme Court and Peacemaking Court Hold Sessions at Colorado Law

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

The Navajo National Supreme Court and Peacemaking Court, headquartered in Arizona, held special sessions in the Colorado Law Schools Wittemyer Courtroom this week. Mondays Mock Session of the Navajo Nation Peacemakers Court gave the audience insight into this renowned restorative justice program. Participants are treated as equals so to preserve relationships and restore harmony among the parties. There are no offenders or victim, and no plaintiffs or defendants. Peacemakers are the institutional keepers of the methods and principles of original dispute resolution, culture, and tradition in our justice system. There are 242 certified peacemakers at large in 110 Chapters. The Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation, the largest American Indian nation in the United States, is a three-member body that is their highest Native American judicial authority. The Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation rivals that of many busy states and municipalities, and handles more than 90,000 cases a year. It encompasses seven judicial districts, five of which have separate family courts. On Tuesday, the Navajo Nation Supreme Court heard the case of Gishie v. Morris about Tribal jurisdiction over a Navajo allotment dispute. The Honorable Chief Justice Yazzie and the honorable Justices Alan Sloane and Eleanor Shirley presided. The issue was whether a Navajo Nation local grazing committee and the Navajo Office of Hearings and Appeals have jurisdiction to decide a dispute over fencing of an allotment, or whether it is exclusively a federal matter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Two other issues are involved in this case. First, in Navajo culture, land should go to the person who is going to get the most use out of it, not necessarily to the person who inherited it. Second, there has been a long-standing debate over Navajo sovereignty and federal government interference. Colorado Laws Native American Law Students Association sponsored the weeks events.

Rothgerber Moot Court - Gun Rights

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Law congratulates this years winners of the Rothgerber Moot Court competition. The respondents team of Abe Alexander, Grant Sullivan, and Mike Wautlett were victorious over the petitioners team of Courtney Kramer, Cash Parker, and Patrick Thiessen for the Best Team Award. Wautlett won the Austin W. Scott Best Oralist award. The competition was presided over by Judge John Webb, attorney Richard Schaden, and Professor Pat Furman. The case involved issues similar to those recently argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Moot Court case asked whether a law allowing guns to be registered lawfully only for law enforcement officers violates Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. A second issue was whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, which prohibits states from regulating transportation of property, preempted a states attempt to regulate delivery of ammunition.

Affirmative Action Debated

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 MST

Law Professors Robert Nagel and Melissa Hart, along with School of Education Professor Michele Moses and political consultant Brad Jones, debated on Affirmative Action last night at CU-Boulder. The 2-hour panel discussion, titled "Affirmative Action: Institutionalizing or Eliminating Racism?" is part of a series of discussion forums on current topics sponsored by University Libraries. The panelists discussed the role of affirmative action and other policies designed to address the historical legacy of racism and segregation, whether it is the role of government to "level the playing field," and if such policies are both effective and fair. There was also a lively debate about what schools like CU are in fact doing right now in terms of considering race or gender in their admissions and hiring processes. Panelists briefly discussed Initiative #31 and Initiative #61, the two alternative ballot measures that have been proposed for inclusion on Colorado's ballot in November 2008. Initiative #31 seeks to ban all "preferential treatment" by the state and mirrors initiatives that have passed in California, Michigan, and Washington in recent years. Initiative #61 seeks to offer a Colorado alternative that will eliminate illegal preferential treatment, but preserve the state's authority to offer modest equal opportunity programs consistent with the U.S. Constitution.

Students Support Adding a Public Service Graduation Requirement

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Law Schools students voted overwhelmingly this month in support of a public service requirement for graduation from the law school. Of the students that responded to a poll on the topic, 64% believe that public service should be part of the law school experience, and 59% believe that the service should be a mandatory graduation requirement. In early February, student leaders and the Public Interest Task Force distributed an on-line poll to all current Colorado Law students. The poll followed two public meetings held by the Task Force to describe its proposal for a public service graduation requirement. More than 50% of the student body responded to the poll, which asked whether the students supported a public service requirement, whether it should be mandatory, whether 30 hours over the course of law school was an appropriate target number, whether clinical work should count toward the requirement and whether completion of the requirement should be reflected on student transcripts. The Task Force recommended that Colorado Law adopt a public service requirement after the Task Force composed of students, administrators and faculty members spent a year studying trends in other law schools, arguments for and against a requirement, and different forms of public service programming. The model recommended by the Task Force mirrors one that has been successfully adopted at Harvard, the University of Washington, and the University of Denver law schools. It would require students to complete 30 hours of law-related public service work during their second and third years of law school. The proposal is now being considered by a faculty committee, and is likely to be considered by the full faculty in the next year. The broad student support for the idea of a public service requirement as an element of the curriculum at Colorado Law reflects trends around the nation. Many law schools have focused greater curricular and extracurricular attention on the public service obligations of members of the legal profession, spurred in part by student demand and in part by the urging of members of the Bar, who are themselves increasingly aware of the role pro bono work should play in a legal career. For more information, contact chair of the Public Interest Task Force, Professor Melissa Hart.

Kari Robinson Receives Proctor of the Year Award

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 MST

Kari Robinson, the Office Manager in the Deans Office, is the first recipient of the new building Proctor of the Year Award. CU-Boulders Facilities Management recognized Kari for her effectiveness as a proctor, her cooperation with our department, and all her efforts related to the move into the new Wolf Law Building. Director of Operations and Financial Management Dennis Russell says, Kari is really the pillar of operations for the law school. Join us in congratulating her and extending our gratitude for her dedication.

Assistant Dean Trujillo Speaks to Educations Impact on Quality of Life

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 MST

Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo was the keynote speaker today for the Annual Community Breakfast of the District 50 Education Foundation, addressing The Impact of Education on Quality of Life Economics and Health. Dean Trujillo explained to the audience of more then 800 that education has been linked to longer lives about race and income as a social factor. Life expectancy is extended simply by going to school for one extra year and compelling children to spend a longer time in school led to better health. The importance of school attendance to achievement, engagement, and educational success has been neglected in most education reform and prevention initiatives. Today, school districts around the nation are tackling the truancy problem by working jointly with courts, law enforcement, social service agencies, and parents to identify students at the first signs of unexcused absenteeism and ensuring that all individuals are involved in prevention, planning, and implementation of a truancy plan. The District 50 Education Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the educational opportunities in Adams County School District 50. The foundation provides grants and scholarships to staff and students enhancing their educational experiences.

American Indian Law Clinic Receives Diversity Service Recognition Award

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Laws American Indian Law Clinic will receive the 2008 CU Diversity Service Recognition Award presented by the Chancellors Advisory Committee on Minority Affairs on February 19. Under the creative and capable direction of Clinical Professor Jill Tompkins, the Clinic promotes diversity through its legal services and education. In addition, the Clinics campus-wide initiatives have included multiple panel discussions about tribal efforts to force the federal government to account for its handling of tribal trust funds, and a panel discussion about the impact of Indian gaming on tribal courts. Other recipients of this years award include CUs Office of Discrimination and Harassment, UMC Edge Team, Office of International Education, and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ron Stump. Please join us in congratulating Professor Tompkins and her students for their commendable work that has brought notable distinction to Colorado Law and its clinical education program, said Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo.

Professor Norton Testifies on Workplace Religious Freedom Act before House Subcommittee

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 MST

Professor Helen Norton testified today before the House Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions as an expert in constitutional law and employment discrimination on the pending Workplace Religious Freedom Act (HR 1431). Her testimony (1) explained her support for the bills overarching goal of amending Title VII to provide greater protections for workers religious practices, (2) expressed concern that the language as drafted may create significant conflicts with other persons important civil and health care rights, and (3) suggested some possible approaches for resolving those concerns. Professor Norton provided two possible approaches to resolving these concerns. One possible solution would revise H.R. 1431s definition of undue hardship to expressly provide that accommodations that impose an undue hardship include practices that conflict with employers legally-mandated or voluntarily-adopted antidiscrimination requirements or that delay or disrupt the delivery of health care services. Another approach might require an employer to accommodate the most frequently-requested accommodations and those that do not create conflicts of the sort described above unless it can show that the accommodation would pose an undue hardship as rigorously defined under H.R. 1431 as proposed. Professor Nortons testimony drew from her work as a law professor teaching and writing about constitutional law and employment discrimination issues, as well as her experience as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Department of Justice during the Clinton Administration, where her duties included supervising the Civil Rights Divisions Title VII enforcement efforts.

CU-Boulder Receives Presidential Award for Exemplary Community Service

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 MST

CU-Boulder was one of only three colleges and universities in the United States to receive a 2007 Presidential Award for General Community Service from the Corporation for National and Community Service, and sponsored by the Presidents Council on Service and Civic Participation, the USA Freedom Corps, and the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development. The Presidents Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes colleges and universities that support innovative and effective community service and service-learning programs. The Honor Roll's annual Presidential Award is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. An estimated 13,397 CU-Boulder students participate in some form of community service and 3,512 are engaged in academic service-learning, a teaching strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction. CU-Boulder is ranked third in the nation for the number of alumni currently serving as volunteers. Colorado Law students contribute more than 2,500 hours of pro bono work a year through legal clinic work, externships, and community volunteering. CU-Boulders Institute for Ethical and Civic Engagement (IECE) encourages and nurtures ethical and civic education at CU-Boulder, to prepare students for a lifetime of service to society as thoughtful, ethical and engaged citizens. It oversees seven programs and offers financial support to faculty members who integrate civic engagement into their coursework and academic projects. To date, IECE has funded the development and implementation of 21 civic engagement courses and projects.

Colorado Law Students Win 2nd Place in National Moot Court Competition

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Last night, for the first time in the law schools history, a Colorado Law team won second place in the nations most prestigious moot court competitionThe National Moot Court Competition. Since 1950, the New York City Bar and the American College of Trial Lawyers have sponsored the competition, where every year over 150 law schools compete in the regional rounds throughout the United States, and the winners advance to the final rounds held at the New York City Bar. After sweeping Novembers regional competition in Las Vegas, the Colorado Law team composed of third-year students Abe Alexander, Grant Sullivan, and Mike Wautlet was among the final top 28 teams that had competed in the 14 regional competitions held this fall. Their brief, ranked second in the regional competition and fourth in the national competition, was less than two points shy of the winning brief score. After defeating Campbell, University of Washington, Cardozo, and Duke law schools in the preliminary, octo-final, and quarter-final rounds, the Colorado Law team faced off against Chicago-Kent in the final round, where they were narrowly defeated. Mike Wautlet won the Second-Place Oralist Award. The final argument was judged by a seven-member panel that included judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the New York Court of Appeals, and the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, and the presidents of the New York City Bar Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers. Achievements of this magnitude do not come without immense effort and tremendous talent, said Gabrielle Marks Stafford, the Director of Colorado Laws Moot Court Programs and the faculty coach. Please join me in congratulating these students! Student coach Cash Parker, who won the second-place oralist award at the regional competition, traveled with the team and kept them on their toes between rounds. The final round can be viewed at the competitions website.

Dean Getches Receives Community Service Award

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

On Saturday night, Dean David H. Getches was presented the Community Service Award by the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association at their 2008 Annual banquet, titled Diversity and the Legal Profession: A Timeless Struggle. The prestigious Community Service Award is given to a non-profit organization or individual committed to providing services to benefit the Hispanic Community. Dean Getches many contributions were noted in his nominations and award presentation. Since his appointment as Dean of Colorado Law in 2003, Dean Getches has truly made a difference in the Hispanic community by his personal fortitude and commitment to Latino students, attorneys, judges, and the community at-large. During his tenure, the law school has increased its scholarship awards to law students from $600,000 in 2004 to $2.1 million in 2007. At the same time and without compromising entering student admission criteria, he has increased our Hispanic student enrollment to 40, which is one of the highest Hispanic student enrollments at the school in many years. This past year, he arduously worked to gain the passage of a state law to allow public universities to grant Loan Repayment Assistance Grants to graduates who enter into public interest legal careers. Then, he gained financial support to fund an endowment to award these grants to public interest graduates from Colorado Law. His hiring of diverse administrators has been truly commendable. His leadership team is among the most diverse in a law school in America today. In this past year, Dean Getches co-chaired and led the Dean's Diversity Summit to fruition. This was a major project of focus on the hiring of diverse candidates into law firms. Most significant was the major study of diversity in the legal profession that was completed as part of the project. Dean Getches publishes lectures and teaches on issues of environmental law and has guided national legislatures in Latin American countries in their consideration of legislation regarding water, air, and issues of pollution and use. This past year, he published significant works on environmental issues in Latin America with Latin American academics, most notable among them: Agua y Derecho: Políticas Hídricas, Derechos Consuetudinarios e Identidades Locales, with Rutgerd Boelens and Armando Guevara Gil. In 2006, the Hispanic National Bar Association recognized Dean Getches for his Notable Commitment to Diversity at Colorado Law and in the Legal Profession with the HNBA's President's Award. Photos of the event can be found at http://1focustree.smugmug.com/gallery/4249816#248767008.

Professor Stanford Levinson Proposes a New Constitutional Convention

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Professor Stanford Levinson was this years invited guest speaker at Colorado Laws 51st John R. Coen Lecture, titled Is it a Criticism or a Compliment to Describe the U.S. Constitution as 'Undemocratic? Professor Levinson discussed the need for a new constitutional convention in an effort to bring forth a better charter, as well as citizens need to treat the constitution as the revisable product of fallible human beings. Levinson is the W. St. John Garwood and W. St. John Garwood Centennial Chair in Law at the University of Texas School of Law, and is a Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Texas. His is the author of four books, including Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (and How We the People Can Correct It) (2006) and Wrestling with Diversity (2003).

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Services for Jennifer Shelton

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Services are tentatively scheduled for December 27 at the United Methodist Church in Parker, Colorado, for Jennifer Lee Shelton, a third-year law student who died unexpectedly on the evening of December 17. The law school will hold a memorial for Jenn once students return next semester. "A vibrant member of our community is gone and her classmates, friends, and professors are deeply distressed," stated Dean David Getches. "We have extended are heartfelt sympathy to the Shelton family. Jenn will be sorely missed." Colorado Law students held a vigil on December 18 for Jenn. Student Bar Association vice president Shanelle Kindel coordinated the informal vigil for the students in the law school café and 50-75 students showed up to support each other. Jonathan Allen, class of 09, said The vigil was an opportunity for all the students to come together and share their feelings and express their shock, confusion, and great sadness. Counselors were available at the university for those affected by Jennifers death. Questions and concerns regarding Jennifer and memorial services should be directed to Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo.

Professor Mueller Ranked #6 Evidence Scholar

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Congratulations to Professor Christopher Mueller who was listed as the 6th Most Cited Law Professor in the specialty area of Evidence by Leiters Law School Rankings. The listings are drawn from data collected in July 2007 about citations to faculty since 2000. Citations are defined as an article that references the scholar, not the number of references within an article. In addition, congratulations to Professor Pierre Schlag who was listed as a Runner Up in the Critical Theories specialty area.

Law Student Joe Neguse Running for Regent

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Joe Neguse is Class President for the Colorado Law Class of 2009. He is a first-generation-American, and he is running for a seat on the CU Board of Regents. He plans to visit every high school in his 2nd Congressional District, which includes central Colorado, encompassing areas northwest of Denver, including the city of Boulder. Neguse disagrees exempting tuition from revenue limits imposed by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). The Denver Post quotes him as favoring a designated funding stream for the state's colleges and universities without hefty tuition increases that mean people can't afford to go to the state's flagship institution. Read the Denver Post news article.

Colorado Law Welcomes New Assistant Dean for Career Development Susani Clayton

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Dean David Getches and Colorado Law is pleased to have Susani Clayton join the school as Assistant Dean for Career Development. She brings a wide range and depth of experiences that will help students and alumni as her office counsels and helps them with career options, networking skills, resumes, and interviewing techniques. I believe all of my career experience so far has prepared me and led me to this specific position, said Dean Clayton. She has served as legal counsel for a settlement consulting firm in Houston for 4 years and as an attorney at Holland & Hart for 20 years. There, she practiced Oil & Gas and Mining Law, was Of Counsel, Director of Attorney Recruitment and Professional Development, and Director of Diversity and Professional Development (one of the first such positions among law firms). At Holland & Hart, she was responsible for the recruitment, hiring, counseling, development, and retention of attorneys, and for guiding and assisting Holland & Hart to carry out its commitment to recruit, hire, retain and promote a diverse attorney workforce. She also provided diversity consulting to numerous Holland & Hart clients, other law firms, and corporations. Dean Clayton was the primary drafter of the original Colorado Pledge to Diversity, which was initiated by Holland & Hart and signed by 23 Denver law firms on April 7, 1993. She also served as co-chair of the Steering Committee for the original Colorado Pledge to Diversity Law Firm Group. Be sure to welcome Dean Clayton and make use of her invaluable knowledge.

Colorado Law Alumni Make List of Colorados Most Powerful People

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Law congratulates three alumni who received the ColoradoBiz magazines distinction to be one of Colorados most powerful people. Governor Bill Ritter (81) is not only new to the list this year, but is ranked #1. Norman Brownstein (68) and Steven Farber (68) are listed #2 this year, up from #7 last year. Click here to read the complete article.

Dems' Views on Court Missing in Debate, Editorial by Professor Moss

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Professor Scott Moss editorial about the Democratic presidential candidates and their stances on debate issues appeared in todays issue of The Rocky Mountain News. Read the full article. But the lack of any major ideological divide among the Democratic candidates is obscuring a few telling differences in their records - including in their attitude toward the Roe v. Wade abortion right - differences that have gone largely unnoticed in a campaign focused more on caucus date squabbles than our rights as citizens. Six of the nine justices will be over 70 during the next president's first term (four would be over 80 in a second term), so that president might reshape the Supreme Court. Given these stakes, we cannot ignore presidential candidates' differences on constitutional issues fundamental to their choice of federal judges who will determine our rights for decades.

Dean Matthew discusses Cyber Social Networking

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Today, Professor Dayna Bowen Matthew discussed privacy laws as part of a radio show about the rights and access parents, school officials, employers, and others have to Internet-based social networking profiles such as those on MySpace and Facebook. The show, title Cyber Social Networking, was broadcasted on KGNUs (88.5 FM Boulder) Overdub: Youth Culture Out Loud. The show discussed MySpace and asked the questions why has this modern form of communication become so popular? and should we be concerned about these virtual spaces and the types of interaction taking place? Professor Matthew's discussion grows out of a lecture she gave to high school students and administrators about how 4th Amendment law pertains to locker and personal searches on campus. Listen to the broadcast.

Professor Hart Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST

Associate Professor Melissa Hart filed an amicus brief today in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 48 historians in the case of CBOCS v. Humphries (No. 06-1431). The case raises the question whether 42 U.S.C. 1981(Equal rights under the law) permits claims for retaliation. The case will be argued on February 20, 2008. Professor Charles Ogletree and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute at Harvard Law School hired Professor Hart to author the brief. Several second-year students¾Warren Myers, Thea Mustari, and Jonathan Friesen¾helped with research on the brief, for which Professor Hart wrote as a pro bono project. Read the brief. Read the History News Network story about the brief

Former Dean and Professor Emeritus Don W. Sears Passes

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 MST

1921 - 2007 University of Colorado Professor Emeritus Don Walter Sears died on November 21, 2007. He was dean of the Colorado Law School from 1968 to 1973. In 1943, during the last semester of his senior year at Ohio State, he left college to enlist in the Army. He served with distinction and honor, earning a Purple Heart with Oak-Leaf Cluster and a Bronze Star with Oak-Leaf Cluster. Don married Eve Kathryn Willey on in 1946. He received his undergraduate degree and enrolled in Ohio State University Law School. He worked in private practice for two years and was re-commissioned in the US Air Force with the rank of Captain under the Judge Advocate Corps. In 1950, Don joined the University of Colorado Law School faculty. For the next 50 years, Don was as an educator, writer, arbitrator, and administrator. He chaired almost every Law School committee, many at CU, and in state and federal government. While Dean, he was instrumental in securing funds from the legislature to complete renovation and new construction on the Fleming Law building, and received the CU Recognition Medal from the Regents in 1975. He also received the Associated Alumni Robert L. Stearns Award in 1967. He served as a member of the Colorado Bar Ethics Committee for 40 years, Colorado Supreme Court Grievance Committee, Boulder County Bar Association, National Academy of Arbitrators, and a Major League Baseball arbitrator. He co-authored and edited labor law books, and authored numerous publications and speeches on Labor law, Arbitration and Professional Responsibility, Security Law and the Uniform Commercial Code. Three major awards established in his name include Colorado Law Schools Don W. Sears Award and Don Sears Diversity Scholarship, and Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committees Don W. Sears Award for Ethical Enhancement of the Legal Profession in Colorado. Eve K. Sears, his wife of 60 years, preceded him in death on October 2005. He is survived by his children Stephanie Volkman, Lance Sears (75), Don C. Sears, Shannon Chinatti, and Kathleen Sears 9 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Professor Bill Pizzi wrote the following about Dean Sears, Don was a major influence on me almost from the time I arrived at CU in 1975. He was a great raconteur and I enjoyed hearing all about his early years in Ohio, his meeting Eve, and his military service. We talked about the law school, teaching, early years in practice, the fun of deaning, Ohio State, running, and lots of other topics. I will always be deeply grateful for his friendship, for all he did for me, and for all that he taught me by the way he lived his life. A wake and memorial service was held for Don and Eve Sears on December 16, 2007, at the Folsom Stadium Club Suites on the CU-Boulder campus. His family requests that contributions in memory of Don Sears be made to: Don W. Sears Scholarship Fund c/o University of Colorado Foundation 4740 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80301 Make checks payable to: University of Colorado Foundation and notate Fund number 0154327. To read an account of his life, visit the Daily Camera article and Denver Post article.

Professor Davidson Discusses Adverse Possession on Radio

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 MST

This morning on KGNU (88.5 FM Boulder), Professor Nestor Davidson discussed adverse possession laws as part of a show about the high-profile adverse-possession land case in south Boulder. The broadcast included excerpts from a pre-recorded rare interview with Dick McLean and Edith Stevens conducted by producer Shelley Schlender. McLean and Stevens successfully sued Don and Susie Kirlin for a large section of the Kirlins' vacant lot next door, and now the case is going to the court of appeals. Listen to the broadcast.

Professor Ohm Interviewed on NPR

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 MST

National Public Radio (NPR) interviewed Professor Paul Ohm today as part of their story on the text messaging privacy debate at a Colorado high school. The story, titled Text Privacy Issue Heats Up at Colorado School, quoted Ohm as saying, Colorado has a history of taking privacy matters seriously: State law prohibits the recording of electronic communication without the consent of the sender. Schools can't look in backpacks or purses based on completely a lack of suspicion. Listen to the NPR story online.

