LSU Law - The Civilian, November 2016

THE

CIVILIAN CIVILIAN

A STUDENT PUBLICATION FOR THE LSU LAW CENTER COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2016 | VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 3

Nightmares became reality when unsettling reports of clown sightings spread across the nation, with the latest tally showing over thirty states experiencing clown-related incidents. The sightings originated in Greenville County, South Carolina where reports that individuals dressed as clowns were beckoning children into the woods. Soon after this story caught national attention, clown sightings were reported in several Brooklee Hurst other states. Much like the pantomime charStaff Writer acters in horror films, many of these clowns are equipped, not with balloon animals, but rather wield deadly weapons and issue physical threats. As a result of the clown hysteria, Target removed a variety of creepy clown masks from their stores and online, possibly in the hopes that their products will not reach the hands of those wishing to unleash clown-like terror on unsuspecting victims. One does not need coulrophobia, a specific fear of clowns, in order to be afraid of the cirque de la terreur that is currently plaguing our nation.

As these frightful events became a common topic of conversation, individuals began hypothesizing how they would respond if they ever came face-to-face with one of these creepy characters. Many threaten to respond with force if a clown-like figure were to cross their paths. However, a look into the law shows that using force may not be justified in certain circumstances.

The proper action to take in self-defense differs from state to state. In some states, citizens have a duty to retreat from an imminent threat of personal harm before using force in selfdefense and can only use force as an absolute last resort. Other states, such as Louisiana, differ greatly in their ideals of self-defense by preferring the Castle doctrine and Stand Your Ground laws over the duty to retreat. Stand Your Ground is a form of self-defense law that allows individuals to use deadly force when they believe they are in imminent danger. This legal concept essentially removes the duty to retreat by allowing force, in certain circumstances, in self-defense without first attempting retreat. The Castle doctrine is similar to Stand Your Ground law, but it is limited to real property, which includes one’s home, work, and sometimes automobile.

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016 CLOWNS CONTINUED...

Louisiana’s Castle laws, which are found under the justifiable homicide statute, La. R.S. 14:20, allow the use of force by one lawfully in a dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle to prevent the unlawful entry thereof or, after an unlawful entry has been committed, to compel the intruder to leave. This legal doctrine supports the notion that a person should feel safe and protected in his own “castle.”

Therefore, in Louisiana, if a clown is attempting to unlawfully enter your home, perhaps coming through the shower drain like Pennywise from Stephen King’s It, force is justifiable.

However, claiming the Castle doctrine does not guarantee a justifiable homicide.

In 2005, Donald Aaron of Louisiana fatally shot a man standing in his driveway.

Aaron believed the man had burglarized his home and shot the man when he reached in his pocket for a beer bottle.

Aaron claimed the Castle doctrine as a defense but the jury disagreed and he was charged with negligent homicide. The jury may have reached a different result after the enactment of Louisiana’s Stand

Your Ground provisions.

In 2006, Louisiana added Stand Your Ground laws to the already enacted Castle laws. The new provisions added that a person who is in a place where they have a right to be does not have an obligation to retreat if faced with a real or perceived threat and may stand their ground and meet force with force. Also, homicide is justifiable when committed in selfdefense by one who reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of losing his life or receiving great bodily harm. Under the new provisions, if a clown advances towards a Louisianan, that citizen has the right, if they reasonably believe that they are in imminent danger, to take action in self-defense. This right is not limited to that person’s dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle.

Although clown sightings are unsettling and strike fear in our hearts, the use of force is not justifiable in all circumstances. The incentive to rid the community of murderous clowns may be great, but one should think twice before unloading a shotgun on a mere trespassing joker.

The Civilian Staff 2016-2017

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief: Alaina Richard News Editor: Annie Beckstrom Columns Editor: Elizabeth Wong Production Editor: Taylor Degruise Web Director: Halee Maturin Staff Writers Annie Beckstrom Robert Glueck Brooklee Hurst

Belly Up to the Bar

Kathryn Jakuback Stacy Liere Jacob Longman Halee Maturin Cody “Tick” McElroy Megan Rials Tori Watson Elizabeth Wong Columnists Annie Beckstrom Halee Maturin Hunter Odom Patrick Schmidt

From left to right: Brady McMillin, Trenton Ball, Travis Simmons, Adrienne Wood and Hunter Schoen

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Emily Schwab Elizabeth Wong

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader: Exams are getting closer, the nights of sleep are getting shorter, the stacks of outlines to review are getting higher, and the bags under our eyes are becoming more prominent. It’s THAT point in the semester. The words of Buddy the Elf come to mind: “Does somebody need a hug?” I know I do. Oh, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

For this issue, we wanted to look forward to the winter holiday in hopes of lifting spirits. Check out the Alaina Richard, poem, “The Night Before Finals,” for a festive laugh (and maybe a little cry). We also wanted to feature Editor-in-Chief some highlights from this semester including bar results and the winners of both internal competitions, as well as some low moments that need our attention and reflection (see “Pants for Women” on p. 4). Additionally, our writers tackled some hot button issues ranging from the recent clown craze to conversations about the evolution of SCOTUS. We hope you enjoy this issue, and on behalf of the Civilian staff, I wish you the best of luck during finals season.

Best, Alaina Richard Editor-in-Chief

SBA S T A T E O F A F FA I R S PMH, A huge thanks goes out to all of the 1L Class Officers for planning the LSU Law Halloween party. This was a great event for everyone before getting into finals mode.

Unfortunately, we have reached that point in the semester that every law student dreads – finals season. Luckily, the SBA will be working to help make this time a bit easier for the students of PMH. Trenton Ball, SBA President

To all of the stressed out 1Ls, as you reach the final stretch of your 6,5,4,3,2,1, keep in mind that the SBA Academics Committee will be hosting the 1L finals exam panels on November 10th at 12:40. This provides you with an opportunity to hear from 2Ls and 3Ls that have taken the same exams you will be taking at the end of the month. The 2L and 3L students will provide helpful advice and will be able to answer any questions you may have about each one of your upcoming exams.

Thanks to Madison Hentze, our SBA Academics Chair, for organizing this event. 1Ls, do not miss out on this opportunity!

