Spartan Lawyer - Spring 2021 by msucollegeoflaw

SPRING 2021

IN THIS ISSUE: Looking on the Bright Side of Law? Optimism for Lawyers Finding Silver Linings: Interim Dean Melanie B. Jacobs Leads Through Challenging Times Faculty Voices with Professor David Blankfein-Tabachnick Thanking Our Donors Could You Pass Professional Responsibility Today?

IN THIS ISSUE

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kelly Kussmaul CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kelly Kussmaul Savannah Swix RESEARCH ASSISTANT Megan Wilson PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Gennera DESIGN Brenda J. Sanborn ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD President: Christopher Jackson, ’13 Vice President: Courtney Gabbara, ’12 Secretary/Treasurer: Daniel Elliott, ’16 Co-Directors of Fundraising: Robert Kirk, ’83, and Jacob Simon, ’17 Director of Alumni Engagement: Christopher Giles, ’02 Parliamentarian: Michael Daum, ’11

William Coughlin, ’80: IP Sprint

Give Green Day

Faculty Accomplishments

Faculty Voices: Professor David Blankfein-Tabachnick

Indian Law Clinic Advocates for Chickasaw Nation

Finding Silver Linings: Interim Dean Melanie B. Jacobs Leads Through Challenging Times

Looking on the Bright Side of Law? Optimism and Lawyers

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PARLIAMENTARIAN BOARD Liam Burke, ’07 Maria Cudowska, ’16 Jackie A. Dupler, ’12 Jacob G. Eccleston, ’19 Chantel Flegler, ’16 Alyssa A. Grissom, ’12 Denise Hirschmann, ’92 Christopher Johnson, ’11 Jeremy Manson, ’06 Kate Matych, ’16 David M. Rader, ’16 René Roupinian, ’94 Alex Rusek, ’13 Robert Shapiro, ’94 Brandon Sherman, ’04 Deema F. Tarazi, ’16 Stephanie Vicent, ’11

20 MSU Law Welcomes Linda S. Greene

EX OFFICIO Interim Dean Melanie B. Jacobs Roxanne R. Caine

26 Class Actions

21 Alison Swain, ’18: Death Penalty Attorney 22 Remembering Frank J. Kelley 23

Sheriff Benny Napoleon, ’86: A Legacy of Service, Kindness

24 Semester Report

30 Donor Honor Roll

Quiz: Professional Responsibility

The State of MSU Law

Spartan Lawyer is published by Michigan State University College of Law, Law College Building, 648 N. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824-1300. Reproduction or use, in whole or in part, by any means and without the express written consent of the publisher, is prohibited. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs are submitted at the sender’s risk; please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope requesting return of material. The magazine and its associated parties and agencies assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials and reserve the right to accept or reject any editorial material. Submission of letters implies the right to reproduce same in magazine. Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of this magazine or the law college. No article herein shall constitute an endorsement by this magazine, the law college, or the persons and organizations associated with it.

A Message FROM THE DEAN Dear Friend: When Michigan State University suspended in-person operations a little over a year ago, like most of you, I certainly didn’t anticipate that we would still be working and learning remotely today. Though I am known for my optimistic outlook, these difficult months have occasionally challenged my commitment to looking for the bright side. I have missed being together with our alumni, my colleagues, and my friends, but in the past year, we have discovered new ways to connect with one another, to learn together, to lead, and to serve. Faculty members have made extraordinary efforts to replicate the classroom experience from their home offices and guest bedrooms. (If, as a law student, you ever wondered what your professor’s home or pets looked like, you could have found out this year!) Students continue to master challenging course materials, support clients in our clinics, and challenge themselves in remote Moot Court competitions, often with the help of dedicated alumni-coaches. In dark days, I continue to find the silver lining – which is you, the MSU Law community. In the face of daunting challenges, I have seen the strengths of our community shine as never before. This issue of Spartan Lawyer will tell stories about the good works of our faculty, our clinics, and our alumni; share research-based insights into how even lawyers can experience the many benefits of optimism; recognize the many contributions of Michigan public servants Benny Napoleon, ’86, and Frank Kelley, “the people’s lawyer”; and briefly introduce you to our incredibly accomplished incoming dean, Linda S. Greene, whose term will begin on June 1. Finally, we will thank all of you who have contributed to the College of Law in these uncertain times. We deeply appreciate your generosity with your time, talents, and financial support. Today, as we undertake vaccination to protect ourselves and the vulnerable people in our midst, I see signs of gradual progress toward normalcy. MSU’s President Stanley is working even now to resume MSU’s in-person instruction for the 2021-22 academic year, and our students will bring campus back to life this fall. We are excited to host modest in-person Commencement exercises for the Class of 2021. Outside, the trees are slowly breaking into bloom. My friends, I believe that brighter and happier days lie before us. Let us enjoy them together. Warm Regards,

Melanie B. Jacobs 3

DONORS AND FRIENDS

MAKING THE PITCH FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: WILLIAM COUGHLIN AND THE HARNESS DICKEY IP INNOVATION DIVERSITY SPRINT Harness Dickey (HDP) CEO William Coughlin, ’80, spent his Saturday providing future Spartan lawyers with a unique opportunity: to test-drive careers in the IP field. The capstone experience of MSU Law’s annual Diversity Week, the inaugural IP Innovation Diversity Sprint, took place on March 27 and immersed students in the world of intellectual property practice. Along with IP counsel from four corporations, Coughlin facilitated a day-long competition program that tasked students to tackle real-word IP problems currently faced by HDP’s corporate partners in this event. Law students were paired up with “phone a friend” partner-mentors from HDP for support and feedback. “I wanted to find an innovative way to simultaneously offer diverse students a real-world challenge, help several corporations reimagine what they could do with their intellectual property assets, showcase diversity talent for employment, demonstrate the deeply-felt commitment within my IP law firm – and have some fun,” said Coughlin. Mary Ann Ferguson, ’02, assistant dean for Diversity and Equity Services and founder of Diversity Week, described the vision and execution from Coughlin and his collaborators as “nothing short of stellar.”

Students generated creative solutions that minimized litigation risk and maximized profitability for products patented by some of HDP’s corporate partners: Dana: bearing assemblies Harman International: Bluetooth loudspeakers Polaris: cargo lock rings Volvo Cars: turbocharger system components

I work each year as though it will be my last. Someday, this will be true, of course. But if you think that this will be your last year to change the lives around you for the better, it’s pretty motivating. — William Coughlin, ’80

MARCH 16, 2021

“I was so impressed by the efforts of Bill Coughlin, the mentors, and attorney competition judges that I was speechless,” said Dean Ferguson. “Without reservation, I look forward to future diversity, equity, and inclusion partnerships between MSU Law and HDP.” Coughlin hopes that the experience will inspire students who may not have seriously considered IP to enter the field, bringing new talent into the IP pipeline. “Three of the four corporate IP chiefs who participated in this event are also diversity success stories,” he observed. “They, together with partner-mentors from my firm, definitely helped inspire creativity in the students.” Coughlin brings extensive IP experience to his role as chief executive officer at Harness Dickey, a hundred-year-old intellectual property firm with branches in metro Detroit, Dallas, St. Louis, and Washington, DC. His previous in-house work includes assistant general counsel to Ford Motor Company, IP law leader for DaimlerChrysler, and chief IP counsel for the Chrysler Corporation. Even after 40 years in practice, the freshness and variety in Coughlin’s work still energizes him. “IP practice always seems new,” he said. “You work on coming innovations, deals across the world, and advancing brands worth billions.” He knows that rewarding careers – and lasting bonds – can be formed in the three years of law school. Coughlin observed that before founding HDP, J. King Harness, Arthur Dickey, and Hodgson Pierce were classmates in the Class of 1920 at the Detroit College of Law (today known as MSU Law). He hopes to inspire a similar entrepreneurial mindset in these lawyers-in-the-making. “I told the students in the IP Sprint that they too could someday start a law firm together that could last over 100 years,” said Coughlin.

MSU LAW RAISED OVER $19,000 IN 24 HOURS FROM 91 ALUMNI, FRIENDS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. Dear Law Community, Thank you for demonstrating your support for MSU College of Law on Give Green Day! I am so appreciative of all the kind and generous contributions from our fabulous alumni, friends, faculty, and staff. I joined the College of Law faculty in 2002 and throughout my time here, I have seen that when we come together as a community, we do extraordinary things. I would like to extend special recognition to Veronica and Sean McNally (members of the classes of ’04 and ’03), as well as the MSU Law Alumni Association, for their inspiring matching gifts, which encouraged others to give throughout the day. From providing our students with critical learning resources to building pipeline programming for a more inclusive legal profession, your gifts on Give Green Day will allow us to continue the important work of educating tomorrow’s Spartan lawyers. Thank you for believing in – and supporting – our mission. Warmly, Melanie B. Jacobs Interim Dean and Professor of Law

YOUR GIFTS BENEFITED: THE MSU LAW STRATEGIC ACTION FUND // CLINICAL PROGRAMS // FIRST AMENDMENT CLINIC // GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND // INDIGENOUS LAW AND POLICY CENTER // LAW REVIEW // LIBRARY FUND // STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND 5

FAC U LT Y AC C O M P L I S H M E N T S SUSAN BITENSKY Professor Bitensky’s article, “Nuclear Weapons’ Negation of the Rule of Law,” will be published in Volume 39 of the Quinnipiac Law Review. Her essay, “Slavery Redux,” was published by the JURIST and republished by News Break. DAVID BLANKFEIN-TABACHNICK Professor Blankfein-Tabachnick’s outstanding pedagogical and scholarly work were recognized as MSU Law’s first recipient of the MSU TeacherScholar Award. JENNIFER CARTER-JOHNSON & MELANIE B. JACOBS Deans Carter-Johnson and Jacobs were keynote presenters at MSU’s Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program Research Day Symposium. JENNIFER COPLAND Professor Copland presented “Strategies for Teaching Briefwriting” at the 2020 Training Advocates Conference. She was elected to the first Board of Directors of the National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators. She published “Virtual Persuasion: Advice from the Michigan Supreme Court” with Adjunct Professor Jesse Kirchner in the Michigan Bar Journal.

updated version of “Insider Trading: The Conceptual Roots of the Doctrinal Mess”) to the corporate law seminar at Penn State Law. His article, “Missing the Role of Property in the Regulation of Insider Trading,” was published by Catholic University Law Review. He also participated in an amicus brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, “Brief of Law Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioners,” and he moderated a discussion on “The Economics and Ethics of Insider Trading Reform.” DAVID FAVRE Professor Favre was quoted in Forbes, discussing new rules regarding access for emotional support animals on airlines. He aided in the drafting of a formal petition submitted to the International Committee of the ABA urging the drafting of a new treaty to deal with animal welfare and human health issues. He presented a training workshop on State Anti-Cruelty laws to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for federal enforcement agents.

MATTHEW L.M. FLETCHER Professor Fletcher published “Why Tribes Should Have the Power to Enforce Strict Coronavirus Policies” in The Atlantic. He also published his paper, “Textualism’s Gaze,” “Indian Lives Matter: NANCY COSTELLO Pandemics and Inherent Tribal Powers” Professor Costello was interviewed by CBC News, discussing incitement speech (Stanford Law Review Online), “How the and its role in former President Trump’s ‘only family’ argument is used against Indigenous families” (High Country News), second impeachment trial. She was and “The U.S. Shouldn’t Get to Decide If featured on WJR, where she explained how Twitter, Facebook, and other online a Navajo Man Dies” (The Atlantic) with MSU Law alumna Tamera Begay. His social media could choose to curtail media work included ABC News, ABC speech if a user violated user policies. Nightline , The New York Times, NPR, She also answered questions on First Bloomberg Law, Wall Street Journal, The Amendment rights and freedoms in Marshall Project, Circle of Blue, Vox, and MSU Today. Michigan Radio. Professor Fletcher opened the inaugural Big 10 Law School Speaker KEVIN DOUGLAS Series with “Up Next: Erasure (Native Professor Douglas hosted a colloquium Americans in the 21st Century).” His on business law and property doctrine. other presentations included: SMU Law He presented a working paper (an

School, Hastings Law School’s Indigenous Law Center, Miami Law School, the Federal Defender’s Office for the Central District of California, Antonin Scalia Law School, Dentons, California Law Review Federal Indian Law Roundtable, Albany Journal of Science and Technology Symposium, University of Michigan Native American Law Students Association, National American Indian Court Judges Association Annual Conference, University of Michigan Law School, Chicago Humanities Festival, Windsor Law Indigenous Legal Orders, MSU Extensions Annual Conference, University of Florida Law Clinic, Tribal Water CLE, Michigan Humanities, Michigan Journal of Race & Law, and the Native American Journalists Association. He was reappointed to the appellate court by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. His new book, Ghost

Road: Anishinaabe Responses to Indian Hating, was selected as Native America Calling’s book of the month. “The Supreme Court and Federal Indian Policy” was cited by the court in

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe v. Terwilliger, and he was an amicus on a brief filed in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia. MATTHEW L.M. FLETCHER & WENONA SINGEL Professors Fletcher and Singel with Kaighn Smith turned in the proposed final draft of the Restatement of the Law of American Indians, and they will present it to the American Law Institute in May. In the case of In The Matter of the Dependency of Z.J.G. and M.E.J.G., the court cited Professors Fletcher and Singel’s paper, “Indian Children and the Federal-Tribal Trust Relationship.” KATHRYN FORT Professor Fort co-authored “Understanding the Hurdles: Indian Child Welfare Act and Litigation” for The Federal Lawyer. She argued in front

BRIAN KALT Professor Kalt was featured by many media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Good Morning America, C-Span, BBC World News, NPR, NBC News, The Washington Post, Reuters, Voice of America, BYU Radio, The Loophole, and the National Constitution Center’s podcast, We the People. He was featured in an episode of ABC’s The Signal, “Pardon Me, Mr. President.” He also published articles and op-eds with Foreign Policy, Take Care, Lawfare, Slate, and The Hill. He was a featured speaker at George Washington University Law School, a panelist at the University of Virginia Miller Center, and he spoke about the 25th Amendment at an ACS panel discussion at Georgetown Law and the 2020 Dean’s Lecture at Ohio Northern. on Leadership, Equity, and Social Justice Professor Kalt, alongside 150 legal in September 2020. scholars, signed a letter arguing that former U.S. officials can be impeached.

CATHERINE GROSSO & BARBARA O’BRIEN Professors Grosso and O’Brien received largest tribe in Alaska and won. She also 2021’s University Outreach & Engagement Distinguished Partnership Award for argued before the Colorado Supreme Court on behalf of the Chickasaw Nation Community-Engaged Service from Michigan State University for their project, in People in Interest of K.C. and L.C. “Racial Justice and the Administration of JEREMY FRANCIS the Death Penalty.” Their work with the The eighth edition of The Legal Writing National Registry of Exonerations was Handbook, which he co-authored, was further recognized in articles for The released. Washington Post. They also presented together as part of the inaugural Big 10 BRIAN GILMORE Professor Gilmore discussed the eviction Law School Speaker Series hosted by the Maurer School of Law. crisis that emerged amid the COVID-19 pandemic for CNBC. He was also a guest MELANIE B. JACOBS speaker for the Degrowth Virtual – Dean Jacobs was among the keynote Teach-In sponsored by DeGrowUS, and speakers for the MSU Women’s The Black News Channel. Leadership Institute annual conference of the Washington Supreme Court, In

The Matter of the Dependency of Z.J.G. and M.E.J.G., where she represented the

CATHERINE GROSSO Professor Grosso was quoted by Discover Magazine, discussing how unanimous verdicts support jury voices.

Professor David Blankfein-Tabachnick: University Teacher-Scholar Award Michigan State University College of Law proudly recognizes Associate Professor David Blankfein-Tabachnick as its first recipient of a Michigan State University Teacher-Scholar Award. MSU selects elite Teacher-Scholar awardees to recognize the university’s finest early-career teachers who “have earned the respect of students and colleagues for their devotion to and skill in teaching.” Professor Blankfein-Tabachnick’s scholarship explores private law and taxation, and his courses include Property, Basic Income Tax, Tax Policy Seminar, and Trusts and Estates. As faculty advisor to the Michigan State Law Review,

Professor Blankfein-Tabachnick has helped the Law Review rise 50 places in the national ranking of flagship law school journals. Professor Anne Lawton, Professor BlankfeinTabachnick’s next door office neighbor in the Law College building, has observed both his impressive scholarly productivity and the steady stream of students who find their way to his office. “When we had in-person classes, students constantly stopped by to talk to him – about course materials, jobs, or simply life,” said Professor Lawton. “Excellent teachers, like David, know that teaching does not end at the classroom doors.”

