To read the complete act, see Laws of Florida 2012-63 (pertinent section codified at Fla. Stat. § 120.55 (2012)).

Three Florida Supreme Court justices will discuss the importance of maintaining an independent judicial branch of government in the state of Florida Thursday at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

“The Importance of an Independent Judiciary,” will take place at 1 p.m. in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center; it is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Gerald T. Bennett Inn of Court and The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, Law Students Division.

The structure of an independent judicial branch of government in the United States helps to ensure that the judiciary remains free from the outside influence of other government entities and partisan interests. With Election Day rapidly approaching, this issue has come to the forefront in Florida with questions being raised about the state’s process of appointing Supreme Court justices. Currently, Florida Supreme Court justices are retained on the bench through a merit-based system, decided by voters every six years.

The panel discussion and conversation with law students will be moderated by UF Law Dean Emeritus Jon Mills, director of the Center for Governmental Responsibility, and by Carl Schwait, UF Law adjunct professor of law, member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors and senior partner at the Gainesville law firm of Dell Graham PA.

“Judicial independence is a fundamental Constitutional principal and it’s critical that it be protected,” Mills said. “We look forward to hearing the justices speak and to the participation of the students and community in this discussion.”

All seven Florida Supreme Court justices have been invited, and to date, Justices Barbara J. Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy A. Quince are confirmed to appear on the panel. The three justices are on the Nov. 6 ballot for merit retention this year.

Newly elected Henderson State University President Glendell Jones (LLMT 96) has joined a select group. As of July 1,  he became one of 11 UF Law alumni to become president of a university or college.

In doing so, Jones also became the first black president of any traditionally white institution in Arkansas.

“Growing up a poor kid from an uneducated family was the biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome,” Jones said. “It’s because of this that I believe there is no better place to make a difference in the lives of young people than higher education.”

The Henderson State presidency had been open three times in the last 10 years, Jones said. As a Henderson State alumnus with an accounting degree, Jones felt called to the 3,779-student public liberal arts college. He applied for the position the third time it opened.

“The fact that it’s my alma mater had a special role in it,” he said. “It’s a very special opportunity for me to pay it forward.”

Jones earned a juris doctor from the University of Arkansas. After taking tax courses while at Arkansas, Jones decided to specialize in tax and attend UF Law.

Jones said his time in UF Law’s Graduate Tax program taught him how to advocate and analyze.

“I’ve had to be an advocate and a strong communicator and that’s a skill set you can only acquire through such a program,” he said. “It’s the best LL.M.T. program in the country, period.”

U.S. News & World Report rankings go a long way to supporting Jones’ assessment. The program is ranked first among public law schools and second overall in the nation.

As a UF Law student, Jones was a graduate assistant to Professor Michael Friel.

Graduate assistants, Friel said, are selected by a professor to assist the professor with his or her research and are chosen based on merit.

“Glen impressed me on a number of levels. He had a really extraordinary work ethic and that was apparent,” he said. “I was very glad to see that he went into teaching because the way he worked with students made it clear that he’d be a great teacher.”

Friel believes that Jones’ transition into higher education seemed natural, and that Jones’ love of tax determined his teaching path.

“Tax brought him into the educational environment where he was ready to flourish,” Friel said.

After graduating from UF Law, Jones began teaching at Arkansas State and simultaneously built a small private practice that catered to attorneys and CPAs.

Jones taught at both Arkansas State and Henderson State after leaving private practice.

Jones believes that tax played a large role in preparing him for where he is today.

“Learning to communicate complex matters in a manner that is easily understood by others has served me very well. As a result, I truly believe that if you can do taxation you can do anything,” he said.

Friel also believes that Jones’ understanding of what a professor does will allow him to excel in his position as president.

In addition to understanding the needs of faculty, Jones has a drive for community service.

“When you dealt with Glen you recognized you were dealing with someone who really cared about the community he was a part of,” Friel said.

Jones’ advice to current law students revolves around service.

“Pursue your dreams and make serving others your passion,” he said. “Live a life in which you strive to make a difference in the lives of others and you will find that everything else will take care of itself.”

In his spare time, Jones enjoys fly fishing, taking daily walks and spending time with his wife and two children. He and his wife met during law school and they have been married for 17 years.

iStockphoto.com

Tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year will trigger higher average tax bills of almost $3,500 across all households in the U.S., and $2,000 for middle income households. Experts say this looming “fiscal cliff” would result in unprecedented tax hikes that could result in a major economic slowdown unless the current rates are renewed.