CEES Highlighted in Hispanic Outlook Magazine

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 MST

The Center for Energy & Environmental Security (CEES) and one of their research assistants Katherine Peters were the focus of a December 3rd Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine article, Energy & Environmental Security: CUs Possible Dream. CEES responds to the global energy crisis and to guide the international community towards a future based in sustainable energy and development. Katherine Peters defined sustainable energy by explaining by shifting away from carbon-based energy sources and by increasing energy efficiency, we can continue to use enough energy to sustain our society without the disastrous effects of our current energy usage. The idea for the center was started by faculty members Dr. Lakshman Guruswamy and Kevin Doran Guruswamy in 2004, and now the center has more than a dozen grants, 15 ongoing projects, and 30 interns and 3 staff who devote more than 400 hours a week toward center projects. Their research ranges from researching treaties to finding statutes that affect Colorados energy usage to analyzing executive orders and Supreme Court cases. A few projects are the Colorado Energy Profile, International Sustainable Energy Assessment (ISEA), Presidential Climate Action Plan, Colorado Hydro-Energy Storage Project, and International Project for Energy Commitments and Compliance (IPECC). Peters says, We are a politically neutral organization. Politically neutral does not mean that we stay away from politics.

Law Students Win in Colorado Supreme Court

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 MST

Today, the American Indian Law Clinic won its appeal in the Colorado Supreme Court in a case concerning a contested guardianship of an American Indian child, In the Matter of J.C.T. The Court reversed the decision of the Court of Appeals and upheld the rulings of the Denver Probate Court finding that it was an appropriate exercise of the Probate Courts authority to consider the potential of a prospective guardian to be an adoptive parent. This decision will allow the boy to finally be adopted after being under various guardianships for 10 years. Ann Rhodes (07) did an outstanding job of briefing the case on the boys tribes behalf. Professor Jill Tompkins argued the case. Maggie Wetmore (05) was the student attorney who handled the complex trial-level work. Click here for the opinion. Rhodes, along with co-counsel Celene Sheppard (08) also successfully briefed and argued another appeal to the Colorado Court of Appeals, In the Matter of N.B., involving a contested stepparent adoption case under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Click here for the opinion. Bonnie Sarkar (06) and Lauren Templeton (06) handled the three day trial before the District Court. A petition for certiorari to the Colorado Supreme Court is pending however (the Clinic filed its opposition). Student attorneys Sylvia Curley (08) and Jay Perry (09) are working on the Supreme Court phase of the case currently. A third ICWA case involving a young American Indian girl who is the subject of a dependency and neglect action has been appealed by the Clinic on behalf the girls tribe to the Colorado Court of Appeals and briefing is underway. Melissa Pingley ('08) is the student attorney handling the appeal. Congratulations to the hard-working, smart, and dedicated clinic student attorneys of the Clinic. They are breaking new legal ground in Colorado and helping to protect the future of American Indian children, their families, and their tribes.

Red Lodge Clearinghouse Launches Series on Environmental Problem-Solving Tools

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 MST

December 4, 2007-- The Red Lodge Clearinghouse, a website project managed by the Natural Resources Law Center of the University of Colorado Law School, has launched a new series on providing tools for anyone seeking to address environmental problems. In the first edition of this new Series, the Clearinghouse (www.redlodgeclearinhouse.org.) addresses how to work with the federal notice and comment processes. Viewers are provided a primer on how to work within the process, tips on how to write effective comments, an interview with a federal official responsible for running a comment process, as well as links to additional resources. The Red Lodge Clearinghouse provides resources to individuals and groups in their efforts to address their environmental challenges through collaboration stories, funding information, the Collaboration Handbook, summaries of legislation and regulations, and up-to-date news. With the initiation of this Series, the Clearinghouse seeks to explicitly explore the process of collaborationin its many forms and applications as well as other approaches that may accompany, enhance, or even replace a collaborative process. Future editions of the series will provide information on public hearings, meetings, field trips and open houses; administrative protests and appeals; alternative dispute resolution; legislation; litigation; and collaboration. For each of these topics, the Clearinghouse will evaluate the risks and benefits of these approaches, provide examples of their successes and failures, and illustrate lessons learned. The Red Lodge Clearinghouse is devoted to supporting, connecting, and informing the many collaborative initiatives, community groups and individuals that are addressing natural resource problems in their communities.

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST

Juvenile and Family Law Program Hosts Groundbreaking Strategic Planning Workshop

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST

Today, approximately 65 judges, magistrates, legislators, practitioners, foster youth, academics, case workers, and CASA volunteers participated in a strategic planning workshop to address Colorados implementation of Senate Bill 226. The Juvenile and Family Law Program teamed up with Bridging the GapMile High United Way, the State Court Administrators Office, the Office of the Childs Representative, and the National Association of Counsel for Children to host the workshop. The new state law requires that in permanency hearings in dependency and neglect proceedings the court must consult with youth in an age appropriate manner concerning the proposed permanency plan. The goal of the workshop was to help participants develop a plan for implementing the law that would work best in their area, given the unique needs of the location. The broad language of SB 226 raises numerous questions, such as how to develop a process that incorporates this requirement, how to make good use of everyones time, how to prepare the youth for the hearing, how to identify a youths needs, and how and when to bring in support people to the hearing. After a morning of presentations by experts in the field, workshop participants broke into three working groups to address these issues.

Columbia Law Professor Kent Greenawalt Speaks on Equality and the Religion Clauses

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST

University Columbia Law School Professor Kent Greenawalt, a nationally celebrated scholar on law and religion, presented a lecture this evening based on his many scholarly works, including his recent book Religion and the Constitution: Volume I: Free Exercise of Religion. The lecture was sponsored by Colorado Laws Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law and the CU Political Science Departments Keller Center for the First Amendment.

Colorado Law Moot Court Teams Win National Competition

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST

For the first time in memorable history, both Colorado Law School moot court teams of third-year students made it to the final round of the Region XI New York City Bar National Moot Court Competition. The students performed masterfully at the regional rounds of the Competition in Las Vegas in November. The unprecedented face-off between the two Colorado teams was a remarkable sight, as both sides wowed the judges with their command of the law and ability to parry difficult questions. The Respondents team of Abe Alexander, Grant Sullivan, and Mike Wautlet won the entire regional competition by a razor-thin margin and will advance to the national round in New York in January. The Petitioners team of Courtney Kramer, Cash Parker, and Patrick Thiessen was the second-place team. The Best Oralist Award for the competition went to Wautlet, who argued both the Petitioners and Respondents sides of a difficult preemption issue. The Second-Place Oralist Award went to Parker, who argued the Petitioners and Respondents sides of an equally difficult Second Amendment issue. In addition, as a testament to their prodigious writing talents, the Petitioners team won the Second Place Brief Award, and the Respondents team won the Third-Place Brief Award. Director of the Moot Court Programs, Professor Gabrielle Stafford, coached the teams with the assistance of John Poor.

Texas School of Law Professor Bruce Kramer is Inaugural Schultz Lecturer

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 MST

The Schultz Lectureship Fund was created this year by the generosity of John H. (53) and Cynthia H. Schultz to support a lecture each year by scholars in the fields of oil and gas, energy, or natural resources law. The inaugural speaker was Bruce Kramer, who spoke on Split Estates: A New Equilibrium between Surface and Mineral Owners. Kramer is the Maddox Professor of Law at Texas Tech University School of Law and the co-author of a four-volume treatise titled The Law of Pooling and Unitization and a casebook titled Cases and Materials on Oil and Gas Law. He is a trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation and chair of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Local Government of the Center of American and International Law.

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Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Weiser to Co-Chair Gov. Ritters Innovation Council

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Phil Weiser will serve as co-chair of Colorados first Innovation Council to spur advances in Colorado's technology sector by expanding and growing opportunities for the 3,800 high-tech businesses and 175,000 IT/software employees in this state. The Council is one part of Gov. Bill Ritters new comprehensive high-tech initiative to consolidate and reform state government's fractured information technology operations. The Governor issued an "Improving State Information Technology Management" executive order in May. The Innovation Council is bringing together 34 leaders from around Colorado, composed of experts from large, small, urban, and rural technology businesses, as well as leaders in the venture capital, government, academic, and nonprofit sectors. The council will have three primary subcommittees that will: Assist the state as it reforms and improve its use of information technology Develop a strategy for spurring broadband deployment throughout the state Support state government's economic development efforts for the technology sector The council will be co-chaired by venture capitalist Brad Feld, managing director of the Foundry Group; entrepreneur Juan Rodriguez, who founded StorageTek and Exabyte; and Phil Weiser. The Council's executive committee will include Cathy Fogler of Charter Communications; Su Hawk, president of CSIA; and Lee Kennedy, founder of TriCalyx. "Our state must develop a robust and ubiquitous broadband infrastructure to support an array of applications that will transform how the people of Colorado work, learn and play," Weiser said. "Deploying broadband to unserved areas of Colorado is a make-or-break issue for the state. We cannot afford to leave Colorado citizens or businesses behind as other states and countries adopt broadband connections and applications that catapult them ahead in the 21st Century economy."

U.S. Court of Federal Claims Meet at Colorado Law

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 MDT

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims, also known as "the People's Court," held its 20th Judicial Conference October 10-11 at the Law School. During the "Claims Against the Sovereign" meeting, Chief Judge Edward J. Damich and 23 other active federal court judges from the historic Washington, DC, participated in moot courts and simulated court proceedings. There were also presenters and attendees from government, academia, non-profits, and law firms. Discussion topics included "Water, Water Everywhere and Every Drop to Sue" about water property rights and the intersection of state and federal laws, taking versus contract water claims, Indian water rights and global warming and water scarcity. Other topics included "Taking of Private Property: Impact of Recent Decisions" and "Tribal Claims Against the United States" in which Professor Charles Wilkinson gave the concluding presentation on the future of Indian nations and the Federal government. In addition, three of our alumni were included in the program. Terry Petrie ('82) of the U.S. Department of Justice's Natural Resources Section provided an attorney sanctions hearing with a technology demonstration. Nancie G. Marzulla ('83) of Marzulla Law in Washington, DC, and Bennett Raley ('83) of Trout, Raley, Montaño, Witwer & Freeman in Denver, CO, served on the "Water, Water Everywhere" panel. Founded in 1855, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims is one of the nation's oldest courts. Its role is integrally related to the fundamental principle of the U.S. Constitution that individuals have rights against the government.

Alumna Ruth Wright (72) Recognized by Perus President

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Perus President Alan Garcia awarded alumna Dr. Ruth Wright (72), and husband Kenneth Wright, the Order of Merit for Distinguished Services today in Lima, Peru. The recognition was for contributions to the Peru cultural patrimony through archaeological investigations and publications. The Wrights have researched and disseminated countless technological achievements in their more than 12-year effort to mobilize multidisciplinary teams and relieve the costly investigations in Machu Picchu, Tipon, and Moray. The Wrights were presented with medals on behalf of Wright Water Engineers and Wright Paleohydrolic Institute for which they are both Directors. We all felt that the medals should have been awarded to the Inca civil engineers some five centuries ago, stated Kenneth R. Wright, P.E. The Foreign Minister Jose Belaunde, who presented the medals, made evident his interest in Perus ancient civil engineering achievements and what can be learned from careful study of prehistoric water works. Ruth Wright is a lawyer and renowned photographer. She also has been a Colorado legislator and promoted cultural activities through publications on the archaeological heritage of Machu Picchu.

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Assistant Dean Trujillo Named Latino Lawyer of the Year and Receives Leadership Award

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 MDT

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) has named Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo (93) as the 2007 Latino Lawyer of the Year. He will be presented with the award at the 2007 HNBA Annual Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on October 3-7. His numerous positions in the past few years have included the HNBA General Counsel, HNBA Regional President, and the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association President. In addition, Dean Trujillo has taught Spanish for Family Law Practice at Colorado Law, which provides Spanish-speaking students with vocabulary, legal-drafting skills, and a working knowledge of Spanish to enable them to serve Hispanic families. He co-authored a brief that convinced the American Bar Association to change their diversity language for accrediting law schools from efforts to diversity to commitment that is demonstrated by concrete action. The 2000 recipient Judge Gilbert M. Roman, who nominated Trujillo, said, Lorenzos advocacy for Latinos is well documents in Colorado. Dean Trujillo has successfully fought numerous battles on behalf of non-English speaking children in addition to going before the Colorado Supreme Court twice to argue against initiatives forcing non-English speaking children in public schools into a on-year immersion program. In addition to this great honor, the CU Hispanic Alumni Association presented Dean Trujillo the 2007 Leadership Award at the September 29th CU Homecoming Reunion. The Board of Directors stated that he demonstrated by example his commitment to higher education. At Colorado Law, we are indebted to Lorenzo Trujillo for making the School attractive and friendly to Latino students who come from across to United States to study law here, said Dean David Getches. He is a champion of diversity in the legal profession and his hard work in this area has propelled our mission of enriching the diversity of the Law School.

Colorado Law Ranked in Top 20 Best Law Schools for Hispanics

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 MDT

In their September issue, Hispanic Business Magazine ranks the University of Colorado Law School as the 16th Best Law School for Hispanics. The magazine took into account a school's academic excellence, enrollment by U.S. citizens, faculty, student services, and retention rates. Colorado Laws 40 Hispanic students represent 7.8 percent of the student body and nine Hispanics graduated in 2006. The schools Hispanic law students had a 100 percent passage rate for the bar exam. The students also have an active and supportive Latino Law Students Association. In addition, the law school has five full-time faculty and staff. Colorado Laws first item in their vision statement demonstrates their dedication to diversity: Provide a supportive and diverse community of scholars and students in a place that inspires the vigorous pursuit of ideas, critical analysis, and civic engagement in order to advance the rule of law in an open, sustainable society. Assistant Dean of Students and Professional Programs Lorenzo A. Trujillo proudly stated, The University of Colorado Law School embraces all diversity and welcomes its Latino law students with the care of a mother and the disciplined nurturing of a father. Our students, faculty, and Hispanic community join in notable teamwork to support our Latino law students so they will be successful leaders, attorneys, and citizens. We appreciate Hispanic Business Magazines recognition of the quality of the educational experience we provide our students. Trujillo serves as General Counsel of the Hispanic National Bar Association and is the immediate past Regional President of the Hispanic National Bar Association. Because of his outstanding commitment to the Hispanic community, the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association awarded him the prestigious Chris Miranda Outstanding Hispanic Lawyer Award for 2006. Hispanics made up 6.07 percent of the total national law school enrollment in 2006-07. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, total minority representation among lawyers is about 9.7 percent, with Hispanics representing only 3.3 percent. The announcement of the magazines rankings come at an opportune time. This week was the Rocky Mountain Legal Diversity Summit, the first Colorado-based national diversity legal summit, which discussed issues facing diverse attorneys, best practices for hiring and retaining diverse attorneys, the business case for diversity, ways to improve the diversity pipeline, and accessing justice at all levels.

American Indian Law Clinic WINS in Colorado Court of Appeals

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:00 MDT

The American Indian Law Clinic (AILC) has been litigating a stepparent adoption case for four years that was heard last week by the Colorado Court of Appeals. It involves a critical question of whether Colorado should adopt the Existing Indian Family Exception that would bar the application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) to certain cases where the Indian parents or Indian child are not culturally close to their tribe. The AILC argued against adopting this doctrine and against application of this doctrine to the facts of their case. The AILC won on all issue of the main appeal, thus rendering moot the question of the cross-appeal. In the PUBLISHED DECISION, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's order dismissing the adoption petition based on the failure to comply with ICWA, and rejected the Existing Indian Family Exception, finding the ICWA constitutional. This is a major ruling for Colorado because the question of whether Colorado courts would apply the judicial doctrine was an open one. The Court of Appeals also confirmed that the ICWA applies in private actions even when a state social services agency is not a party. The AILCs client, the childs mother, will retain her parental rights and will now be entitled to a hearing on her request for parenting time with her son. Congratulations are due to the hard work, brains, and dedication of several Clinic student attorneys (some are now Colorado Law alumni): Maggie Wetmore, Julia Morgenthau, Bonnie Sarkar, Lauren Templeton, Celene Sheppard, and Ann Rhodes. The student attorneys worked under the supervision of Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the AILC, Jill E. Tompkins. Thank you to the invaluable work of Padraic McCoy and Sarah Malstair on behalf of the Fort Peck Tribes, Faegre & Benson, and Holland & Harts team on behalf of the amici (the Colorado Indian Bar Association, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe) lead by Jennifer Weddle and Anthony Navarro.

Colorado Law welcomes Scholars and Professors Added for2007-2008

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 MDT

New Appointments Deborah J. Cantrell, Director of Clinical Programs and Associate Professor of Law, comes to Colorado Law from Yale Law School where she taught ethics and public interest law, and co-supervised a legal ethics clinic. Helen L. Norton, Associate Professor of Law, specializes in constitutional law, torts, and employment law and most recently taught at the University of Maryland School of Law. Scott A. Moss, Associate Professor of Law, taught at Marquette Law School for three years and will teach constitutional law, law and economics, and employment law. He is an energetic and prolific young scholar. Derek H. Kiernan-Johnson, Legal Writing Instructor, has been practicing education law at Caplan and Earnest LLC in Boulder and edited the firms quarterly Colorado School Law Reporter. Visiting Professors Robin D. Barnes, an international speaker on democracy, free speech, privacy, and human rights, is a Professor of Law and the Director of Street Law Cooperative at the University of Connecticut. She is teaching constitutional law, wills and trusts, and advanced constitutional law seminars on the first amendment and equal protection. Mark J. Fenster, who will be teaching property and administrative law, taught at the University of Florida Frederic Levin College of Law for the past six years. Hannah R. Garry, who comes directly from her position at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, will teach International Human Rights: Crime and Punishment. Distinguished Visiting Scholars Martha A. Fineman, the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law, is a leading authority on family law and feminist jurisprudence. She will lecture and co-teach a seminar in feminist legal theory, and participate in a scholarly conference on the subject. Harry Reicher, will teach an innovative new short course titled Law and The Holocaust, which he teaches at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and around the world. Scholars in Residence Julie Cassidy, an Associate Professor at Deakin University School of Law in Australia, was in residence at Colorado Law to complete research on aboriginal water rights. Jonathan W. Fineman will spend his second year at Colorado Law as a Research Fellow, teaching and writing in the areas of American and comparative employment and labor law. Judge Maurice B. Foley, the first African-American appointed to the U.S. Tax Court, returned to teach at Colorado Law for his second summer in 2007 as a Faculty-in-Residence-Summer-Term (FIRST) scholar teaching Federal Tax Politics. Armando Guevara Gil, a Professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú teaching the sociology and anthropology of law, conducted research and writings in the areas of Peruvian agrarian property and water rights. Donald G. Kempf, Jr., joined Colorado Law for the 2006 and 2007 summers as an Adjunct Professor teaching Government Regulation of Business. Alesandra Mignolli, an expert of international and European law, returned to Colorado Law as a Fulbright Scholar researching Federalism in the United States and in the European Union.

Professor Norton Testifies in Favor of Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 MDT

The U.S. House subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held hearings today on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) bill. ENDA is a proposed federal law that would prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Colorado Laws Professor Helen Norton was one of the experts to discuss the pros and cons for the bill. Norton was invited by Chairman Andrews to offer her views as an expert in employment discrimination law on how this bill both tracks and departs from existing antidiscrimination law, and how it might be expected to work in practice. Currently, 13 states have policies prohibiting both sexual orientation and gender identity in discrimination in employment. Also, eight states have laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation only. Fifteen other states have laws that have been interpreted to protect transgender persons.

New National Tribal Law Clerk Program Collaboration Aid Law Students

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 MDT

The new National Tribal Law Clerk Program (NTLCP) is a collaborative project of the National American Indian Court Judges Association, Colorado Laws American Indian Law Program, and the National Native American Indian Law Students Association to match tribal court judges and justices with law students who will provide them with valuable legal research and writing assistance. NTLCP will bring unparalleled opportunities for Colorado Law students and recent alumni to study and work for American Indian and Alaska Native tribal justice systems. Clerkships for externship credit toward fulfillment of the American Indian Law Certificate requirements will be available. Federal and state judicial systems have enjoyed long-established law clerk programs where law students or recent graduates assist judges and justices with legal research, writing, and other court-related tasks. These clerkships are often highly competitive and prized by law students. The NTLCP is designed to expand these types of clerkship to more than 300 tribal courts formally established by American Indian tribes and Alaskan Native villages in the United States. These tribal courts make the same kind of important decisions as their federal and state counterparts and provide students with a unique opportunity to work on American Indian law. Through an $8,000 seed grant from CUs Institute for Ethical and Civic Engagement and the work of several volunteers, the NTLCP was established to provide a national database for clerkship opportunities with tribal courts. The NTLCP is housed at Colorado Law and the National Tribal Justice Resource Center has provided assistance to compile the database and to do outreach to tribal judges. Tribal judges who would like the assistance of a law student or recent graduate can send their posting to the program, who will in turn post it on the nationally available website. Because tribal courts are very different from state and federal systems, Professor Jill Tompkins and Massey Mayo Case (06) co-authored the Guide for Tribal Court Law Clerks and Judges.

Professor Weiser Talks About Impact of FCC Changes to Wireless Rules

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules that will change the way we communicate in a wireless world. The FCC changed its rules as part of an upcoming auction of valuable UHF spectrum once used for analogue television broadcasting. Wireless service providers who bid on the spectrum must now agree to "unlock" their services so that consumers can pick any smart phone or other wireless device and load any software on it. Consumers currently are limited to what the wireless carrier wants them to use. In a new PODCAST, Professor Phil Weiser discusses why this spectrum is so valuable and the impact the new wireless rules will have on the industry.

Professor Peppet Trains Mentors for At-Risk Youth at Good Will

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Professor Scott Peppet conducted a training session today for the Good Will organization's mentoring program. This program brings together professionals who mentor at-risk children and teenagers throughout the Denver area, and provides these mentors with training opportunities. Professor Peppet, who is an expert on alternative dispute resolution and legal negotiation, focused the session on managing difficult conversations by improving one's communication and negotiation skills. After talking with some of the mentors, Professor Peppet conveyed a sense of awe at their skills and dedication. "These are truly compassionate people who work every day to make a difference. They are expert negotiators, and it was a pleasure to have a chance to talk with them for a few hours about their experiences."

