Lyrissa Lidsky
Professor; UF Research Foundation Professor

• Participated in a panel at the University of Florda, “When Free Speech & Tasers Meet,” which discussed free speech, use of force, and the advantages and disadvantages of Tasers.

Diane H. Mazur
Professor

• Spoke on the subject of military law as portrayed in film and television at the Law and Popular Culture Symposium held at Marquette University Law School on November 1, 2007. The symposium celebrated the publication of the new LexisNexis casebook, Law and Popular Culture: Text, Notes, and Questions. Professor Mazur is one of the casebook’s co-authors.

Christopher Slobogin
Stephen C. O’Connell Chair; Affiliate Professor of Psychiatry; Adjunct Professor, University of South Florida Mental Health Institute; Associate Director, Center for Children and Families

• Presented his paper, “Dangerousness as an Aggravating Circumstance in Death Penalty Cases,” at Notre Dame Law School on Friday, Nov. 9.

UF Law Faculty in the News

Christopher Slobogin
Stephen C. O’Connell Chair; Affiliate Professor of Psychiatry; Adjunct Professor, University of South Florida Mental Health Institute; Associate Director, Center for Children and Families

• Florida Today, Nov. 5. Quoted in an article about state Rep. Bob Allen being tried on a single charge of solicitation for prostitution. The article discusses the impact of the publicity on the jury selection and outcome of the case. Slobogin said Allen’s title shouldn’t matter in trying the case. “Ideally, the prosecution shouldn’t treat this case any differently than any other in bringing forward charges and how to prosecute,” he said. When discussing the difficulties in jury selection for this high-profile case, Slobogin said, “It makes it more difficult to pick an unbiased jury. Also, it’s conceivable that there’s a greater likelihood for the public to be biased against the defendant.”
• Epoch Times (Dublin, Ireland), Nov. 5. Quoted in an article discussing the ABA’s recent call for a moratorium on executions and the way states are handling death penalty cases. Specifically, Slobogin was quoted about the execution of mentally retarded individuals. Between 2 and 5 percent charged with a capital crime suffer from serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or psychosis, or mental retardation, Slobogin said. Even though mentally ill persons are often very suggestive and vulnerable, police tend to treat them no differently in their interrogations than other offenders, which can lead to false confessions. He goes on to say, “Juries often erroneously equate mental retardation with dangerousness, and then perceive the mental condition as an aggravating factor rather than as a mitigating factor.”

Michael Allan Wolf
Richard E. Nelson Chair in Local Government Law; Professor

• Orlando Sentinel, Nov. 4. Quoted in a column by John Kennedy on the legal questions surrounding Gov. Charlie Crist’s plan to create Save Our Homes portability could hold up in court. Two groups from Palm Beach County and Alabama have already tried to challenge Save Our Homes in court as an affront to the federal constitutional rights to travel and commerce. Last spring, noted tax lawyer Walter Hellerstein concluded portability could add fuel to the legal case against Save Our Homes and convince a federal judge that the “locked in” disparity between new and longtime homeowners was unconstitutional. Other lawyers think the whole system is ripe for a challenge. Kennedy wrote that Wolf says Florida stands to lose one of the arguments courts have recognized in upholding SOH so far—that it promotes stability in communities. Portability promotes mobility, he says.

Roulhac, who serves both on the UF Law Board of Trustees and The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors, has been with the General Counsel’s Office of FPL for the past eight years. She was an active student while in law school, taking part in moot court competitions, and was a leader in the Black Law Students Association.

“Being on the moot court really allowed me to think on my feet and build confidence, which worked out well because the experience led me into something I would eventually do,” she said. “Without the experience I may have never realized how much I love litigation.”

UF Law’s support of the Black Law Students Association while Roulhac was in school really made a difference in her leadership development, she said.

“The law school was always very supportive of sending BLSA members to represent UF Law at moot court competitions around the country,” Roulhac said. “I interacted with amazing lawyers nationally and statewide, and I really appreciated the law school’s support.”

In 2002, Roulhac took the leadership experiences she gained in law school to become the first African American to be president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar. The experience was tremendous, she said.

