PresidentLetter from the
Dearest Cooley Law School Alumni and Friends,
As the holiday season approaches, I extend my warmest greetings to you and express my deepest gratitude for your continued support and connection with our beloved institution. It is with great excitement that I share an overview of the latest issue of the Benchmark magazine, which celebrates the outstanding contributions of our community.
In this issue, we honor two esteemed faculty members, Michael McDaniel and Jeff Swartz, as they embark on their retirement. Their dedication and impact on Cooley Law School have been immeasurable, and we celebrate their legacies and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
We are thrilled to introduce our new Board of Directors Chairperson, Mitchell Zajac, and Vice Chair, Aaron Burrell. Their leadership and vision will undoubtedly guide our institution toward continued excellence and innovation in legal education.
Our Innocence Project continues to achieve remarkable successes, providing hope and justice to those wrongfully convicted. We are proud to share updates on this vital initiative, which underscores our commitment to making a difference in the legal community and society at large.
Congratulations to Distinguished Professor Emeritus Marla Mitchell-Cichon, recently recognized as one of Michigan’s Influential Women of Law. This prestigious honor reflects her outstanding contributions to the field and her dedication to inspiring and mentoring future generations of legal professionals.
In this issue, we also pay tribute to Distinguished Professor Emeritus Norman Fell, who recently passed away. His passion for legal education and his profound impact on students and colleagues alike will always be remembered. His legacy will continue to inspire us all.
Finally, we are excited to unveil the events that marked the launch of our new brand. This initiative represents our unwavering commitment to evolve and grow while staying true to the core values and mission that define Cooley Law School.
As you enjoy this holiday season, I encourage you to consider including Cooley Law School in your end-of-year giving plans. Your generous contributions ensure that we can continue to provide an exceptional legal education and create meaningful opportunities for our students and community.
Thank you for being an integral part of our Cooley Law School family. We wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
James McGrath Professor, President and Dean
Board of Directors
Mitchell S. Zajac
Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Butzel Long Detroit, Michigan
Aaron V. Burrell
Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Dickinson Wright Detroit, Michigan
Hon. Louise Alderson
54-A District Court (retired) Lansing, Michigan
Mustafa Ameen
The Law Office of Ameen & Shafii
Tampa, Florida
Christina Corl
Plunkett Cooney Columbus, Ohio
Thomas W. Cranmer
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC Troy, Michigan
John M. Dunn
President Emeritus of Western Michigan University
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Hon. Michael P. Hatty
44th Circuit Court, 53rd District Court (retired)
Livingston County, Michigan
Hon. Jane E. Markey
Michigan Court of Appeals
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kenneth V. Miller
Millennium Restaurant Group, LLC
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Lawrence P. Nolan
Nolan Thomsen & Villas PC
Eaton Rapids, Michigan
Hon. Bart Stupak
Venable, LLP
Washington, D.C.
Co-Editor
Paul Zelenski, Senior Vice President and Associate Dean of Administration, Enrollment, and Student Services
Co-Editor
Mike Reed, Director of Communications and Marketing
Advancement and Alumni Relations
Shameka Conwell
Carmen Hall
Contributing writers
Shameka Conwell, Carmen Hall
SeyferthPR
Design
Image Creative Group
Photography
Tom Gennara, Photography
Submissions
Benchmark seeks story ideas from graduates on a variety of subjects such as graduate achievements, international experiences, cultural diversity, legal information helpful to practitioners, unique law practices, advice to prospective law students, and special events. If you would like to share a story idea, please write, call, or e-mail:
Communications Office
Cooley Law School
300 S. Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 371-5140 ext. 2844
communications@cooley.edu
Benchmark is published twice a year by the Communications Office of Cooley Law School.
Alumni
Please call the Alumni Office at (800)
ON THE COVER: Professor Michael C.H. McDaniel (left) and Professor Jeffrey Swartz (right)
Norman Fell was a family man, outdoorsman, traveler, and avid music fan. He passed away on June 21, 2024. He was 81.
Professor Fell was born on September 8, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, to Al and Rose Fell. He attended high school at Cass Tech in Detroit. He received his B.S. from Wayne State University in 1965 and his law degree in 1968.
In a tribute to Professor Fell, Marla Mitchell-Cichon, Cooley distinguished professor emeritus and counsel to the Cooley Innocence Project, shared about his background in the law and how he was a dedicated family man.
Professor Fell began his legal career as a member of the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office where he became the chief deputy defender of the Long Beach Municipal Court. Upon returning to Michigan, he worked for the Ann Arbor Legal Aid Society, then established the Law Co-Op, providing criminal defense to middle to lowincome residents.
A Tribute: Norman Fell Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Cooley Law School
Professor Emeritus
Norman “Norm” Fell will be remembered for his dedicated professional career and his life to public service.
He began his teaching career at Cooley Law School in 1988. He served as one of the first supervising attorneys in the Sixty Plus Elder Law Clinic, and later served as its executive director. Professor Fell was the founding director of the Washtenaw Public Defender Clinic, one of the first hybrid clinical programs in the country.
In 2000, Professor Fell testified before the Michigan Legislature in support of a post-conviction DNA testing law. When asked by state representatives how such a program would be funded, Fell offered up the law school. His offer made the news before the school had the chance to consider the proposal. Michigan’s post-conviction DNA testing law was passed on January 6, 2001 and Professor Fell started the first Innocence Project in the state shortly thereafter. Since its inception, the Cooley Innocence Project has exonerated nine men and provided its support and expertise in five additional cases.
Over the years, Professor Fell served on numerous non-profit boards and received a number of awards, including the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) Justice for All, Patriots, and Liberty Bell awards. He was named a Leader in the Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
But Professor Fell was more than a public servant. He was a dedicated father and family man. He and his partner, Alice, raised two daughters, Shayna and Amanda. He was very proud of his daughters, often sharing stories about their lives and accomplishments. As a family, they traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada and Israel. Professor Fell always enjoyed the outdoors; He worked in the forest service prior to beginning his legal career. He also drove a food truck, a job he loved. For many years, Norm sailed every summer and was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. He volunteered for many years at the Ark Theater in Ann Arbor.
He lived a good, full life.
This is Readiness.
In June, Cooley Law School unveiled its new branding with social events at the law school’s Lansing and Tampa Bay campuses. The school’s new branding focuses on reintegrating Cooley’s mission and vision, along with the development of three pillars – readiness, preparation, and community –informed by months of research that included surveys, market analysis, focus groups, and workshops.
“With this important process, we are reclaiming our past successes as we continue to build our brighter future,” said Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath. “We are putting Cooley into perspective for people who don’t really know us. We are telling the world: We know where we have been, we know where we are going, and we know who we are.
“We’re proud to be a law school that provides our students with a rigorous academic experience – while integrating real-world practice, all guided by a faculty of accomplished experts and scholars,” McGrath continued. “Our access mission drives our support for our students – and our graduates – to become leaders who will also reflect the communities they will serve.”
As part of the readiness pillar, Cooley’s curriculum continues to blend traditional legal principles with leading-edge practices, focusing on real-world application to prepare students to emerge not only practiceready, but future-ready. The preparation pillar intends to facilitate a rigorous and hands-on classroom experience, including legal clinics and externships, taught and mentored by experienced faculty who are experts in their fields. The final pillar, community, draws strength from the diverse backgrounds and experiences of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The supportive and engaging environment fosters teamwork and will continue to prepare students for real-world legal collaboration.
The rebrand launch party ushered in a new era of Cooley Law School, looking ahead to the future and honored the legacy of the school. During the event, attendees enjoyed a food truck, ice cream, and giveaways.
This … is Cooley.
Mitchell Zajac was elected chair of the Cooley Law School Board of Directors in June.
Cooley Welcomes
On Saturday, June 22, Cooley Law School Board of Directors elected Mitchell Zajac (Warren Earl Burger Class, 2017) and Aaron Burrell (Augustus B. Woodward Class, 2010) as board chair and vice chair, respectively, as the Hon. Louise Alderson concluded her fouryear term leading the board.
