November 2009

Federalist Society speaker argues ‘More guns = Less crime’

Do more guns equal less crime? University of Maryland research professor John R. Lott believes the equation works, and he will explain his stance on Wednesday in a lunchtime talk hosted by The Federalist Society.  more…

IPSO speaker to share ‘Trademark War Stories’

John “Rocky” Rawls brings Trademark War Stories to the Law Center Tuesday as part of an ongoing lecture series sponsored by the Intellectual Property Student Organization. more…

DeGuerin brings courthouse expertise to Law Center

Dick DeGuerin has represented everyone from cult leaders to accused Ponzi scammers.   On Tuesday, Nov. 10, he visits the Law Center to share pointers with the next generation of lawyers.  more…

Wine & Cheese Reception

Kick back and relax at the annual Wine & Cheese Reception hosted by the Hispanic Law Students Association on Nov. 6. more…

Frankel Lecture explores transition of presidential power

The Houston Law Review’s 14th Annual Frankel Lecture is set for Friday, Nov. 6 – complete with leading constitutional experts revisiting the 25th Amendment and its provisions for the transition of presidential power.  more…

IPIL & HIPLA examine the future of the patent system

The Institute for Intellectual Property & Information Law (IPIL) and the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association will host a CLE symposium  -- The Future of the Patent System – on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Houstonian Hotel. Speakers include Prof. Glynn Lunney of Tulane University Law School and Prof. Tim Holbrook of Emory University Law School. Seminar panelists will  include judges of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and U.S. District Court for the Southern District, professors and practicing attorneys. Attendees earn 2.5 hours of CLE credit. more...

When was the last time you saw a federal appeals court in action?

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is coming to the Law Center to hear cases Nov. 3 more…

Visiting judge reflects on international justice

International justice takes center stage on Nov. 2 when the Law Center’s Criminal Justice Institute hosts a judge who sat at the criminal tribunal of the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.  more…

Health Law & Policy Institute explores H1N1 legal issues

With the porcine H1N1 flu again threatening, the Law Center’s Health Law & Policy Institute decides to revisit legal issues related to the bug. more…

Ecuadorian judges get intro to American law

The first stop for a group of visiting Ecuadorian judges was the Law Center as they began an eight-day tour through the American legal system. more…

Panel offers insights to domestic violence

Panelists exhort students to step up and help victims of domestic violence. more…

Hippard Winners Feast on ‘Burger Heaven’

Rob Jackson and Tesha Robaszkiewicz successfully defended a “Burger Heaven” manager in the case of the missing bank deposit to win the ’09 Hippard Open Mock Trial Competition. more…

Professors spar over issues of racial equality

UT Professor Lino Graglia and Law Center Professor Peter Linzer examined a mixed bag of Supreme Court rulings and the general state of racial equality in America . more…

Hard times, for some

Experts examine why top execs are faring well while most Americans are finding it tough going in the current economic downturn. more…

Baylor offers brainy legal seminar

The law and the brain is the subject of a Baylor College of Medicine seminar series open to Law Center students and practicing attorneys. more….

Adjunct Guzman named to the Supreme Court of Texas

Gov. Rick Perry appoints Law Center Adjunct Professor Eva Guzman to the Supreme Court of Texas. more…

October 2009

Law Center Information Session

The Law Center is hosting an information session for foreign attorneys on Friday, Oct., 30, starting at 1 p.m. in Room 213 BLB.  Topics to be covered include the admissions processes and curricula for the J.D. and LL.M. programs at the Law Center; the steps needed to earn a license to practice law in the United States; and ways to establish residency in Texas.  To reserve your space, contact the Office of Admissions at 713.743.2280, or RSVP to lawadmissions@uh.edu.  

Prof. Evans to put research privacy under microscope

Prof. Barbara J. Evans will serve on a blue-ribbon panel examining health research privacy as part of a two-year project funded by the National Institutes of Health. more…

Court Charge: Don’t go to trial without one

The last phase of a trial -- the court charge -- should be first in planning strategy, noted trial lawyer Don R. Riddle ’66 advised Law Center students. more…

‘Prosecutor of the Year’ John Bradley ’85 named to state panel

‘Prosecutor of the Year’ John Bradley ’85 named to head state forensics panel looking at arson evidence that factored in controversial capital case and execution. more…

(Dallas Morning News Photo)

People’s Lawyer: New look, same great service!

