Caroline Joan S. Picart (3L, joint J.D. and M.A. in Women’s Studies Candidate; Tybel Spivack Teaching Fellow) has a contracted and forthcoming book: Critical Race Theory and copyright in American Dance (Palgrave-Macmillan, forthcoming, 2013). She has also contracted three forthcoming law journal articles, two in an international London-based journal:

• Caroline Joan S. Picart and Marlowe Fox, “Beyond Unbridled Optimism and Fear: Indigenous Peoples, Intellectual Property, Human Rights and the Globalization of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore” (Part I), 15 International Community Law Review 3, (2013), pages forthcoming.
• Caroline Joan S. Picart and Marlowe Fox, “Beyond Unbridled Optimism and Fear: Indigenous Peoples, Intellectual Property, Human Rights and the Globalization of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore” (Part II), 16 International Community Law Review 2 (2014), pages forthcoming. 
• Caroline Joan S. Picart, “Cross Cultural Negotiations and International Intellectual Property Law: Attempts to Work Across Cultural Clashes Between Indigenous Peoples and Majoritarian Cultures,” 22 Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal, pages forthcoming.

Her conference paper, “Monstrosity, Serial Killing, the criminal blackman and the Lesbian Female Serial Killer: Fact and Fiction in Depictions of Wayne Williams and Aileen Wuornos,”  was accepted and presented March 21 at the Association for the Study of Law, Culture and the Humanities, University of London, England.

LIC Notes: Congressional Rules: CRS Primers

Do you ever teach your students or write about the functions of Congress? Several recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports discuss the workings of Congress and some changes to procedures that are being implemented. You will occasionally find useful diagrams in the CRS reports, such as those found in .

• The Amending Process in the Senate, March 15, 2013, http://hobnobblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/98-853_2013_03_15_40p.pdf
• Commonly Used Motions and Requests in the House of Representatives, March 15, 2013, http://hobnobblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RL32207_2013_03_15_21p.pdf
• Changes to Senate Procedures in the 113th Congress Affecting the Operation of Cloture, March 13, 2013, http://hobnobblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/R42996_2013_03_13_32p.pdf
• House Committee Funding: Description of Process and Analysis of Disbursements, March 13, 2013, http://hobnobblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/R42778_2013_03_13_15p.pdf
• “Sense of” Resolutions and Provisions, March 11, 2013, http://hobnobblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/98-825_2013_03_11_5p1.pdf
• Lobbying Registration and Disclosure: Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate, March 7, 2013, http://hobnobblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RL34377_2013_03_07_15p.pdf

• Senate Select Committee on Ethics: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction, March 7, 2013, http://hobnobblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RL30650_2013_03_07_29p.pdf

If you are interested in other functions not discussed above, the Law Librarian’s Society of Washington D.C. maintains a list of “Selected Congressional Research Service Reports on Congress and Its Procedures” at http://www.llsdc.org/crs-congress/.

Important registration information from Student Affairs

The course schedules for the upcoming academic year (summer 2013, fall 2013, and spring 2014) have been released and are posted on the Student Affairs website: http://www.law.ufl.edu/student-affairs/current-students/course-schedules. You should be aware of information concerning distance education courses prior to registering for classes. Based upon ABA Standard 306(d), governing distance education in U.S. Law Schools, no student may obtain more than four credit hours of distance education(online/asynchronous) courses in the same term, and no student may receive more than a total of 12 credit hours of academic credit for distance education(online/asynchronous) courses to count toward the J.D. degree. Furthermore, since students are permitted, with prior approval, to complete up to six credit hours of graduate level courses to count toward law school graduation requirements, and since some students complete distance education courses through the Graduate School, the four credit hours and 12 credit hours limitations apply to these courses, as well. Thus, if a student is registered for an online graduate level course, this reduces the number of hours permitted for other distance education(online/asynchronous) courses either through the Graduate School and/or through the law school.

This information is particularly important for the Summer 2013 term, as there are currently 6 asynchronous (distance education) courses on the law school’s summer schedule of courses. Out of these six courses, one is a one credit hour course and the other courses are two credit hours. Therefore, you will only be able to register for up to two of these asynchronous courses during the summer term. Please review the schedule of courses carefully and plan your schedules accordingly. As you register for classes, you will be reminded of this requirement in ISIS when/if you register for any law distance education(asynchronous/online) course. If you attempt to register for a distance education(asynchronous/online) course, the following message will pop up to remind you of this rule:

“Per ABA Standard 306D, a law student may not register for more than four credits of asynchronous online courses in one term.”

If it is determined that you have registered for more than four credits of asynchronous (distance education/online) courses in any term (e.g., this summer), you will be notified to drop a course or courses. If this is not done, you will then be administratively dropped from the course or courses until you are in compliance with the ABA Standard 306(d).

If there should be any questions or concerns about any of this information, please feel free to contact Assistant Dean of Students Kari Mattox at mattoxk@law.ufl.edu, or stop by the Office of Student Affairs.

2013 Class Gift Legacy

The University of Florida Levin College of Law would not be what it is today without support from alumni. As you prepare to join the distinguished Gator Nation alumni network, now is your chance to make a difference and leave a legacy for future generations of students. Consider making a gift, at any amount, in support of your college. UF Law appreciates your support, as the 2013 Class Gift campaign aims to achieve 100 percent participation from all graduating 3Ls.

To make a gift today visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/alumni/giving/class-gifts.

More than 40 first-year students created and presented a closing argument for the criminal case, State of Lonestar v. Robert Duffie, in the 2013 Trial Team 1L Closing Argument Competition.

After a full week of qualifying rounds, the three highest scoring advocates - Andreu Szempruch (Prosecution), John Kelly (Defense) and Lauren Humphries (Defense) – advanced to the final round, which took place in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center on March 27.

Szempruch displayed a zealous prosecution style for the State of Lonestar, Kelly showed off his talents of persuasion and Humphries passionately advocated for her client. In the end, Kelly prevailed as the Best Overall Advocate.

The University of Florida Trial Team congratulates its finalists and thanks all who participated. For rising second-year students who wish to be part of the Trial Team, the team encourages attending the annual tryouts, which begin in September 2013.

(From left are Andreu Szemprach, Lauren Humphries and John Kelly)

ICAM team excels in Vienna

The Levin College of Law International Commercial Arbitration Moot (ICAM) team had a good showing in Vienna — despite snow, ice and extremely cold temperatures.

For only the fourth time since the program started nearly 20 years ago, the team qualified for the final rounds. The team lost in the round of 64 — only 64 of the nearly 300 teams make it to the final rounds. After finishing second in the Florida state competition earlier in February, team member Dane Ullian (2L) received Honorable Mention recognition in Vienna.

The other members of the team were Alexis Leventhal (3L), who served as captain; Julie deBruin (2L); and Phil Kegler (3L).

Each spring the team competes against groups from law schools around the world at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition in Vienna. The competition is one of the most prestigious of its kind and focuses on a problem that is drawn from the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The team members prepare arguments and briefs for both sides of the issue to present at the competition.

The team is coached by Professors George Dawson and Jeffrey Harrison, who are assisted by alumnus Eddie Palmer (JD 85).

(From left are: Professor George Dawson, Dane Ullian (2L), Eddie Palmer (JD 85), Alexis Leventhal (3L), Julie deBruin (2L), and Phil Kegler (3L), representing UF Law at the Florida Vis Pre-Moot Arbitration Competition in late February before moving on to the international competition in Vienna. The team qualified for the final rounds at the competition in Vienna, which was held in March).