Zajac is a shareholder with Butzel Long (Butzel) in the firm’s Detroit office where he works in automotive, intellectual property, regulatory and emissions compliance, and sports and entertainment law. He is also a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Zajac joined Cooley’s Board of Directors in 2020 and was elected vice-chair in 2022.
While the law school launched a rebrand in 2024, Zajac believes the new brand is an important step to illuminate a clear story about Cooley Law School. He worked with the administration and board to help move the project forward, which focuses on the law
school’s mission, but does so through the law school’s three pillars: developing confident and future-ready attorneys (readiness), providing rigorous and hands-on experiences (preparation), and fostering inclusive and collaborative (community) education. The pillars resonate with Zajac, and he believes also with the other Cooley alumni on the board. The pillars were important elements during his time as a student at Cooley and are now being emphasized from the top down to have a true impact on students, faculty, and staff.
For developing confident and future-ready attorneys, Zajac said, “This is with access. A Cooley student could be an individual who excels with a 4.0 GPA and a 170+ LSAT score. It could be someone who wants to attend law school, but needs flexible night or weekend scheduling to accommodate their schedule; the 52-yearold single mother wanting to expand her career; a foreign exchange student; or someone
like me, who was looking to continue my education while working full time early in a career. A touchstone of Cooley is that our students graduate and hit the ground running because they were exposed to a practical legal education with a focus on real-world applications. This is accomplished by exposing students to practical learning opportunities, such as trial and negotiation skills throughout their legal education.”
Zajac says the law school knows that a rigorous and hands-on education is the foundation for future-ready attorneys.
“We have high-quality faculty who have practical legal experience and are scholars in the academic areas they teach. Students have opportunities to work in law firms and have access to simulated practice experiences earlier in their school career, even more so than other law schools,” said Zajac. “Cooley’s emphasis on hands-on experience started in 1996, when Cooley was the first law school to require clinical or externship before graduation.
For 28 years, we’ve been requiring practical hands-on experience. ‘Hands-on’ is part of Cooley’s DNA.”
As the ABA continues to develop new standards for diversity, equity, and inclusion, the law school recognized that raising further awareness of being one of the most diverse law schools must be a part of its brand.
“The ABA is raising the standards on DEI, something other law schools don’t already address. We already have a diverse student body – age, ethnicity, gender, and other demographics – which exceed the standards and have for a long time – and is inherent in our access mission. Cooley Law School is a place where students are given an opportunity, and with that openness comes diversity,” said Zajac. “As one of the most diverse law schools, we know that being diverse fosters inclusive and collaborative education, which is why this is our third pillar.”
Zajac most looks forward to working with administration and faculty as they continue to carrying out Cooley’s strategic vision.
“We worked through rightsizing the school, and through the great work of our faculty and administration, we have continued to hone in on offering the types of classes necessary for developing futureready attorneys,” said Zajac. “It has been an honor to work in harmony with administration and faculty to take these steps to implement the vision. The pillars, and the work being done throughout the ranks of
the law school, will help return Cooley to the prominence we were once known for. I look forward to our continued work, particularly with our faculty, as they are among the best in the business.”
While Zajac fulfills his role as chair of the board, he will be ready for the challenges that lie ahead, including addressing the needs for students and ABA/state standards as the landscape of legal education continues to evolve.
“I am honored that my fellow board members entrusted me to serve as Cooley Law School board chair as we continue our work implementing effective strategies to respond to the ABA’s abrupt change in its bar pass standard while also moving forward with curriculum that focuses on blending traditional legal principles with leading-edge practices that prepare students to navigate complex, ever-changing legal landscapes with confidence,” said Zajac.
Aaron Burrell
Burrell, a 2010 Cooley graduate, is a litigation attorney at Dickinson Wright’s Detroit and Troy offices, focusing on complex commercial litigation, appellate law, labor and employment law, and minority business enterprises. He also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and co-chair of Litigation Training. Burrell was first appointed to Cooley’s Board of Directors in 2019.
“I am humbled to serve Cooley as it writes its next chapter and builds upon its legacy of providing students of all backgrounds access to an outstanding legal education,” said Burrell.
“I look forward to serving as the board’s vice chair alongside Mitch and the other esteemed board members as we work together to maintain Cooley’s high level of excellence in shaping the next generation of lawyers.”
“As we look ahead, Cooley Law School remains committed to its founding principles and is taking steps to yet again boldly transform legal education.”
“Cooley is preparing futureready lawyers through enhanced teaching and learning practices, expansive experiential learning opportunities, and by providing programs to ensure that a legal education remains affordable and accessible to all those who commit themselves to achieving high standards of professional excellence.”
Outside of his work at Butzel and as Cooley’s board chair, Zajac enjoys spending time with his wife, Ameila, and their son, Maverick, who was born earlier this year. His family spends their fall Friday evenings under the lights, as Zajac is the defensive coordinator for Howell High School’s varsity football team. As a family, they enjoy spending time traveling up north to their family cottages.
This is Hands-on.
Encompassing Cooley Law School’s three pillars: Confident & Future-Ready, Rigorous & Hands-on, and Inclusive & Collaborative –the Cooley Innocence Project (CLSIP) leads a dual mission to provide legal assistance to, and secure the release of, persons who have been wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit, and provide law students with experiential learning.
The Cooley Innocence Project upholds the law school’s three pillars through student and community collaboration
Operating as a law school clinic, CLSIP is the only postconviction DNA innocence organization in Michigan, working toward exoneration of prisoners at no cost to them. Students who work at the clinic, under supervision of licensed attorneys, screen applications, investigate facts, conduct interviews, analyze cases, prepare court pleadings, and represent clients in court.
Since its inception in 2001, the CLSIP has screened over 6,000 cases, mainly through the use of DNA testing. It is responsible for the exoneration of nine individuals and the assistance of five exonerations.
Most recently, the Cooley Innocence Project collaborated with the state’s Appellate Defender Office and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit in June 2024 in the release of Duane Williams, of Detroit. Williams, who was serving a life sentence, spent more than 11 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of arson and murder. Wayne County Circuit Judge Bradley Cobb vacated Williams’ convictions and sentences on June 18, and officially dismissed all charges without prejudice against him on Oct. 17.
“Duane was unjustly imprisoned and fought for his freedom for more than 11 years,” said Maya Menlo, an assistant defender with SADO and Williams’ attorney. “Thanks to his perseverance and intellect, Duane’s unconstitutional convictions came to the attention of SADO, the Cooley Innocence Project, Clemency Investigations, and the Conviction Integrity Unit at the Wayne County
CLSIP is the only post-conviction DNA innocence organization in Michigan, working toward exoneration of prisoners at no cost to them.
Prosecutor’s Office. After so many years, we are pleased that he won some relief.”
As part of Cooley’s pillar focusing on inclusivity, the CLSIP hosted a panel discussion to commemorate the 11th annual National Wrongful Conviction Day. The Oct. 3 event featured Williams, who shared his story, along with exonerees Kenneth Nixon (2021) and Darrell Siggers (2017). It was moderated by student Kara Rosengren, and included Innocence Project Director and Associate Dean Tracey Brame, and Innocence Project Managing Attorney Ann Garant as panelists.
Wrongful Conviction Day began in 2013 as an effort of the Innocence Network, an affiliation of organizations dedicated to providing probono legal and investigative services to individuals seeking to prove innocence of crimes for which they have been convicted, working to redress the causes of wrongful convictions, and supporting exonerees after they are freed.
While speaking to students, Nixon shared it was because of the Innocence Project he was able to participate in the presentation.
“Because it was people that never gave up on us, we’re standing here today,” he said. Brame spoke about the importance of working on
The Cooley Innocence Project encompasses the law school’s three pillars: Confident & Future-Ready, Rigorous & Hands-on, and Inclusive & Collaborative.
behalf of the wrongfully convicted, stating: “If you look in the news in a given day, somewhere in some state, someone’s being exonerated, which is encouraging that there’s so much work being done in this space to get people out. It also lets you know how many people are still there waiting for help.”