If you need to take a break from studying, the SBA will be hosting one last social event before finals begin. This will be the first annual “Brews and Barristers” event on Thursday, November 10th. Come join students and Young Alumni of the LSU Law Center for a social gathering at the Draft House in downtown Baton Rouge. The event is free to attend and will take place from 6-9 P.M. Dress is business casual and drink specials shall be announced in the week prior to the event.

SBA hopes to see you there!

3Ls, our SBA Class Officers have begun discussing possibilities for our commencement speaker. If you have any suggestions, please complete the form I sent via the broadcast, or email Patrick Geddes at pgedde1@lsu.edu.

Best of luck to everyone during finals season. As always, feel free to reach out to me or any other SBA members with any questions or concerns you may have.

Trenton Ball SBA Executive President

The SBA will be providing snacks and coffee during the finals period. We will be located outside the CC’s in the student lounge. Feel free to stop by for a cup of coffee and a snack.

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

r o f PANTS WOMEN

At the end of September, LSU Law’s Trial Advocacy program sent four students to Montgomery, Alabama to participate in Faulkner Law’s inaugural Mockingbird Trial Competition. The competition was named after the modern literary classic “To Kill A Mockingbird” to celebrate the civil rights history of the city of Montgomery.

For the prosecution, LSU Law was repreKathryn Jakuback sented by Stephen Geist and Kristen RichStaff Writer ardson; for the defense, Kathryn Jakuback and Tyler White. We were coached by Lindsay Blouin and Joshua Newville from the East Baton Rouge Parish Office of the Public Defender.

Our defense team was selected to compete first against University of Missouri Kansas City. Following our presentation of the case, our team waited anxiously for substantive critiques from the judges. The judges commended each of the attorneys individually, praising the LSU Law advocates for our professionalism and skill in front of a jury. Before the conclusion of critiques, however, one of the judges put down her clipboard and said that she “just had to address something”. The judge, Ms. Carrie Shaw of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, read my name off the notes in front of her.

“Kathryn Jakuback,” she called, looking across the courtroom at me. “You really should be wearing a skirt instead of a pantsuit when you’re addressing a jury.”

ceeded to the next day of competition. At the conclusion of the defense’s presentation of their case in chief, I asked our judge for a recess prior to proceeding to closing arguments.

Our judge peered over the bench at me and scoffed. “Why?” he demanded. “So you can go powder your nose?”

On her experience in Montgomery, Kristen Richardson said that she was “extremely disappointed.”

“These professionals are supposed to be an inspiration to us and instead made us feel like less than the advocates [we are] because of the way we dressed in the courtroom,” Richardson said. “I hope that once I am an attorney I can be an inspiration to future female advocates.”

Despite the undercurrent of discrimination LSU Law advocates experienced at the cradle of civil rights in America, steps have been made towards the goal of achieving an inclusive profession. On August 8, 20161 , the American Bar Association incorporated into the Model Rules of Professional Conduct the proclamation that it is “professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin”2 While it is certainly heartening to see that the ABA takes concerns of discrimination seriously, the Model Rules are more like guidelines for the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6...

I stared back at her incredulously as she nodded and continued, informing me that my dress was unprofessional, especially since we were in “the Deep South”. She ignored my fists balled in rage and the furious spots that were rising on my cheeks while she almost apologetically told me “that’s just how it is for women--we may not like it, but that’s how it is”.

Professor Brooks, director of Trial Advocacy at LSU Law, sent an email to Faulkner’s Trial Advocacy director alerting him to the discriminatory commentary aimed at the female advocates participating in the competition. Joseph Lester of Faulkner replied with a lukewarm “that’s just how it is,” echoing Ms. Shaw’s sentiments in the courtroom.

The LSU Law team, feeling moderately discouraged, pro1 http://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/ committees_commissions/ethicsandprofessionalresponsibility/modruleprofconduct8_4.html

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2 http://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/ publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_8_4_misconduct.html

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

On August 10, 1993, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg took her oath of office to become only the second female to sit on the United States Supreme Court. On that day, she gained the power to shape the laws and policy of our nation, but at what cost? Recently Justice Ginsburg has come under fire for her Robert Glueck comments regarding Republican presidential Staff Writer nominee Donald Trump in advance of this year’s presidential election. As reported by CNN, this past July, Justice Ginsberg called Trump a “faker” who “has no consistency about him” adding that “[h]e really has an ego.”

Trump fired back by saying that Ginsberg’s brain is “shot” and that she should resign. While retaliatory comments are nothing new for Mr. Trump, several politicians and political analysts also believed that Justice Ginsberg’s comments were out of line.

ed in the Constitution. He adds that the, while not explicitly granted by the Constitution, the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review necessitates its involvement with politics. Baier argues that, because the Court has a duty to review the acts of other branches of government, the Court must make “political” decisions so as to maintain the separation of powers.

Despite this seemingly immeasurable power, Professor Baier cautions that in some instances the Court will exercise restraint in accordance with the doctrine of justiciability. For example, the Supreme Court will not decide questions regarding foreign affairs or natural security, though both issues could be described as political. Under the doctrine of justiciability, the Court also refrains from hearing “political questions,” which contain issues that the Constitution deems the sole responsibility of other branches of government. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6...

Though Justice Ginsberg has since apologized, the criticism she received suggests that while Supreme Court Justices gain the right to shape our country’s laws, they forfeit rights as well, namely the right of free speech. Simply put, many believe that when speaking outside the courtroom Supreme Court Justices should remain above partisan politics. A conversation with LSU Law Professor Paul Baier and a review of the of the Court’s involvement with politics throughout history illustrates that expecting our Supreme Court Justices to remain apolitical might be reasonable, but not realistic.

As noted by Professor Baier, the Supreme Court’s political nature dates back to the earliest days of our nation and is root5

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016 PANTS CONTINUED...

states and have no binding authority. Though ineffectual as a punitive instrument in cases of discrimination, Professor Brooks expressed that he has modeled LSU Law’s Advocacy programs and his standards for guest judges off of Model Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4 since its adoption.