Important registration information from Student Affairs

The course schedules for the upcoming academic year (Summer 2013, Fall 2013, and Spring 2014) have been released and are posted on the Student Affairs website: http://www.law.ufl.edu/student-affairs/current-students/course-schedules. You should be aware of information concerning distance education courses prior to registering for classes. Based upon ABA Standard 306(d), governing distance education in U.S. Law Schools, no student may obtain more than four credit hours of distance education(online/asynchronous) courses in the same term, and no student may receive more than a total of 12 credit hours of academic credit for distance education(online/asynchronous) courses to count toward the J.D. degree. Furthermore, since students are permitted, with prior approval, to complete up to six credit hours of graduate level courses to count toward law school graduation requirements, and since some students complete distance education courses through the Graduate School, the four credit hours and 12 credit hours limitations apply to these courses, as well. Thus, if a student is registered for an online graduate level course, this reduces the number of hours permitted for other distance education(online/asynchronous) courses either through the Graduate School and/or through the law school.

This information is particularly important for the Summer 2013 term, as there are currently 6 asynchronous (distance education) courses on the law school’s summer schedule of courses. Out of these six courses, one is a one credit hour course and the other courses are two credit hours. Therefore, you will only be able to register for up to two of these asynchronous courses during the summer term. Please review the schedule of courses carefully and plan your schedules accordingly. As you register for classes, you will be reminded of this requirement in ISIS when/if you register for any law distance education(asynchronous/online) course. If you attempt to register for a distance education(asynchronous/online) course, the following message will pop up to remind you of this rule:

“Per ABA Standard 306D, a law student may not register for more than four credits of asynchronous online courses in one term.”

If it is determined that you have registered for more than four credits of asynchronous (distance education/online) courses in any term (e.g., this summer), you will be notified to drop a course or courses. If this is not done, you will then be administratively dropped from the course or courses until you are in compliance with the ABA Standard 306(d).

If there should be any questions or concerns about any of this information, please feel free to contact Assistant Dean of Students, Kari Mattox, at mattoxk@law.ufl.edu, or stop by the Office of Student Affairs.

Submit your art to be featured in the upcoming art show

The annual Student Faculty Art Show is Thursday, April 11, from 6-9 p.m. in the Lawton Chiles Library. The art show gives students and faculty the opportunity to utilize a different type of skill set and an outlet for their creative sides. Submissions from past years have included oil on canvas to photography, melted crayon art, sculpture, sketches, blown glass, and even clothing. The show also aims to give students a study break before finals with hors d’oeuvres and wine served in the library alongside the art on display. If you’ve been dying to try out that art project you saw on Pinterest or you have something you created years ago, now is your chance to share. Submissions will be returned and artists can choose to display their art with their name and title or anonymously.

2013 Class Gift Legacy

The University of Florida Levin College of Law would not be what it is today without support from alumni. As you prepare to join the distinguished Gator Nation alumni network, now is your chance to make a difference and leave a legacy for future generations of students. Consider making a gift, at any amount, in support of your college. UF Law appreciates your support, as the 2013 Class Gift campaign aims to achieve 100 percent participation from all graduating 3Ls.

To make a gift today visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/alumni/giving/class-gifts.

The course schedules for the upcoming academic year (Summer 2013, Fall 2013, and Spring 2014) have been released and are posted on the Student Affairs website: http://www.law.ufl.edu/student-affairs/current-students/course-schedules. There is very important information you should be aware of concerning distance education courses prior to registering for classes. Based upon ABA Standard 306(d), governing distance education in U.S. Law Schools, no student may obtain more than four credit hours of distance education(online/asynchronous) courses in the same term, and no student may receive more than a total of 12 credit hours of academic credit for distance education(online/asynchronous) courses to count toward the J.D. degree. Furthermore, since students are permitted, with prior approval, to complete up to six credit hours of graduate level courses to count toward law school graduation requirements, and since some students complete distance education courses through the Graduate School, the four credit hours and 12 credit hours limitations apply to these courses, as well. Thus, if a student is registered for an online graduate level course, this reduces the number of hours permitted for other distance education(online/asynchronous) courses either through the Graduate School and/or through the law school.

This information is particularly important for the Summer 2013 term, as there are currently 6 asynchronous (distance education) courses on the law school’s summer schedule of courses. Out of these six courses, one is a one credit hour course and the other courses are two credit hours. Therefore, you will only be able to register for up to two of these asynchronous courses during the summer term. Please review the schedule of courses carefully and plan your schedules accordingly. As you register for classes, you will be reminded of this requirement in ISIS when/if you register for any law distance education(asynchronous/online) course. If you attempt to register for a distance education(asynchronous/online) course, the following message will pop up to remind you of this rule:

“Per ABA Standard 306D, a law student may not register for more than four credits of asynchronous online courses in one term.”

If it is determined that you have registered for more than four credits of asynchronous (distance education/online) courses in any term (e.g., this summer), you will be notified to drop a course or courses. If this is not done, you will then be administratively dropped from the course or courses until you are in compliance with the ABA Standard 306(d).

If there should be any questions or concerns about any of this information, please feel free to contact Assistant Dean of Students, Kari Mattox, at mattoxk@law.ufl.edu, or stop by the Office of Student Affairs.

Moot Court stays active in competitions, elects new board

The Florida Moot Court executive board sent three 2L teams to three competitions during the past few weeks. The board met March 25 to elect a new executive board and planned for the upcoming year. The successes at recent competitions strengthen the board’s confidence in the advocacy skills of the team members who will lead the board in the 2013-2014 season. The results of the competitions and elections are listed below:

• Giles Southerland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition: 2Ls Matthew Moats and Joey Posey competed at the Giles Southerland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court competition on March 15. The team competed well and advanced from of the preliminary rounds. The board looks forward to success from these two competitors next year.
• Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition: 2Ls Stephanie Generotti and Kate Livanec brought home a Best Brief Award at the Weschler Criminal Law competition. The team also fared well in oral arguments, advancing to the quarter finals. The Best Brief honors are the second for the board this year.  Last fall, 2Ls Alfredo Ferrer and Joey Posey won a Best Brief award at the Puerto Rican Bar Association Moot Court Competition.
• John J. Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition: 2Ls Cullen Boggus and Robert Sowell advanced to the finals at the Gibbons competition. Their efforts led to a second place finish at competition that featured more than 40 teams. This is the highest finish for board at a national competition this year. Their finalist plaque will hang proudly in the Moot Court office, spurring the Moot Court Board members on to continued success at national competitions.

The 2013-2014 Executive Board for the Florida Moot Court Team is as follows: Chelsey Clements – President; Heather Griffin – Internal Vice President; Kevin Stone – External Vice President; Jessica Andrade – Secretary; John Curry – Treasurer; Cullen Boggus – Chair for Eduction and Training; Victoria Forson – Intermural Competition Chair; Stephanie Generotti – Intermural Competition Vice Chair; Megan Coughlin- Intramural Competition Co-Chair; Stephanie Generotti- Intramural Competition Co-Chair; Kate Livanec – Special Events Chair; Kristina Gandre – Special Event Vice-Chair; and Matt Goodwin – Public Relations Chair.

Submit your art to be featured in the upcoming art show

The annual Student Faculty Art Show is Thursday, April 11, from 6-9 p.m. in the Lawton Chiles Library. The art show gives students and faculty the opportunity to utilize a different type of skill set and an outlet for their creative sides. Submissions from past years have included oil on canvas to photography, melted crayon art, sculpture, sketches, blown glass, and even clothing. The show also aims to give students a study break before finals with hors d’oeuvres and wine served in the library alongside the art on display. If you’ve been dying to try out that art project you saw on Pinterest or you have something you created years ago, now is your chance to share. Submissions will be returned and artists can choose to display their art with their name and title or anonymously.

