Advocate Magazine 2019 vol.53

Vol. 53, 2019

UGA’S JUDICIAL SERVICE

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

• Amos family creates First-Start Scholars Program • Distinguished Law Fellowships named for Edge, Henson & Rees • Butler Commitment helps 100% of matriculating vets

From the law school’s leaders YOUNG ALUMNI/ALUMNAE COMMITTEE

LAW SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

“Maintaining a connection with our law school is truly rewarding.

Sharing your views on law school and life in Athens with prospective students, mentoring a current student as they navigate the rigors of a legal education or speaking to a student group about your career path can leave you feeling proud of both our school and our profession, while contributing to the law school’s legacy of preparing the next generation of legal leaders. Find your way to stay connected and make a difference.”

“It is now easier than ever to change the life of a deserving law student. Earlier this year, the LSAC voted to expand the reach of the Law School Fund. In addition to providing scholarship aid, this fund will make resources available to law students in need of support to purchase professional attire and course books as well as bar exam preparation assistance.

Many thanks to those donors who established an Annual Scholarship, another new initiative within the LSF. By making a gift, you are contributing to our mission to be the best return on investment in legal education in the country.”

—Catherine H. Curlet (J.D.’11),Young Alumni/Alumnae Committee President

—Michael J. “M.J.” Blakely Jr. (J.D.’06), Law School Association President

BOARD OF VISITORS

“Our law school is on a trajectory of which we can all be proud. Now, more than ever, we are doing more to help students experience a quality legal education at an affordable price – addressing not only tuition costs but non-tuition expenses that can be extremely crippling to one’s bottom line. Additionally, the 17 clinical and experiential learning opportunities afforded to our students allow them to contribute directly to society as they hone their legal skills and passions.

To maintain these levels of success, continued financial support for our law school and its programs is critical. Join me in this need as we seek to remain the best return on investment in legal education – benefiting our students, state and society.”

—Marlan B. Wilbanks (J.D.’86), Board of Visitors Chair

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD. It’s who we are and what we do. At the School of Law, we pride ourselves on providing: - First-rate legal training

- Authentic relationships and support

- Thought leadership and world-class scholarship

- A great return on investment in legal education

- An unwavering commitment to service

FROM THE DEAN

On the rise This spring, the School of Law rose to #27 in the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings, the fastest year-over-year rise of any law school in the top 30 and our highest ranking since 2002. Coming on ÿ¿® ¿®®Ó÷ ä¸ ÿ¿® ÷¡¿ääÓɚ÷ ĥó÷ÿɏ®Đ®ó ó®¡äºÜÂÿÂäÜ ÷ ÿ¿® ȼȖ ®÷ÿ Óą® ÂÜ legal education by the National Jurist, this latest accolade was a great cause for celebration.

V¸ ¡äąó÷®ȷ ó ÜÐÂܺ÷ ó® ĥ¡ÐÓ®Ƚ i¡¿ääÓ÷ óÂ÷® äÜ® ė® óȷ äÜÓė ÿä

“First-rate legal training will always be our core mission.”

fall the next, sometimes for reasons largely beyond their control.

Moreover, the underlying methodology can be questionable. For example, U.S. News weights direct operational expenses more heavily

Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton (J.D.’91), featured on page

ÿ¿ Ü ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó Â§Ƚ 5Ü Úė Đ®đȷ ÿ¿ ÿ đ®Âº¿ÿÂܺ Â÷ ¡Ðđ ó§÷ Ɏ Ó đ

15. And, nearly 20% of our 2018 graduates served as judicial clerks after

÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ ¡ ó® Úäó® äąÿ ÿ¿® Ģäó§ ÂÓÂÿė ä¸ ÿ¿®Âó ®§ą¡ ÿÂäÜ ÿ¿ Ü

ºó §ą ÿÂäÜȽ Âÿ¿ ïóäºó Ú÷ ÷ą¡¿ ÷ ÿ¿® !§®Üĥ®Ó§ @ąóÂ÷ÿ ÂÜ e®÷§®Ü¡® ܧ

amusements outside the classrooms and courtrooms.

the new Be Kind Fund – created in memory of the late Chief Justice P.

®÷ïÂÿ® ÿ¿® ąÜ§®Ü Ӯ Ħ đ÷ ä¸ ó ÜÐÂܺ÷ȷ äąó ó ï§ óÂ÷® ïóäЧ®÷

Harris Hines – federal and state jurists are brought into our classrooms

another proof point that we are achieving our vision to be the nation’s

respectively. The Be Kind Fund also provides summer fellowships to

best return on investment in legal education. Since 2015, we have

students clerking at the Supreme Court of Georgia.

pursued that goal relentlessly because it is the right thing to do – and

First-rate legal training will always be core to our mission. Our

®¡ ą÷® Âÿ ÓÓäđ÷ äąó ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ ÿä ®¡äÚ® Ó® §®ó÷ ÂÜ ÿ¿®Âó ¡¿ä÷®Ü ĥ®Ó§÷

classroom learning is enhanced by 17 clinical and experiential learning

without burdensome debt.

programs that serve as centers of excellence and equip our students

Authentic support from our alumni, alumnae and friends is

with hands-on experience. The Wilbanks CEASE Clinic, dedicated

essential to this vision. For example, a transformational gift from

to representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse, continues to

former Board of Visitors Chair Kathelen Amos (J.D.’82) and the

represent survivors in civil cases and recently produced a path-breaking

Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation will provide endowed scholarships

white paper on Georgia’s Hidden Predator Act. The Veterans Legal Clinic

and cover certain professional development expenses ultimately

opened its doors only last summer, and it is already handling a full

¸äó ȖȖ ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® ºó §ą ÿ®÷ ÷ÿą§ėÂܺ ÿ¿® Ó đȽ q¿ ÿ

caseload of claims from around the state.

gift complements the support provided by the newly created First-

The combination of authentic support, commitment to service

Generation Student Association, founded by two current students (one

ܧ ĥó÷ÿɏó ÿ® Ó®º Ó ÿó ÂÜÂܺ ė®ӧ÷ ÂÚïäóÿ Üÿ ó®÷ąÓÿ÷Ƚ +äó ÿ¿® ÷®¡äܧ

of whom is featured on page 16), and the hiring of the “First-Start

straight year, our “employed-at-10-month” rate was one of the best in

coordinator” who will serve as their designated adviser. I am deeply

the nation and best in the state, exceeding 90% for full-time, long-

grateful to Kathelen and the entire Amos family for their profound

term, “gold standard” jobs. For the second straight year, our “ultimate

commitment to these students and encourage you to read more about

bar passage” rate was roughly 95%, meaning that virtually all of our

their inspiring gift on page 4.

graduates who sit for a bar pass within 12 months of graduation. For

Additionally, the Distinguished Law Fellows program, created by

ÿ¿® ĥ¸ÿ¿ ÷ÿó º¿ÿ ė® óȷ đ® ¿ Đ® Óäđ®ó®§ ÷ÿą§®Üÿ Âܧ® ÿ®§Ü®÷÷ đÂÿ¿

a catalytic gift from The John N. Goddard Foundation, assists the most

aggregate annual borrowing dropping approximately $5.3 million

academically talented applicants in each entering class. The program

since 2013, and roughly 38% graduated with no debt from their legal

has increased from three recipients in 2016 to over 10 recipients this

education during that same period. These are results of which we can

fall (learn more on page 6). Veterans, such as the student featured

ÓÓ ® ïó乧Ƚ q¿®ė Ú Ð® §ÂĢ®ó®Ü¡® äÿ¿ ¸äó äąó ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ɚ ÓÂĐ®÷ ܧ ¸äó

on page 17, comprise another important and growing student cohort.

the legal profession.

Through the Butler Commitment, alumnus Jim Butler (J.D.’77) has

In closing, let me encourage you to answer the call of your fellow

®Ü Ó®§ ą÷ ÿä ºą ó Üÿ®® ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó Â§ ÿä ®Đ®óė Đ®ÿ®ó Ü Ú ÿó¡ąÓ ÿÂܺ

alumni/alumnae leaders on the page opposite this letter. Mentor a

this fall.

student, hire a graduate, make a gift and invest in the momentum of

Many of our students choose to serve state and society, including

your law school – a school on the rise.

the judiciary. At the federal level, our alums represent more than half of the active Article III judges in the state of Georgia. In the Southern District, every Article III judge attended our law school. On the state level, our graduates occupy a variety of key posts, including Georgia

Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge Dean and Herman E. Talmadge Chair of Law

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

1

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

Advocate 10

Two national titles

4

12

Students connect with jurists

1

#

$3 million gift from Amos family transforming first-gen student experiences Created by a lead gift from 1982 alumna Kathelen Amos and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation – the largest outright donation in the school’s history – the First-Start Scholars Program will transform the legal education experience for many first-generation college graduates studying at the law school.

6

Best Value Law School

Record number of students receive summer fellowships

—National Jurist, 2018

For the third year in a row, a record number of law students – approximately 90 – received financial support to perform legal work in summer government, judicial and public interest positions.

6

Distinguished Law Fellowships named in honor of Edge, Henson and Rees

5

The School of Law proudly expands its Distinguished Law Fellows program, which offers select law students unparalleled learning opportunities that include professional development funds, guided research experiences, meetings with some of the country’s top legal leaders and full-tuition scholarships.

9

Committed to preparing the next generation of legal leaders The School of Law was recently ranked the #1 Best Value law school in the country.

Butler Commitment guarantees financial aid for every veteran The Butler Commitment – which guarantees financial aid to 100 percent of veterans who matriculate in the fall 2019 entering class – was initiated by Jim Butler (J.D.’77).

CONNECT WITH US

www.law.uga.edu

@UGASchoolofLaw

facebook.com/UGALawSchool

youtube.com/c/UGALawSchool

Vol. 53, 2019 • ISSN 1557-1025 Editor’s Note: The Advocate is published annually by the University of Georgia School of Law for alumni/alumnae, friends and members of the law school community. Please contact the Office of Communications and Public Relations at (706) 542-5172 or lawcomm@uga.edu if you have any comments or suggestions.

Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Randy Beck

36

Associate Dean for Clinical Programs & Experiential Learning Eleanor “Ellie” Crosby Lanier

Alumni/Alumnae awards

Associate Dean for Faculty Development Elizabeth Weeks (J.D.’99) Executive Director of Admissions & Diversity Programs Gregory L. “Greg” Roseboro (J.D.’87) Senior Director of Business & Finance Blake Waldrop Senior Director of Career Development Kenny R. Tatum

11

Director of Communications & Public Relations Heidi M. Murphy

Law firm establishes scholarship to honor Casey

Director of Dean Rusk International Law Center Kathleen A. “Kate” Doty

The law firm Epps, Holloway, DeLoach & Hoipkemier created the Kellie R. Casey Scholarship to recognize the 1990 alumna’s contributions to the school’s storied advocacy program, which has amassed 25 national championships, more than 40 regional titles and 15 state trophies during her tenure.

18

30

Director of Law Library Carol A. Watson (J.D.’87) Senior Director of Law School Advancement Anne S. Moser Director of Major Gifts & Prospect Management Jeremy Headrick Chief of Staff & Special Assistant to the Dean Lara O. Pulliam

2019 Commencement

Director of Special Events Lisa C. Mathis

A photo essay of this momentous day.

Law School Staff Representative Group Chair Shawn T. Lanphere

Two faculty receive university-level titles

Email departmental inquiries to: Admissions – ugajd@uga.edu Alumni/Alumnae Relations – lawalum@uga.edu Communications – lawcomm@uga.edu Development – lawgifts@uga.edu Dean Rusk International Law Center – ruskintlaw@uga.edu Law Library – cwatson@uga.edu Career Development – cdo@uga.edu

Lonnie Brown was selected as a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Usha Rodrigues was named a University Professor.

ABOUT THE COVER:

Director of Information Technology Jim Henneberger

Facilities Manager & Event Coordinator Mary Beisswenger

Brown

Heidi Murphy, editor and writer; Lona Panter, principal writer; Mauli Desai, intern; mPrint Design Studio, design; Creasey Printing Services, printing.

Rodrigues

UGA’s Judicial Service: Our graduates represent more than half of the active Article III judges in Georgia. Pictured at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia investiture ceremony for R. Stan Baker (J.D.’04) (kneeling) are: (l. to r.) Chief Judge J. Randal Hall (J.D.’82) (Southern District), Judge Lisa Godbey Wood (J.D.’90) (Southern District), Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self (J.D.’97) (Middle District), Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. (LL.B.’65) (Southern District), Senior Judge William T. Moore Jr. (LL.B.’64) (Southern District) and Judge Steve C. Jones (J.D.’87) (Northern District) with Uga X (sitting). Photo by Theresa Rowan, The Darkroom Photography; courtesy of Baker.

linkedin.com/school/university-of-georgia-school-of-law

Instagram.com/ugalawschool

© 2019 University of Georgia School of Law. The University of Georgia is a unit of the University of System of Georgia.

The University of Georgia does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or military service in its administrations of educational policies, programs, or activities; its admissions policies; scholarship and loan programs; athletic or other University-administered programs; or employment. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the Equal Opportunity Office, 119 Holmes-Hunter Academic Building, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Telephone 706-542-7912 (V/TDD). Fax 706-542-2822. https://eoo.uga.edu/ The University of Georgia Foundation is registered to solicit in every state and provides state specific registration information at www.ugafoundation.org/charity.

#GeorgiaLaw

#UGALaw

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

ɡȘ ÚÂÓÓÂäÜ ºÂ¸ÿ TRANSFORMING FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT EXPERIENCES The School of Law is continuing to transform the legal education ®Ėï®ó®ܡ® ¸äó Ú Üė ä¸ Âÿ÷ ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® ºó §ą ÿ®÷ ÿ¿ ÜÐ÷ ÿä ɡȘ ÚÂÓÓÂäÜ ºÂ¸ÿ Ɏ ÿ¿® Ó óº®÷ÿ äąÿóº¿ÿ §äÜ ÿÂäÜ ÂÜ ÿ¿® ÷¡¿ääÓɚ÷ ¿Â÷ÿäóėȽ The First-Start Scholars Program, created by a lead gift from 1982 alumna Kathelen V. Amos and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation, awards students a scholarship as well as a professional development stipend. ɖq¿Â÷ ïóäºó Ú Â÷ ÿó Ü÷¸äóÚ ÿÂäÜ Ó ¡äÚÚÂÿÚ®Üÿ ÿä ĥó÷ÿɏ º®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® ºó §ą ÿ®÷ȷɗ ® Ü a®ÿ®ó Ƚ ɖ äɗ eąÿÓ®§º® ÷ §Ƚ ɖ ÿ Âÿ÷ ¡äó®ȷ ÿ¿®÷® ÷¡¿äÓ ó÷¿Âï÷ ïóäЧ® ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó ÷÷Â÷ÿ Ü¡®Ƚ ®ėäܧ ÿ¿ ÿ tuition aid, they also will give additional support in vital areas such ÷ ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó ïÓ ÜÜÂܺ §Đ¡®ȷ Ü®ÿđäóÐ §®Đ®ÓäïÚ®Üÿ ܧ ¡òąÂ÷ÂÿÂäÜ ä¸ business attire and bar preparation classes.”

The law school in recent years has placed a strong emphasis on ÷÷Â÷ÿÂܺ Âÿ÷ ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ đ¿ä ó® ÿ¿® ĥó÷ÿ ÂÜ ÿ¿®Âó ¸ ÚÂÓ®÷ ÿä ÿÿ®Ü§ college. With this gift, more than $5 million has been given to the School of Law to assist this cohort throughout their legal education.

“In recent years we have gained a better understanding of the ÷ºÜÂĥ¡ Üÿ ÜąÚ ®ó ä¸ Ó đ ÷¡¿ääÓ ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ đ¿ä ó® Ó÷ä ĥó÷ÿ º®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® ºó §ą ÿ®÷Ƚɜ5 Ú ïó乧 ä¸ ÿ¿® ÂÜ¡Óą÷ÂЮܮ÷÷ ó®ïó®÷®Üÿ®§ ÂÜ ÿ¿® fact that this cohort constitutes 10 to 15% of each law school class – a number that is rising,” Kathelen Amos said. “Dan and I were moved to establish the First-Start Scholars Program because this diverse group ä¸ ėäąÜº Ú®Ü Ü§ đäÚ®Ü ¿ Đ® ¸ ¡®§ ÷ºÜÂĥ¡ Üÿ ä ÷ÿ ¡Ó®÷ ÿä óóÂĐ®

Top: First-generation college graduates and current law students

ÿ ÿ¿® Ó đ ÷¡¿ääÓȽ ÷ Ħ º÷¿Âï ąÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿėȷ ܧ ÷ﮡÂĥ¡ ÓÓė ÿäï Đ Óą®

Sharod McClendon (left) and Tyler Mathis created the School

ÂÜ Ó®º Óɜ®§ą¡ ÿÂäÜȷ ÿ¿® w- i¡¿ääÓ ä¸ D đ ÷¿äąÓ§ ® ÿ¿® ïÓ ¡® đ¿®ó®

of Law’s First-Generation Student Association. Above: Kathelen

ÿ Ó®Üÿ®§ ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ ä¸ ÓÓ ¡ÐºóäąÜ§÷ ĥܧ Ó®Đ®Ó ïÓ ėÂܺ ĥ®Ó§ äÜ đ¿Â¡¿

(J.D.’82) and Dan Amos. Photo by Ian McFarlane.

they pursue their dreams.”

Concurrent with the creation of the First-Start Scholars Program, ÿ¿® Ó đ ÷¡¿ääÓ ¿ ÷ ¿Âó®§ Ü §ĐÂ÷®ó ÿä đäóÐ ®Ė¡Óą÷ÂĐ®Óė đÂÿ¿ ĥó÷ÿɏ generation students as they embark on their three years of law school. §§ÂÿÂäÜ ÓÓėȷ ¡ąóó®Üÿ Ó đ ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ ܧ ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® graduates Tyler C. Mathis and Sharod J. McClendon have established

With continued support from law school graduates and the legal ¡äÚÚąÜÂÿėȷ ÿ¿® i¡¿ääÓ ä¸ D đ ÷ïÂó®÷ ÿä äĢ®ó ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó Â§ ÿä Ȗȕȕ ï®ó¡®Üÿ ä¸ Âÿ÷ ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® ºó §ą ÿ®÷ȷ eąÿÓ®§º® ÷ §Ƚ “Scholarships like these ease the burden of a obtaining a legal

the School of Law’s First-Generation Student Association. Mathis is the

education – a foundation that will launch our hard-working students

recipient of the Stacey Godfrey Evans Scholarship, which is awarded

into careers with impact,” he said. “Thanks to this generous gift from

ÿä ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® ºó §ą ÿ®÷ȷ ܧ L¡ ӮܧäÜ Â÷ ®Ü¿ Ú

Kathelen and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation, these students

i¡¿äÓ óȷ ïóäºó Ú ÿ¿ ÿ ®Ü®ĥÿ÷ ÂܧÂЧą Ó÷ đ¿ä ¿ ÂÓ ¸óäÚ äó ÷¿äđ

will go from scholarship recipients at one of the nation’s top law

demonstrated intent to practice in legally underserved communities.

schools to graduates and practicing lawyers who will serve and become

The student group serves as a unifying force around the academic,

leaders in their communities, both near and far.”