“All Advocacy Programs score sheets, judging materials, and invitations to judge for all competitions, both internal and any national ones that we host, will include language modeled on the ABA’s newly adopted rule 8.4(g) and its guidance memo.

We will also be explicitly stating in all judge orientations be-

! s t a r g n o C Ronald Coleman Taylor Cooper Alyssa Depew Shelby Dunbar Jessica Finley

fore competition rounds start that these competitions are an educational program and that judges should strictly limit critiques to the advocates’ case presentations.”

This competition has become something of a legend among the PMH community, and has prompted scores of female colleagues to share their own experiences of marginalization. The two comments made during the competition are illustrative of the discrimination female advocates face daily in their school or workplace environment and indicate that we, as a profession, have a long way to go.

New Moot Court Board Members Carson Garand Meredith Hamblen Katherine Herbert Rebecca Indest Jacob Irving Sara Kuebel Seth Lawrence Charles Martin

Rebecca McBride Sarah Nickel Christopher Prudhomme Markeya Scott Josie Serigne Stephen Stovall Margaret Viator John Wegmann

FRAY CONTINUED...

Professor Baier also points out that the process by which Supreme Court Justices are nominated and confirmed is inherently political. Article II instructs the President to nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint Supreme Court Justices. We had an opportunity to witness this process firsthand following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February. To fill the vacancy left by Justice Scalia, President Obama nominated Chief Judge Merrick Garland of the D.C. Circuit.

However, the Republican-controlled Senate has refused to hold hearings regarding the President’s nominee.

Both the President’s nomination and the Senate’s subsequent refusal to confirm Judge Garland have been widely publicized, highlighting the political nature of the Supreme Court in today’s political climate. Yet the politicization of the Supreme Court is by no means a 6

creature of contemporary politics. Toward the end of his 35-year term—the longest in history for a Supreme Court Justice—Justice William O. Douglas spoke against the U.S.’s involvement in the Vietnam War on numerous occasions. In addition, many would argue that Justice Abe Fortas, who served from 1965 – 1969, would have never been appointed to the Supreme Court if not for his close ties with President Lyndon B. Johnson. Of course, for each overtly political justice there seems to be an apolitical counterpart. Professor Baier notes that Justice Hugo Black never voted in a presidential election after he was appointed to the Supreme Court. One could only guess how Justice Black may have reacted had he sat on the Court in 2000 when the Supreme Court was asked to decide the fate of a presidential election in Bush v. Gore.

According to Baier, this case serves as a prime example of the Court’s in-

volvement with the political process in necessitous conditions.

While one could argue that Supreme Court Justices must inevitably make political decisions, such decisions may belong in the courtroom, not in the court of public opinion. Justice Ginsberg’s comments and subsequent backlash highlight the danger of using biased rhetoric while serving in a role lauded for its independence from political forces. Judicial exclusion from partisan politics inherently protects the rule of public law. If the public believes that Supreme Court decisions are politically motivated, acceptance of these rulings may be undermined and challenged based on impartiality. While it is naïve to assume justices do not have political views, voicing opinions runs the risk of distorting perception and subsequently harming the legitimacy of the Court.

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

s a w ‘TTHE NIGHT BEFORE

FINALS

Most professors at PMH claim that they write their final exams the night before the exam. The truth about how professors get their exams, however, has recently been discovered and is now revealed for the first time…

And then, in a twinkling, behind a table I hid And listened to the chatter as they came to get their gifts.

As I inched closer to the sight with my eyes growing round Down to them Russell Long came with a bound.

Twas the night before finals, when all through the library Every student was stirring, even the third-years; Their outlines were printed by their books with care, In hopes that CALIs would soon be theirs;

Carroll was all in fur, from her head to her foot, And Corbett’s clothes were tarnished with Bama red (like soot); A bundle of exams Russell had in his book, And he looked like Santa as he gave and they took.

The students had the law all snug in their heads While visions of 4.0s danced in 1Ls’ heads; And my book with its tabs, and I with my thinking cap Had just settled down for a long night’s last lap, When out on the plaza there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the library to see what was the matter.

Away to the doors I stumbled and saw a flash, The doors flew open and I couldn’t help but gasp.

The moon on the pavement of the stones below Lit up the plaza and the shining fountain in toto, When, what to my bleary eyes should appear, But the bench empty, and a man standing near, The statue was alive, so shiny and bronze, I knew in a moment it must be Russell Long.

Fast as ambulance chasers the professors they came, And he laughed, and shouted, and called them by name;

Church’s eyes—how they twinkled! Coenen’s smile how merry!

All their cheeks like roses; their noses like cherries!

Diamond’s turtleneck like always was just so, And the beard on Bockrath’s chin was white as snow; The stump of a cigar Trahan held in his teeth, And the smoke encircled Devlin’s head like a wreath; Russell had grading sheets and exams for them aplenty, And he handed them all out—his book was almost empty.

He was smiling and laughing, a right jolly old lawyer, And I laughed when he saw me, in spite of my terror; A wink of his eye and a frown that he feigned, Soon gave me to know that unseen I remained; He spoke not a word, but turned back to the group, And filled all their hands; then opened back his book, And sitting down beside the fountain again, And giving a nod, and a wave of his hand;

“Now, Diamond! Now, Devlin! Now, Carroll and Trahan!

Come, Corbett! Come Bockrath! Come, Church and Coenen!

To the top of the curve! To the bottom of the class!

He returned to his post, to them gave a whistle Now dash away! Dash away to get your exams at last!”

And away they all flew at the sound of his signal.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he froze in the night, As water that before the great flood came in droves, “HAPPY FINALS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD When they ran from the parking lot, mount to the patio, NIGHT!” So up to the plaza the professors they flew, With their empty hands at the ready, and Russell Long too.

Megan Rials

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

Powderpuff FOOTBALL

LSU Law’s Powderpuff Fundraiser Earns Success On and Off the Gridiron

“Play like a champion today.” These are the words the Notre Dame Fighting Irish see before every home game, and that’s exactly what the 2L and 3L athletes did October Cody McElroy 14th, on the LSU paStaff Writer rade grounds. LSU Law’s annual Powderpuff game pits rival teams of 2L and 3L girls against each other in a flag football match, the winner earning the right to declare victory throughout the halls of PMH. This year’s face off ended in a thrilling 12-6 win for the 3Ls, who continued the tradition of 3L dominance stretching back years in powderpuff history.