FAC U LT Y AC C O M P L I S H M E N T S C O N T I N U E D Professor Matthew L.M. Fletcher: MSU Foundation Professor Professor Matthew L.M. Fletcher was welcomed into the 2020 class of Michigan State University Foundation Professors, an honor extended to only a handful of MSU faculty members whose exemplary scholarly accomplishments align with areas of university research emphasis. “Matthew is a leading academic in his field who regularly contributes to the public discourse on Indigenous Law issues,” said Interim Dean Melanie B. Jacobs. “As the director of our Indigenous Law and Policy Center, he also plays a critical role in recruiting and educating the

next generation of Native lawyers and allies to defend the rights of Native tribes. He’s an inspiring colleague, and incredibly worthy of the recognition of the MSU Foundation.” Professor Fletcher’s latest book, Ghost Road: Anishinaabe Responses to Indian-Hating (2020), centers around Anishinaabe philosophy and stories, exploring how Native people consider matters of law and politics. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, he advocated for the rights of tribes to enforce protective health measures on their lands.

MAE KUYKENDALL JANE MELAND Professor Kuykendall published a review Library Director Jane Meland wrote of Don Herzog’s book, Sovereignty, RIP, in about the implementation of tolling to JOTWELL: The Journal of Things We Like fund and preserve Michigan roads for (Lots). She also published her article, Michbar.org. “Looking for a Life Raft: Citizen Voice NOGA MORAG-LEVINE and Votes of No Confidence,” with Professor Morag-Levine’s article, Michigan State Law Review. “Chemical Pollution and Regulatory MICHAEL LAWRENCE Choices at the Start of Industrialization: Professor Lawrence presented a paper, Comparing France and Britain,” was “Falling Short of the Promise of the accepted for publication by the American Thirteenth Amendment: Time for Journal of Comparative Law. She also Change,” at The Center for Constitutional presented “Pestilence and Governance Law at Akron Symposium, “Examining in Early Modern England: Why no Black Citizenship from Reconstruction Italian-styled Boards of Health?” at an to Black Lives Matter.” He also international colloquium on the Legal participated in the UNC School of Law History of Epidemics and for a research Center for Civil Rights Symposium, webinar hosted by the Hungarian “Equal Protection’s Grand Promise and Betrayals: Reconstruction, Plessy to Bakke National University of Public Service. and Beyond: Is there a Way Forward?” VERONICA VALENTINE MCNALLY Dean McNally was interviewed by multiple media outlets, including CNBC, The Oakland Press, and WDET 101.9 fm’s Detroit Today, for her vaccine advocacy as a member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. 8

BARBARA O’BRIEN Professor O’Brien spoke to U.S. News about growing efforts to establish conviction integrity review units to explore wrongful convictions. She was quoted in MLive, Delaware Today, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and The Crime Report.

LAWRENCE PONOROFF The fifth edition of Professor Ponoroff’s co-authored casebook, Bankruptcy: Dealing

with Financial Failure for Individuals and Businesses, was released. The Nevada (UNLV) Law Journal accepted “A Contemporary Approach to RideThrough, Ipso Facto Clauses, and the Nondefaulting Debtor” for publication. FRANK RAVITCH Professor Ravitch wrote for The Conversation and was featured in the Detroit Free Press: “Supreme Court’s COVID-19 cases stir up battle between religion, same-sex couples over foster care.” He presented “Freedom’s Edge: Religious Freedom, Complicity Claims, and Discrimination” for the Big 10 Law School Speaker Series. Professor Ravitch is the series editor for the Law and Religion in a Global Context series, which published its second and third volumes. JUSTIN SIMARD Professor Simard gave his talk, “Citing Slavery,” in the University of Michigan Race and Property Speaker Series. His article, “Citing Slavery,” proposed the addition of a Bluebook rule to

acknowledge the citation of slave cases, a proposal that was accepted and generated discussions at Reason’s blog, The Volokh Conspiracy, and by law librarians on the RIPS Law Librarian Blog. WENONA SINGEL Professor Singel gave a guest lecture on tribal-state relations to students at the Harvard Kennedy School for a course called “Native Americans in the 21st Century: Nation Building I.” MICHAEL SANT’AMBROGIO Dean Sant’Ambrogio’s article, “Presidential Maladministration,” was published by Ohio Northern Law Review as part of its annual symposium, “The Power of the Presidency.” He moderated an Administrative Law New Scholarship Roundtable (a series that he co-founded with Glen Staszewski in 2016) hosted remotely by Yale Law School.

MICHAEL SANT’AMBROGIO & GLEN STASZEWSKI Dean Sant’Ambrogio and Professor Staszewski’s article, “Democratizing Rule Development,” was published by the Washington University Law Review. GLEN STASZEWSKI Professor Staszewski served as a commentator for the New Scholars Program that was co-sponsored by the Sections on Legislation and Administration Law at the AALS annual meeting. He co-presented his working paper, “Judicial Populism,” at the third annual National Conference of Constitutional Law Scholars and at a faculty workshop at the University at Buffalo School of Law.

JOSHUA WEASE Professor Wease recorded a video for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, “Tax Law Series: IRS Practitioner Insights.” He spoke about Michigan’s poverty exemption from property taxes at a meeting of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. NICHOLAS WITTNER Professor Wittner was featured in an article for The Indiana Lawyer, “Gearing up: Automated driving technology experts offer advice, anticipation for future.” He was recognized as a Top-Rated Lawyer by Martindale Hubble®, and was the only law professor profiled in the National Law Journal in May 2020.

DAVID THRONSON Professor Thronson was elected to the Board of Governors of the Society of American Law Teachers. He and his co-authors published 2020 Supplement

to the Seventh Edition of Immigration and Refugee Law and Policy.

Professors Barbara O’Brien & Catherine Grosso: Distinguished Partnership Award for Community-Engaged Service Professors Catherine Grosso and Barbara O’Brien, along with their partner-institution, the Center for Death Penalty Litigation (CDPL), received 2021’s University Outreach & Engagement Distinguished Partnership Award for Community-Engaged Service for their project, “Racial Justice and the Administration of the Death Penalty.” This annual award honors MSU researchers who work alongside partnerinstitutions for the benefit of their communities.

charging/sentencing. Their research eventually led to defendants’ removal from death row in North Carolina. With the recent North Carolina Supreme Court decision to allow death-sentenced prisoners to challenge racial biases in the prosecution of their cases, Professors Grosso and O’Brien’s research will be at the heart of each subsequent case.

From exhaustively cataloging every U.S. exoneration to influencing jury selection reform In partnership with the CDPL, Professors Grosso nationwide, their ongoing work highlights and O’Brien designed and conducted two studies, profound disparities in the justice system. one on jury selection and one on capital

FAC U LT Y

FAC U LT Y VO I C E S :

DAVID BLANKFEIN-TABACHNICK Professor David Blankfein-Tabachnick joined the MSU Law faculty in 2014, where he creates a wholly unique classroom experience for his students: rigorous, energetic, and positive. His students often say that his classes are among the highlights of the law school experience. His nationally recognized scholarship focuses on structural economic (in)equality and wealth creation, primarily through the lenses of private law and taxation.

Intellectually speaking, I was born at just the right time. When I began writing, the rich literature at the intersection of taxation, the private law and economic (in)equality was just coming into being and superb private law scholars around the globe were debating their subject’s foundations and structure. The legal academy was ablaze in electrifying debate and discussion. My scholarly work focus on taxation and private law subjects. I aim to articulate a distributive account of the private law, addressing a gap in the scholarly literature. When I started, the conventional philosophical wisdom in this arena was that the traditional bodies of private law, e.g., tort, property, and contract, bear a conceptual independence from one’s commitment to economic or distributive justice. Concerns over distributive justice, the thinking went, were the proper domain of taxation and transfer – and there they reign supreme. Economists, too, believed, but, for very different reasons, that taxation and the private law are best kept separated. The seemingly spell-binding idea was that egalitarian “intrusions” into the private law – whether a mandatory minimum wage or a common law doctrine of unconscionability – unduly hamper wealth maximization and creation. Such scholars concluded, perhaps counterintuitively, that any measure of social welfare provided by egalitarian private law doctrine can always be more efficiently realized through the system of income taxation and transfer. Beginning in 2003, through a series of scholarly articles in leading law reviews and peer edited journals, I have tried to show that there is a “property” or “entitlement-oriented” flaw in these arguments. I have argued that important 10

theories of distributive justice cannot coherently be understood to swing clear of the entitlement-governing aspects of the private law, as the conventional view holds. At the same time, I work to show that the law and economics approach – giving nearly absolute priority to income taxation and transfer over private law rules – problematically assumes an underlying system of property ownership; thereby, avoiding the question of the very form such property rules or entitlements ought to take. This notable omission, I believe, calls into question the plausibility of the argument’s conclusion. The sustained scholarly interest in this body of work has been astonishing. There is now wide and growing skepticism toward the “conventional” view and the idea that there is a property or entitlement-oriented flaw in the law and economics approach to these issues has gained academic currency. I am thrilled at the array of brilliant scholars – law professors, economists, and philosophers – that have entered the discussion and debate. My scholarly work informs my teaching at the Law College. I bring rigor, intellectual energy, and enthusiasm to my Property, Basic Income Tax, Trusts and Estates and Tax Policy courses. As faculty advisor to the Michigan State Law Review, I aspire to instill an enthusiasm for ideas, while raising the journal’s academic profile and national ranking. This year, I was honored to be the Law College’s first faculty member to receive MSU’s prestigious university-wide All University Teacher-Scholar Award. I am grateful, beyond words, for the extraordinary support of my faculty-colleagues, my students, and the College of Law alumni. It means the world to me.

ALUMNA AND PROFESSOR KATHRYN FORT ADVOCATES FOR CHICKASAW NATION’S ICWA RIGHTS When the Logan County (Colorado) Department of Human Services removed two infant twin girls from the custody of their mother, the mother told the department that their father might have Chickasaw heritage. The department notified the Chickasaw Nation, which responded that the children were eligible for citizenship and sent the necessary tribal citizenship forms to the department. The Chickasaw Nation never got those forms back. Only when the State filed to terminate the mother’s parental rights did Logan County disclose to the juvenile court that the children were eligible for enrollment in the Chickasaw Nation. That’s where Michigan State University College of Law’s Indian Law Clinic entered the case (People in Interest of K.C. and L.C.).

tuition waivers. Professor Fort pointed out that enrollment also offers powerful cultural advantages to tribal enrollees.

“If they are part of a tribe, they’ll always know where they’re from, where their family is,” said Professor Fort. “They’ll always know that they were wanted.” Like most child welfare cases, ICWA casework involves complicated family circumstances: in addition to the ICWA violations, K.C. and L.C. experienced neglect, family removal, and uncertain paternity.

“The guardian ad litem argued that it was a total procedural mess,” said Indigenous Law and Policy Center alumna and Indian Law Professor Fort, “but I didn’t Clinic Director Kathryn Fort, ’05, is one of the nation’s think we’d get there on just leading experts on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) a procedural issue – we and worked extensively with the Chickasaw Nation on the case. ICWA sets federal requirements for state child custody needed to have an affirmative argument that the agency has proceedings involving a Native child; however, ICWA an obligation to act. We’re compliance varies widely from state to state. asking agencies to be better In the case of People in Interest of K.C. and L.C., Professor than they are.” Fort argued before the Colorado Supreme Court that the There are potential legislative State had violated ICWA and failed in its responsibility to fixes to this situation, but in the act in the best interests of the twins. case of K.C. and L.C., Professor “The argument is that yes, technically they’re not Indian Fort and her colleagues at the children under the definition of ICWA at the time they Chickasaw Nation will await were removed – but that, but for the inaction of the agency, a decision from the Colorado they would have been tribal citizens and received ICWA Supreme Court. She admits that protections,” said Professor Fort. “Our argument is that attempting to persuade judges under Colorado’s understanding of best interests, agencies that tribal citizenship benefits have an ongoing responsibility to make sure that the children children can be disheartening. in their care who are eligible for membership are enrolled.” “We see this a lot: there may be “Basically, what we were arguing on behalf of the tribe is that investment and lip-service to it is always in a child’s best interest to be a tribal citizen.” ICWA. But when it comes down Tribal enrollment confers material benefits upon members: to decisions about an individual lifelong no-cost healthcare, access to supplemental childhood child, then it becomes ‘well, you resources, possibly family tribal housing, and often educational don’t mean it in this case.’”

“ Kate began years ago to assist tribal attorneys in strategizing and preparing for ICWA appellate cases and quickly became the leading appellate advisor and the leading ICWA expert in the nation. There are no ICWA cases of import in the last five years or so that Kate hasn’t been involved in.” — Matthew L.M. Fletcher MSU Foundation Professor of Law Director, Indigenous Law and Policy Center

FINDING SILVER LININGS: INTERIM DEAN MELANIE B. JACOBS LEADS MSU LAW THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES Melanie B. Jacobs started her tenure as interim dean of Michigan State University College of Law by hosting a coffee station for students in the lobby of the Law College on January 8, 2020. As students, fresh from the holiday break and ready to start their new classes, poured in the glass doors, Dean Jacobs and Associate Dean Jennifer Carter-Johnson greeted them with caffeine, muffins, fresh fruit, and warm words of encouragement for the semester ahead. She knew some of them from her classes (Trusts and Estates and her Assisted Reproductive Technologies seminar); others were meeting their new dean for the first time as they crowded in to grab a snack and head to class. The easy camaraderie of that morning feels like a decade ago. Two short months later, the COVID-19 pandemic would empty the Law College building as Michigan State University announced its immediate move to fully remote instruction. Weeks turned into a semester, then another, then a full academic year.

Dean Jacobs is a strong advocate for MSU Law alumni and her dedication to MSU Law’s core values during these challenging times has been monumental. On behalf of all alumni, I want to say thank you for your leadership and, most importantly, friendship to our community. — Christopher Jackson, ’13 President, MSU College of Law Alumni Association

Events were canceled, and Dean Jacobs’ priorities abruptly shifted to coordinating online finals, distributing CARES Act funding to students overwhelmed with unexpected financial crises, hosting SBA town hall meetings on Zoom, and advocating on behalf of recent law grads for fair treatment on the summer 2020 nationwide bar examinations. Dean Jacobs’ leadership has seen the College of Law through dark, even unprecedented, days. Students, faculty, and staff members have fallen ill with COVID-19 and navigated the challenges of learning and working remotely. The MSU Law community grappled with waves of social unrest: the death of George Floyd and subsequent summer of protests; the deepening of partisan political divides; the Capitol riots in January that fizzled into a state of conflict and anxiety. Dean Jacobs addressed each crisis with characteristic empathy while navigating the year’s impact on her own life, from managing her cancer diagnosis and treatment to supporting her son, Jacob, through distanced learning. 13

It also fell to Dean Jacobs to complete the process of full integration with Michigan State University initiated by her predecessor, Dean Lawrence Ponoroff. When that process concluded on August 17, 2020, it was the culmination of months – and years – of meeting with cross-campus stakeholders, working closely with accrediting and governing bodies, attending to administrative minutiae, and overseeing endless processes of due diligence. Even so, Dean Jacobs dedicated time and energy to advancing the College of Law, making headway in critical areas by re-framing the strengths of the curriculum and faculty, elevating MSU Law’s status within the MSU community, and promoting the accomplishments of her faculty colleagues within the legal academy. In keeping with her optimistic outlook, Dean Jacobs’ decanal tenure has contained bright spots and silver linings: celebrating MSU Law’s first number one national ranking in Moot Court competitions, welcoming the incoming Class of 2023, seeing four of her MSU Law colleagues singled out with highly selective University faculty awards, and singing a well-received duet version of “Islands in the Stream” with Associate Dean Daniel Barnhizer to boost the spirits of her followers on social media. Dean Jacobs will clear her calendar of back-to-back Zoom meetings by taking a long-deferred sabbatical in 2021-22, and she plans to pursue her research interests, spend time with her family, and – hopefully! – do some safe traveling. Wherever she goes in this next year, she will take with her the good wishes and deep gratitude of the whole MSU College of Law community.

