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News & Events

Cecil on Attorney's Fees in Bankruptcy

Professor Michelle Arnopol Cecil has authored A Reappraisal of Attorneys’ Fees to be published in the Kentucky Law Journal. The article examines whether a debtor's attorneys' fees should be afforded priority treatment in the debtor's bankruptcy proceeding. A pre-publication version of the article is available on SSRN. Professor Cecil's publications are listed here.

Reuben Quoted in WSJ Consumer Arbitration Story

Professor Richard C. Reuben was recently quoted on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in Turmoil in Arbitration Empire Upends Credit-Card Disputes. Read the article here.

Strong on Jurisdictional Discovery in Federal Courts

Professor S.I. Strong’s latest article, Jurisdictional Discovery in United States Federal Courts, will be published in Volume 67 of the Washington and Lee Law Review ___ (anticipated 2010). A draft version is available on SSRN.

Press Coverage of HATTS Trial at the Missouri Theatre

Read about the mock historical trial of United States v. John Brown performed by the Historical and Theatrical Trial Society of the University of Missouri School of Law at the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts on October 15, 2009. Covered by the Columbia Daily Tribune here and the Missourian here.

Ninth Circuit Cites Oliveri Fair Housing Act Article

In Committee for Community Improvement v. City of Modesto, Judge Louis H. Pollak quotes from Professor Rigel C. Oliveri’s article Is Acquisition Everything? Protecting the Rights of Occupants Under the Fair Housing Act, 43 Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review 1, 32-33 (2008). The decision filed on October 8, 2009 is here. The article is on SSRN. Professor Oliveri, who was recently appointed Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development, is the author of several works on housing discrimination listed here.

Oliveri Article Selected for Presentation at AALS Annual Conference

Professor Rigel C. Oliveri’s paper "Discriminatory Housing in the Age of the Internet: Lessons from craigslist" was selected by the AALS Sections on Property Law and Real Estate Transactions for presentation at the Annual AALS Conference in New Orleans. The paper will also be published in the Indiana Law Review.

Erickson Article Blaming the Brain Explores Emerging Field of Neurolaw

Professor Steven K. Erickson has authored an article , "Blaming The Brain", to be published in the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science, and Technology. The article is now available on SSRN here.

HATTS Trial at the Missouri Theatre, October 15

The Law School’s Historical and Theatrical Trial Society takes center stage at the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts on October 15th at 7:00 pm when it presents U.S. v. John Brown. Admission is free. View the theatre announcement here. To learn more about John Brown, visit the Mid-Missouri Civil War Project created and maintained by HATTS faculty advisor, Professor Frank O. Bowman III, and MU law students Michael Henderson, Bradley S. Dixon, and Michael Spillane here.

Law Library Hosts MAALL 2009 Conference, October 15 – 17

The Law Library is proud to host the 34th annual meeting of the Mid-America Association of Law Libraries ("MAALL"). We welcome back Dean Stephen D. Easton, University of Wyoming College of Law, who will deliver the keynote address on The Use of Historic Trials in Legal Education. The Law Library and MAALL are sponsoring this year's HATTS trial, U.S. v. John Brown, to be held at the Missouri Theatre. The performance is open to the public on Thursday evening, October 15th. The performance starts at 7:00 pm. The MAALL conference brings together law librarians from 18 law schools in the Midwest, from firms, and court libraries. View the complete conference schedule here.

Beck To Receive Angels in Adoption Award in Nation’s Capital

Professor Mary M. Beck will be honored in Washington, D.C. next week along with other individuals and groups who have made extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need. Professor Beck was nominated for this prestigious award by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill. View the names of the 2009 winners here and a Columbia Daily Tribune article about Professor Beck’s efforts that led to her award here.

Strong Articles Cited in U.S. Supreme Court Briefs

Two of Professor S.I. Strong's international class arbitration articles have been cited on the merits in briefs to the United States Supreme Court in Stolt-Nielsen SA v. AnimalFeeds Int'l Corp. The first, "Enforcing Class Arbitration in the International Sphere: Due Process and Public Policy Concerns," 30 University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law 1 (2008), was cited in the Brief for Petitioner on the merits and by two amicus briefs (the American Arbitration Association and the Association for Ship Owners). The second, "The Sounds of Silence: Are U.S. Arbitrators Creating Internationally Enforceable Awards When Ordering Class Arbitration in Cases of Contractual Silence or Ambiguity?" 30 Michigan Journal of International Law 1017 (2009), was cited in draft form in the amicus brief of the Association for Ship Owners. The briefs can be found here. Respondents' briefs are not yet due.

Professor Strong has also published two case comments – one on the Supreme Court decision in Arthur Andersen v Carlisle and one on the decision to grant certiorari in Stolt-Nielsen SA v. AnimalFeeds Int'l Corp. – published in Arbitration News, which is put out by the International Bar Association. The comments can be found in the September 2009 issue here.

Professors Litton, Reuben, Wells, and Uphoff Honored at Law Day

Professor Paul J. Litton and Professor Christina E. Wells received the Shook Hardy & Bacon Excellence in Research Award. This award was established in 1993 by alumni and friends in the Kansas City firm bearing its name and is presented each year to the full-time faculty who demonstrates excellence in research based on a published article from the preceding year. Litton was recognized for his article "Non-Beneficial Pediatric Research and the Best Interests Standard: A Legal and Ethical Reconciliation," published in 8 Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics 359 (2008). Wells was recognized for her article "Privacy and Funeral Protests," published in 87 North Carolina Law Review 151 (2008).

Professor Richard C. Reuben was awarded the Loyd E. Roberts Memorial Prize in the Administration of Justice. This prize was established in 1979 by the family and friends of Loyd E. Roberts to honor the MU law professor or student who has made the most significant contribution to improving the administration of justice, either within Missouri, nationally or internationally during the preceding year.

Professor Rodney J. Uphoff was presented with the Husch Blackwell Sanders Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award. This award was established in 1980 by alumni and friends in the Kansas City firm bearing its name and is presented each year to the full-time faculty member who, during the preceding 12 months, established a record of distinguished achievement in teaching. The recipient of the award is selected by the dean upon advice and recommendation of a committee of the Missouri Law Review editorial board.

Rule on Wind Energy and Solar Access Laws

Professor Troy A. Rule recently published "A Downwind View of the Cathedral: Using Rule Four to Allocate Wind Rights", 46 San Diego L. Rev. 207 (2009). He has also authored "Shadows on the Cathedral: Solar Access Laws in a Different Light", to appear in 2010 U. Ill. L. Rev. ___ (forthcoming 2010). Both articles apply a law & economics model to analyze issues at the intersection of renewable energy law and property law. The articles are available on SSRN here and here.