®ÚäÿÂäÜ Óȷ ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó Ü§ ÷ä¡Â Ó Â÷÷ą®÷ ó®Ó®Đ Üÿ ÿä ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ graduates – a complement to the First-Start Scholars Program. ɖ ® Ó÷ä đ Üÿ ÿä ¡®Ó® ó ÿ® ®Âܺ ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ȷɗ L ÿ¿Â÷ ÷ §Ƚ ɖ äąɚó® Ó ĜÂܺ ÿó ÂÓȽ äąɚó® ÿ¿® ĥó÷ÿ ÂÜ ėäąó family to attend college or law school and you’re making it easier for those who come behind you.”

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ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

The First-Start Scholars Program will transform the School of Law’s commitment to first-generation college graduates.

PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEGAL LEADERS

COMMITTED TO

#1

Best Value Law School

1st

—National Jurist 2018

95% Approximate passage rate for graduates who sat for the bar within 12 months of graduation

27th —U.S. News & World Report 2019/20

A

Best Schools for Practical Training —PreLaw 2019

18th 9th 19th 13th

School of Law graduates lead the number of lawyers who made partner at large and midsize firms in Atlanta

75+

—Daily Report 2019

Survivors of child sexual abuse the Wilbanks CEASE Clinic has directly assisted

For placing 2018 graduates into full-time, long-term law jobs that require bar passage and are not funded by law schools —Law.com 2019

2017–18 Moot Court Rankings —PreLaw 2018

Among international law programs —U.S. News & World Report 2019/20

For placing 2018 graduates into federal clerkships —Law.com 2019

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First-generation college graduates and veterans in the Class of 2021

Class of 2021 students receiving merit scholarships

68% $54M+

and counting raised as part of the Commit to Georgia –June 2020).

30, 2020).

Approximately Campaign (July 1, 2012–June Approximately 90%90% of commitments have gone toward enhancing student experience, particularly through scholarships and fellowships

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

5

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

Record number of students receive summer fellowships For the third year in a row, a record number of law students was able to perform legal work in summer government, judicial and public interest fellowships around the globe due to increased support from a variety of sources. This past summer, approximately 90 – the most School of Law students ever – benefited from roughly $132,000 in fellowships and grants from 13 funding sources, which represented another high.

“It was incredibly rewarding to be able to provide funding for so many deserving students who wanted to gain legal experience while helping others,” Associate Dean for Clinical Programs and Experiential Learning Eleanor “Ellie” Crosby Lanier said. “I am amazed at the breadth of the placements the students secured and am thankful we were able to find funding for all eligible applicants.”

A rising third-year student said his fellowship would allow him to pursue a career in public interest environmental law. “This Fellowship will significantly relieve my financial burden for the summer, which will allow me to focus on keeping our country healthy and pollution-free [at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance], rather than worrying about how I will make ends meet,” he said.

Serving state and society is an important part of being a lawyer, according to Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge. “This summer our students were exposed to

$132,300

Funding and impact on the rise

$83,000 Grants Number of Students

90

$68,000 48 36 2017

2018

2019

real-world legal work and challenges relating to a variety of interests and causes, and they will return to the law school this fall with fresh perspectives that will shape their future careers as lawyers. I am grateful to our alumni and alumnae and other supporters for allowing this record number of students to supplement their first-rate legal training in the classroom with hands-on experience, both of which contribute to the school’s vision of being the best return on investment in legal education today.”

Five new monetary sources helped bolster the funding for fellowships by approximately $50,000 over last year’s high of $83,000. Among the new initiatives supporting summer public interest work is the Be Kind Fund, in memory of Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Harris Hines.

Distinguished Law Fellowships named for Edge, Henson and Rees In 2016, the School of Law established the Distinguished Law Fellows program as a result of a $2 million founding gift from The John N. Goddard Foundation. These annual fellowships offer law students the opportunity to receive an unparalleled educational experience including domestic and international externships, guided research experiences, opportunities to meet some of the country’s top legal leaders and a full-tuition scholarship.

Since its establishment, the program has expanded and this past academic year saw the creation of new Distinguished Law Fellowships named in honor of Robert G. Edge, Kenneth M. Henson and John Bartow Rees Jr. The Robert G. Edge Distinguished Law Fellowship is funded by The John N. Goddard Foundation in recognition of Edge, who is a longtime Goddard family friend as well as legal counsel for the Goddard Foundation. He is also senior counsel at the Atlanta office of Alston & Bird.

Edge was instrumental in the creation of the school’s first Distinguished Law Fellowships named in memory of Philip H. Alston Jr., which were funded by the initial gift from the Goddard Foundation. The trustees of the foundation are almost entirely children or grandchildren of Elkin Goddard Alston and Philip H. Alston Jr., a UGA alumnus and lawyer who co-founded the University of Georgia Foundation.

Through outright and planned contributions from Kenneth Henson and his wife, Sue – who are both deceased – as well as anonymous gifts made in 2018, the

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ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

Kenneth M. Henson Distinguished Law Fellowship will honor the late lawyer, who was a 1947 graduate of the School of Law. A Henson Fellow will be named this fall.

Kenneth Henson was an active alumnus and served on the law school’s Board of Visitors, and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Scroll in 1978. Two Henson children – Kenneth Marshall Henson Jr. and Carlton Monroe Henson II – and three grandchildren – Catherine Henson Curlet, Susie Henson Marshall and Kenneth Marshall Henson III – followed in Kenneth’s footsteps and attended the School of Law. Additionally, thanks to a group of anonymous donors, the first John B. Rees Jr. Distinguished Law Fellows will begin their studies this fall. Named in memory of a longtime faculty member, this fellowship was established as a lasting tribute to Rees’ many contributions to the law school as well as his intellect and unwavering dedication to fairness.

Rees, who joined the law school’s faculty in 1959, held the Law School Association Professorship at the time of his retirement in 2002. During his tenure, Rees served as assistant dean from 1964 to 1969, led the facilities committee that oversaw the design and construction of the law school’s 1967 Hirsch Hall expansion and generously endowed the John B. Rees Jr. Law Library Book Fund.

Atlanta Semester in Practice • Appellate Litigation Clinic • Business Law Clinic • Capital Assistance Project • Civil Externship • Community Health Law Partnership Clinic • Corporate Counsel Externship •

School celebrates 50+ years of clinical legal education HISTORY ïïóäĖÂÚ ÿ®Óė ĥĐ® §®¡ §®÷ ºäȷ ÿ¿® D®º Ó Â§ ÓÂÜ¡ đ ÷ ®÷ÿ ÓÂ÷¿®§

Over the past 50+ years, thousands of School of Law students have

under a grant with the county to address the needs of low-income

learned the law through participation in a clinic. In fact, nearly 90% of the

ÿ¿®Ü Ü÷ ÂÜ ¡ÂĐÂÓ Ü§ ¡óÂÚÂÜ Ó ¡ ÷®÷Ƚ ąóÂܺ ÿ¿® ¡ÓÂÜ¡ɚ÷ ĥó÷ÿ ¸ąÓÓ ė® ó

Class of 2018 participated in at least one clinic or externship course during

of operation in 1968, law students – working alongside law school

ÿ¿®Âó ¡ §®Ú¡ ¡ ó®®óȷ đÂÿ¿ ÓÚä÷ÿ Țȕʅ ÿ ÐÂܺ ÿđä äó Úäó® ¡Ó ÷÷®÷Ƚɜ

faculty under the recently enacted Law School Legal Aid Agency Act – ¿ ܧӮ§ Úäó® ÿ¿ Ü ȘȜȚ ¡ ÷®÷Ƚ Two years later, in 1970, when the state of Georgia began allowing third-year law students to assist in the prosecution of cases,

® øĉµ® ¿üìáɞ ĀĀì¨É ĉµ µ ã !Úµ ãìü ɘ!ÚÚɵə üìĀ¦ġ G ãɵüɜĀ Éãĉüì®ď¨ĉÉìã ĉì Āøµ¨É Ú ìãÚÉãµ ÉĀĀďµ ì¿ ĉƵɞ-®äóºÂ D đ e®Đ®đɞ®µ®É¨ ĉµ® ĉì G ě ÚÉãɨĀ ʕ ȣȞɁ

THE CELEBRATION

what is now the Prosecutorial Justice Program was established with a course component enabling students to earn academic credit for their

eäąº¿Óė äÜ® §äĜ®Ü ®Đ®Üÿ÷ đ®ó® ¿®Ó§ ÿ¿óäąº¿äąÿ ÿ¿® ȗȕȖȝɎȖȞ ¡ §®Ú¡

work.

year to mark this momentous milestone, culminating with a reception and

The late Milner S. Ball (J.D.’71) – who retired from the law

tours during the law school’s Annual Alumni/Alumnae Weekend in March.

school as the Caldwell Chair in Constitutional Law during 2007 – is

The festivities allowed former and current students and faculty and other

considered by many to be the law school’s father of public interest

members of the law school community to gather and share their favorite

law. Ball created the Environmental Practicum and the Public Interest

memories and experiences. An interactive timeline of clinical highlights

aó ¡ÿ¡ąÚ ܧ ÷ÿ óÿ®§ ÿ¿® ÂĐÂÓ !Ėÿ®óÜ÷¿ÂïȽ 5Ü ÿ¿®÷® ®Ģäóÿ÷ȷ ¿®

Ɏ ÂÜ¡Óą§Âܺ ¸ ¡ÿ÷ äąÿ ¸äóÚ®ó äĢ®óÂܺ÷ ÷ą¡¿ ÷ ÿ¿® aóÂ÷äÜ®ó D®º Ó

Ú䧮Ӯ§ ÷ïÂóÂÿ ä¸ òą ÓÂÿė ÷®óĐ¡® ÿä ÿ¿ä÷® ÂÜ Ü®®§ ÿ¿ ÿ Â÷ §®ĥÜÂܺ

äąÜ÷®ÓÂܺ aóäÍ®¡ÿ ܧ ÿ¿® D ܧ w÷® ÓÂÜ¡ Ɏ ïóäЧ®§ ºää§ äïïäóÿąÜÂÿė

quality of our law clinics

to reminisce and fact-check

to this day.

recollections.

In 1996, Associate

GEORGIA LAW REVIEW SPECIAL ISSUE

Professor Alexander W. “Alex” Scherr joined the law school’s faculty ÷ Âÿ÷ ĥó÷ÿ §Âó®¡ÿäó ä¸

q¿®ɜ-µìüÁÉ G ě

¡ÂĐÂÓ ¡ÓÂÜ¡÷Ƚ wܧ®ó ¿Â÷

jµĚɵěɜï óÿÜ®ó®§ đÂÿ¿

Ó® §®ó÷¿Âïȷ äĢ®óÂܺ÷

the school’s clinical and

expanded exponentially.

experiential learning

Currently the School of

faculty to commemorate

Law boasts 17 clinical

this golden anniversary by

and experiential

publishing an online volume

learning opportunities including criminal and civil litigation practice, transactional and in-house work, and judicial and governmental placements, where students gain valuable experience, skills and insight.

dedicated to clinical legal Current and former faculty gathered at the anniversary reception were: (l. to r.) former Housing Aid Law Office Project Fellow Alison Spiers Divine, Business Law Clinic Director Willow Tracy, Veterans Legal Clinic Director Alex Scherr, former Land Use Clinic Director Jamie Baker Roskie (J.D.’01), Capital Assistance Project Director Curt Nesset, Civil Externship and Public Interest Practicum Director Elizabeth Grant (J.D.’94), Family Justice Clinic Director Christine Scartz (J.D.’94), Business Law and Ethics Program Director Carol Morgan (J.D.’79), Prosecutorial Justice Program Director Alan Cook (J.D.’84), Associate Dean and Mediation Practicum Director Ellie Lanier, former Prisoner Legal Counseling Project Director Tom Killeen (J.D.’74), former Special Education Practicum Director Torin Togut, Criminal Defense Practicum Director Russell Gabriel (J.D.’85), former Family Violence Clinic Managing Attorney Susan Schaffer and Prosecutorial Justice Program Director Melissa Redmon.

education. This special issue, comprised of eight articles, highlights current and cutting-edge issues faced in the substantive law areas covered by the school’s clinical programs.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

7

• Prosecutorial Justice Program • Public Interest Practicum • Veterans Legal Clinic • Washington, D.C. Semester in Practice • Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic

Criminal Defense Practicum • Environmental Practicum • Family Justice Clinic • Mediation Practicum • Practicum in Animal Welfare Skills

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

An unwavering focus to be the nation’s best return on investment

Earlier this academic year, the School of Law surpassed its $43 million goal as part of the university’s Commit to Georgia comprehensive campaign, which will conclude on June 30, 2020.

“Many of you played a role in reaching this milestone – which is currently directing over $46 million in new funding toward law student needs, principally in the form of financial aid,” Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge said.

The money raised so far has afforded more scholarship opportunities for first-generation college graduates, veterans and other academically talented students.

“As we celebrate this great success, we also recognize more progress needs to be made as the School of Law advances its vision to be the nation’s best return on investment in legal education,” Rutledge added.

He also defined future goals for providing a firstrate legal education, while reducing the average borrowing per student: • Secure

financial aid for 100 percent of firstgeneration college graduates and veterans as they work to become part of the next generation of legal leaders for our state and society.

• Create

additional unique and tailored learning experiences – including domestic and international externships, guided research projects and opportunities to connect with some of our country’s top legal leaders.

• Lighten

the financial burdens students carry beyond tuition such as books, bar preparation and professional attire.

In addition to key contributions from Kathelen V. Amos (J.D.’82) and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation to create the First-Start Scholars Program and James E. “Jim” Butler (J.D.’77) to support the Butler Commitment to veterans, and funding to establish Distinguished Law Fellowships named for Robert G. Edge, Kenneth M. Henson (J.D.’47) and Law School Association Professor John B. Rees Jr., select new gifts and expanding initiatives benefitting our students include: 8

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

• The

establishment of the Brian and Kim Cain Family Scholarship to provide tuition for students demonstrating achievement in the face of challenging circumstances. Supported by the 1987 alumnus and his wife, this gift honors their parents who set a lifelong example of service and philanthropy.

• The

growth in the James R. Borders Law Scholarship Fund, which seeks to benefit those who earned their undergraduate degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, like this 1988 alumnus.

• The

establishment of the Hart Family Foundation Law School Scholarship by E. David Hart Jr. (J.D.’80) to assist a deserving student throughout his or her legal education.

• The

creation of the Loudermilk Family FirstStart Scholars Fund by Joey M. Loudermilk (J.D.’78) and his wife, Ramona, to provide tuition assistance and resources for professional development to a first-generation law student residing in the state of Georgia.

• The

creation of the Milner S. Ball Fellowship Fund by Jennifer B. Tourial (J.D.’94) and Ryan A. Schneider (J.D.’95) as a lasting tribute to the late professor that supports summer public interest/pro bono work for law students.

Ball, a 1971 alumnus, was known as a “champion of the poor” and was one of the early leaders of the school’s public interest offerings.

Top: Wyck Knox (LL.B.’64) (right) met with three Knox Scholars during the fall. Pictured are second-year students Jonathan LeCroy (left) and Dan Vo and third-year student Mary Matthews.

Left: Lynn Chastain (J.D.’84) spent some time with her inaugural Leap of Faith Scholar and second-year student Sam Kennon during the 2018–19 academic year. Right: Claire and Alex (J.D.’66) Crumbley enjoyed spending time with their inaugural Crumbley Scholar and second-year student Carter Thomas (right) during the Annual Alumni/Alumnae Weekend.

Over $46 million in new funding is being directed to student needs.

• The

initiation of the James Anderson Dunlap and Eleanor Hosch Dunlap Scholarship Fund

by Edgar B. Dunlap II (J.D.’74), Eleanor “Elsie” Dunlap Henderson (J.D.’76), Nancy Dunlap Johns and James A. Dunlap Jr. (J.D.’88) in memory of their parents and in honor of their family’s special multigenerational relationship with the School of Law.

• The

expansion of the Michael Louis Goldberg Scholarship Fund that benefits students who played sports in high school or college.

• The

creation of the Howell Family Scholarship Fund by Robert D. “Robb” Howell (J.D.’98), which will benefit a deserving law student.

Butler Commitment GUARANTEES FINANCIAL AID FOR EVERY VETERAN

Negotiation team wins inaugural Magnolia Cup

With great pride, the School of Law launched the Butler Commitment Ɏ đ¿Â¡¿ Â÷ Ü®đ ÂÜÂÿ ÿÂĐ® ÿ¿ ÿ đÂÓÓ ºą ó Üÿ®® ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó Â§ ÿä Ȗȕȕʅ ä¸ Đ®ÿ®ó Ü÷ đ¿ä Ú ÿó¡ąÓ ÿ® ÂÜ ÿ¿® ¸ ÓÓ ȗȕȖȞ ®Üÿ®óÂܺ ¡Ó ÷÷Ƚ ɜ “Thanks to the generous support to date, the School of Law has reached the point where every veteran currently enrolled in the ®Üÿ®óÂܺ ¡Ó ÷÷ đÂÓÓ ó®¡®ÂĐ® ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó Â§ȷɗ ® Ü a®ÿ®ó Ƚ ɖ äɗ eąÿÓ®§º® said. “What better way to honor military women and men for their service than to provide them monetary support for their education.

“I am grateful to renowned trial attorney and 1977 law school alumnus Jim Butler for supporting this initiative. After serving our country, just as Jim’s father and brother did, these men and women are seeking to build their careers. It is an honor to be able to support ÿ¿®Ú ÂÜ ÿ¿®Âó ®Ģäóÿ÷ ÿä ®¡äÚ® Ó đė®ó÷ ܧ ÿä ä ÿ ÂÜ Íą÷ÿ¡® ¸äó

Jim Butler (J.D.’77), who initiated the Butler Commitment. Photo by Ian McFarlane.