AltLaw.org Provides Free Searchable Database of U.S. Court Decisions -- Joint Effort of Columbia and Colorado Law Schools

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Aiming to make federal case law fast and easy to search, more accessible to the public and free Columbia Law School and the Colorado Law have launched a new Web site, AltLaw, which has the potential to dramatically change the national landscape of case law resources. AltLaw contains nearly 170,000 decisions dating back to the early 1990s from the U.S. Supreme Court and Federal Appellate courts. The sites creators, Columbia Law Schools Timothy Wu and Stuart Sierra, and Colorado Laws Professor Paul Ohm, said the sites database will grow over time. Wu said he started to build AltLaw because he wanted a way to quickly search through court decisions the same way that the public now can search a wide array of information through such Internet search engines as Google and Yahoo! Its been over 10 years since the start of the Internet revolution, and case law is one area that has not budged. Somebody has to take the initiative, Wu said. Were a nonprofit and were purely interested in opening the law to the public. We dont have a commercial motive. Wu said he envisions AltLaw being used by many groups journalists, the public, lawyers who want to avoid the hundreds of dollars per hour in fees for proprietary law databases, and legal scholars who need quick and searchable access to cases at home or on the road. One of the assets to AltLaws design is that it is fast and simple to use, Wu said. Ohm wrote the thousands of lines of code that download cases to AltLaw from more than a dozen court websites each night. He said the data comes from the courts themselves, and AltLaw is designed as an extremely open platform so that others can take the raw material and use it in various ways. This is what we call the `law commons part of the design, Ohm said. The touchstone of AltLaw is openness, and this means that not only will users be able to search cases at AltLaw, but they'll also be able to make copies of all of the cases in our database to reuse or remix in any way that they'd like. This is all public domain material, and were repackaging it into a more useful, flexible, powerful form, Ohm said. On the Web site, Wu and Ohm note that The law is meant to belong to the people, but it can be surprisingly hard to find. Case reports, a major part of the laws of the United States, are hard to get at, and even when on the Internet, rarely searchable. To get full access you generally need either a library of law reports, or an expensive subscription to an online database, which can cost hundreds of dollars per hour. AltLaw is a small effort to change that to make the common law a bit more common. AltLaw provides the first free, full-text searchable database of Supreme Court and Federal Appellate case reports. It is a resource for attorneys, legal scholars, and the general public. AltLaw is a joint project of Columbia Law Schools Program on Law and Technology, and Colorado Laws Silicon Flatirons Program.

Natural Resources Law Centers Report on Climate Change and its Impact on Native Peoples Sent to Congress

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Native Communities and Climate Change: Protecting Tribal Resources as Part of National Climate Policy is a new report researched and prepared by the Law Schools Natural Resources Law Center and was funded by the Turner Foundation. It examines the impact that global warming will have on native communities in the coming decades and offers recommendations to Congress and federal agencies to deal with these changes. The Center will be sending the report to members of the U.S. Congress, to the directors and deputy directors of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and other appropriate federal agencies and interest groups. In addition, the document is being sent to the leadership of Native American tribes throughout the U.S. Rising sea levels, melting tundra, coastal flooding, warmer streams and severe drought are just a few of the calamities facing native communities in North America as global warming gains a foothold, said Jonathan Hanna, the Centers Research Fellow and principal author of the report. While climate change will affect everyone, it will affect some disproportionately and Native American communities are among the most vulnerable to a changing climate, said Hanna. The unfortunate irony is that the traditional lifestyles historically followed by tribes and continued to a large extent today contribute very little to the climate change problem. Beyond describing the ways in which tribes will be affected, the report discusses the implication of this disparity and it urges federal policymakers to recognize the special burdens facing tribes as they develop climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. The report recommends that Congress holds hearings focusing on the impact of climate change on tribes. Because addressing tribal impacts will be costly, it is important that Congress establish adequate revenue-raising mechanisms such as a carbon tax or fee-based emissions allowances. The federal trust responsibility requires the government to protect tribal land and resources, and is rooted in the numerous treaties, statutes, executive orders, and judicial opinions recognizing the very tribal rights at risk from climate change, noted report contributor Professor Sarah Krakoff. While tribal lands host plentiful renewable energy resources like wind and solar power, developing these technologies requires investment capital and expertise that tribes often lack, said Hanna. The report recommends that the government provide financial and technical assistance to tribes to take advantage of these opportunities and it urges the federal government to administer government programs to protect treaty and other tribal rights from climate change impacts. Other Natural Resources Law Center publications can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/law/centers/nrlc/pubs.htm.

Professor Schmitz and David Blower (07) Win Sandgrund Award

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Last year, the Sandgrund Award for Best Consumer Rights Work was created with an endowment from Colorado Law alumnus Ron Sandgrund ('82). There are separate cash awards for faculty and student authors. The expectation is that we will make one award each year; however, this first year, we are able to make two awards. This years faculty winner is Professor Amy Schmitz for her fine article, Mobile-Home Mania? Protecting Procedurally Fair Arbitration in a Consumer Microcosm, 20 Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution 291 (2005). The student award goes to recent graduate David Blower for his well-written piece titled Colorado HB 1061and Advocating for an End of Caveat Emptor in Residential Leases, 78 University of Colorado Law Review 101 (2007).

Commemorative Brick Patio Celebration

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT

In the Gilbert Goldstein Plaza at the front entrance of the new Wolf Law Building, is an area of commemorative bricks with inscriptions from alumni, faculty and staff, and friends of the Law School. Yesterday, we celebrated the brick patio, including the large grill donated by the Class of 1999. So far, 525 bricks have been inscribed. Some bricks have been purchased to honor those that have passed including Daniel Barash (02), some by parents in their childrens name, and some with quotes about the legal profession. For a limited time, anyone may purchase a brick to leave a truly lasting impression on anyone that passes through Colorado Law.

Elsa Martinez Tenreiro ('89) Elected President of Denver Bar Association

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Elsa Martinez Tenreiro became president of the Denver Bar Association on July 1st. Elsa received her B.A. from the University of Colorado at Denver and her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in 1989. She went on to be an associate with Pepe J. Mendez and Associates. For her year of presidency, Elsa plans to focus on continuing to reach out to diverse lawyers and developing ways of bringing more civics to classrooms through the Democracy Education Committee. Providing some kind of help to kids and education always have been strong interests, said Elsa. Ive worked with some kind of public legal education since I graduated from law school. Elsa was the recipient of Channel 9s Outstanding Volunteer award and received the Metro Volunteer Lawyer of the Year award in 2004. She also received the DBA Volunteer Lawyer of the Year award in 2005. All three awards were for her countless hours giving back to the community. Elsa has volunteered with: Law Line 9; Peoples Fair; Colorado Uplift; Community Resources, Inc; publications in the Public Legal Education department of the DBA; Metro Volunteer Lawyers Family Court Program; Mock Trial Subcommittees; CLE of Colorado; career fairs; school mediation programs (teaching kids to mediate programs themselves); 5678 Dance Academy of Performing Arts; and as a reading coach and avid volunteer at her childrens schools.

Faculty Receive Awards and Distinctions from Legal Library Community

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Library Faculty and Staff Win Awards and Recognition The faculty and staff of Colorado Laws William A. Wise Law Library has received numerous awards and recognition recently--for scholarship, association elections, photos, and websites. Professor Barbara Bintliff is among the group of authors contributing to the two-volume work Prestatehood Legal Materials: A Fifty-State Research Guide, Including New York City and the District of Columbia, which is the 2007 recipient of the Joseph L. Andrews Bibliographical Award of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Professor Bintliff wrote the Colorado chapter, Colorado Prestatehood Legal Resources: Sixteenth Century to 1876, and was mentioned prominently in the promotional materials for the title. This continues her longstanding contribution to publications covering Colorado bibliographic and legal history, which include Colorado Legal Resources: An Annotated Bibliography (with Richards), AALL LISP Public Libraries Toolkit: Colorado, and A Jurisdictional History of the Colorado Courts. Professor Bintliff and Georgia Briscoe received the 2007 Spectrum Article of the Year Award from the AALL for their work entitled, The Ethics of Electronic Record Sharing. The article asks the reader to ponder whether it is ethically acceptable for a librarian to find and utilize electronic entries from another librarys online catalog without first seeking permission. Bintliff and Briscoe propose that the profession create an electronic records sharing policy in order to resolve any ethical ambiguities that are currently being encountered. Catalog Librarian Karen Selden was elected president of the Colorado Association of Law Libraries (CoALL) for the 2007-2008 term. Her agenda includes coordinating CoALL's 30th anniversary celebration, updating CoALL's by-laws, and creating partnerships with other local professional legal organizations to provide legal education programs. The first of these programs will be the "Legal Boot Camp for Non-Law Librarians" to be held on Monday, September 17, 2007 (Constitution Day), in partnership with CLE in Colorado. Reference Librarian Alan Pannell was elected to a one-year term on CoALLs Executive Board. He has been instrumental in the annual CoALL Bridge the Research and Analysis Gap (BRAG) Program, which helps prepare law students and new law graduates for their first professional positions. Alan Pannell won three awards, including Best Overall Photo, in the "Day in the Life of the Law Library Community" 2007 photo contest sponsored by the AALL. The winning photos featured library technicians Mike Campo and Dan Draper, Karen Selden, and views of the new library. The Best Overall Photo was features on the cover of AALLs award-winning magazine, Spectrum, and the other entries were included in the Spectrum article announcing the results of the contest. Reference Librarian Alicia Brillon was one of three first place winners of William S. Hein & Co.s Website Description Contest to create an informational web page that described the HeinOnline product. View Brillon's winning entry.

Arraj Reading Room Dedication

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Arraj Reading Room Dedication Last night, guests, including alumni and former law clerks of Judge Arraj, remembered the Judge and celebrated the opening of the beautiful Judge Alfred A. Arraj Reading Room in the William A. Wise Law Library. Al Arraj earned his LL.B. degree in 1928 from the University of Colorado. He maintained a law practice in Springfield, Colorado, until 1942, when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps for nearly three years. He then served as County Attorney of Baca County, City Attorney for Springfield and Walsh, Deputy District Attorney in the Fifteenth Judicial District, and District Judge for the Fifteenth Judicial District. He served as president of the Southeast Colorado Bar in 1940, senior vice-president of the Colorado Bar Association in 1950, president of the Colorado State District Judges Association in 1954, and a member of the CBAs Board of Governors from 1955 to 1958. Then, in 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower appointed Al Arraj to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. From 1959 to 1976, he was Chief Judge of the court. He was the longest serving federal district court judge in Colorado history, sitting 35 years until his death in 1992 at age 86. Judge Arrajs nearly 40 law clerks developed a bond with the Judge and amongst themselves. Some of these former law clerks provided the original funding for Colorado Laws Alfred A. Arraj scholarships, which are awarded to deserving first-year students each year. In addition, Al Arraj received the Norlin Recognition Award for Distinguished Achievement, the highest award presented to CU alumni, and the William Lee Knous Award, the highest award presented by Colorado Law. CU also conferred upon him an honorary LL.D. degree. The Colorado Lawyer provides a more detailed account of Alfred A. Arrajs life and career.

Law Alumni Board Welcomes Five New Members

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:00:00 MDT

The Law Schools Alumni Board announces the election of five new members to serve four-year terms beginning in the 2007-08 academic year. Tom G. Brown, 64, Denver, CO. Mr. Brown served as Dean of the Law School from 1979-81. He is Of Counsel at Dufford & Brown dealing in corporate, real estate, and partnership law, and complex financial transactions. He has served as president of CUs Alumni Association and past chair and current trustee of the University of Colorado Foundation. He is a retired Captain in U.S. Navy Supply Corps Reserve. The Colorado Law Alumni Board awarded Mr. Brown the Knous Award in 1986. Steven J. Goodhue, 62, Rancho Mirage, CA. Mr. Goodhue has been a practicing attorney since 1982, and most recently a principal in the law firm of Goodhue & Pearl, representing private and institutional lenders and real estate developers in commercial real estate transactions. He is the sole manager/member of SJG Enterprises, which has 14 affiliates and real estate holdings in four states. He is a founding manager/member of 94th & Shea; Scottsdale Medical Commons, which is developing office and retail projects; and Oquirrh Mountain Ranch, which is developing 2,000 acres of land in Utah. He sits on the Board of Directors for Romarco Realty, and is the CEO and sole shareholder of Novus, a software company. Mr. Goodhue has also been an adjunct professor of contract and tort law at Regis University. John L. Hay, 64, Phoenix, AZ. Mr. Hay is Chair of Commercial Practice at Gust Rosenfeld. He practices general corporate and commercial law, with emphasis on representing small- and medium-sized businesses, including insurance companies, banks, franchisors and franchisees. He was a member of the state bar committees that drafted the 1976 and 1996 Arizona Business Corporation laws, and that prepared the current (2004) report used by Arizona lawyers on rendering legal opinions in business and financing transactions. Mr. Hay has been a member of the ABA Forum on Franchising since its inception in 1978 and has written articles and made presentations about franchising from the perspective of both franchisees and franchisors. Kristin F. Rozansky, 94, Denver, CO. Ms. Rozansky is the State Personnel Board Director and was previously served as an Administrative Law Judge with the Board. Prior to joining the Board, she was an Assistant Attorney General in the Colorado Attorney General's office in the Business and Licensing Section, where she was General Counsel to the State Personnel Board, the State Boards of Accountancy and Barbers and Cosmetologists, and served as trial counsel for the Administrator of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code and the Collection Agency Board. In the community, she serves on the Board for Continuing Legal and Judicial Education in Colorado, and volunteers at Academia Ana Marie Sandoval. She is a past Co-Chair of Denvers Career Service Board, a member of Denvers New Human Resource Commission, and a board member of the Colorado Women's Bar Association. She is the recipient of Colorado Laws 2004 Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement for a Recent Alumni. Laura M. Sturges, 05, Denver, CO. Ms. Sturges is an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Prior to that, she clerked for The Honorable Phillip S. Figa in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. She earned her Colorado Law degree magna cum laude, and was a member of the Order of the Coif, a Production Editor on the Law Review, and a Rothgerber Teaching Fellow. She also received the Sutcliffe Distinguished Service Award and the Edward C. King Leadership Award.

Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Helps Prospective Denver Hispanic Entrepreneurs

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Help Prospective Denver Hispanic Entrepreneurs The Entrepreneurial Law Clinic led a presentation to 30 prospective Denver entrepreneurs about how to select and form a legal entity when starting a business. Yesterdays presentation at the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was as part of 12-week course concerning how to start a business by Cultura Business Communications, which provides training and consulting focusing on Latino business with the goal of bridging understanding between American and Hispanic business cultures. The presentation is part of an informal relationship started in January 2006 between the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic and Cultura. Assistant Clinical Professor Brad Bernthal, who leads the Clinic, was joined by Colorado Law alumni Jon Sargent (06), an attorney in Boulders Frascona, Joiner, Goodman and Greenstein, and Marta Jucha (08), who is joining the Clinic for the 2007-08 term. Sargents practice includes securities and real estate matters. The Clinic will lead another Cultura class on July 9 concerning intellectual property matters in which alumnae and Faegre & Benson attorney Rita Sanzgiri (06) will join. Culturas classes are split into English and Spanish-speaking sections. Jucha, who previously practiced as an attorney in Mexico, provided language assistance that enabled Bernthal and Sargent to deliver their presentations to both sections. Bernthal, who was pleased with the results, said, It is terrific to see coordination like this between past and current Clinic students. Perhaps most importantly, the Cultura attendees were fully engaged and delighted with the quality of discussion. The Entrepreneurial Law Clinic presents information to Culturas classes roughly every two months. During the fall and spring semesters, supervised Clinic students lead outreach presentations. The benefits of such interactions are twofold. First, entrepreneurs are able to learn about legal issues that are often inaccessible to individuals without a legal background or business sophistication. Second, interaction with entrepreneurs allows students to understand the entrepreneurial mindset better. Students learn to think globally about how to translate technical and legal concepts into something comprehensible for non-lawyers. Brad and his students do a great job of making legal issues accessible for our students, said Cheryl Lucero, who spearheads Culturas 12-week business course. This is information that many of our entrepreneurs otherwise would not get exposed to. Occasionally, the Clinics presentations lead to client relationships between the Clinic and the entrepreneurs who come through Culturas classes. Work performed by Clinic students for Cultura clients has included assistance in setting up an LLC, advising concerning intellectual property protection strategies, and providing contract related assistance. In addition to its work with Cultura, the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic has been active in conducting outreach with other area entities. Its activities over the past year have included presentations to Micro Business Development, a business development entity in Denver, the BARD Center for Entrepreneurship (part of the CU at Denver Business School), and the Boulder-based TechStars program.

ENVISIONING ENERGY: Perspectives on Our Sustainable Energy Future

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 MDT

ENVISIONING ENERGY: Perspectives on Our Sustainable Energy Future Colorado Laws Energy and Environmental Security Initiative (EESI) hosted Envisioning Energy yesterday evening. Speakers discussed the passage of numerous bills designed to put Colorado on the right track for achieving a sustainable energy future to a standing-room-only crowd. Key leaders from the Colorado Legislature, Governor Ritters cabinet, and the British government came together to address the progress that has been made and the difficulties that lie ahead for Colorado and the world in reference to sustainable energy. Speakers at the event included: Colorado House Majority Leader, Alice Madden; Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Jim Martin; Director of the Governor's Energy Office, Tom Plant; and British Consul in Denver, Kevin Lynch. According to some of Colorados Democratic leaders; some examples for sustainable energy for Colorado are: ethanol fuel-production plants and higher mileage standards for Colorados energy image. For a while, the global climate was changing faster than the political climate was changing, and now thats turning around, said Tom Plant, Director of the Governors Energy Office. For example, in 2004, only 3 percent of energy came from renewable sources such as hydropower, wood, solar, wind, geothermal and waste materials. The rest of the energy was derived from coal and natural gas. To counteract the 97 percent of energy being derived from coal and natural gas, Colorado passed Amendment 37, which calls for 10 percent of the states electricity to come from renewable sources by 2015. "Colorado can emerge as an economic powerhouse in this field, and this past legislative session was a solid step in that direction. But we also need to make sure that Colorado is a leader in taking advantage of all the opportunities that are coming onto the scene-at state, national, and even international levels. The speakers helped us understand how to do that," said Dr. Lakshman Guruswamy, EESI Director and Professor of Law. For more information on the Envisioning Energy event, or the EESI greenhouse gas trading report, please visit http://www.colorado.edu/law/eesi/. "There's an extraordinary amount of activity happening in the area of sustainable energy," said Dr. Lakshman Guruswamy.

The New American Indian Law Clinic Table

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 MDT

The Power of the Circle The American Indian Law Clinic and artist, Larry Desjarlais (Turtle Mountain Chippewa), have created a design for a beautiful table that will be used in the law school's Kiva conference room. This table has high significance, due to the fact that American Indians believe that the Power of the World always works in circles and everything tries to be round. The symbols in the table design (see photo below) represent the wide scope of American Indian law studied and taught at Colorado Law, as well as honors our special relationship to the tribes with which University of Colorado American Indian Law Program has worked with directly. The Program studies and works with two resident Colorado tribes, the Southern Ute Tribe and the Ute Mountain Tribe, more than 40,000 American Indians residing in Colorado, as well as Native American tribes and Alaska Native villages across the United States. Black Elk Speaks of the Oglala Sioux explained, In the old days when we were a strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation and so long as the hoop was unbroken the people flourished. The turtle on the table is for the Northern Arapahoe and many tribes represent the source of life. The buffalo symbolizes not only the plains tribes for which this area is a historical migratory crossroads, but also the University of Colorado. The bear is the sacred symbol of the Ute Tribes. Finally, the salmon represents the Northwest, Northeast, and Native Alaska tribes. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood and so it is in everything where power moves," declared Black Elk Speaks. The American Indian Law Program and Clinic are deeply grateful to Council Tree Lodge for its generous support of the Program and for making this incredible meeting space possible.

Property Scholars Share Cutting-Edge Works at 1st Annual Conference

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Property Scholars Share Cutting-Edge Works at 1st Annual Conference June 15, 2007 At a time when property scholarship in the legal academy is experiencing a significant revival, the University of Colorado Law School, in conjunction with Widener Law School, hosted the first annual Property Works in Progress Conference on June 14 and 15. The Conference provided a new forum for property scholars to share cutting-edge works and engage in conversations about early stage ideas and broader themes. Conference organizers, Nestor Davidson of Colorado Law and Ben Barros of Widener Law School, ensured that the 33 attendees had opportunities to present works in progress for formal responses and discussion. In addition, idea exchange sessions allowed participants to explore themes, subjects, and methodological questions in property scholarship in less formal settings. The sessions covered a range of topics, including: Evolution and History in Property Law Possession and Dispossession in Property Sexual Liberty, Same Sex Marriage, and Property Geography, Political Structures, and Alternatives in Property Perspectives on Property Theory Takings and Constitutional Property Knowledge, Information, and IP Conference participants included: Bernadette Atuahene, Chicago-Kent Thomas Merrill, Columbia Carlos Ball, Penn State Adam Mossoff, Michigan State Abraham Bell, Fordham Stephen Munzer, UCLA Al Brophy, Alabama Kali Murray, Mississippi Ann Carlson, UCLA Hari Osofsky, Oregon Eric Claeys, George Mason Claire Priest, Northwestern David Dana, Northwestern Marc Poirer, Seton Hall Lee Fennell, U. of Chicago Erin Ryan, William & Mary Mark Fenster, U. of Florida Christopher Serkin, Brooklyn William Fischel, Dartmouth Henry Smith, Yale Sheila Foster, Fordham Jim Smith, Georgia Rachel Godsil, Seton Hall Stewart Sterk, Cardozo Daniel Hamilton, Chicago-Kent Stephanie Stern, Loyola Chicago James Kainen, Fordham Lee Strang, Ave Maria James Krier, Michigan Josh Tate, SMU Daphna Lewinsohn-Zamir, Hebrew U.

Dean's Diversity: Increasing Diversity in the Legal Profession

Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 MDT

May 25, 0007 The Deans Diversity Council is a joint effort with the CU and DU law schools and the Front Range legal community to promote diversity in law school admissions and in hiring, retention, and advancement of lawyers in corporations and law firms. Formed by Deans Getches and José R. (Beto) Juárez (University of Denver Sturm College of Law), this landmark diversity initiative involves the commitment and active support of the managing partners of nearly all of Denver's most prominent firms, members of the state and federal judiciary, the U.S. Attorney for the State of Colorado, and the Colorado Attorney General. In response to stagnant employment rates of minority attorneys in private law firms since 1999, over one hundred Fortune 500 corporations signed the Call to Action, requiring law firms to increase their efforts to recruit and retain diverse attorneys or risk losing the signatory corporations as clients. As a result, the demand for diverse law students and lawyers in the private sector has risen, but the number of law school minority applications is in decline and attrition among minority attorneys at private law firms is accelerating. Since the initial meeting last November, the Council asserted a Vision Statement with the following goal: By the year 2016, all Denver metro law firms and corporate legal departments will have successfully developed and implemented initiatives that create cultures of inclusion where attorneys of all backgrounds succeed without regard to gender, race, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. In 2007, in partnership with the Colorado Pledge to Diversity, the Council will conduct the first comprehensive demographic and ethnographic survey of the Colorado legal profession to provide the baseline data against which the Council will measure its future initiatives. Then, in September, the Council, in conjunction with Colorado and Denver Bar Associations Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee, will host the Rocky Mountain Diversity Legal Summit--the first Colorado-based national diversity legal summit.

Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 MDT

91% Bar Passage Rate

Thu, 10 May 2007 00:00:00 MDT

For the February 2007 Bar Exam, first-time Colorado Law test takers had a 90% passage rate. Adding in the July 2006 passage rate, Colorado Law has an amazing 91.2% passage rate. This is even more impressive since the passage rates decreased for all other groups taking the Colorado exam; the overall passage rate for all February 2006 test takers was 72% and 69% in February 2007. This years passage rate is 2 points higher than last years rate of 89.4%. Assistant Dean Trujillos recently published paper, "The Relationship Between Law School and the Bar Exam: A Look at Assessment and Student Success," highlights strategies to improve bar passage and prepare law students. The following is the articles abstract: Law schools have a moral and ethical obligation to society - and, to an even greater degree, to their students - to adequately prepare the students to succeed as professionals. Ultimate success for law students is measured by the ability to competently practice in the legal profession, which requires passing the bar exam. A recent downward trend in national bar passage rates highlights the need for law schools to address the factors negatively affecting bar passage rates. Based on research conducted at the University of Colorado School of Law, this article discusses methods to reform new attorney licensure and also highlights strategies to improve bar passage. It suggests ways to minimize the effects of the bar exam's negative factors and recommends ways to better prepare law students.

Chemerinsky Lecture

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Chemerinsky Reveals Secret Dockets in The Assault on the Press Lecture At the 50th Annual John R. Coen Lecture yesterday, Erwin Chemerinsky, the Alston & Bird Professor of Law and Political Science at Duke University, spoke about an unprecedented assault on freedom of the press, which he blames on the war on terrorism and the Bush administration, and the failure to provide special protection for the press under the First Amendment. Most surprising was his discovery of more than 400 secret hearings that do not appear on the court dockets in the District of Columbia district court. The audience was shocked since there has been no press about the dockets. When asked why it had not been in the press, Chemerinsky replied that it is difficult to report on a something in which there is no listing or record. Other unprecedented secrecy can be found in immigration proceedings, closed hearings, and details about detainees. Freedom of the press is also under attack because of the increased threat of prosecution for publishing classified information and of not revealing confidential sources. As one of the nations most famous and respected constitutional law scholars, Chemerinsky has had his pick of high-profile cases. This May, he will argue outed CIA agent Valerie Plame's civil lawsuit against numerous Bush administration officials, trying to persuade a judge that she and her husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had their free speech, due process, and privacy rights violated.

More than 100 Law Students Honored at Ceremonies

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 MDT

This years two law school awards ceremonies honored 115 students and a couple of faculty and staff for outstanding work. It was an amazing year for our accomplished students! On April 17th, the Second Annual Pro Bono Awards Recognition Ceremony honored those law students who have contributed more than 2,500 hours of pro bono work this academic year. Colorado Supreme Court Justice Alex Martinez talked at the ceremony about the importance of doing pro bono work and public service, and his own life of public service and its rewards. He also encouraged the students to do public interest work because not only is it their ethical obligation, but it is also personally rewarding. Dean Getches congratulated the students and the proud history of public service at the law school. In addition, a number of students spoke about their projects. Brandon Karpen volunteered the most number of hours, 500, over summer for Federal Judge. Michelle Albert had the second largest number of hours at 300 for an unpaid summer internship for Justice Mullarkey of the Colorado Supreme Court. Those with 100 hours or more included Sarah Quicksall for Colorado Legal Services and Denver Metro Volunteer Lawyers, Challon Winer for an IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, Albana Alla with Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County, Christian Gardner-Wood as coach for the Regis Jesuit High School Mock Trial Team, and Michael Levy with the ACLU. On April 19th, the Spring Awards Ceremony recognized 94 students for outstanding work in a range of areas included the clinics, moot court competitions, student organizations, writing, journals, centers, classroom contributions, and legal service. Most notable was SBA President Marnie Adams, who was recognized 5 times: Carrigan Cup, Women's Law Caucus Award, Meritorious Student Award, and the ABA and Rothgerber Mock Trial Competitions. The Jonathan B. Chase Human Rights Fellowship, which provides student stipends for summer legal work for the disadvantaged or on human rights legal matters, was awarded to Albana Alla, Geoffrey Cook, Jenna Mazzucca, Maren Jaffee, Michael Levy, and Valerie Gaimon. The Edward C. King Award, recognizing the student whose outstanding leadership and achievement exemplify Dean Kings ideals, including a spirit of service to the university, the bench, the bar, and the community, was presented to Siddhartha Rathod. The Loan Assistant Repayment Program awards went to Audrey Wimmer, Greg Pener, Sarah Quicksall, and Siddhartha Rathod. Two staff members were recognized by the students: Cindy Gibbons was presented the Barb Leggate Humanitarian Award and Eric Bono was presented the SBA Staff Appreciation Award. This years Outstanding New Faculty award went to Laura Spitz.

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Silicon Flatirons Public Safety Roundtable: Frames Debate on Future of Next Generation Network for Public Safety

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Laws Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Program hosted a roundtable over the last two days, attended by thought leaders in public safety, academia, and industry to discuss the opportunity to develop a next generation network for public safety communications. This roundtable, made possible by a CTIA grant to the Program, included more than 30 participants and highlighted the important choices facing policymakers in this significant area. Professor Phil Weiser and CU Adjunct Professor Dale Hatfield organized and moderated the roundtable. I have been involved in discussions as to the future of public safety communications for more than 30 years, emphasized Dale Hatfield. I am very encouraged that we now have an opportunity to move in a far more effective direction. To my mind, this discussion and others like it are critical to taking advantage of new technologies and approaches. In short, I believe that our report will be able to develop how new technological developments have created unprecedented opportunities that policymakers should embrace. Over its seven years in existence, Silicon Flatirons has prided itself on the ability to raise the level of debate and cut through the rhetoric on important public policy issues, explained Weiser. The challenges facing public safety communications are one of the most important public policy issues facing the country and there is a vital need for careful analysis to frame the debate and guide policy going forward. We appreciate CTIAs leadership in supporting our effort to bring together leading thinkers on the topic. For years, public safety communications has not received the attention it deserved, noted Harlin McEwen, Chairman of the Communications and Technology Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. I am very pleased that this roundtable brought together a considerable amount of brainpower to analyze the cutting edge issues of today. This dialogue represents an important step in developing more thoughtful public policy in this area, explained Charles Werner, Fire Chief of the City of Charlottesville. I have participated in a number of such forums and this one was unique for the caliber of individuals it brought together and the seriousness of the discussion. I look forward to and am encouraged that it can lead to an important report that will outline public safety needs and identify collaborative opportunities to meet those needs. CTIA is pleased to have hosted this important forum, explained Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA. We are committed to positively contributing to a high level of productive discussion in this extremely important area. CTIAs membership include commercial carriers offering services to public safety agencies, equipment developers serving public safety, and other companies also interested in advancing thoughtful public policy in this area. As envisioned, the roundtable discussion highlighted important areas of consensus, including new and emerging technologies and opportunities, requirements for public safety communications, and suggestions for a next generation architecture and policy strategy. These points will be developed in a report expected by mid-May.

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Governor Signs Loan Repayment Bill to Encourage Public Interest Careers

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 MDT

Today House Bill 07-1242, Higher Ed Public Service Loan Repayment, which had passed the House and Senate unanimously, was signed by Governor Bill Ritter at a signing ceremony. The bill allows full implementation of Colorado Laws Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) by removing a legal barrier to assisting graduates working in public service with loan repayments. It also authorizes governing boards of all institutions of higher education to create similar loan repayment assistance programs to encourage students and graduates to enter public interest careers. Under the rules of the CU Regents, the university currently may not assist alumni with paying loans. The Prime Sponsors of the bill were Claire Levy and Jennifer Veiga. Cosponsors included Amy Stephens, Ellen Roberts, Michael Merrifield, and Anne McGihon. Getting the bill to pass was the first step, but to make the Colorado Law LRAP a formal program, the Board of Regents must still approve the ruling. Todays ceremony was attended by CU-Boulder Chancellor Bud Peterson, Dean David Getches, Christine Arguello, Elisa Dalton, and members of the Colorado Law LRAP Committee: Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo, David Juarez (Class of 83 and helped write the legislation), Adjunct Professor Roger Flynn (Co-founder of Program), Sarah Quicksall (student) and Michelle Albert (student). Dean Getches states, We are proud of the long tradition of public service at Colorado Law and are committed to enabling our students to continue this tradition by providing access to the legal system for disadvantaged and underrepresented clients in need of first-rate lawyers. LRAP was started with funds the students themselves raised. The endowment was given a big boost by receiving $33,000 in proceeds from this years Law Alumni Awards Banquet. I am committed to expanding the program by raising private donations for LRAP as well as for scholarships. Michelle Albert (Class of 08) explains, I chose to leave my ten-year career as an educator so that I could pursue a career in public interest law. Now, as I watch my educational debt grow, I more fully appreciate the difficulty of choosing to pursue a low-paying public interest job when I graduate. LRAP helps students like me make choices to choose work that they are passionate about, and which helps those in need. The program was one of the reasons I chose to attend Colorado Law, and I believe it is one of the most important programs that a law school can offer. What is LRAP? With state support for higher education declining, law school tuition has been rising faster than the rate of inflation, and the size of student loans are rising to keep pace. Colorado Law School tuition has doubled in the past three years, and 85% of last years graduates borrowed loans at an average of $60,000. In addition, the disparity between private and public sector salaries remains large. LRAP provides partial loan forgiveness for recent Colorado Law School graduates who choose public interest jobs. LRAP allows recent graduates the freedom to choose public interest work. More importantly, these lawyers help disadvantaged clients in need of first-rate representation for their critical legal needs. LRAP also benefits the Law School by helping to attract highly qualified applicants who plan to work for the public interest when they graduate.

The Rothgerber Moot Court Competition

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 MDT

In the final round of this years Rothgerber Moot Court Competition, the teams argued the case of Dom L. Door (Petitioner) v. United States (Respondent), which is before the United States Supreme Court. The Court certified the following questions: - Does the Fourth Amendment permit police officers during a stop based on reasonable suspicion to request consent to search a suspect after the initial purpose of the stop is completed? - Does the Fifth Amendment require that Miranda warnings include an express reference to the right to consult with an attorney during an interrogation? Before the distinguished panel of Justice Allison Eid, former Justice Jean Dubofsky, and Judge James Casebolt, Director of the Moot Court Programs, Professor Gabrielle Marks Stafford, said, All the oralists performed like seasoned advocates and they masterfully fielded difficult questions. Congratulations to Jonathon P. Martin who received the Austin W. Scott Best Oralist Award, the Petitioners team of Gabe Lopez, Roni Melamed, and Chuck Piechota were selected as the Best Team, and the Respondent team of Marnie Adams, JP Martin, and Brad Williams were the Runner-up Team. The Rothgerber Moot Court Appellate Competition was endowed in 1951 by Ira C. Rothgerber, Jr., to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his father's graduation from University of Colorado Law School. The Competition consists of three rounds of briefing and argument, the first round in the fall of the participants' second year of law school, a semi-final round in the spring of that year, and the final round in the spring of the participants' third year.

Colorado Law Earns GOLD for Being Green

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 MST

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded Colorado Laws Wolf Law Building a Gold certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. We are the first publicly supported law school in the country to obtain Gold. And contrary to the techy image of some green buildings, the Wolf Law Building has won architectural praise for incorporating the style of the original CU buildings. From planning and design, to construction management, to developing and pursuing the application, this project was done right, said Dean Getches. We had an extraordinary team of experts, great support from the campus, and the commitment to go for the gold. And we believed in what it represents. Congratulations, and thanks to all who worked so hard to make our gold rating a reality! To achieve Gold, the building had to meet high standards, including sustainable site development; water-saving features; high levels of energy efficiency; use of green construction materials; extensive recycling of construction waste; and high indoor environmental quality. The Wolf Law Building features high-efficiency lighting, CO2 monitoring, low-flow water fixtures, waterless urinals, a high-efficiency cooling system, and central steam heat. During construction, 91% of the materials from demolition and construction were recycled. The school also is powered by 100% renewable energy through wind energy credits. Construction of the $46 million Wolf Law Building was financed through a combination of a new student capital construction fee, federal and state funding, and private donations. Read bout other CU-Boulder buildings have or will receive similar LEED certification.

The Climate of Environmental Justice: Taking Stock Conference

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 00:00:00 MST

On March 16-17, The Climate of Environmental Justice: Taking Stock conference, gathered 125 academics and practitioners from around the country to consider the pressing issues facing low-income and/or communities of color that continue to be subjected to a disproportionate share of environmental maladies. "Some people are more equal than others when it comes to bracing ourselves for the impacts of climate change," said conference organizer Professor Maxine Burkett. "Whether it's because poor folks lived in the lowest areas of New Orleans when Katrina floodwaters rushed in, or are less able to afford the cooling bill during increasingly frequent heat waves, impoverished communities and communities of color are really bearing the brunt of a more unstable climate. On the heels of the most recent findings on the urgency of the climate crisis, we're looking forward to talking about its impacts on those who are most vulnerable.¨ The environmental justice movement has long been concerned with the disproportionate impacts of pollution and industrial waste on poor communities, and climate change adds another dimension of urgency to the field. Twenty years ago, the concept of ¡§environmental justice¡¨ emerged in force, and the conference will provide an opportunity to reflect on the impact of two decades of effort in the face of a largely hostile political arena. Specifically, the conference will seek to identify innovative legal and policy options to improve the conditions of low-income and/or communities of color that are most affected by inequitable environmental practices. On the evening of March 16, the keynote session included a talk by U.S. Representative Mark Udall (D-CO), who reflected on his introduction of environmental justice and climate change legislation in Washington, D.C. He was followed by Jerome Ringo, who emerged from the Bayous of Southern Louisiana to become the Chair of the National Wildlife Federation and President of the national Apollo Alliance. Then, Denver environmental law practitioner Willie Shepherd led a discussion about environmental justice issues in Colorado. On March 17, panels discussed the status of the environmental justice movement, new issues related to climate change, and potential policy solutions that will help environmental justice practitioners in the field move forward. Conference speakers included: - LUKE COLE, Director, Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, is an environmental justice and civil rights lawyer in San Francisco, where he directs the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment. Widely recognized as one of the foremost environmental justice lawyers in the United States, Cole pioneered the community-based, community-led litigation style for which the Center is known. -SHEILA FOSTER, Professor of Law, Fordham Law School, is the author of numerous publications on civil rights law, constitutional law, and environmental law. Her primary scholarship is dedicated to exploring the intersection of civil rights and environmental law in ¡§environmental justice. - RICHARD LAZARUS, Professor of Law, Georgetown Law, focuses his scholarship on environmental and natural resources law. He has most recently published law review articles on environmental legal history, Supreme Court and environmental law, the Fifth Amendment Just Compensation Clause, and environmental justice. Other panelists from the West and nationally included: - REBECCA TSOSIE, Professor of Law, Arizona State University - NICHOLAS TARG, Holland & Knight - DEAN SUAGEE, Of Counsel, Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker LLP (DC) - CLIFF RECHTSCHAFFEN, Professor of Law, Golden Gate University School of Law - RUTH GORDON, Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law - RACHEL GODSIL, Professor of Law, Seton Hall Law School - MICHAEL B. GERRARD, Partner, Arnold & Porter (NY) - EILEEN GAUNA, Professor of Law, University of New Mexico School of Law - ROBERT BULLARD, Professor of Sociology, Clark Atlanta University The 2007 Climate of Environmental Justice Conference was generously sponsored by: Natural Resources Law Center; University of Colorado Law School; Kamlet Shepherd & Reichert, LLP; Office of Vice Chancellor, University of Colorado; Environmental Center, University of Colorado; Margaret Paul (In memory of Phil Stanbro); and the Center to Advance Research and Teaching in the Social Sciences, University of Colorado.

26th Alumni Awards Banquet Record Attendance and Sponsorship

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:00:00 MST

The 26th Annual University of Colorado Law School Alumni Awards Banquet, the Law Alumnis signature event, was held on the evening of Wednesday, March 14th, at the Hyatt Regency Denver. In addition to being the largest awards banquet evermore than 400 people from the community attendedthe banquet showcased four exceptional award recipients, inspiring speakers, and a wonderful new venue. Thanks to a record $77,000 in sponsorships from the law schools many friends and supporters, the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) will receive more than $33,000. Following a hors d'oeuvre and happy hour in the hotels Capital Foyer, guests were welcomed into the dining hall. Peter Dietze, the Law Alumni Board Chair, opened the banquet and Kara Veitch, the Banquet Chair and Master-of-Ceremonies, thanked the 40 sponsors, advertisers, and in-kind donations. In addition, Ms. Veitch recognized past alumni board members, past award winners, and the members of the Class of 57 who had reserved two tables for a small a reunion. Following a fabulously presented three-course dinner, Dean David Getches welcomed guests and presented a video of the Dedication Ceremony of the new Wolf Law Building that took place in September 2006. Dean Getches reviewed Colorado Laws accomplishments over the past year and then introduced Governor Bill Ritter (Class of 81). Governor Ritter spoke about each of the the deserving award recipients and all that they have contributed to the legal profession. Jami Vigil (Class of 02), a two-year LRAP recipient, spoke about her work as Executive Director and Managing Attorney at Socorro, a firm providing legal services for immigrant women and children, and how LRAP has helped with her loan burden. CU President Hank Brown (Class of 69) spoke about each nominee and their notable contributions to the legal community and to Colorado Law and presented them their Award for Distinguished Achievement. Justice Nathan B. Coats (Class of 77) received the Judiciary Award for his long and dedicated career in the Supreme Court. Justice Coats remembered his time at the law school, his relationships with other alumni, and serving on the bench. The Law Alumni Board chose Norman Brownstein (Class of 68) for the Private Practice Award because of the impact that Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has had in the law community, in addition to his active involvement with CU and numerous centers and committees. Mr. Brownstein spoke to his long partnership with classmate and partner Mr. Farber and vision they had for their law firm and early cases. Steven W. Farber (Class of 68) was presented the Private Practice Award because of his firms legal contributions and his leadership roles in countless community causes, including co-chair of the 2008 Denver Host Committee for the Democratic Convention. Mr. Farber reminded the members of the audience to give back to the community they came from. Gail H. Klapper (Class of 68) received the Executive in Industry Award for her work as the Member/Director of the Colorado Forum, founder of the Klapper Firm, and her contributions to numerous Colorado boards. Ms. Klapper spoke about the difficulties of being a woman lawyer early in her career, the woman who gave her a chance, and how she pays it forward. All recipients were accompanied by their adoring families, which they each thanked for their support. The banquet was a huge success because of the dedication of our great alumni!

Rethinking the Great Lakes Compact

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 MST

Support for passing the proposed Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact is gaining momentum, but University of Colorado law Professor Mark Squillace urges the parties in the eight Great Lake Basin states to take a step back and rethink their entire approach. He makes his argument in his article in the Michigan State Law Review, "Rethinking the Great Lakes Compact." Both the New York Assembly and the Ohio House of Representatives approved the compact late last year and it is now under review by the remaining state governments. "The proposed compact imposes cumbersome requirements on every basin state as well as on most new water users, and yet the benefits are negligible," said Squillace. "Most importantly, while the compact gives the illusion of protecting the ecological health of the basin, it actually affords very little protection because it fails to provide for the regulation or management of the myriad existing uses and activities that already significantly impact the water resources of the Great Lakes Basin." In his article, Squillace proposes an alternate framework that allocates among the basin states and provinces a fair percentage of the available water supply. The available water supply is conservatively defined in terms of that amount of water that is in excess of what is needed to protect the ecological health of the Great Lakes. Ownership of existing uses and activities could be granted to individual states and provinces to provide them with an incentive to conserve. "This alternate framework has many advantages," points out Squillace. "It avoids micromanaging individual water uses on a regional level, while being readily adaptable to address the impacts of uncertain events such as drought and climate change. "If smaller water supplies are available in the future each party may have to make proportionate reductions in their withdrawals and consumptive uses, but no new program would need to be developed," he said. Notably, the alternate framework proposed by Squillace essentially ignores the contentious problem of out-of-basin diversions, but he makes a case for his claim that the Great Lakes will be far better protected under the system he proposes even without a ban on out-of-basin diversions. "Each state and province will have access to a fixed supply of water over a given period of time to use as it sees fit," explained Squillace. "But political and practical considerations make it highly unlikely that any party will send a significant part of its share of the water to any faraway place and more importantly, however, from the perspective of the other parties, the locus of use shouldn't matter." He added the impact on the Great Lakes Basin and on other parties will be the same whether the water is consumed in or outside the basin. In this way, he said, "we can protect the ecological health of the Great Lakes efficiently and effectively without worrying about where the water is being used."

CU Law School To Host National Climate Change Conference

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 MST

The Natural Resources Law Center and the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law will host a two-day conference on the impact of climate change and its direct effect on society's most vulnerable populations. Called "The Climate of Environmental Justice: Taking Stock," the conference will be held March 16-17, and will be attended by national leaders in the field of environmental justice. "Some people are more equal than others when it comes to bracing ourselves for the impacts of climate change," said Maxine Burkett, associate professor of law at CU and conference organizer. "Whether it's because poor folks lived in the lowest areas of New Orleans when Katrina floodwaters rushed in, or are less able to afford the cooling bill during increasingly frequent heat waves, impoverished communities and communities of color are really bearing the brunt of a more unstable climate." On March 16, at 4:30 p.m., the keynote session will feature Colorado Congressman Mark Udall, who will reflect on his introduction of environmental justice and climate change legislation in Washington, D.C., and Jerome Ringo, chair of the National Wildlife Federation and president of the national Apollo Alliance. A discussion about environmental justice issues in Colorado will follow. On March 17, panelists will discuss the status of the environmental justice movement, new issues related to climate change and potential policy solutions that will help environmental justice practitioners in the field move forward. The conference will feature a number of prominent lawyers and legal scholars including: o Luke Cole, environmental justice and civil rights lawyer in San Francisco, Calif., and director of the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment. o Sheila Foster, professor of law, Fordham University School of Law, who has dedicated her study to exploring the intersection of civil rights and environmental law in "environmental justice." She is the author of numerous publications on civil rights law, constitutional law and environmental law. o Richard Lazarus, professor of environmental and natural resources law at the University of Georgetown, has published law review articles on environmental legal history, the United States Supreme Court and environmental law, the Fifth Amendment just-compensation clause, and environmental justice. The conference is open to scholars, attorneys, non-profit organizations and the public and will be held in the Wolf Law Building located on the south side of the Boulder campus near Baseline Road and Broadway. For more information about the conference, including a complete schedule, registration fees and online registration, visit the Natural Resource's Law Center Web site at www.colorado.edu/law/centers/nrlc/index.htm or call (303) 492-3720. Contact: Maxine Burkett, (303) 492-3720 maxine.burkett@colorado.edu Elisa Dalton, (303) 492-3124 elisa.dalton@colorado.edu Dirk Martin, (303) 492-3140

Ethics and Collaborative Law Presentation

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:00:00 MST

The Juvenile and Family Law Program sponsored a lunchtime presentation titled Ethics and Collaborative Law. One of Colorados leading family law attorneys, Dave Johnson, of Kane, Donley & Johnson PC, provided an introduction to the basic concepts of collaborative law, discussed its advantages and drawbacks, and addressed several ethical issues raised by this new form of alternative dispute resolution. Approximately 90 students and faculty attended the presentation. Mr. Johnson noted that family law is the perfect setting for this form of dispute resolution because it concerns family interactions that will continue even after legal relationships change. The basic design of collaborative law helps divert cases from the courtroom and presents clients with a forward looking, goal oriented, and client-driven model of dispute resolution. Mr. Johnson identified two ethical issues that are often cited in relation to collaborative law: (1) attorney-client privilege, and (2) disqualification of attorneys if negotiation fails. Mr. Johnson contended that attorneys can avoid these ethical issues if they carefully counsel their clients with respect to the goals and requirements of collaborative law and the role the attorney will play in the four-way meetings.