MU Law Celebrates Tim Heinsz Bow Tie Day on Wed. Sept. 2

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Summer in South Africa: Informational Meeting Sept. 2

The informational meeting will be held Wednesday, September 2nd at 1:00 p.m. in classroom 5 of the Law School.

In 2010, South Africa will host the World Cup and the atmosphere in Cape Town and everywhere else in South Africa next June and July will be electric. The entire country is gearing up for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who will be coming to SA for the most watched global sporting event in the world. Accordingly, we have revised our study abroad program for next year so that we can give students an affordable opportunity to experience the excitement of the World Cup and all that Cape Town has to offer while earning 6 credits in a stimulating academic program. One of the special aspects of this program is that 10-15 south African students will be participating in two of the courses. This ABA-accredited summer study-abroad program will last from June 9 – July 10 and will consist of three two-credit course in different areas of comparative law.

Air travel into South Africa for next June will fill up extremely quickly. Thus, we are encouraging students who want to study in South Africa next year to commit as quickly as possible. For more information and an application, please visit the Study Abroad: Cape Town, South Africa page.

Strong Article on International Class Arbitration Published

Professor S.I. Strong’s article on international class arbitration, entitled "The Sounds of Silence: Are U.S. Arbitrators Creating Internationally Enforceable Awards When Ordering Class Arbitration in Cases of Contractual Silence or Ambiguity," has just been published. It can be found at 30 Michigan Journal of International Law 1017. The piece is Professor Strong’s second article on international issues relating to class arbitration.

Bowman Article to Be Published in Chicago Law Review

Professor Frank O. Bowman has authored two new articles. "Debacle: How the Supreme Court Has Mangled American Sentencing Law and How It Might Yet Be Mended" will be published in Volume 77, Number 1, of the University of Chicago Law Review and is available on SSRN here. "Stories of Crime, Trials, and Appeals in Civil War Era Missouri" will appear in a symposium issue of the Marquette Law Review. Additional publications of Professor Bowman are available on his faculty publications page here.

Mavis T. Thompson ’90, Sworn In as National Bar Association President

The University of Missouri School of Law congratulates Mavis T. Thompson ’90, on becoming the 67th president of the National Bar Association. The National Bar Association press release is reproduced below.

On Friday evening, August 7 in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront's Sapphire Ballroom, the National Bar Association swore in its 67th President, Mavis T. Thompson. Introduced by NBA Executive Director Emeritus, John Crump as "one of the most dedicated, creative, compassionate persons I know," Thompson was installed as the leader of the oldest and largest national network of African American lawyers and judges.

Ms. Thompson of St. Louis, Missouri, is not only an attorney, and former citywide elected official, she is also a registered nurse, and an adjunct professor. During 2009 - 2010, she will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the 84-year old National Bar Association, the tenth woman to do so.

During her inaugural address, Thompson highlighted the relevance of the National Bar Association, and urged participation, "I challenge each of you to do your part and join a committee and provide creative solutions to further the goals and objectives of the National Bar Association. Don't let anyone ever tell you that the National Bar Association is not relevant. We were relevant in 1925 and will continue to be relevant as long as we provide opportunities - whether it is professional development, networking, focusing on the independence in the judiciary and diversity on the bench or services to our community through our election protection programs, pipeline initiatives, pro bono efforts and collaboration with our civil rights partners and others."

Thompson's address illuminated her theme, "Standing on Shoulders, Keeping the Promise." She stated, "NBA, we have an urgent duty to fulfill by continuing a tradition of excellence as jurists and as African Americans, who have inherited a great legacy, a powerful history and an awesome responsibility to share our talents." President Thompson's words reflected her commitment to "keeping the promise," and instilling a vision to continue the legacy of the National Bar Association.

Founded in 1925, the National Bar Association is the nation's oldest and largest national network of minority attorneys and judges. It represents approximately 44,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students and has over 80 affiliate chapters throughout the United States and around the world. The organization seeks to advance the science of jurisprudence, preserve the independence of the judiciary and to uphold the honor and integrity of the legal profession. For additional information about the National Bar Association, visit www.nationalbar.org.

Mitchell on the Scope of Retroactive Amelioration

Professor S. David Mitchell’s article "In With the New, Out With the Old: Expanding the Scope of Retroactive Amelioration,” is forthcoming in December 2009 in the American Journal of Criminal Law (University of Texas at Austin). The article was recently referenced on the Sentencing Law and Policy Blog and the Legal Theory Blog. A copy of the article is currently available on SSRN. Additional publications by Professor Mitchell are available on his faculty publications page.

Law School Welcomes New Faculty

Troy A. Rule joins the faculty as Associate Professor of Law. Previously Professor Rule practiced at K&L Gates LLP in Seattle where he focused primarily on commercial real estate transactions and wind energy development. He teaches Land Use, Sales & Leases, and Secured Transactions. Steven K. Erickson is Visiting Associate Professor of Law in 2009-10. Previously Dr. Erickson was the John M. Olin Fellow in Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He teaches Criminal Procedure, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility.

Journal of Dispute Resolution 2009-10 Associate Members

Congratulations to the following newly appointed Associate Members.

MELPR Announces 2009-10 Associate Members

Congratulations to the following newly appointed Associate Members of the Missouri Environmental Law and Policy Review.

Missouri Law Review 2009-10 Associate Members

Congratulations to the following new appointed Associate Members.

Crouch Cited by Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the NY Times

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently cited a working paper of Professor Dennis Crouch in its opinion. The paper involves a basic empirical analysis of administrative patent appeals. The majority refused to allow the patent applicant (Hyatt) to present more evidence in its appeal. The dissent, however relied upon Professor Crouch’s paper to argue that Hyatt's case was unique enough to allow new evidence. The case can be found at: Hyatt v. Doll, ___ F.3d ___, Docket No. 2007-1066 (Fed. Cir. 2009) at http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions/07-1066.pdf. The paper can be found at Understanding the Role of the Board of Patent Appeals in Ex Parte Appeals, University of Missouri School of Law Research Paper No 2009-16 (June 22, 2009), available at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1423922. The New York Times recently cited Professor Crouch’s blog, noting specifically that: Patently-O by Dennis Crouch is one of the most popular blogs on the subject of I.P. law. Read the Times article here and Professor Crouch’s blog here.

Strong Places Article in Peer-Reviewed Journal

Professor S.I. Strong’s latest article, "Research in International Commercial Arbitration: Special Skills, Special Sources," has been accepted for publication in The American Review of International Arbitration. The Review is a peer-reviewed journal (the only one of its kind in the U.S.) edited by Hans Smit and published out of Columbia Law School. The article is a follow-up to her book, Research and Practice in International Commercial Arbitration: Sources and Strategies, published by Oxford University Press. Professor Strong’s previous publications can be found on her University of Missouri faculty publications page.