äÿ¿®ó÷ȷɗ eąÿÓ®§º® ¡äÜÿÂÜą®§Ƚ “Knowing that people are helping you pursue your dreams after taking the time to serve our country

Third-year students Joseph Natt and Meryl See won the inaugural Magnolia Cup.

means a lot to me personally, and I’m sure a lot of veterans feel the same,” veteran and rising second-year ÷ÿą§®Üÿ @ ¡ä eȽ ɖ@ Юɗ ä¿Ü ÷ §Ƚ ɖ5ÿ Ú® Ü÷ Óäÿ ÐÜäđÂܺ ÿ¿ ÿ ėäąó ÷®óĐ¡® ÿä ėäąó ¡äąÜÿóė Â÷ ïïó®¡Â ÿ®§Ƚɗ ąÿÓ®ó ÷ § ÿ¿ ÿ ÷ÂÜ¡® ¿® đ ÷ ąÜ Ó® ÿä ÷®óĐ® ÂÜ äąó Ü ÿÂäÜɚ÷ ÚÂÓÂÿ óė §ą® ÿä ÂÜÍąó®÷ ÷ąĢ®ó®§ ÂÜ ¡ ó wreck, “It is a great honor for me to help those who did serve.” q¿® ÜąÚ ®ó ä¸ Đ®ÿ®ó Ü÷ ïąó÷ąÂܺ Ó đ §®ºó®® ÿ w- ¿ ÷ ÂÜ¡ó® ÷®§ äĐ®ó ÿ¿® Ó ÷ÿ ¸®đ ė® ó÷Ƚ 5Ü ȗȕȖȜ three veterans matriculated and in the fall of 2018 eight veterans enrolled. ɖ ® ¿äï® ÿ¿Â÷ ąïđ ó§ ÿó®Ü§ đÂÓÓ ¡äÜÿÂÜą®ȷɗ eąÿÓ®§º® ÷ §Ƚ ɖNäÿ äÜÓė đÂÓÓ ÿ¿®÷® ÷®óĐ¡® Ú®Ü Ü§ đäÚ®Ü ® ó®¡®ÂĐÂܺ ĥó÷ÿɏó ÿ® Ó®º Ó ÿó ÂÜÂܺȷ ÿ¿®ė đÂÓÓ Ó÷ä ¿ Đ® ÿ¿® äïïäóÿąÜÂÿė ÿä ÷÷Â÷ÿ ¸äóÚ®ó Đ®ÿ®ó Ü÷ through work in the Veterans Legal Clinic. The clinic is already having a tremendous impact on the veteran community and on the law students who are learning what it means to serve a client.”

8ã Cďãµ ȠȞȟȦȻ ĉƵ Ú ě Ā¨ÆììÚ ìøµãµ® ĉƵ µĉµü ãĀ GµÁ Ú ÚÉãɨ ĉÆüìďÁÆ ěÆÉ¨Æ Ěµĉµü ãĀ ÚÉĚÉãÁ Éã -µìüÁÉ ¨ ã üµ¨µÉ̵ ÚµÁ Ú ĀĀÉĀĉ 㨵 ø üĉɨďÚ üÚġ ěÉĉÆ ¨Ú ÉáĀ ¦µ¿ìüµ ĉƵ }ɁnɁ µø üĉáµãĉ ì¿ µĉµü ãĀ Į ÉüĀɁ Úµ ® ÁÉ¿ĉ ¿ìü ĉƵ ¨ÚÉãɨ ě Ā ÚĀì øüìĚÉ®µ® ¦ġ ďĉÚµü Éã áµáìüġ ì¿ ÆÉĀ ¿ ĉƵüȻ GĉɁ á®üɁ C áµĀ !Ɂ ďĉÚµü nüɁȻ ěÆì ě Ā }ɁnɁ Q Ěġ IJÁÆĉµü øÉÚìĉ Ā ěµÚÚ Ā ĉƵ Áü 㮿 ĉƵü ì¿ C áµĀ !Ɂ ɘCµ¦ə ďĉÚµü 888Ȼ ȠȞȞȦ Áü ®ď ĉµ ì¿ ĉƵ Ú ě Ā¨ÆììÚɁ

Earlier this year, a group of veterans enrolled at the law school gathered for a photo. They are: (back row, l. to r.) Nick Mugge, James Heuser, Steven Miller, Miles Mitchell, (middle row, l. to r.) Richard Meadows, Gabriel Justus, Andy Bastone, Jake Bohn, (front row, l. to r.) Ashley Marie Ho, Patrick Testa and Michael O’Brien.

The School of Law’s negotiation team, under the direction of Clinical Professor & Business Law and Ethics Program Director Carol Morgan (J.D.’79), had a successful season during the 2018–19 academic year.

Third-year students Joseph Natt and Meryl See won the inaugural Magnolia Cup, a national transactional law negotiation competition hosted by the University of Mississippi. See also received the Professionalism Award. Notably, UGA’s second team – comprised of second-year students Andrew J. “Andy” Klemm and Savannah B. Phinney – finished with the second highest score of the tournament.

In the Tulane Law School’s Professional Football Negotiation Competition, third-year student Samuel Baker and second-year student William C. Phillips finished as first runners-up. The pair competed in six rounds of negotiations in the School of Law’s first appearance in this tournament.

University of Georgia School of Law 9

2018 –19 ADVOCACY SEASON

Teams win national titles and continue tradition of excellence

Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship Third-year students Thomas Grantham, Timia Skelton (center) and Simone Ford brought home the Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship, which is considered a tournament featuring the “best of the best.” This invitation-only contest puts the top 16 moot court programs from law schools across the country, based on performances from the previous academic year, against each other in the courtroom.

Intrastate Moot Court Competition Second-year law students Justin Van Orsdol (left), Frances Plunkett and Kip O’Kelley captured the top trophy in the Intrastate Moot Court Competition. They also won the Best Brief Award. This is the second year in a row and the seventh time in 10 years that UGA has won this tournament in which all five law schools in Georgia field two teams.

Florida/Georgia-Hulsey/Gambrell Moot Court Competition William B. Spong Invitational Moot Court Tournament The School of Law won the 48th Annual William B. Spong Invitational Moot Court Tournament in February. Second-year students Spencer Woody (left) and John Lex Kenerly were coached by third-year student Shaudie Fassih (right).

10

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

UGA defeated the University of Florida in the annual Florida/ Georgia-Hulsey/Gambrell Moot Court Competition held each October. Third-year students Miles Skedsvold and Jennifer Cotton represented the School of Law and increased Georgia’s lead in the tournament’s history to 23-11-2.

Appellate Litigation Clinic records three wins The School of Law’s Appellate Litigation Clinic continued to represent clients during the 2018–19 academic year, which resulted in three courtroom wins and several oral arguments.

Members of the clinic – third-year students Wade H. Barron, C. Daniel Lockaby and Sarah A. Quattrocchi and second-year student Addison Smith – won a case before the Board of Immigration Appeals for a client who fled his country when the Russian Supreme Court banned his religion. While an immigration judge initially granted the client asylum, the Department of Homeland Security appealed, arguing that the client was not credible and that the judge should have required corroboration of his religious status in the form of a letter from his congregation. The BIA rejected the government’s argument, siding with the clinic’s client.

The clinic also prevailed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

The case Smith v.

Dewberry involved whether the client was in imminent danger at the time he filed his complaint such that he could bypass the threestrike rule under the Prison Litigation Reform Act. Thirdyear students M. David Boyer II and Megan Cambre and 2018 graduates Holly M. Boggs and Ryan L. Giles assisted with the case.

The third victory came in an excessiveforce case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In Altony Brooks v.

Captain Jacumin, the court agreed with all of the clinic’s substantive arguments: there was enough evidence of excessive force to make it a jury question; the officer who used a taser on the clinic’s client should be brought back into the case; the client should get a copy of the detention center’s use-of-force policy and the district court on remand needs to consider appointing

Appellate Litigation Clinic third-year students (l. to r.) Sarah Quattrocchi, Daniel Lockaby and Wade Barron won a case before the Board of Immigration Appeals.

counsel. Barron, Lockaby and Quattrocchi were instrumental in the case.

Additionally, third-year students Christopher “Chris” Kelleher and Alexander “Alex” Weathersby presented oral arguments on the same day in two separate cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Kelleher represented the clinic’s client in Petersen v. Blanton, et al. and Weathersby argued in the case Jones v.

Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections.

Law firm establishes scholarship to honor Casey The law firm Epps, Holloway, DeLoach & Hoipkemier, LLC, has created the Kellie R. Casey Scholarship Fund at the School of Law to recognize Casey’s contributions to the school and its storied advocacy program. Starting this fall, a scholarship will be awarded to a law student with a demonstrated interest or achievement in advocacy.

Casey, a 1990 School of Law alumna, has led the school’s advocacy program to 25 national championships, more than 40 regional titles and 15 state trophies during her 19-year tenure.

School of Law alumni Kevin E. Epps (J.D.’08), Jeffrey W. DeLoach (J.D.’03) and Adam L. Hoipkemier (J.D.’08) spearheaded the effort on behalf of their law firm, saying that due to Casey’s tireless passion and commitment, advocacy students enter into the practice of law “well-prepared to be formidable advocates for their clients.”

At the 2019 National High School Mock Trial Championship, where the Casey Scholarship Fund was announced, were: (l. to r.) Director of Advocacy Kellie Casey (J.D.’90), Kevin Epps (J.D.’08), Jeffrey DeLoach (J.D.’03), Adam Hoipkemier (J.D.’08) and Dean Bo Rutledge. Photo courtesy of the State Bar of Georgia.

By a variety of measures, the law school’s advocacy program is regularly considered to be among the best in the country, Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge said. “This speaks to the firstrate training our law students receive and contributes to our school’s vision of being the best return on investment in legal education.”

In honor of their inspirational donation, which was announced during the 2019 National High School Mock Trial Championship held at UGA earlier this year, the office space currently used by the school’s advocacy program will be named the Epps, Holloway, DeLoach & Hoipkemier, LLC Student Advocacy Program Suite.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

11

CLERKSHIPS LEAVE MARK ON YOUNG LAWYERS AND JURISTS THEY SERVE Of his clerkship with Moore, Baker said it

÷®óĐÂܺ ÷ ÿ¿® i®ÜÂäó wȽiȽ Â÷ÿó¡ÿ äąóÿ @ą§º®

“made me a better lawyer and judge today, no

for the Southern District of Georgia – “didn’t

doubt. But more importantly, Judge Moore is

have the foggiest idea in [his] mind” that he

a man of such integrity, wit, and good humor

would one day be a member of the federal

that my time with him made me a better

judiciary, but after almost 25 years on the

person.”

bench he has not only presided over numerous

The positive, indelible impact a federal

cases but also helped shape the legal careers

judicial clerkship leaves on an individual

of many young lawyers through judicial

extends beyond Baker’s experience with

clerkships.

Moore to those who now clerk for him.

The School of Law has for many years

“The ability to mentor these extremely

been recognized as a leading law school for

bright, hard-working people is one of the best

supplying graduates for judicial clerkships, and

aspects of my job,” Baker said, adding that he

the experience is a positive one for both recent

ܧ ¿Â÷ đ¸®ȷ óė÷ÿ Ó ¿ ÷ÿ ÂÜ Ð®ó ɋ@Ƚ ȽɚȕȘɌȷ

graduates and the jurists they serve.

consider his clerks “members of the family.”

“It’s been a great experience for me as a

Michelle Tang, a 2016 graduate of the

Íą§º® ÿä ¿ Đ® ÿ¿®÷® ėäąÜº ï®äïÓ® ÂÜ Úė äģ¡®ȷ

School of Law, currently works as an associate

®Ü®ĥÿÿÂܺ ¸óäÚ ÿ¿®Âó §® ÷ ܧ ÿ¿äąº¿ÿ÷ȷɗ

in King & Spalding’s Corporate, Finance and

Moore said. “The most valuable aspect of

Investments practice in New York, but prior

¿ ĐÂܺ ¡Ó®óÐ÷ Â÷ ¿ ĐÂܺ ÷äÚ®äÜ® ÂÜ ėäąó äģ¡®

to her move to the Big Apple, she spent two

to research the issues, get what we think

years as a clerk for Baker.

are the correct answers and then feed that knowledge to the judge.”

When selecting candidates, Moore said he always strives to hire clerks who are “just nice people” and have diverse backgrounds.

“I’ve always been interested in smart

BAKER

William T. Moore Jr. (LL.B.’64) – currently

“Those two years were the best job I’ve

Both Tang and Moore

had,” she said, noting that Baker “showed an

suggested that students who are

interest in helping people succeed” after their

interested in clerking focus on

time at the court ended.

their writing skills.

While clerking, Tang said she learned

“Major in English,” Moore

how to work with others on multiple levels

said, “because the better writer

young people who are open-minded and willing

Ɏ ïó丮÷÷ÂäÜ ÓÓė ܧ ï®ó÷äÜ ÓÓė Ɏ đ¿ÂÓ® ĥÜ®ɏ

you are, the better lawyer you’re

to work hard,” he said, noting, “I never had

tuning her ability to examine the nuances of

going to be and the better clerk

¡Ó®óÐ ÿ¿ ÿ ÿ¿® wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė ä¸ -®äóºÂ ÷®Üÿ Ú®

the law.

you’re going to be.”

that I was sorry that I hired.”

Counted among Moore’s former clerks

“I never expected my clerkship to have

Moore also encouraged

the kind of impact it has had on me,” she

aspiring clerks and judges to be

Â÷ ¡ąóó®Üÿ wȽiȽ Â÷ÿó¡ÿ äąóÿ @ą§º® ¸äó ÿ¿®

said. “Those two years were so amazing. It

active with the School of Law’s

iäąÿ¿®óÜ Â÷ÿó¡ÿ ä¸ -®äóºÂ eȽ iÿ Ü Ð®ó

has been more amazing after leaving it. It

journals and to work hard while

(J.D.’04), who served as one of his judicial

keeps paying dividends. It truly, truly is the

in law school, a sentiment with

clerks from 2004 to 2006.

best experience I’ve had.”

which Baker agreed.

“I cannot overstate the positive impact the

Tang, like Baker, had not initially planned

“Don’t be afraid to take hard

clerkship with Judge Moore had for me, not just

to begin her career with a judicial clerkship,

classes that require intellectual

professionally but also personally,” Baker said.

but she encourages others to consider it as an

rigor and thinking deeply,”

option.

Baker said. “Also, have some fun

Baker initially had not planned to pursue a clerkship, but said he changed his mind after

12

MOORE

Indelible impact

TANG

JUDICIAL CONNECTIONS

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

“Be open to the idea of clerking,” she

along the way – but don’t do

Carter Chair in Tort and Insurance Law Emeritus

said. “Let go of preconceived notions and

anything that would prevent you

eȽ a®óóė i®Üÿ®ÓÓ @óȽ ɋDDȽ ȽɚȚȝɌ ɖ÷ąºº®÷ÿ®§ɗ ¿®

realize a clerkship will add value no matter

from passing an FBI background

consider the option after graduation.

what your area of practice will be.”

check.”

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

Wisconsin judge serves as school’s Edenfield Jurist in Residence The School of Law hosted its fourth Edenfield Jurist in Residence during the spring 2019 semester. In February, U.S. District Court Chief Judge James D. Peterson taught a mini-course titled “Dynamic Trial Evidence: The Law & Tactics of Cross-Examination, Experts and Hearsay Law & Strategy” along with Callaway Chair of Law Emeritus Ronald L. Carlson.

In addition to his time in the classroom, Peterson also held a discussion with students regarding “The Seven Objectives for Every Professional Presentation,” which focused on helping students effectively present material to different audiences and market themselves to potential clients.

The B. Avant Edenfield Jurist in Residence Program was created in 2015 to honor the late federal judge, who served on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia and was a graduate of the School of Law. The program exemplifies the law school’s ongoing commitment to connect its students with leaders of the judiciary throughout the state and nation.

Previous Edenfield Jurists in Residence have included:

Peterson joined the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin in 2014, and has been chief judge since 2017. After earning his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1986, he became a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame where he taught film and television history for seven years. He then enrolled in law school at the University of Wisconsin and earned his law degree in 1988 and became a member of the Order of the Coif.

•

U.S. Court of Appeals Judge for the Sixth Circuit Bernice B. Donald

•

U.S. Court of Appeals Senior Judge for the District of Columbia David B. Sentelle

•

U.S. District Court Chief Judge for the Southern District of Georgia Lisa Godbey Wood (J.D.’90)

Jurists connect with students through on-campus visits Connecting students with jurists – who are pillars of the legal profession – is an essential part of a first-rate legal education and allows students to see the benefits of public service. During the 2018–19 academic year judges from across the nation visited campus, during which they taught classes, led small groups and judged moot court and mock trial competitions. Among them were: • Former

Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces James E. Baker

• U.S.

• Chief

• U.S.

• Chief

• Chief

Court of Appeals Judge for the First Circuit David J. Barron

• U.S.

District Court Judge for Georgia’s Northern District Timothy C. Batten Sr. (J.D.’84)

• U.S.

District Court Judge for the Western District of Missouri Stephen R. Bough

• U.S.

Court of Appeals Judge for the Eleventh Circuit Elizabeth L. Branch

District Court Judge for the Middle District of Florida Timothy J. Corrigan Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals Stephen Louis A. Dillard

• U.S.

District Court Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia Joseph Robert Goodwin

• Colorado

Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart

• State

Court of DeKalb County Judge Michael J. “Mike” Jacobs (J.D.’03)

Judge of the Superior Courts for Georgia’s Northern Judicial Circuit Jeffery S. Malcom Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia Harold D. Melton (J.D.’91)

• U.S.

District Court Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi Michael P. Mills

• Presiding

Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia David E. Nahmias

• Chief

Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin James D. Peterson

• U.S.

District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia William M. “Billy” Ray (J.D.’90)

• Senior

Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Eduardo C. Robreno

• U.S.

District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia Eleanor Louise Ross

• Senior

Judge of the U.S. District Court for Georgia’s Middle District C. Ashley Royal (J.D.’74)

• U.S.

Court of Appeals Judge for the Sixth Circuit Jeffrey S. Sutton

• U.S.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

13

JUDICIAL CONNECTIONS

School is leader in judicial clerkship placements The School of Law continues to be a leader in supplying graduates and students to the courts to serve as judicial clerks. These elite opportunities provide a unique chance for graduates to learn from jurists and serve state and society while honing their legal skills.

13th the law school’s national ranking for federal clerkships —Law.com

According to a recent article by Law.com, employment statistics for the Class of 2018 place the School of Law at 13th in the nation for federal clerkships, which are considered among the most prestigious positions.

Over the past five years, the School of Law has more than 135 of its graduates secure judicial clerkships at federal, state and local levels. Approximately 20% of the Class of 2018 are working as clerks – 16 hold federal judicial clerkships and 22 are clerks in state or local courts.

When Charlie Bethel (J.D.’01) was sworn in as a justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia in October 2018, several of his summer interns – who are former and current School of Law students – attended to mark the occasion with him. Celebrating with Bethel (third from left) were (l. to r.)

Abbie Frye (J.D.’19), Dan Philyaw (J.D.’18), and second-year students David Ian, Will Ortiz and Erin McGonigle.

These positions include placements as far away as Kodiak, Alaska; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Washington, D.C.; Brooklyn, New York; Greeley, Colorado; and Austin, Texas, in addition to many courts in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia.