The festivities started before the game with a tailgate set up for players and guests. Music pumped, jambalaya simmered, and drinks sloshed as the crowd prepared to witness a battle for the ages.

Players and coaches trickled out to warm up before busting through a tunnel made by the attendees. The crowd cheered and jeered throughout the game in similar measure to a night Death Valley. To the innocent bystander, one might assume the Tigers were playing Bama.

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The game started with 2L quarterback Becca Indest slinging the ball effectively down the field. It was a “high octane” offense, according to 3L quarterback Megan Daily, quickly adding that she “never doubted the defense.” The 2L receivers ran solid routes as Indest threw deep passes, adapting a Brees-like playing style. However, 3L MVP Ariel Minor closed the distance repeatedly to break up dangerous, long drive pass plays. All that gun slinging allowed the 3Ls to snag a handful of interceptions, most notably one by Katie Cook, who earned sweet redemption for a dropped touchdown pass. Ultimately, the 2Ls

only scored only once, the result of a spectacular catch in traffic by Sara Grace Sirera, capping off a well-executed offensive drive.

Offensively, the 3Ls found success in both the run and passing game. Aislyn Taylor nailed the game’s first score on a 20-yard sideline scuttle. On the final play of the game—score tied at six— Daily escaped the ever-present 2L pass rush. She shot the ball to Jade Schaffer for a short pass, and Schaffer dashed her way to the goal line right before her flag was pulled. Similar to last year’s game, a tie was broken on a dramatic final play in favor of the 3Ls. In the end, the players left it all on the field. Last year saw too much intensity, but using the unbiased UREC officials alleviated most of that tension this year.

“The game shouldn’t be had without UREC referees,” said Daily, who organized the entire event. Audrey Gitz, 2L linebacker, agreed, saying the focus was on staying competitive while keeping emotions in check. “They kept the game safe and allowed the focus to stay on fun and charity,” Daley said.

Special thanks are in order for 3L coaches EJ Vincent, Chance Nerren, Coulter McMahen, and Chase Texada and 2L

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016 coaches Dakota Hawkins, Tyler DeAgano, Ahmed Soussi, Joe Cooper, and Carson Garand, who did their best to keep this feisty group of girls in line.

This year’s charity of choice was the Baton Rouge Area Foundation Flood Relief Fund, an overarching organization that donates money to other nonprofit organizations, facilitates philanthropy, and funds research to aid flood relief efforts in South Louisiana. In light of the devastating flood that impacted Baton Rouge earlier this year, Daily sought a charity that would benefit the local community.

an Woods’ donated a dinner, which sold for whopping $190. As for professor donated auction items, dinners with Dean Galligan and Judge Holdridge sold for $265 and $250, respectively. Always a good sport, Professor Devlin’s pie-ing in the face went for $75. In all, over 40 items were donated by students, professors, local businesses, and the Young Lawyer’s section of the Baton Rouge Bar Association.

LSU Law’s annual Powderpuff game is notorious for being competitive, but the primary focus has always been on having fun and supporting a great cause. For any 1Ls considering a spot on the team next year, lace up your sneakers and get ready for some good old-fashioned football.

The charity auction held at Uncle Earl’s contributed $3,500 to the total $4,500 raised. Money was also raised through the individual players and at the tailgate, where donations were taken at the jambalaya stand. One of the favored student auction items was 2L Virginia Brown’s pet portraits, which went for $81. Other high priced student items included a spin class with 3L Will Baay that sold for $75 and 2Ls Sarah Kuebel and Adri-

2Ls

3Ls

6 Final Score 12

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

SUNDAY FUNDAY To most PMHers, the LSU ‘HalLAWeen’ party marks the beginning of a grueling period during which we spend 40 days or so locked inside quiet buildings preparing for exams. Because Emily Schwab this next month will be Columnist relatively deadening for most of us, I decided that this Sunday Funday needed to involve an activity that would not only breathe some life into my hollow bones, but also relieve some of the intense stress that never fails to accumulate during this time. Naturally, the first thing that came to mind was to go shoot some things. Upon a quick Google search in the Target parking lot, I headed to the indoor gun range at Precision Firearms which was a mere 3-minute drive down Siegen.

Having found this place on a total whim, I had no idea what to expect upon my arrival. After wading through a group of people standing in line for the concealed carry class, we signed in and were greeted by an associate at the front desk. He informed us that they offered two firearms for rent: handguns and semi-automatic rifles. Although I grew up hunting with my father and am very familiar with shotgun shooting, the machine and handgun worlds are completely foreign to me. I wanted to try something new but my boyfriend refused to walk into the gallery if I had a semi-automatic rifle in my hand, so I opted for the handgun instead. After seeing the confused look on my face when the associate asked which model of handgun I wanted to try, he recommended the Walther PPS 9mm (whatever that is) because I am a beginner and it has no kickback. Lastly, we 10

with Schwab

had to choose our targets; there were 9 options including zombie posters, circle bull’s-eyes, and torso targets of differing sizes.

After we decided on our guns and targets, we were given goggles, earmuffs, and purchased ammunition. At this point, the associate had surmised that I had no idea how to load or unload the magazine, so he gave me a quick but detailed lesson before having me practice with a dummy gun. Fueled by adrenaline from hearing the rounds being fired in the next room and caffeine from my Starbucks Frappuccino, I put on my earmuffs and swung open the door to the gallery. Admittedly, the first few seconds in the range were slightly terrifying considering it is extremely loud in the gallery and the lanes are also quite narrow.

We were basically rubbing shoulders with a bunch of strangers loading their Glocks. However, our fellow shooters ended up being super friendly and more than willing to help when I sheepishly asked whether my hand placement was correct or if I had loaded the “clip” correctly.

Once I was comfortable and our torso target had been hung, I assumed the shooting position and fired my first shot.