In the spirit of being collaborative and hands-on, the important work by the Cooley Innocence Project has caught the attention of the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice. In October 2024, the DOJ awarded the Cooley Innocence Project $600,000 in grant funding to screen post-conviction claims of innocence and provide community outreach and wrongful conviction education to underserved communities. The threeyear grant will allow the Cooley Innocence Project to continue its partnerships with the Wayne County Conviction Integrity and the Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity units. In addition, the grant will expand partnerships with other agencies, such as the state’s
Appellate Defender Office and the other local county conviction integrity units.
“This continued funding will support timely case review and post-conviction DNA and forensic testing statewide,” said Ann Garant, CLSIP’s managing attorney. “By tracking the factors that contribute to wrongful convictions, corrective policies can be developed and the criminal justice system improved. We are pleased that the Department of Justice continues to recognize this important work and agrees to support our partnerships and help fund our efforts to free Michigan citizens who have been wrongfully convicted.”
In 2019, the Cooley Innocence Project received funding through the Upholding the Rule of Law grant, and received an additional $300,000 from the DOJ in 2021. Those original funds allowed for reviewing criminal convictions for forensic errors and tracking data to improve the criminal justice system.
The new funds received will be used for a full-time attorney, file clerk, experts, investigators and forensic/ DNA testing. Additionally, the Cooley Innocence Project will expand efforts to reach underserved communities and spread awareness about wrongful convictions, their impacts, and what can be done to help prevent wrongful convictions.
The goal of CLSIP’s partnership with Wayne County’s and the Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity units and other local CIUs is to review and investigate innocence claims involving unreliable forensic practices uniformly and efficiently for all of Michigan’s 83 counties.
Those interested in donating and supporting the work of the Cooley Innocence Project can do so at www.cooley. edu/academics/experientiallearning/innocence-project.
This … is Cooley.
Innocence Project Director and Associate Dean, Tracey Brame
Cooley Professor
Brigadier
General (Ret.) Michael
C.H. McDaniel
and Director of Homeland Law LL.M.
will miss watching students graduate upon retirement
In the 14 years Brigadier General (Ret.) Michael C.H. McDaniel served as professor and director of Homeland and National Security Law LL.M. at Cooley Law School, not once did he miss a graduation commencement.
Michael C.H. McDaniel
“The students deserve to have us there,” he said. “We put in our efforts to teach them and they put in their efforts to do well in class. I can’t remember a single commencement that I missed. It’s so gratifying when students who we’ve worked with and have gotten to know as a person, not just as a student, walk across the stage. That sense of gratification that I was able to assist them – that’s going to stick with me forever.”
McDaniel joined Cooley Law School as a full-time Constitutional Law professor in 2010, and immediately began developing the school’s LL.M. program in Homeland and National Security Law. After a longstanding career that has spanned both the application and academic aspects of the
law, McDaniel retired from Cooley following the 2024 summer term, earning distinguished professor emeritus status.
Looking back at his tenure at Cooley, McDaniel described his first couple years there as bit hectic.
“I was trying to do a deep dive into Con Law in a way that I could understand it with enough depth so I could truly explain it to my students,” he said. “At the same time, I was developing Cooley’s LL.M. program and creating something that was holistic and would encompass all areas of the law.”
Since its inception, the Homeland and National Security Law LL.M. program has graduated 73 students.
“It was really gratifying when we received the LL.M. accreditation –and then having that first group of LL.M. students who showed a great level of enthusiasm for doing something new,” said McDaniel.
Among McDaniel’s early LL.M. students is Carmen Quesenberry (Marshall Class, 2013) who works in national security export control, and also serves as Army Reserves Battalion Commander for the 321st Special Troops Battalion (STB) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a former export compliance analyst and current chair of the End-User Review Committee (ERC) for the Department of Commerce, she heavily relies on her legal training and education from Cooley’s LL.M. homeland and national security program.
“Professor McDaniel’s teaching has helped me succeed in both my military and civilian careers. The lessons I learned from him are part of everything I do at my job.” CARMEN QUESENBERRY
“Professor McDaniel invests in the lives and careers of his students and goes above and beyond to assist them,” said Quesenberry. “He has taught me the importance of living life to the fullest.”
Before joining Cooley, McDaniel served as a trial attorney in the Michigan Attorney General’s office for 19 years.
Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, McDaniel recalls receiving a call from Lucille Taylor, chief legal counsel to then-Gov. John Engler, about wanting him to draft an executive order for Engler to post National Guard troops at the land borders at the airport and the state’s three main bridges. During that time, McDaniel formed a task force to create legislation to address terrorism in Michigan. They created over 20 pieces of legislation related
to homeland security, and all but two were passed.
“That was the first opportunity for me to think about homeland security on a very broad strategic level,” said McDaniel. “Coming up with this effort to draft different forms of legislation was one of the most rewarding moments for me and my career. It was so new that if you look at Michigan statutes we don’t use the phrase, ‘critical infrastructure,’ because nobody was using it yet – it was called ‘vital resources of the state.’ Then the federal Homeland Security Act came out around the same time the laws were passed in Michigan.”
In 2003, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed McDaniel to serve as the first Homeland Security Adviser in the state – and only the
second in the nation. He served in that role for six years. McDaniel also served as the assistant adjutant general for Homeland Security in the Michigan National Guard, where he acted as the liaison between the governor’s office in Michigan and all federal, state, and local agencies on homeland security; and was responsible for developing statewide policy on homeland security preparedness; and coordinating efforts to protect the state and its critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks.
From there, McDaniel went on to pursue an opportunity at the Pentagon. For nearly two years, he served as the deputy assistant secretary for Homeland Defense Strategy, Prevention and Mission Assurance where he supervised the
Department of Defense Critical Infrastructure Protection Program and Global Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Policy.
While he enjoyed his work at the Pentagon and gained a great deal of knowledge there, McDaniel returned to Michigan and began teaching at Cooley to have a better work-life balance, he said.
“It was an opportunity to expand that knowledge and think about the law in a more abstract and broader way, and ask ‘what’s the why?’ as we dig down and dive deeper,” said McDaniel. “Cooley was attractive to me because of the collegiality among professors, and that was reinforced the minute I got there. The esprit de corps and the morale among professors are fantastic. They are an amazing group of people with big thoughts going on all the time. It was great to be on that side of the law.”
“That is just such a great feeling when your student thanks you for taking an interest in them and giving them advice, coaching them along the way, and then seeing that result,” he said.
Robert Hamor (William Johnson Class, 2013), a shareholder at Foster Swift in Southfield, a suburb of Detroit, was in McDaniel’s very first Constitutional Law class in the winter term of 2011.
One of McDaniel’s most profound career accomplishments was being in charge of the remediation of the lead service lines for nearly two years during the Flint Water Crisis. He did this while also teaching at Cooley.
“This was an act of public service where legal training, strategic planning, and military expertise came into play,” he said. “It was a huge effort to help the residents of Flint.”
While McDaniel has countless career accomplishments, his fondest memories of Cooley are having his students call him or stop by his office to stay they’ve passed the bar.
Hamor fondly recalls McDaniel’s “iconic” move in class: the foot stomp, a military tactic.
“The foot-stomp moments were truly what you needed to know in that class,” said Hamor. “Whenever there was something you really needed to know, Professor McDaniel would stomp his foot on the ground. And it worked if you paid attention. His class was very much interactive and you had to pay attention – if you did that, you would do well in his class.”
Hamor, who has held onto his outlines and final exam from McDaniel’s Con Law class 13 years ago, vividly recalls McDaniel’s final exam essay fact pattern.
“The California Road Toad is something I always think of when I think of Professor McDaniel,” he said. “His first final exam was one of the toughest and most memorable exams I ever took. To this day, I still quote his final exam.”
Throughout the years, Hamor has often used McDaniel’s teaching style – the foot-stomp, as well as attempting not to be overlylawyerly when advising new lawyers.
