ACROSS BORDERS:
A look into how the SLU LAW community navigates humanitarian issues on a global scale
ON THE COVER Across Borders A look into how the SLU LAW community navigates humanitarian issues on a global scale Photo by Steve Dolan
DEAN
WILLIAM P. JOHNSON
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS JESSICA CICCONE
EDITOR
ELLIOT L AURENCE
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ADAM WESTRICH
PHOTOGRAPHY
STEVE DOL AN ADAM WESTRICH
SPECIAL THANKS
JUDGE ANNE-MARIE CL ARK (’73) MIRIAM CHERRY MONICA EPPINGER FALETHIA HAWTHORNE MICHAEL KOLNIK (’94) KEARNEY LIUZZA PETER LUCIER (’22) MARY PAT MCINNIS (’87) AMB. JAMES MICHEL (’65) HELGA OESTREICHER KATHYRN REDMOND (’19) MICHAEL RUIZ KENNETH SCHMITT (’93) IRA TRAKO (’11)
VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1 COPYRIGHT ©2022 SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSIT Y SCHOOL OF L AW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS SCOTT HALL SUITE 872 100 N. TUCKER BLVD. ST. LOUIS, MO 63101-1930
EMAIL: BRIEF@L AW.SLU.EDU The paper used in this magazine was produced from timber sourced from responsibly managed forests.
Message from the Dean
O
ur world has changed a great deal over the past two years. In addition to the pandemic, we have been faced with disruption and conflict, at home and abroad. Our democracy has been tested. For many, injustices have occurred. In some places around the world, freedoms and the rule of law have come under attack. Yet, as always, during our most challenging moments, there are those who step up and pursue healing and justice. Doing so locally is valuable, important, and worthy of recognition. Doing so across borders and oceans, lending a hand in other parts of the world, requires particularly deep commitment. You will see such acts of selflessness here. Many members of the faculty, including Dr. Monica Eppinger, co-director for the Center for International and Comparative Law, consistently step up to the plate, advocating for justice and the rule of law both here and abroad. As you will learn, Professor Eppinger is a prime example of an activist scholar. Her research concerning and deep knowledge of Ukraine have been enormously helpful in understanding the struggle for freedom from tyranny and the protection of rights that the citizens of that nation currently seek. And as you might have predicted, our students have also been working to address the refugee crisis. As our nation’s troops pulled out of Afghanistan, students immediately took action, sometimes at great personal cost. You will read
about one poignant example, Peter Lucier, a veteran and a 2022 SLU LAW graduate, who worked tirelessly, leveraging personal and professional connections on the ground in Afghanistan to help refugees and others at risk to escape Afghanistan and find safety in the United States and elsewhere. Those who have moved on from their days at SLU LAW also continue to serve the mission in the work they do and the lives they lead. Former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala James Michel reflects in these pages on his days working for the American government, as he offers advice for law students today. Having spent time with the ambassador on my visits to Washington, D.C., I have seen firsthand his dedication to democracy, economic development, and the rule of law in the United States and abroad. Students like Peter, professors like Dr. Eppinger, and alumni like Amb. Michel help me find hope in moments when one could easily turn to despair. I am proud of the work that members of this community have done and will continue to do. I hope that you feel the same when you read this issue.
William P. Johnson Dean and Professor
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16 FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
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2 4 26 30 33
14 16 20 24
Alumni Feature
The Unexpected Diplomat The Career of Amb. James Michel
Student Stories
How Far We Can Reach 3L Student Peter Lucier’s Involvement with the Afganistan Refugee Crisis
Cover Story: Faculty View
Across Borders
An Interview with Professor Monica Eppinger About Her Decades-Long Role Helping Americans Understand Ukraine
Faculty Scholarship
Donor Honor Roll
For The Record
In Brief
Class Notes
In Memoriam
Focus on Giving Back
FOR THE RECORD “I think they should have that same thing for law enforcement because law enforcement people can move from state to state and ... have the power to use deadly force and arrest.” PROF. ROGER L. GOLDMAN
The Callis Family Professor of Law Emeritus speaking on the topic of the police misconduct registry for CNN.
“It really isn’t a source of power or influence, because really, all she’s doing is voting the administration line. It’s really a constraint, because it restricts her ability to do other things.” PROF. JOEL GOLDSTEIN
Vincent C. Immel Professor of Law Emeritus and published author on the American vice presidency in the Associated Press discussing Vice President Kamala Harris' need to return back to the Capitol to cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
‘FOR THE
RECORD’ “And that is one of the key findings of the EEOC’s task force. That an anti-harassment policy or harassment prevention, which is really their focus, has to be championed by senior leaders.” PROF. MARCIA MCCORMICK
Professor of law and expert on women and gender studies discussing accusations of sexual harassment against now former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on National Public Radio’s Marketplace.
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“Not only have we have given them a language and an expectation for what they should expect and demand to achieve equality, but also the theoretical framework for establishing and building the movements and solutions to achieve that vision.” ANGELA ONWUACHI-WILLIG
The dean and Ryan Roth Gallo & Ernest J. Gallo Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law as the keynote speaker at the 2021 Richard J. Childress Memorial Lecture.
“There’s only a handful of states that do recognize either water or the right to a healthy environment and there’s so many that don’t. And I think we don’t think enough about state constitutional rights” PROF. LAUREN BARTLETT
Associate Professor and Director of the Human Rights at Home Litigation Clinic presenting at the 34th Health Law Symposium. This year’s conversation was entitled: Environmental Justice: at the Intersection of Climate Change and Public Health.
“We are living in the shadow of convergent crises. Social, racial and economic inequalities are tearing at the fabric of democracy. More than 950,000 Americans have died from COVID. In the midst of these convergent crises, climate change continues to loom.”
“Cultivating patience is one of the fundamental foundations of mindfulness …one of the things that provides wisdom and insight is that we begin to notice with whom we are more patient and with whom we are less patient. In what situations are we more patient and in what situations are we less patient? This is information that can help us quite a bit.” PROF. DAVID LANDER
Professor Lander leading a virtual weekly session for the Mindfulness Program at Saint Louis University School of Law, inviting faculty, staff, and students to reflect on the topic of patience.
CINNAMON PIÑON CARLARNE
Assistant Dean for Faculty and Intellectual Life, Alumni Society Designated Professor of Law at the Ohio State University, speaking as a scholar at the 34th Health Law Symposium.
“It’s not that every single thing that Russian is doing in Ukraine constitutes war crime … and it’s true that, from what we know, from reliable information, it’s true that Russia is attacking in, what we call in laws of war, ‘indiscriminate attacks.’ They are attacking civilian objects without any purpose, attacking, for instance, monuments, such as the theater, that was also working and operating acting as a civilian shelter … to put in very basic language, there’s no excuse to take those kinds of actions.” PROF. AFONSO SEIXAS-NUNES, S.J.
Leading expert in international humanitarian law, featured on the SLU LAW Summations podcast in an episode regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict during the second month of war.
“Women and people of color are over two-thirds of the population in the US. So it is important to keep in mind that marginalized populations aren’t special interest groups and collectively they are also not minority. It is the majority of the population that we are talking about.” JENNIFER COHEN
Professor Cohen of Miami University spoke of Capitalism and Work: The Gendered and Racialized Labor Production & Reproduction for the 2022 Saint Louis University Law Journal Symposium: Health Inequities and Employment: The Continued Struggle for Justice
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IN BRIEF NEWS & NOTES Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship Established by Evans & Dixon, LLC Through a generous $100,000 firm pledge to SLU LAW, Evans & Dixon has created a named endowed scholarship for first-year law students who are from historically underrepresented minority groups in the legal industry. Firm administrators say the scholarship demonstrates a commitment to actively seeking, recruiting, and retaining a diverse workforce comprised of people from different backgrounds, perspectives and opinions. Members of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee met with law school administrators to present the donation and discuss ways to collaborate on their efforts. Law Students Establish Medicaid Expansion Hotline To further assist in the Medicaid expansion, faculty and students worked with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) and the St. Louis Regional Health Commission (RHC) to create a telephone helpline. Now those who fall under the new Medicaid eligibility criteria can find assistance in registering for the first time. Students in the Medicaid Expansion Advocacy course taught by the Jane and Bruce Robert Professor of Law Sidney D. Watson are credited for creating and staffing the helpline. In their first semester of existence, the helpline has assisted over 300 people, including helping more than 100 people apply for Medicaid. Assistant Dean Belinda Dantley is the Keynote Speaker at Naturalization Ceremony Belinda Dantley (’13), assistant dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, was chosen to speak at St. Louis’ naturalization ceremony. Held at the St. Louis Gateway Arch, Dantley assisted in welcoming 15 new American citizens. Judge Henry E. Autrey (’77) conducted the ceremony. Report on the Effectiveness of Racial Equity Tools Published Faculty and graduate students published a response to the racial inequity in St. Louis. Leaders of this publication were Professor Ruqaiijah Yearly, Jane and Bruce Robert Professor of Law Sidney D. Watson, Professor Katherine Stamatakis, Professor Keon L. Gilbert, Charysse Gibson, Crystal N. Lewis, and Washington University doctoral student Nicole Strombom. This study defines racial inequity, its consequences on St. Louis citizens and provides tools — such as GARE and PolicyLink — which jurisdictions can utilize.
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SLU LAW Professors Part of Successful Medicaid Expansion in Missouri Student and faculty efforts to promote Missouri’s Medicaid Expansion were successful on July 22nd, 2021. John J. Ammann, the McDonnell Professor of Justice in American Society Emeritus, and Sidney D. Watson, the Jane and Bruce Robert Professor of Law, were recognized by the University for their involvement. The passing of this expansion affects over 275,000 Missouri citizens and allows healthcare coverage for those who did not qualify for the program beforehand. Professor Ammann took the role of counsel of record for the amici as an extension of his advocacy for the health and well-being of Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens. Professor Watson, who acted as one of the 33 amici, focused on helping revise the brief’s language and collect signatures. J e a n P i e r r e B o n n e t-L a b oy H o n o r e d a s an Up-and-Comer by the AALS Section on Pre-Law and Admissions to Law School Saint Louis University School of Law staff member, Jean Pierre Bonnet-Laboy (’18) was honored by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). The Up-and-Comer award is given to those who display a drive to increase access to legal education, especially to those who are often underrepresented in the field. Bonnet-Laboy was recognized for his work as the assistant director of admissions and his outreach to current and prospective students. Since then, he has taken a role in the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, again in the position of assistant director. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office Hosts Popular Accessing the Legal Profession Mini Camp With the spirit of ensuring a future in the law is accessible for all, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team held a five-day informational program in June 2021. This minicamp helped prospective students understand how to apply to law school and explained each step in the process. The organizing committee consisted of Assistant Dean Belinda Dantley (’13), Assistant Director Jean Pierre Bonnet-Laboy (’18), and Aly Ricci (’15). Staff, faculty, and alumni also assisted in the development, including Joe Bartholomew’s (’84) donation to assist in the funding of the program. Over 360 students registered for this event. Twentysix states and four different countries were represented by the attendee body. The mini camp will be held again in the summer of 2022.
IN BRIEF
EVENTS Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig Gives Keynote for the Annual Childress Lecture The Saint Louis University Law Journal hosted the 2021 Childress Lecture “Critical Race Theory and the Law.” This event was organized with assistance from the Saint Louis University Department of African American Studies. Boston University School of Law Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig presented the keynote address titled “How Critical Race Theory and Technology Enabled Today’s Social Movement for Racial Equality.” Dean Onwuachi-Willig has a history teaching critical race theory, employment discrimination, and family law. This virtual event featured several panelists, including Saint Louis University assistant professor and chair of African American Studies, Christopher Tinson. Center for Health Law Studies Hosts Health Law Live with the SLU LAW Summations Podcast In a three-episode series, the Summations podcast hosted professors from the Center of Health Law Studies. The Health Law Live series covered timely issues such as mask mandates, opioid addiction, and vaccine requirements. These episodes were captured with a live audience and hosted by Jessica Ciccone, director of communications. They featured Professor Fred Rottnek, M.D., an affiliated faculty member, Professor Rob Gatter, whose expertise resides in public health law, and Elizabeth Pendo, the Joseph J. Simeone Professor of Law, an expert in disability law. Emerging From the Pandemic Series Explores Legal Issues in a Post Pandemic World During the summer, the School of Law faculty held a virtual exploration in the issues that may arise following the eventual ending of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several professors brought forth discussions, offering MO continuing legal education credits (CLE) with attendance and participation. These sessions covered International Law, Health Law, Bias, and Employment. Miriam Cherry, associate dean for research and engagement, assisted in the circulation of the series while speaking on “Virtual Reality and the Remote Workplace.” Annual Works in Progress for Intellectual Property (WIPIP) Scholars Colloquium held at SLU LAW In February of 2022, 75 academics from across the country gathered for the annual WIPIP colloquium. The event was cosponsored by the University of Missouri School of Law. The colloquium provides intellectual property scholars with a forum to present academic works-in-progress and receive early feedback from peers. This year, 60 intellectual property scholars presented their works. The weekend of activities included social gatherings and networking at local institutions in addition to the scholarly presentations. The event was organized locally by Professor Yvette Liebesman, the faculty advisor for the Intellectual Property concentration at SLU LAW.