HIGHLIGHTS OF DEAN JACOBS’ DECANAL TERM INCLUDE: Advancing critical diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives Identifying and promoting MSU Law’s core institutional strengths Publication in Feminist Judgments: Family Law Opinions Rewritten Elevating the profile of MSU Law scholars within legal academia Overseeing three successful nominations for prestigious MSU faculty awards Celebrating MSU’s first #1 ranking for Moot Court Welcoming the first remote incoming class in August 14

MSU Law Recognizes Dean Jacobs’ Leadership As interim dean, Melanie Jacobs became the definition of “stepping up to the plate,” personified the concept of “there’s a silver lining,” and demonstrated the epitome of “true grit.” Her positive attitude, leadership, vision, and concern for the Law College as both an institution and a community have been inspiring. Daniel Barnhizer Associate Dean for Graduate and International Programs

The Law College has been so fortunate to have Melanie's leadership throughout MSU integration and the COVID pandemic. Her optimism and hard work have been an inspiration. Her mentorship has been invaluable to me personally. But it is her drive to make the Law College community a better place for everyone – from students and staff to faculty – that we should all work to emulate. Jennifer Carter-Johnson Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

As MSU Law’s interim dean, Melanie bravely and boldly moved the Law College, legal academy, and legal profession pendulum towards a more balanced scales of justice for silenced and marginalized human beings. Without reservation, Melanie is a champion change-agent and a conduit for light, hope, and healing in our world. Mary Ann Ferguson, ’02, Esq. Assistant Dean for Diversity and Equity Services

Dean Jacobs was an exceptional leader long before becoming interim dean. From my 2018 orientation to my 2021 graduation, Dean Jacobs has been there every step of the way to comfort, support, and empower MSU Law students. Her unwavering active listening skills, empathy-first outlook, and her plethora of legal knowledge helped mold my classmates and me into the Spartan lawyers we will soon be. Jousef Shkoukani, ’21 2021 Class President

When I was in law school, I always found Dean Jacobs to be not only a great professor but also inspiring and eager to engage with the students. Little did I know that she would be the exact leader needed during a most trying time for our students and law school. Her care, engagement, and inspiration were the exact characteristics needed at the right time! Well done and thank you, Dean Jacobs. James Liggins, ’03

Melanie Jacobs took the helm of the College at a critical juncture, as we were bringing to closure the integration with the University, and was almost immediately faced with crisis of the pandemic. She managed these extraordinary times with grace and grit, and her attention to all of the constituencies of the College was a tribute to her commitment to inclusion and transparency. Charles Ten Brink Professor of Law

Dean Melanie Jacobs is the real McCoy. I am convinced she is one of those lucky people that bleeds green and white. I was one of her first students back in 2002 and was so impressed by her straightforward teaching style that invited in-depth conversations in her students. As an alum, I have reached out to Melanie for assistance with alumni events, and she has jumped at the opportunity. She is fully committed, giving every inch of her being to her students – both present and past. Katherine R. Catanese, ’04

Dean Jacobs has been instrumental in the positive trajectory of MSU Law. Despite the challenges of the past many months, Dean Jacobs has led the Law College – and its alumni engagement – to new heights. Jill Walters, ’07

Looking on the Bright Side of Law? Learn from psychology researchers how you can balance your well-honed lawyerly pessimism with a spirit of personal optimism. IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED (IN PSYCHOLOGY CIRCLES, ANYWAY) THAT OPTIMISTS HAVE A BETTER TIME. Dr. Martin Seligman, director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, has observed that moderately optimistic people generally experience better life outcomes than their similarly-talented pessimistic peers: “Optimists do much better in school and college, at work and on the playing field. They regularly exceed the predictions of aptitude tests. When optimists run for office, they are more likely to be elected.” ¹

In every profession, optimists are more successful in life than their talents alone might suggest. Except for lawyers. Surveying law students at the University of Virginia,

Dr. Seligman’s research team found that pessimism was associated with better grades, earning a position on law

Ample empirical evidence, gathered over decades in

review, and with securing better post-graduation job offers.

a wide range of professional and academic settings,

Unable to discover a scientific explanation, Dr. Seligman

demonstrates that optimists are less likely than pessimists

speculated that the profession uniquely rewards a

to be depressed and anxious, even when confronted with

negative mindset.

financial setbacks. They earn better grades, enjoy better health, and demonstrate more tenacity in the face of adversity.² They’re less likely to smoke or become addicted

“In law,” he said, “pessimism is considered prudence.” ⁴

to alcohol and drugs. They fall in love more easily and

If you’re a lawyer, this observation will come as no surprise;

save more money for retirement.³

after all, building out a robust set of worst-case scenarios is fundamental to success in practice.

“The ability to anticipate the whole range of problems and betrayals that non-lawyers are blind to is highly adaptive for the practicing lawyer who can, by so doing, help his clients defend against these far-fetched eventualities. If you don’t have this prudence to begin with, law school will seek to teach it to you.” ⁵ But while pessimism might make for successful lawyers, it doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness; more than half of all practicing lawyers are dissatisfied with their jobs, and lawyers have high rates of depression.⁶ And it’s hard to turn off a pessimistic mindset when you

week imagining about how badly things could turn out for your clients, and eventually you’ll start thinking about how badly things might turn out in your own life – and it’s not difficult to see why that could lead to depression and burnout. In the words of Dr. Seligman: “Unfortunately, the qualities that make for a good lawyer may not make for a happy human being.” ⁷ Because prudence/pessimism is rewarded in both law school and in practice, lawyers can’t simply choose to see the world through rose-colored glasses. Further, the nature of the legal profession complicates the mission of improving the lives of lawyers.⁸ New associates find the traditional law firm structure rigid and resistant to change, and suggesting (as Dr. Seligman does⁹) that firms should add affirming, non-billable tasks to a lawyer’s workload is probably unrealistic.

leave the office. Spend 40 hours (and likely more) per 17

But even lawyers can make changes to their worldview

as though they come from “an external person whose

in order to improve their quality of life. According to Dr.

mission in life is to make you miserable,” and then

William Chopik, assistant professor in the Department of

building a compelling case against those thoughts.¹⁰

Psychology at MSU and personality researcher, you can learn to see the world differently, but it takes practice.

“Optimism is trainable, but it’s not about going for a walk when you’re stressed and noticing the flowers,” said Dr. Chopik. “Saying just ‘look on the bright side!’ isn’t super helpful. That’s not going to change how you see the world.”

disputation; for instance, if you start thinking “my colleague was promoted to a new role and I was passed over, I’ll never make partner,” you might self-counter that adversarial narrative with an arsenal of facts. “That colleague hired in three years before I did, he works in a different practice group, another position will open up for me when I’m ready, etc.” This mental flexibility allows you to retain functional pessimism within your legal practice, and to turn it off at the end of the workday.

Here’s a few things to consider if you’re a lawyer who’d

Making a habit of self-argument takes a little practice – but

like to incorporate a brighter outlook into your life:

not much. “It’s not instantaneous,” Dr. Seligman said. “But

PESSIMISM IS A TOOL. A successful legal practice requires a problem-centric view.

on the other hand, it’s not really onerous and difficult. It’s something that most people can acquire in a few days.” ¹¹

Pessimism will serve you in contract-drafting, fact-finding,

In other words, you survived 1L finals, RWA, and cold calls

discovery, and brief writing. But just because it’s helpful

in Contracts. You can undertake some behavioral training

on the job doesn’t mean that you need to view every aspect

(even if it’s accompanied by some homework).

of your life through the same lens. Simply put, you want

LOOK FOR EXTERNAL EXPLANATIONS.

to be a professional pessimist and a personal optimist.

Lawyers are uniquely well-suited to adopting credible

“It’s really a question of how you make sense of the world:

The key is what Dr. Seligman refers to as “credible

how do you decide why things go right or go wrong?” said

disputation,” treating pervasive pessimistic thoughts

Dr. Chopik.

1 See generally Martin E.p. SEligMan, lEarnEd OptiMiSM: HOw tO CHangE YOur Mind and YOur lifE (3d ed. 2006). 2 Id. at 1–5. 3 Manju Puri & David T. Robinson, Optimism and Economic Choice, 86 J. fin. Econ. 71, 93 (2007).

4 Robert Lee Hotz, Except in One Career, Our Brains Seem Built for Optimism, wall StrEEt J., Nov. 9, 2007. 5 Christopher Shea, Why Do Lawyers Get Depressed?, wall StrEEt J., Dec. 5, 2011. 6 Martin E.P. Seligman, Paul R. Verkuil & Terry H. Kang, Why Lawyers Are Unhappy, 10 Deakin L. Rev. 49, 52 (2005).

Pessimists tend to explain outcomes by looking within

LAWYERS CONTAIN MULTITUDES.

themselves: when something bad happens, they blame it

You know that you have more to offer your profession – and

on a personal failing, which is likely to recur. For instance,

the world – than a well-honed ability to build out worst-case

senior lawyers often make case decisions without

scenarios. Maybe you have a sustaining passion for justice

consulting with junior associates, who assume that they

and fair treatment under the law, standout verbal

were consciously excluded from the meeting. In that

intelligence, leadership abilities, perseverance, or

situation, you could feel as though your superiors

compassion.

decided that you weren’t worth including in a discussion, undermining your sense of intelligence and value.

Excelling in these areas does not require a pessimistic mindset; many of them are rooted in a sense of positivity

Those are internal attributions – you assume that the

and optimism. Consciously seeking out experiences (on the

negative outcome is the result of your own abilities – but

job and in your life) that reinforce those qualities can help

that’s not the only valid conclusion that you could draw

you balance out the necessary pessimism of legal practice.

from the situation. Instead, the principles of learned optimism posit that you can learn to see alternative external explanations for negative outcomes. For instance, an external attribution for that situation would be that senior lawyers didn’t round up the whole team before making decisions because of time pressure, their own personalities, or the stressful firm environment.

Rather than feeling discouraged in your own abilities, an external attribution can free you from a depressive spiral of internalized blame and make you optimistic that a different outcome is possible when circumstances change.

SPEND TIME WITH NON-LAWYERS. Finally, according to Dr. Chopik, pessimists can drag down their fellow pessimists, while interacting with optimists can help you see the world in a more positive light. They seek the common ground in disagreements and engage in constructive conflict. “Being in relationships with optimists has lots of benefits for pessimists,” he observes. “Optimists just seem to be more socially skilled.” Given that lawyers, as a group, are inclined toward pessimism, he recommends seeking out interactions with non-lawyers. “The people who you surround yourself with partially affect your outlook,” said Dr. Chopik. “People in other professions might offer alternative attributions or explanations for events, rather than lawyers, who are all trained to see things the same way. It can be helpful to break out of that reinforcing sphere.”

7 Id. at 56. 8 See generally Catherine Gage O’Grady, Cognitive Optimism and Professional Pessimism in the Large-Firm Practice of Law: The Optimistic Associate, 30 L. & p YSCHOl. rEv. 23 (2006).

•

9 Shea, supra note 5. 10 Susan Shain, How to Be More Optimistic, N.Y. tiMES, Feb. 18, 2020. 11 Id.

MSU LAW Welcomes LINDA GREENE AS NEXT DEAN Michigan State University Provost Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., has selected Linda S. Greene to serve as the next Dean of MSU College of Law, effective June 1, 2021. Greene comes to MSU Law from the University of Wisconsin– Madison School of Law, where she holds the Evjue-Bascom Professorship. She was a visiting professor at both Georgetown University Law Center and Harvard Law School. At Harvard, she was the first African American woman to teach at the law school. She earned her bachelor’s degree at California State University– Long Beach, her juris doctor at the University of California–Berkeley and a certificate in public international law from The Hague Academy of International Law. Prior to entering academia, Greene served as an attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in New York City, a deputy city attorney in Los Angeles, and as counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

I am confident that Professor Greene will be an invaluable addition to the MSU community. Her impressive academic achievements and demonstrated leadership within legal academia make her the right candidate to lead the MSU College of Law during this period of great momentum. — MSU President Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., M.D.

Greene’s scholarship focuses on constitutional law, civil rights law and sports law, where she has written extensively on the intersections between athletics and equality. In addition to publishing, teaching, speaking at conferences and in public fora, and providing expert media commentary, Greene also performs public service in these areas. Greene’s administrative work has been distinguished by a commitment to building and supporting diverse, creative learning communities. She served as associate vice chancellor for the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1999 to 2004 and was the inaugural vice chancellor of equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of California–San Diego. “It will be a great honor to serve as the next dean of the Michigan State University College of Law and to continue the great work of previous leaders and members of faculty,” said Greene. “I have been blessed with experience at a sister land-grant university that shares MSU’s commitment to rigorous intellectual endeavor and service to the broader community.” 20

“ I’m honored by the opportunity to lead the College of Law at this exciting moment in its history. I look forward to raising the visibility of the College of Law’s excellence and collaborating on new ventures that will benefit the college and its stakeholders, the university, and the state.” — Professor and Incoming MSU Law Dean Linda S. Greene

PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS President, Society of American Law Teachers (SALT) Vice Chair, Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) Elected Member (1991) and Life Member (2016); The American Law Institute (ALI) Committee Member, American Association of Law Schools (AALS) AALS Representative, American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

AN UNEXPECTED PATH TO DEATH PENALTY ATTORNEY As a 2L, Alison Swain, ’18, was working toward her goal of practicing family law when she took Criminal Procedure with Professor Catherine Grosso to fulfill her upper-level credit requirement. The course with Professor Grosso prompted Swain to entirely re-evaluate her career trajectory. “It was just kind of a wake-up call. I thought if this is our system where it stands, I can’t even imagine the system when you add the death penalty into it,” explained Swain, a native of Michigan where the death penalty has been constitutionally banned since the early 1960s. “I took Capital Punishment with Professor Grosso, and I was shocked.”

More than two years later, she’s an assistant public defender in the death penalty department at the Office of the Ohio Public Defender and says she’s doing exactly the type of work that she set out to do. “Our main focus is post-conviction work, which is evidence outside the record – anything that was not part of the record that should have been presented at trial,” she explained. “The way we treat that is it’s like a trial from the start. We get the case, we read the transcript, we become familiar, and then we go out digging, looking for stuff that was not presented that should have been presented and how that

My strong beliefs about the death penalty are the guiding factor of my work. It’s giving my clients the shot they deserved at trial, and the shot that they didn’t get in life. Her passion led her to a unique opportunity assisting the National Registry of Exonerations with Professors Grosso and Barbara O’Brien. “It was so fascinating. These are people that had been exonerated, people who falsely confessed, and you’re reading about them and their confession – it’s just shocking,” she said. “That, especially, is a really hard pill to swallow in terms of the criminal justice system. A confession is a very important factor in a jury trial in terms of determining guilt. It’s really hard for people to believe that others would falsely confess.” By her 3L year, she had decided to pursue becoming a public defender. While she navigated a competitive job market upon graduating from MSU Law, Professors Grosso and O’Brien were brought in as experts on a death penalty case in Ohio and Swain assisted on the project. She worked closely with the state’s federal public defender and, in the process, learned a lot about Ohio’s death penalty law.

would have changed the trial had this information been available.” “My work at the Registry really prepped me for this,” she added. While not where she thought her law school journey would take her, Swain says that she couldn’t imagine doing anything else. “My strong beliefs about the death penalty are the guiding factor of my work. It’s giving my clients the shot they deserved at trial, and the shot that they didn’t get in life,” Swain said. “They grew up without the same opportunities that I had or anybody else had, and it plays out in the system. There’s nobody on death row who has a ton of money. These people deserve the chance to have a fair trial and fair litigation, which doesn’t always happen.”