New Website Chronicles Net Neutrality Debate

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:00:00 MST

Micah Schwalb, a 3L and the Editor in Chief of the Journal on Telecomm and High Tech Law, put together a new website, neutralitylaw.com, that traces the history of the net neutrality debate through the Journal's back issues and footage from past Silicon Flatirons conferences. There are videos of talks by Larry Lessig, Vint Cerf, and others (many of which have never been available online before now), and articles by Tim Wu, Chris Yoo, Barbara van Schewick, Phil, and more.

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:00:00 MST

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 MST

Lorenzo Trujillo Awarded Prestigious Hispanic Bar Association Award

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 00:00:00 MST

The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association (CHBA) awarded Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo the prestigious Chris Miranda Outstanding Hispanic Lawyer Award for 2006 at their annual banquet this evening. Each year, the CHBA presents this award to an outstanding Hispanic attorney who has shown a continual commitment to the Hispanic community and the principles of the legal profession. [Lorenzo Trujillos] long-term dedication to the advancement of Hispanic law students, Hispanic students in general, and the Hispanic culture in Colorado, as well as [his] highly-regarded study of the issues affecting bar passage rates for minority students, made the selection extremely easy, wrote Awilda Marquez, President of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association. Almost 700 members of the Hispanic legal community attended the banquet and Assistant Dean Trujillo received a standing ovation. Trujillo said, I was truly honored by the award and touched by the appreciation for the work Ive been doing."

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:00:00 MST

Three Law Students Become US Citizens

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:00:00 MST

The University of Colorado Law School congratulates three of its students that became United States citizens today. Albana Alla and Andra Zeppelin are members of the class of 2008 and Kyaw Tin is the class of 2009, each tells a different and compelling story. Albana is from Albania (as her name indicates) and came to US in 2000 from Kosovo, where she was an interpreter for the US troops. She attended Sam Houston State University in Texas until funds ran out, transferred to Sandhills community college in North Carolina, and finally graduated from the University of North Carolina. Before coming to US, she had completed two years at the University of Tirana law school, Albania. Going to law school has always been my dream, for a million reasons, explains a passionate Albana. I grew up in a communist country. I experienced the fall of communism. I saw how hundreds of people rushed to the center of the city to drag in the streets the bust of our Dictator, Enver Hoxha. I remember our first free elections when a second party besides the communist party participated. I remember when the first non-communist party won the elections in March 22, 1992. Those were awesome times, full of hope for the future. We all thought that the country would prosper quickly and be like Western Europe. That did not happen and to this day we are struggling. The rule of law disappeared and chaos took over. But the worst had yet to come. In 1997, our country went through a civil war with the financial pyramidal schemes as an impetus. I saw horrible things: my friends being raped, people that I knew robbed and killed, and sometimes police officers doing the misdeeds. I swore to myself that I would go to law school and send to jail a lot of people that I thought committed crimes but never got punished. I swore that I would become a judge, parliament member, or minister of justice and do some justice. This is what I thought when I was a teenager, nevertheless, those ideals stick with me to this day. Of course, with some doses of reality in them!! Andra is from Romania and moved to the US in 2001, receiving her BA in Political Science and French, magna cum laude, in 2005 from the University of Colorado at Denver. Going to law school has been my goal since I was probably four or five, Andra shares. I am not entirely sure what led to that at that particular age, but, as years went by, I realized that law school was indeed where I wanted to go. The reason behind that was a desire to work with people and be able to assist them in their affairs both private and professional. I have always known that I have skills that might promote a law career an analytical mind, a strong desire to find the right answer, and a need to facilitate access to justice and the legal system. Apart from my skills, I have always wanted to work with people and I am hoping that my future legal career will afford me that opportunity. Andra believes that becoming a citizen opens new opportunities that she did not have access to before, including employment positions in the federal government and being able to vote. Kyaw is originally from Burma and came to the US in 1994 after receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. I am interested in International law, particularly human rights law, especially since it impacts present-day Burma, Kyaw exclaimed. I am also looking forward to taking IP law classes. He believes that getting to vote is the most exciting aspect of becoming a citizen.

Dean Getches Joins Law Deans' Release Statement on Stimsons Remarks Concerning Lawyers for Detainees

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:00:00 MST

Dean David Getches along with more than 150 other American law school deans signed a letter in response to the remarks made by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles "Cully" Stimson criticizing top US law firms for providing pro bono representation to Guantanamo detainees. The following statement was released today: "We, the undersigned law deans, are appalled by the January 11, 2007 statement of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles "Cully" Stimson, criticizing law firms for their pro bono representation of suspected terrorist detainees and encouraging corporate executives to force these law firms to choose between their pro bono and paying clients." "As law deans and professors, we find Secretary Stimsons statement to be contrary to basic tenets of American law. We teach our students that lawyers have a professional obligation to ensure that even the most despised and unpopular individuals and groups receive zealous and effective legal representation. Our American legal tradition has honored lawyers who, despite their personal beliefs, have zealously represented mass murderers, suspected terrorists, and Nazi marchers. At this moment in time, when our courts have endorsed the right of the Guantanamo detainees to be heard in courts of law, it is critical that qualified lawyers provide effective representation to these individuals. By doing so, these lawyers protect not only the rights of the detainees, but also our shared constitutional principles. In a free and democratic society, government officials should not encourage intimidation of or retaliation against lawyers who are fulfilling their pro bono obligations." "We urge the Administration promptly and unequivocally to repudiate Secretary Stimsons remarks."

Assistant Dean Trujillo heads New Trujillo Commission for Online Education

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 MST

The Trujillo Commission for Online Education is a new education commission that will look at Colorado online kindergarten through 12th-grade education. The commission will (1) make policy recommendations to state officials on the programs oversight in response to a December 2006 audit of internet schools and (2) seek to identify best practices for Colorado and other states. The commission is headed by Lorenzo Trujillo and hosted by the Donnell-Kay Foundation. Other commission members include Kin Griffith, Colorado Virtual Academy; Tim Snyder, executive director of Colorado Online Learning; and Jane W. Urschel, associate director of Colorado Association of School Boards. The group is soliciting input from the public on the online schools before releasing its final recommendations to state officials on February 15, 2007.

Winter Commencement Celebration

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:00:00 MST

The final 11 members of Class of 2006 graduated at an intimate ceremony in the new Wittemyer Courtroom this morning. After major efforts to complete finals during a record-breaking snowstorm and gathering family together to get to the Law School, these graduates had the proud distinction to be the first to graduate in the new Wolf Law Building. Dean David Getches delivered an inspiring speech and congratulated each J.D. graduate for their hard work and dedication. After the ceremony, family and faculty joined the graduates for a reception in Boettcher Reception Hall. Congratulations to these members of the Class of 2006! Good luck in your pursuits and we look forward to your involvement as new alumni.

Energy & Environment Securities Initiative (EESI) Receives Two Grants

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:00:00 MST

EESI received an international award from the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) to expand and refine the International Sustainable Energy Assessment (ISEA) ISEA Database. EESI is the only U.S. entity to have received major awards from REEEP. The ISEA project will supply the unmet global need for a comprehensive, systematic, and empirical (as distinct from an impressionistic) treaty implementation database. It also will expand the ISEA database to include additional international energy agreements from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa. EESI also received a grant from the Wirth Chair at the University of Colorado in Denver to create a comprehensive report of U.S. policy proposals dealing with, or highly relevant to, climate change to be included in a President's Climate Action Plan, titled 100 Days of Climate Action: A Leadership Plan for the Next President. EESI will gather the most promising proposals for new climate change policies, programs, legislation, regulations, incentives, and agency authorities.

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:00:00 MST

The 11-member Air Quality Control Commission held its official meetings at University of Colorado Law School's Wolf Law Building December 14 and 15, 2006. Under consideration were such weighty concerns as increasing the number of "remote sensing" vehicles that test for high-polluter vehicles, and waiving emissions testing on late model vehicles to "decrease the burden on citizens of Colorado," as one Council Member remarked. Congresswoman Diana DeGette had asked the group to pass strong measures to protect the air quality of Colorado. Members of the public, as well as prominent Colorado Officials made comments and presentations to the council.

Juvenile and Family Law Program co-hosts symposium

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST

Colorado Calls for Changes to Role of Guardian ad Litem on November 9th and 10th. The Juvenile and Family Law Program teamed up with the Colorado Office of the Childs Representative to host a symposium entitled Voices of Youth in the Courtroom: Is it Time for a Change? The symposium initiated a conversation in Colorado about how best to implement the recommendation of the PEW Commission on Foster Care that children and parents have a direct voice in the courtroom. Approximately 200 attorneys, judges, advocates, and students participated in the symposium, which featured speakers from around the country. The symposium began with an overview of the child welfare system and the representation of children, given by Marvin Ventrell, Executive Director of the National Association of Counsel for Children. Five former foster youth, in a panel moderated by Professor Colene Robinson, described their struggles and real life experiences, focusing on the legal process. A panel of speakers from New Mexico, which recently changed its standard for representation of foster youth, spoke about their experience. This panel included the Honorable Petra Jimenez Maes of the New Mexico Supreme Court. After lunch, the Honorable Mary Mullarkey, Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, delivered the keynote address. Justice Mullarkey spoke of the need for change and the importance of representation of children in foster care. This was followed by an informative presentation by Miriam Krinsky, Executive Director of the Childrens Law Center of Los Angeles, and Leslie Heimov, Policy Director at the Project Director and also of the Childrens Law Center of Los Angeles, and Clinical Professor Donald Duquette, of the University of Michigan Law School. This panel addressed reforms occurring around the country. In a very engaging talk, Emily Buss, Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School and Kanter Director of Chicago Policy Initiatives, addressed the interplay between child development and a childs ability to participate in the legal process. To end the day, Andrea Khoury from the ABA Center on Children and the Law, discussed the ethical considerations of various representation models. Symposium participants then enjoyed a generous reception sponsored by the Juvenile Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association. The second day of the symposium began with an overview of issues, presented by Annette Appell, Associate Dean for Clinical Studies and William S. Boyd Professor of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Professor Appell set forth five questions for the participants to address. Participants were then divided into small working groups to discuss the questions. After substantial time for discussion, the groups reconvened and shared their recommendations for giving youth a voice in the courtroom in Colorado. This was a highly energizing and energized discussion that left participants feeling as though change could be made soon in Colorado. There was widespread consensus that Colorado should do more to give youth a voice in the courtroom. The symposium concluded with a sit-down lunch sponsored by the State Court Administrators Office. The first annual Spirit of the Summit awards were presented to a Colorado judge, a county attorney, a guardian ad litem, and a respondent parents counsel. The awards recognized the outstanding work of individuals in improving the lives of children and parents in the child welfare system. Comments about the symposium: Excellent, thought-provoking symposium Thank you for putting on this very special symposium So passionate and informative. Very smart and well-delivered. Appreciated diversity of views presented This was a great symposium. One of the best Ive been to in a long time.

Colorado Law Congratulates 2006 Election Winners

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST

The University of Colorado Law School congratulates its alumni on their election to Colorado government offices and all the county and local offices. "Our Law School community works in many different ways to serve the public," said Dean David Getches. "The large number of Colorado's newly elected officials coming from Colorado Law School perpetuates our longstanding public interest commitment." Colorado Law School Alumni Ed Perlmutter, U.S. House Bill Ritter, Governor John Suthers, Executive Branch Bernie Buescher, State House Morgan Carroll, State House Cory Gardner, State House Jeanne Labuda, State House Alice Madden, State House Ellen Roberts, State House Brandon Shaffer, State Senate John Tayer, RTD Board Honorable Morris B. Hoffman, District 2 Honorable Ronald Michael Mullins, District 2 Honorable Orrelle R. Weeks, District 2 Honorable Claude W. Appel, District 3 Honorable Robert L. Lowrey, District 4 Honorable Steven T. Pelican, District 4 Honorable Larry E. Schwartz, District 4 Honorable M. Jon Kolomitz, District 16 Honorable Dolores (D.D.) Mallard, District 20 Honorable Robert M. Russel, Court of Appeals Kyle Hybl, CU Regent

Sen. Salazar Speaks at Loan Repayment Assistance Program Benefit

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST

United States Senator Ken Salazar and Professor Melissa Hart were guest speakers at the Law Schools Second Annual Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) Benefit. Almost 75 people attended the Benefit hosted at Davis Graham & Stubbs, raising $1,200. LRAP provides partial loan forgiveness for recent graduates that take public interest jobs. With 85% of Colorado Law graduates borrowing loans on the average of almost $60,000, many students hesitate to choose meaningful, low-paying governmental or nonprofit jobs. "The Law School has had a long tradition of public interest work and this program allows us to continue," said Dean David Getches. "Since the cost of Colorado Law School tuition has almost doubled in the past two years, funding is needed more than ever to help those graduates who choose to pursue public service."

Antonin Scalias Jurisprudence: Text and Tradition

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST

Today, the Federalist Society hosted a speaking event by Dr. Ralph Rossum of Claremont McKenna College. He came to speak about his new book entitled, "Antonin Scalia's Jurisprudence: Text and Tradition." Lionized by the right and demonized by the left, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is the high court's quintessential conservative. Witty, outspoken, often abrasive, he is widely regarded as the most controversial member of the Court. This book is the first comprehensive, reasoned, and sympathetic analysis of how Scalia has decided cases during his entire twenty-year Supreme Court tenure. Ralph Rossum focuses on Scalia's more than 600 Supreme Court opinions and dissents-carefully wrought, passionately argued, and filled with well-turned phrases-which portray him as an eloquent defender of an "original meaning" jurisprudence. He also includes analyses of Scalia's Court of Appeals opinions for the D.C. circuit, his major law review articles as a law professor and judge, and his provocative book, A Matter of Interpretation.

Network Convergence Hosted By Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Program

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST

Today, the Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Program hosted "Network Convergence" conference covering topics including: 1) the technological and business realities of network convergence. 2) interoperability, open standards, and applications competition, 3) regulatory implications: the end of silos? The first panel, Technological and Business Realities of Network Convergence, examined technological and business factors affecting network convergence, including those that may be preventing full realization of technical capabilities. This panel additionally discussed the prospects for innovations predicated upon network convergence, and panel gauged the validity of such concerns, and look at countervailing technological and business forces that might mitigate such concerns. Second panel, Interoperability, Open Standards, and Applications Competition, explored the dynamics between open standards and competition as played out in the application layer of communication networks. First, the panel considered whether the companies that drive private standards can reasonably expect open application developers to create products for their platform. Additionally, the panel will consider what institutions might develop to meet the interoperability challenges presented by the continually evolving technologies of next generation networks. The final panel, regulatory Implications: The End of Silo? considers whether Congress is likely to move away from its historic and now antiquated silo-based regulatory approach. Moreover, in the arena of broadband, the FCC has continued to adhere to regulatory distinctions based on the underlying delivery platform. The panel will ask how deeply committed the FCC is to silo-based regulation. Additionally, the panel will compare the current regulatory approach, which heavily relies on prescriptive rules, with the alternative of an after-the-fact, antitrust approach to regulation, asking whether such a change in orientation is either desirable or likely.

Tribal Sovereignty and Indian Country in 2006

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 00:00:00 MST

Today,two of the leading voices in Indian Law were invited to discuss tribal sovereignty and the state of Indian Country in 2006: John Echohawk and Billy Frank, Jr. John Echohawk a Pawnee, is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund. Native American Rights Fund is recognized as being one of the foremost advocates in the areas of tribal sovereignty and the safeguarding of natural resources and ancestral burial grounds. John Echohawk has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by the National Law Journal since 1988 and has received numerous service awards and other recognition for his work for justices for Indian tribes for over 30 years. Billy Frank, Jr. of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, is the Chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for 22 years. The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission was formed in 1975, to support tribal fisheries management activities and to enable the tribes to speak with a united voice and help coordinate such programs as enhancement and habitual management. Billy Frank has been the recipient of numerous recognition awards, including the 1991 Albert Schweltzer Prize for Humanitarianism and 2004 Indian Country Today Inaugural American Visionary Award.

Assistant CU Law School Dean New General Counsel For Hispanic National Bar Association

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MST

The Hispanic National Bar Association has appointed Lorenzo Trujillo, assistant dean at the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law, as its general counsel. Trujillo will provide legal advice and representation to the association's president and board of governors. The appointment was announced Oct. 16. Trujillo said he was honored to have the "trust and respect of the president and board of governors." "We are fortunate to have Lorenzo Trujillo serve the association as its general counsel," said Jimmie V. Reyna, national president of the Hispanic National Bar Association. "He is an exceptional lawyer with an outstanding reputation as a man of integrity and the highest legal ethics whose advice and counsel has already proven of great value to us." Trujillo earned a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts and a Juris Doctor from CU-Boulder. He also has a Doctor of Education from the University of San Francisco. After graduating from CU's law school in 1993, he practiced law as a partner in the Denver law firm of Frie, Arndt & Trujillo and as in-house counsel in Adams County School District 14. Trujillo came to CU-Boulder in 2004, where he is the assistant dean of students and professional programs for the law school. Contact: Lorenzo Trujillo, (303) 492-6682 Lorenzo.trujillo@colorado.edu Dirk Martin, (303) 492-3140 dirk.martin@colorado.edu Sonia Medina, (202) 223-4777 (HNBA) smedina@hnba.com

Professor Robert J. Miller Visits Colorado Law School

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MST

Today, Professor Miller from Lewis & Clark Law School visited Colorado Law School to discuss his latest book, Native America, Discovered and Conquered: Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and Manifest Destiny. In his book, Professor Miller addresses the international legal principle called the Doctrine of Discovery and how that legal rule was used in American history and transformed into the American policy of Manifest Destiny. The Doctrine of Discovery provided that by law and divine intention European Christian countries gained power and legal rights over indigenous non-Christian peoples immediately upon their discovery by Europeans. Various European monarchs and their legal systems developed this principle to benefit their own countries. The Discovery Doctrine was then adopted into American colonial and state law and into the United States Constitution, and was then adopted by the federal legislative and executive branches, and finally by the U.S. Supreme Court in Johnson v. MIntosh in 1823. Johnson is still federal law today and the Doctrine of Discovery is still being applied to Indian individuals and the American Indian Nations notwithstanding its Eurocentric, religious, and racial underpinnings. Professor Millers book breaks new ground by proving from Thomas Jeffersons own words that he clearly understood the Doctrine of Discovery and actively used this legal principle against American Indians and their tribal governments. His book also establishes another new idea that has apparently gone unnoticed until this time: Manifest Destiny developed out of the legal principles and elements of the Doctrine of Discovery, Jeffersons ambitions, and the path breaking work of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Robert J. Miller is an Associate Professor at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon where he teaches Indian law courses and Civil Procedure. He has also been a part-time tribal judge since 1995 for many Northwest tribes and is currently the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals for the Grand Ronde Tribe. Professor Miller became involved with his research on Lewis & Clark expedition and the Indian Nations in 2003 when he was appointed by his tribe to be its representative on the Circle of Tribal Advisors to the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial. Professor Miller is a citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

Thanksgiving Dinner Drive

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MST

For a second year the Non-Traditional Law Student Association (NTLSA) and the Juvenile Law Clinic are running a Thanksgiving dinner drive, which will provide five needy families with a free Thanksgiving dinner, including all the fix'ins. The goal of the program is to give back to the community and to take a moment to recongize all the things we are thankful for in life. NTLSA will purchase the turkeys for the families and through donations by law students, staff and faculty, five families will be provided with a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. Each of the families selected are clients of the Juvenile Law Clinic The program was developed last year by 2L, Emily Wright, and has been supported by many, many students and faculty and staff members, including Professor Colene Robinson, and students Brian Geoghegan and Sarah Doll. For any questions please contact Emily Wright at emily.wright@colorado.edu. Happy Thanksgiving!!

General Tate of Army JAG Corp Visits Law School

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

The University of Colorado Law School was proud to host Brigadier General Butch Tate, Commander and Commandant of the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Legal Center and School for the U.S. Army. This marks the first time a JAG Commandant has visited the Law School to meet his future JAG Corps officers. General Tate is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law and holds an LL.M in Military Law and a masters degree in National Security Strategy. He has held a variety of positions, including: Senior Trial Counsel for the 82nd Airborne Division; Officer in Charge of the Panzer Kaserne Legal Center, 1st Infantry Division (Forward), Boeblingen, Germany; Professor of Criminal Law at the Armys Judge Advocate Generals School; and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Special Forces Command. His awards include the Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. Currently, three Law School students participate in the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP); two are in the Army and one is in the Air Force. In addition, three students are applying for the program. FLEP lasts for three academic years and allows officers to obtain a law degree at an approved civilian law school at government expense. Upon successful completion of a law degree and the bar exam, officers will work for the JAG Corps. Fifteen total students are current military officers or reservists, with all four branches represented.

Alumni Judicial Clerkship Brownbag

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, the Office of Career Development presented a panel of Colorado Law alumni who shared their experiences clerking on both state and federal courts. This was an opportunity for Colorado Law students to learn more about how these valuable opportunities can enhance their careers. It is estimated that in these recent years, anywhere from 15-23% of Colorado Law graduates every year accept judicial clerkships. Judicial clerkships, for both state and federal courts, can be an outstanding way to begin one's legal career. The Benefits of a Judicial Clerkship: -- A clerkship can open doors to future career opportunities. -- Youll develop a close working relationship with a judge who can become a mentor for you throughout your legal career. -- Clerkships are respected in the legal community and lawyers recognize the value of the inside perspective that clerks gain. -- You will be able to hone your legal research and writing skills. You will tackle legal issues with greater depth and analysis. -- You will be able to observe lawyers on all levels - good, bad and mediocre. You will see very sharp lawyers and those that make mistakes. It is a great training ground. -- You will understand how the legal system works.

Referendum I and Amendment 43 Information Session

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, speakers from Coloradans for Fairness, Focus on the Family and other organizations came to Colorado Law for an information session on Referendum I and Amendment 43 just in time for Colorados upcoming November election. Referendum I and Amendment 43 are two items on the November 7th ballot that address same-sex couples. Referendum I would grant registered partners many of the same rights and responsibilities that heterosexual married couples currently enjoy. Amendment 44, on the other hand, would effectively ban gay marriage with a state constitutional amendment echoing the statutory definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. For more information on Referendum I and Amendment 43, visit http://www.elections.colorado.gov/DDefault.aspx?tid=835&vmid=750#">Colorado Secretary of State's website.

Paul Kahn Speaks at Law School's 2006-2007 Colloquium Series

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, Paul W. Kahn, presented Professor Kahn is the Robert Winner Professor of Law and the Humanities at Yale Law School, and the Director of the Orville Schell, Jr., Center for International Human Rights.