Three New Faculty Appointments for Fall 2022 Professors Michael Duff, Michael Sinha and Deborah Sundquist O’Malley will be joining the Saint Louis University School of Law faculty in the fall of 2023. Professor Michael Duff currently serves as the Winston S. Howard Distinguished Professor of Law at University of Wyoming College of Law. He spent the fall of 2022 as a visiting professor with SLU LAW. A nationally recognized expert on workers’ compensation law and the National Labor Relations Act, he earned his J.D. from Harvard Law. He will join the William C. Wefel Center for Employment Law. Assistant Professor Michael Sinha joins the faculty with a background in medicine and various research and teaching roles at Harvard Medical School, Northeastern University School of Law and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Originally from St. Louis, he holds a medical degree as well as a master’s degree in public health in addition to his J.D. He will join the Center for Health Law Studies faculty. Deborah Sundquist O’Malley joins the faculty from Syracuse University College of Law where she is an associate teaching professor and the director of the school’s externship programs. She holds a J.D. from American University and will be joining SLU LAW’s legal research and writing faculty.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT BLSA Team Wins Second in Midwest Mock Trial Competition SLU LAW’s Black Law Students’ Association participated in the regional Midwest Mock Trial competition on February 2nd, 2022. This team of students Austynn Hicks, Heaven Persaud, Jada Flynn, Remington Harris and faculty coach, Jean Pierre Bonnet-Laboy (’18), placed second and went on to nationals on March 17th, where they continued to the semi-final round. Student Awards and Honors Here are a few highlights among the numerous awards and honors for our students this year: 3L Remington Harris was awarded the Milton F. Napier Award for Trial Advocacy from the St. Louis Lawyers’ Association. 3L Emma Mitchell was recognized by Missouri Lawyers Media as a Leader of Tomorrow during their Women's Justice Awards. 1L Ashlynn Zapolski was selected as the Liaison for the 2022-2023 bar year to the ABA Law Student Division, Armed Forces Law. Recent Graduate Wins Prestigious Health Law Writing Competition Alma Carver (’21) won second place in the 2021 Epstein Becker Green Health Law Writing Competition. Carver’s paper, “Reconsider i ng Cont rol led Hu ma n In fec t ion St ud ies i n a Paradigm Favoring Placebo Controlled Trials,” earned a monetary award and publication. SLB VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1
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STEVE DOLAN
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MIDYEAR COMMENCEMENT
MIDY E A R COM M E N CE M E N T DECEMBER 15, 2021
Congratulations Saint Louis University School of Law recognized 14 graduates during the mid-year ceremony. This celebration was held on December 15th, 2021. The recipients of their Juris Doctors were able to enjoy the night at the Louis W. Riethmann, Jr., Pavillion on the 12th floor of Scott Hall. The graduates were encouraged to speak and share their gratitude. Contrary to the restrictions of recent commencements, the 2021 ceremony was attended by the graduates’ loved ones as well as faculty, staff and classmates.
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SOCIAL SCENE: INSTAGRAM & TWITTER slulaw When public health officials and politicians go head to head on mask mandates, we turn to Professor Rob Gatter for a brief on the legal issues and precedent at hand. He breaks down the lawsuits, mandates and bans at the center of the pandemic in the latest episode of SLU LAW Summations.
625 views
slulaw They’re back! For the first time in two years, SLU LAW welcomed the Missouri Court of Appeals , Eastern District to Scott Hall to hear arguments. With alums on the bench and on counsel, it was a wonder ful experience. Link in bio for full story.
246 views
slulaw She’s moving on up! Or down two floors, technically. Our very own Shannon Morse (’05) has accepted the role of Dean of Administration for the law school. We will certainly miss her energy in Student Services but look forward to seeing what she’ll accomplish in the dean’s office.
306 likes
l slulaw It was all smiles at last night’s annua BLSA Judicial Reception. Judge Sandra Farragut-Hemphill was the guest of honor receiving the Judge Theodore McMillian Award while JP Bonnet-Laboy and the late Dr. Jonathan Smith received the Ronda F. Williams Service Award and 3Ls Donovan Hill and Remington Harris received the Black Star Award. Special s/o to Austynn . Hicks for repping the school on @ksdknews 252 likes 80 likes
slulaw It wouldn’t be an art law seminar without a little painting. Students from Professor Liebesman’s class took some time to paint their own arch scapes today and we think they turned out pretty darn good! New this semester, the Art Law seminar covers everything from IP and employment law, to famous heists and World War II pilfering, and from Bansky and Van Gogh.
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@TheEthicsDoc · January 11, 2022 Want to know how State Medical Boards can improve how they identify and respond to #PhysicianMisconduct to better #ProtectPatients? Check out this podcast to find out! Thank you to @GreenwallFdn @BRC_WUSTL @SLULAW and all involved in the project. @EvansDixonLaw · January 4, 2022 Evans & Dixon is proud to announce our partnership with @SLULAW to expand the education of the next generation of attorneys. We are committed to a $100,000 endowed Diversity and Inclusion scholarship as part of our ongoing commitment to diversity outreach. #SLULAW @cspanwj · December 24, 2021 Author and Vice Presidential Scholar Joel Goldstein of @SLULAW discusses Vice President Kamala Harris’s job performance nearly one year after making history as the nation’s first female Vice President. Tune in: bit.ly/3Jf6PIQ @ChrisNagusTV · October 28, 2021 In 2019 I shared Verdia Miller’s story. After 4 decades in prison she was granted clemency. Her story was remarkable. She died on Sunday. Her freedom was a testament to the work done @SLULAW RIP Verdia - I’ll never forget our day at the beach. @ellieglen · September 16, 2021 No surprise to those of us who know him, but @EricCHarmon not only passed the MO Bar, but got a high enough score to waive most of the IL Bar as well- his score was in the top 10% of the country! Congratulations, counselor. Well earned, well deserved. @SLULAW @MVPLaw @mobarnews @STLonAir · May 2, 2021 This month the state of #Missouri suffered what Missouri Lawyers Weekly calls a “shockingly large verdict” — $20 million.It was won by @SLULAW Prof Susan McGraugh, who is a regular panelist on our Legal Roundtable. @HRHBlog · August 30, 2021 New article from our Editor Lauren Bartlett @SLULAW! Lauren argues that the Biden administration has missed an important opportunity to step up as a human rights leader and set the U.S. on a path towards the abolition of immigration prisons. SLULAW
@SLULAW
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Hello 55%
.5%
FEMALE
45.5%
FALL 2021 1L CLASS X
MALE
211
STUDENTS ENROLLED 193
109
FULLTIME
19
PARTTIME
UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED
23.7%
> 91% OF STUDENTS RECEIVED
33
A MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIP
FULL-TUITION SCHOL ARSHIPS AWARDED
156 3.5 10
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(75TH TO 25TH PERCENTILE: 158-151) (75TH TO 25TH PERCENTILE: 3.69-3.16)
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN BIRTH COUNTRIES OF 2021 1L STUDENTS
AUSTRALIA
HONDURAS
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
INDIA
CANADA
BULGARIA
MEXICO
CHINA
CHINA
NETHERLANDS
CUBA
VENEZUELA
GERMANY
NIGERIA
GHANA
UNITED STATES
HAITI
29
STATES REPRESENTED AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA
Fare
THEE CLASS OF 2021 WELL GRADUATES
86% 83.9% SLU LAW Bar Passage Rate for first-time Missouri takers (summer 2021) (compared to average MO firsttime rate of 88.9%)
SLU LAW Bar Passage Rate for first-time Missouri takers who also took the Summer Workshop Series led by Professors Antonia Miceli and Petina Benigno
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ALUMNI FEATURE
The Unexpected Diplomat: The Career of Amb. James Michel
Though Ambassador James Michel (’65) has undoubtedly led a global career over the years, the St. Louis native didn’t originally plan to focus on an international practice. “I had only limited exposure to international law during my time at SLU,” Michel admitted. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I graduated. Eileen Searls, the law school’s long-serving law librarian and counselor to many students, encouraged me to consider work with the U.S. government. I was surprised to receive an offer to join the State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser and I immediately accepted it.” Michel was born in St. Louis, where he grew up and remained until he earned his degree at Saint Louis University School of Law in 1965. Immediately following his graduation, he took his J.D. to 12
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Washington, D.C. However, this wasn’t the biggest move he would make by far. “In the summer of 1965, I moved to Washington, bringing with me: my wife and our three children,” Michel said. Now a civil servant, Michel became acquainted with the unique culture of Washington, D.C. “Compared to St. Louis, the cost of living doubled. Most people were connected to the government in one way or another. Your neighbors were mainly military officers, civil servants, Congressional staff, and employees of organizations working with the government.” While settling into this new environment, he also settled into his new role as a State Department attorney. From 1965 to the mid1980s, Michel was given increasing responsibilities and became the State Department’s most senior ranking
career attorney. However, in 1983, Michel again left his comfort zone. “In 1983, Latin American issues had become very intense, especially issues of Central America,” Michel said. At this time, faced with the choice of remaining a senior government lawyer, leaving government, or becoming a diplomat, he chose the third option.
“It was a high-stress job...I was learning about the region and the issues while going to school in the early morning to learn Spanish.” He moved from being the State Department’s Principal Deputy Legal Adviser to becoming the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs. The State Department’s Bureau of InterAmerican affairs overlooked all
aspects of American relations with the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean and supported the U.S. embassies throughout the region. “It was a high-stress job...I was learning about the region and the issues while going to school in the early morning to learn Spanish,” Michel said. “During the four years [before my appointment as Ambassador] I also spent a lot of time traveling to countries and meeting the people in Latin America.” The need for a seasoned hand in Guatemala was high in 1987. The country had a new constitution, a newly elected civilian government, and was seeking to end a long civil conflict. At the same time, it was trying to overcome a history of poverty, inequality, and human rights violations. Michel was nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala by President Ronald Regan on May 7th, 1987. In his new assignment, Michel had to utilize all the skills he had gathered throughout his education and
his experiences within the government. It was up to Michel to lead his team in Guatemala in representing the United States and encouraging Guatemalan aspirations for peace, stability, economic and social development, and broadly shared well-being. “It was our priority to promote democracy and political stability as foundations for inclusive economic and social development,” Michel said. The goal sounded straightforward, but there were citizens that didn’t agree with the
1985 democratic constitution. “I was the Ambassador for two years and there was an attempted coup in each of those years.” Michel emphasized that it was not U.S. policy to impose American views on the people of Guatemala. “We were promoting democratic governance, economic growth, and participation within society in support of the vision set forth by Guatemalans in their own constitution.”
“I had come to believe strongly that U.S. support for economic and social development and the values of democracy was the most important aspect of our relations with our hemispheric neighbors.” After two years, Michel was offered another presidential appointment back in Washington, D.C. heading the Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). “I very much welcomed this opportunity,” Michel said. “I had come to believe strongly that U.S. support for economic and social development and the values of democracy was the most important aspect of our relations with our hemispheric neighbors.” Michel’s service with the USAID led to another extraordinary opportunity: his selection as Chair of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, a
position of ambassadorial rank. After five years in that important international role, he returned to the USAID as a Counselor to the Agency and then retired after 35 years of government service. However, he made a brief return as USAID Counselor from 2009-2010 in support of the transition to the Obama Administration. Due to his accomplishments, Michel is being recognized by the school where he earned his J.D. Michel will be honored with the most prestigious award Saint Louis University School of Law offers: an induction into the Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame.
For current students who may be considering international experiences, Michel spoke eagerly of the ever-increasing opportunities. “There are many more organizations that have international responsibilities and operations these days. And that means there is an expanding need for international lawyers.” Michel reminisced about his time as a law student and how he had been unsure of the future, considering career choices, and looking for opportunities. Michel’s advice for students who feel similarly is that “there is an unlimited range of potential of choices you can make. Consider a variety of possibilities. Some people have a specific plan, others don’t. There’s no single approach.” SLB
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HOW FAR WE CAN REACH At the start of August, most students focus on preparing for the upcoming semester. Days are spent double-checking schedules, gathering textbooks and resetting passwords. However, for Peter Lucier, August 2021 was not typical. Before pursuing a life in the law, Lucier served in the United States Military. He enlisted as a marine in 2008, following his graduation from high school. Three years later, Lucier was heading to Afghanistan. Over his seven-month deployment, Lucier squinted under the scorching sun, carried heavy loads through the desert and learned what a country at war looks like.
that it would be necessary to raise funds for the cause. “Charities always need money, donations are great, volunteering is great, but so is cash. Cash doesn’t go bad; it doesn’t spoil. You can use it for whatever you need it, it’s flexible. They can spend it on things they really need, unlike your grandma’s donated China set.”