The People’s Lawyer has a new look to its website, and it’s getting rave reviews for its style and useful information. The People’s Lawyer himself, Associate Dean Richard Alderman, says the site had 220,000 “hits” from 43,000 visitors in September. Check it out…

Chloe Walker takes seat on justice committee

Second-year student Chloe Walker will help focus attention on the legal needs of underserved communities and causes in her new role on the National Advisory Committee of Equal Justice Works. more…

Mock trial….real BBQ

The final round of the ’09 Hippard Open Mock Trial Competition will be held Wednesday in Krost Hall -- but first a little barbeque hosted by The Advocates. Dinner for the first 75 attendees will be served outside at 6 p.m., followed by the competition.

FLLM student wins scholarship to help his people

Judges for the $5,000 AIPN scholarship were impressed with the altruistic reasons that brought John Darko from Ghana to the LL.M. program at the Law Center.   more…

Federal Appeals Court Twice Cites Dean & Dodd Book

Federal appeals court cites Modern Licensing Law (2008) – co-authored by Law Center Dean Ray Nimmer and  Jeff Dodd ’79 -- in its decision on a damage award in a patent case. more…

Intelligent design: What it is, and isn’t

Professors David Crump and Arnold Loewy sort out the differences among intelligent design, evolution and creationism, and decide the subject is too important not to be discussed in the classroom. more…

Alum named to district court

Law Center alumna Lisa Jarrett ‘93 has been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the 436th District Court of Bexar County to serve until the next general election. Jarrett of San Antonio is a former Bexar County assistant district attorney and currently has a criminal defense practice and serves as a part-time juvenile law referee. She also is co-founder of Helpers Under the Bridge of San Antonio.

GLBT Equality Remains Elusive Goal

Winner of landmark gay rights case sees positive changes, but tells Law Center students that more battles remain to be fought for full GLBT equality.    more…

Thompson to Examine Wrongful Convictions

Criminal Law Prof. Sandra Guerra Thompson is joining a state advisory panel to study wrongful convictions and recommend ways to prevent them. more…

Looking for help, First Circuit turns to Business and Tax Law Journal

When the First Circuit Court of Appeals went looking for an expert source, they came to the right place: the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal. more…

Fingers Crossed, Law Center Students Hope for Good Outcomes from OCI

Is the recession over?  The 800-lb. gorilla of a question hung in the air as more than 80 employers conducted over 1,300 interviews with Law Center students during Fall OCI . more…

September 2009

At the Intersection of Islamic and Texas family law

A distinguished panel on Friday will sort out cultural and religious issues that come into play when Islamic law and Texas family law collide. The ACLU Foundation of Texas is sponsoring a CLE seminar at the Law Center that is free for students. more…

Texas Tech vs. UH: An intelligent debate

Before they meet on the gridiron Saturday, Texas Tech and UH will collide in a battle of words in a debate between law professors on “Intelligently Designing a Course on Intelligent Design.” Prof. David Crump of the Law Center and Prof. Arnold Loewy of Texas Tech Law will square off on Friday, Sept. 25, from 12:30-1:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. The debate is sponsored by the Federalist Society and, in addition to food for thought, barbecue from Pappas will be served.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Food for thought, fun and…more food!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a week-long series of events, including speakers, a movie and a night of Salsa, sponsored by the Hispanic Law Students Association. more…

Former program director named Law Librarian of Congress

Roberta I. Shaffer, one-time director of two Law Center programs, will oversee the world’s largest collection of law books – more than 2.6 million volumes -- as Law Librarian of Congress. more…

Long term paper earns award

Erin K. Ferris ‘2L took a look at long-term care insurance for the elderly and won a top spot in the NAELA writing competition. more…

Adjunct Guzman Named Latina Judge of the Year

On the heels of Sonia Sotomayor becoming the first Hispanic to take a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, the Hispanic National Bar Association has named Law Center Adjunct Professor Eva Guzman, justice of the 14th Court of Appeals, Latina Judge of the Year. more…

AIPN Win Earns a Thai (Trip)

It’s a free trip to Thailand for Law Center LL.M. graduate Karla Urdaneta, one of two winners in the 2009 Student Writing Competition sponsored by the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.

Tips on Tap for Job Seekers

Author Ari Kaplan visits the Law Center at noon on Wednesday to share tips and techniques for landing a job in law.  more…

Nimmer Voted ‘Best Lawyer’ in IT/IP Law

His peers have spoken – and Law Center Dean Ray Nimmer has again made the list of The Best Lawyers in America in his dual specialties of Information Technology Law and Intellectual Property Law.   The American Lawyer has described the annual publication as “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice” in the United States.   

