February 2019

THE

CIVILIAN CIVILIAN

A STUDENT PUBLICATION FOR THE LSU LAW CENTER COMMUNITY FEBRUARY 2019 | VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 4

SHUTDOWN SMACKDOWN

January 25 marked the end of the longest government shutdown in American history.

The shutdown spanned from midnight of December 22, 2018, and lasted 35 days.

Kerith Willard Staff Writer

At the heart of the shutdown was President Donald Trump’s demand for border wall funding, and congressional Democrats’ determination that Trump would not be getting the $5.7 billion he asked for.

In early December, Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer met with Trump to discuss funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a campaign promise repeatedly made by Trump. He stated numerous times throughout his campaign that Mexico would be the ones paying for the wall.

At the meeting Trump demanded $5 billion, and the Democrats countered with $1.6 billion. Trump rejected this offer and stated he would take the blame for a government shutdown. He said he would be “proud” to shut down the government over the wall.

The shutdown began over the Christmas holiday. Shortly after the new year, Trump and the Democrats met to discuss funding

again. They could not come to a compromise and the meeting was short. Another meeting was held January 9 which was once again unsuccessful.

Trump threatened the Democrats with the possibility of a national emergency. Pelosi responded by suggesting that the State of the Union Address be postponed until the shutdown ended, offering Trump the option to give the address in writing instead.

“Nancy, I am still thinking about the State of the Union speech, there are so many options - including doing it as per your written offer (made during the Shutdown, security is no problem), and my written acceptance,” the president tweeted in response on January 20. “While a contract is a contract, I’ll get back to you soon!”

On January 19, Trump offered Democrats a limited extension of protections for people living in the US under DACA. Democrats rejected the offer, noting that the president’s concession was extremely limited.

The longest government shutdown in history ended on January 25, when Trump agreed to sign a temporary funding bill. The continuing resolution provides funding for the government until February 15. continued on page 7...

THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

Professor Spotlight: Christina Sautter

This interview originally appeared in the Women Law Students’ Association’s January Professor Spotlight.

Q: Is there anything specific about your career that you hope other women look up to?

Randee Iles Editor-in-Chief

I have been successful in the male-dominated field of Mergers & Acquisitions and successfully made the transition from a purely transactional law practice to legal academia. I hope that in some small way I have inspired women to pursue a corporate transactional law practice and maybe even a career in the corporate legal academy.

Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge women face today (in or out of the legal field)?

Simply put, women are still not equal to men. The inequality exists on all levels explicitly and implicitly but the easiest place to see and quantify it is with respect to wages. Nationally, women make 80 cents for every $1.00 earned by men. According to an April 2018 USA Today article, the gender wage gap is actually the largest in Louisiana with women here making on average $34,793 a year while men make $50,031.

We as women also often fail to be supportive of other women. The reasons for this are too long for this Q&A, but we need to remember that “united we stand, divided we fall.” We cannot expect equality on any level if we as women are not being supportive of one another.

Q: What has been the biggest difference from working in academia verses private/ corporate practice?

Besides the obvious differences like hours, salary, and type of work, the biggest difference I have seen is the blatant gender inequality. Despite spending three years practicing in an intense, male-dominated field in a large international law firm based in New York City, I never experienced or witnessed sexual harassment until joining the academy. Academia is still very much an old boys’ club. Numerous studies have shown that administrators, colleagues, and law students hold female law professors to different standards than male law professors.

Female law professors have to walk a fine line that male law professors do not typically walk.

Q: What’s a fun fact about you that few people know?

I am an avid photographer in my spare time. I like to take photos of wildlife, particularly pelicans. I was honored that one of my photographs was selected to be part of the 2018 Audubon Photography Award’s Top 100. In addition, my photos have received Honorable Mentions in both the 2017 and 2018 Monochrome Awards International Photography Contests.

Feel free to follow my photography on Instagram, my Instagram handle is @christinasautter.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell the student body?

I would like to give you all some tips for both academic and law practice success. Writing is crucially important and is every lawyer’s main form of communication. Over 12 years of teaching, I have repeatedly witnessed that the stronger writers tend to excel in law school.

Therefore, you should hone your writing, grammar, and proofreading skills.

Now not to contradict my previous statement but you should not always rely on written communication (whether it be letters, e-mail, or text messages). Pick up the phone and make the call. Sentiments can be lost in writing and everyone appreciates a phone call. A quick example - not too long ago a friend of mine asked me for an attorney recommendation and I recommended a former student. My friend ultimately did not hire the former student because my friend did not like that my former student only communicated via text message. Had he actually picked up the phone and made the phone call, he would have likely been hired.

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The Civilian Staff 2018-2019 Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Randee Iles Creative Director Carlos Coro News Editor Rachel Warren Columns Editor Cavett Feazel Production Editor Caitlin Mullaney Web Director Connor Fagan

Staff Writers Taylor Falcon Alex Geissman Zachary Gonzalez Victoria Heyer

Wesley Schini Melanie Richard Kerith Willard

Columnists Prof. Jeff Brooks Bret Guepet Quintele Jackson Sean Patrick King Candace Square

THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

should Students adopt a dog during law school?