LIC Notes: The New Serendipity: Digital History

Historical research used to be very tricky. Even five years ago, it was almost serendipitous to locate a treatise with a relevant passage or other older materials for your research.  Today, digital technology and full-text searching have made it much easier to locate materials in historical collections. The Legal Information Center provides access to several historical collections for on-campus or remote access* users, including:

• HeinOnline Legal Classics
• LLMC Digital
• Making of Modern Law–Legal Treatises
• Making of Modern Law–Primary Sources
• Making of Modern Law–Trials:1600-1926
• Making of Modern Law–U.S. Supreme Court Briefs: 1832-1978

A wide variety of legal and non-legal pre-1923 materials are also available in full-text at:

• Google Books
• HathiTrust

Limited previews may be available for some newer books in the two databases above.

For assistance with these databases, contact your liaison or the UF Law reference desk at(352) 273-0723.

* Remote access available only to UF faculty, staff, and students.

JTLP hosts Tools for Schools school supply drive

The Journal of Technology Law & Policy is hosting its first annual Tools for Schools School Supply Drive. Now through Friday, JTLP is collecting new and gently used school supplies for donation to “Tools for Schools,” a reusable resource center located in Alachua County.

This organization collects and provides new and gently used educational supplies to Alachua County Public School teachers and students at no cost.  Every day, students and households throw out school supplies that are no longer being used but are either new or still in good working condition and still have educational value. Consider donating unused supplies to this organization that will benefit students and educational professionals who cannot afford to purchase new supplies each year.

JTLP has boxes set up in and outside the journal office, inside the law library, and in Student Affairs. JTLP will have signs to direct you. JTLP seeks new and gently used school supplies, including, but not limited to: boxes of pencils or pens, markers, erasers, scissors, folders, dry erase markers, backpacks you no longer use or need, clean and non-ripped lunch boxes, crayons, binders, etc. Email a.friedrich@ufl.edu or eric.netcher@gmail.com with any questions and check out the website for Tools for Schools for more information about how your donations will help: http://www.alachuacounty.us/Depts/PW/Waste/toolsforschools/Pages/ToolsforSchools.aspx.

2013 Class Gift Legacy

The University of Florida Levin College of Law would not be what it is today without support from alumni. As you prepare to join the distinguished Gator Nation alumni network, now is your chance to make a difference and leave a legacy for future generations of students. Consider making a gift, at any amount, in support of your college. UF Law appreciates your support, as the 2013 Class Gift campaign aims to achieve 100 percent participation from all graduating 3Ls.

To make a gift today visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/alumni/giving/class-gifts.

The course schedules for the upcoming academic year (Summer 2013, Fall 2013, and Spring 2014) have been released and are posted on the Student Affairs website:  http://www.law.ufl.edu/student-affairs/current-students/course-schedules. There is very important information you should be aware of concerning distance education courses prior to registering for classes.  Based upon ABA Standard 306(d), governing distance education in U.S. Law Schools, no student may obtain more than four credit hours of distance education(online/asynchronous) courses in the same term, and no student may receive more than a total of 12 credit hours of academic credit for distance education(online/asynchronous) courses to count toward the J.D. degree.  Furthermore, since students are permitted, with prior approval, to complete up to six credit hours of graduate level courses to count toward law school graduation requirements, and since some students complete distance education courses through the Graduate School, the four credit hours and 12 credit hours limitations apply to these courses, as well. Thus, if a student is registered for an online graduate level course, this reduces the number of hours permitted for other distance education(online/asynchronous) courses either through the Graduate School and/or through the law school.

This information is particularly important for the Summer 2013 term, as there are currently 6 asynchronous (distance education) courses on the law school’s summer schedule of courses. Out of these six courses, one is a one credit hour course and the other courses are two credit hours. Therefore, you will only be able to register for up to two of these asynchronous courses during the summer term. Please review the schedule of courses carefully and plan your schedules accordingly.  As you register for classes, you will be reminded of this requirement in ISIS when/if you register for any law distance education(asynchronous/online) course. If you attempt to register for a distance education(asynchronous/online) course, the following message will pop up to remind you of this rule:

“Per ABA Standard 306D, a law student may not register for more than four credits of asynchronous online courses in one term.” 

If it is determined that you have registered for more than four credits of asynchronous (distance education/online) courses in any term (e.g., this summer), you will be notified to drop a course or courses.  If this is not done, you will then be administratively dropped from the course or courses until you are in compliance with the ABA Standard 306(d).

If there should be any questions or concerns about any of this information, please feel free to contact Assistant Dean of Students, Kari Mattox, at mattoxk@law.ufl.edu, or stop by the Office of Student Affairs.

Careers in International Law speaker today at 1 p.m.

University of Wyoming Professor Matt Wilson will speak to students Monday at 1 p.m. in HOL 270 about how to chart a career plan to pursue international legal opportunities. Wilson draws upon 20 years of international experience in legal, business, and educational matters in the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Wilson practiced law at Akerman Senterfitt P.A., a major Florida-based law firm, and as former general counsel for a telecommunications/Internet firm. As legal counsel to domestic and multinational corporations, Wilson’s legal activities have encompassed complex commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation and transactions, cyberspace law, employment law, as well as general corporate matters. He also has extensive business experience working in Japan with a large electronics manufacturer, hydrological and meteorological instruments maker, and a multinational medical devices company.

Estates Planning Certificate Program — Fall 2013 Registration

On Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room, Professor Lee-ford Tritt, along with current Estates Planning Certificate Program participants, will hold a round-table discussion about the Estate Planning Certificate Program. Topics that will be discussed will be the benefits of attaining the certificate, the requirements for attaining the certificate, priority registration and course selection for fall 2013. Professor Tritt is excited to meet everyone and pizza will be served. If you are currently enrolled in the Certificate Program, please drop by to introduce yourself to your colleagues or just to grab a slice of pizza.

LIC Notes: New LIC display complements CSRRR Spring Lecture

The Legal Information Center has put together a display concerning the issues of race, gun control, and American justice. Created by Reference Librarian Loren Turner, in consultation with fellow librarian Shamika Dalton and the Center for the Study of Race & Race Relations (CSRRR), the display complements the CSRRR’s 10^th annual Spring lecture “At Close Range: The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin.”  Some of the books highlighted in the display include:

• Protecting our Own: Race, Crime, and African Americans by Kathryn Russell-Brown
• Under Fire: The NRA and the Battle for Gun Control by Osha Gray Davidson
• At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America by Philip Dray
• Race, Incarceration, and American Values by Glenn C. Loury
• The Color of Justice: Race, Ethnicity and Crime in America by Samuel Walker
• Black Trials: Citizenship from the Beginning of Slavery to the End of Caste by Mark Stuart Weiner

The display will be available in the New Books area until the end of March.

New library food policy

Based on recommendations by students and the Student Library Advisory Committee (SLAC), the first floor is now a “no food zone.” Beginning Monday, March 11, food is allowed on the second floor, but only snacks, either non-messy fruits and vegetables or the vending machine variety (pretzels, chips, cookies, etc.). Study rooms remain food-free. Library staff hope this will accommodate student needs, both for quick bites while studying, and for completely quiet, food-free zones. Remember that drinks need a secure lid! Thank you for helping make the library a pleasant place to study. For more information, see Shira Megerman in HOL 175B.