Chandler goes Prime Time

People who criticize television for offering only lowbrow options must not be watching the Numb3rs series on CBS.   The recent plot from drama included a spatial and dynamic model of jury behavior developed by Prof. Seth Chandler at the Law Center.  Chandler developed the model to illustrate how jurors may vote to convict or acquit based on a random variable affected by factors such as actual guilt or innocence of the defendant and jurors’ predilections toward convictions.  But television being what it is, Numb3rs took Chandler’s research concept and used it to illustrate a plot that centered on jury tampering.  Chandler has completed more than 100 interactive demonstrations on the Mathematica platform, and anyone can tune in to his Spatial Dynamic Jury Model by clicking here.  

AUGUST 2009

Baker takes FCC seat

Law Center alumna Meredith Attwell Baker ’95 has earned unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate to the five-member Federal Communications Commission board. Baker was nominated by President Obama in June after serving as the acting head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a high-profile post she left in January. Under her watch, the NTIA distributed $40 coupons to millions of consumers to help offset the cost of “converter boxes” prior to the government-mandated switch to all-digital television broadcasting. Before joining the NTIA as a senior adviser in 2004, Baker was vice president of Williams Mullen Strategies and worked as director of congressional affairs at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. She also previously worked in the legislative-affairs office at the State Department. More…

Velardo helps orchestrate slavery battle

The Law Center’s Diana Velardo ’01 is turning a Houston concert hall into a fundraising grandstand to fight modern-day slavery.  more…

Dow & Book No. 3 Take Center Stage at Brazos Event

Books during the first week of school are usually assigned rather than signed – but Prof. David R. Dow plans more of the latter at 7 p.m. at Brazos Bookstore on Tuesday, Aug. 25.  more….

Crump Supports Former AG

When a columnist with the Houston Chronicle took issue with Texas Tech University for hiring former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Prof. David Crump of the Law Center was motivated to take pen and paper in hand. “Getting Gonzales is a coup. Congratulations to Texas Tech,” Crump declared in a letter to the newspaper. Crump noted how the “visible Republican” is an inviting target for people who never participated in decisions involving security and justice, and any law school would be proud to hire a lawyer who worked his way up to become a partner at Vinson & Elkins and engineered sophisticated mergers and acquisitions. Crump also scoffed at the columnist’s accusation that Gonzales’s resume fails to confirm teaching ability. “He was a justice of the Texas Supreme Court. He’d be an expert teacher about the executive branch of the United States government,” Crump concludes. Click here to read Crump’s complete brief in defense of the former AG.

Juvenile records can return to hassle, hinder and haunt young adults who are striving to improve their lives – and the Center for Children, Law & Policy at the Law Center strongly advocates sealing these records. To help families understand the steps they need to follow to seal a juvenile record, the C4CLP is sponsoring four public forums during August at locations throughout Houston. The two-hour sessions are free, and refreshments will be served. Click here for details.

His peers have spoken – and Law Center Dean Ray Nimmer has again made the list of The Best Lawyers in America in his dual specialties of Information Technology Law and Intellectual Property Law.   The American Lawyer has described the annual publication as “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice” in the United States.   

Juvenile records can return to hassle, hinder and haunt young adults who are striving to improve their lives – and the Center for Children, Law & Policy at the Law Center strongly advocates sealing these records. To help families understand the steps they need to follow to seal a juvenile record, the C4CLP is sponsoring four public forums during August at locations throughout Houston. The two-hour sessions are free, and refreshments will be served. Click here for details.

JULY 2009

Things are heating up on the global warming front – and the Center for Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law at the Law Center is teaming with the Global Energy Management Institute at the C.T. Bauer College of Business to help sort through the issues. The two think-tanks are sponsoring a high-level conference on Monday, July 20, to cover emerging regulatory systems here and in Europe. The conference features Professors Praveen Kumar, Craig Pirrong, and Victor Flatt – three national experts on cap-and-trade initiatives and their potential economic impacts. The four-hour CLE conference convenes at 8 a.m. at the UH Hilton Hotel, and special pricing is available for government employees and EENR Center sponsors. Prof. Marcilynn Burke with the EENR Center notes how the timing is perfect for an information-filled conference: when the U.S. Senate returns from its summer break, lawmakers are expected to tackle the global warming bill advanced by Sen. Barbara Boxer and her committee. Click here to register for the July 20 conference.

If you want to impress the Texas Legislature, it’s always nice to bring along a few highly placed friends. Prof. Craig Joyce did exactly that when he engineered a recent Austin fly-by to win stronger support for Alzheimer’s research. Joining him at the Texas Capitol from right to left (directionally, not politically) were retired SCOTUS Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; retired Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips; and Debbie Hanna, former chair of the University of Houston Board of Regents who now leads the Alzheimer's Association-Capital of Texas Chapter.