Five years following his return, Lucier applied for law school.
Late on August 13th, Lucier put up his first fundraiser for an organization called Keeping Our Promise. Within three hours of announcing the campaign, they had raised $5,000. “I won’t say I was surprised I got that response, but it did reaffirm one of my core beliefs. I think veterans, especially, and Americans, generally, want to be helpful people.”
“I HAD GOTTEN BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN, SO I HAD JUST COME BACK FROM SEEING WHAT A PLACE WITHOUT THE RULE OF LAW LOOKS LIKE...” HE SAID. “AND IT MADE ME CERTAINLY APPRECIATE [OUR LEGAL SYSTEM] IN THE UNITED STATES.”
Over the two campaigns, one for Keeping Our Promise and another for a charity called Hearts and Homes for Refugees, both taking place between August 13th to August 17th, Lucier raised $50,882 to help assist Afghanistan refugees and SIVs. The success of these campaigns brought hope and assistance the charities during the critical time. “And that was good. It felt good and meaningful,” Lucier said before pausing. “And then...I actually did something stupid.”
“I had gotten back from Afghanistan, so I had just come back from seeing what a place without the rule of law looks like...” he said. “and it made me certainly appreciate [our legal system] in the United States.”
It was creeping towards the end of August. Classes were a couple weeks in and the first projects of many were being assigned. And yet, Peter Lucier still had eyes on the needs of refugees. That “something” was Lucier’s choice to take on more responsibilities to help Afghan families.
Appreciation evolved into dedication as Lucier worked through his first years at Saint Louis University School of Law. He authored articles for online magazines, including America: The Jesuit Review, regarding his time overseas, and was an active member of the Law Students for Veteran Advocacy. Throughout, he remained up to date on the state of the war he once fought in. “The troop withdrawal was announced in April of 2021, and it was a momentous occasion,” Lucier recalled his own reaction to the news. “I thought it was going to bring a sense of closure.” With the deadline in place, Lucier was concerned with the troops’ removal, as well as Afghans known SIVs, those who are eligible to receive Special Immigrant Visas for their work with the American government. SIVs needed help leaving the country too. Lucier knew 14
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With his fundraising efforts well underway, and without the original intention to do so, Lucier began to assist with ongoing “cases” from Hearts and Homes for Refugees. Lucier worked with Amy, a case worker at the nonprofit, who had been helping Afghans fill out necessary forms throughout the complicated immigration process. Now, with the American troop removal, the Afghans didn’t need paperwork, they needed to get out of the country as quickly as possible. From there, it was no longer scrolling numbers that occupied Lucier. It was people. Individual faces and names of people he was now tasked to help bring to America in hopes of a better life. “I never stop thinking about the thing that got me into this was, this one particular case, this one particular family, and it just kills me. We tried for two weeks straight, and we couldn’t get them in.”
Taking responsibility to help others is not new to Saint Louis University School of Law students, as displayed by Lucier. In fact, it is a part of the curriculum. The semester after his introduction to the world of immigration and refugee issues, Peter Lucier decided to take the Removal Defense Project seminar taught by Professors Kenneth Schmitt (B.A., ’89, J.D., ’93) and Kristine Walentik. Schmitt is the founder and principal at US Legal Solutions, where he practices immigration law. Wallentik, in addition to teaching, is a staff attorney for the St. Francis Community Service’s Immigration Law Project. “I never would’ve taken that class if not for [Afghanistan]. I never was interested in immigration law,” Lucier said. This course encourages the same type of work that Peter Lucier has already done. However, the benefit of this class, and in contrast to Lucier’s work, is the face-to-face interactions with those who wish to find a home in America. Professor Schmitt reiterated the benefits and how they are able to “take the students down to one of the detention facilities for a week to volunteer and work with those individuals. From that experience, they would learn, in a really ‘in the trenches’ way how asylum cases are built as well as the whole immigration process.”
“FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, THEY WOULD LEARN, IN A REALLY ‘IN THE TRENCHES’ WAY HOW ASYLUM CASES ARE BUILT AS WELL AS THE WHOLE IMMIGRATION PROCESS.” Courses such as the Removal Defense Project allow students to harvest valuable experiences. Listening to another’s personal experience while remaining empathetic, professional, and calm is not something that can be easily taught by lecture. On the technical side, navigating the legal systems for refugees and immigrants is a difficult and strenuous process. As Professor Schmitt states: “Asylum cases in the Midwest look a little different than at the [Mexico-United States] border, but the law that underlines it is all the same.” Whether help is needed in the backyard, at the border, or across the ocean, SLU LAW students are taught to assist in anyway they can. Peter Lucier showcases just how far one can reach by using their skills, time, and resources, and how it can resonate through the lives of those they help and well as their own. “I don’t know if I’ll ever become an immigration attorney... I don’t know if I’ll do this for a living,” Lucier said. “But, after all of this, I know this will never not be a part of my life.” SLB
Alumni Report Alumni Kathryn R. Redmond (’19) got the chance to take the trip to the Mexico-United States border in Texas with the Removal Defense Project seminar. Redmond reported that visiting the detention centers, where those who crossed the borders were being kept, often separating children from guardians, was “frustrating and heartbreaking.” Redmond said of the influence of the trip: “I think all of us in that class really wanted to be there. Even if all we could do was help people prepare [their cases for asylum]. It was important to, at least, bear witness to what was happening.” In 2022, Redmond is a Financial and Real Estate Service Associate based in Chicago. Although Redmond does not work within the immigration law field, the course’s effect still resonates with her day-to-day. She encourages lawyers to keep the humanity of everyone they interact with in mind and look past technicalities to find out how they can best assist their clients, who may be approaching them on “one of their worst days.” Redmond said: “What’s the point of going through this rigorous course of study and not use it to help others?” VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1
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FACULTY VIEW
ACROSS BORDERS:
An Interview with Professor Monica Eppinger About Her Decades-Long Role Helping Americans Understand Ukraine As a legal scholar, anthropologist, professor and co-director of the Center for International and Comparative Law (CICL) at Saint Louis University School of Law, it is no surprise that Monica Eppinger stays busy. But earlier this year, her schedule reached a fever pitch, overtaken with events, talks and interviews regarding the still developing Russian-Ukraine war. From 1995 to 1997, Eppinger served at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, and thereafter back in Washington, D.C., in policymaking related to Ukraine, work for which she was awarded a Superior Honor Award, the State Department’s highest civilian honor. She subsequently earned a
Ph.D. specializing in the legal institutions, doctrines, and reforms of post-Soviet Ukraine. Her knowledge has been heavily requested in response to the modernday conflict. She has spoken to groups ranging from a synagogue in Chicago, to a North American peace group spanning four countries and three languages, to the San Francisco Economic Forum, to a Washington University policy forum, to the SLU Board of Trustees; and made scholarly presentations at the European Union Center of California, the University of Chicago, and soon to the University of Toronto, among others. At SLU LAW, she organized a two-session event, one
session featuring, fellow CICL Professor Afonso Seixas-Nunes on the relevant law of war and one session featuring Professor Eppinger herself on “Ukraine: What You Need to Know,” for the SLU community. Although she no longer works for the U.S. Embassy, Eppinger still feels the weight of her responsibility to assist Americans in understanding the history and the citizens of Ukraine. Despite her hectic schedule, Professor Eppinger found the time to sit down and explain her personal history with Ukraine, her predictions for the war, and encourage further outreach for SLU LAW affiliates.
SLU LAW Brief: What was your position while you were in Ukraine? What responsibilities did you have?
really stumped about how you ensure free and fair elections. If you have free press, candidates could lie about each other in the press and whoever had the biggest mouthpiece would win.
to try to be a real American that someone could talk to. I wasn’t some bogeyman or some Cold War enemy. I was just a normal person with pluses and minuses. But people could try to get past stereotypes about the United States by engaging with me and, likewise, I could try to get past stereotypes about Soviets by engaging with them and representing their reality back to Washington.
Monica Eppinger: Formally speaking,
I was a foreign service officer in the U.S. Diplomatic service. As a diplomat, I served one tour of duty in the U.S. Embassy to Kyiv, Ukraine. In my position there, I was responsible for several portfolios. In one portfolio, I was responsible for fostering the rule of law and human rights in Ukraine, which could range from fostering judicial reform, to religious minority or gender or LGBTQ equality, to providing technical advising on anti-corruption efforts. As part of another portfolio, I served as the embassy liaison to parliament the year they were writing their post-Soviet constitution. My job was to find out what competing drafts for constitutional provisions were, which were the leading drafts, the background on ideas making it into constitutional language and what ideas were gaining salience. I was also available as a conduit if parliamentarians or staff were interested in technical advice. For example, if they were drafting one provision on freedom of the press and another on free and fair elections, somebody might say they were
If there was a question like that, I could give my own response having to do with libel or slander protections ... but then, I could offer something like: “Would you all be interested in hearing about another country’s experience on that?” If the answer was yes, we could plan to bring over lawyers, judges, law professors and journalists from the United States. Or maybe experts from Asia, Europe or Africa. We could bring in these different experts to think it through together with Ukrainian colleagues’ different approaches, different options and different experiences with a free press and free elections. So, part of my job was to ascertain their thinking on provisions of their new draft constitution and report back to Washington. Another part of my job was to be a conduit for technical advising. And, in general, my job was to try to make friends on behalf of the United States. I was there from 1995 to 1997; Ukraine had only been independent for a little over three years when I got there. People were still really making their minds up. Part of my job was just
SLB: You mentioned that you represented what a “real American” was like. Was there pressure to properly represent the country? Monica Eppinger: Anybody who is
in the diplomatic service, whether you like it or not, represents “America” 24/7. Whether you’re in the office or not, whether you’re on the job or not, no matter what country is your host country, to anyone who associates you with the U.S. Embassy, you are America to them. I didn’t feel pressure to be a “real American” because, you know, I am myself! This is me, warts and all. Where I felt pressure was to try to represent their reality and their point of
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view back to Washington so there would be no wrong ideas about who Ukrainians are. .... I think the war right now, between Russia and Ukraine, in no small part, is because President Putin has been getting bad advice. I think he does not understand Ukrainians. The people in his embassy in Kyiv that had equivalent job to me, either they’ve misrepresented Ukrainians, or he hasn’t listened. Because I think that he consistently misunderstands Ukrainians and that means he gets Ukraine wrong and that has consequences for all of us. That’s where I felt the most pressure: to try to understand their perception of their world from their point of view and to try to translate that back to Washington in a way that would be meaningful to the decision-makers there. And that can be hard because people have their preconceptions. There’s a preconception in Washington that when the Cold War ended, freedom broke out all over, everyone wanted to have their own property and have a multiparty democracy. Some people did, but some people didn’t.
SLB: Looking back, how do you feel about your teams’ perfomance of your duties? Monica Eppinger: Gosh, I’d like to give us an A+. In retrospect, I’d probably give at
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least my own performance a B+ or a B. I’d like to think that I got the important things right. But then I left the diplomatic service to be a scholar so I could look more deeply into things and then you learn more and you realize that, yeah, I had my own filters. Two years seems like a long time to learn and to build expertise there, but after you’ve been there for two years more, you realize all the things you didn’t know. I think that one of the things we got wrong was not understanding some of the continuities. It seemed to us like when the Soviet Union ended and a new country was founded, everything was completely new, but it wasn’t necessarily for Ukrainians. I remember interviewing a judge for my scholarly research. Ukrainians had written their new constitution and they had put in the constitution the right to property. Under socialism, the government owned all the property, that was a defining feature of the old system. To us, it was a crucial question when Ukrainians were writing their constitution, were they going to allow the right to property? In the end, they did put private property ownership in the new constitution. In doing follow-up research on that, I interviewed a judge who had basically acted as the attorney general for Ukraine. He’s been on the Supreme Court of Ukraine. He was also a member of parliament when they were drafting the constitution. He is and has long been an important figure in Ukrainian
constitutional and legal development, a key person to talk with about the implementation of constitutional provisions. Interviewing him, I said that passing the 1996 Constitution “created property rights.” He jumped in to interrupt and say that “it strengthened the pre-existing rights we had in property.” And I said, okay, tell me more! Because in the United States, we thought that was a completely new reform, that it was a page-turn. But, in his perception, that was a project they’ve been working on for a long time.