Additionally, the School of Law awarded 21 judicial fellowships during the summer of 2019.

These students worked in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, U.S. District Courts in the Northern and Southern Districts of Georgia, as well as in State Courts, Superior Courts and Probate Courts within the state.

This fellowship program ensures that students learn the value of working for judges at a variety of levels – by gaining understanding of the country’s legal system, witnessing public service firsthand, developing critical thinking and writing skills, and making valuable connections.

Graduates assume key judicial positions Several School of Law graduates were elevated to judicial positions or were promoted on their courts recently. Among them are: • R.

Stan Baker (J.D.’04), U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Georgia

• Charles

Batten continues service as Atlanta instructor-in-residence Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. (J.D.’84) of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia will continue to serve as an instructor-in-residence at the school’s facility in Atlanta for the 2019–20 academic year.

14

Former summer interns celebrate swearing-in with Justice Bethel

J. “Charlie” Bethel (J.D.’01), Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia

• Jean-Paul

“J.P.” Boulee (J.D.’96), U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia

• Benjamin

W. Cheesbro (J.D.’10), U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

• Christian

• John

J. Ellington (J.D.’85), Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia

Batten teaches the required introductory course on the American legal system for the school’s Master in the Study of Law degree. The M.S.L. program offers students a greater understanding of the legal system and legal expertise in a particular area as it relates to an individual’s professional interests but does not allow one to sit for the bar. It can be completed at the School of Law’s main campus in Athens, its facility in Atlanta or a combination of the two locations.

• H.

Batten has served as a federal judge since 2006 and previously worked in private practice for more than 20 years.

• William

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

A. Coomer (J.D.’99), Judge for the Georgia Court of

Appeals

Elizabeth Gobeil (J.D.’95), Judge for the Georgia Court of Appeals

• Christopher

J. McFadden (J.D.’85), Chief Judge for the Georgia Court of Appeals

• Harold

D. Melton (J.D.’91), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia M. “Billy” Ray (J.D.’90), U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia

The late Chief Justice Harris Hines

Be Kind Fund established in memory of Hines The School of Law has established the Be Kind Fund in memory of the late Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Harris Hines, who passed away in December 2018.

At his investiture ceremony, Harold Melton (J.D.’91) (center) was sworn in before his wife, Kimberly, by his predecessor, the late Chief Justice Harris Hines.

Melton becomes chief justice of Supreme Court of Georgia Harold D. Melton, a 1991 graduate of the School of Law, became the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia in Sept. 2018. Melton was appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court by Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2005 and served as presiding justice from Jan. 2017 to Sept. 2018. Prior to joining the court, he served as executive counsel to Perdue, representing the governor on legal issues covering the entire scope of state government. Before serving as executive counsel, Melton spent 11 years in the Georgia Department of Law under two attorneys general.

The title of the fund is based on a frequent mantra of the late justice – “Be Kind” – and was initiated by the law school’s Board of Visitors – of which Hines was a longtime member – in consultation with his family and Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge.

The fund will sponsor a Georgia Jurist-inResidence, which will allow a judge or justice to spend a period in residence at the School of Law teaching and interacting with students each year.

It will also support semester/summer fellowships for students, with preference given to those who will work or serve as judicial interns at the Supreme Court of Georgia. This past summer, rising second-year student M. Paige Finley was able to learn about the inner workings of the state’s highest court as the inaugural Be Kind Fellow.

U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones (J.D.’87) (fourth from right) poses at his portrait unveiling with a group of his former clerks who attended the reception honoring the jurist.

Additionally, the fund has the potential to offer scholarship aid to law students, if it achieves the endowment minimum.

Portrait unveiled and scholarship named in honor of Jones Last fall, the School of Law unveiled the portrait of U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones, a 1987 graduate of the law school. At the event, Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge noted that Jones embodies the three words that make up the school’s mission – Prepare. Connect. Lead. – through his many professional and personal accomplishments and through his commitment to the legal profession and UGA. Additionally, a group of anonymous donors created a scholarship in Jones’ honor, and the first Jones Scholar will be named in the fall of 2019.

While Hines did not attend UGA, he often joked he was a “Bulldog by proxy.” He regularly attended School of Law events and activities and had served as a member of the law school’s Board of Visitors since 2009.

The late justice was appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court in 1995 by then-Gov. Zell Miller.

Hines became presiding justice in 2013 and chief justice in 2017, and retired from the state’s highest court in August 2018.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

15

STUDENT PROFILES

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

Sharod McClendon CHANGING COMMUNITIES FROM WITHIN ÿÓ Üÿ ɏÜ ÿÂĐ® i¿ óä§ @Ƚ L¡ ӮܧäÜɚ÷ ĥó÷ÿ ®Ėï®ó®ܡ® đÂÿ¿ ÿ¿®

McClendon was

law came when he observed his uncle’s court proceedings at the

pleased that his

º® ä¸ ȖȕȽ i®®Âܺ ¿Â÷ Úäÿ¿®ó §®÷ï Âó äĐ®ó Üäÿ ®Âܺ Ó® ÿä Ģäó§

ĥó÷ÿɏė® ó ¡äąó÷® Óä §

an attorney for her brother, McClendon became determined that

included criminal

he was going be a lawyer and help his community.

law, property law and

McClendon graduated from Atlanta’s B.E.S.T. Academy, a single-gender high school, where he was valedictorian. While at

constitutional law.

“These courses have shown me that the work that I want to do

the academy, he was introduced to School of Law 2004 alumnus

will help people,” he said. “I want to be able to see the work I’m

Kevin A. Gooch who mentored him and helped him secure an

§äÂܺ ¡ÿą ÓÓė ®Ü®ĥÿÂܺ ®Đ®óė§ ė ï®äïÓ®Ƚɗ ÷ ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º® ܧ Ó đ ÷ÿą§®Üÿȷ L¡ ӮܧäÜ Ó÷ä

internship at Alston & Bird after high school.

“Kevin showed me so much of what I can achieve. I had never seen a black lawyer before,” McClendon said. “He just made something that was so much a dream into a reality for me.”

After starting law school in the fall of 2018, McClendon said he felt out of place at times, but he made it a point to talk to his ¡Ó ÷÷Ú ÿ®÷ ܧ ĥܧ ¡äÚÚäÜ ÓÂÿ®÷Ƚ “It’s been great. It’s been very hard. It’s been very rigorous, but I tell people I have never felt more like I was in the right

đ Üÿ÷ ÿä ąÂÓ§ ¡äÚÚąÜÂÿė ¸äó ¸®ÓÓäđ ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ Ó đ ܧ ¡äÓÓ®º® ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ ÿ w- Ƚ Along with rising third-year student Tyler C. Mathis, the duo created the First-Generation Student Association to foster a community within the law school where students can share experiences, get advice from graduates and tips on job searching. q¿ą÷ ¸ óȷ ¿Â÷ đÂ÷§äÚ ÿä ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ Ɏ ܧ äÿ¿®ó÷ Ɏ is tri-fold: “First, be proud of yourself. [Law school] is an accomplishment

ïÓ ¡® ®Đ®ó ®¸äó®ȷɗ ¿® ÷ §Ƚ ɖ+äó ÿ¿® ĥó÷ÿ ÿÂÚ® 5ɚÚ ®ÜÍäėÂܺ đ¿ ÿ

within itself. You’re changing your family’s trajectory. Always be an

I’m learning. It’s challenging me. I see what I’m learning. I see

advocate for yourself. … You know what’s best for you.”

how I can apply it to make a career.”

He added that you should “never be afraid to ask people for help

McClendon is currently a Benham Scholar and as such is part of a program seeking to enhance diversity in the legal profession.

or to tell them what you need for you to do better.”

Most of all he said you should “take advantage of all

Last fall, McClendon and his fellow scholars enjoyed meeting

opportunities being presented to you, even if that seems scary.

-®äóºÂ iąïó®Ú® äąóÿ @ą÷ÿ¡® eä ®óÿ ®Ü¿ Ú ɋ@Ƚ ȽɚȜȕɌȷ ÿ¿®

Change is scary, but there’s a lot of good that comes from change. …

program’s namesake.

Be open to growth and then just work your hardest.”

Elizabeth Wilmot FOLLOWING THE FAMILY PATH Rising third-year law student Elizabeth M. Wilmot knew she wanted to become a lawyer ever since she saw her father practicing law in South Georgia. The third in her family to attend law school – after her father and brother – Wilmot also knew she wanted to study at the UGA School of Law after completing her undergraduate degree in Athens with a 4.0 GPA, ³ºĈĀÏđº ĸºá³ÏêÆ óĵºĄĈ ÄĄóè óđ̺Ą á ģ Ĉ­ÌóóáĈɐ Ïáèóđ Ĉ ϳ đ̺ q­Ìóóá óÄ I ģ ģ Ĉ ̺Ą ĸĄĈđ ­ÌóÏ­ºɊ ê³ đÌóėÆÌ Ĉ̺ ĀĀáϺ³ đó óđ̺Ą schools, Athens was “where my heart was.”

Her older brother, Matthew C. Wilmot (J.D.’14) is a Double Dawg and has consistently óĵºĄº³ ̺Ą Æėϳ ê­ºɐ ɩ . I ģ ĵóĄ³º³ ÌÏè ģÏđÌ Ĉó è êĩ ÆĄº đ óĀĀóĄđėêÏđϺĈɊ ê³ Ìº continues to have close relationships with friends and professors from law school,” she said. “I have often thought that was just what I wanted from a law school.”

16

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

Jacob Bohn ALWAYS SERVING When Jacob R. “Jake� Bohn, a veteran and rising second-year law

Ambassador, and Bohn

student, is feeling the pressure of law school he remembers that he

said he feels grateful

completed the U.S. Army’s formidable Ranger School.

for the opportunity as

“One percent of people serve in the Army, and only one percent of

it allows him to “give

those people graduate Ranger School. So that’s a cool statistic to know

back to UGA, at least a

every once in a while when you’re feeling down,� he said.

little bit, as they have

¸ÿŽó áŽóÄ?Ă‚ĂœÂş áŽÄ?ÂŽĂœ ėŽ“óá Ă‚Ăœ ÿ¿Ž ÚÂÓÂÿ“óė “á “ ļŽÓ§ “óÿÂÓӎóė äģ¥Žóȡ Bohn came to the School of Law as a U.S. Military Academy at West Point

invested in me.�

When facing

alumnus, a collegiate football player, and a graduate of the Ranger,

challenges in law

Airborne and Air Assault Schools with one tour in Afghanistan under his

school, Bohn thinks

belt.

back to his military

“I really enjoyed my time in the Army,� Bohn said. “I got the chance to work with a lot of inspirational and talented individuals.�

The Baltimore native said he was drawn to law school since he’s “always liked the idea of being an advocate for somebody. “I’ve always liked the idea of standing up for the ‘little guy’ and standing up for somebody when they need representation, and service has always been important to me,� he said. “As a lawyer you are a

comrades who have died while serving our country. “There’s a sense of gratitude and a little bit of guilt because that could have been me,� he said. This mindset motivates Bohn to take on adversity and to do his best for those who will not have such chances.

5Ăœ ÿ¿Ž Úäáÿ §Âģ¥ąÓÿ ÿÂڎáȡ Ă¤ÂżĂœ ᓧ ¿Ž ÿŽÓÓá ¿ÂÚáŽÓ¸Ȝ É–5ÉšÄ?ÂŽ ĂˇÂŽÂŽĂœ hard things and I’ll get through it.â€?

This past summer, Bohn worked at Ausley McMullen in

servant. Throughout my professional experience, I’ve been trained to

q“Óӓ¿“áᎎȡ +Óäó§“ȡ Â&#x;Ž¸äóŽ Ă‚ĂœĂżÂŽĂłĂœĂ‚ĂœÂş “ÿ ÿ¿Ž wČ˝iČ˝ ĂżĂżĂ¤ĂłĂœÂŽÄ—ÉšĂˇ VÄŁÂĄÂŽ

be a leader. I feel like the most powerful form of leadership is through

for the Southern District of Georgia in Savannah. He wanted to gain

service. So a lawyer is in a unique position to lead and serve.�

criminal and civil law experience by assisting the Department of Justice

Bohn discovered that transitioning to law school was made easier Â&#x;Ä— ÄĽĂœÂ§Ă‚ĂœÂş ÂĄĂ¤ĂšĂšÄ…ĂœĂ‚ĂżÄ— Ă‚Ăœ ÿ¿Ž ÂżĂłĂ‚ĂˇĂżĂ‚Â“Ăœ DŽº“Ó iä¥ÂŽÿėȡ đÂÿ¿ ¸ŽÓÓäđ

on federal cases.

In the future, Bohn wants to do his part in helping veterans

veteran law students and through his relationship with his mentor, Eric

ĂˇĂżÄ…Â§Ä—Ă‚ĂœÂş ÿ¿Ž ӓđ Â&#x;Ž¥“ąáŽ ¿Ž Ä…ĂœÂ§ÂŽĂłĂˇĂżÂ“ĂœÂ§Ăˇ ÿ¿Ž §Âģ¥ąÓÿė Ă‚Ăœ ĂłÂŽĂżÄ…ĂłĂœĂ‚ĂœÂş ÿä

S. Abney, a rising third-year student. However, the most important

school after military service.

support system for him has been his family, especially his wife, Jordan.

When possible, Bohn likes to attend events sponsored by various law school organizations from the Sports and Entertainment Law Society

“Hopefully, in the future I’m mentoring the next group of lawyers,� he said. “It would be great to help some law students who are in a similar position as me.�

to the Federalist Society. He also serves the law school as a Dean’s —All proďŹ les by Mauli Desai

Wilmot is a Russell Distinguished Law Fellow at UGA. This

Court cases, so it was really interesting to get to meet someone who

fellowship, underwritten by the Richard B. Russell Foundation,

is taking part in making these major decisions that shape our legal

supports a student from rural Georgia who is pursuing a career in

system.�

public service, similar to the scholarship’s namesake, the late U.S. Sen. Richard B. Russell (LL.B.’18).

As a Distinguished Law Fellow, Wilmot enjoys a full-tuition-plus ^NSZWL]^ST[ bSTNS SL^ LĘŹZ]OPO SP] Pc[P]TPYNP^ ^`NS L^ W`YNS bT_S

Wilmot’s interest in litigation and healthcare practices secured her a summer associate position at Morris, Manning & Martin in Atlanta, bSP]P ^SP bL^ O]LbY _Z _SP Q]TPYOWd L_XZ^[SP]P ZQ _SP WLb ʭ]X Additionally, Wilmot is a symposium editor for the Georgia

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas last fall and professional

Law Review and submitted a note with the assistance of Brumby

development opportunities like visiting U.S. District Court Judge Valerie

Distinguished Professor in First Amendment Law Sonja R. West, one

E. Caproni (J.D.’79) of the Southern District of New York. She also

of her favorite professors, on the unconstitutionality of Georgia’s

returned to New York this summer to shadow Caproni for a week and

Panhandling Law.

got “to work with the federal judge and gain insight into what it would be like to clerk for a judge in the future.�

The Tifton-native was in awe of her meeting with Thomas. “I never even imagined I would have the opportunity to sit and meet

In the future Wilmot said she can see herself working in Atlanta or Tifton, but importantly she seeks to always maintain a link to the law school community. É­4 SZ[P TY Ę­aP _Z dPL]^ _SL_ 4 LX SL[[d bT_S bSP]P Xd WLb

with a Supreme Court justice, especially in such a casual and colloquial

career has taken me, and that I still have a relationship with the law

way,� she said. “Throughout law school, we study a lot of Supreme

school,� she said.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

17

COMMENCEMENT Former governor urges grads to elevate the legal profession “Good lawyers are desperately needed” in today’s society, according to former Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who delivered the law school’s Commencement address.

He shared that lawyers are people to whom the public goes to in order to “make sense of the application of law in their lives.”

Deal then provided guidance on how the 2019 graduates could “elevate” the legal profession.

“First of all, always respect the law,” the state’s 82nd governor said. “Respect it, even if you don’t agree with it. And if you don’t agree with it, work to change it, because that is one of the great strengths of our system.”

Nathan Deal, Georgia’s governor from 2011 to 2019. Photo by GradImages.

Deal also encouraged the graduates to always respect the individuals who enforce the law as well as the other citizens who help make the legal system work.

Class of 2019 President Brian Griffin (right) and Vice President Laura Golden (left) as co-chairs of the class’ legacy gift present a “check” – representing a historical class participation rate of 65% – to former Law School Association President Wade Herring (J.D.’83) (second from left) and Dean Bo Rutledge. Photo by Dennis McDaniel.

As an overarching principle, he noted that it is important to “always act in an ethical manner. … [You] should have your own personal code of ethics that goes beyond the formal rules of conduct.”

Deal cautioned that there are “gaps” in the formal rules and cannons, and that they can be “difficult to adapt to changing situations.” He explained to graduates that by having their own code of ethics, they should be able to “avoid the image” that many people have of the legal profession.

Deal recalled early in his career researching an issue and concluding that the answer just did not seem to be fair. While discussing the matter with a senior partner, the elder told him that “you will find that the law does not always give you the answers you want, but your job as a lawyer is to make it work.”

In concluding his address, Deal said: “Our system of law and justice may not be perfect, but it gives us the power to change it in a constitutional manner. Sometimes, those changes come slowly or not at all, but our system is the best in the world, and we should all guard it carefully. For lawyers, our job is to make it work, and that now includes you.”

Approximately 200 students participated in the ceremony, including 185 Juris Doctor, 14 Master of Laws and three Master in the Study of Law candidates.

18

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

Posing for a selfie are: (l. to r.) Amanda Newton, Lauren Brown, Amanda Hoefer and Amanda Payne.

Photo by Dennis McDaniel.

Madison Hahn celebrates the day. Photo by GradImages.

Michael Nunnally shares his diploma tube with his daughter Abby.

In place, ready for the ceremony to proceed are: (l. to r.) Lindsey Woodard, Adam Wittenstein, Sydney Wilson, Kristin Williams, Eric Wilder, Ben Wilde and Brooke White. Photo

by GradImages.

View more 2019 Commencement photos at law.uga.edu/photo-gallery. Watch the ceremony at youtube.com/c/UGALawSchool.

Trung Khuat is all smiles after the ceremony. Photo by Dennis McDaniel.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

19

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

Law School Life

Students St d t meett U U.S. S Att Attorney G Generall Second-year law students Erin McGonigle (left) and Chelsea Rierson met with U.S. Attorney General William Barr during an open house reception at the U.S. Department of Justice. McGonigle and Rierson both interned in the department’s Civil Rights Division as part of the law school’s Washington, D.C. Semester in Practice program.