Esbeck on Standing and the Establishment Clause

Professor Carl H. Esbeck’s article "Why the Supreme Court has Fashioned Rules of Standing Unique to the Establishment Clause" will be published in the October 2009 issue of Engage. The article is available on SSRN. Professor Esbeck’s publications are available on his University of Missouri faculty publications page, as are selected publications on his SSRN author page.

McGuinness Essay Selected for Yale Law Journal Online

Professor Margaret E. McGuinness’ essay W(h)ine, Old Bottles: A Reply to Professor Paulsen was solicited and then accepted as a response to Michael Stokes Paulsen, The Constitutional Power to Interpret International Law, 118 Yale L. J. 1774 (2009). The essay will appear in the inaugural issue of the Yale Law Journal Online this September and is currently available on SSRN. Professor McGuinness’ publications and additional writings can be found on her University of Missouri faculty publications page, on her SSRN author page, and on the Opinio Juris international law and international relations blog which she co-founded in 2005.

Litton on Sotomayor

Read Professor Paul Litton’s commentary in the Christian Science Monitor here.

Oliveri Appointed Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development

Professor Rigel C. Oliveri has been appointed Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development. She succeeds Thom Lambert who returns to full-time faculty duties this fall after much success in leading faculty hiring and elevating intellectual discourse in the Law School. As associate dean, Professor Oliveri will coordinate faculty development opportunities including the faculty colloquium series and speaker exchanges with other law schools. She will also Chair the faculty appointments committee. Oliveri has recently published work in the Vanderbilt Law Review and the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.

Reuben on Sotomayor

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MU Law Professor Named UW College of Law Dean

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Professor Bowman on Possible Impeachment of Federal Judge

Read Professor Frank Bowman’s piece in Slate on constitutional questions concerning the call for impeachment of 9th Circuit Judge Jay Bybee here.

MU Law Board of Advocates Congratulates 2009-2010 Candidates

Wall Street Journal Cites Missouri Law Review Symposium

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ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Conference Features MU Law Faculty, Staff, and Alumni

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution annual conference was held on April 15-18 in New York, NY. The following people affiliated with MU Law appeared on the program:

MU Faculty and Staff

Paul Ladehoff, the Center’s Director of Training Programs, will be on a panel entitled, "Paving the Way Home — It’s No Yellow Brick Road for Veterans or Their Families."

Prof. John Lande will be one of three speakers giving the Frank Sander Lecture, "Innovative Lawyering and Problem Solving: Competence, Professionalism, and Increasing Market Share" and will also be on panels entitled, "Collaborative and Cooperative Law in a Nutshell" and "Lessons from the Three Stooges: Exploring he Risks of Groupthink in Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Practice."

Prof. Jean Sternlight, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Senior Fellow of the Center, will be on two panels about reconciling international and domestic concerns regarding the fairness of arbitration.

MU Alumni

Alyson Carrel (J.D. ‘04), Center for Conflict Resolution, will be in a program entitled, "Who, What, Where, When and How: Dissecting the Use of Questions in Mediation."

Prof. Art Hinshaw (JD. ‘93, LL.M. ‘00), Arizona State University, is one of the organizers of a session entitled, "Law Professors’ Teaching Forum: Mediation Shop Talk."

Lynn Malley (J.D. ‘84, LL.M. ‘03), Creative Conflict Management Resources, will be on a panel entitled, "Paving the Way Home — It’s No Yellow Brick Road for Veterans or Their Families."

John Phillips (J.D. ‘71), Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP, who is a co-chair of the conference, will moderate a session entitled, "Around the World in 90 Minutes: Reports on the State of Mediation from the Far Corners of the Earth."

James Reeves (LL.M. ‘04), USAM-Midwest, will be on a panel entitled, "Scribbler, Scribe or Solicitor: The Mediator’s Role in Drafting Agreements."

Read more about the conference

Missouri AG Office Cites Professor Wells’ Article in U.S. Supreme Court Cert. Petition

Professor Christina Wells’ article, "Privacy and Funeral Protests" 87 North Carolina Law Review 151 (2008), was cited by the Missouri Attorney General’s office in its cert petition, filed on April 6, 2009, seeking Supreme Court review of the United States Court of Appeals 8th Circuit decision in Phelps-Roper v. Nixon. Read the 8th Circuit’s decision here (PDF). The petition is available in Westlaw’s SCT-Petition database and at 2009 WL 953629.

Professor Esbeck on “President Obama’s Faith-Based Office: Promise or Problems for Religious Social Service Providers?”

Professor Carl Esbeck recently debated Chris Anders, Congressional Legislative Director for the ACLU, on the topic of “Obama’s Faith-Based Office: Promise or Problems for Religious Social Service Providers?” at Duke University School of Law on March 23. The webcast is available here.

Robert M. O’Neil at MU Law on April 17

Robert M. O’Neil, director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression and an authority on the First Amendment, will be on campus this Friday. He will meet with faculty and students at the law school on Friday morning. Professor O’Neil was president of the University of Virginia from 1985-1990.

Professor Stacie I. Strong Presents Seminar on Her New Book, Research in International Commercial Arbitration: Sources and Strategies

Professor Stacie I. Strong will conduct a 90-minute phone seminar for ALI-ABA based on her new book, Research in International Commercial Arbitration: Sources and Strategies, published by Oxford University Press in April 2009. The first-of-its-kind book provides an insider's guide to the strategies associated with researching international commercial arbitration as well as detailed treatment of the unique sources of law used in this field. Different chapters discuss:

• What constitutes legal authority in international commercial arbitration and where it can be found;
• How experienced advocates use and present their research in international commercial arbitration;
• How international commercial arbitrators evaluate the weight of competing authority; and
• How to research common types of disputes

The book also includes a user-friendly bibliography of sources in international commercial arbitration to help practitioners find the materials they need. The bibliography includes tips on how each type of resource is used and where it can be found in electronic or printed form, thus helping to increase understanding in this complex area of law.

Providing practical guidance on a little-discussed topic, Research in International Commercial Arbitration: Sources and Strategies appeals to practitioners and students new to the field of international commercial arbitration as well as more experienced lawyers and academics looking to improve their knowledge of specialist sources.

The ALI-ABA phone seminar that is based on the book is entitled “Research Sources and Strategies in International Commercial Arbitration: An Insider’s Guide” and will be offered on Monday, April 13, 2009, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. Further information on the seminar can be found at this link: http://ali-aba.org/TSPKC10. Those who miss the live version of the seminar will be able to access an archived version of the talk through ALI-ABA.