Colorado's First Plug-In Hybrid

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, Colorado Law's Energy and Environmental Security Initiative and University of Colorado's Energy Initiative hosted an event featuring Colorado's first plug-in hybrid in the Wittemyer Courtoom. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is a vehicle that can charge its expanded battery capacity from a standard electrical outlet, thereby utilizing electricity as a secondary fuel source and doubling the average miles per gallon. Hybrids Plus Inc., a Boulder based company converted the Toyota Prius to a plug-in with the support of the Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation. Hybrids Plus is only the second company in the United States to undertake such a conversion. The batteries used in the conversion are a new generation of high power lithium ion. Such batteries are also used for cordless power tools, and have been installed as a self-contained battery pack in the rear of the vehicle.The design takes some of the space occupied by a storage tray now in the trunk, but allows access to the spare tire. A123Systems generously donated the batteries for this demonstration vehicle. In addition to, distinguished speakers came to speak at the groundbreaking event: Carl Lawrence (Founder and President of Hybrids Plus), Keith Park (Analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory), and Joel Swisher (Managing Director of Rocky Mountain Institute). Speakers discussed the economic, environmental and national security implications of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Carl Lawrence, founder and CEO of Hybrids Plus discussed the project's development and the PHEV conversion. Keith Parks of National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Strategic Energy Analysis Center presented results from a study by Xcel Energy and NREL to assess the collective effects of widespread PHEV adoption on environmental emissions and the electrical generation in Colorado. Joel Swisher, the managing director of the Rocky Mountain Institute spoke about the long-term potential and national implications of PHEVs. Following the presentation there was an interactive Q&A session, then the showing and the demonstration of the converted plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius. The plug-in hybrid was first unveiled at the Clean Energy Partnerships in Fort Collins on September 18th, 2006.

Prof. Charles Wilkinson Wins 2006 Colorado Book Award

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

University of Colorado Law School Distinguished Professor Charles Wilkinson has won the 2006 Colorado Book Award in the history and biography category for "Blood Struggle: The Rise of Modern Indian Nations." Wilkinson was one of 12 authors honored Oct. 18 at the 15th annual Colorado Book Awards ceremony held in Denver and sponsored by the Colorado Center for the Book. "Blood Struggle" chronicles the dynamic rebirth of American Indian society and culture. "I am very honored by this award," said Wilkinson, the Moses Lasky Professor of Law. "But in a larger sense the real honor goes to the legacy of Vine Deloria Jr. and other tribal leaders who so laboriously carried out this inspiring movement to make the reservations homelands governed by sovereign tribal governments."

White Center Holds National Conference on Interrogation Law

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

A group of national experts on criminal procedure convened in Boulder on October 20-21, 2006, to discuss the past, present, and future of interrogation law. The Cautions and Confessions: Miranda v. Arizona After 40 Years conference, which took place in the new Wolf Law Building, showcased the interdisciplinary perspectives of legal scholars, historians, sociologists, and judges. The conference was sponsored by the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law and organized by Professor Carolyn Ramsey of the University of Colorado Law School and Professor Bruce Smith of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law. On October 20, Professor Yale Kamisar of the University of Michigan Law School and the University of San Diego School of Law began the conference with a thoughtful keynote address on Mirandas origins and meaning. Then, a series of formal, scholarly panels featured papers on the history of warnings and incommunicado questioning, the doctrinal and policy limits of the Miranda decision, and the international dimensions of interrogation law. The day ended with a lively roundtable discussion of videotaping and other measures for reforming police practices in the future. Invited speakers returned to campus on October 21 for two informal seminars. The first seminar explored coercive interrogation techniques including religiously-based tactics that seemed to necessitate the Miranda decision. The second seminar focused on the modern problems of false confessions and the interrogation of terrorism suspects.

10 Things You Must Know Before You Graduate

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, Jennifer Ungar and Dan Glasser who are seasoned professionals introduced to students their proven strategies to succeed in a legal career. A sample of topics discussed included: -- What employers and law schools haven't told you about your future as a lawyer -- Strategies on how to increase your career options every year -- The importance of building your own book of business while you are in practice -- How to make your network work, even if you're an introvert Here are some tips they shared: -- know the industry generally -- foster relationships -- think about reputation -- be a finder (business builder), minder (status quo), grinder (worker) -- be polite -- add value -- be known in the community

Clinical Workshop Series Announced

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

The Clinical Programs at Colorado Law announce a series of workshops to inform and stimulate thought in different areas of law and practice. The workshops are open to all students and faculty and the public. The workshops will all be at noon for one hour. The first session on October 17th will be presented by Adjunct Professor Sheldon Friedman, with the firm of Isaacson& Rosenbaum. The topic: Discovery of Electronic Evidence. The second presentation (October 31st) will be Immigration- The Law of Asylum, with Professor Clare Huntington, Clinical Professor Norm Aaronson and immigration attorney Carol Lehman. Topic: The Case for Granting Asylum. Clinic student attorneys will also discuss their work on asylum cases. The third workshop will be Juvenile Law: The Ethical Issues in Representing Child Clients on November 8th. Presenters are Clinical Professor Colene Robinson and Adjunct Professor Judge Edward Richardson along with clinic students. The final workshop this semester will be Criminal Law: The 4th Amendment in Action (November 16th) with Clinical Professor Ann England. A mock suppression hearing will be presented with discussion.

NRLC Celebrates Centennial of the Antiquities Act

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, the Natural Resources Law Center and the Center of the American West sponsored a one-day conference on the 100 year-old Antiquities Act. Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, the principal architect of the eighteen Antiquities Act proclamations issued by President Clinton, and a host of other distinguished speakers came to speak at the event. For 100 years, the Antiquities Act has been used by nearly every President to set aside and protect lands threatened with privatization and development. The list of lands first protected under the Antiquities Act - and that might never have been protected without it - is truly remarkable. Many of our most treasured national parks including the Grand Canyon, Olympic, Zion, Arches, Glacier Bay, and Acadia, began as national monuments. All told, Presidents have issued 123 proclamations setting aside millions of acres of land under the Antiquities Act.

Technology Law Jobs Panel

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, the Technology Law Students Association, the Silicon Flatirons Telecom Program, and the Office of Career Development invited Colorado Law students to an informal session where they had the opportunity to meet various attorneys currently practicing technology law. Professor Phil Weiser, the Executive Director of Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Program and Professor Paul Ohm, who specializes in Intellectual Property and Computer Crime Law, also attended the event. The attorneys talked about their personal experiences from their technology law-related practice and provided students with information regarding pursing a possible career in Technology Law. This session was also followed by a Q & A for interested students who are considering practicing in the technology law field.

Jeremy Paul Speaks at Law School's 2006-2007 Colloquium Series

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, Jeremy Paul, Thomas F. Gallivan, Jr. Professor of Real Property Law and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Connecticut School of Law, conducted a lively discussion of his paper "Lawyering on the Double Edge." In his paper, Professor Paul continues his exploration of cognitive theory and legal education, arguing that the legal curriculum should be reconceived to foreground familiar rhetorical patterns that shape legal argument and legal decisionmaking. As an example of the pedagogical potential of this new approach, Professor Paul highlighted the "two-fer", a ubiquitous move by which advocates and decision-makers combine two arguments or legal grounds of decision, neither of which would independently lead to the given outcome. Highlighting the "two-fer" and similar cognitive strategies, Professor Paul concluded, would provide "an entirely new vocabulary" for legal education. Professor Paul teaches Constitutional Law, Property, and Jurisprudence, and his scholarship has appeared in the Texas Law Review, the Michigan Law Review, the University of Southern California Law Review, and the Washington Monthly. University of Colorado Law School's own Pierre Schlag has called the book Professor Paul published with Michael Fischl, Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams, "stone cold brilliant," and Professor Paul's introduction to legal reasoning, A Bedtime Story, 74 Virginia Law Review 915 (1988), has become a classic in the field.

1L Career Development Symposium

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, Colorado Law's Career Development office had its first introductory meeting with the first year students in the Wittemyer Courtroom. This was an opportunity for Career Development to introduce the members of the office to the first year law students. Career Development talked about how the office can assist Colorado Law students in finding employment and highlighted some of the basics to get first year law students ready for their job search. Among other interactive activities, this event included mock interviews performed by first year legal writing professors.

Secrecy, Confidentiality, Privilege, and American Egalitarianism

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, Senior District Court Judge John L. Kane, Jr. came to speak about the current trend toward suppression of information as well as the need for public awareness and participation in the processes of our legal system in an era of increasing regulation. Judge Kane shared his personal experience on the bench dealing with these issues and stressed the importance for transparency in our legal system. Questions posed by Judge Kane were: What is our country doing with secrecy, the sealing of records, and the classification of documents? Are open records essential to a free and democratic government? How much secrecy and confidentiality are needed in a free society? Judge Kane has been a Federal judge in Denver since his appointment by President Carter in 1977.

10th Circuit Court Holds Arguments at Colorado Law

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit held oral arguments at Colorado Law. Prior to the court session, the Legal Writing Faculty and the Office of Career Development held a brownbag session with the judges and law clerks from the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, where they discussed the benefits of doing a judicial clerkship after law school. This was a great opportunity for law students to learn how a judicial clerkship can be a springboard to a successful legal career. After the brown bag, law students were invited to see the judges hear live oral arguments on four cases in the Wittemyer Courtroom. After the oral arguments, the judges and their clerks held another student Q & A. A reception followed in Boettcher Hall where students had the opportunity to meet the judges in person.

"Fireside" Chat with Larisa Dobriansky

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, the Doman International and Environmental Law Society hosted a lunch chat session with Larisa Dobriansky, the current Deputy Assistant Secretary for National Energy Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy. Larisa Dobriansky has represented the U.S. in many international forums addressing renewable, clean energy. She has worked for private firms in environmental and energy law. She has also worked as legal counsel to a US House of Representatives subcommittee. Various issues discussed included Energy Policy Act, Federal Energy Management Program, ethanol use in Brazil, government's critical role in adoption for cleaner efficient energy, and etc.

EESI Receives Grant, and Launches New Database

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

The Energy and Environmental Security Initiative (EESI), an interdisciplinary center at the University of Colorado Law School, is making great strides on many fronts. First, EESI has received a grant from the Colorado General Assembly to study markets and private firm activities related to climate change. Commenting on the award, U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) remarked: I am delighted that Colorado has selected EESI for this grant. EESI will provide an objective and valuable assessment of how Colorado should position itself relative to climate change markets. Senator Allard is co-chair of the bi-partisan Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. In addition, EESI launched its new online database of international energy treaties on Tuesday, September 26th, 2006. Sponsored by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), the database is called the International Sustainable Energy Assessment (ISEA) and contains in-force energy treaties from all 192 countries in the world dealing with some 45 energy-related subject areas.

Author of Sex, Lies, and Feminism speaks at Colorado Law

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, feminist scholar and author Chirstina Hoff Sommers, Ph.D. was invited by the Federalist Society to speak to Colorado Law students. Among other things, Dr. Hoff Sommers discussed some issues in contemporary feminism: The lack of free and honest discussion in today's Women's Studies classes. - Why it is foolish to ignore the hard-wired differences between men and women? - How a just and reasonable equity feminism has been hijacked by hard-liners in the academy and in the major women's organizations. - How young third-wave equity feminists can save the women's movement by demanding good information, common sense, and fairness. Dr. Sommers serves on the Board of Advisors for the Center for the American Experiment, is Chairman of the Board of Academic Advisors for the Independent Women’s Forum. She has taught at Clark University, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Massachusetts at Boston. She received her Ph.D. in philosophy from Brandeis University and her B.A. from New York University. Her books include One Nation Under Therapy, The War Against Boys.

Juvenile abd Family Law Program Brown Bag

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, the Juvenile and Family Law Program and the Office of Career Development presented The Practice of Family Law: A Focus on Marital Dissolutions. The speakers Barbara Salomon and Melissa Kerin (CU Law,-05) of Cage, Williams, & Abelman spoke of their personal experiences in Family Law and advised students on how to build a practice in Family Law.

What the Media Isn't Telling You About the Conflict in the Middle East

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today at lunch, the Colorado Law's Jewish Law Students Association invited the director of the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, Shaul Amir, to speak the timely topic regarding American media coverage of the ongoing conflict in Israel, Lebanon, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. For more information about the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, visit their website, www.jewishcolorado.org. This event was the Colorado Law's JLSA's first event of the year and their contribution to the inauguration of the new law school building.

Colorado Law Celebrates New Building Dedication

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, over one thousand alumni, students, faculty, staff, special guests, dignitaries, and friends of Colorado Law gathered at the new Wolf Law Building to dedicate the building and celebrate its successful completion. Friday's activities began with a morning panel discussion in the Wittemyer Courtroom about Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's book Active Liberty. Festivities then included a buffet lunch for all visitors and tours offered by current Colorado Law students. At three o'clock the dedication ceremony began with a procession of from the Law School's former home in the Fleming building to the Wolf Law Building courtyard. The Procession was led by Dean David Getches, University of Colorado President Hank Brown, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, the University of Colorado Regents, other distinguished guests, and the faculty and staff of Colorado Law. The dedication included a native american blessing by an elder of the Ute tribe, remarks by Dean Getches, CU President Hank Brown, American Bar Association President Karen Mathis, and an address by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Following the ceremony, the entire community enjoyed a reception, dinner, native american dancing, several different musical bands, and dancing.

MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation To Donate $1 Million To CU-Boulder Law School

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

David Getches, dean of the University of Colorado School of Law School, today announced the MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation will donate $1 million to the University of Colorado Foundation to establish the Gilbert Goldstein Fund. The Gilbert Goldstein Fund will be dedicated to funding scholarships and fellowships to deserving law students and faculty of the CU law school. In recognition of Gilbert Goldstein's dedication and generosity to the greater Denver legal community, the University of Colorado will designate the Main Plaza at the new Wolf Law Building as the "Gilbert Goldstein Plaza." Over the years, Gilbert Goldstein has remained a dedicated and devoted member of the Denver legal community. His generosity and commitment have made a significant difference in the growth and stature of the legal profession in Colorado and, in particular, the University of Colorado Law School. Goldstein's achievements, not only as a respected lawyer, but as a professional committed to the betterment of the community and the state of Colorado, make it appropriate to recognize his life's work through this generous gift by providing for continuing academic research and learning at the CU School of Law. Larry A. Mizel, president of the MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation, said, "We are proud and grateful for the opportunity to honor Gilbert Goldstein and support the students and faculty of the CU Law School. Mr. Goldstein continues to be an active role model and inspiration to many in our community." "We are honored to have Gil Goldstein as an alumnus and, given his stature in the realms of legal professionalism, business, and public service, it honors us to have his name on the plaza of our new home," said Getches. "Our appreciation for his contributions to the legal community is matched only by our gratitude for the generous gift by the MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation. This modest man is revered by so many people throughout the Denver legal and business community." The MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation was established in 1999 and is dedicated to charitable, educational and other philanthropic endeavors in the state of Colorado and throughout the nation. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will dedicate the 183,000 square foot Wolf Law Building on Friday, Sept. 8, at 3 p.m. The new building will feature two high-tech courtrooms, 50 percent more space for law journal offices and law clinics, and the largest resource collection and most technologically advanced law library in the 12-state Rocky Mountain region. Contact: David Getches, (303) 492-3084 Matt Moseley, (303) 887-0826 (GBSM)

CU Law School To Hold Remembrance Ceremony In Honor Of Sept. 11 Victims

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:00:00 MDT

At noon on Sept. 11, the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law and the CU Law Alumni Board will hold a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the new Wolf Law Building on the Boulder campus. The ceremony will recognize the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Organizers of the ceremony also will unveil a bronze plaque dedicated to the memory of CU alumni killed during the attacks. The ceremony, which is open to the public, will be held on the outdoor patio in front of the main entrance to the law school. An American Legion color guard will participate and David Getches, dean of the law school, will emcee the program. Law school alumnus John Carson; representatives of the CU Law Alumni Board, student organizations and the Boulder Fire Department; and others will make comments. Following a university-wide moment of silence, the ceremony will conclude with the unveiling of the memorial plaque that will be located on the grounds of the Wolf Law Building. Contact: John Carson, (303) 524-2754 carsonej@aol.com Danielle Hayward, (303) 492-8047 danielle.hayward@colorado.edu Dirk Martin, (303) 492-3140

CU's Silicon Flatirons Kicks Off Fall Semester Conferences In New Wolf Law Building

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Note to Editors: Members of the press are welcome to attend the conference without charge. To arrange, call Todd Blair at (303) 735-5633 or e-mail todd.blair@colorado.edu. Experts in telecommunications regulation and water law will meet at the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law Sept. 7 to examine wireless use and access law reform at the Wolf Law Building. "Wireless Revolutions: How Telecommunications Regulation Should Adapt to New Technologies and Learn from Water Law" is the first of three conferences sponsored by the law school's Silicon Flatiron's Telecommunication Program during the fall semester. Participants will include Colorado Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hobbs, an expert in water, environment and land-use law, and Kathleen Abernathy, former commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission. Abernathy will deliver the keynote address at 6:20 p.m. "The explosion of wireless technologies and services is a critical and often under-appreciated part of our telecommunications industry," said Phil Weiser, executive director of the law school's Silicon Flatirons Program. "At present, however, the regulatory reform effort -- which aims to promote technological development and a better use of the wireless spectrum -- appears to be stalled." Bringing together leading experts in wireless technology and regulation, as well as experts in water law, should provide new insights and suggestions for ways to reform the traditional system of regulating the use of and access to the wireless spectrum, Weiser said. The conference will meet from noon to 7 p.m. Seating is limited and various fees apply. Participants are asked to register in advance at silicon-flatirons.org/conferences/20060907wireless.asp. On Oct. 10, the Silicon Flatirons Program will present "Confronting Cable's Technological Frontier," at the Cable Center in Denver located at 2000 Buchtel Blvd. The conference will examine the opportunities and challenges facing the cable industry over the next five to 10 years and will feature a number of top cable executives. On Nov. 6, the last of the three conferences, "Network Convergence," will take place at the Wolf Law Building. Panelists representing a number of information technology companies, including Qwest, Comcast, T-Mobile and Carrier Access, will talk about the challenges companies will face with the emergence of technologies to help people communicate and access information across wireless, broadband and satellite networks in a seamless manner. Both conferences will be held from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Continuing legal education credits are available for each event. For more information about the conferences, schedules, registration fees and online registration, visit the Silicon Flatiron's conference Web site at www.silicon-flatirons.org/index.html or call (303) 735-2733. CU-Boulder students, faculty and staff will be admitted to all three conferences at no charge but are encouraged to register. Contact: Phil Weiser, (303) 735-2733 phil.weiser@colorado.edu Todd Blair, (303) 735-5633 todd.blair@colorado.edu Dirk Martin, (303) 492-3140

Spruce Confections Opens in the New Cafe

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, Boulder's Spruce Confections Bakery opened as the vendor within the new Wolf Law Building's cafe. Spruce Confections is a much-loved Boulder cafe, with two existing locations on Pearl Street and in North Boulder. The location in the Wolf Law Building cafe will serve Spruce Confections' signature coffee and pastries, as well as sandwiches, gourmet pizza, soups, and salads. The arrival of the cafe vendor is part of Colorado Law's effort to make the Wolf Law Building a welcoming atmosphere for students, and a place where students, faculty, staff, and the legal community can gather.

Law School Welcomes the Class of 2009!

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Orientation began for the entering class of 2009 on Tuesday, August 22d. The four-day orientation process, which includes introductory information about the Law School, tours, advisor meetings with faculty members, and social events, concludes on Friday. Classes begin on Monday, August 28th.

Law School Moves Into New Wolf Law Building

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 00:00:00 MDT

On August 1st, Faculty and Staff moved from the Fleming building into the new Wolf Law Building. The move went incredibly smoothly, and all are now busy unpacking and preparing for the new school year. History is being made with the opening of the new building, said Dean David Getches. The Wolf Law Building will be a source of pride for everyone associated with Colorado Law for generations to come. It is a monument to the determination and generosity of those who made it possible, and its technologically advanced classrooms and courtrooms, and gracious public areas will further our mission of providing the excellent legal education to our students. Here are some preliminary photographs:

Announcing the Sandgrund Award for Best Consumer Rights Work

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Colorado Law is pleased to announce the creation of the Sandgrund Award for Best Consumer Rights Work, created by Colorado Law alumnus Ron Sandgrund, '82. The Sandgrund Award is intended to encourage and reward writings by Colorado Law students and faculty that advance the field of consumer rights, especially the rights of homeowners, and to reward writing excellence. The initial $100,000 Sandgrund Fund provides funding for two awards, one for students and one for faculty. Each of the awards is to be paid and conferred every two years, assuming qualified recipients are identified. Awards will be made to the best electronic or print published work concerning consumer rights protection, including books, treatises, scholarly articles, and bar association, legal periodical and law review articles. Topics may address issues affecting the nations consumers as a whole, but must have some direct application to the discussion, analysis and/or explanation of Colorado consumer rights. More specifically, publications should address consumer rights and/or remedies arising from the purchase or rental of ordinary household goods, services and products and/or the purchase or lease of residential property, rather than rights and/or remedies primarily arising from commercial or business ventures or transactions, such as claims for anti-trust violations and unfair competition, or rights primarily arising from the incurrence of bodily injury. The selection criteria will include, in equal weight, the following factors: (a) the anticipated contribution to supporting consumer rights, especially Colorado consumers rights; (b) writing clarity; (c) depth of research; (d) novelty; and, (e) objectivity and balance. Special consideration and extra weight will be given to: (a) the expansion and/or vindication of consumer rights; and/or (b) the expansion and/or vindication of homeowner rights and/or remedies. The subject may include: (a) procedures that assist the enforcement of consumer rights, such as class and collective actions; (b) barriers to the enforcement of consumer rights, such as procedurally or substantively unfair contract provisions, including arbitration provisions; (c) deceptive and unfair trade practices legislation and other consumer protection laws; and (d) insurance coverage for consumer property damage claims, such as property/casualty and liability insurance, as well as improper claims handling practices. Eligible recipients include faculty members and students who were at Colorado Law at any time between when the Work was first submitted for publication through the date of its first publication. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, more than one of each award for faculty or student publications may be made. Initial awards for faculty and student publications will be $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, as well as an embossed award certificate. The amount of each award is designed to grow over time, depending on the Sandgrund Endowment investment returns. Award recipients and their work will be described in a plaque located in a prominent space in the new Wolf Law Building. If no work is selected for an award in a given year, the amount of the award will carry over.