Some of the nation’s senior tax policy advisers will be discussing this critical issue during the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Gelberg Lecture Oct. 26, at 10:30 a.m. in UF Law’s Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180. The panelists will be Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation Thomas Barthold, Mark Prater, minority tax counsel for the Senate Finance Committee and former staff director of the House-Senate deficit reduction supercommittee, and Chief Tax Counsel of the Senate Finance Committee Lily Batchelder. The discussion will be moderated by Lindy Paull, co-managing partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and former Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff. The event is free and open to the public.

“We are at the point where every individual has a financial stake in what is done with tax reform,” said UF Law Professor and Alumni Research Scholar Dennis Calfee. “These individuals are playing key roles in the reform process.”

Among the laws affected by the fiscal cliff are last year’s temporary payroll tax cuts, various tax breaks for businesses, Bush’s tax cuts from 2001 and 2003, and the estate tax exemption amount, which will be reduced from $5.12 million to $1 million. January will also see the beginning of taxes related to Obama’s Affordable Care Act. U.S. lawmakers must choose between letting the changes go into effect as scheduled, possibly plunging the nation back into recession; cancel or alter the scheduled increases in an attempt to avoid a recession, while increasing the nation’s deficit; or seeking a moderate approach which will have less impact on growth and address limited budget issues.

The Ellen Bellet Gelberg Tax Policy Lecture Series is an endowed lecture series that examines tax policy and how its implementation affects the economy and people’s lives. Gelberg, who holds a J.D. and LL.M. in taxation from UF Law, established the lecture series to bring distinguished lecturers to the college each year to speak on tax policy topics to students and faculty, and provide a special opportunity for reflection on the policies supporting the U.S. tax structure.

On Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Reitz Union Auditorium, come see the new, beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary “Bully,” directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch. The film opens a window onto the pained and often endangered lives of bullied kids, revealing a problem that transcends geographic, racial, ethnic and economic borders. It documents the responses of teachers and administrators to aggressive behaviors that defy “kids will be kids” clichés, and it captures a growing movement among parents and youths to change how bullying is handled in schools, in communities and in society as a whole.

How does conflict management influence the organizational culture of a large, complex United Nations agency such as the World Health Organization (WHO)? A workshop entitled “So What’s the Problem: Using Collaboration to Change Organizational Culture” explores the challenges of designing and applying conflict management systems that impact the organization as a whole. The workshop takes place from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday in Smathers Library Room 1A and is led by Lin Inlow, founder of the Inlow Group and creator of the model. The audience will have the opportunity to interact with each other and better understand the nature of collaboration.

Virgil Hawkins Civil Clinics present: An Immigration Training

Virgil Hawkins Civil Clinics will host an immigration training with Michelle Ortiz from Americans for Immigrant Justice Friday 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in HOL 270. A working lunch will be provided. Register by Tuesday.

Town Hall meeting Oct. 23 to address ways to affirm values of a diverse community, law school creates resource page

UF Law administrators and the Diversity and Community Relations Committee have been working to identify not just steps to respond to deplorable incidents like the hate crime that occured on campus a few weeks ago, but also ways to affirm the values of a diverse community and to promote an inclusive and tolerant environment.

As part of this process, there will be a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at noon in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180, that will focus on the value and challenges of being a diverse community. This will be an opportunity for those who attend to discuss their concerns and their aspirations for the community, and to share ideas for ways we can promote inclusivity and tolerance.

In addition, the law school has created a webpage offering resources for dealing with academic stress, tolerance issues, anxiety and a variety of other issues. Got a problem? We can help. Contact the Communications Office if you have comments or suggestions for improving the page.

Create a video about Fourth Amendment issues and you could win $500

The Criminal Justice Center and the Criminal Law Association is pleased to host its inaugural criminal video-advocacy competition this fall. The competition solicits submissions by student teams of an original, creative and educational video portrayal of Fourth Amendment issues geared toward a college-student audience. Please note:

• The winner will receive a $500 cash prize and dinner with Professors Haughton and Dekle.  The second place winner will receive a $350 cash price and the third place winner will receive $150. The winning entry will also be shown, along with other honorable mention entries, at a viewing party at the law school. At the discretion of the review committee, the winning entry may be selected to be aired on GatorVision network.
• All law students enrolled at the Levin College of Law are eligible to enter.
• Deadline for submissions has been extended to Oct. 29. Winners will be announced Nov. 10.
• The submissions will be evaluated by members of a judging panel; criteria include clarity of thought, well-structured argumentation, creative use of videography and liveliness of expression.