Special awards are among the highlights of the annual meeting of the State Bar of Texas -- and this year’s gathering in Dallas puts the spotlight on five members of the Law Center community. Professor David Dow earned the SBOT’s Civil Rights Award for his work with the Texas Innocence Network and his defense of more than 100 inmates on Death Row. The late Professor Joe Vail, who founded the Law Center’s Immigration Law Clinic in 1999, received the Texas Young Lawyers Association Outstanding Mentor Award. Vail, who died in 2008, previously earned the SBOT’s Pro Bono Award, the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award, and the National Immigration Project’s Carol King Award. Two members of the Class of 2009 – Micaela Natalie Alfaro and LaTasha Mabry – earned Women & Minority Scholarships from the SBOT Intellectual Property Law Section. Richard ‘Racehorse’ Haynes ‘56 was named the “Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer” by the Texas Bar Foundation.

The Law Center’s Tom Oldham is a recognized expert in family law – and he sees clouds on the horizon for gay couples who marry in other states and then elect to move to states where gay marriage is not sanctioned. In an op-ed published in the Houston Chronicle, Oldham cites the lack of “definitive answers” to a series of questions: What happens to health insurance coverage if (for example) a gay couple moves from Massachusetts to Texas? If the marriage breaks down, could one partner file for divorce in Texas? And if the couple elects to leave Texas – where state law provides that a gay marriage is “void” – and returns to Massachusetts, would they once again be married? Oldham suggests that states could create an exception to their general rule of non-recognition, and warns about the legal complexities that will continue to attend the questions that surround same-sex marriage. Click here to read his complete editorial.

JUNE 2009

To mark the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, the State Bar of Texas launched an essay contest for law students built around a simple theme: “A Legacy of Liberty.” Two $1,000 scholarships were up for grabs – and Law Center students Troy Taylor and Christopher Blocker emancipated both of them. “Those who are trained in our profession should reflect on President Lincoln’sexample and be aware that our skills make us some of the most effective advocates for the interests of citizens everywhere,” Taylor wrote. Blocker lauded the 16th President for transforming the Declaration of Independence into a powerful document that ultimately conveyed protections to “unintended segments of society,” including disenfranchised and segregated groups. “In Lincoln, then, American jurisprudence found its ‘new birth of freedom,’” Blocker concluded. Click here to note and long remember the essays that shared top honors in the SBOT competition.

Houston Lawyer Profiles Anne Chandler

The current issue of Houston Lawyer magazine has hit the streets, and it includes a powerful portrait of a true local hero: the Law Center’s Anne Chandler ’98, who currently serves as the interim director of the Immigration Clinic. “Chandler is part of a legacy of upholding and improving immigration law at the University of Houston Law School Immigration Clinic,” extols Hannah Sibiski, a Fulbright & Jaworski associate who wrote the profile. “Professor Chandler has spent her law career honoring the creed (to preserve and improve our legal system) in an extremely difficult area of the law where the remedies are limited and the recipients have no right to counsel. She is an immigration lawyer, teacher, and volunteer.” Sibiski noted that Anne and other lawyers had the honor of working with Professor Joe Vail, the founder of the Immigration Clinic who passed away in 2008. “Through Professor Chandler and all those who Professor Vail taught and trained, his legacy lives on,” the author concludes. Click here for a complete copy of the profile.

Anyone scanning the tropics for early signs of an approaching disaster should call off the hunt. According to Law Center Prof. Seth Chandler, the Texas Legislature has sown the seeds of a major calamity with a new bill that purports to “reformulate” the state’s approach to coastal insurance. In an op-ed published in the Houston Chronicle, Chandler decries lawmakers for seducing coastal homeowners with a “mirage” of minimal premium increases that will evaporate after the next severe storm hits Texas. The insurance expert calls on Gov. Perry to convene a special session of the Texas Legislature to create a financially responsible system of insurance. “Such a session may reopen wounds thought to be healed,” Chandler writes, “but surgery now is far preferable to letting the deficiencies in the current bill fester until the next major storm strikes our state.” Click here to read the full editorial.

$500k program helps grads
as they wait for bar results

Dean Ray Nimmer has announced a $500,000 program to help ’09 graduates weather the current economic environment while they await results of the bar exam. In addition to other benefits, the program provides stipends for new graduates selected for Public Interest Fellowships, and offers a 50% scholarship for new grads pursuing an LL.M. degree during the Fall Semester. Note: the application deadline for the LL.M. program has been extended to June 15, 2009. Click here for complete details on the New Graduates Assistance Program.