“Professor McDaniel always explained things in very plain English,” Hamor said. “He was very much a practical person and gave very practical advice, which I enjoyed.”
McDaniel is a firm believer in Cooley’s philosophy of creating attorneys for main street, not Wall Street.
“It’s very heartening that Cooley has students who are the first in their family to go to college, go to grad school, or go to law school,” he said. “Those students are going back to wherever their community is and support and improve that community and be there to help their community.”
Upon his retirement from Cooley Law School, McDaniel will serve part time as general counsel and senior managing partner with City Shield Security, a security company in Detroit. He encourages law students to “be intellectually curious, keep reading, keep studying and keep learning the law.”
“You can never be static,” said McDaniel. “Be intellectually curious your entire life.”
“You can never be static. Be intellectually curious your entire life.”
MICHAEL C.H. MCDANIEL
Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus Marla Mitchell-Cichon and Two Graduates Honored as Influential Women of Law
This … is Cooley. This is Leadership.
Each year, Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Influential Women of Law honors 35 women attorneys and judges for their excellent work on behalf of the justice system and for their clients, their commitment to their communities.
Cooley Law School
Distinguished Professor Emeritus Marla MitchellCichon, along with two Cooley graduates, Amanda Barfield Fopma (Marion Hilligan Class, 2012) and Valerie Anne Kutz-Otway (Augustus B. Woodward Class, 2010), have been inducted into Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2024 Class of Influential Women of Law. The recognition ceremony was held on Sept. 27, at Petruzzello’s in Troy.
In addition to teaching professional responsibility at Cooley, Mitchell-Cichon served as director of Cooley Law School’s Innocence Project, which she currently serves of counsel. Before joining academia, Mitchell-Cichon served as a public defender for two years in Stark County, Ohio. In this role, she practiced extensively in criminal and poverty law. She has litigated cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Ohio Supreme Court, the Michigan Supreme Court, and trial and appellate courts in both Ohio and Michigan, and worked on legislative reform to improve the criminal justice system.
“It is an honor to see Marla’s achievements recognized,” said Cooley Law School Associate Dean Tracey Brame, who also serves as director of the law school’s Innocence Project. “Marla has dedicated much of her legal career fighting for the release of Michigan’s wrongfully incarcerated and making sure those individuals are provided with proper compensation. Her impact is felt throughout the legal community and at Cooley Law School.”
Fopma, who earned two Masters of Laws degrees at Cooley, is executive managing partner at Secrest Wardle in Grand Rapids. As the first female to hold the position, Fopma provides representation for regional and national insurers in matters involving
insurance claims and liability issues. Fopma is a member of the firm’s general negligence, insurance coverage, premises liability, property, fire, and casualty practice groups.
Kutz-Otway practices with Chalgian & Tripp Law Office in Saginaw. She focuses her practice in the areas of probate litigation and estate planning, with a special emphasis on assisting persons with disabilities or mental illness. She is also the inclusion and lawyer development director for the firm. Kutz-Otway recently obtained her license to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. She serves on the board of directors for HIS Restoration Ministries, an organization that supports homeless expectant mothers.
Valerie A. Kutz-Otway
Amanda B. Fopma
Marla Mitchell-Cichon Distinguished Professor Emeritus
The Thomas M.
Cooley Society
The Thomas M. Cooley Society recognizes individuals and organizations who demonstrate significant philanthropic support for Cooley Law School. Established to honor their commitment, the society highlights those who advance the law school’s mission to prepare students for lifelong learning and to serve as agents of positive change within their communities and the legal profession.
Through their generosity, Cooley Society members play a vital role in supporting the law school’s ongoing success and its dedication to providing broad access to a legal education, particularly for diverse individuals. As of now, these members have collectively contributed $12.3 million in philanthropic support to the school.
Membership in the Cooley Society is open and ongoing. Each year, new members are welcomed and recognized for their total giving to the school exceeding $2,500. The society also acknowledges those who advance to new levels of membership due to their continued generous support in the prior fiscal year.
Cooley Law School is deeply grateful for the contributions of every member of the Thomas M. Cooley Society. Their sustained commitment helps propel the school’s mission forward and fosters a lasting impact on the legal community and beyond.
We are pleased to recognize the following:
NEWEST MEMBERS: 21ST CENTURY ($2,500+)
Karen Poole
DK Security
ADVANCED TO NEW LEVEL: CORNERSTONE ($5,000+)
Michael Gibson
Aaron Burrell
Robert Hann
PILLAR ($10,000+)
The Cameron Foundation
Professor
Emily Horvath TEMPLE ($25,000+)
Professor
Michael McDaniel
PRESIDENT’S ($250,000+)
Estate of Kimbal R Smith III
Scan the QR Code for all Cooley Society members or visit cooley.edu/giving/cooley-society-roster. To discuss becoming a member of the Cooley Society, please email advancement@cooley.edu or call 800-243-2586.
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By contributing today, you are investing in the next generation of legal professionals who will go on to lead, inspire, and serve. Let’s build on our legacy of excellence — together.
Make your gift today by visiting cooley.com/giving, scanning the QR code, or by returning the enclosed reply envelope.
Thank you for helping Cooley Law School shape the future of law.
Cooley Graduate, Judge, and Professor: Jeffrey Swartz Retires After Giving Back to Law School by Teaching FutureReady Attorneys
Jeffrey Swartz
In January 1976, Jeff Swartz (Thomas M. Cooley Class, 1976) walked across stage to receive his diploma from Judge Thomas E. Brennan. The law school’s founder and president shook his hand and whispered in fun, “I’m finally rid of you.” Knowing how much Cooley meant to him, the new graduate whispered back, “Not hardly.”
Like many stories of Cooley’s graduates who have gone on to practice law and are grateful for their Cooley experience, Swartz, too, has been an advocate of all things Cooley – so much so that after 36 years of practicing law, including 10 years as a state court judge, he went back to Cooley. In 2012, Swartz joined the law school’s full-time faculty to open the Tampa Bay campus. He retired following the 2024 fall term.
Swartz’ path to Cooley is also a look back at the law school’s humble beginnings. After graduating from Ohio State University, he found it more difficult than
he thought for a member of the Ohio Air National Guard to get admitted into law school. OSU told him he’d need to get his master’s degree first. He applied to Case Western Reserve and was put on the wait list.
“I wasn’t what you would call an outstanding undergraduate student,” said Swartz. “I was already a year behind applying to law schools following graduation from Ohio State because of my active duty stint with the Ohio Air
National Guard. In late August, I heard about Cooley from a friend of my dad, who taught at Michigan State University. I decided to apply, but wasn’t expecting to hear anything.”
Expecting to have to wait a year to go to Case Western, Swartz went about his normal activities, which included participating in weekend Air National Guard drills in his hometown of Toledo.
“I left Columbus for the weekend and went home to take part in guard drills,” said Swartz. “While I was there, I received a call saying that if I could be in Lansing on Monday, I could get into law school. I immediately went back to Columbus to get as much of my stuff my car could carry. I reported for guard duty on Saturday and they let me leave early to go to Lansing.”
Swartz says that his decision to attend Cooley was a “non-decision decision.”
Though he entered law school as part of Cooley’s second entering class in 1973, he spent 27 months at Cooley, including taking two summer terms at the University of Michigan, so he could graduate with the law school’s first-ever class.
Remembering his time at Cooley, Swartz’ most exciting moment was helping move the law school from a second-floor office space to the Temple Building. He was there during the ABA’s first accreditation process and the onboarding of the first full-time faculty, including Ron Trosty, William Wiener, Roger Needham, Peter Kempel, and Associate Dean Robert Krinock.
Another important memory for Swartz was during a meeting with Brennan to discuss graduation.
“Judge Brennan wanted the men to wear tuxedos and women long dresses for commencement,” remembered Swartz. “The women, three of them, spoke up and said if the men were to wear tuxedos, they, too, wanted to wear tuxedos. I was part of a group that wanted to wear the traditional cap, gown, and hood, which is what ended up becoming our graduation wear.”