Law school honors first female African American graduate This spring, the law school community unveiled the portrait of Sharon “Nyota” Tucker, a 1974 graduate of the law school. Tucker, who previously served as an assistant professor of political science at Albany State University, is the first female African American graduate of the UGA School of Law. A former Fulbright-Hays Summer Abroad Fellow, a former Georgia Legal Services Program staff attorney and a board member of Liberty House and Communities in School, Tucker has served as a leader in both academia and in her community. She is pictured with her portrait and her son, daughter and granddaughter at the unveiling.

Scholars spend time with Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham The law school’s Benham Scholars met with Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham (J.D.’70) during the school year. The Benham Scholars Program benefits individuals who hail from or show a demonstrated intent to practice in legally underserved communities. Posing with Benham (center) are (l. to r.) first-year students Sharod McClendon, Hillary Davis, Janay Alexander and Justin Edge.

20

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

In front of the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, home to the International Court of Justice, are the 2018 Global Governance Summer School students: (l. to r.) Saif Ahmed, Mills Culver, Bryant Oliver, Maddie Neel, Frances Plunkett, Brooke Carrington, Hanna Karimipour and Caroline Harvey.

The University of Georgia School of Law this year again was ranked

These initiatives join the complement of global practice

by U.S. News & World Report in the top 20 U.S. law schools for

preparation opportunities for J.D. and LL.M. candidates: the

international law. The placement recognizes a tradition of excellence

Global Governance Summer School, presented in partnership

in international law education, scholarship and collaboration – a

with the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies at

ÿó §ÂÿÂäÜ ÷ï® ó¿® §®§ ė ÿ¿® Ó đ ÷¡¿ääÓɚ÷ șȗɏė® óɏäÓ§ ¡®Üÿ®ó ä¸

ÿ¿® wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė ä¸ D®ąĐ®Üȷ ®ÓºÂąÚȷ đ¿Â¡¿ äĢ®ó÷ ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷

excellence, the Dean Rusk International Law Center.

the opportunity for classroom sessions and professional

The center launched several new initiatives this year, including: • A partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ÿä äĢ®ó ¸ąÓÓɏÿÂÚ®ȷ ÷®Ú®÷ÿ®óɏÓäܺ ®Ėÿ®óÜ÷¿Âï ¸äó ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ in the legal department of the NATO Allied Command qó Ü÷¸äóÚ ÿÂäÜȽ ąóÂܺ ÿ¿® ÷ïóÂܺ ȗȕȖȞ ÷®Ú®÷ÿ®óȷ ÿ¿Âó§ɏė® ó student Lauren Brown worked on international security issues in residence at NATO’s facility in Mons, Belgium.

• A Consular Series that brings to campus members of Atlanta’s diplomatic corps to speak with students on issues including international trade, migration and development. This year, the Consuls General of Belgium, Mexico and the United Kingdom engaged students with timely discussions about the future of the European Union, Brexit and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

• A grant-funded research project, in partnership with

development experiences in Leuven and Brussels as well as The Hague, Netherlands; Global Externship Overseas, which helps ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷ ® óÜ ïó ¡ÿ¡® ®Ėï®ó®ܡ® ÿ Ó đ ĥóÚ÷ȷ ÂÜɏ¿äą÷® Ó®º Ó departments, and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations around the world; international law advocacy in contests like the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot and the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition; Louis B. Sohn Professional Development Fellowships, which support student travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the American Society of International Law Annual Meeting; and a host of events during the academic year. Center events in addition to the Consular Series included sponsorship of a panel on laws related to ¡¿ÂÓ§ó®Ü ܧ óÚ®§ ¡äÜĦ¡ÿ ÿ ÿ¿® ÜÜą Ó 5Üÿ®óÜ ÿÂäÜ Ó D đ Weekend, hosted by the American Branch of the International Law Association in New York, as well as an experts’ conference ÂÜ ÿ¿®Ü÷ȷ ¡ä÷ïäÜ÷äó®§ đÂÿ¿ ÿ¿® ÷ÿą§®ÜÿɏóąÜ Georgia Journal

w- ɚ÷ i¡¿ääÓ ä¸ aą Ó¡ ܧ 5Üÿ®óÜ ÿÂäÜ Ó Ģ Âó÷ ®Üÿ®ó

of International and Comparative Law, titled “The International

for International Trade and Security, related to the United

Criminal Court: A Community of Nations.”

Nations sanctions regime against North Korea. School of Law faculty engaged in the research include Diane Marie Amann,

—Dean Rusk International Law Center Director Kathleen A. Doty

Christopher M. Bruner, Harlan G. Cohen, Kathleen A. Doty and Melissa J. Durkee. They are supported in their work by several student researchers.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

21

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

WILBANKS CEASE CLINIC

Lecture features key leader in sex abuse prosecution The Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic

it with them: “You now know what happened here. You now know what

hosted Daniel J. Dye, the senior deputy attorney general in criminal

was done. The only question left to decide is what are you going to do

ïóä÷®¡ąÿÂäÜ÷ ¸äó ÿ¿® a®ÜÜ÷ėÓĐ Ü Vģ¡® ä¸ ÿÿäóÜ®ė -®Ü®ó Óȷ ÿä ÷ï® Ð

about it?”

on his experience as part of a landmark investigation.

In his lecture “Child Sexual Abuse and the Catholic Church: The

q¿® ÂÓ ÜÐ÷ ! i! ÓÂÜ¡ Â÷ ÿ¿® ĥó÷ÿ ä¸ Âÿ÷ ÐÂܧ ÂÜ ÿ¿® Ü ÿÂäÜ dedicated solely to the assistance of survivors of child sexual abuse.

a®ÜÜ÷ėÓĐ Ü -ó ܧ @ąóė e®ïäóÿȷɗ ė® §®÷¡ó ®§ ÿ¿® ė® ó÷ɏÓäܺ

Funded by a donation from School of Law alumnus Marlan B. Wilbanks

investigation and consequent presentation of evidence to a grand jury

(J.D.’86), the clinic seeks to educate and prepare the next generation of

that resulted in numerous arrests and convictions of priests and their

lawyers to represent survivors of child sexual abuse as well as to serve

supervisors.

as a center of excellence for survivors and attorneys who are seeking

After receiving a call from a district attorney regarding allegations of abuse by priests, Dye led a review that eventually spread to all

these types of claims.

Before Dye spoke, Wilbanks welcomed the crowd and said he

but one Catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. Over the course of the

believes Georgia needs to update its laws protecting children from such

investigation, authorities obtained more than half a million reports

atrocities.

that included documentation of incidents for more than 1,000 victims.

Noting that the state’s case “could not have been done” without

“I feel like Georgia’s values, and the values of our citizens, strongly support what we’re trying to do, which is to try and support victims of

ÿ¿® ºó ܧ Íąóėȷ ė® ÷ § ÿ¿ ÿ ¸ÿ®ó ÿ¿® Vģ¡® ä¸ ÿÿäóÜ®ė -®Ü®ó Ó

child sexual abuse. But that being true, it’s not translating into action

revealed the results of its probe, other states – but not Georgia – also

ÂÜ ïäÓÂÿ¡÷ȷɗ ¿® ÷ §ȷ ąóºÂܺ ÿÿ®Ü§®®÷ ÿä ĥº¿ÿ ¸äó ܧ §Đä¡ ÿ® ¸äó

launched their own investigations.

survivors.

In closing, Dye shared the summary statement he shares with all of the juries he argues before and encouraged lecture attendees to take

Sibley Lecturer asks if SCOTUS decisions are the law of the land In his research, David A. Strauss – the law school’s 117th Sibley Lecturer – ponders a seemingly simple question: Are Supreme Court decisions the law of the land?

At first glance, the answer seems obvious. Of course, the Supreme Court is the final verdict on legal questions. Why even ask? But then one might remember the U.S. Constitution actually is the legal framework of the country. The Supreme Court’s job is to make sure that law is properly followed. Or is it a combination of both?

Everyone knows the Constitution is what the Supreme Court says it is.

The question, Strauss argues, is much more complex than it appears.

Strauss – the University of Chicago Law School’s Ratner Distinguished Service Professor – has argued 19 cases before the Supreme Court. He said he believes 22

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these questions are framed incorrectly, focusing on what a given law is supposed to mean rather than what that law requires citizens and elected officials alike to do.

The waters become muddied, though, when executives, like the president, disagree with the Supreme Court’s rulings. One such example Strauss provided was President Abraham Lincoln’s response to Dred Scott v. Sandford, which

EDITH HOUSE LECTURER

Get comfortable being uncomfortable q¿® ȘȜÿ¿ !§Âÿ¿ 2äą÷® D®¡ÿąó® đ ÷ ïó®÷®Üÿ®§ ė ą§ó®ė ääÜ® qÂÓÓÚ Ü

She said her

(J.D.’89), who currently serves as executive vice president and general

previous experiences

¡äąÜ÷®Ó ä¸ Ħ ¡ ܧ ¸ä¡ą÷®§ äÜ ¿®ó ®Ėï®ó®ܡ®÷ ä¸ óÂ÷Âܺ ÿ¿óäąº¿ ÿ¿®

helped her navigate

ranks as a woman of color.

the job.

“Every single experience that’s happened to me is a part of my

“You just have to

success where I stand today,” Tillman said, noting that the overarching

get through,” she said.

theme of her talk was “get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

“You just can’t stay in the uncomfortable or the painful. You just have to

Tillman grew up in the Cascade Heights neighborhood in southwest Atlanta, which she described as an “exclusively African American

keep moving and overcoming.” qÂÓÓÚ Ü ®Đ®Üÿą ÓÓė Ó®¸ÿ ÿ¿ ÿ ĥóÚ Ü§ ÷®óĐ®§ ÷ Ü ÷÷ä¡Â ÿ®

experience.” When it came time to attend college, her father encouraged

ïó丮÷÷äó ÿ ÿ¿® Näóÿ¿ óäÓÂÜ ®Üÿó Ó wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė i¡¿ääÓ ä¸ D 𠮸äó®

¿®ó ÿä ĥܧ ÷¡¿ääÓ ÿ¿ ÿ đ ÷ äąÿ÷§® ä¸ ¿®ó ¡äÚ¸äóÿ ĜäÜ®ȷ ܧ ÷¿® ¡¿ä÷®

she and her husband moved to Columbus, Georgia, where she took a

ÿ¿® wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė ä¸ Näóÿ¿ óäÓÂÜ ÿ ¿ ï®Ó 2ÂÓÓȽ

ïä÷ÂÿÂäÜ ÷ ÷ÿ Ģ ÿÿäóÜ®ė ÿ Ħ ¡ ÂÜ ȖȞȞțȽ

Once there, she became close friends with her two roommates –

Since then, she has held several posts, from focusing on

đ¿ä ® ¡¿ ¿ § ¡äÚïÓ®ÿ®Óė §ÂĢ®ó®Üÿ ąï óÂܺÂܺ÷ Ɏ ܧ ®Đ®Üÿą ÓÓė ®º Ü

employment law to serving as the senior vice president of human

considering law school.

resources to her current role.

qÂÓÓÚ Ü đ ÷ ¡¡®ïÿ®§ ÿ ÿ¿® w- i¡¿ääÓ ä¸ D đ ܧ đ ÷ äĢ®ó®§

In closing, Tillman noted that her entire career has been a series of

the Founder’s Scholarship. She described her time at the law school as

experiences that she strives to get all she can from, and encouraged the

“an absolute fundamental part of [her] maturation as a person and as a

lecture attendees to embrace their own failures and successes.

lawyer and as a woman, so [she is] forever grateful.”

Once in Athens, the self-described “reserved” person befriended

“I know that there will be times – you probably have already experienced some but if you haven’t, keep living and you will – there’ll

student groups like the Davenport-Benham Black Law Students

be times that you will be so uncomfortable, despondent, dejected,

÷÷ä¡Â ÿÂäÜ Ü§ ¸®ÓÓäđ ¿ ï®Ó 2ÂÓÓ ºó §ą ÿ®÷ đ¿ä ¿®Óﮧ ¿®ó ĥܧ ¿®ó

depressed. Anything on that list, you’ll be that and that’s okay because

place at the law school.

that is what makes you stronger and better for the next thing,” she said.

¸ÿ®ó ºó §ą ÿÂܺȷ ÷¿® ÷®óĐ®§ ÷ Íą§Â¡Â Ó Ó đ ¡Ó®óÐ ¸äó @ą§º® e¡¿ ó§

wƵ !®ÉĉÆ 5ìďĀµ Gµ¨ĉďüµ ÉĀ ĀøìãĀìüµ® ¦ġ ĉƵ ìáµã G ě nĉ﮵ãĉĀ ĀĀì¨É ĉÉìã Éã

Ƚ !óđÂÜ ä¸ ÿ¿® wȽiȽ Â÷ÿó¡ÿ äąóÿ ¸äó Näóÿ¿ óäÓÂÜ Ü§ ÿ¿®Ü ÿääÐ

Æìãìü ì¿ ìãµ ì¿ ĉƵ IJüĀĉ ¿µá Úµ Áü ®ď ĉµĀ ì¿ ĉƵ n¨ÆììÚ ì¿ G ěɁ 5ìďĀµȻ ã ĉÉ̵

ïä÷ÂÿÂäÜ ÂÜ ïóÂĐ ÿ® ïó ¡ÿ¡® đ¿®ó® ÷¿® đ ÷ ÿ¿® ĥóÚɚ÷ ĥó÷ÿ ¸ó¡ Ü

ì¿ É㮵üȻ -µìüÁÉ Ȼ ě Ā ¨ìɑĚ Úµ®É¨ĉìüÉ ã ì¿ ĉƵ Ú ě ¨Ú ĀĀ ì¿ ȟȧȠȣȻ ĉƵ IJüĀĉ ĉì

American employee.

Áü ®ď ĉµ ěìáµãɁ

held that African Americans were not citizens and therefore did not have the same rights as citizens. In defiance of that finding, Lincoln allowed the State Department to issue passports to black Americans. As passports were only given to citizens, the loophole gave the former slaves a claim to citizenship.

Lincoln acted in good faith, as Strauss would describe it. But other presidents have overstepped the constraints of their office to push political agendas, such as Andrew Jackson’s actions after the Supreme Court found Georgia to be violating a treaty that guaranteed Cherokee Indians land when the state tried to seize the land after finding gold there.

Jackson used military force to evict the Cherokees from their lawfully guaranteed land. Such executive overreach is concerning and not limited to past administrations, Strauss added.

Recent administrations, however, have mostly abided by Supreme Court decisions.

As justices have begun retiring, sitting presidents started stacking the courts with judges the presidents found sympathetic to their own political stances, something that allows that political party to continue to exert influence over U.S. policy even after the president in question has finished his term. Strauss said this will eventually lead to more confrontations between legislators and the Supreme Court.

The Sibley Lecture Series, established in 1964 by the Charles Loridans Foundation of Atlanta in tribute to the late John A. Sibley, is designed to attract outstanding legal scholars of national prominence to the School of Law. Sibley was a 1911 graduate of the law school. This Sibley Lecture was part of UGA’s 2018–19 Signature Lecture Series.

This Columns article has been adapted with permission from its author, UGA Marketing and Communications’ Leigh Beeson.

“I think that’s a real risk,” he said. “I’m not sure elevating judicial supremacy is the answer to that.”

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23

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IN MEMORIAM Donald E. “Eugene” Wilkes, Jr. A leading expert on the writ of habeas corpus, Professor Emeritus Donald E. “Eugene” Wilkes, Jr., passed away on

Conference focuses on multidistrict litigation The Georgia Law Review’s 2019 symposium, “MDL Turns 50: A Look Back and the Way Forward,” was based on the 50 years since the multidistrict statute was passed. Panel discussions centered on the rights of individual plaintiffs versus the interests of the group, individual plaintiff’s interests against those of their attorney and the role of the judge in overseeing these lawsuits. U.S. District Court Chief Judge for the Middle District of Georgia Clay Land (J.D.’85) (left) and former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes (J.D.’72) discussed their experiences with these types of cases.

June 7, 2019, at the age of 74.

Wilkes taught the courses Criminal Procedure, English Legal History, aä÷ÿ¡äÜĐ¡ÿÂäÜ e®Ó®¸ȷ 2 ® ÷ äóïą÷ and the Dreyfus Seminar during his more than four-decade tenure at the School of Law. 2® đ ÷ ÿ¿® ąÿ¿äó ä¸ äĐ®ó ȘȗȚ published scholarly works, including ĥĐ® ääÐ÷ȷ ܧ Úäó® ÿ¿ Ü ȗȕȕ ÷¡¿äÓ óÓė articles in professional journals, magazines and newspapers, primarily in the areas of criminal procedure, capital punishment and postconviction remedies. Among his representative titles are: the +µ®µü Ú fìĀĉ¨ìãĚɨĉÉìã jµáµ®ÉµĀ ã® jµÚɵ¿ 5 㮦ìì×Ȼ the State fìĀĉ¨ìãĚɨĉÉìã jµáµ®ÉµĀ ã® jµÚɵ¿ 5 㮦ìì×Ȼ 5 ¦µ Ā ìüøďĀ }ã¨ìüøĀµ® and 5 ¦µ Ā ìüøĀµȺ wƵ -üµ ĉ üÉĉ 5ÉĉɁ He served as a 1975-76 Fellow in Law and the Humanities at Harvard wÜÂĐ®ó÷ÂÿėȽ ąóÂܺ ¿Â÷ ÿ® ¡¿Âܺ ¡ ó®®óȷ ¿® Ó÷ä ÷ï®Üÿ ÿÂÚ® ÂÜ !ÜºÓ Ü§ researching the writ of habeas corpus and in France investigating the ó®ÜäđÜ®§ ó®ė¸ą÷ Ģ ÂóȽ Wilkes, who earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė ä¸ +Óäó§ ȷ ÍäÂÜ®§ ÿ¿® Ó đ ÷¡¿ääÓɚ÷ ¸ ¡ąÓÿė ÂÜ ȖȞȜȖ ¸ÿ®ó ÷®óĐÂܺ ÷ Ó đ ¡Ó®óÐ ÿä wȽiȽ Â÷ÿó¡ÿ äąóÿ @ą§º® ®Ü Bó®ÜÿĜÚ Ü ÂÜ L§§Ó® Â÷ÿó¡ÿ of Florida.

Wilkes was an active advocate for human rights in the community, and he marched in protest against war, corruption, inequality, police brutality and the death penalty.

“Fighting for the American Dream” at WIPI conference The 14th Annual Working in the Public Interest Conference, “Fighting for the American Dream,” explored issues facing lawyers working within the immigration and veteran systems in the United States. Two guest speakers were featured – MacArthur Foundation Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Margaret Stock and Spc. Hector Barajas, the founder of the Deported Veterans Support House. Posing for a photo during the event were (l. to r.) third-year student Taylor Samuels, Stock, third-year student and conference organizer Dana Leader, Barajas, School of Social Work Professor Emeritus Ed Risler, Community Health Law Partnership Clinic Director Jason Cade and School of Social Work Professor Larry Nackerud.