Olivas says court nomination
means Latinos matter

The nomination of a Latina to the U.S. Supreme Court brings Prof. Michael Olivas to tears. Read his CNN commentary.

Paust thinks Cheney
committed criminal acts

Did former VP Dick Cheney participate in a criminal conspiracy by authorizing “waterboarding” and other interrogation methods? The Law Center’s Jordan Paust believes Cheney’s actions may constitute criminal acts – and he outlines his views in an editorial published in Jurist. Click here to read more.

Keynote speaker implores grads
to ‘live greatly in the law’

Former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Tom Phillips told Class of 2009 graduates to deal with the bad economy by carving out a niche and “living greatly in the law.”  more…

Excellence honored
with Dean’s Awards

Dean Ray Nimmer honored more than 60 Law Center students with Dean’s Awards Thursday in a ceremony at Krost Auditorium. Students were nominated and voted upon by faculty members. A reception followed in the Hendricks Heritage Room. Click here for a list of award winners.

May 2009

Expert warns students
of credit card culture

Today’s “spend and debt” society is testimony to the perils of easy credit. The genesis of our current predicament is documented in vintage advertising shared with Law Center students by Dr. Robert D. Manning, consumer credit expert and author of Credit Card Nation. more…

Even as they hit the books to prepare for their “final” final exams, the Class of 2009 is finding time to leave a lasting mark on the Law Center. Contributions to this year’s Class Gift have topped $25,000, and operators are standing by to accept additional pledges. Click here to join the list of soon-to-be alumni who are making an important statement as they prepare to receive their law degrees.

Illuminating the law for students and the rest of the masses makes for a rewarding career – but only if you know how to wedge your way into a faculty position.  On Sat., May 16, Law Center Prof. Aaron Bruhl and his team will conduct a two-hour workshop for Law Center graduates and students interested in becoming professors of law.  The free workshop starts at 10 a.m. in Room 109 BLB.

Tom Phillips, retired chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, will be the keynote speaker at Friday’s commencement exercises for the Law Center’s Class of 2009. (Click here for the program of events starting at 2 p.m. at Hofheinz Pavilion.) Throughout a judicial tenure of nearly a quarter century, Justice Phillips was an advocate for judicial selection reform and court reorganization and moderation. Joining him on the dais will be Dean Ray Nimmer and two Law Center professors who will preside over hooding ceremonies: John Mixon and Douglas Moll. A reception at the Law Center will conclude the day’s schedule.

Consumer Law program
draws 80 attorneys

A CLE program – “Starting and Running a Successful Consumer Law Practice” – drew more than 80 attorneys to the Law Center where they heard state and national experts tackle issues ranging from the economics of starting a practice to legal malpractice, marketing and technology. The free program was presented by the Center for Consumer Law in cooperation with the Houston Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

UH Tabs Dr. Clarkson for
$25k research grant

The University of Houston’s GEAR program tabbed Dr. Gavin Clarkson of the Law Center for a $25,000 grant to examine Indian/non-Indian justice. more…

Extreme flu measures
won’t be an easy sell

The laws are there, but putting them in place if the swine flu outbreak turns into an epidemic won’t be easy, participants learn at a Law Center summit. more

“Pinkie Tuscadero and a friend went to a party at a fellow law student’s meager abode…” And from that simple opening statement, Seth Gagilardi and Patrick McKee (seated) launched their winning campaign in the Law Center’s John Black Moot Court Competition.  Judges for the final round included U.S. District Judge David Hittner (S.D. Tex.), Ryan D. McConnell (U.S. Attorney's Office), and Law Center Professor Sandra Guerra Thompson.  Second place among the 31 teams entered went to Erik Locascio and Alyssa White, with Gagliardi earning “Best Speaker” honors.

World Court judge spent
boyhood in Nazi camps

Judge Thomas Buergenthal, the United States judge on the International Court of Justice in The Hague, will discuss his life and career on Thursday, May 7, in a conversation at the Westin Galleria with Alan Crain of the World Affairs Council of Houston. The two will explore the impact his boyhood in Nazi death camps has had on his beliefs and world view. The program is held in partnership with the Law Center and the Holocaust Museum of Houston. Click here for details.

Prosecutor: Big money
in gruesome blood ‘sport’

The leader of Houston’s new Animal Crimes Section tells Law Center students about the mongrels who pursue the lucrative and gruesome “sport” of dogfighting. more…

April 2009

Honoring the Fab Four

Four of the Law Center’s finest are retiring after decades of teaching and inspiring young lawyers. Alumni and friends are invited to join the Law Center community on Thursday, April 30 in honoring professors Sidney Buchanan, Stephen K. Huber, Thomas Newhouse and Irene Merker Rosenberg. Click here for details on the event.