Decisions of the judging panel will be final. Complete rules of the competition are available on the CJC website (www.law.ufl.edu/academics/centers/cjc) or can be obtained from Eva Achero in Room 100, Bruton-Geer Hall.

UF Trial Team hosts Final Four competition Friday

Join the Trial Team this Friday at 1 p.m. for the Final Four Competition in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center. Katrina Self and Brittany Smaridge will represent the State of Sparta and Justin McConnell and Insiya Joher will represent Trent Burrows, the defendant. Trial Team thanks all who participated in this year’s UF Trial Team Intramural Competition.

9th Annual Minority Law Student Picnic set for Nov. 10

The 9^th Annual Minority Law Student Picnic will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, in Hialeah, Fla. In the past, UF Law alumnus Judge Paul Huck has assisted with connecting Florida Law students with a mentor. If you are interested in having a mentor, complete the student application. Each year many UF law students attend this picnic by traveling themselves or on the bus provided by the law school. The trip to Hialeah will take approximately five hours, and the bus will depart from Gainesville at approximately 7 a.m. The bus will begin the return trip around 4:15 p.m. If you are interested in attending the picnic and riding on the bus, sign up at the Student Affairs Office front desk by Monday, Oct. 29, at 5 p.m. and complete the release form to ride the bus.

LIC Notes: Florida Administrative Regulations ’officially’ say goodbye to print

Effective Oct. 1, 2012, Florida took a digital leap with regards to administrative law.  The Florida Administrative Code and the newly renamed Florida Administrative Register (formerly the Florida Administrative Weekly) are now officially published electronically.  Both publications will be continuously revised and published and made freely available at http://www.flrules.org.  While primary legal materials have been available digitally for many years, they have been deemed unofficial in Florida until now.

To read the complete act, see Laws of Florida 2012-63 (pertinent section codified at Fla. Stat. § 120.55 (2012)).

Law Association for Women hosts social at Corks and Colors

The Law Association for Women had a social Sept. 30 at Corks and Colors, which allowed new members to socialize with upperclassmen and show off their artistic sides.

LAW is UF Law’s oldest women’s organization and has meetings once a month and social events throughout the semester. Anyone interested in getting involved can sign up on TWEN to receive emails about upcoming meetings and events.

Friday afternoon, black leadership was honored with the celebration of 50 years since the graduation of W. George Allen (JD 62), the first black graduate of UF Law and of the University of Florida. A diversity panel was followed by a program and reception featuring national and state leaders as well as a plaque unveiling to honor Allen.

Check FlaLaw next Monday for the full stories.

Sterling Davenport (1L), Professor Danaya Wright, Matthew Heberlein (LL.M.) and Kathryn Brightbill (2L) participated in OUTLaw’s celebration of National Coming Out Day Oct. 11. (Photo by Marcela Suter)

In celebration of National Coming Out Day Oct. 11, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s gay-straight alliance group, OUTLaw, hosted a panel of students and faculty who shared their personal and professional experiences as openly gay individuals.

OUTLaw President Kathryn Bennett (2L) began the discussion with a history of LGTBQ issues and said this day serves as a civil awareness day that helps foster an understanding about these issues and raises awareness for gay and straight people alike.

Sterling Davenport (1L), Matthew Heberlein (LL.M.T.), Kathryn Brightbill (2L) and Professor Danaya Wright spoke on issues ranging from coming out to family, friends and in the workplace, to what straight allies can do to help promote a more inclusive and understanding community.

Bennett said coming out is an important and personal decision and it is up to each person to decide when it is appropriate to come out.

“There’s no going back” once a person is out, she said, and it can “fundamentally alter relationships.”

Davenport said issues such as personal safety can be a factor when determining who to tell and when to come out.

When coming out to a friend, Wright said one of the best responses should simply be: “That’s great.”

That someone has mustered up the courage to share such an integral part of his or her life demonstrates vulnerability as well as trust in the person receiving the news, echoed the panelists.

