Calling all student and faculty artists. We are now accepting artwork in any medium (ie. sculpture, painting, photography) for the fourth annual Levin College of Law Faculty and Student Art Show. Artwork will be displayed in the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center. Please email digital image submissions with a brief description to Eric Berger at ecburger@gmail.com by Monday, March 16. Students and faculty will be notified if they are selected by late March. If you have any questions please e-mail Eric Berger or Alexis Cooper at lex314@gmail.com.

BLSA Trial Team earns spot in Final Four

The UF BLSA trial team recently competed in the annual mock trial competition for the Southern Region Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) from Feb. 4-8. Held in Nashville, TN, this year’s competition pitted 25 teams from law schools throughout the southern states. UF’s team successfully argued four trials to earn a spot in the Final Four. The case involved a fraternity hazing session gone awry for one unlucky pledge. Arguing for the state were Jonathan Blocker (3L) and Guichard St. Surin (1L). Nickisha “Nicki” Webb (3L) and Alfredo Zamora (2L) advocated for the defendant fraternity president. Special thanks go to students Kailey Evans (3L), Ranaldo Allen (3L), Nicole Mouakar (3L) and Elvis Santiago (3L) for assisting the team. The team also appreciates Levin alumna and local attorney Majeedah Murad for critiquing the team’s legal arguments and trial techniques. A warm thanks also extends to researchers Brandon Sapp (1L) and Daphne Duplessis (1L) for finding invaluable case law. In 2007, UF finished first runner up at the SRBLSA competition. That same team subsequently won the national title at the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) mock trial competition a few months later. (Photo from left: Jonathan Blocker, Guichard St. Surin, Nickisha “Nicki” Webb and Alfredo Zamora)

UF National Tax Moot Court Team wins second place

The UF College of Law Tax Moot Court Team was first runner up in the The Florida Bar Tax Section 2009 National Tax Moot Court Competition. They received the award on Feb. 7, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The participants were Chris Pavilonis (3L), Nicholas Grimaudo (3L) and Joshua Landsman (2L). The team advanced through the early rounds, including victories over Widener and Suffolk. The team defeated the University of Wisconsin in the quarter finals and the University of Baltimore in the semi-finals. LSU, now three-time national champions, edged out the team on Saturday in the finals. This was the University of Florida’s first time entering the competition, which hosts 16 teams of JD students from around the country. The topic involved an attempted, but flawed, section 1031 exchange of real property and a section 721 contribution to an LLC. In competition, the team argued both sides of the issue. Each participant received an individual plaque and the college received a team plaque. The team received invaluable support and coaching from its faculty adviser Professor Steven Willis and Moot Court member Stacey Schwimmer. (Photo from left: Joshua Landsman, Nicholas Grimaudo, Judge Peter Panuthos and Christopher Pavilonis)

Introduction to Law School and the Profession 2009 Ambassador Program

Student Affairs is looking for ambassadors. Ambassadors are current students who are selected for their interest in helping new students prior to, during, and even after the ILSP. If you are interested in being a part of the ambassador team, now is the time to apply. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Feb. 17, at noon. An information sheet and application is available on the orientation Web site www.law.ufl.edu/students/orientation/. When you turn in your application and resume to the Office of Student Affairs, you will sign up for an interview. If you wish to be considered for a coordinator position, an additional application is required. Contact Michelle Ocepek at ocepek@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0620 for more information.

Dunlop was brought to campus by the UF Chapter of The Federalist Society to speak about the global warming crisis, or lack thereof. She serves as Vice President of External Relations at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

“Is the earth warming? Yes, yes it is,” said Dunlop, who also served as chairwoman of the Federal Services Impasse Panel under President George W. Bush. “Has it warmed in the past? Has it cooled in the past? Yes, these things happen. They are cyclical in nature. We have evidence of this, real evidence.”

Dunlop argued that while the planet is warming, there is no evidence that shows humans are causing the change. She assaulted computer modeling that shows a warming crisis, dismissing it as pseudo-science.

