FlaLaw » 2011 » September » 26

Upcoming CLE opportunity: The Global Challenge of International Sales Law

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:21:32 +0000

The University of Florida Center for International Business Education & Research and the Warrington College of Business Administration will host a conference on the impact, problems and issues related to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Additional sponsors include the University of Florida Levin College of Law, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), University of Florida Center for European Studies and the Institute for International Commercial Law (Pace University). The conference, which takes place Nov. 11-12, will be held at the Hilton-UF Conference Center on S.W. 34th Street.

The conference will bring together 35 or so scholars, practitioners, and representatives of international organizations from 20 or so countries to present papers in their areas of specialized expertise. Claire M. Germain, UF Law associate dean for legal information and Clarence J. TeSelle Professor of Law, will present “Issues of Translation” at the conference. This conference will provide information on multiple levels — understanding the rules of the CISG, the application of the CISG by signatory countries, theoretical insights, and its use by international transactional attorneys. It will also include a presentation by Luca Castellani, legal officer in the Secretariat of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, on the substance and status of complimentary conventions. Total available CLE credits: 14.5 CLE credits.

To register, click here.

CCF files brief in recent state case

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:21:14 +0000

The Center for Children and Families has just filed a brief as Amicus Curiae in the case of Courtney C. Schulhoff v. State of Florida, currently pending before the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal. Schulhoff is challenging the constitutionality under the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution of Florida’s statutory requirement that any juvenile accused of a capital crime be indicted and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the criminal adult circuit court, and, if found guilty, sentenced to a non-discretionary life in prison without the possibility of parole, without consideration of the juvenile’s age. In its Amicus brief, CCF is arguing that this requirement is unconstitutional. In particular, CCF is arguing that age must be taken into account in determining the culpability and sentencing of juveniles in the criminal justice system, due to research in social science and neuroscience that provides an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the developmental process in childhood and that reveals that characteristics of youth seriously compromise the standard penological justifications for punishment.

Moot Court argues in 26th annual Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Final Four competition

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:20:53 +0000

University of Florida Levin College of Law students Danielle Grundt, Amy Podolsky, Kelsey Veitengruber and Brandon White (supported by alternate Dylan Shea) argued Sept. 9 before a panel of distinguished judges in the 26th Annual Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Moot Court Final Four. This year’s panel was comprised of federal and state judges from throughout Florida, including Judge Monterey “Buddy” Campbell of Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeal; U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington of the Middle District of Florida; U.S. District Judge James S. Moody of the Middle District of Florida; and U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck of the Southern District of Florida. After their arguments concluded, the judges awarded Kelsey Veitengruber as “Best Oralist” and “Best Team” to Amy Podolsky and Brandon White. Podolsky was also named “Best Overall” and won the “Best Brief” award. The Florida Moot Court Team is proud of the Final Four competitors, as well as the 13 other new members. The team is excited about the upcoming competition year, as members will compete in moot court competitions across the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. The Florida Moot Court Team, governed by the Justice Campbell Thornal Executive Board, is currently ranked No. 11 nationally by the Blakely Advocacy Institute.

Weyrauch Distinguished Lecture in Family Law takes place Oct. 11

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:20:17 +0000

The Center on Children & Families will present the 6th Annual Weyrauch Distinguished Lecture in Family Law on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at noon in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180. Hina Jilani, advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, will present “The Role of Human Rights Defenders in Protecting Children’s Rights.”