Following individual stories, Bennett asked each panelist what he or she would tell someone about their sexuality if they were meeting for the first time and what advice they would give to allies to support someone coming out.

Davenport said his activity in equality groups makes his sexuality more obvious, but for others it may not be as clear.

Prior to graduating from Florida Coastal Law, Heberlein was hesitant to include his involvement in equality groups at the college on his resume, but decided if a firm had issue with it, then he likely did not want to work in that environment.

Heberlein said sometimes people can use terms without meaning them in a negative sense, but it’s important to let them know if their use is offensive or derogatory.

“There is nothing wrong with making a mistake,” Heberlein said. “But there is everything good about making a change.”

As for the classroom, Wright encourages faculty to use more hypothetical gay couples in class discussion to normalize their inclusion. She said students often perk up when a gay couple is brought into an estates and trusts scenario, since the vast majority of cases are straight couples.

As for acceptance in the law school community or workplace, Heberlein said “If something makes you feel uncomfortable, speak out and correct it.”

The UF Law administration has been working closely with the Diversity and Community Relations Committee to identify ways to affirm the values of a diverse community and promote an inclusive and tolerant environment. A Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23 at noon in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180, to discuss these issues in a forum setting.

In addition, the law school has created a webpage offering resources for dealing with academic stress, tolerance issues, anxiety and a variety of other issues. Got a problem? We can help. Contact the Communications Office if you have comments or suggestions for improving the page.

To view other UF efforts to promote inclusivity, watch this video of UF students and faculty giving a message of love and acceptance to the LGBTQ community.

Students interested in enrolling in the Environmental & Land Use Law Certificate Program for this semester are encouraged to do so by today. Through the Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Program, students can graduate from law school with a valuable credential that indicates both concentration and accomplishment in these two fields. If you have recently enrolled, or plan to do so, contact Lena Hinson at Hinson@law.ufl.edu to set up an appointment with Professor Mary Jane Angelo, director of the Environmental & Land Use Law Program, to discuss your course of study for Spring and Summer 2013. For more information on the ELUL Certificate Program, visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/academics/concentration/elul/elul-certificate. Enrollment forms are available online. Students enrolled in the certificate program will receive email notification regarding priority pre-registration for certificate core courses.

Spring Supreme Court Externships

Two positions are now available for Spring 2012 semester at the Florida Supreme Court. They are each a five-credit externship, running Jan. 14 – April 26, 2013, and require 20 hours per week. You must have a clearance letter from The Florida Bar to participate. For more information or to apply, contact Tim McLendon in CGR in 230 Bruton-Geer, by email at mclendon@law.ufl.edu, or by phone at 273-0835.

Applications open for 2013 Evan Yegelwel Summer Fellowship

The Evan Yegelwel Summer Fellowship award permits one UF Law student to participate in a paid Summer Fellowship Program at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Florida Regional Office in Boca Raton. The Yegelwel Summer Fellowship award is $4,000. The ADL is a premier national civil rights organization that fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry in the U.S. and abroad, combats international terrorism, probes the roots of hatred, comes to the aid of victims of bigotry, develops educational programs, and serves as a public resource for government, media, law enforcement, all toward the goal of countering and reducing hatred. A generous gift from Evan Yegelwel (JD 80) has made this fellowship possible. Yegelwel is a partner in the Jacksonville law firm of Terrell Hogan Ellis Yegelwel, P.A. Click here for more fellowship and application information.

Costa Rica

By Francie Weinberg
Student writer

The University of Florida Levin College of Law study abroad and exchange programs allow students to venture to the corners of the earth for beautiful views, delicious food and an international perspective on the law.

Students have the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica, South Africa or France. The only prerequisites are that students have completed one year of law school and are in good standing with the college. Programs are six weeks long and allow students to earn up to six credits.

Costa Rica, focusing mainly on environmental and international law, is situated in San Jose. It gives students the opportunity to explore the rainforests and rolling rivers while learning in a cross-cultural environment. The France program begins in Paris and then moves to Montpellier for the next four weeks. The program emphasizes business law and allows students to travel throughout Europe if they so desire. The South Africa program, offered again after a two-year hiatus, is set at the University of Cape Town, thought to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, offers a community service aspect in addition to regular courses.

“There are also native students who participate in all three of the programs,” said Michelle Ocepek, UF Law director of student programs. “Not every program offers that. Sometimes it’s just a group of Americans that show up to study, but in ours we try and do field trips and include local students so we can get more of the culture.”