Real science is about testing a theory out until it is proven true, Dunlop said. “Keep in mind that computer models can’t explain past weather changes, nor are they very good at predicting future weather changes,” Dunlop said. “We know that because we watch the weather on a regular basis and about half the time the weatherman is wrong. How do you think the weatherman predicts the weather? They use computer models.”

Dunlop said there are many other reasons why the planet is warming, including the sun, oceans and volcanoes.

Because global warming is natural, Dunlop does not buy into the doomsday hype. Regardless, she said we should work toward developing new energy.

“First, smart people should not buy into this crisis scenario,” Dunlop said. “Secondly, we need to all understand that man, as important as man is, is not the controlling factor in climate change. Third, it is certainly true that we need to be looking for and encouraging all kinds of new energy.”

Dunlop advocated nuclear energy, saying that France gets 70 percent of its energy from nuclear sources without a problem. She said that there are many problems with wind power that need to be further studied and argued against ethanol. She said the government giving corn farmers subsidies for ethanol is encouraging farmers to switch to corn from other important crops, but America still can’t produce enough ethanol to make a difference.

“Ethanol comes from corn, and corn is food,” Dunlop said. “I think it is much more cost-effective and much more logical to use the corn we produce to feed people.” The bottom line is that the country needs to rely on good science to formulate a plan for climate change, Dunlop said.

“First of all, science must inform public policy – not pseudo-science, not fear-mongering, not trying to scare people into doing things that are unwise,” she said.

Her presentation topic—“The War Against Boys: How Misguided Feminism is Harming Our Young Men”—derives from the title of her 2000 book in which she claimed that “by virtually every measure, girls are thriving.” Instead, Sommers writes, “it is boys who are the second sex in school.”

She will speak on the 18th at noon in the Bailey Courtroom at the law school. Following her opening talk, Sommers, a self-described “equity feminist”, will participate in a panel discussion with gender-equity scholars from the UF College of Education—Mary Ann Clark, associate professor of counselor education; and Luis Ponjuan, assistant professor of educational administration and policy.

The program, sponsored by the law school’s Federalist Society student organization, is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.

Sommers is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, a private, nonpartisan, not-for-profit group, based in Washington D.C., whose stated purpose is to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism. She previously was a professor of philosophy at Clark University and also has written for the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, The Weekly Standard, and The Atlantic.

She is the author of two books–“Who Stole Feminism?” and “The War Against Boys” (a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year” selection in 2000)—and recently co-authored a third book titled “One Nation Under Therapy.” Sommers has appeared on numerous television programs, including Nightline, Sixty Minutes, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.

Her fellow panel members, Clark and Ponjuan from the College of Education, both study gender-related issues in education. They say their work focuses not so much on misguided feminism than on the lack of male role models in society, concepts of masculinity, motivational issues and other perspectives. “But we are all addressing the same problem of male underachievement and gender differences in educational achievement,” Clark said.

Clark, the B.O. Smith Research Professor, is one of the lead investigators on a multi-year study that is looking at male underachievement in the United States, England, Australia and Korea.

Ponjuan’s research focuses on how, gender, ethnic background and other social differences are increasingly steering boys and young men away from participation in postsecondary education and more towards low-paying occupations or unemployment, military service or criminal activity.

The conference, titled “The Squeeze on Local Governments,” included presentations from experts in topics ranging from land-use, local government, property and environmental law.

“This year’s topic has particularly special meaning,” said Dean Robert Jerry in a welcome address. “Local governments are being hammered by economic forces.”

Michael A. Wolf, UF Law’s Richard E. Nelson Chair in Local Government Law, organized the conference. Florida has faced high rates of foreclosure and abandonment of homes, Wolf said.

“When the real estate bubble burst a year ago, the Sunshine State was hit particularly hard,” he said.

Government’s use of eminent domain to seize private property for economic development has elicited a variety of responses throughout the country.

“State and federal courts have sent mixed signals,” Wolf said.

Frank S. Alexander, a professor of law at Emory Law School, described the impact of the foreclosure crisis on state and local governments. Foreclosures increase costs for local governments because they can bring with them instances of vandalism, arson and copper theft.