Remembers Frank J. Kelley & The MSU Law community joined representatives of the Michigan legal

profession in recognizing the many achievements of former state attorney general Frank J. Kelley, who died on March 5, 2021, at the age of 96. Mr. Kelley holds the record for longest continuous tenure as a state attorney general in U.S. history: 37 years. He was both Michigan’s youngest-ever state attorney general and, eventually, its oldest. Mr. Kelley served under five different governors (Republicans and Democrats), transforming the role of the attorney general from a relatively narrowly defined functionary to “the people’s lawyer,” as he became known. During Mr. Kelley’s tenure, the attorney general’s office created Environmental, Consumer Protection, and Criminal Fraud Divisions – all staples in most offices of the attorney general today. Mr. Kelley’s impact was deeply felt throughout the legal profession in Michigan and extended into the MSU Law community. The College of Law bestowed an honorary degree upon him in 1990 and founded the Frank J. Kelley Institute of Ethics and the Legal (left to right) Renee Knake Jefferson, former MSU Law professor and current MSU trustee; Joan W. Howarth, former dean of MSU Law; Frank J. Kelley, former Michigan attorney general; James Blanchard, former Michigan governor; Michael Cavanagh, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice; and Hannah Brenner Johnson, former MSU Law professor.

Profession in his honor in 2009. Associate Clinical Professor and Rental Housing Clinic Director Brian Gilmore is the current director of the Kelley Institute, and he reflected on the example set by Mr. Kelley for young lawyers. “At a time when the importance of public service is constantly being questioned by some, Frank J. Kelley’s life and work is an example to be upheld today and forever as a model of excellence for all public servants,” said Professor Gilmore. “It is difficult to overstate Mr. Kelley’s impact on Michigan’s legal profession through his distinguished leadership and exceptional service,” said Interim Dean Melanie B. Jacobs. “Just as he personally shaped the careers of many young lawyers over the decades, the Kelley Institute will continue to inspire students to follow in his footsteps as lawyers and leaders.”

WHAT IS THE KELLEY INSTITUTE?

It was Mr. Kelley’s custom to attend the yearly lectures and offer his warm advice

The Kelley Institute brings a leading legal thinker to the Law College every year to offer a public lecture, teach students, and engage with faculty. From exploring emerging legal technologies to discussing the changing role of attorneys general, these high-impact speakers encourage soon-to-be lawyers to ground their future legal practice in ethics. The Kelley Institute, which will continue in perpetuity, was endowed by Frank J. Kelley, his many friends

and encouragement to College of Law students. He celebrated his 90th birthday with

and admirers, and College of Law alumni.

the MSU Law community in 2014, sharing with students, faculty, and dignitaries the things that sustained him through a long, demanding career: an abiding love of the law, a commitment to fitness and sports, and the support that he found in his marriage.

Work hard, wish for luck, and be grateful for the things in your life, Mr. Kelley said. I know I am very, very blessed. To learn how you can make a gift in honor of Frank J. Kelley, contact alumni@law.msu.edu.

& AlumnusBenny Napoleon LEAVES LEGACY OF SERVICE, KINDNESS

“ There was tremendous pride in him by the whole law school community – staff, students, and faculty. There was a special connection with the city for the Law College and it was embodied in first-rate graduates, typified by Benny Napoleon, and maintained by deep affection.” — Professor Mae Kuykendall

When Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, ’86, returned to the College of Law to speak to a group of students, Professor David Favre witnessed the moment when Sheriff Napoleon saw his former Contracts professor, Matthew McKinnon, again for the first time in many years. As he stood in full dress uniform at the lectern, the imposing public servant was visibly shaken to see Professor McKinnon – an exacting faculty member who believed in strict classroom control – enter the room. “He was having a flashback to when he was a student, I’m sure,” said Professor Favre. “And it was only two seconds, but this extraordinary man of great power and self-control just had that look of ‘oh my God, I’m in trouble.’ The impact of the law school experience can linger for an extended period in someone’s life.” Sheriff Napoleon’s legal education certainly shaped his 45-year career as a principled law enforcement officer and beloved Detroit public servant. He passed away on December 17, 2020, following a hard-fought battle with COVID-19. Sheriff Napoleon joined the Detroit Police Department (DPD) in 1975 at the age of 19 and spent the next three decades rising steadily through the ranks. By earning his law degree while working for the department, his colleagues observed that Sheriff Napoleon set a powerful example for merit-based advancement. Former Detroit Mayor (and fellow College of Law alumnus) Dennis Archer, ’70, named Napoleon police chief for the city in 1998. Archer said that he didn’t engage in a national search for a new sheriff because “in my view, we already had the best person to become the chief of police […], and he proved me right.” Archer added: “He was one of America’s great police officers who, by his example, engaged in community policing, because he knew his community and his community knew him.” Napoleon was appointed Wayne County Sheriff in 2009, and won elections in 2012, 2016, and 2020. As sheriff, he expanded alternate incarceration methods and lowered daily inmate populations, using his legal background to advocate for national law enforcement and judicial reform. While he will be remembered for his stature as a public servant and dedication to his hometown, the community also knew him as a family man with an infectious smile and a generous spirit. Each year, he would distribute Christmas gifts and coats, personally offering warm words and encouragement to struggling families. His daughter, Tiffani Jackson, said that stories from his fellow students, friends, and colleagues give her strength. “Remember his generosity, integrity, and faithfulness as a public servant for over 45 years,” said Jackson. “Remember how kind he was to everyone he came in contact with and how much he loved his family.”

The Napoleon family intends to honor Sheriff Napoleon’s legacy at MSU Law. 23

THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EXONERATIONS AND DISPARITIES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE Around 70 alumni and guests joined a Zoom webinar on Thursday, February 11, to participate in a conversation about racial disparities in the justice system. The discussion, moderated by Associate Dean Jennifer Carter-Johnson, reflected questions submitted by participants, some of whom had previously worked on the NRE as students and fresh law school graduates. MEET THE PRESENTERS (L to R) PROFESSOR CATHERINE GROSSO: Editor of the NRE Their collaborative scholarship explores the persistent role of race in jury selection. PROFESSOR BARBARA O’BRIEN: Editor-in-Chief of the NRE

What is the NRE? When activists, attorneys, journalists, and incarcerated people need impartial information on exonerations, they consult the National Registry of Exonerations (NRE). But the scope of the project goes well beyond compiling cases and coding the factors that led to wrongful convictions; every exoneree’s story is also told in a journalistic format.

WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS. Although most convictions are for misdemeanor crimes, Professor O’Brien noted that rape and murder – “the serious, serious crimes” – are heavily overrepresented in exonerations, because innocence advocacy groups mostly work on behalf of people who face high-stakes outcomes, like the death penalty or life sentences in prison. “An exoneration is a big deal,” said Professor O’Brien, “in the sense that it’s proof that the system has failed in a massive, major way.” The NRE doesn’t provide an accurate national cross-section of false convictions. The quality of Conviction Integrity Units varies greatly, and a lack of exonerations could simply indicate the inability or unwillingness of the local justice system to find its own mistakes. “Exoneration is our best proxy for a false conviction, but it’s not the same thing as a false conviction,” said Professor O’Brien. “Exonerations are just the false convictions that we know about.”

EXAMINING UNEQUAL OUTCOMES. While exonerees come from all racial backgrounds, the cases documented in the NRE illustrate a clear pattern in U.S. systems of justice: that innocent Black people face a much higher risk of wrongful conviction than innocent white people. Around 50% of the NRE exonerees are Black, though Black people comprise only 13% of the U.S. population. Professor Grosso described the reasons for unequal justice outcomes as “more subtle than we’re willing to see a lot of the time.” “The system gives a leg up to white people in the same way that it makes things harder for Black people,” she said, “and people of color more generally.”

MEASURING WHAT WE CARE ABOUT. Professor O’Brien reminded her listeners that meaningful advancements in justice must build on a foundation of solid recordkeeping and data analysis. “You’ve got to collect data,” said Professor O’Brien. “We measure what we care about. And the state of the collection of data in the criminal justice system… it’s so patchy, and it’s so hard to get your hands on good data.” While one might expect limited available data for older cases, researchers often struggle to obtain adequate information even for modern cases. Though they’ve proposed improvements in recordkeeping systems, no jurisdictions have taken them up on their suggestions yet. Even basic information – like charging decisions – can be hard to come by. “You’d think that I could get a list of murders, reliably,” said Professor Grosso, shrugging. “It’s kind of a big deal,” added Professor O’Brien, “you think someone would be keeping track.”

HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE. According to Professors Grosso and O’Brien: Examine the structure. While lawyers should examine their internal biases, they should also look critically at the structure of the systems in which they practice. Vote in prosecutorial elections. It can be difficult to find information on candidates, but go beyond voting based on yard signage or “tough on crime” posturing. Run for office in local elections. From county prosecutors to city council members, MSU Law graduates can – and should – take on roles as leaders in their communities.

Who Funds the NRE? The NRE’s main expenses are salaries for their four researchers and staff attorneys (often recent law school graduates) and they are funded through grants and private donors. Contact alumni@law.msu.edu to learn how you can support this critical work!

POST-ELECTION CONVERSATION WITH CONSTITUTIONAL LAW FACULTY More than 100 MSU Law alumni joined a Zoom webinar on Wednesday, November 18, to participate in what Interim Dean (and panel moderator) Melanie B. Jacobs characterized as a “robust, non-partisan discussion” of the complex and unorthodox 2020 election. The conversation was shaped by the dozens

of questions submitted by alumni in advance and in the webinar’s chat. This one-of-a-kind event applied a sharp-eyed legal perspective to the November 3rd election that, in the words of Dean Jacobs, “seems a bit like yesterday, and also seems like a year ago.”

MEET THE PANEL (L TO R) PROFESSOR BRIAN KALT: constitutional laws on selecting and governing presidents PROFESSOR PHILIP PUCILLO: constitutional litigation and professional responsibility PROFESSOR MICHAEL LAWRENCE: constitutional law and racial justice

DISSECTING CONSTITUTIONAL CLAIMS.

SURVEYING THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.

Professor Pucillo started the conversation by providing context for the two main types of federal constitutional claims raised by the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Georgia.

The wide-ranging conversation touched on political topics, including:

•

laims Under Article II, Section 1, where the Trump campaign C argued that the states had departed significantly from the norms prescribed by the state legislature; and qual Protection Claims, where the Trump campaign argued E that the standards for accepting or rejecting a ballot cannot vary across counties within the same state.

Professors Kalt and Pucillo both discussed the challenges of courts effectuating a remedy in the case that any constitutional claims were upheld. “If you think of that remedially,” Professor Kalt observed, “one way to treat them the same is to let the people whose votes didn’t count, count: count more votes instead of throwing votes out. […] All other things being equal, we would prefer that as a remedy.”

THE COURT (OF PUBLIC OPINION) IS IN SESSION. “There’s a big disconnect between what President Trump has been tweeting,” Professor Kalt noted, “and what his lawyers have been arguing in court. President Trump has not been tweeting a lot about Equal Protection violations (he has, but a little bit): he’s mostly been talking about fraud. And that’s not what’s being litigated in court.” Professor Lawrence observed that the assertions of fraud on social media are likely to fall apart upon close legal scrutiny – or never make it to the courtroom at all. “The problem is, for those claims and sort of tweets and whatnot, is that once you get into a court of law, there are rules of evidence,” he said. “[...] And once subjected to evidentiary rules and so forth, we see that the claims don’t hold up.”

• The

potential for state legislatures to exercise unilateral power with selecting their electors (characterized by Professor Pucillo as “an act of political suicide”);

• The

possibility that Rule 11 sanctions could be imposed as consequences for lawyers who argue “frivolous” cases; and

• The

past and future of the Electoral College and whether electoral reform is likely.

SURVIVING UNCERTAIN TIMES. Professor Kalt thinks that ultimately, the 2020 election will inspire legislators to expand the legal framework around presidential elections. “I think it’s interesting to consider what this shows us about how much of what we’ve always sort of got used to or imagined as being a matter of law was actually always just a matter of norms,” he noted. Professor Lawrence expressed optimism in his closing remarks: “As a Constitutional Law professor and scholar, I believe in the strength of the Constitution to allow us to weather difficult times. […] I’m confident that we will come through this. We have a lot of work to do, but I’m confident that we’ll come through this.”

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Faculty Speaker Series These talks were part of MSU Law’s ongoing Faculty Speaker Series, which connects our alumni with noted experts in today’s front-page legal topics. Miss the presentation? Check out the recording on our YouTube channel! April 22: Understanding Evictions in the Era of COVID-19 with Clinical Professor Brian Gilmore June 17: Making Sense of Immigration Policy: Past, Present, and Future with Clinic Director Veronica Thronson and Professor David Thronson

CLASS 1970s LARRY ARNOLD, ’71 – volunteers as a gardener at a historical

JAMES PERRY, ’93 – was appointed senior vice president and

homestead, Monongahela National Forest.

global public affairs director of the Brown-Forman Corporation.

FREDERICK D. DILLEY, ’75 – was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. 1980s

RODERICK FRACASSI, ’94 – was approved by Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors as a new shareholder at the firm. JOHN R. HITT, ’94 – was named to the list of Super Lawyers in

JAMES C. BUDNY, ’81 – was elected supervisor of Grosse

Boston in the areas of administrative law and business

Ile Township.

litigation for 2020. He was also named as a LexisNexis/

MICHAEL H. TRAISON, ’83 – received front page recognition with his Cullen and Dykman co-authors for their article on force majeure in the Journal of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Martindale Hubble AV Preeminent Rated Attorney in Massachusetts. DEBRA GEROUX, ’95 – was named one of three co-chairs for Butzel Long’s Healthcare Industry group.

ROSEMARY EBNER POMEROY, ’86 – was presented with the 2020 Columbus Bar Association Service Medal. 1990s STEVEN BENDER, ’91 – was appointed chief legal officer of Geisinger Health System. JOHN S. ARTZ, ’92 – was named an inaugural “Michigan Go To Lawyer” in business law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

LISA H. BEATTY, ’96 – became partner at the Nawrocki Center for Elder Law, Special Needs & Disability Planning in Brighton, Michigan. AMANDA AFTON MARTIN, ’98 – joined Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC in the Trust & Estates practice group in the firm’s Southfield office. ANGELA EMMERLING SHAPIRO, ’98 – was named one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Women in the Law” for 2020.

MICHAEL A. STONE, ’96 – returned to Warner HON. KAREN FORT HOOD, ’89 – became the first Black woman to chair the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. She will serve a two-year term. The Commission, which she joined in 2017, addresses cases of alleged judicial misconduct. She joined the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2002, and she was the first Black woman on the Court.

Norcross + Judd LLP after an active duty deployment of nearly a year commanding Task Force 46 in its fight against COVID-19. He announced his retirement from the Michigan Army National Guard after a 33-year career culminating with his position as the Commanding General of the 46th Military Police Command. The 46th, comprised primarily of soldiers from Michigan, quickly mobilized to provide support for U.S. Army North and the Department of Defense in the federal COVID-19 response.

2000s

2010s

BENJAMIN H. HAMMOND, ’02 – was elected the chair of the

JERRY R. BOWMAN, ’10 – was the co-recipient of the

Associated Builders and Contractors/Western Michigan

Colorado Trial Lawyers Association New Trial Lawyer of the

Chapter for 2021.

Year Award.

BRANDON SHERMAN, ’04 – joined Maynard Cooper & Gale in their Higher Education practice group in the firm’s DC office.

ANDREA CONJERTI, ’10 – was appointed by Chief Judge Janet

DAVID R. RUSSELL, ’05 – was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. AMANDA M. FIELDER, ’06 – was named a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She is a partner with Warner Norcross + Judd LLP in the firm’s Grand Rapids office and co-chairs the Employment Litigation practice group.

DiFiore to the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York State Courts, and she was named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers list for 2021. She is a member of the 8th Judicial District Gender and Racial Fairness Committee, and she was also a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2019 and 2020. NICHOLAS PASSALACQUA, ’10 – his law firm, Passalacqua & Associates, LLC, was named the 36th fastest growing law firm

ELIZABETH BECK, ’07 – was promoted to vice president and

in the top 500.

general counsel for CTB, Inc.