BOA Congratulates Top Moot Court Oral Advocates

Top Oral Advocate
John Verkamp

Top 10 1L Moot Court Oral Advocates
Mary Cile Glover-Rogers
Lawrence Hall
Lawrence Hardwick
Ryan Hart
Lucinda Housley
Cynthia Juedemann
Austin Preston
Brent Rosen
Allison Singh
John Verkamp

Professor S. David Mitchell Receives Gold Chalk Award

Professor S. David Mitchell was recently honored as a 2009 MU Gold Chalk Award Recipient, presented by the Graduate Professional Council. The Gold Chalk Awards recognize professors who have made significant contributions to the education and training of graduate and professional students.

MU Law Diversity Committee Sponsors Town Hall Meeting on Affirmative Action

The MU Law Diversity Committee will sponsor a town hall meeting on Monday, April 6th, 1:00 – 1:50pm in the Hulston Hall Courtroom. The topic is “Affirmative Action in the 21st Century”. The meeting will be moderated by Paul Ladehoff, training coordinator for the Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution, and director of the MU Campus Mediation Service. Ladehoff also serves as a project leader in the MU Difficult Dialogues project, which is designed to stimulate rigorous intellectual inquiry, and to empower students to express opposing views respectfully and in the spirit of open mindedness.

Professor Stephen Easton Talks About His Recent Book – Attacking Adverse Experts

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WLA To Hold Charity Auction Friday, April 3

The Women’s Law Association will hold its Annual Auction on Friday, April 3, 2009 at the Columbia Country Club. Doors open at 6:30. There will be a Silent Auction 6:30 -8:30, and a Live Auction 7:00 – 9:30. All proceeds from the event will benefit The Shelter, Rainbow House, Happiness for Health, First Chance for Children, and the MU Law Family Violence Clinic. Tickets may be purchased in advance in the student lounge, or at the door.

CSDR Sponsors Dispute Resolution Symposium on Collaborative Governance

The annual CSDR Dispute Resolution Symposium was held April 2-3 in Washington in conjunction with the Center for the Study of Rulemaking of American University and the Section of Administrative Law of the American Bar Association. The topic of the symposium was "Collaborative Governance: The Future of Regulation." The program was organized by Professor Philip Harter who spoke on “What It Takes to Do It Right: 25 Years of Ruminations on Collaborative Governance.”

More Information

Missouri Court of Appeals to sit at MU Law School

The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District will convene court at the University of Missouri School of Law on Thursday, April 2, 2009, Chief Judge Thomas H. Newton announced today.

A three-judge panel consisting of Harold L. Lowenstein, Joseph M. Ellis and Lisa White Hardwick will hear oral arguments at Hulston Hall in four cases beginning at 9:30 a.m.., Newton said.

He explained that the cases are appeals from previously held trials in area circuit courts. The judges will hear attorneys argue whether the trials had errors, which should cause them to be retried, or the trial court's judgment reversed, he said. The judges will read written arguments before the court session, he added, and may interrupt the attorneys’ arguments with questions.

The three judges will recess sometime in between arguments to step down and discuss the court system and generally explain proceedings, Newton said.

The School of Law has become a regular stop for the Western District when it convenes court away from its headquarters in Kansas City. The Court has jurisdiction over appeals from trial courts in 45 counties which include all of northwest Missouri and most of central Missouri.

Lowenstein will preside over the proceedings in Columbia. He is the longest-tenured appellate judge in the state of Missouri, having been appointed to the appellate court in 1981. Previously, he served in the Missouri House of Representatives and practiced law in Kansas City. Ellis was appointed to the court of appeals in 1992. Prior to taking the bench, he practiced law for 21 years in Macon. Hardwick was appointed to the Western District in 2001. Previously, she served as a trial judge in Jackson County and practiced law for 14 years in Kansas City.

During the past eighteen years, the Court has held sessions in Chillicothe, Clinton, Columbia, Fulton, Gallatin, Huntsville, Independence, Jefferson City, Kirksville, Lexington, Liberty, Linneus, Macon, Marshall, Maryville, Nevada, Platte City, Richmond, St. Joseph, Savannah, Trenton, Tuscumbia and Warrensburg.

"It is important for the Court to convene oral arguments outside of Kansas City," Lowenstein said. "This gives individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see. We hope those attending will gain a better understanding of the Court's function.

View briefs here

Professor Reynolds Speaks About Building Trust

Professor Jennifer Reynolds recently spoke at a public training session at a Superfund site in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Prof. Reynolds addressed the topic of "building trust and resolving difference," with an emphasis on cultivating long-term relationships between contentious parties. The training was sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency through its Community Involvement University program for individuals involved in or affected by the Coeur d'Alene Basin Cleanup Project.

Professor Bowman "On Point" About Wall Street

Professor Frank Bowman was recently interviewed on NPR with Senator Chuck Grassley and Roger Parloff from Fortune magazine about criminal prosecution of greed on Wall Street. Listen to the broadcast here.

Second Year Law Student Wins Prestigious Google Policy Fellowship

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MU Law Welcomes Sandra Day O’Connor, Retired Justice, Supreme Court of the United States

Hon. Sandra Day O’Connor delivered the 2009 Earl F. Nelson Lecture at the University of Missouri-School of Law on February 27, 2009. The lecture was part of the 2009 Law Review Symposium, Mulling Over the Missouri Plan: A Review of State Judicial Selection and Retention Systems.

Press Coverage

MU Law Mock Trial Team Takes Honors

MU Law Board of Advocates congratulates law students Joshua Jones and Ben Hodges for reaching the semi-finals in the recent Regional Mock Trial Competition in Des Moines, Iowa. The BOA extends a special thanks to all faculty and students who assisted in the teams' preparations, including Dean Jim Devine, Professor Greg Scott, and Professor Steve Easton.

Al Capone Tried for St. Valentine's Day Massacre

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Legal Professionals Invited to Participate in Small Firm and Public Interest Expo

The Office of Admissions, Career Development, and Student Services will host its 4th Annual Small Firm and Public Interest Expo on Friday, March 13, 2009. This event is designed to expose law students to legal careers in government offices, not-for-profits and public interest agencies, the judiciary, and firms of 25 or fewer attorneys. The event includes a Networking Reception with Students, and a Complimentary CLE presentation with 2.0 hours Missouri Ethics CLE credit. All lawyers from these practice areas are invited to join us for this popular event. Please RSVP by Friday, February 20, 2009 to Lesley Nilges ( )

MU Law Professor’s Blog Receives High Marks from Practitioners

Patently-O, the popular patent law blog authored by Professor Dennis Crouch, was recently voted best in its category in the reader’s poll conducted by the ABA Journal. In fact, Patently-O received the second highest number of votes of all 100 of the best legal blogs, as chosen by ABA Journal editors.