This article originally appeared in the American Bar Association’s Before the Bar Blog - check out the blog at abaforlawstudents.com.

For many students, law school marks the first stage in a student’s life where they are living on their own, away from on-campus housing, away from their parents, maybe even away from roommates (if they’re lucky). As a result, students start considering the ultimate responsibility: parenthood—that is, parenting Dani Maddox Kinchen a four-legged roommate.

Guest Writer Brian Glenn Collins, DVM, a veterinarian at Cornell University Companion Animal Hospital, offers a few pieces of advice for those considering dog ownership.

Collins said owning a dog can be a positive experience for law students, adding that he has had several clients who have successfully owned dogs throughout their law school career. He said dogs can actually relieve stress in law school students’ schedules.

“Dogs are always happy to see their people when they come home, which can be a very positive contribution to the wellness we are trying to encourage students and professionals to incorporate into their lives,” Collins said.

Particularly, dogs can improve students’ mental health by forcing them to put down the books when necessary.

“Having a pet helps provide built-in breaks in order to provide care for the pet, such as bathroom trips outside, exercise, play, feeding, et cetera,” Collins said. “Otherwise, it is very easy for a student to spend excessively long hours in the library studying without a break.”

Christopher Alderman, third-year student at Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, is one student who has found a balance. Alderman adopted black lab Angus shortly after he took the LSAT and a couple of years before he entered law school.

Alderman is a member of the LSU Law Center Board of Advocates and holds an internship with the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office, Public Protection Division, Complex Litigation Unit. He echoed Collins’ sentiment; taking care of Angus, particularly bringing him to the park, gave him a valid excuse to get away from law school activities.

“That’s my time away from TV, away from books, away from law school, away from everything,” Alderman said. “And you get contact with people who aren’t in law school, which is nice.”

Alderman initially worried about balancing his law school schedule with taking care of Angus, but he learned it was manageable.

“When I first came to law school, I was worried because you hear about how much reading it’s going to be and you’re going to be up all night, that it’s going to be crazy,” Alderman said. “I was a little worried that he would have some trouble adjusting if I was gone longer than normal or I wouldn’t have as much time to spend with him. Once we got here I realized it wasn’t anywhere nearly as bad as that.”

Alderman said he walks Angus for 30–45 minutes each morning and then spends an hour of quality time with him once he gets home from school. After they eat dinner, Alderman said he often returns

to school.

Collins said there are strategies for caring for dogs in the midst of a busy schedule, even when students don’t have time to walk their dogs each day.

“Dog-walking services can be a good option during busy exam times,” he said.

When it comes to choosing the right dog, Collins recommended no particular size or breed, but he advised against adopting dogs younger than six months old, which would need more attention for house-training, socializing, and exercising, and as well as frequent veterinary visits. Alderman agreed, especially for first-year law students.

“That is too much to handle,” Alderman said. “That dog is going to need to go to the bathroom every two hours for the first couple months of its life, and you just don’t have that kind of time. . . .

You’re going to be frustrated, and the dog is going to be frustrated.”

Alderman recommended that students entering law school consider adopting several weeks before orientation.

“If you can do it a month before law school starts, to give yourself and the dog a good chunk of time to get to know each other, go for it,” Alderman said.

In addition, Collins suggested law students find dogs with little-tono history of separation anxiety and lower levels of energy.

“Some dogs will have an especially high energy level and may not deal well with being alone.”

On a practical note, Collins said students should be sure to check with their landlords for their policies regarding pets. Neighbors may also submit noise complaints for barking, and so it is worth considering consequences of those complaints. Though uncommon, students should check with local government or animal control for any local breed restrictions.

As always, money is a consideration, as well. Alderman found start-up costs for adopting a pet, between a crate, spay/neuter costs, vaccinations and other expenses, can run a student around $1,000.

Beyond start-up costs, Collins estimated that veterinary care, food, toys, and grooming combined will run a dog owner approximately $1,000 per year. He noted, however, that the cost of owning a dog will vary depending on the dog’s size and health.

“I strongly advise obtaining health insurance for dogs as soon as they are adopted,” Collins said. “There are numerous pet insurance companies to choose from, and there are resources for comparing their individual costs and policies.”

For those who choose not to obtain pet insurance, Alderman said students should save money on the side in case of emergencies.

After owning Angus for several years, Alderman said he has had two emergencies so far.

One involved Swiss Miss. Alderman said Angus was still young but near the end of his crate training, so he decided to leave Angus out of his crate while he went to the gym for a short workout.

“I come home and the box of Swiss Miss has been ripped open, and every packet has been licked dry,” Alderman said. “I’m laying on the floor with him crying thinking he’s going to die.”

Surprisingly, yet unsurprisingly, continued on page 11...

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THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

Velvet Buzzsaw Review -

Horror Satire for The Avant-Garde Netflix may have discovered a new efficacious trend: find a mediocre film script with a rather unoriginal plot and cast no less than three well-known A-list celebrities to give the film more credibility than it’s actually worth. So far, Netflix’s trend has resulted in unbridled success.