At this point, my fears had subsided and the sound of the bullet flying through the target gave me an extreme sense of accomplishment. Although it may be a slightly aggressive thing for a girl to admit, there is a sense of immediate gratification and relief when you pull the trigger and see a hole pierced through the paper 20 feet away. With my adrenaline through the roof, we spent the next hour buying box after box of ammo, competing to see who was the better shot, and aimlessly rapid-fire shooting at the torso

target which moved from point blank range to 30 feet.

I can honestly say my level of stress walking out of the Precision range compared to when I walked in had decreased exponentially. Although this anxiety-relieving approach is surely not for everyone, it is definitely something I would recommend if you are looking to get out of your comfort zone and try something new to kick those study blues. However, you probably want to have one person in your group who is at least vaguely familiar with handling a firearm. One of my favorite parts about the whole afternoon was that I got to keep my target as a souvenir. Because there’s no better way to ward off intruders than hanging a completely annihilated torso target in

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

Raising the Bar

The Secret to LSU Law’s Bar Exam Passage Rate The end of 8 A.M. lectures and late night cram sessions may be in sight, but any thirdyear law student will tell you that one of the most daunting challenges of their law school career still lies Torri Watson ahead: the bar exam.

Staff Writer This intense examination is administered each year to determine whether an attorney is competent to practice law in a particular state. With preparation spanning anywhere from weeks to months, the bar exam is unsurprisingly a significant source of stress among law students and recent graduates. The good news? Historically, LSU Law graduates have led the pack when it comes to success on Louisiana’s challenging bar exam. This July, LSU Law once again topped the charts on the 2016 Louisiana Bar Exam, with a 77.86% pass rate among all graduates taking the test, and an 81% pass rate among firsttime test takers. This begs the questions, what is LSU doing right and what might other Louisiana law schools be missing?

view Proposed Changes to the Louisiana Bar Exam in 2011. She believes that the LSU advantage may lie in its civil lawfocused curriculum. “Tulane is a higher ranked school than us, and their credentials, on average, are a little higher. If all that mattered were credentials, their passage rate would probably be higher than ours.”

LSU Law’s curriculum is certainly unique. All first-year law students are required to take civil law classes such as Civil Law Property, Obligations, and Western Legal Traditions. This is distinct from schools such as Tulane and Loyola, where first year students may choose a common law curriculum over a civil-law-focused, Louisiana-specific track. A common law based curriculum is attractive to many students who plan to practice outside of Louisiana. Unfortunately, such aspirations do not always go according to plan.

“We call them ‘late-switchers’,” explains Lonegrass. “Students are sometimes unable to find out-of-state employment, or end up falling in love with New Orleans and decide in their third year that they want to stay.”

By that time, it is often too late to take the civil law courses required to adequately prepare for Louisiana’s tough, civil-law focused bar exam.

One might argue that this is exactly the purpose of bar exam preparation courses such as BARBRI or Kaplan: to fill in any remaining gaps in legal knowledge left after law school. However, a recent study has shown that choice of bar review course did not significantly affect performance on the bar exam. The same study also revealed that exam success is correlated with law school GPA, rather than performance on prior tests such as the LSAT.1 These results suggest that the CONTINUED ON PAGE 12...

“I feel like it must be related to curriculum, at some level,” remarks Melissa Lonegrass, a professor of civil law studies at LSU Law. Lonegrass, who graduated first in her class at Tulane in 2005, has been heavily involved with bar exam preparation over the years. Since 2009, she has been LSU Law’s designee to the Advisory Committee to the Louisiana Committee on Bar Admissions. She was also a member of the Louisiana Bar Association’s Special Committee to Re1 http://abovethelaw.com/2013/09/whats-the-best-predictor-of-barexam-success-its-not-the-lsat/ http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/09/law-school-gpa-.

html https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_ id=2308341&download=yes

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS LAW SCHOOL IN REVIEW Finals are coming. It’s November, which means it is time to start panicking about exams and thinking about all the things that you have not read. Whether you’re struggling through 1L year or searching for your motivation as a 3L, these tips are sure to help you through.

TIP #1 – BINGE WATCHING IS THE NEW BLACK There’s no time quite like finals to find a new fandom to join.

Break up those long hours in the library with episodes of the ‘The Good Wife’ or ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ for legal drama in and out of the classroom.

TIP #2 – BUZZFEED. PERIOD. What’s more important than the Civil Code during finals?

BuzzFeed quizzes that tell you which Disney character represents your personality. Exercise caution when opening multiple tabs!

TIP #3 – HUNGER GAMES. Those late night study sessions call for late night brain food.

Find local restaurants with late night hours and (even better) BAR CONTINUED...

bar exam favors strong legal analysis skills developed over the course of a law school career, rather than rigorous memorization in the weeks leading up to the test.

These findings carry some surprising implications. For LSU Law students, this could mean that your Western Legal Traditions class is even more beneficial than your BARBRI preparation course. While LSU Law’s curriculum includes mandatory civil law courses, is does not require a third year bar preparation class, as other Louisiana law schools often do. Professor Lonegrass thinks this gives students an advantage. “There’s something methodological happening in those civil law courses, in addition to learning substantive law, that makes you a better thinker.” She believes the relevance of the civil law extends even beyond the realm of the Louisiana bar exam and helps students become better lawyers altogether.

“Exposing students to comparative and international law is fundamental to practicing law anywhere in the country. Exposure to the law and legal systems of jurisdictions outside the common law United States, I would argue, is relevant to everyone.”

Mahogane Reed, who graduated from LSU Law this past

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delivery service. For munchies on a budget, stock your freezer with easy to make foods. Don’t forget to throw in a vegetable every now and then.

TIP #4 – GET. IT. TOGETHER. Finals are a perfect time for rearranging the furniture in your apartment, cleaning your car, obsessively highlighting and tabbing hundreds of pages of notes. Once your space is spotless and your notes resemble a Jackson Pollack, get back to the books or get started on that pile of laundry.

TIP #5 - GET PHYSICAL Remember to stay active during finals and keep your endorphins flowing. “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” Happy people do better on their exams.

TIP #6 – TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE Managing your time effectively during finals is the key to success. Schedule your study groups, flash card making, and naps accordingly.