The ABA Journal says, "We believe Patently-O’s claim that it’s the most popular patent law blog around. Author Dennis Crouch, a law professor at the University of Missouri, has de¬veloped a loyal community around summaries of key decisions or patent law cases of interest, as well as a job board and an event calendar. And last time we checked, Patently-O’s Facebook group had more than 800 members."

MU Law Moot Court Team Wins Honors

MU Law students Shameka Simmons (2L) and Terry James (3L) won “Best Petitioner’s Brief” in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, at the recent Mid-West Regional Conference of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). The team was coached by faculty member, Professor Erika S. Fadel.

Since its inception in 1975, the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition has been a cornerstone of NBLSA programming, offering high caliber competition to highlight oral advocacy and brief writing talents among law students nation-wide. Each year, law students compete within the six regional competitions, culminating in the top three teams from each region competing at the national level during NBLSA’s Annual Convention.

Law Mock Trial Teams Chosen

The Board of Advocates would like to congratulate the following Mock Trial Teams for being chosen to represent Mizzou in the Regional Mock Trial Competition:

Joshua Jones & Benjamin Hodges
Cole Bradbury, Carolyn Hamilton & Justin Smith

Good Luck at the Regional Competition!

2008-2009 Arbitration Team Places Second in National Competition

The MU Law Arbitration Team for 2008-2009 recently placed second at the National Arbitration Competition, after qualifying by placing second at regionals in November. This is the second year MU Law has competed in this competition. Team members this year included Cole Bradbury, Carly Duvall, Jeff McCarther, Claire McGuire, and Chelsea Mitchell. The team was coached by third year law student, Joe Schlotzhauer, and faculty coach, Tamra Wilson Setser.

Team member Carly Duvall attributed their success to team effort. “Each and every one of us brought a different strength to the team,” she commented. The team’s student coach, Joe Schlotzhauer, also praised the team’s skill in adapting their strategy to each new round. “We listened to the judges, and incorporated the good bits of advice into our strategy. For example, one of our strongest arguments was adapted from comments made by a judge during the championship round at regionals.” Schlotzhauer also noted that judges from various rounds at the competition commented generally that the MU Law team had some of the best advocates they had ever seen.

MU Law Professor Named Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor

Professor R. Wilson Freyermuth was named a University of Missouri Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor by the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri, effective January 1, 2009. A Curators’ Professorship is the highest academic rank awarded by the Board of Curators. In announcing the award, UM System President Gary Forsee noted Prof. Freyermuth’s “exemplary service to the University of Missouri” and highlighted both Freyermuth’s scholarship in Property and his “innovative style of teaching and mentorship.”

Professor Freyermuth joined the MU Law faculty in 1992 and teaches in the areas of Property, Real Estate Transactions and Finance, Secured Transactions, and Commercial Leasing. In 2007, he received the William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence, and his previous awards and honors include the Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, the Shook Hardy & Bacon Excellence in Research Award, and the Loyd E. Roberts Memorial Prize in the Administration of Justice. In addition, Prof. Freyermuth serves professionally as the Executive Director of the Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Real Property Acts.

Previous recipients of the Curators’ Professorship include MU Law Professors Michelle Cecil and Steve Easton. Curators’ Professors are considered a resource for the entire University, through such activities as giving lectures at MU and on others campuses, assisting in improving the quality of teaching at MU, and engaging in teaching across divisional lines.

Professor Wells on Obama Nomination

Professor Christina E. Wells was quoted recently in an article about Elena Kagan’s nomination as Solicitor General by the Obama administration. The article was published by the First Amendment Center, one of the preeminent Internet sources on free speech and religion issues.

Read the article at: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/analysis.aspx?id=21093

Save the Date for the Small Firm and Public Interest Expo

The Office of Admissions, Career Development, and Student Services will host its 4th Annual Small Firm and Public Interest Expo on Friday, March 13, 2009. This event is designed to expose law students to legal careers in government offices, not-for-profits and public interest agencies, the judiciary, and firms of 25 or fewer attorneys. All lawyers from these practice areas are invited to join us for this popular event. A networking reception with students will be held from 12:30-2:00 p.m., and a complimentary 2-hour CLE will begin at 2:10 p.m. More information, including RSVP details, will be issued in January. We hope to see you there!

Professor llhyung Lee Shares his Expertise at Harvard Law and the Columbia Independent School

Professor llhyung Lee recently gave a presentation at Harvard Law for the school’s East Asian Legal Studies Program (EALS). EALS is the country’s oldest and most extensive academic program devoted to the study of law and legal history of East Asia and the region’s interaction with the United States. The program was created in 1965 because of a growing interest in the legal cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Professor Lee is perfectly suited to speak on this area since he has extensive knowledge and interest in the law, society and culture of contemporary Korea, along with his expertise in cross-cultural dispute resolution. Lee’s presentation was entitled “Legislating Equality in Korean Law and Policy” which is also the topic of some of his most recent articles.

Shortly after the Harvard presentation, Professor Lee lectured at the Columbia Independent School to high school juniors and seniors in their "Global Issues" class. The presentation focused on cross-cultural dispute resolution, which is a class Professor Lee teaches here at MU Law. Professor Lee’s other involvements in this subject include being in the roster of neutrals for the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and membership in the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, among several others.

Student Ambassadors Connect with Prospective MU Law Students

The Student Ambassadors Program at the University of Missouri School of Law started several years ago as a way to recruit new students into the school. Michelle Heck, the Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment, is in charge of the program. Their goal is to attract the best student body possible and provide assistance to prospective students. The Ambassadors are made up of an assortment of law students from many backgrounds. The program encourages this assortment in order to have a broad range of ages, backgrounds, undergrad majors, and interests so that it is easy for a potential student to find someone they can relate to. The students that are in the program are involved with recruiting both on the Mizzou campus and at other college campuses; they are also engaged in various alumni activities.

The major yearly event the program is involved in is Open House; this is a chance for prospective students to socialize with each other and with current students, while also getting a chance to take a tour of the school. Although this is a major event for the program this is by no means the only opportunity to take a tour and learn more about the school. The Ambassadors can give tours any weekday to students that are interested. Ambassadors often keep in contact with newly admitted students and lasting friendships are sometimes formed.

Any law student may apply to become part of the program. There are usually around 30 to 35 Ambassadors at a given time but many more apply. This results in the need for an interview process, which includes an informal interview that determines how well the student can think on their feet in a variety of situations. The main thing that the program aims for when selecting students is a broad range of experiences and expertise. For example, dual degree students could be helpful in recruiting other dual degree seeking students and would be better able to inform them of what to expect from such an experience, while someone who is married and has children can help someone in a similar situation understand the impact law school will have on their lifestyle.