24

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In his later years, he developed a great love for birds and he spent much time studying their calls, their habits and their beauty. Because of this, he asked that he be remembered as “A Friend of Liberty – and Birds.”

He is survived by his mother, Betty Frances Verdi DeSimone; his wife, Elizabeth Spainhour Wilkes, and her three children Phillip S. Marquez, e¡¿ ó§ !Ƚ L óòą®Ĝ ܧ ÿ¿®óÂÜ® !Ƚ L óòą®Ĝɂ ¿Â÷ ÿđä ¡¿ÂÓ§ó®Ü äÜ Ó§ Eugene Wilkes III and Karen Suzanne Wilkes (J.D.’90); and one grandson.

2® Â÷ Ó÷ä ÷ąóĐÂĐ®§ ė ¿Â÷ ĥó÷ÿ đ¸®ȷ 2®Ó®Ü 2Ƚ ÂÓЮ÷Ƚ áµáìüÉ Ú ĀµüĚɨµ ě Ā Ƶڮ Éã }- ɜĀ Æ øµÚ ìã CďÚġ ȟȥɁ

Alan Watson Alan Watson, one of the world’s

Bruce Wheat Kirbo

¸äó®Úä÷ÿ ąÿ¿äóÂÿ®÷ äÜ eäÚ Ü Ó đȷ comparative law, legal history, and law and religion, passed away Nov. 7, ȗȕȖȝȷ ÿ ÿ¿® º® ä¸ ȝȚȽɜ Watson was a former Â÷ÿÂܺąÂ÷¿®§ e®÷® ó¡¿ aó丮÷÷äó ܧ ÿ¿® ¿äÓ§®ó ä¸ ÿ¿® e亮ó÷ ¿ Âó at the School of Law, where he taught for more than 20 years before retiring in 2012. His course list included: Comparative Law, Property Law, Slave Law in the Americas, Legal Philosophy, Legal History, Jurisprudence, Law in the Gospels and Western Legal Tradition. ïóäÓÂĥ¡ ÷¡¿äÓ ó ܧ Ú ÷ÿ®ó ä¸ Úäó® ÿ¿ Ü äÜ® §äĜ®Ü Ó Üºą º®÷ȷ Watson had more than 150 books and articles to his credit, and his books have been translated into countless dialects. His scholarship includes ÿ¿® ó®ĐäÓąÿÂäÜ óė ääÐ÷ɜGµÁ Ú wü ãĀøÚ ãĉĀȺ ã øøüì ¨Æ ĉì ìáø ü ĉÉ̵ G ě andɞnì¨Éµĉġ ã® GµÁ Ú Æ ãÁµɜ ÷ đ®ÓÓ ÷ɜwƵ !ĚìÚďĉÉìã ì¿ µĀĉµüã füÉĚ ĉµ G ěɆɞCµĀďĀ ã® ĉƵ CµěĀȺ wƵ fÆ üÉĀ ɨ wü ®ÉĉÉìã Éã CìÆãɆɞ ã¨Éµãĉ G ě ã® O쮵üã }㮵üĀĉ ã®ÉãÁȺ ĉ ĉƵ !®ÁµĀɆɞnìďü¨µĀ ì¿ G ěȻ GµÁ Ú Æ ãÁµȻ ã® á¦ÉÁďÉĉġɆɞGµÁ Ú 5ÉĀĉìüġ ã® ìááìã G ě ¿ìü !ďüìøµɆ wƵ nÆ áµ ì¿ áµüɨ ã GµÁ Ú !®ď¨ ĉÉìãɆ and ďĉÆìüÉĉġ ì¿ G ěɆ ã® G ěɁ In addition, ¿® ÷®óĐ®§ ÷ ÿ¿® ®§Âÿäó ä¸ɜwƵ ÉÁµĀĉ ì¿ CďĀĉÉãÉ ã, 2d ed., overseeing its translation from the original Latin into English. Notably, he coined the term “legal transplants” which is now ubiquitous in legal literature.

Watson held seven degrees from the universities of Glasgow, Oxford and Edinburgh as well as six honorary degrees from the universities of Belgrade, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Palermo, Pretoria and Stockholm.

Of special note, he taught at all of these universities in addition to the wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė ä¸ a®ÜÜ÷ėÓĐ Ü Ƚ Among his many accolades are being elected a Visiting Honorary aó丮÷÷äó ä¸ aóÂĐ ÿ® D đ ÿ ÿ¿® wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė ä¸ !§ÂÜ ąóº¿ Ɏ ÿ¿® ¿Âº¿®÷ÿ honorary award bestowed by the Scottish faculty – and a lifetime achievement award by the American Society of Comparative Law. §§ÂÿÂäÜ ÓÓėȷ ÿ¿® wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė ä¸ ®Óºó §® ®÷ÿ ÓÂ÷¿®§ ÿ¿® Ó Ü ÿ÷äÜ Foundation to promote a multidisciplinary understanding of law by encouraging scholarship broadly focusing on the correlation between law and society. ܧ ÂÜ ȗȕȖșȷ ÿ¿® wÜÂĐ®ó÷Âÿė ä¸ !§ÂÜ ąóº¿ ó®Ü Ú®§ Âÿ÷ prestigious Legal History Discussion Group to the Alan Watson Seminar.

He is survived by his wife, Camilla Emanuel Watson (who now holds ÿ¿® e亮ó÷ ¿ ÂóɌɂ ¿Â÷ ¡¿ÂÓ§ó®Ü i ó ¿ Ó®Ė ܧó Úï ®ÓÓȷ !Ó® Üäó ÜÜ McCulloch and David Jardine Watson; and three grandchildren.

Known for a lifetime of leadership, service and philanthropy, Bruce Wheat Kirbo (J.D.’51) passed away Dec. 22, 2018, at the age of 88.

2Â÷ Ó®º ¡ė ä¸ Ó® §®ó÷¿Âï ®º Ü ÿ w- ȷ đ¿®ó® ¿® đ ÷ member of the Blue Key Honor Society and Gridiron, was president of the Demosthenian Society and served two terms on the law school’s Honor Court.

In 1951, he graduated from law school at the age of 21 and served in the military for two years. He then embarked on his legal career in family and corporate law in his hometown of Bainbridge. His professional highlights include being a member of the Board of Governors and other committees of the State Bar of Georgia, a special master for the Supreme Court of Georgia and a member of the School of Law’s Board of Visitors.

He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was presented with the law school’s Distinguished Service Scroll Award in 2001. ïïóäĖÂÚ ÿ®Óė ĥĐ® ė® ó÷ ºä ÿ¿® BÂó ä +äąÜ§ ÿÂäÜ Concourse was unveiled as part of a three-year renovation of the law school. This naming acknowledged the Thomas M. and Irene B. Charitable Foundation and the Kirbo family’s continuous support of the law school and its academic programming. Hanging in the concourse is a portrait of Bruce and fellow alumnus and Distinguished Service Scroll Award đÂÜÜ®ó ¿ óÓ®÷ DȽ BÂó ä ɋDDȽ ȽɚȘȞɌȽ Bruce was also heavily connected to the south Georgia community, where he represented the Decatur County School Board and the Bainbridge City Council as well as served as a member of the executive board of the Bainbridge College Foundation, president of the Kiwanis Club, chairman of the First Christian Church and a Sunday school teacher. óą¡® Â÷ ÷ąóĐÂĐ®§ ė ¿Â÷ đ¸® ä¸ țȘ ė® ó÷ȷ ÿ¿®óÂÜ® ɖ ÷÷ɗ Âó ĥ÷ BÂó äɂ ܧ ¿Â÷ ¡¿ÂÓ§ó®Ü DÂÓÓÂ Ü BÂó ä Ü÷Ó®ėȷɜ óą¡® Ƚ Kirbo, Jr. (J.D.’82), Charles G. Kirbo, Ben J. Kirbo and Thomas H. Kirbo; and 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. óą¡® đ ÷ ïó®¡®§®§ ÂÜ §® ÿ¿ ė ¿Â÷ ÷äÜȷ eä ®óÿ Ч BÂó äȽ

áµáìüÉ Ú ĀµüĚɨµ ě Ā Ƶڮ Éã ĉƵ Æ øµÚ ĉ }- ìã O ü¨Æ ȦɁ

Näÿ Óė ÓÓ ä¸ ¿Â÷ ¡¿ÂÓ§ó®Ü ¿äÓ§ §®ºó®®÷ ¸óäÚ w- Ƚ

ɞ

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25

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

Cook retires after nearly 20 years Alan A. Cook (J.D.’84), the leader of the law school’s Prosecutorial Justice Program since 2001, retired in June. Cook also taught trial practice and served as the coach of the school’s William W. Daniel National Mock Trial Competition team for approximately 15 years.

He said one of his greatest memories was watching the “William Daniel mock trial team beat South Texas in the final round of the 2007 competition” to become national champions.

Cook is the author of Cook’s Field Guide to Prosecution in Georgia and CMBrief, A Comprehensive Trial Brief for Prosecuting Child Sexual Abuses Cases in Georgia.

The latter resource is a free publication, which has been “an important tool in the successful prosecution of child molestation cases in Georgia for almost a decade.” He is also the co-author of Inside Adjudicative Criminal Procedure: What Matters and Why. Since 2004, Cook has been a faculty member of ChildFirst – Georgia, an interdisciplinary training program for forensic child abuse interviewers and other child abuse professionals sponsored by the National Child Protection Training Center.

Cook said he would like to be remembered as “a professor who put teaching first and who truly cared about his students” and “for creating a comprehensive three-semester lecture series to supplement the externship component of the Prosecutorial Justice Program.”

He proudly shared that more than 170 of his former students have been employed as prosecutors and many have become career prosecutors, including one elected district attorney and two elected solicitors-general.

In retirement, Cook plans to spend time traveling with his wife, Dr. Debra Cook, and visiting his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Tennessee.

STUDENTS HONOR THREE FACULTY Three faculty members were honored by the 2018–19 School of Law student body. Stembler Family Distinguished Professor in Business Law Christopher Bruner (left) and University Professor & Caldwell Chair in Constitutional Law Dan Coenen (center) jointly received the Ellington Award for Excellence in Teaching, while Coenen was also honored with the O’Byrne Memorial Award for Significant Contributions Furthering Student-Faculty Relations. Cleveland Distinguished Chair of Legal Ethics and Professionalism Lonnie Brown was given the Student Bar Association Professionalism Award. Additionally, Brown and Coenen were selected to serve as graduation class marshals.

26

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Cahill leaves mark on library The Alexander Campbell King Law Library has said goodbye to longtime librarian and leader Maureen A. Cahill (J.D.’79), who retired in May. Cahill worked at the library for more than 20 years, most recently as the associate director for instruction, access and outreach. In this role, she oversaw the library’s circulation department, assisted faculty and students with research and technology, taught a number of research classes and coordinated library services for students. A frequent presenter on topics such as technology and law library management, her course load included Legal Research, Advanced Legal Research and Research & Technology Skills for the Georgia Lawyer.

Cahill contributed significantly to the law student experience over the years by providing advice and guidance to many law students, according to Director of the Law Library Carol A. Watson (J.D.’87).

“She has been an outstanding colleague and friend to all.”

Of note, Cahill’s relationship with the School of Law actually began in 1976, when she enrolled as a first-year law student.

After she earned her J.D., she worked in the school’s Prisoner Legal Counseling Project for 16 years as a staff attorney and clinical instructor. When the PLCP lost its support from the State Department of Corrections, the law library hired Cahill and she earned her M.L.I.S. from the University of South Carolina.

LAW SCHOOL WELCOMES FOUR Melissa D. Redmon, who joined the School of Law faculty earlier this year, will lead the school’s Prosecutorial Justice Program in the fall.

She comes to UGA after serving in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for more than 10 years, most recently as deputy district attorney of the Public Integrity Unit and director of the Domestic Violence Policy and Trial Unit. During her tenure, she tried more than 30 complex cases to completion and also worked as a senior assistant district attorney in the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit for five years. In 2015, she was recognized as the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office Attorney of the Year.

Previously Redmon served as a senior assistant district attorney in Clayton County and worked with Metro Conflict Defenders in Fulton County. After graduating from Michigan State University with her law degree in 2001, she handled both criminal and civil matters at the law firm Lawton & Thornton. She also is a certified National Institute of Trial Advocacy Instructor.

Simone K. Cifuentes serves the School of Law as an Equal Justice Works Crime Victims Justice Corps Fellow. This appointment is part of a legal fellowship program designed to increase capacity and access to civil legal help for crime victims.

At the law school, Cifuentes is working with the Family Justice Clinic, which provides disadvantaged clients with direct representation as well as legal and extra-legal support. She also works with the Community Health Law Partnership Clinic, an in-house legal services clinic in which law students advocate on behalf of low-income clients with a variety of health-harming legal needs. Her role is to increase the depth and breadth of services offered by both clinics, as well as to conduct outreach and educational programs for immigrant victims of crime in the community.

Prior to coming to Athens, Cifuentes worked as an associate attorney for Sevin & Stahulak, where she conducted legal research and helped build cases for trial. She earned her J.D. from Louisiana State University.

Amy Taylor became the Alexander Campbell King Law Library’s clinical services and research librarian last fall. In this position, she leads the library’s outreach to the school’s clinical programs and teaches legal research courses.

Previously Taylor worked as a research librarian at Crowell & Moring conducting business, legal, legislative and regulatory research for attorneys. She also worked as an emerging technologies librarian at the American University Washington College of Law’s Pence Law Library. At the Pence Law Library, Taylor served as collection development chair from 2014 to 2016 and taught advanced legal research classes. Additionally, she worked at the law libraries of Duke and Georgetown universities, and was an intern for the U.S. Supreme Court Library.

Taylor earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama and her Master of Science in Library Science from The Catholic University of America.

Stephen M. Wolfson presently serves as the Alexander Campbell King Law Library’s research and copyright services librarian, providing research assistance to faculty and supervising the research assistant program.

Additionally, he serves as the library’s contact for issues relating to copyright, scholarly communication and research-related information policy matters and also teaches legal research.

Before coming to UGA, Wolfson worked as a copyright librarian at the University of North Texas. He also served as a reference librarian at the University of Texas at Austin’s Tarlton Law Library from 2010 to 2017 and was the head of the collection department for two years. While at the University of Texas, he taught graduate-level classes on Texas legal research, free and low-cost legal research, citation methods, copyright research, basic legal research and intellectual property legal research. His J.D. is from The Ohio State University and M.S.I.S. is from the University of Texas.

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27

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FACULTY PROMOTIONS Seven elevated to endowed positions Kent Barnett was appointed to a J. Alton Hosch Associate Professorship. Specializing in administrative law, contracts and consumer law, he joined the law school faculty in 2012.

He recently completed his service as the reporter for the Administrative Conference of the United States’ (ACUS) Revised Model Adjudication Rules (MARs) Working Group. Notably these rules, which had not been revised since their establishment in 1993, are designed to be used by all federal agencies in their hearings. The working group, comprised of academics, agency officials and practitioners, revised the rules over two years. ACUS, the independent federal agency charged with providing research and recommendations to improve the federal bureaucracy, published the final revised rules in the Federal Register in the fall of 2018.

Barnett’s scholarship has been cited by leading administrative law casebooks and by federal courts. His articles have been published, or are forthcoming, in the Michigan Law Review, the New York University Law Review, the Notre Dame Law Review, the Vanderbilt Law Review and the Washington Law Review.

Christopher M. Bruner has been named the holder of the Stembler Family Distinguished Professorship in Business Law. He joined the School of Law in 2017, and he teaches a range of corporate and transactional subjects, including Corporations, Corporate Finance, Deals and Comparative Corporate Law. His scholarship focuses on corporate, securities and financial law, including international and comparative dimensions of these fields. He is the author of two books, Re-Imagining Offshore Finance: Market-Dominant Small Jurisdictions in a Globalizing Financial World (Oxford University Press) and Corporate Governance in the Common-Law World: The Political Foundations of Shareholder Power (Cambridge University Press). His most recent articles include “Corporate Governance Reform in Post-Crisis Financial Firms: Two Fundamental Tensions” in the Arizona Law Review and “Center-Left Politics and Corporate Governance: What Is the ‘Progressive’ Agenda?” in the Brigham Young University Law Review.

A globally recognized corporate scholar, Bruner presently serves as co-editor of the Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury Professional book series Contemporary Studies in Corporate Law. He is also co-editing the forthcoming Cambridge Handbook of Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Sustainability.

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ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

Elizabeth Chamblee Burch now holds the Fuller E. Callaway Chair. She joined the School of Law faculty in 2011, and her teaching and research interests include civil procedure, class actions and mass torts. She is presently conducting a study on litigants’ satisfaction with women’s health multidistrict litigation.

A leading authority on class actions and mass torts, Burch recently published Mass Tort Deals: Backroom Bargaining in Multidistrict Litigation (Cambridge University Press). She is also the co-author of the casebook The Law of Class Actions and Other Aggregate Litigation (with the late Richard A. Nagareda and others).

Earlier this year, she was presented with the Mangano Dispute Resolution Advancement Award for her groundbreaking scholarship in the area of multidistrict litigation settlement. She is also the recipient of other prestigious scholarly honors such as the 2016 Fred C. Zacharias Memorial Prize for Professional Responsibility Scholarship and the 2015 American Law Institute’s Early Career Scholars Medal.

Her scholarship has been published in respected journals such as the New York University Law Review, the Cornell Law Review, the Virginia Law Review, the Vanderbilt Law Review, the Washington University Law Review and the Boston University Law Review.

Andrea L. Dennis was appointed to the John Byrd Martin Chair. Since coming to UGA in 2010, she has taught Criminal Law, Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Lawyering for Children, Children in the Legal System and Family Law. Her scholarship explores criminal defense lawyering, race and criminal justice, criminal informants and cooperators, youth advocacy, legal socialization of youth and the cradle-to-prison pipeline. She is currently co-authoring a book titled Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America. She also has published “Decriminalizing Childhood” in the Fordham Urban Law Journal and “Criminal Law as Family Law” in the Georgia State University Law Review.

Other journals carrying her work include: the American Criminal Law Review, the Catholic University Law Review, the Columbia Journal of Law and the Arts, the Howard Law Journal, Law and Contemporary Problems, the Marquette Law Review, the Nebraska Law Review, the Nevada Law Journal and the Journal of Legal Education.

State courts nationwide have cited her research on rap lyrics as criminal evidence, and she has been quoted in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone about pending cases concerning the issue.

Melissa J. “M.J.” Durkee, who joined the law school faculty in 2018, has been awarded a J. Alton Hosch Associate Professorship. She teaches in the areas of international, transnational and business law.