Environmental students visit Belize cacao nursery for spring break

Gentry Mander (1L), far right, and Tom Ankersen (second from left) with representatives of the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education and farmers from the Trio Village in Southern Belize in front of a cacao nursery.  Mander and the UF Law Conservation Clinic have been working with BFREE to create a private system of payments for environmental services to compensate the farmers for converting a portion of their farm to shade-grown cacao, which is used to manufacture chocolate. The farmers in the photo have entered into agreements with BFREE drafted by the Clinic. Project funding is provided through a novel use of monies from a Natural Resource Damages Act settlement in the United States. Students on the UF Law Belize Spring Break Field Course had the opportunity to visit the BFREE field station where the cacao seedlings are started, visit the farmers in Trio Village, and learn about the nexus between neo-tropical migratory birds in Belize and Massachusetts that provided the justification for the use of settlement funds.

UF Law Alumni and Student Orange & Blue-B-Que

Join your fellow (and future) UF Law alumni at the law school campus on Saturday, April 6, at 11 a.m. (before the spring Orange & Blue Debut football game) for this inaugural event hosted by the Center for Career Development. The CCD hopes to provide an atmosphere that helps foster connections between current and future generations of Gator lawyers. RSVP by March 31 here: Orange and Blue-B-Que RSVP.

2013 Class Gift Legacy

The University of Florida Levin College of Law would not be what it is today without support from alumni. As you prepare to join the distinguished Gator Nation alumni network, now is your chance to make a difference and leave a legacy for future generations of students. Consider making a gift, at any amount, in support of your college. UF Law appreciates your support, as the 2013 Class Gift campaign aims to achieve 100 percent participation from all graduating 3Ls.

To make a gift today visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/alumni/giving/class-gifts.

Last week, the John Marshall Bar Association hosted its bi-annual community service week and encouraged awareness and fundraising for an alumnus battling brain cancer. Tonight, the Journal of Law and Public Policy is having a fundraiser at Chick Fil-A on Archer Road from 5 to 8 p.m. A portion of the sales will go towards the Dustin Rhodes Fund. Remember to tell the cashier that you are there to support the “JLPP Dustin Rhodes fundraiser. Meals ordered at the drive-through and inside will count for the fundraiser.

Dustin Rhodes graduated from UF Law in 2011, and in December 2012, he was diagnosed with the most aggressive type of Stage 4 brain cancer. Rhodes is one of 200 people in his age group who have been diagnosed with this and he has undergone brain surgery. The 29-year-old has a wife and an 11-month-old son and is currently going through radiation and chemotherapy. He hopes to recover, but his out-of-pocket expenses continue to rise, which is why his family created a fund for people to donate.

Rhodes’ family has chronicled his experience and struggle to fight his cancer from day one at the hospital. Read more at https://www.facebook.com/#!/DustinRhodesFund?fref=ts or http://dustrhodes.com/.

Get-well cards and birthday wishes were sent along with the donations collected at the JMBA table March 11-15 to Rhodes last week. However, it’s not too late to help him and his family. Donations are accepted online at http://dustrhodes.com/how-you-can-help/  or can be mailed directly to:

Dustin Rhodes
P.O. Box 14
Dallastown, PA 17313-0014

“The challenges facing Dustin and his family are severe,” wrote Dean Robert Jerry in an email. “I hope you will look at this and assist the JMBA effort in whatever way you can.”

Moot Court third at large NYC competition, Andrews named Best Advocate

During spring break, the Florida Moot Court Team sent 3Ls Nick Andrews, Robbie Boone and Bob O’Linn to New York City to compete in the 21st Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition. Duberstein is the largest single-site moot court competition in the country, featuring 60 teams from all over the United States. Coached by Kristina Gandre (2L), the UF team was one of the few student-coached teams.

The competition centered on a business bankruptcy case that highlighted the sensitive issues of waiver of the right to file bankruptcy and the application of the automatic stay to ongoing patent litigation.

The team argued in three preliminary rounds from March 9 to March 10. After the team passed the preliminaries, it argued twice more in the afternoon of March 10. During a reception with the judges, the 3Ls were notified they had advanced to the quarterfinals. On March 11, UF defeated New York University in the quarterfinals at the Conrad B. Duberstein U.S. Bankruptcy Courthouse in Brooklyn but fell short against Southern Methodist University in the semifinals. The third-place finish was a repeat performance for Andrews and O’Linn, who represented the team in the 2012 competition and received the Best Brief award. Although the team was disheartened by the close loss this year, it took solace in the third-place scholarship award. At the banquet, Andrews took home the coveted Best Advocate award and received a standing ovation. Added to the Best Advocate award Boone received at the Cristol Kahn Paskay Bankruptcy Competition, this is the most decorated group the Florida team has assembled this season.

The team looks to build on this recent momentum in the upcoming Giles Sutherland Rich Memorial Moot Court Competition. Matthew Moats and Joey Posey, 2Ls, left March 15 to compete in the regional round. On March 23, Stephanie Generotti and Kate Livanec, 2Ls, will represent the Florida team at the Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition.

New library food policy

Based on recommendations by students and the Student Library Advisory Committee (SLAC), the first floor is now a “no food zone.” Beginning Monday, March 11, food is allowed on the second floor, but only snacks, either non-messy fruits and vegetables or the vending machine variety (pretzels, chips, cookies, etc.). Study rooms remain food-free. Library staff hope this will accommodate student needs, both for quick bites while studying, and for completely quiet, food-free zones. Remember that drinks need a secure lid! Thank you for helping make the library a pleasant place to study. For more information, see Shira Megerman in HOL 175B.

LIC Notes: International Law Refresher: A New CRS Report

Need a quick refresher on how international law affects U.S. law for you or your students? Recently published Congressional Research Report International Law and Agreements: Their Effect Upon U.S. Law provides a 21-page introduction on international agreements and customary practice. It also includes nice flow charts that summarize the steps for making a treaty and an executive agreement.

International Law and Agreements: Their Effect Upon U.S. Law, March 1, 2013. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32528.pdf

UF Law Alumni and Student Orange & Blue-B-Que

Join your fellow (and future) UF Law alumni at the law school campus on Saturday, April 6, at 11 a.m. (before the spring Orange & Blue Debut football game) for this inaugural event hosted by the Center for Career Development. The CCD hopes to provide an atmosphere that helps foster connections between current and future generations of Gator lawyers. RSVP by March 31 here: Orange and Blue-B-Que RSVP.

2013 Class Gift Legacy

The University of Florida Levin College of Law would not be what it is today without support from alumni. As you prepare to join the distinguished Gator Nation alumni network, now is your chance to make a difference and leave a legacy for future generations of students. Consider making a gift, at any amount, in support of your college. UF Law appreciates your support, as the 2013 Class Gift campaign aims to achieve 100 percent participation from all graduating 3Ls.

To make a gift today visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/alumni/giving/class-gifts.

The Family Law Society, the Center on Children and Families, and Gators for Alternative Dispute Resolution present “Alternatives to Divorce Litigation: Collaborative & Mediation Techniques” today at 1:30 p.m.

The Family Law Society will hold a moderated discussion on dispute resolution techniques in family law cases. Experts and guest speakers Robert Merlin (JD 78) and Elinor Robin will compare and contrast collaborative law approaches and family law mediation. The event will begin with refreshments in the foyer of the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center at 1:30 p.m. The discussion will begin at 2 p.m. in the courtroom.

Email mgoodson@ufl.edu with any questions.

Merlin graduated cum laude from UF Law in 1978. He is board certified in marital and family law and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Court Mediator. His practice focuses on family law, collaborative family law, family mediation, and guardian ad litem.