“A single foreclosure will reduce the value of properties within a half mile by 2.5 percent,” he said.

Alexander suggested that local governments provide short-term leases to reoccupy vacant property.

“No one is maintaining the property post foreclosure,” he said. “The most important thing, I think, is to get them reoccupied.”

Alexander is optimistic that the housing market is not far from the bottom.

“The foreclosure wave is decelerating,” he said. “What I don’t know is how long it’s going to take to really go up.”

Diana Anderson (1L), a student in Wolf’s property course, found Alexander’s speech to be particularly helpful.

“The housing crisis is a serious concern, thinking about where you live,” Anderson said.

Anderson, who is interested in criminal law, said the issues surrounding foreclosures don’t just affect property lawyers.

“The foreclosure rates do have effects on vandalism and criminal issues,” she said.

Robert Guthrie, senior assistant county attorney for Orange County, Fla., outlined his county’s plans to use federal funding to purchase foreclosed structures.

Through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), Orange County will improve troubled homes by coordinating with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.

“We can dole these out to non-profits and let them be responsible for the improvements,” Guthrie said.

John D. Echeverria, executive director of the Georgetown Environmental Law & Policy Institute and a professor at Vermont Law School, explained the implications of Florida’s Bert J. Harris Jr. Private Property Protection Act.

The act, designed to curtail government encroachment on property rights, has dramatically weakened the government’s ability to regulate property, he said.

“The Bert Harris Act is a contributing cause to the real estate crisis here in Florida,” Echeverria said.

Central to the issue of government’s role in economic development is the Supreme Court’s ruling in Kelo v. City of New London. The 2005 decision allows for the use of eminent domain to transfer land from one private owner to another to further economic development.

States have responded to Kelo in a variety of ways, said James W. Ely, a professor at Vanderbilt University Law School.

“The picture is kaleidoscopic in nature,” he said. “It is constantly changing.”

The most common problem with regards to eminent domain abuse is a failure to curtail “blight taking,” Ely said.

“To the common mind, ‘blight’ suggests a dilapidated neighborhood,” he said. “In fact, some states define it as ‘any condition that impedes economic growth.’”

Following Ely’s speech, UF students Tara Nelson (2L) and Andrea Becker (2L), who serve as research assistants for Wolf, discussed recent constitutional amendments and case law developments, respectively, and their implications for state and local governments.

Gregory Stewart, a UF undergrad and law student (a double Gator), started off a discussion of Florida Supreme Court cases.

Stewart, who was selected as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” in the specialty of municipal law, discussed the Strand v. Escambia County case. The case was a bond violation proceeding in which the county prevailed in the trial courts. Ultimately, the decision was overturned in the Florida Supreme Court.

“This didn’t go over very well,” said Stewart. “Numerous entities filed for a reconsideration (rehearing).”

The Florida Supreme Court’s previous ruling was revised approximately a year later.

Kent Safriet, a shareholder at Hopping Green & Sam, was one of the last speakers of the day. He opened up his discussion with a joke that got the audience laughing.

“Although I’m not a double Gator, I do hail from the place where the ball coach (Steve Spurrier) is now,” he joked.

Safriet discussed beach erosion and how it pertained to the Walton County v. Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc. case. In order to make the information easier to understand, he used graphics and diagrams to explain some of the key elements of the case. Throughout the presentation, Safriet showed that he didn’t completely agree with the Florida Supreme Court’s decision.

“The Florida Supreme Court, as we know from other presentations, can be less than stable,” Safriet said.

The event ended in a panel discussion led by Professor Wolf. He asked three questions, which any of the panelists could answer. The panelists had some laughs and disagreements but everyone seemed to enjoy the chance to converse with each other.

Before leaving, Wolf felt compelled to say one last thing, making him the second speaker to mention football.

“At least he (Tim Tebow) will be back for one more year,” said Wolf, wanting to give everyone something to which to look forward.