The Advocates Annual Banquet closed a busy year of advocacy competitions and activities.  The evening saw Richard Alderman toasted as the guest of honor, and 10 students were inducted into the Order of the Barristers.  Click here for a complete program of the evening’s activities and honorees.

‘Make a difference,’
alum tells students

John Sullivan ’87, who devotes countless pro bono hours to helping indigent immigrants, tells Law Center students to “make a difference.” more...

Show and tell

Prof. Seth Chandler explains one of his computer “demonstrations” – interactive visualizations of concepts -- to an intent audience in The Commons. These “demonstrations” visualize and analyze a variety of subjects from lawsuit settlement projections, insurance, land use, mergers and the death penalty to baseball, genealogy and Shakespeare. Chandler recently completed a two-year project with publication of his 100th computer model. His accumulated works can be sampled at http://demonstrations.wolfram.com.

The Health Law & Policy Institute at the Law Center is hosting a summit on Wednesday, April 29, to brief local and state officials about legal issues that may arise from the current outbreak of swine flu. The summit is open to all, and runs from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Topics to be covered include the authority of government officials to enforce isolation and quarantine, limit public gatherings, close public facilities, and other approaches that may be recommended.

Leave a lasting legacy

The Class of 2009 Gift Committee has set a goal of $65,000 for improvement of facilities and technology throughout the Law Center. The UH Law Foundation will process the Class of 2009 Gift through the Facilities Endowment Fund administered by the dean and the Law Center. In the interests of full disclosure (and to possibly fan competitive flames), last year’s class pledged $60,000. Click here to download and complete a pledge form.

‘Student Demonstration’
Planned Monday, April 27

“Student demonstrations” used to mean something else. This one promises to be more contemplative: On Monday, April 27, Prof. Seth Chandler marks the publication of his 100th computer "Demonstration” with an exhibit covering some of his subjects such as constitutional law, torts, land use, sports and Shakespearean characters. The one-hour presentation starts at 2:30 in the Commons. more…

Still time to pledge or walk

The Law Center team led by Nadia Mosqueda will march from Robertson Stadium at 9 a.m. on Sunday as the March for Babies hits the pavement to raise funds for research into premature births, the No. 1 cause of death among newborns. There is still time to make a pledge or join the March of Dimes effort.  For details, check Nadia’s home page.

Opening statement is
key to trial skeleton,
Fullenweider says

Family law attorney Donn C. Fullenweider ’58 gave Law Center students some tips on what he considers the most important part of any trial – the opening statement. If a trial has a skeleton on which various parts are placed, he says, the key to winning is laying the groundwork with that first component. more

Chron blogger wowed
by People’s Law School

Mary Flood of the Houston Chronicle reports she was “wildly impressed” with the quality and quantity of material shared during the latest edition of The People’s Law School hosted by the Center for Consumer Law. Click here to read her complete blog entry about how free access to legal experts is a “fabulous gift” during tough times.

Worried about the size of our carbon footprints? You’re not alone. Click here to see how the Law Center’s Victor Flatt, the A.L. O’Quinn Chair in Environmental Law, analyzes the prospects for carbon-emissions offsets under a bill before the House energy committee

U.S.-Mexico Relations
in the time of Obama

Drugs. Violence. Economics. Immigration. How will strained relations between the United States and Mexico fare under the Obama Administration. Two of Mexico’s top international lawyers will offer their perspectives April 21, 2009 at a luncheon discussion moderated by Prof. Stephen Zamora. Click here for more information and to register.

‘Credit Card Nation’
author addresses
America’s addiction

Don’t miss this one!

Robert D. Manning, author of Credit Card Nation and director of the Center for Consumer Financial Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, will warn of the hazards of consumer credit April 20, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. in Room 109 BLB.

Law Center hosts
‘How to…’ workshop
for immigrants

Immigrants can get answers to all of their questions from how to obtain a drivers license to how to apply  for citizenship at a free immigration workshop sponsored by the Law Center Saturday.  more…

The Law Center community is mourning the passing of Betty Bradley LL.M. ’06. “The CLE program under her direction was consistently one of the premier programs in quality – if not the premier program – in Texas and indeed the nation,” said Prof. David Crump. A specialist in bankruptcy law, Bradley practiced with Porter & Hedges and Andrews & Kurth before joining the Law Center. A memorial service was held Monday in Irving, Texas.