May, was among the first-time test takers who passed the bar this July. Looking back, she found that much of her preparation came from the choice of material covered in her law school classes. “Students are exposed to bar exam topics throughout their time at the Law Center and are not blindsided when it’s time to begin studying for the exam,” she notes.

To Reed, what stands out is the commitment of her professors to teach bar-tested material, and their ability to teach it well.

“The advantage for LSU Law students comes into play when professors convey this information in the classroom, emphasize these areas of the law during classroom instruction, and test on these specific topics in the same form one would expect to see on the bar exam.”

As graduation draws nearer, LSU Law students can take comfort in knowing their legal education has prepared them to tackle the challenges of the bar exam and beyond. So the next time you find yourself wondering why you have spent so many hours distinguishing corpus and animus, or how a Frenchman’s recipe for legal gumbo might impact your career, remember that it just might pay off.

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

WHAT’S NEW BATON ROUGE

MR.

Need a reason for a study break? You’re in luck. November is jam-packed with events across the city that are sure to guide us away from our outlines and textbooks, starting with DIG’s annual Holiday Cocktail Competition on November 9th. Located at the Renaissance Hotel, from 6-9 pm, patrons will be given the opportunity to sample unique, seasonal cocktails prepared Hunter Odom

by BR’s top mixologists from 25 local bars Columnist and restaurants. The event also includes delicious food provided by the Renaissance Hotel, live music, a photo booth, and chances to win holiday prizes.

Following the Holiday Cocktail Competition, the annual Cap City Beer Fest will take place on November 13 from 12-4pm at the corner of 4th Street and Spanish Town Road, in front of the new State Capitol. Hosted by the Companion Animal Alliance, this dog-friendly event is a great opportunity to unwind and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of downtown Baton Rouge. For forty dollars (fifty on the day of the event), patrons will receive a commemorative sampling mug and have access to unlimited samplings of specialty beers from across the country. Food will also be available for purchase.

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r e b m e v No DIG’s Holiday Cockatil Competition 11/9/16 | Renaissance Hotel | 6-9pm

Cap City Beer Fest 11/13/16 | Corner of 4th St. & Spanishtown Rd. | 12-4pm Tickets: $40 ($50 and the day of the event) Capital Chef’s Showcase 11/16/16 | Crown Plaza Hotel | 6:30pm Tickets: $100

If you’d rather spend your study break sampling something a bit more nutritious, then the 34th annual Capital Chef’s Showcase is the event for you. On November 16th, chefs from the city’s finest restaurants and catering companies will gather at the Crowne Plaza Hotel to serve their finest dishes.

The tickets are a bit steep, at one hundred dollars apiece, but having attended this event in the past, I can say it is worth the price of admission. It is an incredible, unique opportunity to try dishes from some of Baton Rouge’s finest restaurants including Galatoire’s, Juban’s, Mansurs on the Boulevard, and more than twenty other local establishments. Additionally, all proceeds go to benefit Cancer Services. The event also includes live and silent auctions with several exceptional listings. Expect to see local celebrity chef, Jay Ducote, and LSU Baseball Coach, Paul Mainieri in attendance as this year’s honorary chairmen. Geaux Tigers!

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

JOE

“SOUP” COOPER Do you know Joe Soup? Joe Cooper is a man of many quirks, but his insatiable thirst for soup, which earned him his moniker, may top the list of peculiarities. He has been known to eat Patrick Schmidt Columnist two bowls of soup in the morning. He eats two bowls of soup at night. He eats two bowls of soup in the afternoon because it makes him feel all right.

Classification: 2L Section: 1 Hometown: Alcoa, Tennessee (right outside of Knoxville) Relationship Status: Single Q: What attracted you to LSU? A: I got in. I applied to every SEC school wanting to continue the party for another 3 years and LSU is the place that said ok.

Q: What is the biggest difference between Tennessee and LSU? A: Here at LSU it’s completely acceptable to be hammered by 12. While at Tennessee, it’s not like you can’t do that, it’s just definitely frowned upon.

Q: What advice would you give your 1L self?

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STUDENT

Spotlight A: Just quit. Give up now. You will save yourself a lot of heartbreak.

Q: What has been your favorite thing in law school so far?

A: By far, barrister’s bowl and the auction that follows.

Q: What is your favorite place in Baton Rouge?

A: That is actually a toss up between Chuck E. Cheese and the Penthouse.

Q: Why choose Joe over other names?

A: Honestly I am just not that creative.

Q: How would you describe yourself as a football player?

A: I would say that I am a young Ray Lewis with the athleticism of Pablo Sanchez from backyard baseball.

Q: Why is the purple team going to win the barrister’s bowl this year?

A: It all comes down to administration.

With Jack Zeringue as our head coach, our chief, we could probably take on the Tennessee Titans this year.

Q: Make the case to me why soccer is entertaining to watch and not completely and utterly boring outside of the world cup?

A: It is really one of those things; if you get, you get it. If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

Q: What was your favorite Halloween costume growing up?

A: I wouldn’t say it was my favorite Halloween costume. But one time I woke up in the middle of the night, went to my bathroom, covered myself in toothpaste and thought that I was the white ranger.

Q: Blondes/brunettes/redheads?

A: Redheads, easy.

Q: What does your Sunday look like after attending a GIF and tailgating?

A: It’s the back of my eyelids. I crawl into my room and I don’t leave. Or I’ll sleep in late, go to brunch, and keep the ball rolling.

Q: How would you describe your sense of style?

A: I get up in the morning, I get dressed, CONTINUED ON PAGE 15...

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

WITH PREJUDICE I can feel the bead of sweat slowly glide down my face as I watch the clock. The seconds tick by slowly. 6:59:59. The last second before 7:00:00 PM feels like a decade. I have everything ready to go. I am ready. I refresh my page at the exact moment the clock strikes 7:00pm. My fingers move at a break neck speed as I fill in every blank box with the secret code only I, and the control center, can decipher. I hit the ‘submit’ button and the red lettering of despair appears at the top of my screen.