SLB: You have had experience during the Afghanistan refugee crisis, as you helped a scholar from Afghanistan find safety in America. How could the Ukrainian situation compare to Afghanistan? Monica Eppinger: There are some big
differences. One difference is that the United States has been engaged in military conflict in Afghanistan for twenty years so there was an understanding by the American public that we were deeply implicated in that situation. There was a different sense of ownership in that crisis. The Russian invasion has only been going on for one day shy of two weeks [note: the interview with Dr. Eppinger took place on March 9, 2022]. It’s too early to say, but at
this point, I think the narrative about Ukraine is very different. Unlike the Afghan military and government in the face of the Taliban resurgence, in Ukraine, this is not a group of people that is being portrayed as melting away and surrendering in the face of the Russian invasion. From what I’m understanding from friends on the ground and new sources, there is significant resistance. That leads to another significant difference with the situation of refugees fleeing Afghanistan last August and September. Right now, a lot of Ukrainians are saying: “Okay, I’ve turned the kettle off. I’ve taken my one backpack and I expect to be back.” It’s a little more of a Pompeii situation. Ukrainians fleeing the invasion, whether across a border as refugees or to another part of Ukraine as “internally displaced people,” are expecting to be back soon ... But who knows how that will play out? I think that the valorization narrative of the Ukrainian resistance is going to affect the public pressure on our politicians to provide refugee status for people fleeing the conflict. A huge humanitarian gesture that should not be overlooked is that the European Union is allowing Ukrainians to have a three-year temporary visa. There’s an example there. In terms of numbers, this is the biggest refugee crisis the world has ever had. The previous record, if I’m not mistaken, was 1.2 million in a single year in 2015 during the Syrian war. With Russia’s war on Ukraine, we’ve had two million in two weeks. It’s on scales that dwarf World War II of people running for their lives. [Note: After over forty days of war, that number doubled to over four million refugees having fled the war in Ukraine.] From reports, the Polish people have been displaying so much kindness. There are people in cars coming to the border and offering rides. People arrive with vats of tea. But what is not in place is widescale institutional support. I had one friend who decided to stay in Ukraine even though her city is going to be bombed. One reason she stayed is what she heard from her neighbor who managed to get out, a middle-aged woman with two kids, a thirteenand a nine-year-old. They got all the way to Poland, and they stayed in contact with my friend still in Ukraine. The neighbor reported, “People here couldn’t be nicer; we’ve been offered tea and chocolate no less than fifteen times a day. But we still don’t have any place to sleep.” So, the gestures from individuals have been heartwarming and profound. But for the
people left in Ukraine, they’re thinking twice because there’s this woman with two little kids who are sleeping on the ground of a school or a warehouse for the last four days without a blanket.
SLB: Beyond the near-term demands, what are your priorities going forward and how can SLU LAW help?
In a completely different experience, I have friends who have four kids under the age of eight. It took them a week to get from Kyiv to the country they were trying to get to escape the conflict — what would normally be a twelve-hour drive took seven days — but when they finally made it to their destination, it turns out a non-profit organization was all set up for refugees. My friend wrote me: “We have made it to Austria, and we have living quarters, people have provided us food, and tomorrow the kids start school and daycare.”
Monica Eppinger: I will be continuing
Compare those two experiences of families fleeing a city under invasion. In the first, individuals, overwhelming kindness, tea and chocolates, but without a systematic institutional response, no secure place to live; compared with, in the second, institutions, systemic response, housing, food security... a set-up so prepared that the kids could even start trying to get back into a routine the day after the family arrived. [The United States has] a little bit of time to get ourselves in order. It’s worth thinking about what kind of refugee reception we want to have here.
SLB: How can Saint Louis University School of Law assist now and in the future as the situation develops? Monica Eppinger: There’s a lot of
different ways SLU could be supportive. There’s been discussion about an international tribunal to try Putin for war crimes. There would have to be a lot of intellectual labor in that enterprise. With Prof. Seixas-Nunes, we have one of the world’s authorities in that area of law. There’s a lot of room for potential action. If [Ukrainians] are going to be temporarily somewhere, why not here? Not that the University would need to create a permanent program but bringing in Ukrainians in a temporary space would enrich our community. It looks like there’s going to be a lot of opportunities and we would be smart not to miss them.
my program of research and writing regarding Ukraine. It is more crucial than ever that we in the U.S. understand Ukraine, its regional context, the war, and what’s at stake for us. This takes long-term development of expertise, knowledge, and contacts. In addition to my past scholarship on Ukraine, I have already put out one short article on the war context, have another couple longer articles in the works, and am guest-editing an issue of a scholarly journal on Russia in the World. Through CICL, I’m working with Prof. Seixas-Nunes to organize an SLU LAW Symposium next spring that will result in a Saint Louis University Law Journal volume on Mechanisms of Accountability in the Law of War. And I have three book projects underway on different aspects of contemporary Ukraine. For all those projects, SLU LAW provides an indispensable platform for thought and action. But there are some other things particularly in response to the present emergency, defense of Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis resulting from Russia’s war on Ukraine. One thing that is a twinkle in the eye is to create a benefit concert with musicians who want to support Ukraine, and maybe the University could host that. There may be other productive ways that SLU can lead other regional institutions in providing support for Ukraine and for Ukrainians who have had to flee the war, and I’m exploring possibilities there. Ukrainians themselves are already thinking passed the war — for example, and I mention this to highlight the optimism and confidence in Ukraine amidst the tragedy and heartbreak, debating amongst themselves which countries’ leaders they should invite to the victory parade when Ukraine wins! We should be thinking beyond the war as well. The level of physical devastation is enormous, and the efforts to re-building will take all the help we can muster. It is really one of those things where the need is so great, it’s just how creative you can be. We would love to have alumni involved as the SLU LAW community responds. There are so many ways to be a “person for others,” and I know the greater SLU LAW community will rise to the occasion. SLB
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SLU LAW faculty continue to produce excellent scholarship, read and recognized at national and international levels. The following is a sampling of our faculty’s scholarship successes in 2021. LAUREN BARTLETT
Assistant Professor; Director, Human Rights at Home Clinic
“One of the greatest human tragedies of our time”: The U.N., Biden, and a Missed Opportunity to Abolish Immigration Prisons, 43 Mitchell Hamline L.J. Pub. Pol’y & Prac. 37 (2021).
PETINA BENIGNO
Assistant Director, Academic Support and Bar Examination Preparation
Expansion and Collaboration: A Multi-Office Approach to Supporting First Generation Law Students, The Learning Curve: A Publication of the AALS Section of Academic Support (2021) (with Belinda Dantley).
MATTHEW T. BODIE
Callis Family Professor of Law; Co-Director William C. Wefel Center for Employment Law
Reconstructing the Corporation: From Shareholder Primacy to Shared Governance (Cambridge University Press 2021) (with Grant M. Hayden). The Market as Negotiation, 96 Notre Dame L. Rev. 1257 (2021) (with Rebecca Hollander-Blumoff). Employee Testing, Tracing, and Disclosure as a Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, 64 Wash. U. J.L. & Pol’y 31 (2021) (with Michael McMahon). Artificial Intelligence and the Challenges of Workplace Discrimination and Privacy, 35 ABA J. L ab. & Emp. L. 289 (2021) (with Pauline T. Kim). Codetermination in Theory and Practice, 73 Fla. L. Rev. 321 (2021) (with Grant M. Hayden). Trademark’s ‘Ship of Theseus’ Problem, 95 S. Cal. L. Rev. Postscript 27 (2021). The Editors’ Page, 35 ABA J. L ab. & Emp. L. v (2021) (with Miriam A. Cherry & Marcia McCormick).
MIRIAM A. CHERRY
Professor; Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Engagement; Co-director; William C. Wefel Center for Employment Law
Contracts: A Real World Casebook (West Academic 2d Ed. 2021), and accompanying Teacher’s Manual. Work in the Digital Age: A Coursebook on Labor, Technology,
and Regulation (Aspen 2021), and accompanying Teacher’s Manual. 20
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Proposition 22: Un vote sure le statut des travailleurs des plateformes en Californie (“Proposition 22: A Vote on the Status of Platform Workers in California”), Droits d’ici, Droits d’ailleurs, (“Rights Here, Rights Elsewhere”), #272, Revue De Droit Du Travail, April 2021. The Editors’ Page, 35 ABA J. Lab. & Emp. L. v (2021) (with Matthew T. Bodie & Marcia McCormick).
BELINDA DANTLEY
Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Expansion and Collaboration: A Multi-Office Approach to Supporting First Generation Law Students, The Learning Curve: A Publication of the AALS Section of Academic Support (2021) (With Petina Benigno).
MICHAEL C. DUFF
Visiting Professor
All the World’s a Platform? “Marketplace Platform” Employment Laws, 50 WTR Brief 42 (2021).
MONICA EPPINGER
Associate Professor; Co-Director, Center for International and Comparative Law
Herding History: Law and the Transformation of Collective Subjectivities in the Dairyspheres of Ukraine, 16 J. Food L aw & Pol’y 270 (2020).
CHAD W. FLANDERS
Professor
What is Wrong with Mass Incarceration?, in The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy & Science of Punishment (Bruce Waller, Farah Focquaert & Elizabeth M. Shaw, eds, 2021). Alaskan Exceptionalism in Campaign Finance, 37 Alaska L. Rev. 191 (2021). The Lack of Trust in Elections – and How to Get It Back, Real Clear Politics (Sept. 3, 2021) (With Kevin Vallier). COVID-19, Courts, and the “Realities of Prison Administration” Part II: The Realities of Litigation, 14 St. Louis U. J. Health L. & Pol’y 495 (2021).
The Trouble with Coronavirus and Missouri’s Jails, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Oct. 28, 2021, at A9 (With Fred Rottnek). COVID-19 in Missouri Prisons and Jails, Missouri Appleseed (2021) (With Liza Weiss et al.). Review of Steven Garvey, Guilty Acts & Guilty Minds, Criminal L aw & Criminal Justice Book Reviews (September 2021). Review of Michael Tonry, ed., One-Eyed Monsters and Toothless Miscreants, 15 Criminal L aw & Philosophy 515 (2021).
The Editors’ Page, 35 ABA J. L ab. & Emp. L. v (2021) (with Matthew T. Bodie & Miriam A. Cherry).
ANTONIA MICELI
Director, Academic Support and Bar Examination Preparation; Professor
The Ultimate Guide to the Uniform Bar Examination (Wolters Kluwer 2021) (with Melissa Hale & Tania Shah).
ROBERT GATTER Professor
Transforming Your Physical Space into an Online Space, in L aw Teaching Strategies for a New Era: Beyond the Physical Classroom (Tessa Dysart & Tracy Norton, eds.) (Carolina Academic Press 2021).
Reviving Focused Scrutiny in the Constitutional Review of Public Health Measures, 64 Wash. U. J.L. & Pol’y 151 (2021).
From a Distance: Providing Online Academic Support and Bar Exam Preparation to Law Students and Alumni During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 65 St. Louis U. L.J. 585 (2021).
WILLIAM P. JOHNSON Professor; Dean
The Ubiquity of Transnational Practice and the Corresponding Critical Importance of International Education for U.S. Law Students, 46 S. ILL. U. L.J. 73 (2021). Incoterms® Rules Updated by International Chamber of Commerce, in International Contracts, 55 ABA/ILS YIR 87, 105–107 (2021).
YVETTE JOY LIEBESMAN
Professor
Offensive Mark Owners Have an Enforcement Problem, 59 Hous. L. Rev. 57 (2021).
DANA M. MALKUS
Associate Professor; Associate Dean for Experiential Education; Director, Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic
Disinvestment and Crime Have Common Cure – Community, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jan. 28, 2021 (reprinted in “From the Field,” Community Builders Network of Metropolitan St. Louis Newsletter, Mar. 2, 2021).
MARCIA L. MCCORMICK
Professor
Cases And Materials On Equality In The Workplace (10th ed. 2021) (with Roberto Corrada, et al.). “Sex” and Religion after Bostock, ACS Sup. Ct. Rev. 2019-20 TERM (2020) (With Sachin S. Pandya). United Auto Workers v. Johnson Controls, in Feminist Judgments: Employment Discrimination Opinions Rewritten (With Sachin S. Pandya). (Ann McGinley & Nicole Porter eds., 2020).
HENRY M. ORDOWER
Professor
Avoiding Constitutional Limitations; Overruling and Legislating beyond Precedent; Ignoring U.S. Constitutions, in Noções Gerais E Limitações Formais Ao Poder De Tributar (General Notions and Formal Limitations on the Power to Tax) 111–131 (Forum, Belo Horizonte, Brazil 2021) (Eds. Oswaldo Othon de Pontes Saraiva Filho, et al. 2021). New York’s Proposed Mark to Market Tax Decouples from Federal Tax, 99 Tax Notes State 795 and 170 Tax Notes Fed’l 1243 (Feb. 22, 2021). Immigration, Emigration, Fungible Labour and the Retreat from Progressive Taxation, in Tax Justice and Tax L aw: Understanding Unfairness in Tax Systems (Eds. Dominic De Cogan and Peter Harris, Oxford, Hart Publishing 2020). Taxes, in Inequality in America: Causes and Consequences 309 (Kimberley L. Kinsley & Robert S. Rycroft, eds., Santa Barbara Press, 2021). Uniform International Tax Collection and Distribution for Global Development, a Utopian BEPS Alternative, 12 Colum. J. Tax. L. 126 (2021).