Most Ambassadors remain a part of the team for their full three years of school. Many students who become Ambassadors do so because they had a positive experience with the program when they were prospective and new students themselves. It is also these students who are most likely to know about the program, but more and more students are learning of and applying for the program. This increase in interest is due mainly to their increasing involvement in activities, not only at the law school but also in other areas of the Mizzou campus and when recruiting at other colleges.

Prospective students who would like to learn more about admissions or current students who would like to apply for the program can visit their website at http://law.missouri.edu/admissions/ambassadors/. The admissions website also allows prospective students to schedule a visit, learn about financial aid, contact an ambassador and offers other relevant and useful information for those interested in law school.

Professor Lande to Give Teleconference on Cooperative Practice

Professor John Lande will give a teleconference entitled, "Cooperative Law: A New Technique to Negotiate Cases More Successfully." The teleconference, sponsored by the New York Dispute Resolution Association, will take place on Tues., Nov. 18, from 2-3 Central Time. For more information, see http://www.nysdra.org/calendar/calendar.aspx?action=details&eventid=108.

Students Compete in ABA Arbitration Competition

The Law School was ably represented by two teams at the November 8-9 ABA Regional Arbitration Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. Cole Bradbury, Carly Duvall, Jeff McCarther, Claire McGuire, and Chelsea Mitchell’s team finished in 2nd place overall and will advance to the national competition in San Antonio, Texas in January 2009. Carolyn Hamilton, Katherine Jackson, Joshua Jones, RJ Morrison, and Joe Schlotzhauer’s team placed 5th overall.

Professor Lande Attended International Mediation Leadership Summit in the Hague

On Oct. 31, Professor John Lande attended the International Mediation Leadership Summit sponsored by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution in collaboration with 12 other ADR organizations. The meeting took place at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, with the goal of developing relationships between ADR leaders from around the world. Lande was one of 80 participants from 29 different countries. He presented his latest scholarly work and led small-group discussions. Prof. Lande commented that "It was very flattering to discover that mediation professionals in other countries have been reading my work, as experts from Israel, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands told me that they found it useful."

Women of the Missouri Supreme Court Nov. 12

The WLA presents a judicial panel of the four women who have served as Judges on the Missouri Supreme Court: Chief Justice Laura Denvir Stith, Judge Mary Russell, Judge Patricia Breckenridge, and Judge Ann Covington. The panel discussion will be held on Nov. 12th at 5:00 pm in the Courtroom.

Professor Hunvald Recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly

2008 Missouri's Best Of
Best Law Professor
Ed Hunvald
Criminal Law, University of Missouri School of Law

This isn't the first time Ed Hunvald's students have voted for him in great numbers.

"Back when Lyndon Johnson was running for president, my students found out that there was an open seat for Boone County surveyor," Hunvald recalled. "They got the idea that I would be perfect for the job. I ended up winning on write-in votes. Having very little qualifications for the job, I never took office."Perhaps, but he certainly has the qualifications for his elected office as Best Law Professor in Missouri. He taught for 50 years at the University of Missouri-Columbia until 2007, when he retired.

"I've had a lot of time to meet attorneys," Hunvald said from his on-campus office. "I'm sure a lot of MU grads know me because I have taught required classes."

Hunvald, 80, was hired at Mizzou to teach criminal law in 1957. He later taught criminal procedure and evidence.

Hunvald's teaching style makes students think.

"I've been accused of being a Socratic teacher," he said. "I like to give a lot of questions and not a lot of answers. Some of my students have said I won't give them any."

Although Hunvald has recently retired, he's still involved in various committees at MU. He also sits in on the Missouri Supreme Court Criminal Procedure Committee, which drafts jury instructions.

While he is enjoying his retirement, Hunvald hasn't quite given up the idea of teaching.

"If [MU] needs me, I'm available," he said.

© 2008 Lawyers Weekly Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Professor Bailey Speaking on Arbitration

Professor Bob Bailey, CSDR director and assistant dean, recently spoke on “the business of arbitration” to the National Academy of Arbitrators Fall Education Conference, where he was appointed chair of the nominating committee. He also recently spoke to the Missouri Department of Transportation on arbitration of highway disputes and to MU Extension and Commerce Bank on "Effective Community Board Leadership."

Noted Attorneys and Journalists to Discuss Civil Litigation Coverage

On October 24th at 1:00 in the Courtroom, the Missouri Center for the Study of Conflict, Law & the Media will sponsor a panel discussion entitled Media Coverage of Civil Litigation: Is the Media Getting it Right? Panelists will include journalists Dan Margolies and Robert Patrick (of the Kansas City Star and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, respectively), and attorneys Dale Doerhoff (of Cook, Vetter, Doerhoff and Landwehr) and Jon Haden (of Lathrop & Gage). Michael Grinfeld from the Missouri School of Journalism and MU Law Professor Richard Reuben will moderate.

Distinguished Guests Discuss Upcoming Election and Future of the Supreme Court

On October 23rd, the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society are co-sponsoring a discussion, organized by Professor Frank Bowman, on how the upcoming presidential election may influence the Supreme Court. The presenters will be Stephen McAllister, former dean of KU Law School and current Solicitor General of Kansas, and David Frederick, former Deputy Solicitor General of the United States and a frequent advocate before the U.S. Supreme Court. McAllister and Frederick clerked for Justice Byron White at the same time. The discussion will be held at 1:00 in the Courtroom.

Professor Easton’s New Book Targets Expert Witnesses

Professor Stephen D. Easton, C.A. Leedy Professor of Law, has authored "Attacking Adverse Experts." Published by the American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, the book "is a step-by-step guide to investigating, evaluating and attacking the adverse expert in civil cases." Read the complete ABA announcement here. Professor Easton, an accomplished trial lawyer, has won both University and national teaching and writing awards since joining the MU Law faculty in 1998. His articles on expert witnesses have been published in the Indiana Law Journal, Nebraska Law Review, and SMU Law Review. A complete list of Professor Easton’s publications appears here.

Law Professors Compete in Kansas City Marathon

Professor Stephen D. Easton, C.A. Leedy Professor of Law, successfully completed the Kansas City Marathon on Saturday, October 18. He becomes the second member of the full professor faculty in MU Law’s recorded history to have completed the 26.2 mile running event, and the first ever to have done so during the academic year as a member of the faculty.

"It was just a perfect day for a run," Professor Easton commented modestly, minutes after crossing the finish line, in the shadows of Union Station. The race began before sunrise, with temperatures in the low 40s, and the conditions allowed Professor Easton to complete the course in the official time of 4 hours, 42 minutes, and 2 seconds.