SESSION FULL. TO ADD YOURSELF TO THE WAITLIST, CLICK ‘W’. TO ADD YOURSELF TO THE WAITLIST AND DROP ANY CONFLICTING CLASSES AUTOMATICALLY, CLICK ‘WD’.

As my last semester approaches, the woes of registration hold a heavier weight than ever before. There are several reasons behind this statement. Reason #1: I have carefully selected my course load for my last semester at PMH. This posed to be a difficult task as the Spring of 2017 course offerings left much to be desired for the ideal 3L. Reason #2: I am out of time to take the courses that I find both intriguing and stimulating. In addition, I have exhausted every Trahan course this school offers and Lockridge has decided not to teach the one course I have been waiting my law school career to take aka Trademark Law. Finally, Reason #3: I have a false sense of entitlement as a second semester 3L. I deserve an ideal schedule. I’ve earned it.

SPOTLIGHT CONTINUED..

and I look in the mirror. I ask myself if I look like someone’s father today and if the answer is yes, I am ready to leave the house.

Q: You are lost on an island. You can have one book, one movie, and one food. What are they?

A: Inferno by Dan Brown. The Grand Budapest Hotel, they actually won a bunch of awards for best score. New England Clam Chowder…really any type of soup.

Q: What incident led to the Joe Soup name?

A: I was at George’s and there were two options for soup.

One was a crab and corn chowder and the other was some-

At 7:02:15pm, I have registered for my last semester of law school. Of course, I have to naturally post this accomplishment on Facebook. Every ‘like’ and congratulatory message I receive only inflates my sense of accomplishment, regarding class registration. What my Facebook friends don’t know is that my “Just-registered-for-my-last-semester-of-law-school [insert clever emoji]” status is not entirely the truth. Throughout the winter break and the beginning of spring semester, I will change my mind a dozen times as to what classes I actually want to take. I will slowly move up on the waitlist of certain classes and eventually, I will have the perfect schedule.

Oh, you’re a 2L reading this? You think registration isn’t a big deal? That’s because as 2L you have a different mindset come registration time. Your mind isn’t ‘how-can-I-do-theleast-while-still-managing-to-graduate’. Your mind is on this thing that should be on 3L minds. It’s called “The Bar”. When registration opens, you sign up for a “perfect balance” of bar classes and “other classes”. The gunners, however, sign up for all bar classes and then cry themselves to sleep come finals. But if you’re a 2L don’t get smug because the time will come when you, too, see registration through different eyes.

Through 3LOL eyes.

This article doesn’t really apply to the last classification of students at PMH. No, I didn’t forget about you, 1Ls. You just don’t get to register for spring semester classes because you have enough to worry about…like surviving your first year.

No pressure. thing that just looked good. I was like you know what, I’ll just have both. I also recently just found out my grandfather is a fellow soup enthusiast so I guess it just runs in the family.

Q: What type of law do you want to pursue?

A: Crooked…just kidding. Maybe some criminal law, I am really up for anything. I could definitely see myself like a Lincoln Lawyer type.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Either in jail or the governor of Louisiana, but I heard those aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

Filling the Vacancy:

How the 2016 Presidential Election Will Decide the Future of SCOTUS

Jacob Longman Staff Writer

In the midst truly bizarre election cycle, it’s often hard to remember that the upcoming Presidential election has some of the highest stakes in modern political memory.

Rarely do two candidates represent such starkly different visions or express such wildly divergent sentiments. Substantively, nothing is more emblematic of the differences between Hilary Rodham Clinton and Donald John Trump than in what they plan to do with the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

In an election of firsts, Donald Trump did something no other candidate had ever done; he listed the candidates he was considering for the Supreme Court. Because of this, we have a pretty good idea of how SCOTUS would look in a Trump Presidency. Originally numbering eleven, Trump added ten more names in mid-September, bringing the total number to twenty one.

In the original list, released in May, Trump nominated people who, in his own words, “represent the kind of constitutional principles I value.” Rather than saying he would fill Scalia’s seat with any of the people named, Trump instead mentioned he would use it as a “guide.” The backgrounds of the candidates are similar: six are sitting on the federal bench and the other five are on state Supreme Courts.

The follow up list added ten additional names, one of which is not a judge at all. He also has not endorsed Trump for the Presidency. Mike Lee of Utah is a sitting Senator and Ted Cruz supporter, which lends credence to the idea that Trump is keeping personal politics out his nomination process.

This second list also added diversity. While the first announcement included only Caucasians, the second list added an African-American, as well a Venezuelan born federal judge and another federal justice of Asian descent. Of the twenty one names, four are women, including Dianne Sykes, a federal appeals court justice who was mentioned as a potential appointment during George W. Bush’s second term.

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All of the judges named by Trump tend to lean noticeably conservative. Firmly on the side of religious rights, they also lend credit to Trump’s claim that he intends to take steps toward overturning Roe v. Wade. This is contrasted by D.C. v. Heller, as none of the justices mentioned have shown any inclination to challenge 2nd Amendment rights. In general, the justices mentioned show us that Trump is committed to moving the court to the right, replacing Antonin Scalia with a justice of similar juridical philosophies.

It’s a little harder to predict the exact kind of nominees that Hillary Clinton will make. Clinton has not released a list of names she would mention so, unlike Trump, we can only guess. Still, there are a couple of ways to hedge the process, moving it from a wild guess to something more educated.

The first thing we can speculate about is what would happen if Clinton simply continues the nomination of Merrick Garland.

Garland is President Obama’s nominee and he’s been waiting in limbo for a confirmation hearing for months. In the event of a Clinton Presidency, it’s possible that Garland represents the most conservative option that will be put forth for the bench. It is also possible, however, that this is not the case.

A study released in September titled “Possible Presidents and their Possible Justices” written by two professors, one from Berkley and the other from the University of Michigan, posits that it is possible to determine how a justice will vote while on SCOTUS based on a combination of factors including which President nominated the justice and, when applicable, which home state Senators supported the justice’s nomination. The study places Trump and Clinton on the political ideological spectrum—along with the current justices.

The study uses Chief Justice Kennedy, the deciding vote in most of the close decisions, as the ideological center of the court. On this spectrum, Trump sits on the far right, flanked by Clarence Thomas, the most conservative justice, and Samuel Alito, the second most conservative, on his left.