WESLEY TODD, ’10 – joined Lewis Reed & Allen PC as a

NANCY CHINONIS, ’07 – became a shareholder at Cline, Cline & Griffin, PC in Flint. AARON T. SEYBERT, ’09 – was promoted to managing director of social investments at the Kresge Foundation.

shareholder. ARMIN MIZANI, ’12 – was elected the next mayor of Keller, Texas. SARAH PRIMROSE, ’12 – was named to Yahoo! Finance’s HERoes list. She was also named to Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 Under 40.

ANN SHERMAN, ’04 – was recognized with the National Association of Attorneys General Meritorious Service Award in December 2020. The award highlights her career of exceptional service: Ann’s commitment and dedication to the

citizens of Michigan and the United States made both a better place and reflect great credit upon her and the Michigan Department of Attorney General. She has served in the Department of Attorney General since 2005 and is currently the Deputy Solicitor General.

BRYAN NEWLAND, ’07 – accepted the position as principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. He is a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe), and he recently served as tribal chairman from 2017 through February 2021. He was a senior policy advisor to the Obama Administration, helping to develop policies on Indian gaming and Indian land.

CLASS

CONTINUED

CATHERINE E. TUCKER, ’12 – became partner at Sinas Dramis

JUSTIN M. WILLIAMS, ’15 – became the chief diversity, equity

Law Firm, where she has been an associate attorney since 2016.

and inclusion officer for Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan,

MICHAEL C. ZAHRT, ’14 – was selected to appear in The Best Lawyers in America® inaugural “Ones to Watch” list. MUAATH ALI, ’15 – was welcomed as a member of the

one of the largest Girl Scouts Councils in the U.S. TIMOTHY D. LEE, ’16 – became a shareholder at Howard & Howard.

California State University, Los Angeles Alumni Association

JENNIFER L. MUSE, ’16 – was promoted to partner at

Board of Directors.

Honigman LLP.

VIKRAM ARORA, ’15 – accepted a position as a United States

MORGAN SCHUT, ’16 – was recognized by the Detroit Bar

attorney in Houston, Texas.

Association as an Outstanding Young Lawyer and the

CHRISTOPHER CHAVIS, ’15 – was promoted to deputy

recipient of the 2020 Barrister of the Year Award.

director of the Policy Center at the National Indian Health

MONICA ANDRADE-FANNON, ’17 – was recognized by the

Board in Washington, DC.

Detroit Bar Association as an Outstanding Young Lawyer and

RACHEL GIZICKI OLNEY, ’15 – was selected to appear in The Best Lawyers in America® inaugural “Ones to Watch” list.

the 2020 recipient of the Barristers President’s Award. ABIGAIL HAWLEY, ’17 – joined the public interest law firm Olson, Bzdok, & Howard, P.C. as an associate in Traverse City.

MEGAN J. PARPART, ’15 – became a shareholder at Howard &

Her practice will focus on water, property, natural resource,

Howard.

and municipal law.

LAUREN A. STERRETT, ’15 – is now a partner at Secrest

LOUIS F. RONAYNE, ’17 – joined Butzel Long as an associate

Wardle as an insurance defense attorney. She is also a 2020

attorney in the firm’s Litigation practice group.

recipient of a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars Award. DAVID R. SHEAFFER, ’17 – left private practice to return to the Michigan Supreme Court as the senior law clerk for Justice

CHRISTOPHER HOFF, ’12 – received a JOSHUA THOMPSON, ’07 – argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in March challenging government-sanctioned illegal invasions of private property in California. The case is Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid. He is a senior attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation.

presidential appointment and began working on day one of the Biden Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He is the deputy assistant secretary for services at the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, and he will lead three offices including an office where he started his legal career when he graduated from MSU Law.

Elizabeth Welch. He was also appointed to a three-year term on the inaugural Southfield Wildlife Advisory Commission. DAVID SPEARS, ’17 – joined Burris Law, PLLC as a patent attorney. STEPHANIE WHITE, ’17 – was recognized by the Detroit Bar Association as an Outstanding Young Lawyer and the 2020 recipient of the “One to Watch Award.” BRYCE HOLSTAD, ’19 – founded Lakes National Law, LLP as a Twin Cities based law firm with practicing attorneys in

IN MEMORIAM Mr. Thomas J. Brady, ’63 Mr. Thomas M. Brennan, ’74 Mr. Bill E. Citron, ’58 Mr. Jeffrey R. Coval, ’85 Ms. Christine A. Derdarian, ’73 The Honorable Charles M. Forster, ’62 Ms. Kimberly A. Gibbs, ’98

California, Colorado, Iowa, and Minnesota. Lakes National

Ms. Deborah E. Green, ’88

has over 100 years of combined trial experience in municipal

Mr. Thomas F. Kotzian, ’86

law, real estate law, title insurance law, election law, litigation, and criminal law. 2020s ASHLEY POINDEXTER, ’20 – joined Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC as an associate in the firm’s Litigation practice

Mr. John W. Lacina, ’67 Mr. Stephen C. Lada, ’78 Mr. Frank R. Langton, ’66 Mr. John E. McCarthy, ’89

group in the Grand Rapids office.

Mr. Benny N. Napoleon, ’86

MILAN SPAMPINATO, ’20 – joined Jaffe Raitt Heuer &

Mr. Paul E. Pedersen, ’74

Weiss, P.C. in its Southfield office as an associate in

Mr. Paul J. Petzer, ’59

Litigation and adjunct in the Insolvency practice group.

Mr. Albert J. Plueddemann, ’51 The Honorable Dalton A. Roberson, Sr., ’68 The Honorable Gene Schnelz, ’57 Mr. Samuel L. Simpson, ’66

WHITNEY GRAVELLE, ’16 – was elected to serve as tribal chairwoman of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe) and was sworn into the role in March 2021. Previously, she has served as chief judge of Bay Mills Tribal Court and as tribal attorney for the Bay Mills Indian Community.

Mr. Mark A. Sokoloff, ’77 Mr. David C. Stone, ’76 Mr. Valentine J. Temrowski, Jr., ’83 Mr. Russel C. Wells, ’64 Have news to share? Submit career or personal news online at law.msu.edu/spartan-lawyer/alumni-notes.php

HONOR ROLL THANK YOU to the many alumni, faculty, staff, and friends who made a gift, pledge, or pledge payment from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Your continued support of our students and programs is invaluable.

NEWLY-ESTABLISHED FUNDS Linda Han Gardner & Frank Gardner Endowed Scholarship Fund Henderson Judicial Clerkship Mentoring Program Lawrence and Denise Oliver Scholarship Fund

ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTERS

Gold Fellows

$5,000 – $9,999 per year Karen A. Chopra, ’95 Kim A. Gasior, ’85, and Diane K. Gasior The Honorable Wallace B. Jefferson Donald A. Kuebler, ’66, and Cheryl K. Kuebler Danyle L. Ordway, ’03, and Robert R. Paul, III Trustee Jennifer R. Poteat, ’04, and Michael B. Staebler Trustee Emeritus John F. Schaefer, ’69, and Marta Schaefer

Silver Fellows

$2,500 – $4,999 per year Lambros L. Andreopoulos, ’91, and Rosemary A. Andreopoulos Riccardo D. Arcaro, ’76, and Cynthia M. Arcaro MSU Federal Credit Union MSU Law Alumni Association Interim Dean Melanie B. Jacobs and Shane A. Broyles Trustee H. Douglas Laycock and Teresa A. Sullivan, Ph.D.

Thank you to our alumni and friends who supported our Annual Fund with an unrestricted cash gift during the fiscal year. By helping to bridge the gap between the budget and student tuition, you Bronze Fellows enable us to respond to the $1,000 – $2,499 per year evolving needs of legal education.

FELLOWS PROGRAM Members of the Fellows Program (donors who make unrestricted cash gifts of at least $1,000) consider contributing to MSU Law’s Annual Fund a priority in their charitable giving. MSU LAW FELLOWS PROGRAM LEVELS 1891 Fellows

$20,000+ per year Trustee Michael G. Morris, ’81, and Linda C. Morris

Platinum Fellows

$10,000 – $19,999 per year Peter J. Carras, ’62, and Barbara D. Carras Dunlap Law, PC The Honorable Charles M. Forster, ’62†, and Dianna Forster Richard and Nancy Heiss Family Foundation Trustee Mayer Morganroth, ’54, and Sheila Morganroth

Alexandra C. Alberstadt, ’92, and Kenneth G. Alberstadt Associate Professor David H. Blankfein-Tabachnick Lori A. Thornhill-Childress, ’93, and George Z. Childress John A. Digiacomo, ’09 Sandra H. User Green, ’95, and Jonathan Green The Honorable Melvyn B. Kalt, ’73 Gregory R. Lane, ’80 Trustee Cary S. McGehee, ’89 The Honorable David W. McKeague and Nancy McKeague Professor Nicholas Mercuro Charles C. Nebel, ’86, and Denise Nebel Jules B. Olsman, ’78, and Barbara L. Olsman David M. Rader, ’16 R. Owens Richards, ’82, and Julie A. Smith Rene S. Roupinian, ’94 Professor Charles J. Ten Brink Maureen E. Thomas, ’86 Professor Nicholas J. Wittner and Cynthia M. Wittner Trustee Robert T. Worthington, ’07, and Heather Worthington Li Zhuang, ’08

Alumni donors are listed by class year with their donor partners, if applicable. Donor partners who graduated in different years are listed separately under their respective class years. Non-alumni donors are listed as friends. OTHER ANNUAL FUND GIVING LEVELS MSU Law Associates

$500 – $999 The Honorable Dennis W. Archer, ’70, and The Honorable Trudy DunCombe Archer, ’81 The Honorable Marianne O. Battani, ’72 Roxanne R. Caine and Joseph A. Caine Michael R. Daum, ’11, and Karen J. Krogman Daum, ’12 Jonathan Dobrin and Amy Lopatin-Dobrin Assistant Dean Carrie R. Feeheley, ’07, and Winston Feeheley Joseph L. Flack, Jr., ’76 Li Gao, Ph.D., ’17, and Kun Li Donald L. Guarnieri Foundation The Honorable James B. Mackie, ’70, and Ruth Mackie James N. Martin, ’68, and Louann Van Der Wiele Thomas P. McKenney, ’78, and Jane McKenney Mark T. Prendeville, ’77, and Patricia Prendeville Gregory P. Sanchez, ’02 John P. Swallow, ’09 Robert C. Walter, ’79

MSU Law Friends

$100 – $499 The Honorable Gary J. Allen, ’70, and Patricia M. Allen Nicholas S. Andrews, ’89 Dr. Bede O. Anyanwu, ’01, and Allyson D. Anyanwu, M.D. Jefferson P. Arnold and Penelope A. Arnold Robert F. Auld, ’68 Calvert A. Bailey, ’88 Bettie K. Ball, ’90, and Patrick D. Ball, ’76 J. Michael Banas, ’85 Dean R. Batchelor, ’67 The Honorable James M. Batzer Michael J. Beals, ’86, and Julie Beals Zachary P. Beatty, ’17 The Honorable Peter E. Bec, ’70, and Christine A. Bec Anthony G. Becknek, ’11, and Sarah Jorgenson-Becknek James F. Berkemeier, ’08, and Sara Berkemeier Stanley M. Bershad, ’72, and Barbara Bershad Roland L. Bessette, ’85, and Elaine M. Ambrosini Michael J. Black, ’72, and Pamela A. Black

Patricia A. Bolen, ’05 Clarence M. Bradfield, ’70, and Linda Bradfield Brian M. Brown, ’97, and Amy Brown Jonathan S. Bruss, ’99 Joseph D. Buckman, ’90, and Paula A. Buckman The Honorable Jesse H. Butler, ’56, and Nancy E. Butler Associate Dean Jennifer D. Carter-Johnson and Adjunct Professor Jeffrey S. Carter-Johnson The Honorable H. T. Chafin, ’72 Rebecca J. Cassell, ’04, and David Cassell Lesleen A. Cheltenham, ’12 The Honorable John E. Clady, II, ’01, and Joy P. Clady Allen C. Clarkson, ’15, and Lee R. Clarkson Michael S. Clawson, PLLC John A. Conniff, ’11 The Honorable George R. Corsiglia, ’60, and Sandra Corsiglia David J. Couture, M.D., ’91 Francine L. Cullari, ’82 Judith K. Cunningham, ’83 Adam J. Dadaou, ’60, and Effie Dadaou Thomas M. Deasy, Jr., ’07, and Dana M. Goldberg Reid M. Demanche, ’07, and Dr. Elizabeth M. Petsche, ’07 Patrick P. D’Haem and Terresa S. Jung, M.D. The Honorable Christopher D. Dingell, ’86, and Cindy Dingell Dan A. Darnell, ’69, and Beverly J. Darnell Bradley N. Deacon, ’04 Christina S. Doherty, ’12, and James G. Doherty Gary M. Doyle and Jill J. Doyle Eric P. Drake, ’05 Joseph N. Eadeh, ’12, and Sarah M. Eadeh The Honorable Lawrence L. Emmert, ’69, and Marilyn M. Emmert Richard C. Eriksen, ’70, and Sharon M. Eriksen Jill W. Exler, ’94, and Dietmar W. Exler Gary A. Fadell, ’78, and Sandra J. Fromm Julie A. Fagan, ’98, and Dan Fagan Charles A. Fiedler, ’84, and Debra Ann Chandler Trustee Elaine S. Fieldman, ’76 Arnold M. Fink, ’66 Gerald A. Fisher, ’72

Tamika A. Frimpong, ’03 S. Nicholas Frontczak, ’69, and Sandra Frontczak Daniel S. Gerow, ’84, and Paula M. Gerow Michael D. Gibson, ’80, and Christine E. Gibson Roger E. Gobrogge, ’87, and Gwen B. Gobrogge David A. Grant, ’08 Paul J. Greenwald, ’75, and Betsy J. Greenwald Thomas Guastello, ’70, and Susan M. Luch President Emeritus Clifton E. Haley, ’61, and Carolyn A. Haley Hildur Hanna Steven A. Harms, ’75, and Nancy G. Harms Dennis J. Harper, ’65, and Margaret A. Harper Susan B. Harvey Charles R. Hrdlicka, ’64, and Loretta C. Hrdlicka Andrew A. Iacobelli, ’03 Christopher L. Jackson, ’13, and Sara J. Jackson Larry R. Jensen, Jr., ’99 Thomas R. Kallewaard, ’74, and Mary C. Kallewaard Professor Brian C. Kalt and Sara K. Kalt Brian C. Kidston, ’86, and Margaret Kidston Kathleen C. King, ’74, and James King Dean Koulouras, ’73, and Joyce Koulouras Sally S. Kuhn Associate Dean Richard C. Lameti and Marti Lameti Charles A. Lawler, ’04, and Karen E. Lawler Meria E. Larson, ’79 Charles A. Le Fevre, ’69, and Susan M. Le Fevre James M. Leiby, ’10, and Karen Leiby Jarrett E. Levine, ’08 Elisa J. Lintemuth, ’10, and David Lintemuth Jennifer M. Lipinski, ’12 Wallace G. Long, ’82 Charles E. Lotzar, Jr., ’64 Paul C. Louisell. ’77, and Kathryn E. Louisell Joseph G. Lujan, ’69, and Mary O. Lujan Lusk Albertson, PLC Sharon S. Lutz, ’74 Florence J. Lytle, ’82, and Archie K. Lytle, III Clara D. Mager, ’87, and George J. Mager, Jr. Ian D. McInnis The Honorable Michael T. McKay, ’11 Gregory D. McMahon, ’81, and Susan A. McMahon Sean P. McNally, ’03, and Assistant Dean Veronica V. McNally, ’04

Trustee Colleen M. McNamara Jane M. Meland Frank S. Messana Brooke M. Minore and Eric A. Minore Michelle R. Mitchell and John S. Mitchell, M.D. William F. Molner, ’77, and Nancy S. Molner Sam G. Morgan, ’84, and Hillary Morgan Chris Norton and Tina Norton Matthew L. Norwood, ’02

Natalie Petrovski Gregory Piche, ’72 Arnold M. Podolsky, M.D., ’86, and Shelly M. Allyn-Podolsky Sarah L. Primrose, ’12 Andrew T. Prins, ’06 Professor Philip A. Pucillo and Antoinette Pucillo Ryan T. Ramsayer, ’09 William F. Rivard, Sr., ’84, and Deborah J. Rivard Stanley V. Roose, ’75, and Elaine M. Roose