Elinor Robin received a Ph.D. in psychology, with a specialization in conflict management from the University of Cincinnati in 2006. She is a licensed Mental Health Counselor and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Court Mediator and Primary Mediation Trainer. Her practice focuses on professional and personal relationship conflict.

Florida ADR Client Counseling Team is top in Florida

University of Florida Levin College of Law students Rachael Simpson (2L), at left, and Katherine Artman (2L) won second place in the 2013 American Bar Association Regional Client Counseling Competition. The students ranked first among law schools in attendance from the state of Florida, including Stetson University College of Law, Florida State University College of Law, Florida A&M University College of Law, and Florida Coastal School of Law. Other schools competing included Emory University School of Law and Mercer University – Walter F. George School of Law.  The competition was held in Ft. Lauderdale on Feb. 9.

Ajay Singh (JD 12) coached the team and Karina Rodrigues played an integral role as the team’s competition strategy coordinator.

The Florida ADR Team, now in its second year competing, also placed fifth, out of 24 teams, at the American Bar Association Regional Negotiation Competition in the fall. The team members were second-year students Elesa Rectanus (2L) and Nick Vargo (2L). Florida’s ADR Negotiation team came out ahead of schools including Emory University School of Law, Florida State University College of Law, and University of North Carolina School of Law.

Florida Moot Court send teams to state, national competitions

Two teams traveled to Las Vegas Feb. 13 for the American Bar Association Regional round. Jessica Andrade (2L), Ryan Gilbert (3L) and Dee Dee Scheller (2L) comprised one team; Ian Dankelman (2L), Danielle Grundt (3L) and Brandon White (3L) comprised another. The teams were coached by Dylan Shea (3L) and Kelsey Veitengruber (3L), respectively. Both teams advanced to the round of 16 before being eliminated.  Dankelman, Grundt and White were awarded the 3rd place brief award.

Zachary Ritz (3L), of the Florida Moot Court team, paired with fellow Tax Moot Court Team members, Caitlin Foster (3L) and Hans Tanzler (3L), competed in the National Tax Moot Court Competition. The team traveled to Miami to compete the weekend of Feb. 9, and placed fifth in the competition.

Megan Coughlin (2L) and Nate Diehl (2L), coached by Ryan Hopper (3L), competed in the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition on Feb. 21-22 in Nashville. They competed well, but did not advance to the finals. Hopper noted, “Megan and Nate were phenomenal and performed with all of the skill, confidence, and class we expect of our advocates. There’s no doubt in my mind that they’re capable of competing with the best and winning.”

Nick Andrews (3L), Robbie Boone (3L), and Bob O’Linn (3L), coached by Kristina Gandre (2L), competed in the Cristol, Kahn, Paskay Bankruptcy Cup in Miami on Feb. 23. The team advanced to the semi-finals and placed in third overall. Boone won the Best Advocate Award at the competition. The team competed again in the Duberstein Moot Court Competition in New York over spring break. Results were not available at the time of publication.

Careers with the U.S. Department of State event Wednesday

The Center for Career Development and the International Law Society will host Andrew Passen, a Diplomat in Residence (DIR) with the U.S. Department of State, on Wednesday at noon in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (HOL 180) to discuss career opportunities for students interested in international relations. Students who would like to meet with Passen between 1 and 2:30 in a small-group setting may sign up for a time slot by contacting the CCD. To learn how you can use your law degree to serve and see the world, join the CCD on Wednesday.

Passen has more than 30 years experience in Foreign Service positions and has served in numerous international posts. His first overseas posting was as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in the kingdom of Swaziland from 1981-1984. He taught biology, chemistry, and physics to over 700 students in a rural high school. Passen lived with a Swazi family, learned farming, and became fluent in the local language of siSwati. Subsequent positions included serving as a Team Leader of the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team in Baghdad, Iraq. Additional assignments have included Kaduna, Nigeria; Lusaka, Zambia; Bern, Switzerland; Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Montreal, Canada; Dakar, Senegal.

Spring Book Awards Ceremony takes place Friday

Created to honor scholastic achievement in legal education, Book Awards recognize the outstanding student in each course at the Levin College of Law. The Book Award Program provides unrestricted funds to support students and student organizations, faculty teaching, research and development, and student/alumni programs and services. Book Awards in Graduate Tax courses provide unrestricted funds to support the Graduate Tax Program. The ceremony is at 3 p.m. Friday at the Reitz Union Auditorium.

Annual Youth Summit slated for Friday

The Annual Youth Summit, sponsored by the UF Law Center on Children and Families and the Criminal Justice Center, will host the Pace Center for Girls – Alachua at the law school Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center. The Youth Summit informs young people about rights, responsibilities and consequences of their actions.

LIC Notes: Research Time Saver: 50-state surveys

Have you ever needed to compare how several states treat an issue for an article or book that you are writing? A 50-state survey may be useful for your research. 50-state surveys compare every state’s law on a specific issue, usually listing the citation to the law and providing a brief summary. If the survey is accessed through an online research platform, such as LexisNexis or Westlaw, the laws will usually be linked to in full.  50-state surveys do not exist for every law, but they can be a time saver when they do exist. 50-State Surveys can be accessed through Westlaw Classic (SURVEYS), Lexis.com, and the UF catalog. If you find yourself in need of a 50-state survey and need assistance locating one, contact your library liaison or call the reference desk at 352-273-0723.

Dean hosts Music Night Sunday

Got a hidden musical talent? Show it off at the upcoming Music Night 2013 to be held Sunday, March 17, at 7 p.m. at the home of Dean Robert Jerry and his wife, Lisa. All students and faculty are invited – but the “ticket” to attend is that you must bring a dessert and agree to perform a musical piece (play an instrument or sing a song). A piano will be available. Each participant can bring one guest. Space is limited, so sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, stop by the Dean’s Office and see Doris Perron.

South African freedom fighter to address gay marriage at UF Law

Albie Sachs, retired Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and life-long freedom fighter in the struggle against apartheid, will speak about gay marriage at the University of Florida Levin College of Law Tuesday, March 26 — the same day the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case challenging California’s ban on gay marriage.

“Gay Marriage and the Promise of Equality” will be at noon in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180, with a book signing immediately following. The talk is free and open to the public. Parking restrictions in the green areas at the law school will be lifted for the event.

Sachs’ talk is co-sponsored by UF Law’s Center on Children and Families and UF’s Center for African Studies.

Sachs will also be giving a talk at the Center for African Studies at 4 p.m. the same day. Check FlaLaw next week for more information.

UF Law Alumni and Student Orange & Blue-B-Que

Join your fellow (and future) UF Law alumni at the law school campus on Saturday, April 6, at 11 a.m. (before the spring Orange & Blue Debut football game) for this inaugural event hosted by the Center for Career Development. The CCD hopes to provide an atmosphere that helps foster connections between current and future generations of Gator lawyers. RSVP by March 31 here: Orange and Blue-B-Que RSVP.

UF Law Professors Tom Lin, Berta Esperanza Hernández-Truyol and Wentong Zheng, distinguished professors of immigrant background, will discuss their experiences professionally and academically at a panel, “Immigrants and the American Experience,” Tuesday at noon in HOL 285B. The event is hosted by the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), Center for the Study of Race & Race Relations (CSRRR), Immigration Law Association (ILA), and Latino Law Student Association (LLSA). Food and sodas from Publix will be provided.