Professor Easton acknowledged that he was unsuccessful in his two previous attempts at the marathon, making success in Kansas City quite special. "The first was when I was 19. I thought I knew everything then, but the marathon was truly humbling." This past summer, "to mark my ten years on the faculty at MU, my daughter starting as a freshman at MU, and other reasons, I decided to try again, and to start training more seriously." The second attempt came at the St. Charles Marathon near St. Louis last month. But the organizers were forced to cut short the race, due to impassable and dangerous conditions forced by Hurricane Ike. For a video clip, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=betEjKxajdM

Undaunted, Professor Easton found another Missouri marathon, adjusted his training schedule, and hoped that three would be a charm. "It’s nearly impossible to train during the semester, in my opinion. But I demand a lot from my students, so personal sacrifice and hitting the wall were the least I could do."

Professor Ilhyung Lee, who also joined the MU faculty ten years ago this fall, participated in the Kansas City Half Marathon, held in the same day, completing the shorter course in 1 hour, 47 minutes, and 48 seconds.

Both Professors Easton and Lee declined comment on whether they would consider filing a claim with the University administration regarding the newly implemented physical fitness requirements for faculty members with ten years of experience.

Professor Mitchell on the Economic Crisis and Disenfranchisement

On October 9th, Professor S. David Mitchell was interviewed on KFRU 1400 AM and ABC-17 News about ordinary citizens increasingly at risk of losing the right to vote along with their homes. With the rise in foreclosures, former homeowners are finding themselves ineligible to vote because they no longer have a permanent address and failed to notify their local election boards that they have moved. Similar to ex-offenders who were registered to vote before being incarcerated, those who are disenfranchised because of a foreclosure or other economic disaster need knowledge and direction to protect their right to vote. Read about Professor’s Mitchell’s research and expertise on felon disenfranchisement and more about his concern on the impact that the current economic crisis will have on fundamental voting rights in the MU News Bureau press release here.

Professor Mitchell also gave an interview to KMOX 1120 of St. Louis on Friday and to KBIA 91.3.

Student Organizations to Present Bailout Panel Discussion on October 15

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and the Federalist Society have teamed up to present a panel discussion on the current financial situation in the U.S. and around the globe. Panelists will discuss the multitude of possible results that the decisions of the Congress and Wall Street will have on the economy in the long term. The event will be on Wednesday, October 15 at 5:00 PM in room 7.

Panel participants include Dean Thom Lambert, Professor Phil Harter, Professor John Howe from the Trulaske School of Business, and Matt Johnson from the Reynolds Journalism Institute.

Professor Bowman Responds to Reaction on Recent Corporate Crime Piece

Professor Frank Bowman’s recent Legal Times article "Somebody Has to Cry Foul" drew commentary on the White Collar Crime blog from Stephanie Martz of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Bowman responds to Martz here.

Professor Bowman was also recently interviewed in the Corporate Crime Reporter. Read the interview summary here.

Professor Lande Publishes Two Articles

Professor John Lande, Director of Masters in Law in Dispute Resolution and Isidor Loeb Professor of Law, has published "Doing the Best Mediation You Can," 14 Dispute Resolution Magazine 43 (Spring/Summer 2008). The article summarizes research by the Task Force on Improving Mediation Quality of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution. Professor Lande has also published "An Appreciation of Marc Galanter’s Scholarship," 71 Law and Contemporary Problems 147 (Spring 2008). These articles are available at http://law.missouri.edu/lande/publications.htm#mtp and http://law.missouri.edu/lande/publications.htm.

Professor Abrams on Thomas Jefferson (and Editing)

Professor Douglas Abrams' "Writing it Right" is a regular feature of Precedent, the Missouri Bar’s quarterly magazine. His latest article treats the editing that the Second Continental Congress did on Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence. The superb editing helped make Jefferson an American icon, but Jefferson resented the editing for the rest of his life. Read the article here (PDF). Professor Abrams' article has been referenced on the Legal History Blog by Professor Mary Dudziak, a legal historian and law professor at USC.

Professor Lee Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at Case Western

Professor Ilhyung Lee will give the Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence Lecture, "Culture and the Dispute Resolution Process" at Case Western Reserve University School of Law on Sept. 24. The lecture is presented by the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Conflict and Dispute Resolution.

Law School Announces $1.1 Million Leadership Gift

Read Press Release

Professor Reuben Delivers Conference Keynote

Professor Richard Reuben will give the keynote address at a conference of the Arizona Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution (PDF) on Sept. 18 in Phoenix. His address is titled: Deliberative Democracy & Dispute Resolution.

Devine Recognized for Contributions to the Administration of Justice

The Missouri Bar Foundation has announced Associate Dean James Devine, Judge Gene Hamilton, class of ’67 and Doreen D. Dodson of St. Louis as this year’s Spurgeon Smithson Award winners. The Foundation will honor the recipients at the Missouri Bar Annual Meeting Awards Banquet on September 19 in Kansas City.

Professors Bailey, Peters, and Wells Recognized at Law Day

The Law School was proud to honor outstanding faculty teaching, scholarship and service at Law Day on September 13.

Christina E. Wells, Enoch H. Crowder Professor of Law, received the Husch Blackwell Sanders Distinguished Faculty Award. Professor Wells was awarded for her outstanding teaching in the areas of Administrative Law, Freedom of Speech, Gender and the Law, and Remedies. Philip G. Peters, Jr., Ruth L. Hulston Professor of Law, received the Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP Excellence in Research Award. Professor Peters, a leading scholar in the field of medical malpractice standard of care and reform, was awarded for his article Health Courts?, 88 Boston University Law Review 227 (2008) available here. Robert G. Bailey, Director of the Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution, received the Loyd E. Roberts Memorial Prize awarded for significant contribution to improving the administration of justice. In addition to directing the CSDR, Dean Bailey is on the governing board of the National Academy of Arbitrators, and is a commissioner of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

MU Law Library Presents Lloyd L. Gaines Digital Collection

View the Lloyd L. Gaines Digital Collection

Lloyd Lionel Gaines applied to the University of Missouri School of Law in 1936. In spite of an outstanding scholastic record, Gaines was denied admission based solely on the grounds that Missouri's Constitution called for "separate education of the races." By state law, Missouri would have been required to pay for Gaines to attend the universities in Iowa, Kansas or Nebraska, but Gaines was determined to fight for the right to attend law school in his own state. He sought legal assistance from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which had been working systematically to overturn the ignominious precedent of "separate but equal" established in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. Together, they challenged the University of Missouri’s admissions policies. In 1938, Gaines won his case before the United States Supreme Court in State of Missouri ex rel Gaines v. Canada, paving the way for a series of cases that would lead to the decision in Brown v. Board of Education that outlawed segregation in public education. In March 1939, only three months after his Supreme Court victory, Lloyd Gaines was last seen in Chicago, IL. He disappeared at age 28 with his promise of attending law school in Missouri unfulfilled. Lloyd Gaines was never to be seen or heard from again.