Almost immediately upon release, “Bird Box” dominated social media and was possibly one of the most talked about films in recent memory. While Sandra Bullock’s performance Sean Patrick King was indeed deserving of praise, “Bird Box” as a Columnist whole was simply not that great of a film. Even so, Netflix has proved that its trend and resulting films can withstand even some of the harshest criticisms and the lowest Rotten Tomatoes scores.

On January 31st, Netflix released the much-hyped supernatural thriller and avant-garde satire, “Velvet Buzzsaw”. Staring Jake Gyllenhaal (“Brokeback Mountain”, “Donnie Darko”), Rene Russo (“Thor”, “Nightcrawler”) and Toni Collette (“United States of Tara”, “Hereditary”), “Velvet Buzzsaw” is jam-packed with A-list celebrities who portray the elitist Los Angeles art critics, gallery owners, and museum curators. In horror movies, it is common to pack the film’s roster with absolutely horrendous characters, so as to decrease the audience’s empathy and attachment to the characters as—one by one—they are hacked to death on screen. If the audience cares about the characters, the movie becomes difficult to watch and presents a moral dilemma that most moviegoers are unwilling to subject themselves to. Lucky for us, “Velvet Buzzsaw” makes sure that each of its characters are simply reprehensible.

“Velvet Buzzsaw” takes audiences on a journey through the Los Angeles high-art scene. After the death of a mysterious and reclusive artist named Vetril Dease, his enigmatic collection of paintings suddenly become the most sought-after collections on the market.

New Orleans

Saints:

in Conclusion 4

While Dease left instructions for his paintings to be destroyed following his death, his wishes are not heeded, and the paintings begin exchanging hands between gallery owners and private collectors. Unfortunately, something supernatural lurks within the paintings and the owners of the collection die under highly mysterious circumstances, such as a painting of monkeys coming alive and pulling an unsuspecting art collector into the painting.

Our final girl takes form as Gyllenhaal’s Morf Vandewalt, an arrogant, fickle, and pretentious art critic who can’t seem to describe just why he is drawn to—and terrified of—Dease’s collection. Throughout the film, Gyllenhaal attempts to understand the mystery surrounding the paintings with the help of his equally ambitious and manipulative love interest, Josephina, played by new comer Zawe Ashton. What entails is nearly two hours of pretentious dialogue with brief scenes of gore and traditional horror.

Final Rating:  Watch this film if you’re a fan of Toni Collette or Jake Gyllenhaal, but otherwise this film was dull, drawn-out, and ultimately meaningless.

What to Drink While Watching: Dark & Stormy

What You’ll Need: 2 oz. Bayou Rum 3 oz. ginger beer 1/2 oz. lime juice Garnish with lime wedge

The 52nd season in New Orleans Saints franchise history came to a heartbreaking conclusion on January 20 after an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship. This defeat will haunt the Saints and their fans for years due in part to a crucial missed call in the last two minutes of regulation.

On third down and 10 inside the red zone, Saints quarterback Drew Brees dropped back and tried Zachary Gonzalez to connect with wide receiver Tommylee Lewis Staff Writer sprinting down the sideline. Lewis would have no shot at catching the ball as Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman crushed him before the ball even got there. It looked like pass interference and, at the very least, targeting due to the helmet-to-helmet contact, but no flag was thrown.

THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

Louisiana Ethics Board says “no” to campaign-related childcare expenses

Victoria Heyer Staff Writer

A Louisiana House of Representatives candidate made national headlines recently when she sought guidance on whether she could use campaign funds to pay for a babysitter to watch her two young children while she and her husband attended campaign events.

state legislator Peppi Bruneau told Lamandre during the Ethics Board meeting.

Morgan Lamandre, the Legal Director of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR), is running for House of Representatives, District 66.

Several Louisiana political candidates have included child care as a campaign expense in the years since the 2000 opinion, including former Baton Rouge Metro Council member Darrell Ourso (the subject of the 2000 opinion) and United States Senator John Kennedy.

Both are Republicans, though Kennedy was a Democrat in 2000 when he noted $580 from his campaign account went toward "child care service during Los Angeles trip."

Under Louisiana Revised Statute 18:1505.2(I)(1), “contributions received by a candidate or a political committee may be expended for any lawful purpose, but such funds shall not be used, loaned, or pledged by any person for any personal use unrelated to a political campaign.”

In November, Lamandre sought the opinion of the Louisiana Ethics Board to clarify whether campaign funds could be used to pay for child care. In a 5-2 vote, the Louisiana Ethics Board ruled that using campaign funds for child care expenses which would be incurred due to participation in campaign events is not an allowable expenditure.

This reversed a decision made by the Board 18 years earlier.

In 2000, the Board issued an opinion which specifically stated that child care expenses could be paid for using campaign funds provided such expenses are “related to your campaign” and the child care provider is not the candidate’s spouse or minor child.

The members of the Board have changed since this opinion, but nonetheless, the Board’s latest opinion came as a surprise to Lamandre.