Following graduation, Swartz was admitted to the bar in Ohio, that was followed by Florida (1979) and Colorado (1991). He began his legal career as an assistant prosecutor in Lucas County, Ohio.
After spending four years as a prosecutor, Swartz accepted a position to work with Janet Reno in the Florida state attorney office for the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County. In 1984, he decided to join a private practice as a defense attorney. In 1995, Swartz became Judge Swartz after being elected to the Miami-Dade District Court, a post he held for 10 years.
Creating an appellate court practice was Swartz’ next move after leaving the bench in 2005.
“Appellate work brought me much joy and satisfaction,” said Swartz. “It allowed me to spend more time with my kids.”
While working as an appellate attorney, Swartz spoke with then-Cooley President and Dean Don LeDuc about an adjunct teaching position at Cooley. After interviewing with Associate Deans Charles Cercone and John Nussbaumer, he took on a position teaching Professional Responsibility.
“I would travel up to Lansing from Miami to teach on Saturdays and fly back after class,” said Swartz.
In 2012, Cooley opened the Tampa Bay campus. That is when Swartz had the chance to see the law school’s founder again, 36 years after graduation.
Swartz remembers the exchange during the law school’s ribbon cutting.
“Judge Brennan walked over to me and said ‘Jeff Swartz, nice to see you.’ He then looked at me and said, ‘Swartz, what are you doing here? I thought I was rid of you.’ I looked at him and said, ‘like I told you at graduation, not hardly. I’m a professor here.”
JEFFREY SWARTZ
Swartz looked at teaching criminal law and criminal procedure at Cooley’s Tampa Bay Campus as an honor to be able to give back to Cooley.
“The law school means everything to me,” said Swartz. “Other faculty members that may not know me that well, know how important Cooley is to me. One professor said ‘Swartz bleeds Cooley blue.’ I have never asked for anything from Cooley, but I just worked at teaching to help give back to Cooley and share my years of experience with the next generation of lawyers.”
Swartz said that his best memories of teaching are not from being in the classroom.
“It’s not what happened while teaching, but it’s the calls I would get from students who graduated and moved on thanking me for what I taught them, many who have become prosecutors,” said Swartz. “Those are the moments I think about.”
One former student, Jason Downs (Benjamin Robbins Curtis Class, 2019) holds Professor Swartz with the highest regard.
“While many professors teach to the bar these days, I found Judge Swartz’ instruction most useful because he knew he wasn’t just lecturing future bar-takers, he was training future lawyers,” said Downs, managing partner at Murphy & Downs Law Offices in Melbourne, Florida, where he handles criminal defense and appellate matters. “He was an amazing professor. He was intimidating at first because
he strictly adhered to the formal Socratic method of teaching, and if you weren’t prepared or didn’t know the answer, he was direct in his admonition. There was no sugarcoating. However, he encouraged you to argue with him, so long as you could support your argument, and if you did, he respected you for it.”
Swartz says that teaching can be frustrating, “but when students excel, those are exciting times. More important to me is being able to see students excelling in life.”
Swartz knows that retiring doesn’t mean leaving Cooley behind, but rather embracing the future of Cooley as a law school dedicated to educating confident and futureready attorneys through rigorous hands-on training while remaining true to the school’s founding principals of being inclusive and collaborative.
“What I am most proud of is being friends and colleagues with the members of a faculty, who dedicated themselves to rebuilding Cooley,” said Swartz. “This faculty made personal sacrifices and never gave up in our efforts, which continue to this day, to reestablish our reputation and the soul of this school. I am proud of my Cooley education, and I want all our students to feel the same.”
Swartz, who is often featured on CNN and other media outlets as a legal analyst, will continue representing Cooley as a subject matter expert in the media.
“I may be retiring from full-time teaching, but you are not ‘rid of me.’ Not hardly.”
Cooley News
Passing the Gavel: A Heartfelt Thank You and Warm Welcome to Our New Alumni Association President
As we celebrate a new chapter for our Alumni Association, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible leadership and contributions of our outgoing President, Rob Johnson (Patricia Boyle Class, 2018), and to welcome with great enthusiasm our incoming President, Germese Gee (Thomas Todd Class, 2014).
A GRATEFUL FAREWELL TO ROB JOHNSON
Over the past year, Rob Johnson has played a major role in strengthening the bonds between our alumni and the law school. He consistently showed up to support our students by attending each Honors Convocation to present the award to students selected by the association for the Distinguished Student Award, attended mixers to network with students and alumni, and helped to establish the inaugural Florida Golf Outing to mirror the annual event held in Lansing each year. Rob has always exemplified the values we hold dear — commitment, service, and a passion for supporting fellow alumni and the current students of Cooley Law School.
On behalf of the entire Alumni Association, we extend our deepest gratitude to Rob Johnson for his consistent efforts and service. The positive impact of your leadership will be felt for years to come.
WELCOMING GERMESE GEE
As we bid farewell to one great leader, we are thrilled to introduce Germese Gee as the new Alumni Association president. Germese has a long history of involvement with the association, having served as vice president, secretary, and board member. With a passion for bringing alumni together and a forwardthinking approach, we are confident that Germese will continue to build on the strong legacy left by Rob Johnson.
In her new role, Germese aims to increase membership, strengthen alumni engagement, and foster even more meaningful connections across generations of graduates. We look forward to the exciting initiatives and fresh perspectives she will bring to the table.
As we pass the gavel, we express our heartfelt thanks to Rob Johnson for his incredible leadership and dedication. We also extend a warm welcome to Germese Gee, we are excited for the future of our Alumni Association under her guidance.
To all of our alumni, we encourage you to reach out and engage with Germese as we embark on this new chapter together. With the continued support of our alumni community, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.
Welcoming Our New Alumni Association Board Members!
We are thrilled to announce the newest members of our Alumni Association Board! These individuals bring a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and a strong commitment to enhancing our alumni community. Together, they will help our association’s growth and strengthen the connections between our graduates.
Please join us in welcoming:
Lanita Carter (Stephen Johnson Field, 2020)
Clifford Camp (Samuel Nelson, 2018)
Timothy Wiggins (Ross Wilkins, 2011)
Kati Komorosky (Horace Gray, 2022)
Renae Moore (William D. Woodridge, 2010)
Lori Selvidge (Mary Stallings Coleman, 2009)
We are excited to work alongside them to continue offering valuable opportunities for networking, professional development, and alumni engagement.
As we welcome these new faces, we would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to our current board members who consistently work to advance the mission of the Alumni Association. Their dedication and leadership make a difference, and we are incredibly thankful for their service.
Stay tuned for more updates, and welcome aboard!
Best regards, Cooley Alumni Association
Cooley News
Florida Alumni & Friends Golf Outing
The inaugural Florida Alumni & Friends Golf Outing hosted by Cooley Law School on November 1, 2024, at the Bloomingdale Golfers Club in Valrico, Florida, was a resounding success. The event brought together alumni, friends, and supporters of Cooley for a day of golf, networking, and community building.
Attendees enjoyed a luncheon followed by a round of golf on the scenic course, and an awards reception to celebrate the day’s highlights. The outing’s proceeds were directed toward the Cooley Law School Alumni Memorial Student Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to future generations of law students.
With perfect weather and a vibrant atmosphere, the event offered an excellent opportunity for alumni to reconnect, forge new friendships, and give back to the institution that played a pivotal role in shaping their careers.
Special recognition goes to Vincent Welicka, a proud member of the Class of 1988 (Abner Pratt), who attended the Florida outing and has participated in every Cooley Classic—an impressive 33 events to date!
Cooley Graduate Sarah Tanner Wins Florida Bar Scholarship
Cooley Law School graduate Sarah Tanner (Antonin Scalia Class, 2024) is one of four recipients who received the Florida Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section Scholarship in 2024. She received the $2,500 scholarship during the annual Florida Bar Convention held June 20-21 in Orlando.