This project seeks to illuminate Lloyd Gaines' life, document his pioneering pursuit of true equal rights to a legal education, and memorialize the long overdue, posthumous recognition of his personal sacrifice in the advancement of civil rights. The digital collection is made up of family letters that shed light on the economic difficulties that Lloyd and his family faced in working to provide him with an advanced education; family photographs; case materials; sections of the Missouri constitutions and laws that pertain to the education of African-Americans in Missouri; dissertations by scholars studying the Gaines case and the African-American educational experience in Missouri; newspaper articles that demonstrate the thoughts of students and others through the years regarding de-segregation and the Gaines case; and the efforts made by the University of Missouri and the School of Law to recognize Lloyd Gaines’ contributions to history. By gathering together these primary and secondary source materials pertinent to his life and his case, we hope to tell more of Lloyd Gaines' story to the world. The University of Missouri School of Law Library is pleased to make these resources freely available for scholars, researchers and others to advance their knowledge and understanding of the struggle for civil rights in Missouri in the early twentieth century.

For questions or suggestions about this project, contact us at (573) 884-6362 or by email at .

Law Day Welcomes Distinguished Jurists and Awardees

Magistrate Judge Wayne Brazil from the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California will receive the Law School’s Distinguished Non-Alumnus Award at Law Day on Saturday, September 13th. Judge Brazil, a leader and prolific author in the field of dispute resolution, has written several books about settlement and the use of special masters. His more than 30 articles focus on case management, dispute resolution, and other aspects of the civil litigation process. The DR program he designed in California is a model for such programs across the nation. Judge Brazil will also visit the Law School on Friday, September 12th, as the James D. Ellis Lawyer in Residence, and will present the Ellis Lecture at 1:30 in the Courtroom.

Judge Scott O. Wright, ’50, and Larry M. Schumaker, ’84, will discuss writing Wright’s memoir, “Never in Doubt: Memoirs of an Uncommon Judge,” at a CLE presentation on Friday, September 12th at 5:00 in the Courtroom. Judge Wright, a long time benefactor of the Law School, pledged $100,000 to fund a new scholarship in September 2007. Read more about Judge Wright and his memoir in this Columbia Tribune article.

Mizzou Athletic Director Mike Alden will be a special guest at Friday’s Distinguished Alumni Luncheon.

Christina E. Wells, Enoch H. Crowder Professor of Law, will receive the Husch Blackwell Sanders Distinguished Faculty Award. Professor Wells is being awarded for her outstanding teaching in the areas of Administrative Law, Freedom of Speech, Gender and the Law, and Remedies. Philip G. Peters, Jr., Ruth L. Hulston Professor of Law, will receive the Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP Excellence in Research Award. Professor Peters, a leading scholar in the field of medical malpractice standard of care and reform, was selected for his article Health Courts?, 88 Boston University Law Review 227 (2008) available here. Robert G. Bailey, Director of the Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution, will receive the Loyd E. Roberts Memorial Prize awarded for significant contribution to improving the administration of justice. In addition to directing the CSDR, Dean Bailey is on the governing board of the National Academy of Arbitrators, and is a commissioner of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

Law Day honorees will also include Roger C. Geary, ’83, and Janet M. Thompson, ’84, LL.M. ’02, (Citation of Merit); Michael A. Williams, ’98, (Distinguished Recent Graduate); Rachel L. Bringer, ’95, (Honorary Initiate Order of the Coif); and James C. Morrow, ’83, (Honorary Initiate Order of Barristers).

View the Law Day brochure for a complete listing of events. There’s still time to register by calling the School of Law Office of Development at 573-882-4374!

Prof. Bowman on Increase in Federal Prosecution of Business Crime

"Somebody Has to Cry Foul" by Professor Frank Bowman reports on the Justice Department’s growing presence in the corporate arena and the business community’s response. The article published in the Legal Times and American Lawyer is available here (may require free registration).

Prof. Reuben on "Covering Conflict"

As part of the Missouri School of Journalism 2008 Centennial and Dedication, the MU Center for the Study of Conflict Law and the Media is sponsoring "Covering Conflict: Can Interest-based Reporting Help Journalists Get it Right?" Professor Richard Reuben will be one of the Discussion Leaders for this program on Sept. 11th at 9:00 at 110 Lee Hills Hall. Also on Sept. 11th, there will be a candidate forum for the Missouri Attorney General race at 1:30 in the Fisher Auditorium, 87 Gannett Hall. View the complete listing of the Centennial and Dedication events (Sept. 9-13) here.

MU Law Welcomes New Faculty

Four new law faculty members possessing broad expertise and diverse ranges of experience bring further depth to the school’s nationally acclaimed Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution and to its core first year and commercial law courses. Rafael Gely is the new James E. Campbell Missouri Endowed Professor of Law. We also welcome, as Visiting Associate Professors of Law, Erika Fadel, a former adjunct professor in the legal research and writing program; Jennifer Reynolds who teaches and writes in the area of dispute resolution; and Marc Roark, most recently a visiting law professor at Tulsa.

New Assistant Dean Appointed

Tracy Gonzalez has joined the law school as Assistant Dean of Admissions, Career Development, and Student Services. Gonzalez has extensive legal practice experience having served as both a public defender and prosecuting attorney. Most recently she taught pre-law courses at Lincoln University and is a former Director of the Child Protection Clinic and Teaching Fellow within the Family Violence Clinic at MU Law.

Faculty Blogging Shaping Public Conversations

Professors Dennis Crouch and Peggy McGuinness and Associate Dean Thom Lambert continue to contribute to and spark far-reaching discussions in their respective fields of expertise: patents; international law and international relations; and antitrust, business and economics. In July, Cincinnati’s Paul Caron reported quarterly "traffic rankings" (Visitors & Page Views from July 2007-June 2008) of the top 35 blogs edited by law professors available here. Crouch’s Patently-O ranked 6th in Visitors, 5th in Page Views. McGuinness and her fellow Contributors’ Opinio Juris ranked 19th in Visitors, 16th in Page Views.

Patently-O (11th), Opinio Juris (19th), and Lambert’s and his fellow contributor’s Truth on the Market (31st ) were all recognized among the top 50 most influential law blogs for 2007 in rankings by the popular legal blog Race to the Bottom reported here.

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