“You have children. It’s your responsibility. It’s your decision to make as to how to balance your priorities,” board member and former

When asked about the opinion, Board Chair, Bob McAnelly said told media outlets that Lamandre was not specific enough in her request.

Other Board members voiced concerns that this provision could be subject to abuse.

Interestingly, the Federal Election Committee issued an unanimous decision in May 2018 stating that campaign funds could be used to pay child care expenses. New York Democratic House candidate Liuba Grechen Shirley asked the FEC for a ruling regarding whether she could pay a caregiver to watch her two young children. At the time, she was paying a babysitter $22 an hour for 17 hours per week to watch her children while she was running for Congress.

Shirley used her campaign funds for these expenses with the promise that she would pay the expenses back from her personal account if the FEC ruled against her. The FEC used the “irrespective test” to determine whether campaign finances are being used for personal reasons, which is prohibited under federal law.

Under this test, campaigns cannot spend money on expenses which would exist “irrespective of the candidate’s campaign or responsibilities as a federal officeholder.”

The Board’s opinion has been subject to criticism. Scott Schneider, the Board’s former vice chairman who served during the Jindal administration responded to an interview request by Nola.com.

continued on page 8...

Robey-Coleman even admitted after the game that he got there early and that it was pass interference. Instead of a new set of downs, it was fourth down and kicker Wil Lutz would make the go-ahead field goal to put the Saints up 23-20. This lead would not last long as the Rams would drive down the field and tie the game with a field goal of their own with less than 20 seconds remaining.

The Saints would get the ball to start overtime, but on the fourth play of the drive Drew Brees was intercepted. It would take the Rams just five plays before kicker Greg Zuerlein nailed a 57-yard attempt to send the Rams to their first Super Bowl since 2001.

This loss, as bitter and unfair as it is, should not take away from the incredible season that the Saints had. They finished the regular season 13-3 with a home loss to ‘FitzMagic’ and Tampa Bay in Week 1, a road loss to Dallas in Week 13 that snapped their 10-game winning streak, and a home loss to Carolina with all of their backups playing

in Week 17. The 13-3 mark represents the 12th time that the Saints have won double-digit games and ties the 2011 and 2009 squads for the best record in franchise history.

In addition, the Saints won their fifth NFC South division title, making it the first time in team history that the Saints had won back-to-back division titles. In the postseason, the Saints clinched their third ever first-round bye (second time as the No. 1 overall seed) and won the third divisional round playoff game in team history.

Individually, the expected Saints players led the team in their respective statistical categories. Drew Brees finished his 2018 campaign with 3,992 passing yards, 32 touchdowns (sixth best in the NFL), and 364 completions. On the ground, second-year man Alvin Kamara rushed for 883 yards and 14 touchdowns (second best in the NFL). Kamara also posted 709 receiving yards (fourth in the NFL among running backs) and had four receiving continued on page 12...

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THE CIVILIAN |FEBRUARY 2019

2020 - Democrats in t Taylor Falcon Staff Writer

While the 2020 Presidential Election is still nearly two years away, several Democrats have already started to declare their intention to challenge Donald Trump’s incumbency. Though the faces of these presidential contenders may change in the next year and a half, let’s get know who the early notable frontrunners are for the Democratic Nominee.

first Hindu elected to Congress in 2012. Gabbard is a graduate of Hawaii Pacific University and has served on two tours of duty in the Middle East as a Company Commander with the Hawaii Army National Guard. Her previous congressional campaigns platforms have focused on Affordable Housing, Campaign Finance Reform, Civil Liberties (including privacy protections), the Environment (including Conservation and Funding for National Parks), Gun Control, Universal Healthcare, as well as many Polynesian-Specific Issues.

Kamala Harris

John Delaney

Harris, a native of California, is currently a U.S. Senator for the state. Prior to holding this position, Harris was Attorney General for California. She is notable for being California’s first female, first black and first Asian-American attorney general. After graduating from Howard University and then UC-Hastings College of Law, Harris worked as a deputy district attorney and later as district attorney of San Francisco. Harris’ previous campaign themes have included focuses on Civil Rights (including gender discrimination, LGBT discrimination, immigration reform, expanded access to voting, and criminal justice reform), the Environmental Protection, Foreign Policy (including human trafficking and transnational criminal organizations), and access to Higher Education.

Kirsten Gillibrand Gillibrand, a native of New York, is currently a U.S. Senator for the state. Prior to holding this position, Gillibrand served New York’s District 20 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

After graduating from Dartmouth College and then UCLA Law School, Gillibrand practiced law privately before serving as a law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in Albany, New York. Gillibrand also worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2000 U.S. Senate Campaign before beginning her own campaign for Congress in 2006. Her past campaigns have focused on the Economy (including better jobs, stronger unions, and better minimum wages), Families (including family leave and accessible child care), Seniors (including Medicare and Social Security protection), Female Reproductive Rights, and Immigration Reform.

Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard, a native of American Samoa, is currently representing Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District. Prior to holding this position, Gabbard served the Hawaii House of Representatives and the Honolulu City Council. She is notable for becoming the

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Delaney, a native of New Jersey, most recently served Maryland’s 6th Congressional District. Delaney chose not to run for reelection in 2018 and to instead on his presidential campaign. After graduating from Columbia University and then Georgetown University Law Center, Delaney went on to co-found two companies, both of which are traded on the NYSE. Delaney current platforms for his presidential campaign include VA Healthcare Reform, Protection of Digital Privacy, Women’s Reproductive Rights, Pharmaceutical Price Gouging, Immigration Reform, Universal Vocational College, and Campaign Finance Reform among others.

Cory Booker Booker, a native of Washington D.C., currently serves as U.S. Senator for the state of New Jersey. Prior to this position, Booker was the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. After graduating from Stanford University, Oxford University, and later Yale Law School, Booker served on the Newark City Council. Booker announced his candidacy on the first day of Black History Month. Some of the issues which are important to Booker are a Higher Minimum Wage, Universal Healthcare, Stricter Gun Regulation, and Criminal Justice Reform.

Julian Castro Castro, a native of Texas, most recently served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama.

Prior to holding this position, Castro served as the Mayor San Antonio from 2009 to 2014. After graduating from Stanford University and later Harvard University Law School, Castro served on the San Antonio City Council.

Pete Buttigieg Buttigieg, a native of Indiana, currently serves as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Buttigieg also serves as Lieutenant US Navy Reserve and has received a Joint Service Commendation Medal for his contributions to counterterrorism. After graduating from Harvard University and later the University

THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

he Distance of Oxford, Buttigieg for McKinsey and Company, a management strategy consulting form. Notably, Buttigieg is the first openly gay Democratic Presidential Candidate.

Elizabeth Warren Warren, a native of Oklahoma, is currently a U.S. Senator for the state of Massachusetts. Prior to holding this position, Warren served a number of advisory roles including the National Bankruptcy Advisory Commission and helped to establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under president Obama. After graduating from the University of Houston and later Rutgers Law School, Warren worked as law professor at several universities including University of Houston, University of Texas at Austin, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University. Warren is noted as being a prominent scholar in bankruptcy law. Some of Warren’s key issues are Consumer Protection, Social Security, and Economic Support. While she has not yet declared her candidacy, Warren has launched an exploratory committee to decide her best course of action.

In addition to the eight candidates listed here, there are additional contenders who are yet to announce their formal intention to run for president. These wildcards and crowd favorites may or may not end up on the ballot, but at least a few pundits think they should.

Bernie Sanders Sanders, a native of New York, is currently a U.S. Senator for the state of Vermont. Most notably, Sanders unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Nominee in the 2016 Presidential Election. Sanders graduate from Brooklyn College and later University of Chicago, where he was active in the Civil Rights Movement. Prior to his congressional involvement, Sanders served as the mayor Burlington, Vermont. Sanders’ previous campaigns have focused on Universal and SinglePayer Healthcare, Paid Parental Leave, Universal high Education, Reduced Military Spending, as well as, Labor Rights and Environmental Concerns.

Joe Biden Biden, a native of Pennsylvania, most recently served as the Vice President to President Obama. Prior to holding that position, Biden served as a U.S. Senator for the state of Delaware. After graduating from the University of Delaware and then Syracuse University Law School, Biden worked as a defense attorney. Notably, Biden served seven terms in the U.S. senate before his Vice Presidential role.

Shutdown continued...

Aside from hurting Trump’s approval rating with white men, a demographic with which he has historically been popular, the government shutdown had and will continue to have longlasting negative effects all across America. Though all essential governmental services remained open, average Americans felt the effects.

Congress passed a few bills to fund some departments like Defense and Health and Human Services — closures still impacted a slew of agencies, including the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Interior, State, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development.

This means that the shutdown directly affected the federal employees and their families. About 420,000 employees were deemed “essential” and forced to work, while the rest, some 380,000 employees were forced to stay home on furlough.

The essential workers will automatically be paid back pay when the shutdown ends, but furloughed workers will need Congress to pass a bill to pay them for the lost days.

The effects of the shutdown were not limited to federal workers.

Startups in Silicon Valley were unable to issue IPOs. Indian reservations were not receiving federal benefits to support daily costs. Thousands of immigration hearings have been delayed due to closed courts. Tax season is around the corner, but the IRS was not able to issue W-2 forms or answer employer questions about the new tax law, HR 1.

Additionally, during a shutdown alcohol producers cannot introduce new products because the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is closed. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is not open to issue recalls or provide reliable information about unsafe consumer products The shutdown also affected national parks across the country as well. Wildfire recovery efforts in California began to stall and trash and human waste piled up in parks around the country.

The FBI stalled interviews of child victims and indictments for homicides and child sexual assault prosecutions. Agents were working without pay, although much of the FBI’s work was been delayed. In addition to FBI employees working without pay, prison officials also worked without pay.

Essentially, the government shutdown was truly bad for almost everyone involved. Shutdowns are bad for the economy, bad for mental health, and bad for the 800,000 federal workers who had to go multiple weeks without a paycheck. Will Trump really shut down the government again on February 15? Time will tell.