A Note to Our Donors

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for your contribution to my legal education. A law degree is a crucial step in reaching my professional and personal goals, and with your help, the degree is finally attainable. Your generosity has further inspired me to excel during my time at Michigan State University. As I begin my legal education, I hope to learn how to administer the law properly and ethically. My philosophy is that people deserve to be held accountable for illegal behaviors. I am using this school experience as an opportunity to discover where my skills can thrive. - K.K., 1L at MSU Law Edward J. Nykiel, ’88, and Debra L. Nykiel Ruthanne Okun Karl T. Ondersma, ’04, and Deborah I. Ondersma Kathryn L. Ossian, ’84, and James E. Linn Thomas W. Payne Cami M. Pendell, ’04 The Honorable Steven M. Pestka and Alicia M. Pestka Martin B. Peters, ’09

The Honorable Aliyah S. Sabree, ’10 David H. Safavian, ’93, and Jennifer A. Safavian, ’94 Associate Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio David M. Schoemer and Pamela R. Schoemer Robert J. Shapiro, ’90, and Elizabeth Shapiro The Honorable Joseph S. Skocelas, ’80, and Nancy L. Skocelas

Larry A. Smith, ’10, and Rachel J. Smith Professor Elliot A. Spoon and Madalyn Spoon, D.V.M. David P. Stoller, ’68, and Janet R. Lincoln Professor Bradford Stone and Beverly F. Stone The Honorable Kenneth L. Teter, Jr., ’74, and Peggy J. Teter Bruce H. Tobin, ’82, and Kathleen A. Tobin Joanna R. Travis, ’93 Robert A. Tremain, ’70, and Anne W. Tremain Donald A. Turner, ’67 Douglas J. Upton, ’07, and Jennifer L. Upton Michael R. Viterna, ’95, and Betty G. Viterna Robert C. Ward, Jr., ’70, and Rebecca I. Ward Donna K. Welch, ’83 Russel C. Wells, ’64, and Reverend Shirley L. Wells John J. Wilson, ’74, and Lynn D. Wilson J. Dallas Winegarden, Jr., ’69, and Ronnee P. Winegarden Kimberly A. Owens Wise, ’96, and John E. Wise Allison L. Woll, ’98, and Harry G. Parr, D.O. Frederick A. Zantello, ’73, and Nancy L. Zantello Fanfan Zheng, ’16 Michael F. Zipser, ’70, and Ann Zipser

OTHER ANNUAL FUND DONORS

Deborah J. Adams-Almasy and Nick E. Almasy, Jr. Theresa L. Allen and David R. Allen Chelsea M. Austin, ’19 Robert J. Alpiner and Dianne Alpiner Jesse Alvarez Ray D. Ajluni Clarke F. Baldwin, ’74 Wilson F. Barns and Gail Barns Sharon K. Bassette Roger N. Bauer and Jan D. Bauer Professor Emeritus Bruce Bean and Barbara H. Bean Rhonda Bleisner and Tim Bleisner Phillip G. Bozzo Daniel J. Brick, ’15 Jo Anne Bigler, ’76 Tracey M. Bobo, ’06 The Honorable Gerald Brock, ’61, and Jacqueline B. Brock James C. Budny, ’81, and Maureen A. Budny William R. Buzo, ’84, and Debra A. Buzo Rolfe V. Carlson and Linda B. Carlson Angela M. Caulley, ’17 Lesleen A. Cheltenham, ’12 Teresa L. Cherry

Stuart B. Cooney, ’76, and Janet C. Cooney Douglas E. Corwin, Jr., ’98 Francine L. Cullari, ’82 Calvin R. Danhof, ’61, and Kathryn A. Danhof Dustin J. Daniels, ’10 Errol R. Dargin, ’76 Cristy M. DeVos, ’11 David M. Dillon and Michelle Dillon Donald R. Dillon, Jr., ’76, and Joan A. Dillon Robinjit K. Eagleson and Matthew D. Eagleson, D.O. Jason R. Evans, ’03, and Tiffany M. Evans Jay B. Eccleton and Katie A. Eccleton Kyle G. Faulkner, ’16, and Hannah M. Faulkner Mark G. Fecher, ’85 Matthew J. Gardner, ’19 Franklin S. Gavern, ’79, and Denise A. Mondor-Gavern, ’80 Larry A. Greer, ’78 Guy R. Greve, ’75 Kenneth M. Grifka, ’76, and Ghislaine L. Grifka Professor Catherine M. Grosso and Professor Stephen P. Gasteyer Marciann M. Grzadzinski, ’91 Constance S. Hall, ’86 Nicholas P. Hall, ’20 Thomas H. Hammond, Ph.D., and Christine M. Hammond, Ph.D. Mary L. Harokopus, ’94, and William Harokopus Jennifer L. Hartke, ’00, and R. Andrew Hetzel Liana C. Holton Stephen J. Hopkins and Cynthia S. Hopkins Thomas Jamnik, ’79 Maria Jandernoa Marlene A. Juhasz, ’82, and Joseph R. Juhasz Nicholas A. Kechkaylo, ’07, and Alyson Kechkaylo Ryan Q. Kelly, ’11 Gregory R. Kish, ’06 Julie A. Klomp Robert V. Klusman, ’63 Frank R. Knox, ’67, and Elaine N. Knox Savannah L. Kolodziej, ’19 Jonathon D. Koenigsberg, ’00 Kelly A. Kussmaul Pamela L. Labadie, ’94, and Karim Motawi John P. Lange, ’70, and Vivian J. Lange Richard H. Long, Jr., ’86, and Ada H. Long Kevin C. Majewski, ’14 Mark J. Makoski, ’77, and Mary A. Makoski Margaret Makulski Jeremy M. Manson, ’06, and Alison B. Manson

Brenda Martin Katelyn N. Matych, ’16 Joan K. McIntyre Lucy Merzian Michael E. Moore, ’94, and Louise Moore The Honorable Shauna N. Murphy, ’03 Scott J. Nagele and LaRay C. Nagele Amanda J. Olivier and Nicholas B. Olivier, D.V.M. Michael C. Paige, ’97, and Emily C. Paige Michael D. Penny, ’18 William G. Pierson, ’80, and Mary G. Pierson Professor Frank S. Ravitch Joseph T. Rannazzisi, ’98 The Honorable Clarence A. Reid, Jr., ’53, and Freda S. Reid Edward G. Riccardi, ’67 Joni L. Roach, ’16 Steve M. Rood, Jr., and Pamela A. Rood Candice B. Rusie, ’07 David B. Sachs, ’77 Brenda Sanborn Erik F. Sanborn, ’10, and Kristine M. Sanborn Tammie W. Sankey Alan B. Sarko, ’72, and Gwen M. Sarko Paul G. Schimmick Philip M. Schroeder and Carol A. Schroeder The Honorable John T. Schubel, ’57, and Rebecca N. Schubel Charles G. Scifres, ’78, and Dawn L. Scifres Michael Shpunt, ’14, and Paige C. Kinneberg Samantha S. Sprague, ’17 Keith G. Stafford and Grace Stafford Belinda L. Stephenson, ’02 Associate Clinical Professor Paul R. Stokstad and Professor Paula M. Winke Randall I. Stone, ’87, and Sheryl Stone Bryan A. Sunisloe, ’79, and Patricia S. Sunisloe Savannah E. Swix Henry C. Thoma, Jr., ’80, and Mary Jo Thoma Barbara J. Umlauf Remy J. VanOphem, ’74, and Nancy C. VanOphem, ’76 Larry A. Ver Merris, ’78, and Margaret D. Ver Merris Donovan J. Visser, ’07 Richard L. Wagner, Jr., ’77 Philip Weberman, ’85, and Peggy P. Weberman Stephen Weid and Nida Weid Kimberly A. Wilkes Lauren E. Wilton and Connor J. Wilton Sandra Standel Wittstock, ’85, and Timothy J. Wittstock Charles A. Zajac, ’84, and Elizabeth E. Zajac

ALUMNI GIVING BY CLASS CLASS OF ’36 Donald L. Castle, Sr.† CLASS OF ’53 The Honorable Kurt G. Kersten and Lenore E. Kersten The Honorable Clarence A. Reid, Jr., and Freda S. Reid CLASS OF ’54 Trustee Mayer Morganroth and Sheila Morganroth Trustee Emeritus John D. O’Hair and Barbara O’Hair CLASS OF ’56 The Honorable Jesse H. Butler and Nancy E. Butler CLASS OF ’57 The Honorable John T. Schubel CLASS OF ’58 William J. Soloy CLASS OF ’60 The Honorable George R. Corsiglia and Sandra Corsiglia Adam J. Dadaou and Effie Dadaou CLASS OF ’61 The Honorable Gerald Brock and Jacqueline B. Brock Calvin R. Danhof and Kathryn A. Danhof President Emeritus Clifton E. Haley and Carolyn A. Haley The Honorable Joseph P. Swallow and Jane Swallow CLASS OF ’62 Peter J. Carras and Barbara D. Carras The Honorable Charles M. Forster† and Dianna Forster CLASS OF ’63 Daniel M. Clark and Suzanne Clark Robert V. Klusman and Carole Ann Klusman CLASS OF ’64 Charles R. Hrdlicka and Loretta C. Hrdlicka Charles E. Lotzar, Jr. Russel C. Wells and Reverend Shirley L. Wells CLASS OF ’65 Dennis J. Harper and Margaret A. Harper CLASS OF ’66 Donald A. Kuebler and Cheryl K. Kuebler Arnold M. Fink CLASS OF ’67 Dean R. Batchelor and Marilyn Batchelor Frank R. Knox and Elaine N. Knox

Edward G. Riccardi and Sharon Riccardi Donald A. Turner and Renata Turner CLASS OF ’68 Robert F. Auld The Honorable Lawrence L. Emmert and Marilyn M. Emmert James N. Martin and Louann Van Der Wiele David P. Stoller and Janet R. Lincoln CLASS OF ’69 Dan A. Darnell and Beverly J. Darnell S. Nicholas Frontczak and Sandra Frontczak Charles A. Le Fevre and Susan M. Le Fevre Joseph G. Lujan and Mary O. Lujan Trustee Emeritus John F. Schaefer and Marta Schaefer S. Gary Spicer, Sr. J. Dallas Winegarden, Jr., and Ronnee P. Winegarden CLASS OF ’70 The Honorable Gary J. Allen and Patricia M. Allen The Honorable Dennis W. Archer The Honorable Peter E. Bec and Christine Bec Clarence M. Bradfield and Linda Bradfield Richard C. Eriksen and Sharon M. Eriksen Thomas Guastello and Susan M. Luch John P. Lange and Vivian J. Lange The Honorable James B. Mackie and Ruth Mackie Gerald P. Nehra and Peggy Jensen Robert A. Tremain and Anne W. Tremain Robert C. Ward, Jr., and Rebecca I. Ward Michael F. Zipser and Ann Zipser CLASS OF ’72 The Honorable Marianne O. Battani Stanley M. Bershad and Barbara Bershad Michael J. Black and Pamela A. Black The Honorable H. T. Chafin Herschel P. Fink and Adrienne Ruby-Fink Gerald A. Fisher Gregory Piche Alan B. Sarko and Gwen M. Sarko CLASS OF ’73 The Honorable Melvyn B. Kalt Dean Koulouras and Joyce Koulouras Frederick A. Zantello and Nancy L. Zantello CLASS OF ’74 Ray D. Ajluni and Rhonda Ajluni Clarke F. Baldwin and Norma O. Baldwin Thomas R. Kallewaard and Mary C. Kallewaard Kathleen C. King and James King

Sharon S. Lutz Carl Rashid, Jr. and Grace A. Rashid The Honorable Kenneth L. Teter, Jr., and Peggy J. Teter Remy J. VanOphem and Nancy C. VanOphem John J. Wilson and Lynn D. Wilson CLASS OF ’75 The Honorable Robert J. Colombo, Jr., and Jane Sullivan Colombo William J. Donnelly, Jr., and Faye E. Donnelly Paul J. Greenwald and Betsy J. Greenwald Guy R. Greve Steven A. Harms and Nancy G. Harms Stanley V. Roose and Elaine M. Roose CLASS OF ’76 Riccardo D. Arcaro and Cynthia M. Arcaro Patrick D. Ball Jo Anne Bigler Stuart B. Cooney and Janet C. Cooney Errol R. Dargin Donald R. Dillon, Jr., and Joan A. Dillion Trustee Elaine S. Fieldman Professor Joseph L. Flack, Jr. Kenneth M. Grifka and Ghislaine L. Grifka Ernestine R. McGlynn Ralph F. Valitutti, Jr., and Christine M. Valituti Richard N. Wiener and Rajkumari M. Wiener CLASS OF ’77 Edward C. Dawda Ronald A. Deneweth and Mary L. Deneweth Gary A. Fadell and Sandra J. Fromm Richard S. Fine and Linda S. Hurwitz Paul C. Louisell and Kathryn E. Louisell Mark J. Makoski and Mary A. Makoski Bryan Melvin, III, and Rachel Melvin William F. Molner and Nancy S. Molner Professor Emerita Kathleen E. Payne and Jeffrey B. Goldsmith Mark T. Prendeville and Patricia Prendeville David B. Sachs Richard L. Wagner, Jr., and Jean L. Wagner CLASS OF ’78 Christine M. Dowhan-Bailey and Gary Bailey Larry A. Greer and Ann Greer Thomas J. Kenny and Jill M. Kenny Thomas P. McKenney and Jane McKenney The Honorable Joseph Murphy and Cheryl M. Murphy Jules B. Olsman and Barbara L. Grossman Olsman The Honorable Steven M. Pestka and Alicia M. Pestka Charles G. Scifres and Dawn L. Scifres

Larry A. Ver Merris and Margaret D. Ver Merris CLASS OF ’79 Alice I. Buckley Franklin S. Gavern and Denise A. Mondor-Gavern Kathleen M. Goetsch Thomas Jamnik Meria E. Larson Lawrence M. Scott and Michele A. Michael-Scott Thomas J. Strobl and Kathleen M. Strobl Bryan A. Sunisloe and Patricia S. Sunisloe Robert C. Walter, Jr. CLASS OF ’80 Michael D. Gibson and Christine E. Gibson Gregory R. Lane William G. Pierson and Mary G. Pierson The Honorable Joseph S. Skocelas and Nancy Skocelas

CLASS OF ’83 Cheryl A. Cardelli Judith K. Cunningham Robert W. Kirk and Catherine M. Kirk Donna K. Welch CLASS OF ’84 William R. Buzo and Debra A. Buzo Henry N. Carnaby and Cathleen Carnaby Charles A. Fiedler and Debra Ann Chandler Daniel S. Gerow and Paula M. Gerow Sam Morgan and Hillary Morgan Kathryn L. Ossian and James E. Linn William F. Rivard, Sr., and Deborah J. Rivard Charles A. Zajac and Elizabeth E. Zajac CLASS OF ’85 J. Michael Banas Roland L. Bessette and Elaine M. Ambrosini Daniel J. Desmet and Linda Desmet

HENDERSON JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP MENTORING PROGRAM

When I realized how few minority law graduates were taking clerkships and investigated why that was the case, I found that most had little or no knowledge about clerkships or how to obtain one until too late in the process to pursue the opportunity, much like me, said Harold Henderson, Michigan State University alumnus and retired NFL executive. Henry C. Thoma, Jr., and Mary Jo Thoma CLASS OF ’81 The Honorable Trudy DunCombe Archer James C. Budny and Maureen A. Budny Trustee Maurice G. Jenkins and Corlyss Connors-Jenkins Gregory D. McMahon and Susan A. McMahon Trustee Michael G. Morris and Linda C. Morris CLASS OF ’82 Francine L. Cullari Marlene A. Juhasz and Joseph R. Juhasz Wallace G. Long Florence J. Lytle and Archie K. Lytle, III R. Owens Richards Bruce H. Tobin and Kathleen A. Tobin