CU Law School Launches Online Global Energy Treaties Database

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 00:00:00 MDT

The Energy and Environmental Security Initiative at the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law has unveiled an online global database of international energy treaties. The database is called the International Sustainable Energy Assessment and contains in-force energy treaties from all 192 countries in the world dealing with 45 energy-related subject areas. According to Lakshman Guruswamy, director of the Security Initiative and Nicholas Doman Professor of International Environmental Law, the genesis of the project "arose out of the recognition that the challenges in moving to a more sustainable global energy regime cannot be solved by any one nation and must entail international engagement and cooperation." "This is an invaluable database," commented U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who recently introduced the Energy Diplomacy and Security Act that would use new and existing international agreements to enhance energy security and promote the use of sustainable energy. "It will be a useful tool in our diplomatic efforts to chart a sustainable energy future with our international partners." Development and research for the database was sponsored by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, a public-private partnership launched by the United Kingdom in 2002. The database covers a wide array of energy subjects including energy markets, electricity infrastructure, renewable energy, energy efficiency and hydrogen. It took a team of researchers from the center more than a year to identify and analyze tens of thousands of international agreements before settling on the current database At present, there are two versions: an internal, password-restricted version that contains all 1,700 agreements -- of which the United States is party to approximately 1,100 -- and a free public version located at lawweb.colorado.edu/eesi/ that contains about 500 agreements. "The internal database is a kind of holding bin," said Kevin Doran, project manager and a research fellow at the law school. "After we've thoroughly researched and analyzed a treaty, we then pass it into the public database where anyone can access the information." Doran said the goal is to have all 1,700 agreements available on the public site in the next six months. Users of the public database are able to search for agreements using basic and advanced search options, said Doran, including a "subject-tree" that allows users to navigate to treaties dealing with a given subject area. For instance, by clicking on "Energy Efficiency" users are presented with links to treaties dealing with energy efficiency in buildings, industry, power generation and transportation. Established in 2003, the Energy and Environmental Security Initiative is an interdisciplinary center located at the CU-Boulder School of Law. The fundamental mission of the center is to facilitate progress toward a global sustainable energy future through the innovative use of laws, policies and technology solutions. For more information contact Doran at (303) 492-5127 or by e-mail at dorank@colorado.edu. Contact: Kevin Doran, (303) 492-5127 dorank@colorado.edu Lakshman Guruswamy, (303) 735-0181 Lakshman.Guruswamy@colorado.edu Dirk Martin, (303) 492-3140

CU Law Alum Inducted Into Prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Denver, CO Hill and Robbins, P.C. announced that one of its founding partners, attorney Robert F. Hill, has been inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL). The IATL, one of the most prestigious organizations of trial lawyers in the world, identifies and invites attorneys who have achieved a career of excellence through demonstrated skill and ability in jury trials, trials before the court, and appellate practices. Hill was recognized after attaining the highest level of advocacy and undergoing a screening process of both peer and judicial review. His induction into IATL makes him the eighth active member in Colorado. Members are engaged in civil practice on both the plaintiff and the defendants side of the courtroom, and in the trial of criminal cases. Active Academy membership is limited to 500 Fellows from the United States. In addition, the Academy includes 100 Fellows from over 30 countries throughout the world. I am both humbled and gratified by the academys honor. I have taken great pride in representing clients whose voices otherwise might not be heard, and I never expected this type of recognition, stated Hill. Hill, co-founder and shareholder of Hill & Robbins, P.C., emphasizes a practice in complex commercial litigation, particularly antitrust, securities, and pension litigation and class actions. He received his law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1970, where he was co-editor-in-chief of the Law Review and graduated first in his class. Hill served as a law clerk to a federal judge in the Central District of California, and as an associate with the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. before returning to CU as a Visiting Associate Professor of Law. From 1975 through 1978, he served as First Assistant Attorney General of the State of Colorado, where he founded the Antitrust Section of the Colorado AG's office. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1991, Hill has been lauded for his leading role in many of the largest civil-damage recoveries in Colorado. He received the Award for Best of the Bar for Antitrust Law in 2004 and was named one the four best commercial litigators in Colorado in America's Leading Business Lawyers 2005. Hill also received the Knous Award in 2005 from the University of Colorado School of Law, the schools highest alumni honor. His numerous awards for community service include the National Philanthropy Day Award as the Outstanding Volunteer in Colorado (2003), the Colorado Bar Associations Hoagland Award for Public Service, and the Individual of the Year Award and the Outstanding Sustained Contribution Award from the Colorado Lawyers Committee. He is currently a member of the board of Invest in Kids, a nonprofit childrens organization that he co-founded in 1996, and is the chair of the Board of the Nurse-Family Partnership, a national nurse visitation program serving approximately 12,000 low-income mothers in more than 20 states.

Law School Celebrates Commencement

Fri, 12 May 2006 00:00:00 MDT

On Friday, May 12th, 2006, the Law School celebrated the Commencement of the Class of 2006! The ceremonies included remarks by Dean David Getches, United States Senator from Colorado Ken Salazar (recipient of the Honorary Order of the Coif), outgoing Class President Laurie Rust, and the American Bar Association's President-Elect Karen J. Mathis (CU Law '75). Throughout the day, the Law School honored the Class of 2006 for its incredible and lasting accomplishments, including its efforts to secure student legislation that made possible the almost-completed construction of the new Wolf Law Building. Congratulations to the Class of 2006! We will miss you.

Law School Hosts Panel Discussion on Kelo v. City of New London

Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 MDT

On April 18th, the American Constitutional Society and the Construction & Real Estate Law Association hosted a panel presentation to encourage and enable law students to explore the construction and real estate industries. The panel was titled Property & Public Rights: Colorados Response to Kelo v. City of New London. In Kelo v. City of New London (2005) the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (5-4) that local governments may force property owners to sell out and make way for private economic development when officials decide it would benefit the public, even if the property is not blighted and the new projects success is not guaranteed. Panelists were invited to speak about Kelo case and its possible implications for Colorado. The Panelists included: Leslie Fields, of Faegre & Benson., who has been on both sides of some of the most important eminent domain battles in Colorado in recent years, and is currently representing Telluride in a major eminent domain case; Eugene L. Hohensee, of Arnold & Porter, who has been active with the Denver Urban Renewal Authority and has represented the Colorado Municipal League in opposing some of the current legislative initiatives, is currently on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Denver Partnership; and Malcolm Murray, of Murray Dahl Kuechenmeister & Renaud, who is a prominent advocate on eminent domain issues and represents a number of local governments in Colorado on this topic.

EESI Sponsors the Third CU Sustainable Energy Forum

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, CU Laws Energy & Environmental Security Initiative and the CU Environmental Center held the third CU Sustainable Energy Forum--a series designed to showcase the sustainable energy research and projects of CU faculty, staff and students. As the final forum of the academic year, the event focused on some of the key economic issues and opportunities that inform and influence energy choices. The four panelists for the forum discussed the economic reality in which energy choices are made, and offered real world solutions for improving our ability to make optimal choices in the face of that reality. Moderated by Dr. Lakshman Guruswamy, EESI Director and Nicholas Doman Professor of International Environmental Law, the Forum featured the following panelists: Paul C. Caldara, Manager of Utilities Distribution at CU-Boulder; Stephen R. Lawrence, Associate Professor of Operations Management in the Leeds School of Business; Jane Pater, a graduate student in her second year as a dual degree MBA/MS in Environmental Studies student with a focus on energy; and Suzanne Tegen, a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and a Ph.D. candidate in CU-Boulder's Environmental Studies program specializing in energy policy. For information on upcoming CU Sustainable Energy forums, please send an email to eesi@colorado.edu. Additional information on past CU Sustainable Energy Forums is available on EESI website. The presentations of each panelists are available for download below in PDF format: Paul C. Caldara, Welcome to the Real World (PDF 288kb) Stephen R. Lawrence, Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Energy (PDF 626kb) Jane Pater, Framework for the Total Value Proposition of Clean Energy Technologies (PDF 397kb) Suzanne Tegen, Statewide Economic Impacts from New Electricity Generation (PDF 384kb) More on the Speakers and Presentations PAUL C. CALDARA, MANAGER OF UTILITIES DISTRIBUTION at CU-Boulder, discussed the complexities of operating a cogeneration plant and the impact of gas prices on the economics of plant operation. Paul is responsible for the safe and reliable operation of CU-Boulder's electric distribution system, and oversees plant optimization calculations for the most efficient operation of the power house, rate analysis, and contract negotiations. PROFESSOR STEPHEN R. LAWRENCE discussed specific types of entrepreneurial opportunities open to individuals and investors in the sustainable energy space. In addition to yielding financial rewards for individual investors, the exploitation of such opportunities is critical to the rapid commercial diffusion of sustainable energy technologies. Stephen is an Associate Professor of Operations Management in the Leeds School of Business at CU-Boulder, where he teaches courses in the assessment of sustainable energy technologies, supply chain management, technology management, and entrepreneurship. GRADUATE STUDENT JANE PATER gave a presentation entitled, "A Framework for Valuing Clean Energy Technologies." Conventional valuation techniques fail to include many of the financial advantages of clean energy technologies, including risk management, emissions reductions and policy incentives. Jane presented an analytical framework that provides a method for quantifying those values and incorporating them into a product valuation. This framework may be used to create comparable value propositions for clean energy technologies supporting investment decisions, project siting and marketing strategies. Jane is in her second year as a dual degree MBA/MS in Environmental Studies student with a focus on energy. She interned at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) during the summer of 2005, which is where she completed the research that will serve as the basis for this presentation. GRADUATE STUDENT SUZANNE TEGEN gave a presentation entitled, "Statewide Economic Impacts from New Electricity Generation: Comparing Coal, Natural Gas and Wind plants." Suzanne introduced a new methodology for calculating the direct economic benefits to a state from the construction and operation of new power plants. This methodology traces the dollar flow into and out of the state from construction, operation, maintenance, fuel, landowner revenues, financing and property taxes. Suzanne works at NREL and studies economic development within their Wind Powering America program. She is also a PhD candidate in CU Boulder's Environmental Studies program researching energy policy. Suzanne has a Master's degree from CU and a Bachelor's degree in German Literature from the University of Wisconsin Madison. About the Sponsors As an interdisciplinary center at the University of Colorado School of Law, the mission of EESI is to facilitate the attainment of a global sustainable energy future through the innovative use of laws, policies and technology solutions. To that end, EESI serves as an enabling environment for teaching and research into the impact of laws and policies on the scientific, engineering, sociopolitical, and commercial dimensions of sustainable energy. To learn more about EESI, visit the EESI Home Page. Established in 1970, the CU Environmental Center educates, activates, and inspires the campus community to understand and engage in local and global environmental issues. For additional information on the CU Environmental Center, please visit the CU Environmental Center Home Page.

Federalist Society Hosts Program on NSA's Terrorist Surveillance Program

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, the Law Schools Federalist Society (a student organization) invited Todd Gaziano to a discussion about the National Security Agencys Terrorist Surveillance Program. Mr. Gaziano is the Director of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation, where he specializes in constitutional issues and Supreme Court developments.

Sports and Entertainment Law Association Hosts Panel Discussion

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, the Sports and Entertainment Law Association (SELSA) hosted a panel facilitated by Professor Jack Mills and invited Rich Slivka (general counsel for the Denver Broncos), Hal Roth (inside counsel for the Colorado Rockies) and James Leonard (Faegre & Benson, outside counsel for the Colorado Rockies) to speak about their jobs, education and career paths. SELSA strives to promote participation in a variety of sports & entertainment-related social events for the CU law community and to encourage the development of networking opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in this arena.

CRELA Hosts Speaker Series

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, the Construction and Real Estate Law Association had its final event for the 2005-2006 speaker series by inviting Roy Alexander, the Executive Director and CEO of Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), to speak at the Law School. Mr. Alexander spoke about the role that CHFA plays in Colorado housing and business communities and the vision that his organization has for Colorado. There was a Q&A session following the presentation. The CHFA team works together throughout Colorado to: -- Increase the availability of affordable, decent, and accessible housing for lower income Coloradans -- Strengthen the state's economy by providing financial assistance to businesses CHFA was created in 1973 by the Colorado Legislature to address the shortage of affordable housing in the state. Since then, CHFA has established itself as the front-runner in the affordable housing industry by financing single family mortgages for qualifying homebuyers and supporting developments of apartments for low and moderate income residents. In 1982, when Colorado had economic difficulties, CHFA began making loans to small and medium sized businesses. CHFA is a responsible advocate of affordable housing and small business issues for the Colorado community. Since 1973, CHFA's financing has served every county in Colorado by: Financing more than 57,000 mortgages to homebuyers Helping sustain and support more than 26,400 jobs Financing more than 45,000 residential rental units Allocating tax credits for 30,000 residential rental units More information on CHFA can be found at http://www.colohfa.org/

Phi Delta Phi Hosts Discussion with Judge Morris B. Hoffman

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity, founded in 1869to promote a higher standard of professional ethics, sponsored a discussion with Colorado Second Judicial District Judge and New York Times contributor Morris B. Hoffman.

Judge Hoffman spoke about hot topics in legal ethics, including the new Canon 5 that encourages judges to be "active in their communities" and the related problem of lawyers who are "true believers" in their causes.

Law School Celebrates Annual Spring Awards Ceremony

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Annual Spring Awards Ceremony Every year Colorado Law School hosts the Annual Spring Ceremony in the Lindsley Memorial Courtroom, when students, faculty and staff at the Law School honor their colleagues for both academic achievement and contributions to the life and mission of the University. The following awards were given out during this years Spring Awards Ceremony: Barbara B. Leggate Humanitarian AwardKari Robinson & Cindy Gibbons Awarded to a staff member with a compassionate concern for all students who has done the most to make the law school a more tolerable and humane place for students. Meritorious StudentBrian Mason Presented to a third-year student who contributed the most to the Law School community over the course of their legal studies. Legal Aid and Defender Program AwardHarry Budisidharta, Karl Schock, & Kirsten Westerland Awarded to students for outstanding commitment and service to the Legal Aid and Defender Program and its clients. Indian Law Clinic AwardRachel Gillar & Lauren Templeton Awarded to students who excel in client service and classroom participation, and therefore embody the Indian Law clinics goals of providing the highest quality representation in a rigourous educational environment. Outstanding Asian Pacific American Law GraduateRita Sanzgiri Outstanding Latina/o Law GraduateAdelita DeHerrera Womens Law Caucus FellowshipSarah Quicksall, Julia Kneeland, Kielly Dunn, & ________ Loan Repayment Assistance Program Gina Bata Awarded to a student who chooses legal careers in public service or with non-profit organizations. ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership AwardGina Bata Presented to a student who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership qualities. Moot courtsABA Mock Trial Team, ATLA Team, Hispanic National Bar Association Moot Court Team, Jessup International Law Moot Court Team, Jim R. Carrigan Trial Team, National Telecom Team, Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Team, Rothgerber Moot Court Team, Pace Environmental Law Team, Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Team Irving P. Andrews AwardLisa Neal-Graves Awarded to a student who has shown the same service, intellect and commitment which Mr. Andrews, a Denver trial attorney typifies. SBA-Sutcliffe Distinguished Service AwardBrian Mason Awarded to a student who has show outstanding dedication and service to the Law School community. Journal of Telecommunications and High Technology Law Writing AwardLisa Neal-Graves Journal of Telecommunications and High Technology Law Stephen William Leadership AwardLisa Neal-Graves Don W. Sears AwardAdam Reed, Stephanie Lynch, Joseph Rosenblum, _________, ___________, ____________- Edward C. King AwardBrian Mason Awarded to a student whose outstanding leadership and achievement exemplify Dean Kings ideals. Jonathan B. Chase FellowshipSarah Sorum & Kielly Dunn Awarded to student who will engage in legal work during the summer on behalf of the disadvantaged or on a legal matter that raises important human rights issues. Staff Appreciation AwardKari Robinson Lifetime Achievement awardRosemary Siote Sprit of Community AwardElizabeth Porter-Merrill & ______________ Outstanding Legal Writing ProfessorNatalie Mack Outstanding New Faculty AwardLaura Spitz Presented in appreciation of a new faculty member who has shown great service to students and to law school life, both inside and outside the classroom. Excellence in Teaching AwardClare Huntington Presented in appreciation of the exceptional effort faculty member has made to enhance students educational experience both inside and outside the classroom.

ACLU Hosts Talk on Post 9-11 Policies and Bush's Wiretapping Program

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, the American Civil Liberties Union at Colorado Law, in their effort to put pertinent issues involving our civil liberties in a real, tangible context, invited Matt Bowles to discuss post-9-11 policies and the legality of Bush's wiretapping program. Matt Bowles is currently a National Field Organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office. He had spent last three years mobilizing civil liberties activists nationwide to defend their local communities from government abuse and to pressure Congress to roll back repressive post 9-11 policies. Mr. Bowles has published works in Al Ahram Weekly, COPRED Chronicle, Left Turn Magazine, Peace and Justice Studies Association Newsletter, Sustain Solidarity Letter, and Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. His writings have also appeared in Censored 2004 and Middle East: Current Controversies. Additionally, he has lectured widely at colleges and universities, interviewed with various media, and presented at the following conferences: American Sociological Association, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Consortium on Peace Research, Education and Development, Council on American Islamic Relations, Cry Justice: Activism, Organizing and Civil Liberties After 9-11, Irish Northern Aid Committee, Islamic Society of North America, National Conference on Organized Resistance, North Central Sociological Association, Palestine Solidarity Movement, Peace and Justice Studies Association, and the Union of Arab Student Associations.

Career Development Office Hosts Discussion of Judicial Clerkships

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, Colorado Laws Office of Career Development presented a brownbag for first year and second year law students who may be interested in applying for clerkships during this coming summer. Federal District Court Judge Phillip S. Figa was invited to give a talk about the confirmation process of becoming a judge and how law students can prepare in applying to be a law clerk for a federal judge. Law students had an opportunity to ask Judge Figa questions about what specific qualities federal judges look in students who apply for their clerkships.

CU Law Students spend a day getting their hands dirty for a good cause.

Sat, 08 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, a group of students from Professor Amy Schmitzs Humanizing Contracts service learning seminar, along with other volunteers from the Law School, worked on building a Habitat for Humanity home as part of the Better BoulderBetter World initiative. This initiative was geared towards sparking outreach and community service among CU students. The CU Law students spent a full day getting their hands dirty for a good cause. Students measured, cut, and hung dry wall, drilled and nailed boards, and planted trees in the Emerald Hill Habitat housing complex, a part of Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. Despite pre-finals pressure, the students took this time to join AmeriCorps and other community volunteers in working on fourteen homes for local families in need of affordable housing. The experience was rewarding because it not only taught the students about outreach, but also about teamwork. A month earlier, the student volunteers from Professor Schmitzs service learning class had presented an educational seminar to current and future owners of Habitat for Humanity homes in this housing complex. It was great for the students to realize that they were building homes for a real people. Signs in front of the houses with names of the future owners inspired students to work hard all day and feel a sense of accomplishment. Knowing that this land would not go to waste was a great feeling and gave students a sense of perspective and appreciation for Habitat for Humanity. Seeing the children playing on a swing-set outside the homes reassured students that this process works, and by volunteering, they were truly making a difference. Further, the student volunteers able to meet other volunteers and learn about their experiences. It was great to see people volunteer out of the goodness of their hearts and gave all the students a sense of camaraderie. Students were particularly impressed by the Habitat for Humanity organization. The Habitat leaders were patient and excellent teachers, and seeing how Habitat successfully operates as a non-profit inspired students curiosity in pursuing other non-profit and outreach opportunities. Moreover, the students now plan to continue volunteering on Habitat for Humanity builds. Overall, the students worked hard, but more importantly, had fun. In thinking about what you put in and what you get out this experience, I felt like I really took away a lot from this experience...Now, I know how to hang dry wall! -Janel (2L) We had a lot of fun...it was a great bonding experience for all of us. -Julia (2L) While civic duty is a lot of work, its an incredibly rewarding experience -Maureen (2L) It was really cool to contribute to an established organization and learn how a non-profit works. It made us want to learn more about non-profits and how they work. Its amazing how the process works. -Katie, Maureen, Julia (2Ls)

APABA Hosts Annual Minoru Yasui Banquet

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado hosted its Annual Minoru Yasui Banquet at the Kings Land Restaurant in Denver. Each year the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of Colorado and the Colorado Asian American Pacific Bar Foundation also honors an individual or organization whose goal of community service exemplifies the achievement of Mr. Yasui. This years winner is Fay M. Matsukage. Ms Matsukage began her career more than 25 years ago after graduating from the University of Denver School of Law in 1979. She is a partner with Dill Dill Carr Stonbraker & Hutchings, P.C. where she is a superb securities and corporate attorney. While her practice and reputation in the legal community is outstanding, it is her selfless commitment to the local community and the Bar that exemplifies the achievements of Mr. Yasui. In 1980, Ms. Matsukage was one of the first Asian-American women attorneys to be admitted to practice before the courts in Colorado. Since then, she has committed countless hours volunteering in our legal community and the community at large. Her commitment to the Asian community in Colorado is unparalleled. Ms. Matsukage was a founding member of the Asian Pacific Bar Association of Colorado and the Asian Pacific American Womens Leadership Institute. She is on the Board of Directors for the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado and the Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Foundation. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Asian Pacific Development Center. Ms. Matsukage has also served the legal community at large by serving on the Denver Bar Association Board of Trustees, serving as vice President for the Colorado Bar Association, the Board of Directors of the Colorado Womans Bar Association foundation Fellow. In 1999, she was recognized by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association with its Trailblazer Award and in 2006 the Colorado Womens Bar Association will award her the Mary Lathrop Award. In addition to the Annual Minoru Yasui Community Service Award, APABA also annually gives the Anheuser-Busch Minoru Yasui Memorial Scholarships to two law students, each from Colorado Law School and University of Denver School of Law. This years winners are Jennifer Kim from Colorado Law School and Yoon Kim from University of Denver School of Law. The Anheuser-Busch Minoru Yasui Memorial Scholarship was founded with three goals in mind: (1) To honor the memory of Minoru Yasui and his many contributions to the Denver Community; (2) To recognize and reward individuals who have, through their commitment to bettering their communities, continued Mr. Yasuis work of promoting civil rights and community activities; and (3) to recognize law students who have likewise, dedicated themselves to public service. Another annual scholarship was set up this year called Aisenberg Leadership Award, in an effort to give assistance to those students who are in leadership positions and need financial assistance. Joan Kim was the winner this year and the scholarship proceeds will help her with the travel expenses entailed by her current Secretary position at the National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Minoru Yasui (1916-1986) Minoru Yasui was a long-time Colorado attorney, civil rights activist, and community leader. He was born and raised in Hood River, Oregon, and earned his bachelors and law degrees from the University of Oregon. During World War II, the U.S. Government interned Mr. Yasui. After his release, he practiced law in Denver. Throughout his legal career, Mr. Yasui worked devotedly to challenge the discriminatory treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II. He challenged the curfew order imposed on all persons of Japanese descent on the West Coast. After his conviction for violation of the curfew order, he appealed his conviction which eventually was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. His case was consolidated with the landmark case United States v. Hirabayashi. Years after his conviction, he filed a writ of coram nobis to vindicate his name. Unfortunately, with his death in 1986, his writ was dismissed by the Court. However, his work in the redress movement was instrumental in brining about the vindication he sought for himself and all Japanese-Americans. Mr. Yasuis commitment was not limited to the Japanese-American community. He was a founding member of the Urban League of Denver, the Latin American research and Services Agency, and the Denver Native American United. He also served as the Executive director of the Denver Commission on Community Relations and in that capacity continued to focus on issues affecting Denvers African American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian American communities. On March 1, 1999, the city and County of Denver honored him and his lifetime accomplishments by naming the building at 303 West Colfax Avenue as the Minoru Yasui Plaza. And if I, as an American citizen stood still for this, I would be derogating the rights of all citizens. By god, I had to stand up and say Thats wrong. ~ Minoru Yasui ~