Editor’s note: at the time of publication, it appears that President Trump will sign a border security deal which includes $1.375 billion for a border barrier, in order to avoid another shutdown, although he is “not happy” with it.

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THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

Clinic Corner: Juvenile Defense Clinic The LSU Law Center’s Juvenile Defense Clinic allows student-attorneys to advocate for local youth in juvenile court delinquency proceedings and learn to zealously represent clients in the future. Professors Jack Harrison, Lakita Leonard and Lucy McGough guide their students through research, investigation, and work at the courthouse, while also teaching class sessions each week.

representation that is of the highest standard possible,” Professor Harrison said. “Law students learn how to provide the most thorough representation possible. In the future, when these student-attorneys are in the practice of law, they will likely not be able to provide this level of representation, due to the normal time constraints faced by any lawyer.”

Melanie Richard Professor Harrison, known for encouraging pro bono work and for his valuable experience Staff Writer as a public defender in the Juvenile Court of East Baton Rouge Parish, began his work with the Juvenile Defense Clinic back in 2009.

The Juvenile Defense Clinic has impacted countless law students and local young people throughout the last decade.

Students involved in the Juvenile Defense Clinic represent local young people charged with delinquencies, and cases are assigned based on their complexity. Each student works on one to four cases while working in the clinic. Student-attorneys are able to see their cases through from beginning to end in most circumstances, due to the fast-paced nature of juvenile matters.

In adult criminal court, Professor Harrison explains, matters can take much longer than a single semester.

Students participating in the Juvenile Defense Clinic are able to work on a variety of situations, from weapons offenses to violent felonies. Professor Harrison notes that in the past, the Juvenile Defense Clinic took a case to the Louisiana Supreme Court, testing the constitutionality of gun laws following an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution.

Through the clinic, participating law students gain experience in client interviewing and counseling, factual investigation, motions practice, trial preparation and holistic advocacy.

When a student participates in the Juvenile Defense Clinic, they provide unmatched service to their clients. The student-attorneys’ involvement and dedication to their cases raises the standard by which all juvenile defense attorneys practice.

“The clients of the Juvenile Defense Clinic benefit by having

BARRISTERS BOWL XV February 23, 2019

gold team,

Olympia Stadium

our purple team, and cheerleaders!

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12pm

Auction at Fred’s!

Lakita Leonard, who was once a student of the Juvenile Defense Clinic, now teaches in the clinic as an adjunct professor. Three other impressive alumni of the clinic have made their way to the United States Supreme Court over the years. They were present at counsel table for oral arguments in Montgomery v. Louisiana.

Professor Harrison stated that this was “a case with national implications for persons convicted as juveniles in adult courts.”

The Juvenile Defense Clinic has also achieved recognition from the Louisiana State Bar Association, earning the 2012 Children’s Law Award. More information about the Juvenile Defense Clinic’s many achievements and notable alumni can be found online at the Experiential Learning Programs’ webpage.

Eight students are selected to participate in the Juvenile Defense Clinic each semester. Due to the Supreme Court’s student practice rule, only 3L students can serve as first chair student-attorneys on juvenile defense cases.

If they have already taken the Legal Profession course, a pre-requisite for the clinic, they can work representing their clients at every stage of the delinquency proceedings. Third-year students are required to devote a minimum of 150 hours to their work with the clinic.

While 2L students cannot appear on behalf of clients at court, they still have the opportunity to assist in all other aspects, including investigation. Second-year law students spend 100 hours in the program.

Lamandre continued...

- Battle for the Gavel -

Come cheer on

Student-attorneys have a duty of loyalty owed to their juvenile clients, and they act as a voice, advocating for the minor’s expressed interests

All proceeds benefit

Geaux Teal

“Given the items the board has approved in the past as appropriate campaign expenses, including football tickets, it’s hard to understand how necessary childcare expenses associated with a female candidate running for office wouldn’t count as a permissible use of campaign funds," Schneider wrote. "It’s especially head scratching since the board previously approved childcare expenses for a male candidate.”

On January 8, 2019, Lamandre posted an article on her Facebook page stating that “[t]he Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus has asked the Ethics Board to reconsider the opinion on campaign expenses being used for childcare.” At this time, there has been no opinion issued by the Board on this matter.

THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

MIRANDA

CRADDOCK Class: 3L

excited for this semester?

Q. They call him the white Jimi Hendrix.

Switching gears – if you were trapped on a snowy mountain in the dead of winter, and could only bring three items of clothing, what would they be?

Hometown: Pearl River, A. Graduating and Barrister’s Bowl, you know, it’s fun. Girls get to have a good time La Relationship Status: and get drunk so that’s cool. Well everyone gets drunk. Yeah that’s pretty much it. Mardi Taken Gras too. That’s fun.