Tom C. W. Lin is assistant professor of law and assistant director of the Criminal Justice Center. His teaching and scholarship interests include business associations, corporations, contracts, securities regulation, behavioral law & economics, privacy law and white collar crime. Berta Esperanza Hernández-Truyol is Levin Mabie & Levin Professor of Law, and her teaching and scholarship interests include international human rights, issues of gender/race and Latinas/Latinos in the law, and employment discrimination. Wentong Zheng is assistant professor of law with teaching and scholarship interests in international trade, international business transactions, antitrust and competition policy, Chinese law, commercial law, and law and economics.

Criminal Justice Center hosts lunch with clemency attorney

The Criminal Justice Center is hosting a luncheon with Reggie Garcia on Feb. 27. The event, “A Clemency Attorney on a Mercy Mission,” takes place at noon in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center. Topics to be discussed include why clemency matters to clients; restoration of civil rights; full pardon & firearm authority; and prison commutations. Seating is limited. Interested students should arrive early with prepared questions for Garcia.

LIC Notes: Internet Time Travel: The Wayback Machine

Have you ever tried to locate a document online, only to find that it has been removed? You may still be able to retrieve it using the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. The Wayback Machine allows you to enter a web address and check to see if there is at least one archived version of it on the Internet Archive. With more than 240 billion webpages that have been archived since 1996, the chances that your webpage has been archived are good, especially if it is a site that is linked to by many other sites that allows web crawlers to find it, such as government sites.

The Wayback Machine also has a bookmarklet feature. This feature allows you to add a link to your browser’s toolbar. When you visit a webpage and find that your document or some other important feature is missing and you now need an older version of the website, just click the Wayback Machine bookmarklet and you will be able to view the historic versions. See the Wayback Machine webpage for more details.

Law Association for Women raises more than $7K for PACE Center for Girls

The Law Association for Women raised more than $7,000 for the PACE Center for Girls. PACE provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy.  Each year L.A.W. raises money by holding a Professor Auction in November.

During this event L.A.W. raised nearly twice as much money as the previous year.  L.A.W. would like to thank everyone who came out to bid on professors and show support. Some of the L.A.W. members went to PACE to hand-deliver the check and meet with the girls, who were grateful and excited.

Latino Law Student Association collecting business attire

The Latino Law Student Association is asking for gently worn business attire clothing to donate to those in need. Donations will go to the Gainesville Office of the Public Defender and Dress for Success Miami. With your help, criminal defendants can attend criminal proceedings with appropriate clothing, and economically disadvantaged individuals, ex-offenders, victims of domestic abuse, foster care youths, and other individuals struggling to find employment will be able to go on job interviews. LLSA accepts shirts, blouses, suit pieces, skirts, dress pants, belts, shoes, socks, jewelry and cufflinks. Note: the LLSA is unable to provide tax receipts. Donations are being accepted today through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sixth annual Wolf Family Lecture March 13

The topic of the sixth annual Wolf Family Lecture on the American Law of Real Property on March 13 at 11 a.m. in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center is “Property Law and the Rise, Life, and Demise of Racially Restrictive Covenants.” The lecture will feature Carol Rose, the Gordon Bradford Tweedy Professor Emeritus of Law and Organization and Professorial Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School.

The lecture is free and open to the law school community and general public.

The Wolf Family Lecture Series was endowed by a gift from UF Law Professor Michael Allan Wolf, who holds the Richard E. Nelson Chair in Local Government Law, and his wife, Betty.

Past scholars who have delivered the Wolf Family Lecture in the American Law of Real Property include Thomas W. Merrill, Charles Evans Hughes Professor of Law at Columbia Law School; Gregory S. Alexander, A. Robert Noll Professor of Law at Cornell Law School; Lee Fennel, Max Pam Professor of Law at the University of Chicago; Joseph William Singer, Bussey Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School; and Vicki L. Been, Boxer Family Professor of Law and director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at New York University School of Law.

UF Journal of Law and Public Policy hosts symposium on media law March 14

Should false statements of fact be protected under the First Amendment? That was the question at issue in United States v. Alvarez, a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court case overturning the Stolen Valor Act, which attempted to criminalize lying about receiving a military medal. More recently, however, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a new version of the Stolen Valor Act, creating penalties for individuals who lie about receiving military medals and profit from their deception.

This is the topic of the 2013 Journal of Law and Public Policy’s Annual Symposium, which will be hosted March 14, in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center at the UF Levin College of Law. Panelists include University of Florida Levin College of Law Professor Lyrissa Lidsky, attorney Craig D. Feiser, Colonel Michael L. Smidt, Staff Judge Advocate of U.S. Special Operations Command and attorney Kristen Rasmussen.

The event will include a reception beginning at 11:30 a.m., a panel discussion at 12 p.m. followed by a question and answer session. It will be open to students, professors and practitioners.

Come and hear what these experienced professionals have to say on this controversial issue. CLE credit will be offered. Click here for more information on the symposium or here for more information on JLPP.

Dean hosts Music Night March 17

Got a hidden musical talent? Show it off at the upcoming Music Night 2013 to be held Sunday, March 17, at 7 p.m. at the home of Dean Robert Jerry and his wife, Lisa. All students and faculty are invited – but the “ticket” to attend is that you must bring a dessert and agree to perform a musical piece (play an instrument or sing a song). A piano will be available. Each participant can bring one guest. Space is limited, so sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, stop by the Dean’s Office and see Doris Perron.

CSRRR spring lecture, panel examines Trayvon Martin case on March 20

The Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations’ 10th annual Spring Lecture & Panel Discussions, “At Close Range: The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin,” will feature New York Times visual op-ed columnist Charles Blow. The event is March 20 in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180.

Participants include UF faculty and graduate students from history, journalism, African-American studies, sociology, anthropology, law, education, political science, English, philosophy and health services research. Panelists will discuss a range of topics including racial bias and media perspectives and they will recommend policy changes.

Blow joined The New York Times in 1994 as a graphics editor and quickly became the paper’s graphics director, a position he held for nine years. Blow went on to become the paper’s design director for news before leaving in 2006 to become the art director of National Geographic Magazine.

Blow often appears on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight,” “Starting Point” and “AC360.” He has also appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” the “Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” and “Hardball” with Chris Matthews, Headline News’ “The Joy Behar Show,” Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” the BBC and Al Jazeera, as well as numerous radio programs.

32nd Annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecture in Law

The Florida Law Review welcomes Professor Randy Barnett as the 32nd Annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecturer in Law. Barnett, the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Legal Theory at the Georgetown University Law Center, will discuss the recent United States Supreme Court decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22, in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Barnett has written and commented extensively on the Affordable Care Act and represented the National Federal of Independent Businesses as its case against the ACA was presented before the Supreme Court last spring. Barnett will discuss the general implications of the court’s landmark decision, as well as fundamental misunderstandings he perceives among the legal academic community regarding the decision’s import. Barnett’s lecture, “Who Won the Obamacare Case (and Why Did So Many Law Professors Miss the Boat)?” precedes an article of the same name to be published in an upcoming edition of the Florida Law Review.

For additional information, contact the Florida Law Review at www.FloridaLawReview.com or 352-273-0670.

Electronic Discovery for the Small and Medium Case April 4-5

The University of Florida Levin College of Law and Electronic Discovery Reference Model are pleased to announce the first-of-its-kind conference devoted to “Electronic Discovery for the Small and Medium Case.” The conference will be held April 4 and 5, 2013, at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and will be broadcast live. Students may view the webcasts free of charge.

The conference will focus on solutions to the difficulties, issues, and decisions that attorneys face in competently and cost-effectively handling e-discovery in small and medium cases. The conference will feature demonstrations of a new generation of right-sized e-discovery software and tools for each phase of the e-discovery process in small and medium sized cases and include starter e-discovery toolkits for each in-person attendee.