Clinton falls somewhat closer to the ideological center of the court. While Sonia Sotomayer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg occupy the left of the scale, Clinton herself falls closer to Ele-

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016 na Kagan and Stephen Breyer, who sit just to the left of Anthony Kennedy, the Court’s ideological center. Garland, notably, does not.

Instead, Garland falls far to the left, even more so than Clinton, landing much closer on the ideological spectrum to R.B.G. than he does Clinton. It’s possible, then, that Garland is more liberal than Clinton, as Clinton lines up almost directly with Kagan and Breyer, the two moderates of the liberal bloc. This makes it possible, assuming the model is accurate, and Clinton nominates someone ideologically in line with herself, that Clinton will nominate justices more conservative than Merrick Garland.

Either way, whomever Clinton nomi1 http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/ trump-cruz-supreme-court/501461/ 2 http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwoway/2016/05/18/478563401/trumps-list-of-possiblesupreme-court-nominees-includes-a-judge-whosmocked-trum 3 http://www.npr.org/2016/05/18/478609623/trumpssupreme-court-list-might-reassure-conservatives-butleaves-off-big-names

nates will shift the ideological center of the court to the left. Another liberal justice effectively removes Kennedy as the deciding vote, transferring that distinction to Justice Stephen Breyer of the liberal bloc. This means that no matter whom Clinton nominates, the balance of power on the court shifts, likely leading to an increase in substantive due process rights, with the exception of the 2nd Amendment and D.C. v. Heller. Current due process rights, such as the right to have an abortion, will hold as well, with the possible exception of religious rights, which will likely be defined as something more akin to a shield than a sword.

A Trump presidency does the opposite.

Only one of Trump’s nominations, Jus4 Id 5 http://www.npr.org/2016/09/23/495216645/donaldtrump-unveils-new-more-diverse-supreme-court-shortlist 6 Id 7 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/us/politics/ donald-trump-supreme-court-nominees.html 8 http://epstein.wustl.edu/research/PossibleNominees. pdf

tice Thomas Hardiman of the federal bench, qualifies as a moderate near Chief Justice Kennedy. Hardiman doesn’t always usurp Kennedy’s role, though he does most of the time. This means that Trump’s nominees, most of whom are listed in the study, will shift the court to the right.

The stakes are clear. With at least Scalia’s seat up, if not more, the future of the Supreme Court will be decided on November 8th. Whoever wins will set the ideological bend of the Court for a generation, if not more, effectively eradicating Kennedy as the center, and moving the Court in their direction. This makes the Supreme Court exactly what most polls are calling the election: a toss up.

9-13 Id. 14 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/25/us/ politics/how-clintons-or-trumps-nominees-could-affectthe-balance-of-the-supreme-court.html?_r=0 15 http://epstein.wustl.edu/research/PossibleNominees. pdf 16 Id.

New Successions Clinic Offered in the Spring

Alaina Richard Editor-in-Chief

perfect for you.

If you are a 3L looking for practical legal experience and have a desire to contribute to the ongoing flood relief efforts in the Baton Rouge area, an new opportunity has cropped up next semester that may be

A new Law Clinic has just become available for students for the Spring semester thanks to funding from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to assist in flood recovery. The Law Clinic will be collaborating with Southeast Legal Services (SLLS) to offer students a Successions/ Title Clearing Clinic. It will be 3 credit hours pass/fail and taught by Professor Elizabeth Carter and a supervising attorney at SLLS. “This new Clinic will be an excellent ad-

dition to our current clinical offerings in that students will have the opportunity to learn how to do a succession while helping a real client who was impacted by the flood.” Professor Robert Lancaster, Director of Clinical Legal Education, said. Lancaster continued, “Graduating law school having already done a succession for a client is a very marketable skill.”

Professor Elizabeth Carter added, “This new Clinic gives students a unique and important opportunity to gain real-world transactional skills.” Carter further explained that the Clinic should be of interest for “anyone considering a career in real estate, estate planning, or other type of transactional practice.”

Lancaster and Carter explained that this work is important because many people are living in ‘family homes’ informally passed down to them through generations. Although these families have been

living in and maintaining these homes as their own, there was never any succession or legal determination that they are the rightful possessors. Since legal possession is usually a threshold eligibility question for FEMA funds, disaster relief, or even financing, many people are unable to obtain the funds necessary to repair their home. The Successions/Title Clearing Clinic will help individuals and families with these specific issues so that our community can successfully rebuild.

The Clinic is open to third year law students who have completed Legal Professions. Students who have completed Successions and Donations will be preferred. The clinic will be limited to four (4) students, so if you are interested in applying to enroll in the Spring semester, please contact Brenda Salassi, (Brenda.salassi@law.lsu.edu) the Law Clinic Coordinator, and she will provide you with application information.

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

ADVOCATES in action

IRA S. FLORY

TRIAL COMPETITION

Fall 2016 Flory Trial finalists Doug Nielsen and Halee Maturin; Baton Rouge Chief Public Defender Michael Mitchell; Judge Anthony Marabella, 19th JDC; Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore; and Fall 2016 Flory Trial champions Caity Cline and Rome Gonsoulin

Fall 2016 Flory Trial Competiton winners: Caity Klein and Rome Gonsoulin

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THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

ROBERT LEE TULLIS

MOOT COURT COMPETITION

Hon. J. Michael McDonald, Tullis Champions Sarah Nickel and Sara Kuebel, Hon. Shelly Dick, Finalists Josie Serigne, Alyssa Depew, and Dean Thomas Galligan

Fall 2016 Tullis Moot Court Competiton winners: Sarah Nickel and Sara Kuebel

Best Brief Award Winners

2016 Tullis Competition Semifinalists: Shawn Daray, Jacob Irving, Katherine Herbert, and Ronald Coleman

Best Oralist Award Winners 19

THE CIVILIAN | NOVEMBER 2016

Mockingbird Challenge

Appellate Lawyers of America Queen’s County District Attorney

National PreTrial Competition ABA Labor & Employment

Peter James Johnson National Civil Rights 20