A. A full body suit obviously. Head to toe.

Q. Yeah Mardi Gras will be awesome as That’s probably cheating but you’re not a In the thick of winter, I always. Sort of a bounce back for the New serious interviewer so I’m not worried. searched desperately to Orleans after that rigged football game. Q. Cool, thanks for that. So, last semester find an interviewee for Are you…checking a voicemail? was rather laden with juicy law school Bret Guepet the first Spring installment drama. Are you a fan of that kind of stuff, Columnist of Student Spotlight. A. Yeah, I never answer my phone. What was or do you prefer a more smooth-sailing Because of the frigid weather conditions, the question? semester? most students shuddered at the thought of Q. Who’s your favorite musical artist?

A. I’m cool with spectating, but I definitely answering extremely thought-provoking A. I’m into 21 Savage right now. don’t like to be involved. Drama ain’t my questions. Yet, amongst the sea of blondes at PMH, one woman stood tall. She built up Q. “Sicko Mode” yeah, I totally agree. thang. the courage to sit down with me and answer Have you heard Professor Holmes’ family Q. Same. Don’t worry, I knew that rumor about you was false. the most grueling questions ever asked in an band play? interview. Her name: Miraculous Crabdonk A. I had no idea he had a band. That’s A. Wait what?

(Miranda Craddock for short). The following awesome. How does he play? Is he good? I Q. Moving on. You’re interested in interview was the product of two Michelob can’t picture it. criminal law, correct?

Ultras and some brownie mix.

Q. Remember that time you called me weird?

A. Yeah why did I do that? I don’t remember why. But I do remember thinking you were weird.

Q. I cried over that. Anyway, congratulations on making it to your final semester of law school. How does that feel?

A. It feels good. I feel like I’m a new person since 1L year. I thought I was going be working at Burger King. Shout out to Trahan for passing me. Haha don’t say that. I had a dream that I failed the bar and all of my friends passed and were celebrating.

Q.

Anything in particular that you’re

A. Yeah that’s pretty much what I’ve wanted to do my entire law school career. “Not guilty” is my go-to quote actually.

Q. What’s the most exciting thing about criminal law to you?

A. Listening to wiretaps. Some of these criminals are so smart and organized. It’s actually quite impressive.

Q. Fascinating. Finally, do you have any really good bad advice for the 1L’s this spring?

A. Don’t stress about your appellate brief.

You can definitely pull an all-nighter the night before it’s due. (*Note: The interviewer does not condone this message)

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THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

with

(BR)unch (BR) Life as a brunch reviewer is hard.

I have to struggle through menus offering multitudinous and sometimes odd offerings. I have to determine whether I want to try the coffee Prof. Jeff Brooks or tip back a mimosa Columnist (trick question, I want both). I have to constantly seek out the new, the bright, the shiny, the “in.” But for this brunch review, I decided to go back to brunch basics. To a Baton Rouge standard that consistently serves a top-notch brunch experience. I went to The Chimes.

Located (as if you all don’t know) just off the LSU campus at the intersection of Highland Road and East Chimes Street, The Chimes has been a Baton Rouge food landmark for decades. Chimes Brunch is served on Saturdays from 11 am and on Sundays from 10:30 am.

I will confess right up front – I am not the biggest fan of the regular menu at The Chimes. (With the exception of the stellar spinach and artichoke dip, but that’s a whole separate article.) Chimes brunch, however, gives me everything I look for in a great brunch meal – large portions of expertly cooked brunch dishes infused with fresh Louisiana ingredients such as boudin, crawfish and oysters, served with an expertly mixed cocktail made by a bartender with a heavy hand and with cups of fresh hot coffee.

First things first. If you go to The Chimes for brunch, expect a bit of a wait. It’s very popular (for good reason). We were greeted by our pleasant waitress, who quickly and efficiently brought the table steaming hot coffees, well-mixed mimosas and Bloody Marys ($6.50 for either option), and a

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ooks

plate of the aforementioned spinach dip as a starter ($9, served with fried bowtie pasta, which is just the bees’ knees). After some consideration of the (admittedly a bit egg-heavy) brunch menu, my group settled on three Chimes brunch classics: the Eggs Pontchartrain ($14), the Grits n’ Grillades ($13) and Chicken & Biscuits ($11).

Of the three dishes, the Grits n’ Grillades was and is the superlative star. The grillades, slow-cooked medallions of beef served in a deep brown gravy, are served over a massive bed of cheese grits. Every bite gave a balanced blend of savory gravy, melt-in-your-mouth beef, and piping hot and perfectly smooth grits. The dish made its way around the table repeatedly, and we didn’t leave a single bite in the bowl.

The Eggs Pontchartrain is a Louisiana spin on a classic Eggs Benedict, and it gave the Grits n’ Grillades a run for its money. With the traditional poached eggs and hollandaise sauce come a set of perfectly-fried oysters atop a mound of fried potatoes. The poached eggs were pillowy mounds of yolk-filled perfection, and the combination of hollandaise sauce and the lightly spiced breading on the oysters was excellent. We found ourselves wishing for more of all of it. The Chicken and Biscuits was also perfectly tasty; the fried chicken tenders were crisp and juicy and the biscuits are truly massive, but we found ourselves wishing for more gravy or some syrup.

This minor critique aside, the Chimes delivered a near-perfect brunch experience.