War hero’s ‘welcome’ led
to civil rights breakthroughs

A little known case involving a Medal of Honor winner prompted Professor Michael A. Olivas to further research the expanding role of Mexican American attorneys in post WWII Texas. Olivas, who examined the case in a widely praised book, believes the national attention focused on the treatment of Staff Sgt. Macario Garcia nearly 65 years ago led to a series of civil rights breakthroughs for Mexican Americans. more…

MALDEF counsel
is HLSA keynoter

Nina Perales, Southwest Regional Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, is the keynote speaker for the annual Spring Banquet of the Hispanic Law Students Association on Thursday, April 9. The reception starts at 7 p.m. at the Doubletree Downtown, 400 Dallas Street. Click here for reservation or contact Amy Tellez, artellez@central.uh.edu

Houston-area alumni can play an important role in convincing admitted students to “sign on the dotted line” to enroll in the Law Center.  The setting is perfect: a 5:30 p.m. mixer with Dean Ray Nimmer on Thursday, April 9, in the Williams Tower offices of Nathan Sommers Jacobs.  Click here for details. 

Law Center and ADL Co-Host
Evolution v. Creationism Panel

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the Irvine School of Law at the University of California, left, and U.S. District Judge John E. Jones of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, joined moderators Marvin Nathan ’66 and Dean Ray Nimmer in a discussion of “Evolution, Intelligent Design and Religion in the Schools.” The program was sponsored by the Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League-Southwest Region. more...

Feeding the multitudes

The Law Center’s Christian Legal Society held its annual “Feeding the 500” feast Wednesday – and the enchiladas, empanadas and salsas immediately found an appreciative audience of students, faculty and staff.

First-year students Beckilyn Skidmore (left) and Jennifer Siepel were among the happy attendees who welcomed both repast and mid-Wednesday respite.

Problem with your landlord? Or a neighbor? Time to start thinking about a will? The People’s Law School at the Law Center can explain your rights on these and many other issues involving the law.The next People’s Law School session is on Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to noon.  It’s free – and you can click here for more information and to register.

HJIL lecture focuses on sanctions policy

The Houston Journal of International Law presents its 7th annual lecture Thursday, April 2, featuring A.B. Culvahouse, managing partner of O'Melveny & Myers. He formerly served as White House Counsel to President Reagan and senior assistant to U.S. Sen. Howard Baker, and he holds 35 years of experience in U.S. sanctions policy, foreign commerce laws, local regulations, and customs restrictions.

March 2009

Care package items
needed for the troops

Show your support by pitching in some much needed items for care packages being put together for the troops overseas. more…

Law Center alumni are cordially invited to join Dean Nimmer in Austin on Tuesday, March 31, to mix and mingle with admitted students. The two-hour event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Austin Hotel and includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Graduating law students are always looking for the best way to leave their mark. To identify the best solutions, students should plan to attend a “Class Gift” information session that meets on Monday, March 30, in Ancillary Building 7B.

The Honorable Lee H. Rosenthal has strong views on the career-enhancing value of judicial clerkships – and she will hold court for Law Center students during a luncheon presentation on Monday, March 30. Currently a U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Texas, Judge Rosenthal previously clerked for the Honorable John R. Brown in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The luncheon talk starts at noon in Room 240 BLB.

Boom times return to Houston on Saturday, March 28, when the Law Center’s 33rd Annual Gala & Auction convenes at the Hilton Americas at 6 p.m. This year’s theme – “Black Gold” – celebrates Houston’s historic role at the center of the energy universe. Click here for additional information, and RSVP for tables and individual tickets to 713.743.2201.

Law Center and ADL
Co-Sponsor March 27 Event

Dean Nimmer and Marvin Nathan ’66 will moderate a special two-hour program on “Evolution, Intelligent Design and Religion in the Schools” starting at 10:30 a.m. at Krost Hall on Friday, March 27. Featured speakers will be Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of the Irvine School of Law at the University of California; and Judge John E. Jones, U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The program includes two hours of CLE credit and is co-sponsored by the Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League-Southwest Region.

One of the Law Alumni Association’s most popular events – “Decanting the Law of Wine” – returns to Houston on Wednesday, March 25. Steven M. Abbott ’87 will moderate an informative presentation by Lou Bright and Dacota Haselwood, and a $50 registration fee covers wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and one hour of CLE credit. Seating is limited and prompt RSVPs are encouraged! Click here for more information.

The Dallas office of Haynes & Boone will host a mix-and-mingle reception for alumni and admitted students on Tuesday, March 24, from 6-8 p.m. 