These experiences inspired the Harold and Franzine Henderson Judicial Clerkship Mentoring Program. The program educates law students from disadvantaged backgrounds about the many benefits of starting their careers with a judicial clerkship, sending a cohort of MSU Law students to the ABA’s Judicial Clerkship Program each year, and supporting them as clerkship applicants. Mark G. Fecher Kim A. Gasior and Diane K. Gasior Frank S. Messana and Sandra G. Messana Philip Weberman and Peggy P. Weberman Sandra Standel Wittstock and Timothy J. Wittstock CLASS OF ’86 Christine M. Battle and Timothy E. Battle Michael J. Beals and Julie Beals The Honorable Christopher D. Dingell and Cindy Dingell Constance S. Hall Brian C. Kidston and Margaret Kidston Richard H. Long, Jr., and Ada H. Long Charles C. Nebel and Denise Nebel Arnold M. Podolsky, M.D., and Shelly M. Allyn-Podolsky Maureen E. Thomas

CLASS OF ’87 Clara D. Mager and George J. Mager, Jr. Alyse A. Ferrazza Martinelli Roger E. Gobrogge and Gwen B. Gobrogge Charles E. Langton Shawn L. Perry Randall I. Stone and Sheryl Stone CLASS OF ’88 Calvert A. Bailey Robert E. Carr Timothy P. Dugan and Patricia H. Dugan The Honorable Lisa A. Langton Rebecca Simkins Nowak The Honorable Edward J. Nykiel and Debra L. Nykiel CLASS OF ’89 Nicholas S. Andrews Thomas J. Martinelli Trustee Cary S. McGehee J. Todd Trucks CLASS OF ’90 Bettie K. Ball Joseph D. Buckman and Paula A. Buckman CLASS OF ’91 Lambros L. Andreopoulos and Rosemary A. Andreopoulos Andrea K. Campbell and Doug Campbell Dr. David J. Couture Marciann M. Grzadzinski Lawrence Oliver, II, and Denise Oliver CLASS OF ’92 Alexandra C. Alberstadt and Kenneth G. Alberstadt Denise A. Hirschmann Beverly B. Johnson CLASS OF ’93 Lori A. Thornhill-Childress and George Z. Childress Patrick J. Derkacz David H. Safavian Jill E. Tilton Silverman and Franklin E. Silverman Joanna R. Travis CLASS OF ’94 Jill W. Exler and Dietmar W. Exler Mary L. Harokopus and William Harokopus Pamela L. Labadie and Karim Motawi Michael E. Moore and Louise Moore Rene S. Roupinian Jennifer A. Safavian Robert J. Shapiro and Elizabeth Shapiro CLASS OF ’95 Karen A. Chopra Kathleen L. Cole and Duane A. Cole Sandra H. User Green and Jonathan Green Michael R. Viterna and Betty G. Viterna

CLASS OF ’96 Jeffrey D. Cohen and Juliana R. Cohen Nancy P. Klukowski and Steven Klukowski Kimberly A. Owens Wise and John E. Wise Seth E. Rodack and Euhui C. Lee Rodack Lori E. Talsky and Alan S. Zekelman CLASS OF ’97 Michael C. Paige and Emily C. Paige CLASS OF ’98 Brian M. Brown and Amy Brown Douglas E. Corwin, Jr. Julie A. Fagan and Dan Fagan Sandra Hughes-O’Brien and Barrie O’Brien Dana A. Kreis-Glencer Brian T. Loughrin and Shelly Loughrin Joseph T. Rannazzisi Allison L. Woll and Harry G. Parr, D.O. CLASS OF ’99 Jonathan S. Bruss Larry R. Jensen, Jr. CLASS OF ’00 Jennifer L. Hartke and R. Andrew Hetzel Jonathon D. Koenigsberg John J. Latella and Shelly Latella Board Chair Donald D. Nystrom and Tracy Nystrom CLASS OF ’01 Dr. Bede O. Anyanwu and Allyson D. Anyanwu, M.D. The Honorable John E. Clady, II, and Joy P. Clady CLASS OF ’02 Christopher M. Giles Matthew L. Norwood Gregory P. Sanchez Belinda L. Stephenson Leno P. Thomas and Pamela Thomas CLASS OF ’03 Jason R. Evans and Tiffany M. Evans Tamika A. Frimpong Andrew A. Iacobelli Sean P. McNally The Honorable Shauna N. Murphy Jarrod T. Smith and Tracy Matson Danyle L. Ordway and Robert R. Paul, III CLASS OF ’04 Rebecca J. Cassell and David D. Cassell Bradley N. Deacon Charles A. Lawler and Karen E. Lawler Assistant Dean Veronica V. McNally Karl T. Ondersma and Deborah Ondersma Cami M. Pendell Trustee Jennifer R. Poteat and Michael Staebler

Sujata S. Raman and Ajay V. Raman David M. Revore Andrew M. Saperstein Brian F. Westrin Scott P. Whelan CLASS OF ’05 Jacob N. Allen Patricia A. Bolen Joseph G. Bonsall and Beth A. Bonsall Ryan J. Clarkson and Shireen M. Clarkson Eric P. Drake Andrea E. Stern

CLASS OF ’07 Sherri M. Carr Thomas M. Deasy, Jr., and Dana M. Goldberg Reid M. Demanche and Dr. Elizabeth M. Petsche Assistant Dean Carrie R. Feeheley and Winston Feeheley Colleen K. Gomos Nicholas A. Kechkaylo and Alyson Kechkaylo Kristen M. McCarthy Brian J. Monton Candice B. Rusie

A Note to Our Donors

I too plan on giving back and helping the next generation of attorneys when I am an alumnus. In the meantime, I am avidly working towards addressing some of the problems and issues within this profession. One of my favorite quotes of all time is “law is the language of power and as an attorney you get to be a part of the conversation.” Hopefully, I will be writing you soon to let you know that I am sitting at the table where decisions are being made, in part, because of your support. Once again, I want to assure you that your donation was greatly appreciated. -J.S., 3L at MSU Law CLASS OF ’06 Ronald T. Berry Tracey M. Bobo and Thomas Kane Gregory R. Kish Jeremy M. Manson and Alison B. Manson Andrew T. Prins Benjamin A. Schock and Julie M. Schock Anne-Marie Vercruysse Welch and Robert A. Welch

Douglas J. Upton and Jennifer L. Upton Donovan J. Visser Jill C. Walters and Douglas R. Rose Trustee Robert T. Worthington and Heather Worthington CLASS OF ’08 James F. Berkemeier and Sara Berkemeier David A. Grant Jarrett E. Levine Li Zhuang

CLASS OF ’09 John A. Digiacomo Martin B. Peters Ryan T. Ramsayer John P. Swallow CLASS OF ’10 Dustin J. Daniels Fedor Kozlov James M. Leiby and Karen Leiby Elisa J. Lintemuth Anthony C. Mrzlack and Allena K. Mrzlack The Honorable Aliyah S. Sabree Erik F. Sanborn and Kristine M. Sanborn Larry A. Smith and Rachel J. Smith Jesse C. Viau CLASS OF ’11 Anthony G. Becknek John A. Conniff Michael R. Daum Cristy M. DeVos Andrew W. Dunlap Bobby A. Ficklin, Jr. Christopher R. Johnson Ryan Q. Kelly The Honorable Michael T. McKay CLASS OF ’12 Lesleen A. Cheltenham Christina S. Doherty and James G. Doherty Joseph N. Eadeh Courtney A. Gabbara Jennifer M. Lipinski Sarah L. Primrose CLASS OF ’13 Christopher L. Jackson and Sara J. Jackson Kenneth U. Mpamugo Alexander S. Rusek CLASS OF ’14 John A. Lentinello Kevin C. Majewski Michael Shpunt CLASS OF ’15 Daniel J. Brick Allen C. Clarkson and Lee R. Clarkson Linda H. Gardner and Frank Gardner CLASS OF ’16 Harriet L. Cable and Nicolas Cable Kyle G. Faulkner and Hannah M. Faulkner Aaron W. Levin Katelyn N. Matych Christopher Mhike David M. Rader Joni L. Roach Fanfan Zheng CLASS OF ’17 Zachary P. Beatty Rebecca H. Benisch

Angela M. Caulley Li Gao, Ph.D. Lydia K. Locklear Anna D. Norman Samantha S. Sprague CLASS OF ’18 Benjamin F. Bomber Michael D. Penny Martin J. Porzondek Sara E. Weskalnies CLASS OF ’19 Chelsea M. Austin Antonio J. Cifuentes Matthew J. Gardner Bryce M. Holstad Savannah L. Kolodziej Tyler J. Vandenavond CLASS OF ’20 Megan A. Bauer Austin D. Blessing Billie L. Deshone Levi S. Feitosa Kaitlin M. Gant Warren T. Grover Nicholas P. Hall Jaydyn E. Morrison Mackenzie A. Obrien Ann S. Olson Alexandra L. Page Lindsay E. Poetz Tomas E. Porras-Acosta Reem Said and James George Owen Changyue Xu

TRUSTEES The Honorable Marianne O. Battani, ’72 Trustee Elaine S. Fieldman, ’76 President Emeritus Clifton E. Haley, ’61, and Carolyn A. Haley Trustee Emeritus Edwin W. Jakeway, ’61, and Suzanne Jakeway Trustee Charles A. Janssen and LeaAnne L. Janssen The Honorable Wallace B. Jefferson Trustee Maurice G. Jenkins, ’81, and Corlyss Connors-Jenkins Trustee H. Douglas Laycock and President Teresa A. Sullivan, Ph.D. Trustee Emeritus Norman L. Lippitt, ’60, and Patricia C. Lippitt Trustee Cary McGehee, ’89 The Honorable David W. McKeague and Nancy McKeague Trustee Richard D. McLellan Trustee Colleen M. McNamara Trustee Mayer Morganroth, ’54, and Sheila Morganroth Trustee Michael G. Morris, ’81, and Linda C. Morris Board Chair Donald D. Nystrom, ’00, and Tracy Nystrom Trustee Emeritus John D. O’Hair, ’54, and Barbara O’Hair

Trustee Linda M. Orlans, ’87 The Honorable David L. Porteous and Joan L. Porteous Trustee Jennifer R. Poteat, ’04, and Michael B. Staebler Trustee G. S. Romney and Carrie Romney Trustee Emeritus John F. Schaefer, ’69, and Marta Schaefer The Honorable Richard F. Suhrheinrich, ’63, and Beverly J. Suhrheinrich Trustee Robert T. Worthington, ’07, and Heather Worthington

FACULTY AND STAFF Deborah J. Adams-Almasy and Nick E. Almasy, Jr. Theresa L. Allen and David R. Allen Jesse Alvarez Associate Dean Professor Daniel D. Barnhizer and Christa Barnhizer Sharon K. Bassette Professor Emeritus Bruce Bean and Barbara H. Bean Associate Professor David H. Blankfein-Tabachnick Rhonda Bleisner and Tim Bleisner

Julie A. Klomp Steven Klukowski Kelly A. Kussmaul Associate Dean Richard C. Lameti and Marti Lameti Professor Michael A. Lawrence and Associate Clinical Professor Deanne A. Lawrence Brenda Martin Ian D. McInnis Assistant Dean Veronica V. McNally Jane M. Meland Professor Nicholas Mercuro Brenda Martin Brooke Moynihan Minore Michelle R. Mitchell and John S. Mitchell, M.D. Scott J. Nagele and LaRay C. Nagele Professor Barbara M. O’Brien and Dr. Richard E. Lucas Amanda J. Olivier and Dr. Nicholas B. Olivier Professor Sean A. Pager and Sheryl R. Groden, Ph.D. Professor Emerita Kathleen E. Payne and Jeffrey B. Goldsmith Professor Philip A. Pucillo and Antoinette Pucillo Professor Emerita Brenda J. Quick and Professor Emeritus Albert T. Quick

MICHIGAN LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (MLI)

The MLI honors MSU Law’s distinguished legacy preparing the next generation of our state’s leaders. MLI students receive personal career coaching, guaranteed summer work placements, and exceptional access to prestigious leaders. Roxanne R. Caine and Joseph A. Caine Associate Dean Jennifer D. Carter-Johnson and Adjunct Professor Jeffrey S. Carter-Johnson Teresa L. Cherry Teresa Eldred and Aaron Eldred Professor David S. Favre and Martha E. Favre Assistant Dean Carrie R. Feeheley and Winston Feeheley Professor Matthew L.M. Fletcher and Associate Professor Wenona T. Singel Professor Catherine M. Grosso and Professor Stephen P. Gasteyer Hildur Hanna Interim Dean Melanie B. Jacobs and Shane A. Broyles Maria Jandernoa Professor Brian C. Kalt and Sara K. Kalt

Each cohort of MLI participants is guided along a three-year journey of curated leadership resources, one-of-a-kind alumni speakers, collaborative team exercises, and high-impact experiential opportunities.

Professor Frank S. Ravitch John A. Resotko and Christine M. Martin-Resotko Sally Rice Adjunct Professor George T. Roumell, Jr., and Affie Roumell Brenda J. Sanborn Associate Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio Professor Elliot A. Spoon and Dr. Madalyn Spoon Associate Clinical Professor Paul R. Stokstad and Professor Paula M. Winke Savannah E. Swix Professor Charles J. Ten Brink Professor David B. Thronson and Clinical Professor Veronica T. Thronson Kimberly A. Wilkes Professor Nicholas J. Wittner and Cynthia M. Wittner

FRIENDS Salman Ali and Sarah Ali Robert J. Alpiner Jefferson P. Arnold and Penelope A. Arnold Irving A. August Scott Banister and Cyan Banister Wilson F. Barns and Gail Barns Roger N. Bauer and Jan D. Bauer The Honorable James M. Batzer Michael Blackburn and Allison Ellison Richard Borth Phillip G. Bozzo Joyce E. Buckley Lewis Cardenas Rolfe V. Carlson and Linda B. Carlson Pero G. Dagbovie, Ph.D. Patrick P. D’Haem and Terresa S. Jung, M.D. Andrea Dickson David M. Dillon and Michelle Dillon Jonathan Dobrin and Amy Lopatin-Dobrin Dr. Tracy A. Dobson and Oscar Kent Beth Doyle Gary M. Doyle and Jill J. Doyle Robinjit K. Eagleson David F. Ellis and Elaina Ellis Angga Gani Donald R. Garlit and Beatrice M. Garlit Denise L. Haley Christine M. Hammond, Ph.D., and Thomas H. Hammond, Ph.D. Mark A. Hanson and Deborah L. Hanson Susan B. Harvey Nancy J. Heiss Harold R. Henderson and Franzine M. Henderson Stephen J. Hopkins and Cynthia S. Hopkins Thomas E. Huggler and Laura A. Huggler Mark Jacobs and Susan Jacobs The Honorable Wallace B. Jefferson Catherine A. King Sally S. Kuhn Trustee H. Douglas Laycock and Teresa A. Sullivan, Ph.D. Margaret Makulski Joan K. McIntyre Lucy Merzian Arthur A. Mogilefsky The Honorable David W. McKeague and Nancy P. McKeague Trustee Richard D. McLellan Trustee Colleen M. McNamara Chris Norton and Tina Norton Ruthanne Okun Thomas W. Payne Daryl L. Pender and Timothy L. Pender Natalie Petrovski Trustee John D. Pirich and Mary Beth Pirich The Honorable David L. Porteous and Joan L. Porteous

Linda L. Romanow Steve M. Rood, Jr., and Pamela A. Rood Tammie W. Sankey Paul G. Schimmick David M. Schoemer and Pamela R. Schoemer Philip M. Schroeder and Carol A. Schroeder Hasan Shanawani Keith G. Stafford and Grace Stafford Professor Bradford Stone and Beverly F. Stone Marc E. Thomas and Deborah L. Gordon April Truitt Barbara J. Umlauf Joseph P. Vicari and Rosalie Vicari Stephen Weid and Nida Weid Theresa L. Williamson Lauren E. Wilton and Connor Wilton

FIRMS AND ORGANIZATIONS Abood Law Firm AccessLex Institute Ally Financial, Inc. Ida & Benjamin Alpert Foundation The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, Inc. Capital Honda Carmody, Torrance, Sandak & Hennessey, LLP Casey Family Programs Center Management Services, Inc. Michael S. Clawson, PLLC Dentons US Donald L. Guarnieri Foundation The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation Drummond Woodsum & MacMahon DTN Management Co. Fieger Law First State Bank Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC Fraser Education Association Fredericks Peebles & Morgan, LLP Gasiorek, Morgan, Greco, McCauley & Kotzian, PC Genworth Foundation The Hal & Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation Jill Grant & Associates, LLC Green Law Firm, PC Grewal Law, PLLC/Church Wyble, PC Richard and Nancy Heiss Family Foundation Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP Hogen Adams, PLLC Holland & Knight, LLP Honigman, LLP Industrial Economics, Inc. Indian and Environmental Law Group, PLLC Jet’s Pizza Kirk Huth Lange & Badalamenti, PLC Kogovesk and Associates, Inc.