ELIZABETH PENDO
Joseph J. Simeone Professor of Law
Substance Use Disorder Discrimination and The CARES Act: Using Disability Law to Inform Part 2 Rulemaking,52 Ariz. St. L.J. 1143 (2021) (With Kelly K. Dineen). Protecting the Rights of People with Disabilities, Part II, in Assessing Legal Responses to Covid -19: Lessons Learned and Recommendations (Scott Burris, et al, eds.) (Boston: Public Health Law Watch) (2021). The Americans with Disabilities Act in the COVID-19 Workplace, in Work L aw Under COVID-19 (Jeffrey M. Hirsch & Sachin S. Pandya, eds.) (updated Feb. 4, 2021). Ending the War on People with Substance Use Disorders, in Health Care, VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1
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FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP Peer Commentary, 21(4) Amer. J. Bio. 20 (2021) (with Kelly K. Dineen). Discrimination against People with Disabilities in Organ Transplantation, The Hastings Center Report (2021). Protecting Patients from Egregious Wrongdoing by Physicians: Consensus Recommendations from State Medical Board Members and Staff, 107(3) J. of Med. Reg. (2021) (With Tristan Mcintosh et al.).
BRENDAN D. ROEDIGER
Professor; Director, Litigation Clinic
Abolish Municipal Courts: A Response to Professor Natapoff, 134 Harv. L. Rev. F. 213 (Feb. 25, 2021).
ANA SANTOS RUTSCHMAN
The COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Waiver: The Wrong Tool for the Right Goal, Bill Of Health (2021) (with Julia Barnes-Weise). The Intellectual Property Framework of the COVID-19 Vaccine Race, COVID-19 Law & Human Rights Observatory (online publication) (2021). Promoting Vaccine Equity, H arv. L. P etrie -Flom B ill of H ealth (Oct. 13, 2021). Estimating Pediatric Cases of COVID-19 Over Time in the United States: Filling in a Gap in Public Use Data, A mer . J. of I nfection C ontrol (2021) (with Timothy Wiemken et al.). How Theranos’ Faulty Blood Tests Got to Market -- And What That Shows About Gaps in FDA Regulation, The C onversation (O ct. 5, 2021) (Republished In Popular S cience).
KERRY RYAN
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Vaccine Clinical Trials and Data Infrastructure, 2021 Utah L. Rev. 771 (2021).
Tax Credits for the Working Poor: A Call for Reform by Michelle Lyon Drumbl , 24 Fla. Tax Rev. 931 (2021) (book review).
The COVID-19 Vaccine Race: Intellectual Property, Collaboration(s), Nationalism and Misinformation, 64 Wash. U. J.L. & Pol’y 167 (2021). Intellectual Property as a Determinant of Health, 54 Vand. J. Transnat’l L. 413 (2021). Property and Intellectual Property in Vaccine Markets, 7 Tex. A&M J. Prop. L. 110 (2021). The Case Against Monetary Behavioral Incentives in the Context of COVID-19 Vaccination, Harv. Pub. Health Rev. (2021) (with Timothy Wiemken). Development of Vaccines for Influenza Disease: Opportunity Costs of the COVID-19 Pandemic, 39 Vaccine 1025 (2021) (with Timothy Wiemken). Excess Mortality in the United States in 2020: Forecasting and Anomaly Detection, Amer. J. of Infection Control (Mar. 24, 2021) (with Timothy Wiemken, Samson Niemotka & Chris Prenner). Is There a Cure for Vaccine Nationalism?, 120 Current History 9 (Jan. 2021).
IRA H. TRAKO
Instructor, Associate Director, Center for International and Comparative Law
Ad Hoc and Hybrid Criminal Tribunals, in International Courts & Judicial Affairs, 55 Year in Rev. 273 (2021).
CONSTANCE Z. WAGNER
Professor
International Human Rights (Editor), Year in Review, 55 Int’l L aw. 491 (2021) (ABA Section of International Law).
SIDNEY D. WATSON
Jane and Bruce Robert Professor of Law; Director, Center for Health Law Studies
The Need for the Tort Law Necessity Defense in Intellectual Property Law, 2021 U. Chi. Legal F. 127 (2021) (With Yaniv Heled & Liza Vertinsky).
Lessons Learned: Strengthening Medicaid to Address Health and Economic Emergencies, in COVID-19 Policy Playbook: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable Future (S. Burris, et al. eds., 2021) (with Nicole Huberfeld).
Regulatory Reactivity: A Case Study on the Approval of the Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Aducanubam (Aduhelm), Regulatory Rev. (2021) (With Yaniv Heled & Liza Vertinsky).
Governmental Use of Racial Equity Tools to Address Systemic Racism and the Social Determinants of Health, Final Report, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, July 2021 (with Ruqaiijah Yearby, et al.).
Associations of Presidential Voting Preference and Gubernatorial Control with County-Level COVID-19 Case and Death Rates in the Continental United States, Public Health (Forthcoming 2021) (With Jason Eden et al.).
Roll Back Harmful Section 1115 Waivers: Charting the Path Forward, Harv. L. School Petrie-Flom Bill of Health Blog (May 2021).
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Health Care Services & Capacity Following Medicaid Expansion: What can we learn from late expanding states?, Missouri Foundation for
Health Medicaid Expansion Planning Resources, Mar. 2021 (with Heather Bednarek, et al.)
Deaths, The COVID-19 Law and Human Rights Observation (Trinity College Dublin), Apr. 16, 2021 (Blog co-authored with Seema Mohapatra).
Medicaid Expansion Implementation in Missouri: Innovative Outreach and Enrollment Strategies Missouri Foundation for Health Medicaid Expansion Planning Resources, Mar. 2021 (With Heather Bednarek, Et Al.).
Lex-Atlas US Covid-19 Response Report, in Oxford Compendium of National Responses to COVID-19 (Oxford University Press 2021) (report sponsored by King’s College, University College London, and the Max Planck Institute) (with Lindsay Wiley & Andrew Hammond).
Brief, Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Networks in Missouri: Too Far to Travel, M issouri Foundation for H ealth M edicaid E xpansion P lanning R esources , Aug. 2021 (With Heather Bednarek, Et Al.). Fact Sheet: Out-of-Network Hospitals for Medicaid Managed Care Plans, Missouri Foundation for Health Medicaid Expansion Planning Resources, Aug. 2021 (With Heather Bednarek & Sabrina Zimmerman).
ALAN WEINBERGER Professor
Backstories in the L aw: Tales Of Victors, Villains and Victims (Academia Press 2021).
Health Disparities, in Ahla Health L. Watch 2021 (2021) (with Danielle Pelfrey Duryea & Nicole Huberfield). Gaps in Worker Protections that Increase Essential Workers’ Exposure to COVID-19, in COVID-19 Legal Assessment Project (2021) (report sponsored by the de Beaumont Foundation and the American Public Health Association). Reinforcing Racial Hierarchies: Racism and Crisis Standards of Care in the COVID-19 Pandemic, 14 St. Louis U. J. Health L. & Pol’y 211 (2021) (with Charlene Galarneau).
MOLLY J. WALKER WILSON
Context for Entrenched Racial Health Disparities, in Unequal Cities: Moving Toward R acial Health Equity (Maureen R. Benjamins & Fernando De Maio, eds.) (Johns Hopkins University Press 2021) (with Maureen R. Benjamins & Fernando De Maio).
Motivated Reasoning and Legal Ethics, PLI Legal Chron., June 2021 (With Tigran Eldred).
Allocation of Opportunities to Participate in Clinical Trials during the Covid-19 Pandemic and Other Public Health Emergencies, 52 Hastings Ctr. Report, Dec. 15, 2021 (with Kayte Spector-Bagdady, et al.).
Professor
RUQAIIJAH YEARBY
Professor
Reifying Racism in the COVID-19 Pandemic Response, 21 A mer.
J. of Bioethics 75 (2021).
Systemic Racism, The Government ’s Pandemic Response, Racial Inequities in COVID-19, 70 Emory L.J. 1419 (2021) (with Seema Mohapatra). and
Governmental Use of Racial Equity Tools to Address Systemic Racism and the Social Determinants of Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Policies for Action Grant (2021) (with Sidney Watson et al.). Meatpacking plants have been deadly COVID-19 hot spots – but policies that encourage workers to show up sick are legal, The Conversation, Feb. 26, 2021 (Op-Ed reposted on Yahoo News!, Houston Chronicle, and Iowa Capital Dispatch). For Black Americans, Covid-19 is a reminder of the racism of US healthcare, The Guardian, Feb. 22, 2021 (Op-ed with Keon Gilbert et al.).
Employment Discrimination, Breastfeeding, and Health Justice, 57 Cal. W. L. Rev. 279 (2021). Addressing Systemic Racism in Nursing Homes: A Time for Action, 22 Jamda 886 (2021) (with Phillip Sloane, et al.). Race Based Medicine, Color Blind Disease: How Racism in Medicine is Harming Us All, 21 American J. Of Bioethics 19 (online Dec. 5, 2020) (in print 2021). Symposium Introduction: Health Justice: Engaging Critical Perspectives, in Health Law and Policy, Harv. L. Petrie-Flom Bill of Health (Sept. 7, 2021) (blog co-authored with Lindsay Wiley). Symposium Conclusion: Health Justice: Engaging Critical Perspectives, in Health Law and Policy, Harv. L. Petrie-Flom Bill of Health (Oct. 22, 2021) (blog co-authored with Lindsay Wiley). Structural Discrimination and Inequities in COVID-19 Infections and VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1
23
THE IMMEL SOCIETY
HONOR ROLL
The Vincent C. Immel Society honors donors who support SLU LAW through annual leadership giving of $1,000 or more to any law school fund. Contributions made by our Immel Society donors provide support to meet the most immediate challenges facing SLU LAW. Through their generosity, this select group of leaders sets the pace for graduating practice-ready attorneys and advancing SLU LAW’s mission to pursue excellence in teaching, research and service to the community.
On the following pages, we acknowledge with sincerest gratitude our annual, leadership donors who have generously supported SLU LAW during our last fiscal year. These reflect gifts received from July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support our efforts in educating the next generation of SLU LAW attorneys, please contact Michael Ruiz, director of development, at michael.ruiz@slu.edu or 314-977-2818.
$100,000+
$5,000-$9,999
> Thomas (Law ’73) & Nancy Connelly
> James Onder (Law ’88)
> Michael Anstett
> Daniel (Law ’76) & Susan Conway
> T he Hon. Anne-Marie Clarke (Law ’73) & Richard Gaines
> T he Hon. Kathianne (Law ’71) & David (Law ’78) Crane
> D ennis Donnelly (A&S ’63, Law ’66) & Rebecca McDermott
> Steven (Law ’74) & Barbara Davis
$50,000-$99,999 > Arthur de Graffenried (A&S ’69, Law ’72)
> Anita (Law ’78) & Stephen Esslinger
> R ichard (A&S ’53, Law ’55) & Virginia (A&S ’54) Fister
$25,000-$49,999
> Thomas (Law ’79) & Barbara (A&S ’71) Feiner
> Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C.
> Joseph (Chaifetz ’80, Law ’84, Grad Chaifetz ’85) & Claudia Bartholomew
> Eric (Law ’91) & Amy Holland
> William Halpin (A&S ’66, Law ’67)
> Holland Law Firm LLC
> Mark (Law ’76) & Janet Hassakis
> John (A&S ’67, Law ’71) & Susan Kilo
> R aymond (Law ’59) & Joanne (A&S ’59) Hirsch
> John Courtney > Louise R. Ramsey Trust > Brian (Law ’12) & Alaina Saligman > Schwab Charitable Fund > The Linda and Harvey Saligman Charitable Foundation
> S tephen (Law ’68, Grad Chaifetz ’78) & Gail Lambright > T he Hon. Michael (Law ’75) & Brenda McCuskey
> Richard Hughes (Law ’60) > Samuel Jordan (Faculty)
> Mary Beth Ortbals (A&S ’64, Law ’68)
> E rika (A&S ’97, Law ’00) & Kristofer (Grad Chaifetz ’04) Knapstein
> Bruce (A&S ’70, Law ’73) & Jane Robert
> Jeffrey (Faculty) & Leslie Lewis
$10,000-$24,999
> Albert (A&S ’61, Law ’64) & Susan Schlueter
> Lewis Rice LLC
> Ameren Corporation
> Stephen (Law ’88) & Angela Strum
> Marcia McCormick (Faculty)
> John (A&S ’60, Law ’62) & Joan Bray
> Timothy and Kiley Yeaglin
> Mark (Law ’87) & Mildred McLaughlin
> Frederick (Law ’75) & Mary (Valentine SON ’75) Drakesmith
> Andrew (Law ’99) & Yafei Zeng
> Jean (Law ’80) & Stephen Moore
> Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund > David (A&S ’65, Law ’67) & Margaret Hensler
$2,500-$4,999
> Jackson Lewis P.C.