The toolkits will contain trial licenses for e-discovery software used to preserve and collect electronically stored information (ESI) from desktops to the web; convert collected ESI to usable forms; perform rapid, powerful searches; and facilitate production of relevant, responsive ESI. Representatives from AccessData, Catalyst, Digital WarRoom, iConect, kCura, LexisNexis Litigation Solutions, Nuix, Pinpoint Labs, X1 Discovery and others will be on hand to demonstrate the ease and accessibility of their products – helping attendees test-drive their toolkits.

Online attendees will receive a limited version of the e-discovery toolkit; for the full toolkit you must attend in person.

Whether you attend in person or watch the live stream, don’t miss this chance to learn how to translate e-discovery challenges into a winning strategies.

For more information:

• Conference Website
• About ICAIR & the E-Discovery Project
• Conference Agenda

Walkin’ Lawton is an in-depth biography of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles (JD 55). Author John Dos Passos Coggin conducted more than 100 interviews with Chiles’s family, friends, and coworkers, and also utilized a wide variety of news sources, political papers, and even the governor’s own progress reports from his 1,000-mile walk. A full review of Walkin’ Lawton has been published by the Tampa Bay Times and is available online at http://www.tampabay.com/features/books/review-john-dos-passos-coggins-new-biography-focuses-on-walkin-lawton/1271175.

The Legal Information Center has two copies of the book, which may be requested through its online catalog.

Sixth annual Wolf Family Lecture March 13

The topic of the sixth annual Wolf Family Lecture on the American Law of Real Property on March 13 at 11 a.m. in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center is “Property Law and the Rise, Life, and Demise of Racially Restrictive Coveneants.” The lecture will feature Carol Rose, the Gordon Bradford Tweedy Professor Emeritus of Law and Organization and Professorial Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School.

The lecture is free and open to the law school community and general public.

The Wolf Family Lecture Series was endowed by a gift from UF Law Professor Michael Allan Wolf, who holds the Richard E. Nelson Chair in Local Government Law, and his wife, Betty.

Past scholars who have delivered the Wolf Family Lecture in the American Law of Real Property include Thomas W. Merrill, Charles Evans Hughes Professor of Law at Columbia Law School; Gregory S. Alexander, A. Robert Noll Professor of Law at Cornell Law School; Lee Fennel, Max Pam Professor of Law at the University of Chicago; Joseph William Singer, Bussey Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School; and Vicki L. Been, Boxer Family Professor of Law and director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at New York University School of Law.

UF Journal of Law and Public Policy hosts symposium on media law on March 14

Should false statements of fact be protected under the First Amendment? That was the question at issue in United States v. Alvarez, a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court case overturning the Stolen Valor Act, which attempted to criminalize individuals for lying about receiving a military medal.  More recently, however, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a new version of the Stolen Valor Act, creating penalties for individuals who lie about receiving military medals and who profit from the deception.

This is the topic of the 2013 Journal of Law and Public Policy’s Annual Symposium, which will be hosted March 14 in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center at the UF Levin College of Law. Panelists include UF Law Professor Lyrissa Lidsky, attorney Craig D. Feiser and Colonel Michael L. Smidt, staff judge advocate of U.S. Special Operations Command.

The event will begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m., a panel discussion at noon and a question-and-answer session. It will be open to students, professors and practitioners.

Come and hear what these experienced professionals have to say on this controversial issue. CLE credit will be offered. Click here for more information on the symposium or here for more information on JLPP.

Dean hosts Music Night March 17

Got a hidden musical talent? Show it off at the upcoming Music Night 2013 to be held Sunday, March 17, at 7 p.m. at the home of Dean Robert Jerry and his wife, Lisa. All students and faculty are invited – but the “ticket” to attend is that you must bring a dessert and agree to perform a musical piece (play an instrument or sing a song). A piano will be available. Each participant can bring one guest. Space is limited, so sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, stop by the Dean’s Office and see Doris Perron.

CSRRR spring lecture, panel examines Trayvon Martin case on March 20

The Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations’ 10th annual Spring Lecture & Panel Discussions, “At Close Range: The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin,” will feature New York Times visual op-ed columnist Charles Blow. The event is March 20 in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180.

Participants include UF faculty and graduate students from history, journalism, African-American studies, sociology, anthropology, law, education, political science, English, philosophy and health services research. Panelists will discuss a range of topics including racial bias and media perspectives and they will recommend policy changes.

Blow joined The New York Times in 1994 as a graphics editor and quickly became the paper’s graphics director, a position he held for nine years. Blow went on to become the paper’s design director for news before leaving in 2006 to become the art director of National Geographic Magazine.

Blow often appears on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, Starting Point and AC360. He has also appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, the Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell and Hardball with Chris Matthews, Headline News’ The Joy Behar show, Fox News’ Fox and Friends, the BBC and Al Jazeera, as well as numerous radio programs.

32nd Annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecture in Law

The Florida Law Review welcomes Professor Randy Barnett as the 32nd Annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecturer in Law. Barnett, the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Legal Theory at the Georgetown University Law Center, will discuss the recent United States Supreme Court decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22, in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Barnett has written and commented extensively on the Affordable Care Act and represented the National Federal of Independent Businesses as its case against the ACA was presented before the Supreme Court last spring. Barnett will discuss the general implications of the court’s landmark decision, as well as fundamental misunderstandings he perceives among the legal academic community regarding the decision’s import. Barnett’s lecture, “Who Won the Obamacare Case (and Why Did So Many Law Professors Miss the Boat)?” precedes an article of the same name to be published in an upcoming edition of the Florida Law Review.

For additional information, contact the Florida Law Review at www.FloridaLawReview.com or 352-273-0670.

Electronic Discovery for the Small and Medium Case April 4-5

The University of Florida Levin College of Law and Electronic Discovery Reference Model are pleased to announce the first-of-its-kind conference devoted to “Electronic Discovery for the Small and Medium Case.” The conference will be held April 4 and 5, 2013, at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and will be broadcast live. Students may view the webcasts free of charge.

The conference will focus on solutions to the difficulties, issues, and decisions that attorneys face in competently and cost-effectively handling e-discovery in small and medium cases. The conference will feature demonstrations of a new generation of right-sized e-discovery software and tools for each phase of the e-discovery process in small and medium sized cases and include starter e-discovery toolkits for each in-person attendee.

The toolkits will contain trial licenses for e-discovery software used to preserve and collect electronically stored information (ESI) from desktops to the web; convert collected ESI to usable forms; perform rapid, powerful searches; and facilitate production of relevant, responsive ESI. Representatives from AccessData, Catalyst, Digital WarRoom, iConect, kCura, LexisNexis Litigation Solutions, Nuix, Pinpoint Labs, X1 Discovery and others will be on hand to demonstrate the ease and accessibility of their products – helping attendees test-drive their toolkits.

Online attendees will receive a limited version of the e-discovery toolkit; for the full toolkit you must attend in person.

Whether you attend in person or watch the live stream, don’t miss this chance to learn how to translate e-discovery challenges into a winning strategies.

For more information:

• Conference Website
• About ICAIR & the E-Discovery Project
• Conference Agenda

The Diversity and Community Relations Committee and OUTLaw (UF Law’s gay-straight alliance) are pleased to announce that Lauren Hannahs, director of LGBT Affairs at UF, will present the Gator Allies program at UF Law on Wednesday at noon in HOL 345. All are welcome.

Gator Allies is an educational opportunity offered by LGBT Affairs that focuses on relevant issues that affect the LGBTQ community, while offering the opportunity to engage with the question: what does it mean to be an ally to the LGBTQ community?