The annual scholarship is awarded to students or law school graduates who have shown dedication to and interest in the criminal justice system as trial and appellate practitioners.
Tanner is planning to serve as an assistant state attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit, where she worked as a certified legal intern. She is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and the Federal Bar Association.
While at Cooley, Tanner was the executive managing editor for the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review and an affiliate student representative for The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division. In addition to the Florida Bar scholarship, she previously received the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review Dawn C. Beachnau Award, the Thomas M. Cooley Alumni Memorial Scholarship, and the Thomas M. Cooley Merit-Based Scholarship.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus Joseph Kimble Publishes Latest Children’s Book
Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus Joseph Kimble published the second of his Mr. Mouthful children’s books: “Mr. Mouthful and the Monkeynappers.” Mr. Mouthful is a fan of big words that kids can’t understand, leading to one misadventure after another. In the new book, his hotshot pet monkey, Dupree, goes on a romp and gets into big trouble – only to have kids come to the rescue, as they did in the first book, “Mr. Mouthful Learns his Lesson.”
The second installment of Mr. Mouthful has received stellar reviews:
• Kirkus: a “comical sequel” and “fun read-aloud.”
• Booklife (Publisher’s Weekly): a “frolicking romp of adventure, excitement, and, above all the pleasure of learning unusual words.”
• Forward Clarion: “Bountiful physical comedy and jaunty wordplay results in considerable charm” (four stars).
The first Mr. Mouthful book, published in 2017, won several awards and was described by the National Parenting Center as “a book you will fall in love with.”
Kimble regularly visits elementary schools with this message: “You’ll never be sorry if you learn to love words.” He would be happy to hear from teachers who would like to schedule a visit.
For more about the books, including testimonials from teachers and students, visit www.mrmouthful.com.
Last of Cooley Family Lineage Donates Scroll from President Cleveland to Cooley Law School
Cooley Law School has received a 136-year-old historic artifact tied to its namesake, Justice Thomas M. Cooley.
Hilary Cooley, the greatgranddaughter of Thomas M. Cooley and last of the Cooley lineage, donated a scroll from President Grover Cleveland, the nation’s 22nd and 24th president, appointing Thomas M. Cooley to chair the newly-established Interstate Commerce Commission in 1887.
“I am the last of the Cooley lineage and so am distributing keepsakes that I think are of interest to the world, lest they get lost in the shuffle,” Hilary Cooley wrote in her letter to the law school. “I enclose the scroll from President Grover Cleveland that declares Thomas Cooley to the Interstate Commerce Commission. I believe he was the first chair of this
commission. I hope you will put this in your collection of articles from the Cooley family and that it will enhance your history of Mr. Cooley and his legacy.”
Created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, the ICC was the first regulatory commission in U.S. history. It was established to regulate railroads, ensure fair rates, eliminate rate discrimination, and in later years, regulate other aspects of common carriers, including interstate bus lines, trucking, and telephone companies. Thomas M. Cooley served on the ICC for four years from 1887-1891, after having served on the Michigan Supreme Court from 1864-1885. ICC’s jurisdiction for rail safety, including hours of service rules, equipment and inspection standards, was transferred
Cooley Graduates Sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar
Sixteen Cooley graduates were sworn in as attorneys recognized to argue cases in front of the United States Supreme Court during ceremonies on October 16 and November 4, 2024. The ceremonies were hosted by Cooley’s Associate Director of Alumni and Donor Relations Shameka Conwell, and the motion was moved by President and Dean James McGrath. Graduates participating in the ceremony hail from Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Cooley graduates interested in being sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar as part of an alumni group should contact the Alumni Office at alumni@cooley.edu.
Admitted on October 16, 2024: Hettie Le Haines (Mary Stallings Coleman, 2009), Melaney Cyrise LaGrone (Solomon Sibley, 2011), Claudia Elizabeth Castro (Robert A. Fisher, 2007), Matthew J. Heos (Augustus B. Woodard, 2010), Leticia Perez (Robert Trimble, 2015), Mia Clarissa Williams (John Fitzgerald,
to the Federal Railroad Administration following the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970. Congress abolished the ICC in 1995 as the evolution of technology made the commission obsolete.
“We are honored to be the recipients of this historic document,” said Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath. “As new students enter the law school, they are taught about our namesake’s distinguished record associated with Thomas M. Cooley’s time as a Michigan Supreme Court Justice and being chosen to head the newly created federal Interstate Commerce Commission. This scroll will allow our students to better understand the importance of Thomas M. Cooley to the legal community, State of Michigan, and the United States of America.”
Cooley Law School Student Bar Association in Lansing Hosts Barristers’ Ball
The Student Bar Association at Cooley Law School’s Lansing campus held its 34th annual Barristers’ Ball on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Cadillac Room in Lansing.
The Barristers’ Ball is an opportunity for students and legal professionals to network and socialize with others from the community. Nearly 150 law students, faculty, staff, attorneys, and business leaders attended the casino-themed formal black-tie optional event. Cooley’s Lansing campus incoming class includes 34 percent minority enrollment and 33 percent of students are coming from outside of Michigan.
2006), Darice Nichole Shaw (William Johnson, 2013), and Sarjo Barrow (Alfred Moore, 2013).
Admitted on November 4, 2024: Lenny Krick (Thomas Johnson, 2002), Cassandra Green (Thomas A.E. Weadock, 1999), Denis Sylvester (Edward Sharpe, 2008), Jennifer Robinson (Robert Trimble, 2015), Brittany VanCamp (Samuel Nelson, 2018), Kimberly Stout-Sherrer (John Fitzgerald, 2006), Sean Logsdon (Roger A. Needham, 2004), Carmen McDonald Pulotu (James Irdell, 2001).
Faculty Briefs
Brad Charles, Professor Submitted, manuscript of a textbook titled, “Legal Analysis Writing Skills,” to Carolina Academic Press for publication in 2025.
Awarded, a grant, along with Professor Mathew Marin, to join the AccessLex NextGen Bar Exam Modules team to create lesson plans to prepare students for the NextGen bar exam.
Attended, LexCon24 to learn the latest news about legal education and the NextGen bar exam.
Mark Cooney, Professor Accepted for
Publication, “How Legalese Jeopardizes Enforceability,” volume 22 of The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing.
Presented, “How Legalese Jeopardizes Enforceability,” Kimble Center for Legal Drafting webinar, Nov. 14, 2024.
Presented, “There’s a Hole in the Safety Net: How Legalese Jeopardizes Enforceability,” Legal Writing Institute Biennial Conference, July 19, 2024, IU McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mentor, Scholarship & Discipline-Building Session, Legal Writing Institute Biennial Conference, July 17, 2024, IU McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Accepted for Publication, Book Review of “Elegant Legal Writing,” volume 29 of Legal Writing: The Journal of the Legal Writing Institute.
Interviewed, “Legal Writing Q&A with Mark Cooney,” WordRake Expert Interview Series (July 25, 2024).
Attended, multiple meetings of the Legal Writing Institute Scholarship & Discipline-Building Committee.
Published, “Man vs. Machine: My Editorial Bout with WordRake,” WordRake Blog, Nov. 14, 2024.
Published, “Crafting Compelling Issue Statements,” WordRake Blog, June 12, 2024.
Published, “Avoiding ‘Shall’ when Expressing Policies,” Vol. 103, No. 5 Mich. B.J. 44 (May 2024) which made the top ten downloads for four SSRN eJournals.
Published, “Tuesday Tips” membership emails for Scribes — The American Society of Legal Writers.
Edited, as a senior editor, for volume 22 of The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing.
Renalia Smith DuBose, Professor
Published, “The Road to Equity – Have Women Made Adequate Progress,” in the Lincoln Memorial Law Review, Fall 2024 Edition. Professor DuBose utilized USDOE national standards for measuring student achievement to conclude that women in America have not made adequate progress. Women’s rights advocacy is different from all other advocacy groups in that women have been the majority population in the United States since 1950.
Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick, Associate Professor
Published, “Let’s Be FRANK About Getting Campaign Ready” and “The Ripple Effect: How Women Judges Shape Communities Beyond the Bench (and into Bridgerton),” in the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL) Journal, Fall/Winter Edition.
Presented, “The Importance of Investing in Wrap-Around Services for Graduate and Professional Students” and “Talk the Talk on Social Media - Create Content that Connects,” at LexCon AccessLex Institute’s Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, UT.
Accepted, for publication in the Southern Journal of Law & Policy titled, “Locs, Law & Liberation.”
The multi-media project, including videos, interviews, and more resources, can be found at locslawliberation.com.
Created, Justice & Liberty: The Musical based on Supreme Court Criminal Procedure cases, which will debut on May 2, 2025, in celebration of Law Day.
Richard Henke, Professor
Attended, a draft conference for the American Law Institute (ALI) project concerning The Restatement Third of Remedies. The conference focused on the standards for injunctive relief.
Don LeDuc, Professor Published, with Thomson Reuters the 2024 annual supplement to the revised Michigan Administrative Law Treatise; collected cases and materials for the 2025 supplement.
Completed, a review of the meaning of the contemporary words in the Constitution, using Noah Webster’s first two American dictionaries, published in 1806 and 1828, shortly after the Constitution was ratified.
Incorporated, the review of the words into the Restructured Constitution: A Prologue to Understanding.
Published, a blog piece on the powers of the president of the United States; submitted a blog piece on the powers of the Congress; drafted a blog piece on the powers of the federal courts.
Completed, (as of the end of December 2024) 50 years as a Cooley professor, including 21 years as dean and 15 years as president.
Matt Marin, Associate Professor Appointed, to the Michigan Bar Journal Advisory Committee for 2024-2025.
Published, “An Analytical Depth Chart for Law Professors and Students: How Deep Is Deep Enough, and How Deep Is Too Deep?,” in 39 T.M. Cooley L. Rev. 39 (Issue 1) (2024).
Published, “How Law Students Can Use Templates to Write Successful Essay Responses,” in the ABA Student Lawyer, September 12, 2024.
Published, “A Step-by-Step to E-Filing and Pitfalls to Avoid,” in the ABA Young Lawyers Division, October 15, 2024.
Published, “Getting the MOST out of Managing the Law School Workload,” in the ABA Student Lawyer, October 24, 2024.
Wrote, a book review for Eugene R. Milhizer’s “Dissecting Anatomy of a Murder: The Author, the Crime, the Novel, and the Film,” in the Michigan Bar Journal, September 2024.
Chosen, to participate in AccessLex Institute’s Building Bar Skills Modules initiative.
Presented, “The Power of Words: Achieving Inclusivity in Legal Language,” for the Legal Writing Institute Biennial Conference, July 20, 2024.
Attended, AccessLex LexCon ‘24 to work on the Building Bar Skills Modules initiative with faculty from other chosen institutions. Joan Vestrand, Professor Presented, an ethics piece entitled, “Getting to Best Leadership, Life, and Success,” at the 51st Annual Denver Land Institute in Denver, Colorado. The conference was sponsored by The Denver Association of Professional Landmen.
Presented, “Getting to Best Leadership, Life, and Success,” in webinar format for the American Association of Landmen out of Fort Worth, Texas.
Served, as a co-presenter in two programs produced by Michigan’s Institute for Continuing Legal Education. One was entitled, “Be Nice: MI Professionalism and Civility Requirements - Part I” and the other was ICLE’s “Ethics Updates 2024.”
Appeared, as a guest on “On Balance,” a podcast program sponsored by the State Bar of Michigan, the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee, and the SBM Practice Management Resource Center. The program, produced by Legal Talk Network, discussed the importance of lawyer professionalism and the relationship of wellness to professionalism and an effective legal and judicial system.
Presented, as a panelist in a Strafford live video national webinar entitled, “The Lawyer’s Ethical Obligation to Defend the Integrity of the JudiciaryPutting Teeth into Model Rule 8.2.”
Invited, to serve as a panelist at the ABA’s 2025 annual Conference of the National Organization of Bar Counsel to be held in February in Phoenix, Arizona.
Reappointed, to the State Bar of Michigan’s Standing Committee on Character & Fitness and the State Bar’s Special Committee on Professionalism and Civility, and serve as chair of the special committee’s Materials Subcommittee, responsible for creating the materials used to promote Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order 2020-23 - the court’s Professionalism Principles Michigan lawyers and judges.
Class Notes
1979
George M. Clark Class Padnos, Shelley, received the recognition as one of 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan Award by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business 2024.
1979
Howard Wiest Class
Metzger, Clyde, was recently listed in the 2024 Super Lawyers Directory.
1981
Charles D. Long Class Baron, Richard, was recently listed in the 2024 Super Lawyers Directory.
1982
Daniel Goodwin Class Shapiro, Steven, was recognized as one of the Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in Denver, Colorado of 2024.
1985
Charles W. Whipple Class
Marabondo, Salvatore, listed as Best Car Accident Lawyers in Jersey City, New Jersey for his work in car accidents, personal injuries, and worker’s compensation.
1988
Abner Pratt Class
Forbush, Audrey, was recently selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for the 2025 edition.
1989
Samuel T. Douglas Class
Millenbach, Paul, was recognized as 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers and 2025 Best Lawyers
1991
Robert Krinock Class
Hendricks, Teresa, was recognized with the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan Award by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business 2024.
1991
Edwin Lawrence Class
McBain, Scott, recognized on The Best Lawyers in America list in 2024.
1992
John W. McGrath Class
Sveska, Kim, was recently listed in the 2024 Super Lawyers Directory.
1995
John E. Bird Class
Corl, Christina, was recently selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for the 2025 edition.
1995
Franz C. Kuhn Class
Kapuza, John, was recognized for his work with personal injury plaintiffs by The Best Lawyers in America
1996
Blair Moody Jr. Class
DeRosier, Phillip, was recognized on Michigan’s 2024 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and The Best Lawyers in America list.
1999
Thomas A.E. Weadock Class
Byrnes, William, was recently appointed as associate circuit judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit. He will fill the vacancy created by the election of the Hon. Matt Thirnhill as circuit judge who was unopposed in the 2024 general election.
Green, Cassandra, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in November of 2024.
1999
Louis H. Fead Class Cronk, Peter, was recently selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for the 2025 edition.
1999
Richard H. Flannigan Class
McCarthy, Daniel, recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch.”
2001
John Blair Jr. Class Schroder, Jeffery, was recently named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly on its 2024 list of “Go To Lawyers for Cannabis Law in Michigan.”
2001
James Iredell Class Pulotu, Carmen, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in November of 2024.
2002
Thomas Johnson Class Krick, Lenny, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in November of 2024.
2004
Roger A. Needham Class Logsdon, Sean, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in November of 2024.
2004
John E. Cross Class Norgaisee, Annel-Stephan, received the 2024 President’s Award from the Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York.
2006
Neil E. Reid Class Robinson, Kevin, was named in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition for his exceptional work in insurance law.
Harris, Jason, recognized as one of the Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Mesa, Arizona of 2024 in the Forbes Advisor.
Zellen, James, was awarded the S. Gerald Gorcyca Meritorious Service Award by Oakland County Bar Association.
2006
George Edwards Class Adams, Jamie, was recently appointed by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper as District Attorney, serving Anson, Richmond and Scotland counties.
Hetu, Jennifer, was recently selected for the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) 2024 Rising Star program. She was also recognized on the State Bar of Michigan’s 2024 “A Lawyer Helps” Pro Bono Honor Roll.
2006
John W. Fitzgerald Class Williams, Mia, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in October of 2024.
Stout-Sherrer, Kimberly, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in November of 2024.
2007
Robert E. Fisher Class Castro, Claudia, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley Alumni in October of 2024.