> T he Hon. Henry (A&S ’74, Law ’77) & Mary Autrey
> Kerrin (Faculty) & David Kowach
> Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund
> M ark Schulte (A&S ’75, Law ’78) & Mary Holcomb
> T. Ellis (A&S ’70, Law ’73) & Cynthia Barnes
> Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program > B in Xue (Law ’01) & Ya-Hsin Chiang (Chaifetz ’02)
24
SLU LAW BRIEF
> Vincent (Law ’67) & Junko Bick > Grant Boyd (A&S ’11, Law ’14) > Gerard (Law ’75) & Suzanne Carmody
> C hristopher Schmidt (Law ’02) & Silvia Ledesma-Ortiz (Grad A&S ’14) > T he Hon. Karen Schreier (A&S ’78, Law ’81) & Timothy Dougherty > Jonathan (Law ’09) & Allison Slabaugh > St. Louis Community Foundation > Mary (Law ’81) & Simon Tonkin > Darlene Warnick (Law ’97)
HONOR ROLL > James (Law ’72) & Dudley Grove
$1,000-$2,499 > A. J. Bitker Charitable Foundation
> Christopher (Law ’02) & Mary (Law ’03) Guinn
> John (Chaifetz ’78, Law ’82) & Maureen (Med ’82) Riffle > Christine (Law ’96, Faculty) & Chad Rollins
> The Hon. Teresa (Law ’82) & Philip Hess
> Valerie Rutterer (A&S ’72)
> Jon (Faculty ) & Melissa Baris
> The Hon. Mary Kathryn Hoff (Law ’78) & Peter Stragand
> Cary (Law ’76) & Christina Sandman
> Julie (Grad A&S ’86) & Kevin Beattie
> Peter Jarosewycz (Law ’76)
> John (Law ’70) & Suzanne (A&S ’68) Bernardi
> Sandra (A&S ’73, Faculty) & Robert (A&S ’73) Johnson
> The Hon. Susan Block (Law ’75)
> Lori Jones (Law ’83)
> Suzanne (Law ’73) & Michael (Grad A&S ’75) Bocchini
> Alan Kaden
> The Hon. William (Law ’73) & Evelyn Schuwerk
> Jay (Law ’78) & Connie Krupin
> Robert (Parks ’64, Law ’68) & Donna Scoular
> Charles (A&S ’59, Law ’60) & Mary Kunderer
> Alan Siegel (Law ’75) & Karen Satterlee
> Sean (Law ’91) & Lisa (Law ’91) Lahiff
> Miriam (Law ’80) & Stephen Singer > Thomas (Law ’83) & Kelly Slaymaker
> Judson (Law ’75) & Pilar Calkins
> Christopher (Chaifetz, ’05, Law ’08) & Carolyn (Valentine SON ’04, Grad Valentine SON, ’09) Layloff
> John Carver (Law ’75)
> Kevin (Grad PH ’78) & Mimi (Law ’79) Leahy
> Elizabeth Stohr & Charles Brennan
> Thomas (Law ’72) & Victoria Challis
> Sang Lee
> Mary Strouth
> Dan Chandler (Law ’75)
> Joseph (Law ’52) & Francine Leritz
> Jon (Law ’70) & Lea Theobald
> Judy Cromwell (Law ’74) & Jesse Goldner (Faculty)
> Thomas (Law ’87) & Ann Lewis
> Thompson Coburn LLP
> Yvette Liebesman (Faculty)
> Thomas (Law ’83) & Margaret Deline
> Theodore (Law ’77) & Joyce (Law ’77) MacDonald
> The Hon. Richard (A&S ’71, Law ’74) & Gail Tognarelli
> Catherine (Med ’15) & Tyler (Law ’19) Ash
> Kathryn Brandt (A&S ’68) > Lynn Branham (Faculty) > Ann Buckley (A&S ’75, Law ’78) > Katherine (Law ’87) & David Butler
> Doreen Dodson (Law ’74) & Dana Spitzer > Dennis (Law ’85) & Maritza Dolan > Patricia (A&S ’80, Law ’87) & James Duft > Frank (Law ’73) & Nancy Dunne > David Elder (Law ’72) & Monica Bohlen > Monica Eppinger (Faculty ) & David Menninger > Ernst and Young Foundation > Lars Etzkorn (Law ’90) & Gregory Hoss > Fischer, Bauer, Knirps Foundation > Susan FitzGibbon (Law ’84, Faculty) > Patrick (Chaifetz, ’66, Law ’69) & Thiem Flynn > Janice (Grad PH ’79, Law ’79) & William Forsyth > Mark (A&S ’97, Law ’01) & Kimberly Gaertner
> Douglass (Grad PH ’89, Law ’82) & Carol Marshall
> Stanley Schechter (Law ’61) & Elizabeth Van Uum > Thomas (Law ’75) & Jane Schmidt > Suzanne Schmitz (Law ’81)
> John Soucy (Law ’97)
> Eric (Law ’87) & Therese (Law ’87) Trelz > USDC Eastern District of Missouri
> Mary Pat McInnis (PH ’82, Law ’87)
> The Hon. Lisa Van Amburg (Law ’75) & Ted Zlotopolski
> Amb. James (Law ’65) & Conception (A&S ’61) Michel
> The Hon. Robert (A&S ’70, Law ’73) & Maxine Weis
> Monaghan Foundation
> Robert (Law ’55) & Rosalee Welling
> Mary (Law ’84) & James Moog
> Kathy Wisniewski (Law ’89)
> Michael Morton (Law ’14)
> Alvin (Law ’79) & June Wolff
> John (Faculty ) & Barbara O’Brien
> Lisa Wood (A&S ’84, Law ’89)
> Dennis (Law ’69) & Sheryl O’Connell
> Colleen (Law ’13) & Capron Zern
> Roger (Chaifetz ’89, Grad Chaifetz ’93, Law ’93) & Dianne Pecha
> Shawn (Law ’94) & Jane Zhao
> Pecha Family Foundation > Geoffrey Peck > Joseph (Law ’79) & Florine Porter
> Amanda Goldsmith (Law ’07)
> John (A&S ’64, Law ’67) & Olivia (A&S ’67) Rasp
> The Hon. Terry (Law ’81) & Mary Ellen Gould
> Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund
> Greensfelder Hemker & Gale PC
> Kathryn Redmond (A&S ’09, Law ’19)
Great care was taken to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Should there be any discrepancies, please contact Michael Ruiz at michael.ruiz@slu.edu. VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1
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CLASS NOTES THROUGH MARCH 31, 2021
Due to space constraints, The Brief can no longer publish St. Louis Magazine’s Best Lawyers listings.
1965 James Michel, former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, was inducted to the 2022 SLU LAW Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall Fame.
1971 Eugene Thirolf was featured in the St. Louis Business Journal with a profile called “A Man of Compassion and Justice.” Thirolf, former Director of Consumer Litigation at the U.S. Department of Justice, currently works as an Attorney Consultant. Robert Spohrer was named the Jacksonville Lawyer of the Year - Insurance Law in the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers in America.
1973 Michael Nester was selected for Super Lawyers 2021. He is noted as a Top-Rated General Litigation Attorney in Belleville, IL. Nester is an attorney at Donovan Rose Nester, PC, tending to client’s general litigation legal issues as well as personal injury: medical malpractice and defense and professional liability. 26
SLU LAW BRIEF
Kevin F. O’Malley, former Ambassador to Ireland, has joined the Mediator and Senior Arbitrator Panels of United States Arbitration & Mediation (USA&M), the leading provider of mediation & arbitration services.
1974 Doreen Dodson was named a recipient of Missouri Lawyers Media ICON Awards 2021. In 1990, Dodson made history as the first woman president of the Missouri Bar. She retired as a Senior Partner at Polsinelli in 2018. Hon. Lawrence Mooney was named a recipient of Missouri Lawyers Media ICON Awards 2021. Judge Mooney retired in 2019 after serving on the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals. William P. Levins retired as the District Counsel, St. Louis District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Levins served this agency for 45 years and was the District
Counsel for the last 21 years. At his retirement ceremony, Levins received the Order of the Fleur Medal and the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award.
1975 Hon. Susan Block was named on the Family Law Power List in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021 and as the 2021 Woman of the Year. She was also named Outstanding LGBTQ+ Individual in Business of Pride Awards, St. Louis Business Journal, 2021. Block practices divorce and family law at Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C. Douglas Hofmann was recognized as Best Lawyers’ 2022 Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation Defense in the Seattle Metropolitan and Puget Sound area. This honor is awarded to the attorney with the most peer votes in the area. Hofmann prioritizes litigation at Williams Kastner in Washington. Some of his cases involve commercial disputes, drug and medical devices, insurance coverage and defamation.
1976 Mark Hassakis was selected as a Leading Lawyer in 2021 in personal injury. Mark was also recertified by Illinois Super Lawyers in Plaintiffs’ personal injury and workers’ compensation.
He is a Partner at the law office of Gillespie, Hetlage & Coughlin, LLC.
1977
Ronald Fox was named a recipient of Missouri Lawyers Media ICON Awards 2021. He is a major Partner at Fox Smith LLC, a firm of trial lawyers, where Fox defends clients regarding litigation needs.
Howard Adelman was inducted to the 2022 SLU LAW Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame. Adelman has been a Partner Shareholder at Adelman & Gettleman Ltd. since its establishment in 1983.
Rueben Shelton was named a recipient of Missouri Lawyers Media ICON Awards 2021. Now retired, Shelton was lead attorney of litigation at Monsanto Company, now named Bayer Crop Science.
Lee Lawless retired from the Federal Public Defender’s office. Lawless was the head of this office for 16 years and a member for 37 years.
1978 Thomas Weaver was named Honoree on the Power List of Appellate Attorney in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. Weaver is a Partner at Armstrong Teasdale. He specializes in litigation within areas such as appellate, commercial, insurance and eminent domain.
1983 Hon. Ronald Motil was appointed as an Associate Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison and Bond Counties, IL. Motil is a member of the Gori Law Firm and holds his expertise in civil law as well as workers’ compensation and municipal law. As an Associate Judge, Motil will utilize his experience to help seek justice for the designated counties.
1988 Hon. Margaret Donnelly has been honored for service by the Missouri Judicial Conference and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Donnelly is the Circuit Judge for Division 20. She was appointed to this position in August of 2016.
1989 Deborah Henry was named on Family Law Power List in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. As a principal at Curtis, Heinz, Garret & O’Keefe P.C., Henry’s specialties lie in general litiagation with strengths in areas such as marital issues regarding child custody, support, and adoption.
1992 Daniel Cronin was inducted to the 2022 SLU LAW Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame. Cronin has worked in the East St. Louis office of the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Illinois since 1999.
1985
1994
Hon. Mary Kathryn Hoff retired as judge of Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. She served in this position from 1995 to 2021.
Thomas Ward was named Honoree for The Power List of Appellate Lawyers in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021.
1979
1986
Donna Harper was inducted to 2022 SLU LAW Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame. Harper is a founder of Sedey Harper Westhoff P.C.
Leigh Carson was named on the Family Law Power List in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. Carson is the principal of the Carson Law Firm in Clayton, Missouri. Her firm focuses on family law, specializing in divorces and similar marital law cases.
Christine McCoy was named 2021 General Counsel of the Year for Corporate Counsel Awards in St. Louis Business Journal. McCoy is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Ascension. Ascension is a nonprofit health care system and McCoy was highlighted for her work maintaining communication throughout the company during the 2020 pandemic.
1981 Hon. Sherri Sullivan, judge in the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, was inducted into the 2022 SLU LAW Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame. Dorothy White-Coleman was inducted into the 2022 SLU LAW Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame. She is the manager of White Coleman & Associates, LLC. Janette Lohman was named 2021 State Tax Lawyer of the Year in Finance Monthly. Lohman is a Partner at Thompson Coburn LLP. Her expertise in state and local taxation assisted the recognition, as well as her previous induction into the 2020 SLU LAW Hall of Fame. Lawrence Gillespie was named on Family Law Power List in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. Gillespie has 37 years of experience in domestic and appellate litigation and family law.
John Stephens retired as Senior Executive President & Chief Financial Officer at AT&T.
1987 Todd Siwak became President and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America in Parsippany, New Jersey. At Ferrero, Siwak helps engineer the company’s success throughout the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. Casper Yost became Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Market Director for Simmons Bank in Columbia, Missouri. Yost leads a team of wealth planning associates to assist the bank’s customers. His previous experience with financial and legal services began as a corporate transaction and estate planning attorney following his graduation from SLU LAW.