David Kaczynski Speaks on the Death Penalty

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Yesterday, the American Constitution Society at CU Law hosted a lunch discussion on death penalty with David Kaczynski, an activist against the death penalty and also the brother of Ted Kaczynski. Here is an excerpt of his story, which can also be found at http://www.nyadp.org/main/david.html. "I never thought it would happen to my family." I often hear this remark when I speak with family members of murder victims. But it applies equally to me and to other family members of serious offenders. The shock wave from a violent act spreads out in all directions. It isn't possible to be prepared in advance. You may try to imagine how you would feel, but imagination never comes close to the crushing reality. In October 1995, after my wife Linda broached her suspicions concerning my brother Ted, I made a trip to the public library and read everything I could about the Unabomber's 17-year bombing spree. It relieved me that none of the victims' names were known to me, for it made it appear less likely that my brother Ted would have targeted them. I focused at the time on my worry about Ted, yet it wasn't possible to read about the bombings - the unsuspecting victims, the horrified and grieving families - and not feel a sudden twinge of pity. I wondered what it must feel like to be "struck by lightning," to feel one's whole universe shift and teeter as a result of some seemingly random violence. Unfortunately for me, I was soon to find out. As I combed through the Unabomber's "manifesto" published in the Washington Post, it seemed increasingly likely that my brother could have written it. It was nightmarish to consider that my brother's mental illness and distorted thinking could have affected him so terribly. Simultaneously, Linda and I faced another kind of nightmare: what should we do? Say nothing and run the risk that my brother might attack others? Or alert the FBI knowing that the Unabomber would likely face execution? In the end, Linda and I went to the authorities. We shared our suspicions with the FBI agents and helped them investigate and ultimately arrest my brother. Ironically, a 17-year manhunt (the most expensive criminal investigation in US history) was powerless to catch the Unabomber - or not until an anguished family came forward, willing to turn over a loved one because it recognized its responsibility to protect others. The Kaczynski family's partnership with the Justice Department ended on the day of Ted's arrest. Until then, we had worked closely with law enforcement to save lives. After my brother's arrest, however, I watched in dismay and horror as the Justice Department quickly refocused its resources on the goal of taking a human life: my brother's. It didn't seem to concern prosecutors that my brother was mentally ill with schizophrenia, or that executing him would discourage other families from following our example in the future. Since my brother's trial, and especially since becoming executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, I've tried to point out some lessons that can be learned from the Kaczynski case. There are many things wrong with the death penalty, as evidenced by the alarming number of wrongful convictions, the thinly concealed racial and class bias, the fact that we regularly execute juvenile offenders and people with serious mental illnesses. To most thinking people, these reasons are sufficient to reject a system for imposing ultimate punishment that operates with limited rationality and fairness. But in my view (an uncomfortably close and personal view) problems in the application of capital punishment are traceable to a deeper, underlying problem. It is a problem that appears whenever we attempt to excuse or justify violence. The justice system focuses on the crime with little attention given to the offender as a human being. Nevertheless, by subtle or overt inferences, the justice system equates the condemned person with his or her criminal conduct. It's the crime that we deplore, yet it's the human being whom we put to death (as if one could be substituted for the other). Do we undo the crime by killing the criminal? Of course not. Family members of offenders are acutely aware of this confusion. When my mother and I provided background information on Ted to the authorities, we said, "We'll do everything in our power to help you catch the Unabomber, but please understand that this is our loved one: a disturbed person, not a monster." The agents, in turn, acknowledged that Ted was seriously mentally ill. But when it came to seeking the death penalty, the Justice Department did an about-face and hired a psychiatrist who was much criticized for his unorthodox views and prosecutorial bias. His job wasn't to discover the humanity in my brother, but instead to hide my brother's humanity so that the jury wouldn't be tempted to empathize. The death penalty thrives on a polarized vision of human society. It's good against bad, us vs. them. But what happens if one of them is actually one of us? Usually, defendants targeted for death belong to some marginalized group - people of color, people of lower economic status, gays and people "accused" of being gay - all conveniently described as one of them. But in reality they're members of the human family, members of our community, usually members of a family group. Just as the death penalty misdirects hatred for the crime at the offender's humanity, it also inflicts injury on the offender's family and damages core values of responsibility and compassion - values indispensable to the community's health. By seeking my brother's execution, thereby turning us into its adversary, the Justice Department sent a terribly mixed message. By giving way to anger and vengeance, it validated the emotions that often lead to violence while dismissing the humane values which are so desperately needed to prevent it. In the end, my brother's life was spared, not because the Justice Department recognized its error, but because he had great lawyers (the kind of lawyers that few capital defendants ever see). He's now serving a life sentence in a federal prison. It's an outcome we, his family, can live with. For those affected on both sides, my brother's violence has changed all our lives forever. In different ways, we struggle to survive with the better part of our humanity intact. Would I do it again, knowing what I know now? The answer is yes. I believe that we probably saved lives. I trust the values and ethics that moved us to do what we did. I know that it would be a mistake to use others' failures as an excuse to avoid personal responsibility. The truth is a very powerful thing. I believe there's no possibility of overcoming evil with evil, falsehood with silence, violence with indifference. If we want to change the world for the better, we must put ourselves on the line.

SFTP Hosts Symposium on Re-Examining the Patent System

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, Colorado Law Schools Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Program presented a symposium covering the challenges faced by the current patent system. To critics of the patent system, it is a tax on innovation and a full employment act for lawyers. In an age where the importance of intangible assets increasingly overshadows physical assets, intellectual property is a high stakes part of todays business landscape that is justifiably receiving attention from all quarters. There is little doubt that patents are growing in importance. In particular, technology companies are securing more patents than ever before, expanding their scope, licensing them in novel ways, and litigating about their validity and impact. For some firms, patent rights form not just the core, but the entirety of their business. To critics of the system, such firms often called patent trolls because they demand royalties but do not actually create a product are Exhibit A for why the system needs to be reformed. In the wake of studies by the Federal Trade Commission and the National Academies of Sciences, there are emerging lines of consensus about how the U.S. patent system can be improved. It is particularly important that technology and telecommunications firms, which account for around 40% of all issued patents, understand and help shape the directions of future reforms. For startup companies, the critical question concerning reform is whether the current patent system primarily facilitates an opportunity to succeed against entrenched incumbents or, alternatively, whether it primarily functions as a daunting barrier to entry in view of incumbents patent portfolios and willingness to sue. This conference evaluated the state of the patent system and surveyed avenues for reform. In particular, it analyzed how firms game the system by strategically acquiring patents in order to extract concessions from other firms that rely on standards including the patented technology. It also evaluated whether the Patent and Trademark Offices (PTO) penchant for issuing bad patents can be remedied, perhaps with the aid of a post-grant review process. Additionally, the panels discussed strategies for keeping costs down during the litigation of patent rights, avoiding the impact of bad PTO decisions, and limiting the abusive use of injunctions. Finally, as to the effect of patents on innovation, the panels discussed whether the patent systems value as a vehicle for protecting businesses and attracting investment outweighs its shortcomings as a strategic means by which established firms exercise control over the marketplace. The panels covered three issues surrounding the current patent system: 1) Granting and Defining the Scope of the Patent Right: Of Bad Patents, Patent Trolls, and Responses to Abuses of the System 2) The Patent Litigation Mess: Can It Be Cleaned Up? 3) The Uses and Abuses of Intellectual Property: Facilitating Startups or Entry Barrier? For an article in the Denver Post discussing this SFTP conference, click here

Law School Hosts Student Volunteer Recognition Reception

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:00:00 MDT

Today, in the Lindsley Memorial Courtroom, Colorado Law School held its first annual Student Volunteer Recognition Reception recognizing the efforts of 70 law student volunteers who have combined over the past year to account for over 2,500 hours of legal volunteer work in our greater community and the Lend-a-Law Student Program contributed over half those hours. The Lend-a-Law Student Program at Colorado Law School is a legal volunteer program which matches law students with pro bono volunteer opportunities in the Denver/Boulder communities. These law students have performed legal volunteer work, either through their placement by Lend-a-Law Student Program or by their own initiative in a myriad of ways: Acting as legal researchers; serving as trial assistants on pro bono cases; judging/coaching mock trial competitions in high schools; presenting seminars on legal matters concerning students; staffing citizenship drives; working as guardian ad litems; researching death penalty cases; performing legal work for government organizations including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and volunteering for local homeless and battered women's shelters in legal intake matters. Some students traveled as far as Texas to provide free legal services during this past spring break. Another large group of law student volunteers has served as mediators in the University of Colorado Restorative Justice Program for the past two semesters. Others worked as interpreters to assist legal aid clinicians. Guest speakers included Justices Martinez and Hobbs from the Colorado Supreme Court, Judge Vogt from the Colorado Court of Appeals, and Constance Talmage of the Colorado Lawyers Committee, who all applauded the students for their commitments in volunteer work. Law students interested in doing legal volunteer work in the greater community this summer or for the 2006-07 academic year should please contact Mark Loy, Lend-a-Law Student Volunteer Coordinator at mark.loy@colorado.edu.

Prof. Georgia Briscoe Wins National Award

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST

Professor Georgia Briscoe has been chosen as the 2006 recipient of the Renee D. Chapman Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions in Technical Services Law Librarianship, presented by AALL's Technical Services Special Interest Section. This award is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards given by AALL. The Chapman Award recognizes achievement in an area of technical services, service to AALL, or outstanding contributions to the professional literature. Competition is fierce for this recognition. Georgia's nominators, including the leading technical services law librarians in the country and our own Dean David Getches, supported Georgia for her numerous accomplishments and contributions. Professor Briscoe's record is so strong that the awards committee commended her for achievements in all three categories, a very unusual occurrence. The CU Law Library and CU Law School has benefited from Professor Briscoe's knowledge and dedication for over a decade. Please join with us in congratulating Georgia on this well deserved recognition.

Law School Hosts Trial Lawyer for Public Justice Brownbag

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST

The American Civil Liberties Union, the National Lawyers Guild, and the Public Interest Students Association invited Bill Trine to share with CU law students his work experience as a trial lawyer with a public justice agenda. Among his various trial experiences, Bill Trine spoke about his recent work on behalf of a Mexican immigrant who had his leg amputated as a result of the poor sanitary conditions and medical treatment he received while detained in a Colorado prison. Bill Trine is a noted trial lawyer, author, and teacher. He is listed in all editions of The Best Lawyers In America, is co-author of the best-selling book, Winning Medical Negligence Cases, and is on the faculty of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers' College. He is a Past-President and Founder of Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, a public interest law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., and a Past-President of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association which honored him with the first Norm Kripke Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He is an invited member of the "Inner Circle of Advocates" and the "International Society of Barristers" due to his success and recognition as a trial attorney. Mr. Trine graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law and has been a trial lawyer since 1960. Mr. Trine has represented people in over 100 jury trials involving products liability, medical and legal malpractice, civil rights, business torts and wrongs, commercial litigation, and all other aspects of civil litigation.

Law School Moot Court Teams Advance to National SemiFinals

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST

Congratulations to the members of our two Ira C. Rothgerber National Moot CourtCompetition Teams for presenting excellent arguments at the final Rothgerber competition held on Thursday, March 16th. After a difficult deliberation, the judges concluded that the Petitioners Team was the best team, and they awarded Clare Salmo with the Austin W. Scott Award for best oralist. A year of hard work paid off, as both teams, for the first time in our many appearances in the National Moot Court Competition, made it to the semifinal rounds at the regional competition in Tempe, Arizona. The teams were coached by Professor Yvonne Dutton. Judges Daniel Taubman and Walker Miller presided over the arguments, and all six participants made admirable presentations and parried difficult questions. David Lipka, Clare Salmo, and Ed Veronda composed the Petitioners Team, and Nicholas Mayle, Brian Mason, and Christa Rock composed the Respondents Team. The judges were most impressed with the arguments, even more so because none of the students used notes at the podium.

CU Law Hosts the Call to Duty Tour

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST

On March 16th, CU Law School hosted "The Call to Duty Tour" in the Lindsley Memorial Courtroom. The Call To Duty Tour is a platform for renewed debate on the merits of the "Dont Ask, Don't Tell" policy. It features the largely unheard voices of young service members who embody the reality of "Dont Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) in todays armed forces and highlights the policys impact in the post-9/11 World. The central question the national Tour's presenters focused on is whether gay men and women should be allowed openly to serve in the armed forces. Professor Richard B. Collins, who teaches Constitutional Law here at CU Law School and also the director of the Byron White center, filled in the details for the students the Constitutional implications of DADT policy. Speakers included recent Veterans and Special Guest Speaker Rear Admiral Alan M. Steinman. The Call to Duty Tour was conceived as a way to expose mainstream Americans to a representative sample of the ordinary gay service members who are largely forgotten amidst the politics surrounding the DADT law. These patriotic men and women would rather be serving their country as soldiers, sailors, coastguardsmen, airmen and marines than focusing on activism. However, the veterans on the Call To Duty Tour, both gay and straight, feel that gay men and women are too often misrepresented in the media and in society at large. Most importantly, their experiences while serving in todays military largely contradict the presumptions underlying the DADT policy - presumptions which are now nearly 15 years old. While many have tried to quietly serve their country with pride and dignity, they have nevertheless experienced first hand the manner in which DADT prevents them from doing so and needlessly denies critical talent to our nations military. Their voices need to be heard. Their stories need to be told. It is their real-world experiences that matter most in the debate about the merits of DADT. The past year has seen monumental strides on all fronts in the movement to lift the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Log Cabin Republicans and Service members Legal Defense Network have initiated two historic legal challenges in federal court to attack the constitutionality of the DADT policy. Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) and over 100 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a bill, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, to repeal the law that mandates the ban. The militarys mounting recruiting and retention problems have risen to national attention, and new data have shown that the American public now favors lifting the ban. The Call To Duty Tour serves to help introduce conservative and neutral audiences to the arguments and issues involved in the debate, and to continue the current wave of momentum toward lifting the ban. The Call to Duty Tour began its march across the nation last month at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. The Tour will conclude its nationwide journey in early April in California.

Prof. Martha Fineman Delivers 49th Annual Coen Lecture

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST

On March 15th, 2006, Professor Martha Fineman of Emory Law School delivered the 49th annual John R. Coen lecture at CU Law. Professor Fineman is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law at Emory, where she teaches Family Law, Feminist Legal Theory, Sexuality and the Law, and Women and the Law. She is an internationally recognized law and society scholar, and a leading authority on family law and feminist jurisprudence. Following graduation from University of Chicago Law School, Fineman clerked for the Hon. Luther M. Swygert of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and then taught at University of Wisconsin and Columbia University. She joined Cornell Law School in 1999 to become the first endowed Chair in the nation in Feminist Jurisprudence. Her scholarly interest is in the legal regulation of intimacy. Fineman is founder and director of the Feminism and Legal Theory Project, which was inaugurated in 1984. Fineman's publications include The Autonomy Myth: A Theory of Dependency, The New Press (2003); "Taking Children's Interest Seriously," Nomos; "Why Marriage?" University of Virginia Journal of Law and Social Policy (2001); The Neutered Mother, and The Sexual Family and other Twentieth Century Tragedies, Routledge Press (1995). She has received awards for her writing and teaching and has served on several government study commissions. Professor Fineman's Coen Lecture focused on the interaction between religious beliefs and expectations about the family in American society and the emerging international norms regarding the family and the regulation of children's rights. Previewing her forthcoming book, she argued that current debate about family law and children's rights could be furthered by taking into account international norms about such rights. She also contrasted the view of the family that prevails in more conservative or fundamentalist religious groups to such international norms.

Colorado Court of Appeals hears two cases at CU Law School

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST

Every year the Colorado Court of Appeals holds a session here at our law school for the purposes of providing the law students at first hand the invaluable experience of observing a real appellate advocacy in action. The law students not only get the opportunity of learning how oral arguments should be conducted at the appellate level and also learn about the proper lawyer etiquette of addressing the judges during an oral argument. This year the Colorado Court of Appeals Judges JoAnn L. Vogt, James S. Casebolt, and David Furman heard two arguments, one civil and one criminal, and the judges and clerks also spoke at an informational brownbag for law students during lunchtime. A reception followed after the hearings and students had an opportunity to directly talk to the judges and ask questions

Habitat for Humanity Homeowners Seminar: Contracting and Consumer Protection a Success!

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST

On Saturday, March 11th, CU law students in Professor Amy Schmitz's Humanizing Contracts seminar, presented legal information to a group of Habitat for Humanity homeowners. CU law students Katie Crenshaw, Julia Kneeland, Maureen Sweeney, Lauren R. Smith, Annie-Caitlin Mattes, and Janel Chin gave presentations on various contracting and consumer protection issues. These topics included consumer protection laws, credit and payday lending, alternative dispute resolution, homeowners' associations, Internet transactions, and bankruptcy. Habitat for Humanity volunteers provided free childcare, pizza and snacks. Saturday's seminar is part of a service-learning course in which CU students combine their rigorous academic study with outreach volunteer work. The Humanizing Contracts seminar is unique on many levels from any seminars, courses or clinics currently taught at the law school. It is a journey through theory and practice in an area that students traditionally learn in a more doctrinal manner. It seeks to provide students with opportunity to expand their understanding and analysis of contract law beyond the basic concepts they learn in the first-year Contracts course. Through course work, students explore and question concepts and theories that underlie contract law. The volunteer and outreach components of the course then push students to "humanize" contracts, and consider how legal concepts and theories apply in action. Professor Schmitz' class also volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity thrift store, and will be working on a build in April. The class's key project, however, has been the creation, development, and presentation of the "Habitat for Humanity Homeowners Seminar: Contracting and Consumer Protection." The students all did a wonderful job explaining tough concepts in a very straight-forward and informative manner. The participants asked good questions, and seemed to learn quite a bit. The participants also left with gift bags with various coupons, treats, and other "goodies" for their children to thank them for their participation, as well as colored booklets and brochures expanding on the information discussed in the presentations. Habitat for Humanity now may distribute additional copies of the materials to families who were unable to attend on Saturday.

25th Annual Alumni Awards Banquet a Great Success!

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:00:00 MST

On March 8th, 2006, over 400 guests, by far the largest attendance in the history of our Banquet, attended the University of Colorado Law Schools Twenty-Fifth Annual Alumni Awards Banquet. Over $95,000 was raised to benefit the Deans Fund for Excellence. Thank you to all of our Alumni who made the event such a success! Every year the annual alumni banquet recognizes three alumni for their excellence in the judicial, public, and private sectors. This year the Distinguished Alumni Awards were given to Justice Michael Bender 67, Glenn Porzak 73, and Bryan Shaha 71. Special tributes were also made to honor two CU Law alumni in memoriam, Louise Romera 80 (CU attorney, 1994-2006) and Vine Deloria, Jr. 70 (CU Professor who taught American studies, law, history, religion, and political science). Justice Michael Bender 67 Following his law school commencement, Justice Bender worked as a Deputy State Public Defender (1968-1971), and then spent seventeen years working in private practice, first with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher (1979-1980), then Bender & Treece (1983-1993), and finally in solo practice (1993-1997). He was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court on January 2, 1997. Throughout his career, Justice Bender has worked as an adjunct instructor at both the University of Colorado Law School and the University of Denver College of Law. While a law student, Michael Bender received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Student Work from the University of Colorado Law Review in 1967. He was named Denver Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer of the Year in 1988 and Outstanding Judicial Officer of the Year in 2000. In 1990 he received both the Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Outstanding Service Award. In addition to these awards, he has served on numerous committees, including the University of Colorado Law Alumni Board (1999-2001), ABA Criminal Justice Standards Committee (1997-2000), Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors (1980-82; 1989-1991), U.S. District Court Committee for Criminal Justice Act for District of Colorado (1991-1993), and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors (1985-1987). Justice Bender currently serves as a liason member to various Supreme Court Committees and is a member of the American Bar Association. Glenn Porzak 73 Mr. Porzaks first law job was working for the University of Colorado, where he remembers earning the princely wage of $3 and hour. Very soon thereafter he joined Holme Roberts & Owen, where he worked for twenty-two years, including ten years as managing partner. In 1996, he co-founded Porzak Browning & Bushong, of which he is a managing partner. Glenn Porzak was designated by the Heritage Center as a CU Distinguished Alumnus in 1990. He is a member of the School of Law Steering Committee, the Museum Advisory Board, the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and the Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity. Mr. Porzak has served on the CU Foundation Board of Trustees, the Natural Resources Law Center Board, Town and Gown, and Wells Fargo Community Bank Board. An accomplished mountaineer, Mr. Porzak has joined the ranks of those who have climbed the Seven Summits the highest peak on each of the worlds seven continents and is the first person to climb the 100 peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park. The CU flag he carried to the summit of Mt. Everest is displayed in the Universitys Heritage Center. Bryan Shaha 72 Prior to attending CU Law, Mr. Shaha joined the United States Marine Corps where he would eventually gain the rank of Captain. Throughout his military career he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, ten Air Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart. Upon graduation, Mr. Shaha went to work as a Staff Attorney for the Colorado Rural Legal Services (1973-1974), as a Deputy State Public Defender (1974-1979), in private practice (1979-1984) and again for twelve more years as the Deputy State Public Defender in Greeley, Colorado (1984-1996). For the last 9 years, Mr. Shaha has worked for the Alternate Defense Counsel of the State of Colorado. Mr. Shaha has served on the Executive Session on Indigent Defense Systems since 1998. He was named Colorado State Public Defender of the Year in 1993, received the Jonathan Olom Award in 1996, and most recently the Charles Dorsey Award in 2005. He is a member of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Legal Aid Defender Association

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Native American Moot Court Competition & COnstitution Conference

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Moot Court Team Wins Regional Rounds in National Trial Competition

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Congratulations to Alumni Named as Super Lawyers 2008

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Professor Collins Speaks about Telluride Land Case on NPR

Professor Hart Debates Affirmative Action Initiatives on TV

Professor Guruswamy Addresses World Renewable Energy Congress

Law Students Win ACS Moot Court Competition

NRLC Holds Annual Summer Conference

Dean Getches Receives Clyde Martz Award for Excellence in Teaching

Team Players: Colorado Law Professors Help Transition to Obamas New Administration

Professor Wesson Named This Years Gilbert Goldstein Faculty Fellow

Professor Weiser Named to Portfolios Top Tech Policy People to Watch List

Silicon Flatirons Center Hosts Law and Ethics of Networking Monitoring Conference

Colorado Law receives $5 million endowed gift from litigator, Quiznos founders

Class of 08 Celebrates 94% Bar Passage

Assistant Dean Trujillo Speaks to Educations Impact on Quality of Life

Colorado Law Alumni Make List of Colorados Most Powerful People

Dems' Views on Court Missing in Debate, Editorial by Professor Moss

Professor Weiser to Co-Chair Gov. Ritters Innovation Council

Alumna Ruth Wright (72) Recognized by Perus President