News & Updates

From thirty-one applicants for an upcoming supreme court vacancy, the judicial nominating commission submitted the names of seven candidates for possible appointment to Governor Deal.

A NALP survey of lawyers suggested that government and public interest lawyers were more likely to participate in clinics and other experiential classes than law firm associates.

The June 2012 edition of Selection Snapshots is now available.

Yesterday, the National Law Journal featured a special report on law school innovators, including the Georgetown University Law Center; Luke Bierman, Associate Dean for Experiential Education and Distinguished Professor of Practice of Law at Northeastern University School of Law; and Robert J. Rhee, a professor who co-authored “The Law School Firm."

The judicial commission called for the discipline case against Justice David Prosser to be sent to a panel of three court of appeals judges. The role of such a panel is to recommend to the supreme court what, if any, disciplinary action should be taken, but it is unclear whether the supreme court must call for a panel’s consideration of the case.

At a recent campaign appearance, Justice Barbara Pariente cautioned that a November vote not to retain her and two fellow justices who are also on the ballot would allow Governor Scott to make "partisan judicial appointments."

The content of fliers used in a trial court judge's reelection campaign raised ethical concerns, leading some to call for an inquiry by the state commission on judicial conduct. The fliers tout recent decisions in which the judge sided with oil drillers against the EPA and feature images of Rush Limbaugh.

In response to concerns expressed by senate Democrats about a supreme court nominee’s lack of courtroom experience, Governor Christie noted that the state bar association found the nominee to be qualified, but the nominee was ultimately rejected by a 7-6 vote. He would have been the first openly gay justice and the third African-American to serve on the supreme court.

Governor Corbett attracted criticism with his first judicial appointment since taking office, choosing his close friend and chief of staff without consulting court officials and lawmakers as is the custom. The appointment requires senate confirmation.

Educating Tomorrow's Lawyers' newest partner, Georgetown University Law Center has historic strength in linking the practical with the theoretical thereby producing lawyers with a broad range of skills in addition to substantive expertise. Georgetown…

Professor Ben Madison ( view his course portfolio here) argues that students continue to develop "ethical traits and values" while in law school and that professors should not take a "hands-off" approach. What we, as professors, are doing is…

Professor Brian Tamanaha, who authored Failing Law Schools, penned an op-ed for the New York Times on the debt and joblessness of recent law school graduates and points to two culprits: American Bar Association accreditation standards and the federal…

In the Spring 2012 edition of its quarterly publication, ABOTA features Chapter 3 of Rebuilding Justice: "The Importance of Trials."

Following Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton’s announcement that she will retire in December with two years remaining in her term, the editorial board of the Cleveland Plain Dealer called for Governor Kasich to use a committee to screen and recommend qualified candidates for appointment to her seat. Such committees are used to fill mid-term vacancies in eleven states that elect their judges.

The judicial nominating commission is considering applicants for the vacancy that will be created by the July retirement of Justice George Carley. Since taking office, Governor Deal has made an unprecedented number of appointments to fill mid-term judicial vacancies.

Bill Henderson takes a look at a question that has been making the rounds: What is the answer to high student debt? After dispensing with a number of attempted answers to the question, he says: My own belief is that educational quality is the next…

This week The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel shared its interview with the President of Lawyers for Civil Justice, Wayne B. Mason, who spoke to the need for broad-based rule reform “to help achieve the consistency, uniformity, and predictability that is necessary to reduce the costs and burdens of modern litigation.”  

Two recent opinion pieces in the New York Times discussed the reforms recommended by Michigan’s Judicial Selection Task Force, which included better disclosure requirements, open primaries, and campaign oversight committees. Three of the seven seats on the state supreme court are on the ballot this fall.

A federal judge struck down an aspect of the public financing program for appellate judges that provides rescue funds to judicial candidates who are outspent by privately funded candidates. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a similar provision in Arizona’s public financing program in 2011, on the grounds that it infringed upon freedom of speech.

Professor Andrew Schepard was among our first ETL Fellows. Here, his school recognizes the honor. He teaches Family Law with Skills with, a course he co-created with Professor J. Herbie DiFonzo. It is based on the Carnegie Model and incorporates the traditional content of a family law course with court observation and extended simulation exercises.