Her research focuses on global governance, particularly interactions between government and business actors that affect the content and success of international legal rules. Her most recent articles include “Interstitial Space Law” which is forthcoming in the Washington University Law Review and “International Lobbying Law” in the Yale Law Journal. Other notable journals publishing her work are: the Stanford Law Review, the UCLA Law Review, the Virginia Law Review and the American Journal of International Law. She has spoken to academic and professional audiences on more than 40 occasions throughout the United States and internationally. She also served for three years as managing editor of AJIL Unbound and has held a number of leadership positions in the American Society of International Law. In fact, earlier this year, she was appointed the vice chair of the ASIL membership committee.

Hillel Y. Levin, who joined the law school’s faculty in 2008, has been selected to hold the Alex W. Smith Professorship.

He currently leads courses on education law and policy, constitutional law, administrative law, and legislation and statutory interpretation. Levin also serves as the UGA Law in Atlanta director, overseeing the school’s growing Atlantabased programs.

Levin’s expertise lies in education law and policy, statutory interpretation, church/state issues, constitutional law and the judicial process. His scholarship has been published in several leading law journals, and he is the author of a popular course book on statutory interpretation. His recent publications include “Increasing Vaccination Rates Without Eliminating Nonmedical Exemptions” in The Regulatory Review, “Qualified Immunity and Statutory Interpretation: A Response to William Baude” in the California Law Review Online and “Why Some Religious Accommodations for Mandatory Vaccinations Violate the Establishment Clause” in the Hastings Law Journal.

Levin has testified before the state legislature, and he currently serves on the advisory board of the peer-reviewed Education Law and Policy Review.

He is also a former recipient of the law school’s Ellington Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Camilla E. Watson has been named the new holder of the Ernest P. Rogers Chair.

She joined the School of Law faculty in 1989, and her current course load includes: Federal Income Tax, Timing Aspects of Federal Income Tax, Civil Tax Practice and Procedure, Tax Crimes and Criminal Law. Widely published in the area of federal taxation, Watson is the co-author of the leading casebook Federal Tax Practice and Procedure: Cases, Materials, and Problems as well as the author of the nutshell Tax Procedure and Tax Fraud and Federal Income Taxation, which is part of the series Model Problems and Outstanding Answers. Among her more recent articles are: “The Future of Lower Income Students in Higher Education: Rethinking the Pell Program and Federal Tax Incentives” in the Florida State University Law Review, “Reforming the Tax Incentives for Higher Education” in the Virginia Tax Review and “SFRs and Problems in Tax Administration and Enforcement” in Tax Notes.

Watson has been active in the Association of American Law Schools, serving as the founding chair of the Section on Employee Benefits.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

29

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

Brown named Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Lonnie T. Brown Jr. was awarded the university’s highest honor for excellence in instruction – a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship – this spring.

Brown, who also holds the Cleveland Distinguished Chair of Legal Ethics and Professionalism, is noted for “liv[ing] by his word” and “teach[ing] by his actions.”

He joined the school’s faculty in the fall of 2002 and served as its associate dean for academic affairs from 2013 to 2015.

Over his 16-plus-year tenure at UGA, he has enjoyed a rotating teaching load that includes Civil Procedure, The Law and Ethics of Lawyering, Georgia Practice and Procedure, and Ethics in Litigation.

In 2018, this portfolio of classes placed Brown among the law school faculty with the greatest student-contact teaching hours.

Brown’s classes are educational and entertaining, but more importantly, they leave his students with a strong desire to continue to acquire knowledge, former student and now U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michele J. Kim (J.D.’06) said. “Each class during the semester was like an act in an award-winning Broadway play: there was a well-thought-out theme; you were presented with a legal issue that served as the plot line; there were many interesting anecdotes and witty remarks; the audience participated enthusiastically; the thought-provoking dialogue and lively banter were timed perfectly (even when totally unexpected questions or remarks were made); and sometimes there was music. You could not passively sit and watch the day’s lesson. Rather, you were actively engaged in critical thinking that would eventually give rise to a deep understanding of the issues he taught; and at the end of the class you were left wanting to know more.”

This description is amplified by Brown being selected for law school teaching awards for 12 out of his 16 years on the faculty.

He is also one of the nation’s leading scholars on legal ethics, authoring numerous articles and papers, chairing major symposia in his field and authoring the book Defending the Public’s Enemy: The Life and Legacy of Ramsey Clark (forthcoming, Stanford University Press).

30

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

Rodrigues awarded University Professorship Earlier this year, Usha R. Rodrigues was named a University Professor, an honor bestowed on UGA faculty members who have made a significant impact on the university beyond their normal academic responsibilities. Notably, only one professor is selected campus-wide each year.

During her tenure, Rodrigues has expanded curricular and experiential learning opportunities for students while also fostering a culture of women’s leadership at UGA and the broader academy.

Rodrigues, the holder of the Kilpatrick Chair of Corporate Finance and Securities Law, served as the associate dean for faculty development in the School of Law from 2015 to 2018 and has served as the University Council’s parliamentarian since 2014.

“Professor Rodrigues is an indefatigable advocate for students, colleagues and the role that higher education plays in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship,” Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Libby V. Morris said. “She is an exemplary leader who is richly deserving of the honor of being named University Professor.”

Rodrigues led a dramatic expansion of business law-related offerings in the School of Law, and she worked in collaboration with the Terry College of Business to establish a three-year joint J.D./M.B.A. She played a role in creating the Business Law Clinic, which gives law students experience in providing legal services to small business owners and not-for-profit organizations. In addition, she helped launch UGA’s Corsair Law Society, a student organization that bolsters networking, leadership and career readiness for students interested in transactional law or corporate litigation outside of Georgia.

Rodrigues served as a leader in a faculty collaboration known as eHub that helped spur the development of UGA’s Entrepreneurship Program, and she currently sits on the program’s advisory board. She also chairs the board of Four Athens Inc., a nonprofit technology accelerator based in Athens.

“Her impact extends past the walls of the law school and even the university,” Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge said. “Usha serves as a role model for others – for students, faculty colleagues and staff alike. She genuinely cares about people and their successes. She is a mentor to many, including women and people of all backgrounds and races.”

FACULTY HONORS Scherr receives two leading educational service awards

Mayson wins Junior Scholar Award

A steadfast ambassador for clinical legal education at the School of Law for more than two decades, Alexander W. “Alex” Scherr – who currently serves as the director of the Veterans Legal Clinic – received two significant scholarly honors earlier this year.

Assistant Professor Sandra G. Mayson was named the winner of the 2019 Association of American Law Schools Section on Criminal Justice Junior Scholar Award for her article “Bias In, Bias Out” in 128 Yale Law Journal 2218 (2019). Notably, this is her second article published in this prestigious journal.

He was presented with the 2019 William Pincus Award for Outstanding Service and Commitment to Clinical Legal Education in January. As the preeminent national award in clinical education, this Association of American Law Schools honor constitutes “a career award conferred for exceptional contributions” to the field. It recognizes individuals or institutions for service, scholarship, program design and implementation or other activity beneficial to clinical legal education or to the advancement of justice.

During April, he received UGA’s Engaged Scholar Award, which recognizes a tenured faculty member for contributions to advancing public service, outreach and community engagement at the university with emphasis on endeavors such as engaged research and scholarship that is conducted for the benefit of a community; curricular engagement of students in academic service-learning courses; or mutually beneficial community-university partnerships that address critical community needs.

Since joining the law school in 1996 as its first director of civil clinics, Scherr has been instrumental in the substantial growth of clinical and experiential course offerings at the school – from three to 17.

In “Bias In, Bias Out,” Mayson acknowledges that algorithmic risk assessment is increasingly used in the criminal justice system to estimate the likelihood that a person will commit future crime and that these assessments tend to have disparate racial impact. She argues that the problem is not algorithmic methodology, however, but rather the nature of prediction: “All prediction looks to the past to make guesses about future events. In a racially stratified world, any method of prediction will project the inequalities of the past into the future. This is as true of the subjective prediction that has long pervaded criminal justice as of the algorithmic tools now replacing it. Algorithmic risk assessment has revealed the inequality inherent in all prediction, forcing us to confront a problem much larger than the challenges of a new technology.”

Her work has also been published in the Boston University Law Review, the Stanford Law Review and the Notre Dame Law Review.

Gabriel honored by criminal defense lawyers This past academic year, Clinical Professor & Criminal Defense Practicum Director Russell Gabriel (J.D.’85) received the 2018 Indigent Defense Award from the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The mission of the association is to promote fairness and justice through member education, services and support, public outreach, and a commitment to quality representation for all. This award recognized Gabriel for “decades of unwavering excellence in indigent defense, for instilling in law students the importance of public defender work through training and mentoring, and for inspiring everyone to always fight for equal justice for all.”

Gabriel has been part of the school’s Criminal Defense Practicum for more than 25 years. In 1988, he joined the school’s Legal Aid and Defender Clinic (as it was referred to then) as a staff attorney, and in 1996 he was named the director (after a three-year stint with the Federal Defender Program in Atlanta). He is a past

recipient of the law school’s Equal Justice Foundation outstanding public interest attorney award.

Gabriel’s most recent work includes spearheading a study by the State Bar of Georgia’s Indigent Defense Committee of the right to counsel for indigent persons appearing in Georgia courts whose criminal law jurisdiction is limited to misdemeanors and local ordinance violations. One conclusion of the study is that Georgia’s system is more aptly characterized as a system where the right to counsel is waived, rather than a system where the right to counsel is invoked.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

31

GRADUATE PROFILES

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

Marlan Wilbanks SAFEGUARDING WHISTLE-BLOWERS AND SURVIVORS THROUGH LAW w- i¡¿ääÓ ä¸ D đ ÓąÚÜą÷ L óÓ Ü Ƚ ÂÓ ÜÐ÷ ɋ@Ƚ ȽɚȝțɌ ¿ ÷

He said his passion for law and the clinic are “about

done just as much to protect whistle-blowers as he has done to

creating an opportunity to help hundreds of thousands more

ĥܧ Íą÷ÿ¡® ¸äó ¡¿ÂÓ§ ą÷® ÷ąóĐÂĐäó÷Ƚ

đ¿ä §äÜɚÿ ¿ Đ® Đä¡® ¸äó ÿ¿®Ú÷®ÓĐ®÷ äó ¡ Üɚÿ Ģäó§ Ó đė®ó

The Double Dawg helped establish the Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic at the law school

or those who don’t know what their rights are.”

Wilbanks believes that access to justice is a large part of

to not only help survivors of child sexual abuse and their families

the healing process for survivors and denying it can add to

but to allow law students an opportunity to work on cases that

their ongoing trauma.

give them a real world perspective. ɖ5ÿ Â÷ ÿ¿® ĥó÷ÿ Ó đ ÷¡¿ääÓ ¡ÓÂÜ¡ ɉÂÜ ÿ¿® Ü ÿÂäÜɊ ÿ¿ ÿɚ÷

“[My mother] wasn’t able to tell others about what happened to her until she was in her mid-50s. That’s pretty

dedicated exclusively to the representation of victims of child

typical. So to tell those people that you don’t have a right

sexual abuse. … It’s been an honor and a privilege to watch how

to any justice … Georgia’s laws are re-victimizing them,”

that it’s not only helped victims and their families, but also the

Wilbanks said.

students grow,” Wilbanks said.

The clinic was established in 2016, after the passage of

÷ ï óÿÜ®ó ÿ ÂÓ ÜÐ÷ ʖ -äąÂÜÓä¡Ðȷ ĥóÚ ¿® ¿ ÷ been part of since graduating law school, Wilbanks said his

Georgia’s Hidden Predator Act, which created a two-year

favorite part is being able to help people every day and learn

window to allow child sexual abuse survivors to bring forth civil

about a range of industries from medical care to defense

cases that were previously barred under a statute of limitations.

contracting. His cases have resulted in American taxpayers

Wilbanks emphasized the importance of the clinic in

ܧ ¿Â÷ ¡Ó®Üÿ÷ ó®¡äĐ®óÂܺ äĐ®ó ɡȘ ÂÓÓÂäÜ ¸óäÚ ¡äÚï Ü®÷ ÿ¿ ÿ

bringing about tangible actions for prevalent issues in today’s

have defrauded the government. As a ûďÉ ĉ á lawyer, he says

society. “It’s not a very popular subject dealing with the

he focuses on “catching people who are intentionally stealing

wreckage of child sex abuse. Everybody wants to say: ‘Let’s stop

from the government.”

÷®Ė ÿó ģ¡ÐÂܺȷ ܧ đ®ɚó® º ÂÜ÷ÿ ÷®Ė ÿó ģ¡ÐÂܺȽ ®ɚó® º ÂÜ÷ÿ

He added that his day-to-day work relates to his reason

abuse.’ But who’s going to step forward and handle the wreckage

for starting the Wilbanks CEASE Clinic. “We’re talking about

after it happens?”

where people intentionally hurt children, and where entities

Now that the Hidden Predator Act’s two-year window

and other people intentionally hide and conceal that. So I’m

has passed, Wilbanks has been pushing the Georgia General

after, not the folks with the gray hats, but the ones with the

Assembly to pass another law that would help child abuse

black hats.”

survivors in seeking justice and being able to tell their stories.

Wilbanks draws a lot of inspiration from his mother, who

The Wilbanks CEASE Clinic has also begun researching laws

ÿ ąº¿ÿ ¿ÂÚ ÿä Üäÿ ® ɖ ¸ó § ÿä ĥº¿ÿ ¿ ó§ ¸äó ÿ¿® ÿ¿Âܺ÷ ėäą

óäąÜ§ ÿ¿® wÜÂÿ®§ iÿ ÿ®÷ ÿä ĥܧ äÿ¿®ó ÷äÓąÿÂäÜ÷ ܧ ó®Ú®§Â®÷ ÿä

believe in,” a tenet he is mindful of every day.

protect children in Georgia.

Wilbanks is pushing for a renewal of the Hidden Predator Act

He says the success of the clinic depends on today’s law students. “I’m so happy and proud that law students are being

because he believes it can help sexual abuse survivors who have

ÂÜĦą®Ü¡®§ ė đ¿ ÿ đ®ɚó® §äÂܺ ÿ ÿ¿® ¡ÓÂÜ¡Ƚ q¿ ÿɚ÷ đ¿ä ÿ¿®

Üäÿ Óó® §ė ¡äÚ® ¸äóđ ó§Ƚ ɖ-®äóºÂ ɚ÷ Ó đ÷ ó® ÂÜ ÿ¿® äÿÿäÚ ĥĐ®

Ó® §®ó÷ ä¸ ÿäÚäóóäđ ó® ܧ đ¿ä 5 đ Üÿ ÿä ÂÜĦą®Ü¡®Ƚ 5 đ Üÿ ÿä

÷ ¸ ó ÷ ïóäÿ®¡ÿÂܺ ¡¿ÂÓ§ó®Ü ÂÜ ÿ¿® wÜÂÿ®§ iÿ ÿ®÷ȷ ܧ ÿÓ Üÿ Â÷

encourage them to follow their passions, to get involved and

ÿ¿® ¡®Üÿ®ó ä¸ ÿ¿® ÷®Ė ÿó ģ¡ÐÂܺ Âܧą÷ÿóė ÂÜ ÿ¿® wÜÂÿ®§ iÿ ÿ®÷Ƚɗ

help people,” he said.

—Mauli Desai

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to watch how [the clinic has] not only helped victims and their families, but also the students grow.”

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ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

Luis Aguilar MAKING STRIDES IN LAW AND CONTRIBUTING THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE Six weeks after Luis A. Aguilar (J.D.’79) became a commissioner äÜ ÿ¿® wȽiȽ i®¡ąóÂÿ®÷ ܧ !Ė¡¿ ܺ® äÚÚÂ÷÷ÂäÜ ÂÜ ȗȕȕȝȷ ÿ¿® recession hit when Lehman Brothers went into bankruptcy and the stock market crashed. A short time later one of the largest

during the 2008 crash who Obama asked to stay on at the SEC. He

ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó ¸ó ą§÷ ÂÜ wȽiȽ ¿Â÷ÿäóė Ɏ ÿ¿® ®óÜ® L §äĢ aäÜĜÂ

credits this to his background in securities law and his experience

scheme – was exposed.

representing many public and private companies, and a variety of

Aguilar served as a commissioner from 2008 to 2015 and became one of the SEC’s longest-serving members and one

SEC-regulated entities such as mutual funds, investment advisers and broker-dealers, among others.

When asked why he chose to stay at the SEC for more than

ä¸ äÜÓė ÿ¿ó®® ¡äÚÚÂ÷÷ÂäÜ®ó÷ ÿä ® ÜäÚÂÜ ÿ®§ ė ÿđä wȽiȽ ïó®÷§®Üÿ÷ ¸óäÚ ÿđä §ÂĢ®ó®Üÿ ïäÓÂÿ¡ Ó ï óÿ®÷Ƚ q¿äąº¿ ÂÜ ¿Â÷

seven years, Aguilar said he had “a sense of obligation to the

® óÓė § ė÷ ÿ ÿ¿® i! ȷ ÿ ÿ¿® äÜ÷®ÿ ä¸ ÿ¿® -ó® ÿ e®¡®÷÷ÂäÜȷ ¿® §Â§

wÜÂÿ®§ iÿ ÿ®÷ȷɗ ®Đ®ó ÷ÂÜ¡® ¿® ®Úºó ÿ®§ ¿®ó® ÷ ¡¿ÂÓ§ ¸óäÚ ą Ƚ “I came to this country when I was six and my brother was

not think he would be a commissioner for long as there were credible stories that the SEC would cease to operate after the

nine. We were separated from our parents for various years. This country and the generosity of the American people

crash and its various functions would be distributed to other agencies. ɖ Ü ®Đ®Üÿ ÓÂЮ ÿ¿® -ó® ÿ e®¡®÷÷ÂäÜ Â÷ something that, fortunately, happens rarely.

It wasn’t something being predicted,” Aguilar said.

The former commissioner compared the market crash to another rarity. “It was almost like a black swan event. … Black swans were once thought to be rare, that they didn’t exist, of course, until they found some. In 2008 various factors converged that nearly took the nation to another Great Depression, like the country experienced in ÿ¿® ȖȞȗȕ÷ ܧ ȖȞȘȕ÷Ƚɗ Aguilar notes that the recession was a

“Different times in your life, different times in your career,

good, solid education. So when you’re asked to give back with some sort of public service, you do feel an obligation to do that. And that’s why I said yes the ĥó÷ÿ ÿÂÚ® ÿä aó®÷§®Üÿ ą÷¿ȷ ܧ ÿ¿ ÿɚ÷ đ¿ė 5 ÷ § ė®÷

you’re fortunate

the second time to President Obama,” he added.

enough to come

w- ܧ ¿Â÷ ïó丮÷÷äó÷ ܧ ¸®ÓÓäđ ÷ÿą§®Üÿ÷Ƚ ąóÂܺ

Aguilar has many fond memories of his time at law school, Aguilar served as a notes editor for the

across the right

-µìüÁÉ Cìďüã Ú ì¿ 8ãĉµüã ĉÉìã Ú ã® ìáø ü ĉÉ̵ G ěɁ

person, at the right

He also translated text from Spanish to English on ÿ¿® L®Ė¡ Ü ï®Ü Ó ÷ė÷ÿ®Ú ¸äó ¸äóÚ®ó wȽiȽ i®¡ó®ÿ óė

time, to give you

of State – then a law school faculty member – Dean

advice, guidance

day. Aguilar was also grateful for the interest other

eą÷Ðȷ đ¿ä÷® Ú®Üÿäó÷¿Âï ¿® ó®Ú®Ú ®ó÷ ÿä ÿ¿Â÷ professors showed in him and said he often thinks of

tragedy that resulted in many people losing their jobs and homes, and he recognized

kept me fed, kept me clothed and provided me a

and support.”