The Feb. 20 band showcase offers an exciting slate of live performances by young, up-and-coming, local bands — including Bang Bang Boom, The Duppies, SuperFish, and Vernon — from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Common Grounds, located at 210 S.W. 2nd Ave. in downtown Gainesville.

Conference sessions will begin at 9 a.m. on Feb. 21 in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (180 HOL) on the UF College of Law campus. Legal and music-industry experts will discuss topics ranging from licensing and copyrights to management and musician’s rights. A new addition, the breakout session, will give the attendees a chance to get into small groups with one of the panelists for either a Q&A or a workshop. Notable confirmed panelists include Gary Roth, assistant vice president of Legal Affairs for BMI records, and Ravi, a musician and advocate for artistic integrity.

Keynote speaker Martin Atkins, an author and record label owner who has toured with Public Image Ltd., Killing Joke, Ministry and Nine Inch Nails, said he is looking forward to the exchange of ideas he anticipates will happen at the conference.

“It’s been my experience that ideas circulated amongst any group of interested people create more ideas,” said Atkins. “I like the games of mental ping-pong that happen with any gathering of switched-on, open-brained people.”

The conference is free to UF faculty and students. Registration for non-UF students and faculty is $20. Registration for attorneys is $75, which includes seven Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits.

For more information or to register, visit the Music Law Conference Web site.

Contact: MusicLawConference@gmail.com

The conference, being held at Holland Hall on the UF College of Law campus, invites land use and environmental attorneys, government officials, citizen advocates, journalists and others interested in the future of Florida’s environment to interact with environmental experts and hear the latest thinking on sustainability and its impact on policy development.

Presented by the UF Levin College of Law and co-sponsored by The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section and student government, this two-day conference titled, “Beyond Doom and Gloom: Illuminating a Sustainable Future for Florida,” will focus on long-range and innovative approaches to Florida’s environmental problems. Conference attendees can earn 13 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and explore sustainability solutions from science, technology and progressive regulations, and economic and behavioral changes through communication and social marketing.

“This year’s conference offers a timely focus with an interesting set of themes including the role of social marketing, and panel discussions dealing with energy and climate change,” said Alyson Flournoy, director of the UF Levin College of Law Environmental and Land Use Law Program and one of the organizers of the conference. “We’ve also expanded the workshop format to include skills training and the final plenary session will provide a unique interdisciplinary look into Florida’s future by historians, ecologists, planners and public-interest advocates.”

Flournoy added that the Friday night keynote speaker Rena Steinzor, president of the Center for Progressive Reform, will offer insight into likely policy developments under the Obama administration.

Conference topics slated for discussion include, “Thinking Outside the Grid,” “Ports: Balancing the Economic and Environmental Impacts,” “Public Education: Understanding the Science of Environmental and Land Use Policies and Law,” “Hope Springs Eternal: Overcoming the Water Supply Issues,” “The Cost of a Human Life: Beyond Risk Assessment and Cost Benefit Analysis,” “Social Marketing: Green is the New Black?,” “The Long Slow Flood: Science, Policy and Adaption to Sea Level Rise,” “Credits and Trading: Air, Water and Land,” and “The Role of Journalism in Communicating Environmental Issues and Fostering Public Participation.” Workshops include, “Land Use 101: Understanding the Land Use Approval Process and How to Effectively Participate,” and “The Art and Skill of Communicating with Legislators.”

Robert Hartsell, trial counsel for the Everglades Law Center Inc. and a past PIEC participant, encourages those interested in, and working on environmental issues to attend the PIEC. “This conference exposes the practitioner to fresh thinking and an opportunity to collaborate with the best and brightest on the cutting edge environmental issues.”

February 20 is the postmark deadline for PIEC pre registration at $85. Onsite registration is $100. The registration fee includes CLEs and all program activities. Banquet registration is $35. The conference is free for all UF students, faculty and staff. A discounted registration fee of $45 is available for non-UF students, as well as scholarships.

Visit www.law.ufl.edu/piec to view the room assignments, scholarship form and conference brochure, which includes program and registration information.