Kutak Rock, LLP Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, LLP Lusk Albertson, PLC Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel, LLP Meyer, Walker, Condon & Walker, PC Miller Law Firm, PC MSU Federal Credit Union National Business Institute, Inc. Native American Bar Association of Arizona Network for Good Olsman, Mueller, Wallace & MacKenzie Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, Garrison Charitable Gift Fund Rachor Family Foundation, Ltd. Red Maple Consulting, LLC Rey-Bear McLaughlin, LLP Rosette, LLP Rothstein, Donatelli, Hughes, Dahlstrom, Schoenburg & Bienvenu Sacks Tierney, PA Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry, LLP State Bar of Michigan Varnum, LLP Whitten & Burrage, LLP

LIFETIME DONOR SOCIETIES Thank you to the members of Michigan State Law’s Donor Societies for their cumulative, lifetime giving. John J. Danhof Society $1 MILLION AND ABOVE

Donald L. Castle Sr.†, ’36, and Edna P. Castle, II† John A. Downs II†, ’43, and Clover E. Downs† Geoffrey N. Fieger, ’79, and Keenie Fieger President Emeritus Clifton E. Haley, ’61, and Carolyn A. Haley Paul J. Lay, ’69, and Carol L. Lay Trustee Emeritus Norman L. Lippitt, ’60, and Patricia C. Lippitt Trustee Michael G. Morris, ’81, and Linda C. Morris Trustee Linda Orlans, ’87 Trustee Emeritus John F. Schaefer, ’69, and Marta Schaefer Vera Institute of Justice

Charles H. King Society $500,000 TO $999,999

Scott Banister and Cyan Banister Dennis K. Branoff and Alexis G. Branoff L. D. MacLean†, ’55, and Frances MacLean

James L. Mattison† and Bertha Mattison† Lori E. Talsky, ’96, and Alan S. Zekelman Professor Charles J. Ten Brink The Harry A. & Margaret D. Towsley Foundation Irvin H. Yackness†, ’41, and June Yackness†

A.J. Thomas Society

$250,000 TO $499,999 Ida & Benjamin Alpert Foundation Casey Family Programs Trustee Elaine S. Fieldman, ’76 FINRA Investor Education Foundation Trustee Emeritus Richard W. Heiss†, ’63, and Nancy J. Heiss Kresge Foundation Harry B. Letzer†, ’26 Professor Emeritus Edward J. Littlejohn, ’70 Trustee Richard D. McLellan Charles J. Miller, ’81, and Kathleen T. Miller Glenn C. Wilber†, ’33

Heritage Society $100,000 TO $249,999 Anonymous John A. Allen†, ’33, and Bernice Allen† Irene R. Andes† Harold Beznos, ’64 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Peter J. Carras, ’62, and Barbara D. Carras Coleman Foundation, Inc. Edward C. Dawda, ’77, and Alice I. Buckley, ’79 J. Bernard Dawsey†, ’35 Dewitt C. Holbrook Memorial Foundation The Honorable Daniel M. Downey, ’76, and Dawana Downey Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Hal & Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation Harold H. Gordon†, ’51, and Marion T. Gordon† Dewitt C. Holbrook† InData Corporation Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss Trustee Emeritus Edwin W. Jakeway, ’61, and Suzanne Jakeway Professor Emeritus Clark C. Johnson, ’02 The Estate of The Honorable Albert G. Landa, ’68 Trustee Charles E. Langton, ’87, and The Honorable Lisa A. Langton, ’88 Peter J. Lucido, ’88, and Ann Marie Lucido Jean A. Marson†, ’72 Lilyan I. Marx† Gerald McKessy†, ’33 Michigan State Bar Foundation Trustee Mayer Morganroth, ’54, and Sheila Morganroth

MSU College of Law Alumni Association Willard E. Munro† and Marion J. Munro† Board Chair Donald D. Nystrom, ’00, and Tracy Nystrom Harold W. Oehmke†, ’72, and Elizabeth Oehmke† Open Society Institute Trustee Jennifer R. Poteat, ’04, and Michael Staebler Perry W. Richwine†, ’27, and Janet H. Richwine† Rosette LLP Attorneys at Law/Karrie S. Wichtman, ’09 Sydney and Elizabeth Ross Family Foundation John R. Selecky†, ’77 David J. Sparrow†, ’51 The Honorable Richard F. Suhrheinrich, ’63, and Beverly Suhrheinrich Taxpayer Advocate Service Richard J. Thoma†, ’32 Richard N. Wiener, ’76, and Rajkumari M. Wiener Professor Nicholas J. Wittner and Cynthia M. Wittner Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Inc.

Founders Society

$50,000 TO $99,999

Anonymous Animal Legal Defense Fund Arcus Foundation Michael Berry†, ’50, and Cynthia A. Berry Alice R. Bishop† Margaret Carrigan† Joseph A. Cassese†, ’24 Chicago Title & Trust Company Karen A. Chopra, ’95 David W. Christensen, ’72 Consumers Energy Foundation Ronald A. Deneweth, ’77, and Mary L. Deneweth Daniel J. Desmet, ’85 Colonel Thomas P. Dickinson†, ’28, and Eloise E. Dickinson† Dr. Tracy A. Dobson and Mr. Oscar Kent Professor David S. Favre and Martha E. Favre The Honorable Charles M. Forster†, ’62, and Dianna Forster Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, PC Jenifer M. Franklin, ’97 Linda H. Gardner, ’15, and Frank Gardner Kim A. Gasior, ’85, and Diane K. Gasior General Motors Foundation Paul L. Greer†, ’51, and Jacqueline Murphy Greer Professor Catherine M. Grosso and Professor Stephen P. Gasteyer Professor Michele L. Halloran and Robert W. Halloran

Harold R. Henderson and Franzine M. Henderson Jackson Lewis, LLP Gregory M. Janks, ’77, and Susan Janks Trustee Charles A. Janssen and LeaAnne L. Janssen Joan R. Kalustian Louis W. Kasischke, ’67, and Sandra A. Kasischke† Bruce A. Kirk†, ’35 Donald A. Kuebler, ’66, and Cheryl K. Kuebler Jeffrey C. Littmann, ’84, and Cynthia M. Littmann McGregor Fund Julian G. McIntosh†, ’28, and Vera McIntosh† Andrew J. Munro, ’79 Robert V. Parenti, ’51, and Laurie Parenti† Trustee John D. Pirich and Mary Beth Pirich Ravitz Foundation Trustee Emeritus Kenneth J. Robinson Safari Club International M. Jean Sells† S. Gary Spicer, ’69 State Bar of Michigan Vital Projects Fund, Inc. Steven W. Wells, ’85†, and Lisa A. Stieler-Wells

Benefactors Society

$25,000 TO $49,999

AccessLex Institute Allstate Foundation American Bar Association Anonymous George N. Bashara, Jr.†, ’60, and Suzanne Bashara The Honorable Marianne O. Battani, ’72 D. Bruce Beaton, ’81 James Cyril P. Beattie†, ’24 Raymond R. Behan†, ’60, and Lorraine Behan James S. Bicknell, III†, ’54, and Doris Bicknell The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, Inc. G. Cameron Buchanan†, ’30, and Helen Buchanan† Butler Family Fund Trustee Emeritus Joseph J. Buttigieg, III, ’75, and Mary K. Buttigieg† Russell A. Buyers, ’65†, and Sue Ellen Buyers Canadian Consulate General Capital Region Community Foundation Center for Death Penalty Litigation, Inc. Carole L. Chiamp, ’72 Chrysler Corporation Fund Clark Hill, PLC Daniel M. Clark, ’63, and Suzanne Clark

Professor Emeritus Charles H. Clarke† and Leticia G. Clarke The Honorable Avern Cohn and Lois Cohn Russel J. Comer†, ’31 Comerica Timothy J. Conroy, ’58†, and Janet P. Conroy FCA Foundation Federal Mogul Corporation Professor Emeritus Robert M. Filiatrault†, ’70, and Mary H. Christy

Ambassador David B. Hermelin† and Doreen N. Hermelin Frederick W. Hoffman, IV†, ’85, and James R. Stokes, ’88 Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC The Honorable Wallace B. Jefferson Kanji & Katzen, PLLC Anthony E. Kenny, ’70, and Sharon A. Kenny Alan J. Lazette† and Charlene V. P. Lazette A. Bart Lewis, ’64

A Note to Our Donors This is my final year in law school, and while I have learned a lot these past few years, I can say I am definitely ready to graduate and pursue a career using my skills. The pandemic situation has obviously made this and last semester tricky in many ways. My 2L year was not only made difficult by the coronavirus, but also by the medical difficulties my son faced when he was born prematurely. To this day, I am not sure why I thought attempting 31 credits and my upper level writing requirement was a good idea during this time. However, I must have risen to the challenge because I was successful last year during finals. I sincerely hope you and your loved ones have stayed safe and healthy during this strange time. Thank you so much for your assistance in helping fund my legal education. -S.M., 3L at MSU Law Ford Motor Company Fund William B. Giles† Philip F. Greco†, ’44, and Dolores R. Greco Thomas Guastello, ’70, and Susan M. Luch Professor Emeritus Nancy D. Heathcote and William L. Heathcote Herbert and Elsa Ponting Foundation

David M. Miro†, ’30, and Bernice Miro MSU Federal Credit Union James M. Nicholson, Jr., and Mary E. Nicholson Marvin R. Novick†, ’52, and Margaret A. Novick Lawrence Oliver, II, ’91, and Denise Oliver Jules B. Olsman, ’78, and Barbara L. Grossman Olsman Kathryn L. Ossian, ’84, and James E. Linn David M. Ottenwess, ’86, and Stephanie Ottenwess Ottenwess, Allman & Taweel, PLC Professor Emerita Kathleen E. Payne, ’77, and Jeffrey B. Goldsmith Pepper Hamilton, LLP Jerry Raymond†, ’64, and Justine Raymond Carl J. Schoeninger, ’70, and Mary Beth Schoeninger Michael B. Serling, ’70, and Elaine K. Serling Richard M. Stewart and Joanne E. Stewart Regina Storrs Flora H. Temple† David M. Thomas, ’81, and Melodie P. Stafford, ’81 Lori Ann Thornhill-Childress, ’93, and George Z. Childress J. Todd Trucks, ’89 The Honorable Thomas A. Van Tiem, Sr., ’60, and Helen Van Tiem David, II, Gail, Erika, David, III, Samantha, and Nicholas Williams W.K. Kellogg Foundation Winston-Salem Foundation Walter J. Wozniak, ’73, and Andrea Wozniak

Please keep MSU Law in mind when making your charitable gifts, and consider the Law College in your estate planning. To make a gift, visit law.msu.edu/donate. † Indicates deceased

Albert Lopatin†, ’53, and Beverly Lopatin Maverick Lloyd Foundation Sarah Luick Sybil M. Lyon† Charles A. Malone†, ’70 The Honorable David W. McKeague and Nancy McKeague Microsoft Corporation

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY w ith Professor Justin Simard What do you get when you cross The Godfather with a lawyer? An offer you can't understand. Everyone has their favorite lawyer joke (or at least one that they hear over and over). The rules of Professional Responsibility serve as a counterbalance to those tropes and more. The rules are about protecting clients, protecting yourself, and protecting others. Professor Justin Simard joined the faculty in Fall 2020, and he's here to put your knowledge to the test. Could you pass Professional Responsibility today? (And if it's tougher than you remember, you can always check your answers at the bottom of the page!) 1. Kimberly hires a lawyer and tells him that she is 3. In 1976, a Michigan attorney challenged the $50 responsible for the recent deaths of three patients in compensation he received for representing an at the hospital where she works. She also tells him indigent client, arguing in part that the meager that she plans to kill another patient when the amount of pay he received violated his rights under patient is moved to her floor. What can her lawyer the Fourteenth Amendment and the Michigan reveal to the authorities without violating his duties Constitution. Did he succeed? to his client? a. Yes, appointed attorneys in Michigan have a constitutional right to reasonable compensation. a. He can reveal both Kimberly’s past conduct and future plans. b. No, appointed attorneys in Michigan do not have a constitutional right to reasonable compensation. b. He can reveal only Kimberly’s past conduct. c. He can reveal only Kimberly’s future plans.

4. Kenny works for legal services, and he handles the legal matters of clients who would otherwise not be d. He cannot reveal any of the information that Kimberly able to afford a lawyer. When his client, Boris, shows has divulged to him. up for a pre-trial meeting, Kenny notices that Boris looks very tired. Boris explains that he had to walk a 2. According to the Vault/MCCA Law Firm Diversity significant distance to get to Kenny’s office because Survey, African American lawyers constitute his bicycle broke. He can't afford the $20 it would approximately what percentage of law firm partners? cost for the repair. After their meeting, Kenny takes a. 2% Boris to a bike shop and pays for them to fix the bike. Kenny has violated . . . b. 4% a. Rule 1.18 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct c. 5% b. Rule 1.18 of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct d. 10%

c. Both a. and b. d. Neither a. nor b.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. C, 2. A, 3. B – See In Re Meizlish, 387 Mich. 228 (1972), 4. B

91 45 OF MSU LAW THE STATE THE 2020 ENTERING 25 CLASS OF 191 STUDENTS 25 156 COMES FROM 25 STATES.

ARE MICHIGANDERS

3.55 191

ARE FROM 191 MINORITY 191 GROUPS

156 LSAT

MEDIAN

3.55

UNDERGRAD GPA MEDIAN

THE MICHIGAN STATE LAW REVIEW IS RANKED 48TH IN THE NATION, RISING 50 PLACES 25 62 AND LEE’S 2020 FLAGSHIP JOURNAL RANKINGS. IN WASHINGTON

IN THE FALL OF 2020, MSU LAW WELCOMED ITS FIRST-EVER REMOTE CLASS OF INCOMING 1LS! 191

While we look forward to meeting them face-to-face this fall, the Class of 2023 demonstrated true Spartan spirit from near and far as they conquered Zoom cold-calls, online final exams, and oral arguments from their apartments and family homes.

OUR AREAS OF CORE CURRICULAR STRENGTH MSU Law’s areas of curricular strength offer expert faculty members, engaging co-curricular options, and one-of-a-kind courses designed to build knowledge and skills in high-demand areas.

INNOVATION & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MSU Law students develop professional skills in legal tech, explore the future of the law, and learn how to protect groundbreaking discoveries with the guidance of leading thinkers in these areas.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

REGULATORY & BUSINESS LAW

Nationally recognized faculty in the areas of immigration law, civil rights, environmental law, and Indigenous law train future lawyers to expand the cause of justice throughout their communities.

Government and business careers require practitioners to navigate complex regulatory environments, and our faculty provides expertise in administrative law, corporate law, taxation, and contracts.

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Lansing Michigan Permit No. 249

Law College Building 648 N. Shaw Lane, Room 320 East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1300

k You TO ALL OUR GUEST SPEAKERS, JUDGES, COACHES, AND MENTORS,

f or giving us your lunch hours, your nights, and your weekends – for jumping back on Zoom after a long day of work and giving 100% to our students. Without our alumni and volunteers, we couldn’t give our students valuable programming like Diversity Week, alumni career panels, or 1L oral arguments. From providing thoughtful feedback for our brief writers and offering words of encouragement to our Moot Court teams to sharing your hard-won professional wisdom, your contributions make a difference. ON BEHALF OF FUTURE SPARTAN LAWYERS, THANK YOU.

Spartan Lawyer - Spring 2021

Articles inside

FACULTY VOICES: DAVID BLANKFEIN-TABACHNICK

Making the Pitch for Intellectual Property

FINDING SILVER LININGS

Looking on the Bright Side of Law?