Thompson discusses
Tulia drug sting

Professor Sandra Guerra Thompson, director of the Law Center’s Criminal Justice Institute, will discuss the film Tulia, Texas after its advance screening at Rice University tonight as part of the PBS Community Cinema series. The film examines the effects of a 1999 drug sting that went wildly out of control. more…

Barons tab McElvaney
‘Professor of the Year’

The Order of the Barons has honored Rick McElvaney by naming him “Professor of the Year” at the Law Center. More…

The 3L team of Joseph Herbster and Donald Crump (left) topped an 18-team field to win the Law Center’s Blakely Butler Moot Court Competition which centered on evidence collected during a traffic stop and jury instructions presented in a burglary case. The team of Dawn Jenkins 2L and Andrew Hufford 3L (right) took second place, and Crump was recognized as the “Best Speaker” in the competition. Judges in the final round were U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jeff Bohm, Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina and U.S. District Judge David Hittner.

Dr. Clarkson honored
for ‘Deal of the Year’

Dr. Gavin Clarkson received the “Deal of the Year” award from the Native American Finance Officers Association for leading a Texas Indian tribe to financial independence from commercial banks. More…

By eye and hand, local artist Katherine Houston did her level best to brighten up the Commons with two abstract paintings she donated to the Law Center. Houston paints her vibrant acrylics on sheets of Plexiglas, creating from the back while viewing from the front. Click here to see more of her work.

Don’t be a stranger
to potential jurors,
defense attorney says

Chip Lewis ’94 offers students some tips on jury selection, including how to make jurors identify with you and – by association – your client. More...

March for Babies: A team of Law Center women is power training for the “March for Babies” fundraiser on April 26 – and there are two easy ways to help sponsor their efforts. Either click here to register electronically, or drop your check off at Team Captain Nadia Mosqueda’s office in 104 TUII. The March of Dimes annual event kicks off at Robertson Stadium at 9 a.m., and TC Mosqueda reports that all walkers are welcome to help the team raise funds to prevent premature births.

The U.S. Supreme Court remanded a case where a UH Immigration Law Clinic student attorney – Elizabeth Lee, under the supervision of Clinical Supervising Attorney Thomas Perkinson – argued to the Fifth Circuit that an individual should not be barred from asylum or withholding of removal if his persecution of others was involuntary. Wow! More…

Web Site Update:

Animal control officers carefully enticed the larger version of Shasta the Cougar away from the splash page of the Law Center’s website, and the big cat placidly returned to her more traditional activities. Dean Ray Nimmer thanked students for voicing their opinions about the beta site, and said student input will help point the way to new web solutions.

February 2009

Great storytellers make
Great trial lawyers

Adjunct Professor Jim M. Perdue Sr. ’63 shared with Law Center students some of the storytelling techniques he has used to win over juries for 40 years. more...

Raises IP Issues

Double-digit increases in GDP are the norm in China – making the country a hotbed for commercial activity.   The IPIL Institute at the Law Center will take aim at the intellectual property issues that accompany this growth in the annual Baker Botts Lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 24.  More

Law Center Team
Wins Best Brief Award

The Pace Environmental Law Competition is the mother of all moot court tourneys, with 72 teams competing for the national title in New York. One winner has already been decided, with the trophy for “Best Brief” going to the Law Center team of (from left) Sarah Williams, Matt Riley and Elizabeth Pletan.

No room to negotiate:
3L team is best

James Garrett and Randi Revisore, both 3L, negotiated their way to the prize in the 2008 Lorance & Thompson competition. Read More

Hombrès y mujeres, mark your calendars for  Monday, Feb. 23

The PBS American Experience premieres “A Class Apart” - a one-hour program examining a landmark Supreme Court decision that brought to an end Jim Crow-style discrimination against Mexican Americans. Professor Michael A. Olivas is among the experts interviewed. Read

Children, Law and Disasters collaboration well-received

The Center for Children, Law & Policy is already in discussion regarding a second printing of its newest publication.

Paust to Obama: Do the Right Thing!

Professor Jordan Paust says President Obama erred by not adding more teeth to his executive order banning torture and inhumane interrogation of detainees. Read

Interest in public interest

Law Center students dressed in their business finest mingled with 40 representatives of non-profits and government agencies during the “Public Interest Table Talk” in the Commons. Robin O’Neil, 1L, chats with Georgianna Braden of Howrey, LLP, about the firm’s summer pro bono programs.

HBF Honors Newhouse

The Houston Bar foundations minced no words when it honored the Law Center's Tom Newhouse for "Longevity of Exemplary Service to the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center."

Tip o' the Stetson

Stetson University has chosen the Law Center's Michael A. Olivas for its first ever award for excellence in higher education law.