The Gator Allies program is designed to provide participants with:

• Increased awareness and understanding of current LGBTQ issues, and LGBT history
• Further understanding of heteronormativity and homophobia and how it affects everyone (not just LGBTQ people)
• Further understanding of what it means to be an ally to the LGBTQ community
• Skills and resources in being an ally across multiple contexts and communities

LIC Notes: vLex: A World of Information – with Translations

vLex is a database that provides access to current legal materials for 129 countries. While the exact materials available on vLex vary by country, they often include case law, legislation, regulations, gazettes, constitutions, legal books, journals and news coverage. Materials provided are generally in the official language of the country. vLex is able to automatically generate unofficial translations into 12 language options, including English.

The UF Legal Information Center provides access to vLex to UF faculty, staff, students, and UF Libraries visitors. The vLex link is located on our webpage under Foreign & Comparative Law Research: http://www.law.ufl.edu/library/library-information/find-a-database

If you are a UF faculty or staff member or a student and would like to access this database from home, you will need to follow our remote access procedures first.

Sixth annual Wolf Family Lecture March 13

The topic of the sixth annual Wolf Family Lecture on the American Law of Real Property on March 13 at 11 a.m. in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center is “Property Law and the Rise, Life, and Demise of Racially Restrictive Coveneants.” The lecture will feature Carol Rose, the Gordon Bradford Tweedy Professor Emeritus of Law and Organization and Professorial Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School.

The Wolf Family Lecture Series was endowed by a gift from UF Law Professor Michael Allan Wolf, who holds the Richard E. Nelson Chair in Local Government Law, and his wife, Betty.

Past scholars who have delivered the Wolf Family Lecture in the American Law of Real Property include Thomas W. Merrill, Charles Evans Hughes Professor of Law at Columbia Law School; Gregory S. Alexander, A. Robert Noll Professor of Law at Cornell Law School; Lee Fennel, Max Pam Professor of Law at the University of Chicago; Joseph William Singer, Bussey Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School; and Vicki L. Been, Boxer Family Professor of Law and director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at New York University School of Law.

Dean hosts Music Night March 17

Got a hidden musical talent? Show it off at the upcoming Music Night 2013 to be held Sunday, March 17, at 7 p.m. at the home of Dean Bob Jerry and his wife, Lisa. All students and faculty are invited – but the “ticket” to attend is that you must bring a dessert and agree to perform a musical piece (play an instrument or sing a song). A piano will be available. Each participant can bring one guest. Space is limited, so sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, stop by the Dean’s Office and see Doris Perron.

CSRRR spring lecture, panel examines Trayvon Martin case on March 20

The Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations’ 10th annual Spring Lecture & Panel Discussions, “At Close Range: The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin,” will feature New York Times visual op-ed columnist Charles Blow. The event is March 20 in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180.

Participants include UF faculty and graduate students from history, journalism, African-American studies, sociology, anthropology, law, education, political science, English, philosophy and health services research. Panelists will discuss a range of topics including racial bias and media perspectives and they will recommend policy changes.

Blow joined The New York Times in 1994 as a graphics editor and quickly became the paper’s graphics director, a position he held for nine years. Blow went on to become the paper’s design director for news before leaving in 2006 to become the art director of National Geographic Magazine.

Blow often appears on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, Starting Point and AC360. He has also appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, the Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell and Hardball with Chris Matthews, Headline News’ The Joy Behar show, Fox News’ Fox and Friends, the BBC and Al Jazeera, as well as numerous radio programs.

32nd Annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecture in Law

The Florida Law Review welcomes Professor Randy Barnett as the 32nd Annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecturer in Law. Barnett, the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Legal Theory at the Georgetown University Law Center, will discuss the recent United States Supreme Court decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22, in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Barnett has written and commented extensively on the Affordable Care Act and represented the National Federal of Independent Businesses as their case against the ACA was presented before the Supreme Court last spring. Barnett will discuss the general implications of the court’s landmark decision, as well as fundamental misunderstandings he perceives among the legal academic community regarding the decision’s import. Barnett’s lecture, “Who Won the Obamacare Case (and Why Did So Many Law Professors Miss the Boat)?” precedes an article of the same name to be published in an upcoming edition of the Florida Law Review.

For additional information, contact the Florida Law Review at www.FloridaLawReview.com or 352-273-0670.

Electronic Discovery for the Small and Medium Case April 4-5

The University of Florida Levin College of Law and Electronic Discovery Reference Model are pleased to announce the first-of-its-kind conference devoted to “Electronic Discovery for the Small and Medium Case.” The conference will be held April 4 and 5, 2013, at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and also will be broadcast live. Students may view the webcasts free of charge.

The conference will focus on solutions to the difficulties, issues, and decisions that attorneys face in competently and cost-effectively handling e-discovery in small and medium cases. The conference will feature demonstrations of a new generation of right-sized e-discovery software and tools for each phase of the e-discovery process in small and medium sized cases and include starter e-discovery toolkits for each in-person attendee.

For more information:

• Conference Website
• About ICAIR & the E-Discovery Project
• Conference Agenda

On Jan. 29, Florida Sen. Jeff Clemens submitted a proposed amendment for the State Constitution. He recommends that rather than a 60-day regular legislative session, the Florida Legislature should meet year-round. A summary of Clemens’ plans can be found in the news story by Michael Peltier published in the Jax Daily Record on Jan. 30, 2013, http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=538647

The text of the proposed amendment is available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2013/0512/BillText/Filed/PDF

Dean hosts Music Night March 17

Got a hidden musical talent? Show it off at the upcoming Music Night 2013 to be held Sunday, March 17, at 7 p.m. at the home of Dean Bob Jerry and his wife, Lisa. All students and faculty are invited – but the “ticket” to attend is that you must bring a dessert and agree to perform a musical piece (play an instrument or sing a song). A piano will be available. Each participant can bring one guest. Space is limited, so sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, stop by the Dean’s Office and see Doris Perron.

32nd Annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecture in Law

The Florida Law Review welcomes Professor Randy Barnett as the 32nd Annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecturer in Law. Barnett, the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Legal Theory at the Georgetown University Law Center, will discuss the recent United States Supreme Court decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22, in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Barnett has written and commented extensively on the Affordable Care Act and represented the National Federal of Independent Businesses as their case against the ACA was presented before the Supreme Court last spring. Barnett will discuss the general implications of the court’s landmark decision, as well as fundamental misunderstandings he perceives among the legal academic community regarding the decision’s import. Barnett’s lecture, “Who Won the Obamacare Case (and Why Did So Many Law Professors Miss the Boat)?” precedes an article of the same name to be published in an upcoming edition of the Florida Law Review.

For additional information, contact the Florida Law Review at www.FloridaLawReview.com or 352-273-0670.

Electronic Discovery for the Small and Medium Case April 4-5

The University of Florida Levin College of Law and Electronic Discovery Reference Model are pleased to announce the first-of-its-kind conference devoted to “Electronic Discovery for the Small and Medium Case.” The conference will be held April 4 and 5, 2013, at the University of Florida Law School campus and also will be broadcast live.

The conference will focus on solutions to the difficulties, issues, and decisions that attorneys face in competently and cost-effectively handling e-discovery in small and medium cases. The conference will feature demonstrations of a new generation of right-sized e-discovery software and tools for each phase of the e-discovery process in small and medium sized cases and include starter e-discovery toolkits for each in-person attendee.

For more information:

• Conference Website
• About ICAIR & the E-Discovery Project
• Conference Agenda