Many students classify their study abroad trips as one of their best and most memorable college experiences. It allows them an opportunity to broaden their circle of friends, see the world and get to know the professors on a level they would not achieve in a classroom setting.

“The trip is really an opportunity to immerse yourself in French culture, rather than just experience France as a tourist,” said Adam Nicoll, a second-year law student. “Every morning I woke up and had breakfast before class at a little cafe around the corner from the university.  After a week of butchering the French pronunciation of ‘croissant’ and ‘cafe crème’ I established myself as a regular there and didn’t even need to order anymore; the couple that owned the cafe would just bring it over upon seeing me sit down. I didn’t get to just see the sights; I got to really know the culture.”

The faculty rotates on a year-to-year basis in order to keep the programs as up-to-date and modern as possible.

“I truly believe the program was made by the presence of our UF faculty members,” said Olivia Liggio, a second-year law student. “They really encouraged us to explore and experience our surroundings by planning excursions and they even helped us to figure out how to see the Tour de France, which was passing through a town nearby.”

Students must apply for the Costa Rica program with a letter of interest and a resume but France and South Africa are on a first-come, first-served basis. The second interest meeting will be in January. Additionally, if students wish to earn up to the full eight credits allowed during the summer, they may couple the study abroad trip with a class, an internship or an externship upon their return home.

The college also offers nine exchange programs around the world: Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel; Tel Aviv University, Israel; Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; Leiden University, The Netherlands; Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Pontificia Universidade Catolica-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; University of Cape Town, South Africa; University of Montpellier, France; and University of Warsaw, Poland.

These programs are a semester long and students go without the accompaniment of a faculty member. All of the exchanges are ABA-approved and students can earn up to one-third of their credits overseas. It is an opportunity to be immersed in the culture as well as improve language skills, as classes are often mostly native students rather than others participating in exchange programs. If students do not see a country or program they would like to participate in, they are allowed to participate in other ABA-schools’ programs.

The exchange programs offer new and different coursework for students, as well as a chance to make international connections and to learn a variety of perspectives about the law. There is also financial aid available.

“If students have a goal of studying abroad during their law career, it is best that they start early,” Ocepek said. “That way they can plan and they can be intentional about fitting it in to their legal career. I think it’s really easy to think that three years is a long time but it goes really quickly.”

For more information, visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/academics/academic-programs/study-abroad or contact Michelle Ocepek at 352-273-0620 or ocepek@law.ufl.edu.

Harvard Law Professor Janet Halley will be on campus Thursday to discuss same-sex marriage.

The Weyrauch Distinguished Lecture in Family Law will feature Harvard Law School Professor Janet Halley on “Traveling Marriage: Why the Campaign for Same Sex Marriage Gets Marriage Wrong,” Thursday at noon in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180.

Hosted by the Center for Children and Families, this lecture was established in honor of Professor Walter O. Weyrauch, internationally known for his work in foreign and family law. Professor Weyrauch joined the UF Law faculty in 1957 as associate professor. He became professor in 1960, was Clarence J. TeSelle Professor 1989-94, and became Stephen C. O’Connell Chair in 1994 and distinguished professor in 1998. A reception will follow the lecture.

Halley is the Royall Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She teaches courses in family law, comparative family law and sexuality, and legal theory. Before teaching at Harvard, she was professor of law at Stanford Law School (1991-2000) and assistant professor of English at Hamilton College (1980-85). She has a Ph.D. in English from UCLA (1980) and a J.D. from Yale Law School (1988).

Her books include After Sex? On Writing Since Queer Theory, co-edited with Andrew Parker (Duke University Press 2011); Split Decisions: How and Why to Take a Break from Feminism (Princeton University Press 2006); Left Legalism/Left Critique, co-edited with Wendy Brown (Duke University Press, 2002); Don’t: A Reader’s Guide to the Military’s Anti-Gay Policy (Duke Univ. Press, 1999); and Seeking the Woman in Late Medieval and Renaissance Literature: Essays in Feminist Contextual Criticism, co-edited with Sheila Fisher (University of Tennessee Press, 1989). Her current projects include a handbook, What’s Not to Like about Sexual Harassment Law; a paper comparing family law systems entitled “Travelling Marriage;” and a critique of the rules about sexual violence in war established by the ad hoc courts convened to adjudicate war crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.