Jeffrey McPherson was named Honoree for The Power List of Appellate Lawyers in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. McPherson works at Armstrong Teasdale. He is a Partner and has presented at every Missouri appellate court. He also provides his services in commercial disputes, family law, municipal law, product liability, insurance, criminal law and taxation.
1995 David Schatz became Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel at ESCO Technologies.
1996 Hon. Nicole Colbert-Botchway was inducted to the 2022 SLU LAW Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame. With over 25 years of litigation experience she was the first African-American president of the Women Lawyers Association of Greater St. Louis. VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1
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CLASS NOTES David Engelman, founder and CEO of SMART Payment Plan, has authored a bestselling book, Live Smart, Be Happy: 20 Simple Concepts for an Easier, Happier Life. It is based on his experience helping people take control of their finances.
1997 Steven Dawson has joined the law firm Harrison & Held, LLP. Founded in 2003, Harrison & Held, LLP focuses their services on estate planning. Dawson lends his skills as an estate planning attorney to the Greater St. Louis area. Dean Plocher, Representative for the 89th District, became the majority floor leader in the Missouri House of Representatives, Jefferson City, MO. Plocher is also a practicing attorney and manages the Plocher Law Firm and sees to the needs of individuals and small local businesses Thomas Grow joined Littler Mendelson P.C., the preeminent name in labor and employment law. Grow’s focus areas include labor management relations, hiring, training and policy procedures.
1998 Timothy Sansone was named Honoree for The Power List of Appellate Lawyers in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. Sansone leads the Appellate and Complex Litigation team at Sandberg Phoenix. He is also Chair of Professional Development and provides services in class actions and fire and arson defense cases. Matthew Reh was named manager of Armstrong Teasdale’s Metro East office. Here, he practices real estate litigation, tort litigation and municipal law. Reh also has been elected to a six-year term on the St. Louis Country Judicial Commision, which will resolve in 2027. Hon. Thomas Clark II was appointed to the Missouri Court of Appeals in St. Louis. His assignments include family and domestic matters, criminal trials and civil jury trials. Jeffrey Jensen began working at Government Investigations and White-Collar Defense practice, Husch Blackwell. Jensen is a Partner at Husch Blackwell and is noted for his previous work as a special agent for the FBI and as an attorney defending civil, regulatory and criminal cases.
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2002 Cardina Johnson received the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’ 2021 President’s Award. Johnson is an Associate General Counsel at the Illinois Education Association. Brenda Maloney Shafer became a Partner in Quarles & Brady’s Health & Life Sciences Practice Group. She has been appointed to the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP). Daniel Cuneo has become CEO at Lexicon. Lexicon is a legal software firm in St. Louis, MO. They provide technical consulting and software development and design services. Aaron Pawlitz returns to Lewis Rice as Partner after 5 years at Spencer Fane LLP Christopher McGinnis became CEO of Citizens Rx. McGinnis has a variety of experiences with accounting, legal and business development. Before joining as Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Rx, McGinnis held positions as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer at other companies.
2003 Patrick Murphy has become Chief Legal Officer, EUP at iRhythm Technologies Inc. He oversees regulatory, quality, Market access and government affairs.
2004 Dustin Deschamp was named HR Awards Honoree in St. Louis Business Journal in July 2021. Deschamp has been the Director of Human Resources at the Saint Louis Zoo since May of 2007.
2005 Mark Ryerson has become Chair of the Business and Corporate Practice Group of Howard & Howard Law Firm. This firm focuses on assisting clients with general corporate matters. Ryerson provides his services with mergers and acquisitions, securities and financial institutions.
2007 David Perron was elected Principal at Brown & James, P.C. Perron is a part of the Health Care Liability Practice Group at Brown & James, P.C.
Steven Denny became Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Bryant Godfrey became Partner at Foley Hoag LLP in Washington, D.C. His clients consist of pharmaceutical, biotechnological and medical device companies. His practices include FDA (Food and Drug Administration), healthcare, advertising and marketing, cannabis and regulation of healthcare payers.
2009 Alicia Konstantinovich was named Corporate Counsel Award Honoree in St. Louis Business Journal 2021. Konstantinovich was appointed Assistant General Counsel at ARCO Construction in 2022. Casey Wong was named Honoree for Diversity and Inclusion Awards in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. As a Top-Rated Business Litigation Attorney, Wong is a litigation Partner at Sandberg Phoenix. Shawn McLain was appointed Senior Counsel at Wells Fargo. He focuses on employment counseling and litigation.
2010 Abby E. Bonjean was elected as a Shareholder in the Health Care Operations Practice Group in Polsinelli’s Chicago office. Lillian Doan Davis was named to the 40-Under-40 List, St. Louis Business Journal 2021. As a shareholder at Polsinelli, she partners with private and public corporations as a counselor and a litigator. Sheena Hamilton, St. Louis City Counselor, was named to the 40-Under-40 List, St. Louis Business Journal 2021. Amy Johnson received the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’ 2021 President’s Award. Johnson works for Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C. She concentrates on family law within this firm.
Erin Brooks was named one of the 2021 class of the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Businesswomen. As an environmental attorney, her practices include food and agribusiness, health and safety as well as representing real estate developers and investors. Brandy Cole-Barnes became Compliance Manager at Better Family Life, Inc. This nonprofit organization thrives to assist St. Louis city neighborhoods.
2011 Justin Ijei was named Honoree for Diversity and Inclusion Awards in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. A member of Rasmussen Dickey Moore Trial Counsel, Ijei is focused on toxic torts, employment law and products liability.
2013
2016
Lindsay Wuller Aggarwal has made Partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in St. Louis. She practices commercial disputes with a focus on securities litigation. Aggarwal has represented broker-dealers in a variety of cases and both firms and individuals in state regulatory investigations.
Keri Smith became Managing Attorney at Nahon Saharovich & Trotz PLC. Smith’s areas of focus are automobile accidents. She also has experience in personal injury claims, workers’ compensation and mass torts.
Alicia Olszeski became a Partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in St. Louis. At BCLP, Olszeski works within complex class and commercial litigation. She also has experience in pro bono matters.
Katherine Ricks received the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’ 2021 President’s Award. Beginning in March 2022, Ricks joined Harris Dowell Fisher & Young, L.C. At this firm, Ricks focuses her practice on labor and employment law.
Jonathan Pollmann became a Partner at Stinson LLP. Pollmann’s practices include intellectual property & technology, patent preparation and prosecution and various software and technology focuses.
Abigail Kaericher became Vice President for Legislation and Associate General Counsel at Federation of American Hospitals in Washington, D.C.
Brooke Smith was previously the Assistant City Manager of University City. She was promoted to Deputy City Manager and Director of Development in 2022.
2014
Bradley Stein was promoted to President of Intracorp Texas, operating out of Austin, where he oversees the real estate development firm’s growth in the state and leads a multi-functional local team to develop properties.
Timothy Meyer was appointed a Partner at MG+M The Law Firm, where he concentrates his practice on complex civil litigation, focusing on the areas of toxic tort and personal injury.
Hon. Joseph Goff became Partner at Armstrong Teasdale. Goff has a history as a former Missouri Associate Circuit Judge in the 24th Judicial Circuit. His expertise lies in both civil and criminal trial matters.
Emily Elam became Senior Vice President for Assistant General Counsel at CitiBank.
Justin Reinhardt was elevated to Partner at MG+M The Law Firm. Reinhardt’s practice is focused on trucking and transportation, premises liability, products liability and toxic torts. Kara Burke became a Principal at Brown & James, P.C. Burke works in Belleville, IL. She focuses within the areas of environmental insurance, health care and retail liability and insurance law.
Firdavs Mirzoev became Regional Director at Alif Bank in London, England. Sarah J. Luem was named Chair of the Business & Finance and the Real Estate practice groups at Capes Sokol. This firm focuses on providing counseling to entrepreneurs working towards building businesses.
2012 Jennifer George was named to the 40-Under-40 List, St. Louis Business Journal 2021. George became the Vice President of Development at NorthPoint Development in March of 2022. Scott Yackey has been elected Principal by the partners at Harness, Dickey & Pierce. P.L.C, where he is a registered patent attorney.
Caitlin Trevillyan became an Associate at Cozen O’Connor in the Washington, D.C.–Baltimore area. At Cozen O’Conner, Trevillyan’s practice areas include commercial litigation, construction law and government contracts. She offers her services and advice to clients within real estate and construction.
2017
Peter Fiore joined Summers Compton Wells LLC in 2021. This firm provides legal counsel to local business owners and families in the St. Louis area.
2018 Alexus Williams was named Honoree for Diversity and Inclusion Awards in Missouri Lawyers Media 2021. Williams an Associate at the St. Louis office of Lewis Brisbois, served as Vice President and then President at SLU LAW’s Black Law Students’ Association. Williams focuses her law practice on the prosecution of domestic crimes as well as toxic tort & environmental litigation.
2020 Alexander Parker joined Carmody MacDonald P.C and their litigation team. As an Associate attorney, Parker works within the Homeowner/ Condo Association Practice Group and assists with the representation of over 150 Homeowner and Condominium Associations with a variety of concerns.
2015 Benjamin McIntosh was elected a Principal at Brown & James, P.C. McIntosh has expertise in appellate issues in both state and federal court. He represents insurance agents and their needs. VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1
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IN MEMORIAM Mr. Charles McEnery || 1955 Charles John “Jack” McEnery Jr. passed away on September 29, 2021. Mr. McEnery graduated from Saint Louis University School of Commerce and School of Law. After serving three years in the Air Force as a Judge Advocate General, he returned to St. Louis where he practiced law for more than 60 years.
Mr. Joseph Mueller || 1959 Joseph Mueller died peacefully surrounded by family on October 9, 2021. He was very proud of his Jesuit education. He was a ‘triple Billiken,’ having graduated from St. Louis University High School, Saint Louis University and the School of Law. A fierce advocate in the courtroom, Joe was a trial lawyer for 62 years. He was a partner for 46 years at Moser & Marsalek, and then ‘of counsel’ for 16 years with his son at The Mueller Law Practice. Because of his success in the courtroom, he was accepted into both the distinguished American College of Trial Attorneys and the American Board of Trial Advocates.
The Honorable Thad Niemira || 1959 The Honorable Thad Niemira began his life of service in 1961 as an Officer in the United States Air Force where he served as a Judge Advocate. Beloved husband of 62 years to Helen Niemira, he was a practicing attorney for over 25 years prior to being appointed as an Associate Circuit Court Judge in 1985. He retired from the bench in 2004 and returned to private practice for a few years. He passed away on November 6, 2021.
The Honorable Paul Simon || 1960 The Honorable Paul J. Simon passed away peacefully on Monday, June 6th, 2021, in his home surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was born in St. Louis on July 10th, 1933, to Samuel and Sarah Simon (Webbe). He earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University and his law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law’s evening program. He proudly served as a Missouri State Representative, Deputy Coroner, Special Assistant Attorney General, as well as an attorney in private practice. He became President of the St. Louis Board of Alderman serving one term from 1975 - 1979. He was nominated to serve on the Missouri Appellate Court, Eastern District, where he served until his retirement in 2004 at the age of 70 and served for several years as the court’s settlement judge. In 2015, Simon was inducted into SLU LAW’s Hall of Fame for his accomplishments.
The Honorable Charles Kitchin || 1964 A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Judge Charles Kitchin (retired) of the 22nd Circuit Court entered into eternal rest on Monday, August 23, 2021, at the age 83. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and was the son of Claude and Lorena Kitchin and 50year friend of Carolyn Brodzin. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
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Mr. Edward Ahlheim || 1967 Edward Cameron Ahlheim, of St. Charles, MO, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2021, at the age of 84. Edward attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He then graduated from Saint Louis University with a Juris Doctorate, and he passed the Missouri Bar in 1967. He was a member of the Estate Planning Council of St. Louis. Edward was a devoted man of faith, and a parishioner at St. Cletus Catholic Church for 43 years.
Mr. Richard Coffin || 1971 Richard K. Coffin, born April 6, 1940, peacefully passed away while at home with his beloved wife, June, on July 8, 2019. Richard was born and raised in St. Louis. He received his high school diploma from St Louis University High School, his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Norte Dame, his Master of Business and Juris Doctorate degrees from Saint Louis University. Richard had a very fulfilling law career that spanned over 30 years and included federal prosecution, general civil practice, corporate in-house counsel, and immigration law.
Mr. Richard Brandt || 1972 Richard K. Brandt was born January 2, 1945, in Pittsburgh, to Richard Simon Brandt and Vera Elsie Kost Brandt, the third of five children. He passed on December 22, 2021. In June of 1970, he married Kathryn Gibson, whom he met at Saint Louis University School of Law. He earned his J.D. degree in the fall of 1972. After graduation, the Brandts moved to Pittsburgh, where Rich launched his legal career in 1973. His admissions included Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and the United States Supreme Court. In his 48-year career, Rich had a wide range of legal experience from working for Neighborhood Legal Services, for law firms and then a solo practice in Sewickley, PA, beginning in 1991.