The service was prompt and professional, the food and drinks were both excellent and plentiful, and the atmosphere is welcoming and congenial. All around, a superlative brunch experience and one I highly recommend. 5 out of 5 gavels!

THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019

The Diversity and Professionalism Column -------------------------------------------------------------------------Implicit Biases: Everyone Has Them

As law students we are learning to be objective, to look at facts, and to find clear and convincing evidence to support our conclusions. These skills will serve us well in our future law practices. However, the practice of law will also require some softer skills, such as using our intuition, understanding our instincts, and Candace Square understanding the thoughts of those around Columnist us.

These intuitive thoughts are also known as implicit biases.

They come from our life experiences and the information we consume regularly from sources including television, movies and books. Many of us believe that our preferences and opinions are derived from critical thinking, however, this is often not the case. Sometimes our reactions are driven by unconscious decisions of the mind that are so engrained in us that we are neither aware of nor purposefully making certain decisions.

While these automatic reactions can be helpful when one encounters a dangerous animal like a rattle snake or grizzly bear, they are often not helpful when it comes to judging the merits of individuals. This is especially true when those individuals are minorities or members of historically marginalized groups.

This concept is confusing for some to understand because implicit biases often do not line up with our stated beliefs. For example, one might outwardly express ideas like “I believe everyone is equal” or “I don’t see color.” However, even if one believes in and consciously expresses support for equal treatment of all people, they may still harbor biases against some groups which are so pervasive and deeply ingrained that they affect one’s behavior in subtle ways.

Scientific studies have shown that we generally hold implicit biases that favor our own social groups, though there are exceptions to this. In our society, where the groups that hold Dog Adoption continued...

it turns out Swiss Miss has very little real chocolate. Angus was never in danger.

Alderman recounted another scare, though, when they switched flea medication. Angus seized, and they ended up in the veterinary emergency room, where they monitored Angus through the night.

“He ended up being fine, but it was expensive because it was after hours,” Alderman said.

Given all these considerations, if a student decides to move

most of the economic and political power are white, male and heterosexual, social mobility may be difficult for those outside of those groups. This lack of social mobility is due to the most powerful people, who may harbor implicit biases that subconsciously lead them to think that their own group is the smartest, the best and the most qualified, granting opportunities for advancement to their own social group. This creates a problematic cycle in which those who receive opportunities for advancement will in turn gravitate to their own group to share in wealth and power to the exclusion of less powerful and less wealthy groups.

Not only can there be social and economic consequences for minorities, but there can also be deadly consequences if a minority is assumed to be dangerous even if there is no evidence to support that assumption. Those that harbor higher levels of implicit bias against Black people are more likely to see non-weapons in the hands of a Black person as a gun or a knife, when in reality it may be just a brush or a phone.

William Snowden, of The Juror Project, has said that three stereotypes of black men often trigger in the public’s mind.

Those stereotypes are: athlete, entertainer and criminal. We can see how this would be problematic in the criminal justice context where after the athlete and entertainer stereotypes are dismissed in the juror’s mind, the only option left would be: criminal. This can lead to disparate rates of conviction for Black defendants as compared to white defendants.

While these implicit biases can be hard to overcome, it is possible to be more aware of what thinking informs our judgement. If you want to combat unconscious pre-judgement of others you may want to start being more critical of the media you consume. Take notice of how marginalized people are portrayed. Also talk to you talk to your friends who are different from you and get to know them better. Ask them how they feel about the typical stereotypes that are applied to them and BELIEVE them when they tell you what their experiences are.

forward with adopting a pet, Collins recommended that prospective adopters check out local rescues to find their future dog.

“While there are many approaches to finding a suitable dog, I think the best approach is to contact local animal shelters and rescues. I would focus on dogs whose temperaments and behaviors are well known, to help reduce the chance of adopting a dog who might not adapt as well to a student’s schedule and lifestyle.”

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THE CIVILIAN | FEBRUARY 2019 Saints continued...

touchdowns as well.

yards to opponents on the ground.

Pacing the receiving corps was the always-reliable Michael Thomas, who led all NFL wideouts with 125 receptions for 1,405 yards (sixth best in the NFL), and nine touchdowns (tied for tenth in the NFL).

In the kicking game, 24-year-old Wil Lutz was spectacular. He converted 28 of his 30 kick attempts (93 percent and eighth best in the NFL), and missed only one extra point as he made 52 of his 53 attempts (98 percent).

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Demario Davis led all Saints defenders with 110 total tackles (74 solo, 36 assisted) and five sacks. In the secondary, defensive backs Marcus Williams, Eli Apple, Marshon Lattimore and Chris Banjo all led the team with two interceptions each. Lattimore also topped the team with four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. As a unit, the Saints defense was second in rushing yards allowed per game, giving up only 80.2

Coming one win shy of the Super Bowl is a tough pill to swallow, especially when the action (or in this case inaction) of the referees plays a substantial role. However, this loss cannot take away from the fact that the Saints are in a prime position to still keep contending.

Even in the waning years of Drew Brees’s legendary career, the Saints still look to be one of the most formidable teams in the NFL for years to come.

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