ÿ¿ ÿ ¿® đ ÷ ɖ¸äóÿąÜ ÿ® ÿä ĥܧ ɉ¿ÂÚ÷®Ó¸Ɋ at one of the agencies that could at least

Professors Ellen Jordan and Gabriel Wilner, both of whom have passed. ɖ ÂĢ®ó®Üÿ ÿÂÚ®÷ ÂÜ ėäąó Ó¸®ȷ §ÂĢ®ó®Üÿ ÿÂÚ®÷ ÂÜ

make an attempt to help right the ship.” In the aftermath of the

your career, you’re fortunate enough to come across the right

criticism of the SEC following the market crash, the SEC entered

person, at the right time, to give you advice, guidance and

into one of its most active periods in its history and worked to

support. I’ve been fortunate to have run into quite a few of them

ó®÷ÿäó® ¡äÜĥ§®Ü¡® ܧ ¡¡äąÜÿ ÂÓÂÿė ÂÜ Âÿ÷®Ó¸ ܧ ÂÜ ÿ¿® ¡ ïÂÿ Ó

ÂÜ Úė Ó¸®Ƚ L Üė ä¸ ÿ¿®Ú đ®ó® ÿ ÿ¿® w- Ó đ ÷¡¿ääÓȷɗ ¿® ÷ §Ƚ

markets.

First a Bush appointee and then an Obama appointee,

—Mauli Desai

Aguilar said he was the only commissioner who was at the SEC

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

33

GRADUATE PROFILES

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

Kate Jensen FINDING A HOME THROUGH THE UGA SCHOOL OF LAW When law school alumna Kate L. Jensen (J.D.’10) looks back at ¿®ó ÿÂÚ® ÿ ÿ¿® w- i¡¿ääÓ ä¸ D đ ÷¿® ¡ó®§Âÿ÷ Âÿ đÂÿ¿ ÓÚä÷ÿ everything from her current job to her current friend group, and even her mentors.

While studying, Jensen was part of the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team led by Dean Peter B. ɖ äɗ eąÿÓ®§º®Ƚ q¿® ÿ® Ú ÿó ЮӮ§ ÿä ®ÜÜ ȷ ą÷ÿó ȷ ¸äó ÿ¿® international competition and Jensen recalls the trip as one of her most memorable parts of law school.

She also served as a research assistant for Hosch aó丮÷÷äó Däó Ƚ eÂܺ¿ ܧȷ ÿ® ¡¿Âܺ ÷÷Â÷ÿ Üÿ ¸äó -®äóºÂ Athletic Association Professor David E. Shipley and a member of the -µìüÁÉ G ě jµĚɵě.

Now, Jensen is an associate as well as a registered lobbyist at Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, D.C., where ÷¿® ÷ﮡ ÓÂĜ®÷ ÂÜ ĥÜ Ü¡Â Ó ÷®óĐ¡®÷ ïäÓ¡ė ܧ ó®ºąÓ ÿäóė compliance.

“I think my favorite part is the advocacy piece, like in litigation when you get to stand up in the courtroom, make your argument and then respond to what opposing counsel is telling you. We get to do that piece without going through discovery,” she said of her job. “We go directly to the decision-makers with our case and educate them on our issues. … When you see somebody really understand and then nod their head in agreement with what you’re suggesting in ÿ®óÚ÷ ä¸ ïäÓ¡ėȷ ÿ¿ ÿɚ÷ §®ĥÜÂÿ®Óė ÿ¿® ®÷ÿ ï óÿȽɗ Jensen said the general negativity surrounding D.C. and the government is challenging. However, she chooses to focus on the positives and day-to-day matters, saying she takes ïó§® ÂÜ ÐÜäđÂܺ ɖ¡äÜ÷®Ü÷ą÷ ®ÿđ®®Ü §ÂĢ®ó®Üÿ ÂÜÿ®ó®÷ÿ÷ happens all the time.”

In the midst of her tenure at Steptoe & Johnson, Jensen ÷®óĐ®§ ÷ Íą§Â¡Â Ó ¡Ó®óÐ ¸äó wȽiȽ Â÷ÿó¡ÿ äąóÿ @ą§º® e¡¿ ó§ W. Story (J.D.’78) from 2012 to 2014.

Jensen said Story is “one of the most thoughtful, balanced thinkers” she has “ever seen, lawyer or non-lawyer. He has an amazing ability to really step back, consider all sides and

34

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

“When you see somebody really understand and then nod their head in agreement with what you’re suggesting in terms of a policy, that’s definitely the best part.” in that process treat everyone involved fairly and with respect.

He’s how you want everyone in the legal profession to be. He’s the ultimate model of what a judge should be, and certainly what we should all aspire to in the practice of law.” i¿® ÷¿ ó®§ ÿ¿ ÿ iÿäóė ïÓ ¡®÷ Óäÿ ä¸ ¡äÜĥ§®Ü¡® ÂÜ ¿Â÷ ¡Ó®óÐ÷ and he gives them a lot of independence. “It’s very much a collaborative process with him though … so it is a great learning experience and it makes you have a tremendous sense of pride in what you’re contributing to the chambers and to the judge’s work.” @®Ü÷®Ü ÷ § ¿®ó Ó đ ĥóÚ đ ÷ ÿ¿® ɖ ºº®÷ÿ ¸ Üɗ ä¸ ¿®ó clerkship. She added that the experience taught her the importance of a balanced perspective and has made her a better lawyer-lobbyist.

Crediting her current network of friends and her career to ÿ¿® i¡¿ääÓ ä¸ D đȷ ÷¿® ÷ § ÿ¿ ÿ ¿®ó Șȕ ¡Óä÷®÷ÿ ¸ó®ܧ÷ ó® ÓÓ School of Law graduates. “I feel like my time at Georgia really prepared me to get the job I have and to be successful at the ĥóÚ äĐ®ó ÿ¿® Ó ÷ÿ ®Âº¿ÿ ܧ ¿ Ó¸ ė® ó÷Ƚɗ i¿® ÷ § ¿®ó ®Ėï®ó®ܡ® ÿ w- đ ÷ ɖïó¡®Ó®÷÷ɗ ܧ §ą® ÿä the “reasonable” cost of her legal education, she feels she was not tied to a career path or “saddled with an insane amount of debt.” This has inspired her to donate to the Law School Fund, mentor a law student and serve on the Law School Association Council as secretary.

“That feeling – that personal connection – whenever you contribute to the school is what makes it worth it. I will support Georgia Law for the rest of my life,” she said.

—Mauli Desai

Dean Bo Rutledge addresses the attendees of the law school’s awards luncheon, where the Young Alumni/Alumnae of Excellence Award and the Distinguished Service Scroll Awards were presented. Photo by Ian McFarlane.

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton (J.D.’91) spoke with students in Assistant Professor Sandra Mayson’s Criminal Law class before receiving his Distinguished Service Scroll Award later in the weekend’s festivities.

ALUMNI/ ALUMNAE WEEKEND

The School of Law’s Fifth Annual Alumni/Alumnae Weekend, held March 29-30, included a keynote address

by U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones (J.D.’87) at the Order of the Coif induction ceremony, a luncheon where four members of the law school community were recognized, the annual Equal Justice Foundation Auction as well as opportunities for students to connect with law school graduates and legal leaders.

Graduates from the Class of 2018 were inducted into the Order of the Coif. Present for the ceremony were: (l. to r.) U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones (J.D.’87), who delivered the keynote; Blake Ogden; Ryan Giles; Tyler Sandifer; Ryan Swindall; Garrett Hollis; Benjamin Aqua; Holly Boggs; Jared Magnuson; Shreya Desai; Evan Dunn; Rachel Thompson; Michael Aune; Elizabeth Rawlings; Steven Zavodnick and Associate Professor Lisa Milot, who inducted the students. Not pictured: Courtney Smith Bass, Lauren Lutton, Pfeiffer Middleton, Kenneth Pilgrim, Ryan Swirsky and Nicholas Tait.

Board of Visitors member Beth CChandler h ndl ha dler (J.D.’88) (left) and first-year student MaryCarter Stewart are all smiles at the School of Law’s Leadership Circle reception, which was held this year at the Georgia Museum of Art.

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

35

PREPARE. CONNECT. LEAD.

DSS Awards AMOS, MELTON AND PAYNE RECEIVE TOP HONORS The School of Law recognized three

minded problem solver and a go-to

individuals for their service during the

person – someone who was working on

school’s Fifth Annual Alumni/Alumnae

everything important that was going on

Weekend. Kathelen V. Amos (J.D.’82), Harold

in the company. … She was a model for

D. Melton (J.D.’91) and William Porter

us all as a working executive with small

“Billy” Payne (J.D.’73) received the Law

children, as a parent to adults, through

School Association’s highest honor – the

every season – even those unimaginable

Distinguished Service Scroll Award – for

ones – showing her tremendous strength

their outstanding dedication and service to

and unshakable faith as an example,” she

the legal profession and the law school.

added.

Amos worked in private practice for two

Melton was appointed to the Georgia

ė® ó÷ ®¸äó® ÍäÂÜÂܺ Ħ ¡ ÷ ÷ÿ Ģ ÿÿäóÜ®ėȽ

iąïó®Ú® äąóÿ ė -äĐȽ iäÜÜė a®ó§ą®

After becoming deputy counsel in 1992, she

in 2005 and became the court’s chief

was responsible for the company’s public

justice in 2018. Prior to joining the

and media relations, corporate philanthropy,

court, he served as executive counsel to

shareholder services department and

Perdue, representing the governor on

eventually corporate advertising. She

legal issues covering the entire scope

®¡ Ú® ÿ¿® ÂÜ÷ąó Ü¡® ¡äÚï Üėɚ÷ ĥó÷ÿ

of state government. In this role, he

female executive vice president in 2001.

helped safeguard Georgia’s interests in

iÂÜ¡® äģ¡Â ÓÓė ó®ÿÂóÂܺ ¸óäÚ Ħ ¡ȷ ÷¿® ¿ ÷

water rights disputes with Alabama and

remained the senior relationship advisor

Florida, and he actively participated in

đÂÿ¿ ÿ¿® Ħ ¡ Ü¡®ó ®Üÿ®óȷ ܧ ÷¿®

§ÚÂÜÂ÷ÿó ÿÂäÜ ®Ģäóÿ÷ ÿä §Đ Ü¡® ÿ¿®

ïó®÷®ÜÿÓė ÷®óĐ®÷ ÷ ïó®÷§®Üÿ ä¸ ÿ¿® Ħ ¡

delivery of criminal justice services in the

Foundation. In 2012, Amos embarked on a

state.

second professional endeavor as a registered Üąó÷®ȷ đäóÐÂܺ ÂÜ ÿ¿® äÜ¡äÓäºė ĥ®Ó§Ƚ As chair of the School of Law’s Board of

Before serving as executive counsel, Department of Law under two attorneys general where he dealt with issues ranging

Scholarship, contributed a lead gift to the

from the creation of the Georgia Lottery

law school renovation, helped initiate the

äóïäó ÿÂäÜ ÿä ÿ¿® §ÚÂÜÂ÷ÿó ÿÂäÜ ä¸

Rebecca Hanner White Scholarship and,

Georgia’s tobacco settlement. Prior to

along with the Daniel P. Amos Family

Ó® ĐÂܺ ÿä ÍäÂÜ ÿ¿® -äĐ®óÜäóɚ÷ Vģ¡®ȷ ¿®

Foundation, established the First-Start

đ ÷ ÷®¡ÿÂäÜ Ó® §®ó äĐ®ó ÿ¿® äÜ÷ąÚ®ó

Scholars Program which will transform

Interests Division. Melton currently sits

the legal education experience for many of

on the board of Atlanta Youth Academies

ÿ¿® Ó đ ÷¡¿ääÓɚ÷ ĥó÷ÿɏº®Ü®ó ÿÂäÜ ¡äÓÓ®º®

as well as on the national and local boards

graduates.

of Young Life, which he previously served

executive vice president and general counsel ä¸ Ħ ¡ȷ ïó®÷®Üÿ®§ Úä÷ đÂÿ¿ ¿®ó đ ó§Ƚ “Her reputation was impeccable,”

Deputy General Counsel at the Atlanta Independent School System Santhia Curtis (J.D.’91) presented Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton (J.D.’91) with his award.

Melton spent 11 years in the Georgia

Visitors, she endowed the Kathelen Amos

Audrey Boone Tillman (J.D.’89),

Aflac Foundation President and former UGA School of Law Board of Visitors Chair Kathelen Amos (J.D.’82) (left) received her honor from Audrey Boone Tillman (J.D.’89), the executive vice president and general counsel of Aflac.

as a volunteer leader of its ministries for 11 years. i Üÿ¿Â DȽ ąóÿÂ÷ ɋ@Ƚ ȽɚȞȖɌ ïó®÷®Üÿ®§ Melton with his award. She is currently

qÂÓÓÚ Ü ÷ § ä¸ Úä÷ɚ ¡ ó®®ó ÿ Ħ ¡Ƚ ɖNäÿ

the deputy general counsel at the Atlanta

just as a brilliant lawyer but as a reasonable-

Independent School System.

Read Morton (J.D.’73), a retired partner of the firm Burr & Forman, gave Centennial Holding Corporation Chairman Billy Payne (J.D.’73) (left) his DSS recognition.

Photos by Ian McFarlane.

36

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

Presently, he holds the position of chair

“He truly is a great UGA and law

long friendship, Curtis told Melton that

of the Centennial Holding Corporation,

school supporter,” Morton said of Payne.

“borrowing the words of [his] mentor, the

đ¿Â¡¿ ÷ﮡ ÓÂĜ®÷ ÂÜ ÿ¿® ¡òąÂ÷ÂÿÂäÜ Ü§

“… He’s given in so many ways that

late Justice Harry Hines, ‘you’re still as shiny

management of multi-family properties. He

are behind the scenes. He also strongly

as any penny.’

also serves on the boards of Altec, Workday

supports the mission of the law school in

ܧ D® óĥ®Ó§Ƚ

addition to helping [Dean Bo Rutledge].

Remarking on their three-decade-

ɖ@ą÷ÿ¡® L®ÓÿäÜ ®Ė®ÚïÓÂĥ®÷ ÿ¿® òą ÓÂÿ®÷ that [make you] wish there were more people

Among his many accolades are being

He’s been a major force behind the

like him,” she added. “… As impressive as his

inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of

Morton and Payne Scholarship Fund that

ïó丮÷÷ÂäÜ Ó ¡¡äÚïÓÂ÷¿Ú®Üÿ÷ ó®ȷ ÷ ®òą ÓÓė

Fame as well as receiving the Olympic Order

we created in the 1990s.”

as impressive is his dedication to the youth of

in Gold, a Distinguished Service Award from

the state of Georgia. He has a long history of

the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-

one attribute that stands out about

investing in youth. … He believes that youth

Violent Social Change, the Distinguished

his longtime friend: “There are many

don’t care what you know until they know

Community Service Award from the Atlanta

things, truly, that are admirable about

that you care.”

Urban League, the Georgia Governor’s

Billy Payne and what he’s done in this

International Lifetime Achievement Award,

world but I will say of all the traits that

president and CEO of the Atlanta 1996

the Theodore Roosevelt Award – the highest

I really hold the dearest for Billy is his

Centennial Olympic Games. He was the

honor bestowed by the NCAA – and the

thought that his family is paramount in

ĥó÷ÿ ï®ó÷äÜ ÂÜ Ú䧮óÜ VÓėÚï¡ ¿Â÷ÿäóė

Distinguished American Award presented by

®Đ®óėÿ¿Âܺ ¿® §ä®÷Ƚ q¿®ó®ɚ÷ Üä òą®÷ÿÂäÜȽɗ

ÿä Ó® § ¿ä÷ÿ ¡Âÿėɚ÷ äóº ÜÂĜÂܺ ®Ģäóÿ

the National Football Foundation.

Payne is most notable for his role as

from bid to closing ceremony, from 1987

However, Morton said there was

C. Read Morton Jr. (J.D.’73)

to 1997. After the Olympics, he served in

presented Payne with his honor.

leadership positions with NationsBank, PTEK

Morton is a retired partner of the

Holdings, WebMD and Gleacher & Company.

ĥóÚ ąóó ʖ +äóÚ ÜȽ

Ball receives Young Alumni/ Alumnae of Excellence Award The School of Law’s Young Alumni/Alumnae of Excellence Award was presented to Mercedes G. Ball (J.D.’09).

Created by the law school’s Young Alumni/Alumnae Committee, this award recognizes an outstanding young graduate of the law school who gives gifts of time or talent to the law school community or community at large.

Young Alumni/Alumnae of Excellence Award recipient Mercedes Ball (J.D.’09) (left) received her honor from Augusta Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Audrey Lewis (J.D.’10). Photo by Ian McFarlane.

The award was presented to Ball by Audrey A. Lewis (J.D.’10), an assistant district attorney for the Augusta Judicial Circuit.

hearings. She also worked as a lead trial attorney representing indigent individuals in criminal proceedings at a metro-Atlanta law firm.

Ball currently ensures attorney compliance with the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct as the Consumer Assistance Program assistant director at the State Bar of Georgia.

Ball is an active volunteer and serves as the executive director of the Sister2Sister Mentoring Program, a DeKalb County and Fulton County Juvenile Court diversion program that focuses on developing court-involved teen girls into purpose-driven young women. She is also vice president of the Junior League of DeKalb’s Community Council. In 2018, she pitched and launched the DeKalb Saturday Scholars Initiative, a literacyfocused Saturday school, through a partnership with Junior League, the DeKalb County Solicitor General’s Office and Oak View Elementary School.

Previously, she was a child advocate attorney at the DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center, where she holistically represented the interests of children who had been abused, abandoned or neglected in civil court proceedings, mediations, panels and administrative

ADVOCATE 2019 University of Georgia School of Law

37

School of Law Athens, Georgia 30602-6012 www.law.uga.edu

Jere W. Morehead UGA President president@uga.edu Kelly Kerner UGA Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations kkerner@uga.edu Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge School of Law Dean borut@uga.edu

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