Page 34 - Briefcase V36 Number 1
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        UHLC HONORS PROFESSORSHIP DONORS AT PLAQUE                 betterment of our systems of forensic science and our legal system,”
        UNVEILING CEREMONY                                         Thompson added.
                                    Alumni and friends of the University   The opening speaker was Casarez, chair of the board of directors at the
                                    of Houston Law Center who have   Houston Forensic Science Center, which is Houston’s independent forensic
                                    helped fund a number of named   laboratory. She discussed the progress the center has made, including its
                                    professorships were recognized with   efforts to battle wrongful convictions.
                                    donor plaques at a presentation at the   The second topic focused on the role of prosecutors in uncovering wrongful
                                    Law Center. The new plaques can be   convictions. The speaker was Inger Chandler, the former chief of the
                                    found in the breezeway between the   Conviction Integrity Unit of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
                 Professorship Donors’ Wall  Blakely Advocacy Institute and the   The third topic, “Investigating Past Convictions to Redress Wrongful
                                    Dean’s Suite.                  Convictions Due to Unreliable Forensic Evidence,” was led by Robert
        “I recognize how important it is to show gratitude for those who have made   Wicoff, chief of the Appellate Division of the Harris County Public
        a significant difference in the life of the Law Center,” Dean Leonard M.   Defender’s Office.”
        Baynes said in his welcoming remarks. “A number of alumni and friends of
        UHLC provided funding for six named professorships. These professorships   Lastly, the Honorable Judge Barbara Hervey addressed the role of the Texas
        are crucial for the Law Center to recruit and retain our very talented faculty.   Criminal Justice Integrity Unit in providing leadership on statewide efforts
        The faculty are the life blood of the institution by teaching our students how   to correct wrongful convictions caused by unreliable forensic evidence,
        to be lawyers.                                             as well as in providing educational programs. Hervey serves on the Texas
                                                                   Court of Criminal Appeals.
        “The Law Center is forever grateful for the generosity of these donors who
        have invested in our faculty so they can continue to be excellent teachers and   The visit was sponsored by the Kazakh Ministry of Justice and the
        scholars. These professorships are really important to our faculty. It gives   World Bank.
        them an honorary named professorship that lets people know that they are
        held in very high esteem in the profession.”               ASTROS GENERAL COUNSEL TOUTS ECONOMIC
        Honored contributors of the following professorships are:  BENEFITS OF WORLD SERIES WIN DURING UHLC PANEL
        Andrews Kurth LLP (Professor Craig Joyce), Mike & Teresa Baker (Professor               The positive effects of Houston
                                                                                                ending its championship drought
        Emeritus Jordan Paust), Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, L.L.P. (Professor Doug               in professional sports, among other
        Moll), Houston Intellectual Property Law Association (Associate Dean                    sports-related topics, were discussed
        and Professor Greg Vetter), Law Center Alumnae & Friends — (Professor                   at a program titled, “Life After the
        Barbara Evans and Professor Sandra Guerra Thompson), and Leonard B.                     World Series: Impacts on Houston
        Rosenberg Family & Friends — (Professor Darren Bush)                                    and the Greater Community” at the
        Baynes noted that the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association                     University of Houston Law Center.
        Professorship will eventually be renamed to honor Professor Paul Janicke,               “One of the great things about the
        who once held the professorship.                                                        Law Center and the University
                                                                                                of Houston is we can bring great
        CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS                                                   speakers in to discuss topical issues,”
        ADVANCEMENTS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE TO                                                     Dean Leonard M. Baynes said in his
        KAZAKHSTANI DELEGATION AT UHLC                                                          welcoming remarks. “For many of us,
        Developments in criminal law were the focal point for the U.S.-Kazakhstan               this year has been a year of ups and
        Roundtable Discussion on Texas Innovations in Forensic Sciences at the                  downs. We had Hurricane Harvey,
        University of Houston Law Center.                                                       which was a very difficult situation.
        Opening remarks were delivered by Associate Dean Greg Vetter and                        Then we had the Astros winning a
                                                                                                world championship which made
        Professor Sandra Guerra Thompson, director of the Criminal Justice                      everyone excited and put Houston on
        Institute.                                                                              the map.”
        “We in Houston as a city and at the Law Center are very, very proud of what             The program began with a panel that
        Houston has done with forensic science,” Vetter said. “We’re particularly               included Mark Arnold, a partner at
        proud of Professor Thompson’s role in transforming and improving                        Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP, Law
        forensic science in Houston and also our visiting Professor (Nicole)                    Center Professor Tony Chase, and
        Casarez’s role as well.”                                                                Giles Kibbe, general counsel of the
        “We hope the discussion fostered an exciting dialogue for the mutual     World Series trophy  Houston Astros.

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