Senator William Haine || 1973 Senator William Haine was born on August 8, 1944, in Alton, IL. He served in the Army from 1967 to 1969, before receiving his Juris Doctor degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law. The senator then became a member of the law firm Bono and Haine in Wood River from 1978 to 1988. In 1988, Haine was elected as Madison County state’s attorney, an office he held until his 2002 appointment to the Illinois Senate. Haine, a Democrat, served Illinois’ 56th District, which includes Alton, Wood River, and Edwardsville. He completed his last term in 2018 and chose not to run for re-election. He passed away on August 16, 2021.
Mr. Fred Boeckmann || 1974 Fred Alphonse Boeckmann, age 74, died on August 17, 2021, surrounded by family in his St. Louis home. Born in 1947 to Virginia and Alphonse Boeckmann, Fred attended St. Mary of the Barrens Seminary in Perryville, Missouri. After graduating with a degree in
philosophy, he met the love of his life, Kathleen Zak Boeckmann. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1974. During his esteemed career, Fred worked as city attorney for Cape Girardeau (1982-1986) before ultimately serving a 26-year tenure as city attorney of Columbia (1986-2013). In 2004, the Missouri Municipal Attorney Association recognized his leadership by giving him the Lou Czech Award, their highest honor.
Mr. Stanley Loring || 1974
a lifelong professional passion dedicated to philanthropic endeavors understanding both the people and business sides of nonprofits. As an officer of a national fundraising consultancy, she worked with hundreds of nonprofit leaders, guiding a range of projects. She is survived by her husband of 33 years John C. Furla, II and her son John “Jack” August Borron Furla.
Mr. Bernard Jay Dowling || 1988
Stanley Adelbert Loring, Jr, age 93, of Springfield, MO was born May 26, 1928, in Stoughton, Massachusetts, to Stanley and Gertrude Loring and passed away on October 13, 2021. He was married to Darlene Carpenter on July 7, 1962. Stanley graduated from Stoughton High School and graduated from Saint Louis University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, then later a law degree from Saint Louis University. He worked at McDonnell Douglas and helped design Gemini and Mercury Space Capsules. He then worked for the federal government where he examined government contracts and retired in 1986. Stanley was a veteran of WWII where he served in the Army.
Bernard Jay Dowling, of Swansea, IL, departed our lives on May 15, 2021. He was born in Belleville, IL on October 31, 1960. Jay graduated from Collinsville High School in 1978, Culver-Stockton College in 1982, the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement in 1983, and Saint Louis University School of Law in 1988. His career took him down many paths, starting as a patrolman for the Fairview Heights Police Department from 1983-1985, then transitioned to the practice of law in 1988. During his law career, Jay worked with the firms of Nelson & Bement; Heiligenstein & Badgley; Rich, Nalefski & Dowling; much of his time spent with Sterling & Dowling; and was currently a partner with Clayborne & Wagner. He is survived by his wife Shelly and sons, Mason, and Nolan.
Ms. Diane Weyermann || 1981
The Honorable Matthew Vacca || 1988
Diane Weyermann, the longtime Chief Content Officer at Participant who also produced or executive produced dozens of films including Oscar winners An Inconvenient Truth and Citizenfour, died of cancer at 66. Diane Hope Weyermann was born on September 22, 1955, in St. Louis. Diane studied public affairs at George Washington University in Washington, graduating in 1977, and four years later earned a law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. She worked as a legal aid lawyer before attending film school at Columbia College Chicago, graduating in 1992 with an M.F.A. in film and video.
The Honorable Matthew Vacca passed away in November of 2021. He was formerly an administrative law judge in the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR), Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC).
Mrs. Louise McKeon Belt || 1983 Louise McKeon Belt, age 85, of Wildwood, MO, passed away on August 21, 2021, surrounded by her loving family after an illness. She loved to teach organic gardening, swim in the ocean, ride her bicycle on the Katy Trail, and make the best chocolate chip cookies. As an advocate for clean air and bicycle safety, Louise served on the Board of American Lung Association and Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Board. She also served many years as an elections supervisor for the St. Louis County Board of Elections. She is preceded in death by her husband Charles B. Belt, Jr.
Mrs. Jennifer Furla || 1986 Jennifer Borron Furla, age 59, passed away peacefully from a courageous battle with Leukemia on November 8, 2021. Born to the Honorable John A. and Janet Borron on June 5, 1962, Jennifer grew up in Blue Springs, MO. She attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, majoring in journalism and political science and received her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. In 1993, Jennifer became President and CEO of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). After a brief transition as a VP of Commerce Bank’s Trust Department, she embarked on
Mrs. Cora Faith Walker || 2009 Cora Faith Walker, 37, of Ferguson, MO, transitioned on Friday, March 11, 2022. Walker served in the Missouri House of Representatives, elected to her first term in November 2016. Prior to public service, Walker worked as the Health Law and Policy Fellow for the School of Law’s Center for Health Law Studies in 2014-15. Most recently, Mrs. Walker served as the Chief Policy Officer for the St. Louis County Executive. Cora Faith is lovingly remembered by her husband, Tim Walker.
Mr. Bradley Hook || 2011 Bradley A. Hook, age 35, died peacefully on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at his home in Independence, MO. He was born May 7, 1986, the son of Robert and Margaret (Ehret) Hook in St. Louis, MO. Brad was a 2004 graduate of De Smet Jesuit High School (St. Louis). He graduated from Truman State University in 2008 with a Political Science degree. He received his Juris Doctor degree with an concentration in Health Law from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2011. After law school, he moved to Kansas City to be with the love of his life, Katherine “Kati” Gilligan. They were united in marriage on April 13, 2013. Together they had two children – a son named Emerson and a daughter named Reagan – who were his pride and joy. Brad was employed by GEHA in Lee’s Summit, MO as Senior Counsel. Brad battled Stage IV Colorectal Cancer for 1,058 days with unwavering faith and positivity.
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SPOTLIGHT ON THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW Professor Afonso Seixas-Nunes, SJ at home at Scott Hall Arriving from Portugal at the start of the school year, Professor Afonso Seixas-Nunes has made himself right at home at Saint Louis University School of Law. From teaching international criminal law, mentoring students, speaking and researching on war crimes and the legality of autonomous weapons to providing a safe space for prayer, reflection and spiritual guidance, Fr. Afonso has quickly become an integral part of the School of Law community. In May, he presented at the Instituto de Ciencias Juridico Politicas in Lisbon, Portugal on how international law can keep up with the challenges posed by new combat technologies. And more recently published his book with Cambridge University Press, “The Legality and Accountability of Autonomous Weapon Systems: A Humanitarian Law Perspective.” You can hear his appearance on the SLU LAW Summations podcast discussing international criminal law and the war in Ukraine by visiting slu. edu/law/podcast or visiting us on Instagram at @SLULAW. International Distinguished Speakers Reflect on Disinformation Campaigns and Immigration In the fall, the Center welcomed Professor Sara Ochs from the University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. Professor Ochs presented to faculty and students on the phenomenon of fake news and international criminal law. She previewed how a decade defined by fake news has led to nations weaponizing disinformation to disrupt political, legal, and social systems throughout the world. Additionally, Professor Jeffrey Ochs from Northern Illinois University College of Law came to present his research regarding disinformation during the Trump administration. He spoke about online disinformation in relation to elections, particularly President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. The Center also welcomed Professor Sabrina Balgamwalla in early 2022. Professor Balgamwalla is from Wayne State University Law School where she directs the Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic. She presented on the “Detention Archipelago” which refers to custody transfers in the immigration system. International Internship Placements The summer of 2021 brought back the return, though slightly modified, of the Summer in Madrid program for SLU LAW students. Following their program, students were placed in internships across the globe including second year student Kadiedra Jones who interned at ECIJA in the Dominican Republic. ECIJA, an international law firm with a network of over 800 professionals, has existed for more than 20 years. In that time, the firm has expanded to headquarter locations in Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Chile, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil and Puerto Rico. The program continues for the summer of 2022 with nine students in Madrid this summer. Seven of them are from SLU LAW and two are visiting from St. Mary’s University in Texas.
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Center for International and Comparative Law Faculty Scholarship As reflected in this issue’s Faculty Scholarship section, the Center’s faculty have been hard at work writing for esteemed publications and presenting worldwide. Here is a selection:* PUBLICATIONS Monica E. Eppinger, Gravitas: A Sense of War in Five Words, Cultural Anthropology Fieldsights (March 28, 2022), https://culanth.org/fieldsights/ gravitas-a-sense-of-war-in-five-words. Monica E. Eppinger, The Commons: U.S. National Report in Property, Proceedings of the International Academy of Comparative Law (2022 (anticipated)). Chad Flanders, Disenfranchisement Due to Crime, in Comparative Election Law (James Gardner ed., 2022). William P. Johnson, Disclaiming Warranties That Were Never Implied: The Irrelevance of UCC Section 2-316 for Article 35 of the CISG, 28 Southwestern Journal of International L aw ___(2022) (invited symposium article) (forthcoming) Henry Ordower, Block Rewards, Carried Interests, and Other Valuation Quandaries in Taxing Compensation, Tax Notes (June 6, 2022 forthcoming) Constance Z. Wagner and Nancy Kaymar Stafford, Developing Standards for Gender-Responsive Human Rights Due Diligence, in A Guide to Human Rights Due Diligence for Lawyers (Corinne Lewis and Constance Z. Wagner eds., forthcoming 2022). A Guide to Human Rights Due Diligence for Lawyers (Corinne Lewis and Constance Z. Wagner eds., forthcoming 2022). AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS Monica Eppinger, Beaumont Grant awarded for research on biotechnology and its regulation in the former U.S.S.R. Henry Ordower, Beaumont Grant awarded for research on Social Security funding mechanism LEADERSHIP Monica Eppinger, Comparative Law and Social Science Committee, American Society of Comparative Law William P. Johnson, At-Large Member, Section Council, American Bar Association International Law Section Constance Z. Wagner, Director, SLU LAW Summer Program in Madrid Constance Z. Wagner, Vice-Chair of Publications, International Human Rights Committee, American Bar Association International Law Section
*For a complete list of Faculty Scholarship, please see page 20 of this issue.
N G BA I V I G N O S U C FO
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The Office of Development and Alumni Relations highlights why alumni give to the School of Law and the different avenues available to support future legal education at Saint Louis University.
HON. ANNE-MARIE CLARKE(’73) (RETIRED) How did studying at SLU LAW impact your life?
I mapped out several things on my life’s journey. I knew I wanted to go to Rosati-Kain High School. I planned to complete college in three years. I wanted to be a lawyer like my father. He told me to go to Saint Louis University School of Law and I did. He knew and admired Peter Salsich, Sandy Sarasohn and Dean Richard Childress. Judge McMillian was his friend (and later, a mentor of mine) and my father constantly reminded me of Judge McMillian ranking first in his class at SLU LAW. So studying law at SLU made me the lawyer I am. I was nurtured by those professors and librarian Eileen Searls. I will forever be grateful to Dean Childress for his personal guidance with my legal education.
Judge Jackson’s recent confirmation was very meaningful for many people. What are your hopes for current students and recent alumni that may feel underrepresented in their field?
You were integral in fundraising for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Why was that important to you?
I was happy to be able to support SLU LAW in a meaningful. When I was asked to support the Office of DEI, it seemed the perfect place to help make a difference.
Would you encourage fellow alumni to give back in support of the University? If so, why?
You always hear about “paying it forward” or “giving back to the community” but that’s really what life is about. Wherever you are in life, whatever you do in life, SLU has made that possible by providing the base everything else is built on. “To whom much is given, much will be required.” SLB
Feeling underrepresented has been something I’ve known all my life, be it as a woman, a Person of Color or both. Yet, it is the success of any woman or any POC that is reason to cheer. And my hope is that current students, alumni and all of us know that these successes are possible. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s appointment proves that.
Did you have someone to look up to while pursuing your career?
I was blessed to have many people to look up to. The first was my late father, attorney Thomas P. Clarke, who graduated from the Lincoln Law School and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1946. Margaret Bush Wilson was his classmate and my lifelong friend and mentor. As the child of a member of the Mound City Bar Association, I had an entire village of individuals to look up to but who also encouraged me. When I joined the Judiciary, my role model was Family Court Commissioner Seneca Nolan whom I had appeared before during my years of Juvenile practice. I learned from him to be deliberate, decisive, kind and approachable.
To learn more about how you can continue the legacy and support the School of Law, please contact: MICHAEL RUIZ Director of Development (314) 977-2818 michael.ruiz@slu.edu
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