News Archive

HATTS Trial Recognized by Columbia Tribune

The Law School's Historical and Theatrical Trial Society fictional trial of John Brown last fall made Bill Clark's list of top Columbia performances in 2009.

Peters Running for Columbia Board of Education Seat

Professor Philip G. Peters, Jr. recently announced his candidacy for a seat on the Columbia Board of Education. Read the Missourian's coverage here.

Davis on Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

Peter N. Davis, Isidor Loeb Professor Emeritus of Law, is quoted in the Columbia Daily Tribune on a clothing company's lawsuit against a University of Missouri freshman for trademark infringement here.

McCarter '75 All Out For Mizzou

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Crouch's Blog Recognized by ABA

For the third straight year, Professor Dennis Crouch's Patently-O blog appears on the ABA Journal's "Blawg 100" list. The blog is listed in the Practice Specific category with this description from the ABA Journal: University of Missouri law prof Dennis Crouch covers the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Federal Circuit rulings, legislative rumblings on patent reform and available patent law jobs via his job board. It is also noted that Patently-O is up to 1,387 fans on Facebook. Read the cover story from the December 2009 issue here.

Bowman Quoted in NYT

Professor Frank Bowman was quoted in the 11/23 New York Times on Supreme Court criminal cases this term and role of the Justice Department here.

McGuinness Speaks at Johns Hopkins on U.S. Human Rights Policy

On November 13th, Professor Margaret E. McGuinness discussed "Ending the 'Scold Wars': How Congress Constrains U.S. Human Rights Policy" at Johns Hopkins University. Professor McGuinness's talk was part of the Human Rights Speaker Series, at the International Law and Organizations Program at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.

Strong Speaks at Harvard Law School on Class Arbitration

Professor S.I. Strong will present her paper, "Class Arbitration Outside the United States: Reading the Tea Leaves," at The American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Dispute Resolution Section Works in Progress conference at Harvard Law School on November 13-14. The finished article will be presented at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Institute Annual Conference in Paris, France, on December 8. Professor Strong will also speak on class arbitration at the University of Antwerp in December.

Bowman Quoted in WSJ on Sentencing

Professor Frank Bowman comments on white-collar sentencing in Looser Rules on Sentencing Stir Concerns About Equity in the November 5, 2009 Wall Street Journal here.

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.

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 developed 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