“One of the greatest benefits is that you’re affiliated with leaders of the bar and future leaders of the bar,” Roulhac said. “Whatever legal issues I have around the state, I can call someone in every circuit due to the relationships I have built through the experience.”

Although she specializes in litigation with FPL, there’s never a dull moment around the Miami office, especially when a hurricane comes through the state.

“When an emergency situation occurs, that’s when the real team mentality of FPL kicks in because everyone is expected to pitch in and help each other, no matter their role,” she said. “The biggest thing is when everything shuts down around the office; it has a major impact on the General Counsel’s Office because most employees are out on storm duty.”

Roulhac says the daily challenges of having to work with diverse kinds of cases makes her job at FPL very appealing.

“There’s a great diversity in the types of matters we deal with in the office,” she said. “When I got here I had to learn about electrical engineering, which is something I found to be very exciting.”

For current students who want to get involved with corporate law or a general counsel’s office, Roulhac says knowing your client and developing relationships are most important.

“My advice is that you develop client relationships, and understand the business,” she said. “The reality is that anything you do may impact the organization.”

Catherine Barclift (pictured left) will be remembered not just for her intellect, but for her off-the-chart energetic personality.

“Her smile was absolutely dazzling,” Legal Skills Professor Tracy Rambo said. “When she smiled, you couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking, but you knew it was something extraordinary, and just a bit mischievous. She was delightful—sassy and spunky, in the very best of ways. Her death touched everyone—those who knew her well, and those who had just met her. She will be missed, and she will not be forgotten.”

A Remembrance Service will be held at the Levin College of Law on Thursday, Nov. 15, 5-6 p.m., in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (HOL 180). Several persons will speak about Catherine’s special qualities and contributions. Members of Catherine’s family also plan to attend and participate in the Remembrance Service. JMBA will be handing out pink and blue ribbons in honor of Catherine. Catherine’s parents indicated that her favorite colors were pink and blue. The law school community is asked to plan to wear the ribbons this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Nov. 13-15).

Barclift, a first-year law student from Fort Myers, died Nov. 6, one day after being hit by an SUV while jogging at the intersection of SW 34th Street and Radio Road.

Third-year UF Law student Jill Levy, who was Barclift’s Ambassador when she arrived in August, said she was well-loved by every person who knew her. “She was always the first person to smile when you entered a room and always made people laugh,” Levy said. “From what I know, Catherine loved being in law school here, mostly because of the people she’d met, and would have been a wonderful lawyer.”

Barclift, 22, received her undergraduate degree at Florida State University. At FSU, according to a story published in theTallahassee Democrat, Barclift majored in international affairs and was a member of Gamma Phi Beta. “I’m still kind of in shock right now,” Kate McCoy, a sorority sister and senior biology and physics major at FSU, told the Tallassee Democrat. McCoy created a Facebook group to pray for and remember Barclift.

McCoy described Barclift as a “social butterfly” who was also intelligent. Barclift was in the Pre-Law Society and graduated with honors. She was going to make a great lawyer,” McCoy told the paper.

The funeral for Barclift will be Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 5 p.m. at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers (2439 McGregor Boulevard). A bus will be provided to attend the service for anyone who is able to attend. It will leave the law school parking lot at noon. Please be on time so that additional rides can be organized, if needed. The family welcomes as many people at the service as possible; your presence will be appreciated. Food and drink is allowed on the bus. The bus is made possible by donations from all of you through Sections 2 and 3 fundraising and through contributions from the John Marshall Bar Association and the Law College Council.

Barclift’s parents are interested in the experiences her friends at UF Law shared with Catherine. In Catherine’s honor, the law school will prepare a scrapbook containing pictures, stories, poems, and thoughts that will be meaningful for the Barclift family. JMBA will serve as a collection center for tangible objects, printed photos, cards, and memorabilia. The JMBA table will be set up in the courtyard through Thursday, Nov. 15, at noon. The scrapbook will be assembled by a professional scrapbook company and presented to the family. If you prefer to make your submission electronically please e-mail the materials to JMBA.UF@gmail.com.

“This is a terrible tragedy and a tremendous loss,” UF Law Dean Robert Jerry said. “Catherine was an exceptional person with enormous potential who was highly esteemed by her classmates. We ask everyone to keep her family in their thoughts and prayers.”