2007
Gerald W. Boston Class Senawi, Daniel, was named “Michigan’s Go To Lawyers Cannabis Law 2024” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
2008
Edward Sharpe Class
Sylvester, Densie, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in November of 2024.
2009
Mary Stallings Coleman Class
Haines, Hettie, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in October of 2024.
2009
Dorothy Comstock Riley Class
Nugent, Ivan, recently became part owner of a Kansas City law firm formerly known as Krigel & Krigel, P.C. will now be known as Krigel Nugent + Moore. The firm was founded in 1979 by Erlene and Sandy Krigel and in 2021 the firm changed hands to Lara Krigel Pabst, Ivan Nugent, and S.J. Moore. KNM, under its new leaders, has continued to grow and is considered a true general practice law firm.
Griffin, Patrick, was recently recognized as 2025 Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” in America for his work in patent law.
2010
Augustus B. Woodward Class
Burrell, Aaron, has received a 2024
Trailblazer Award from the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association for his work with Detroit’s legal and business community. Burrel was also on Michigan’s 2024 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and The Best Lawyers in America list.
Heos, Matthew, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in October of 2024.
Kutz-Otway, Valerie, was named a 2024 Influential Women of Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
2010
James Witherell Class Lambert, Holly Williams, was recently
installed as the new Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Insurance by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Coyle, Emily, was recently selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for the 2025 edition.
2010
William D. Woodbridge Imeri, IIlir, joined the Worker’s Compensation group of Goldberg Segalla in Chicago. In addition to worker’s compensation, Imeri has handled personal injury, insurance litigation and subrogation, as well as business and commercial law.
2011
Solomon Sibley Class Lagrone, Melaney, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in October of 2024.
Soler, Amber, was recently elected to MomsBloom Board of Directors.
2011
Ross Wilkins Class Villaverde, Michelle, was recently elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bronx Women’s Bar Association. This election and her service as a deputy bureau chief at the Office of the Bronx District Attorney demonstrate her commitment to the law and her community.
2012
Bushrod Washington Class
MacKenzie, John, was recognized on Michigan’s 2024 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.
2012
Marion M. Hilligan Class Fopma, Amanda, was recognized on the list of 2024 Influential Women of Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
Hamilton, David, was presented with the Community Impact Award, by Leadership Ohio class of 2023, paying tribute to his many efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of those in the Greater Akron area and around the state.
Class Notes
2012
Oliver Ellsworth Class LaGrow, Emile, received the Michigan Municipal League’s Community Builder Award. The Community Builder Award honors individuals whose leadership creates positive community change. Recipients of this award encourage civic engagement, support upand-coming leaders, foster good working relationships and think strategically in service of making their community a place where people love to live and work.
2013
Alfred Moore Class Barrow, Sarjo, was sworn in as an immigration judge with EOIR/DOJ. Judge Barrow was also sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar in October with a group of fellow Cooley alumni.
Janes, Bryan, was named “Ones to Watch” on the Best Lawyers list for his work in personal injury litigation: defendants.
MacLeod, Andrew, was recognized on Michigan’s Best Lawyers list for his work in corporate law, international mergers and acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions law, and private funds/hedge funds law.
2013
John Marshal Class
Gallagher, Steven, was elevated to Partner in the Labor & Employment Department at Fox Rothschild.
Guernsey, Kelsey, made history as the first woman to ever be elected prosecuting attorney in Jackson County.
2013
William Johnson Class
Cherry, Sarah, was recognized on the 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers list.
Gibbs, Tanya, was recognized as one of 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business 2024.
Hamor, Robert, was recently listed in the 2024 Super Lawyers Directory.
Shaw, Darice, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in October of 2024.
2014
Henry Brockholst Livingston Class
Segal, Jeffrey, was recognized as one of 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars.
Smith, Carol, was promoted to partner at Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho PLC. and was also recognized on the 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers list.
2014
Thomas Todd Class Wayne, Matthew, was recognized on the 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers list.
2015
Joseph Story Class Hawkins, Eric, named Warren Police
Department’s new commissioner by Warren Mayor Lori Stone.
2015
Robert Trimble Class Djordjeski, Elena, was recognized on the 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.
Israel, Farah, was recently listed in the 2024 Super Lawyers Directory.
Perez, Leticia, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in October of 2024.
Robinson, Jennifer, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in November of 2024.
2016
Charles Evan Hughes Class
Dalli, Nardeen, was recently listed in the 2024 Super Lawyers Directory.
Traver, Kyle, was recently listed in the 2024 Super Lawyers Directory.
2016
William Taft Class Taweel, Aleasha, recognized by The Best Lawyers in America publication as “Ones to Watch” in America for outstanding professional excellence. Also recognized as a Michigan Rising Stars by Super Lawyers
2018
Samuel Nelson Class VanCamp, Brittany, was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar with fellow Cooley alumni in November of 2024.
2020
David Davis Class Alfaro, Arturo, was recognized as Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” for 2025.
2022
Samuel Blatchford Class Rock, Stacey, received the Diversity and Inclusion Award of 2024 by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Emeritus Faculty Fell, Norman, passed away on June 21, 2024.
1976
Thomas M. Cooley Class Anderson, Thomas “Tom” Edward, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
1980
William W. Potter Class Feeley, Robert Sylvester, 77, of LeRoy passed away peacefully on Friday, June 28, 2024, at Corewell Health Meijer Heart in Grand Rapids.
1982
Daniel Goodwin Class Burns, Joseph Louis, 80, passed away peacefully Monday, October 14, at University of MichiganMetro Health West in Grand Rapids surrounded by family.
1983
Charles A. Blair Class Truchan, George Kenneth, 68, passed away peacefully at home with his loving family by his side, on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
1985
Charles W. Wipple Class McIntire, Thomas “Tom” E., 66, of Wheeling, West Virginia, passed away, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
1989
David Johnson Class Graham, Hon. William, passed away at his home in Winston-Salem on June 16, 2024, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He was a beloved husband, brother, and son.
1989
Joseph T. Copeland Class Miller, Ken “Keith”, 66, son, brother, fiancé, friend, and renowned personal injury attorney, passed away on September 13, 2024.
1990
Edward H.C. Wilson Class Bruinsma, Thomas Allen, 71, passed away unexpectedly on April 24, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1991
Edwin Lawrence Class Marks, Kenneth, of Lansing, Michigan passed away on May 31, 2024.
1992
Robert M. Montgomery Class
Ollason, Eric, known for his big heart, generous spirit, and a mischievous sense of humor, Eric was always ready to “stir it up.” He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and countless memories.
1993
Joseph B. Moore Class Handley, Curtis (Curt) Edward, 60, of Mokena, Illinois, passed away on September 14, 2024, at the University of Michigan Hospital after a hard-fought, courageous, five-year battle with metastatic cancer. Curt passed with the love of his life, Mary Handley, by his side.
1998
Nelson Sharpe Class D’Itri, Patricia “Trish”, 64, died on April 12, 2024, after a courageous and difficult battle with breast cancer.
2004
John E. Cross Class Norgaise, Annel-Stephen, 48, of Jamaica, New York, passed away on August 25, 2024.
2007
James H. Brickley Class Midiri, Joseph M., passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024, with his family by his side, after a courageous battle with cancer.
2009
Dorothy Comstock Riley Class
Hallack, Melissa Ann, 44, of Mendon, Michigan, passed away Thursday morning May 30, 2024, in Mendon Township due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
2010
James Witherell Class Doty II, Timothy Thomas, 58, a longtime resident of Fraser, Michigan, passed away suddenly on May 26, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, gregariousness, and love.
2018
Samuel Nelson Class Carmichael-Owens, Esq., Diana Elizabeth, 64, passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
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Calling All Alumni Authors
Have you published something recently? Hard copy or digital? Law related or not? The library would like a copy of your work to feature in our collection. To check if you already have items in our collection, visit library.cooley.edu and search for your name. If we don’t have your book or article cataloged, please send a copy to the Library Alumni Collection, Cooley Law School, 300 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing, MI 48933.