DiMatteo has been asked to co-chair a conference entitled “Transatlantic Perspectives on Commercial Contract Law” to be hosted by the Edinburgh University Law School. The unique conference format will pair 10 scholars from the United Kingdom with an equal number scholars from the United States on selected topics. The goal of the conference is to flesh out the differences in the world’s two major common law systems in the area of contract law.  Professor DiMatteo and UF Law Professor Jeffrey Harrison will present papers at the conference, which will be held Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, 2013.

Robert Jerry
UF Law Dean; Levin Mabie & Levin Professor of Law

“UF business grad school ranked 15^th” (March 12, 2013, The Gainesville Sun)

This article summarizes the recent US News rankings for various colleges at UF, including UF Law, which is ranked 23^rd among public schools and 46^th overall, two places higher than last year.

From the article:
Law school Dean Robert Jerry said he was pleased to the see the improvement, but he thinks rankings are only part of a bigger picture.

“This is one data point out of a great many that anyone thinking about a law school’s quality ought to think about,” he said.

“UF Law school rises in US News & World Report rankings” (March 13, 2013, The Alligator)

This article focuses on UF Law’s rise in the US News rankings.

From the article:
Robert Jerry, dean of the law school, warns that this data should be taken with a grain of salt.

“Rankings are very sensitive to employment data, and the employment data they use is not audited,” he said. “There is a lot of confusion in law schools about whether someone is employed in a part-time or full-time job. It creates a considerable inaccuracy that has an impact on the rank itself.”

Although wary, Jerry was pleased by the potential effects of rankings on reputation.

“We have a ranking of 3.9 [out of 5] on how judges and lawyers think about our law school, 10th highest among public law schools nationwide, 26th highest among all law schools,” Jerry said. “If [judges and lawyers] like what you’re doing, they like your graduates.”

Tom Lin
Assistant Professor of Law; Assistant Director, Criminal Justice Center

Lin was recently the feature speaker at the 2013 UCLA Law Review Scholar Forum, where he delivered remarks entitled “The New Investor,” in connection with a forthcoming article about law, technology, and finance.

Joseph Little
Emeritus Professor

“Agreement spells end of Port of Tampa deputy director’s tenure” (March 12, 2013, Tampa Bay Times)

Little commented in this article about the Tampa Port Authority letting go its deputy port director of operations and engineering after almost 17 years of employment.

From the article:
University of Florida law professor Joseph Little said the agreement appears to be standard. It also appears to have been brokered by both sides to settle several outstanding issues, allow a clean break and eliminate the possibility that Kirincich might sue his former employer.

“It seems to me, as I read it, that there’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff why he was discharged or why he chose to leave,” Little said. “But there appears to be a working out of the severance of the relationship and the employer wanted to make sure he was not going to meddle in the affairs of the authority anymore, so whoever new comes in won’t be encumbered by that.”

Jon Mills
Dean Emeritus; Director, Center for Governmental Responsibility

“Law barring personal info from court records bring delay” (March 10, 2013, Tampa Bay Times)

This article is about the delays courts have been facing since a law was passed mandating the removal of personal information such as social security numbers from files.

From the article:
“I think there are still growing pains here,” said Jon Mills, a University of Florida law professor and former Florida House speaker. “The removal of personal information, things like Social Security and other things, we always knew that was going to be important, and not necessarily easy.”

Carl Schwait
Adjunct Professor

“New Florida Ad Rules Cover Lawyer Websites, Relax Some Restraints, Remain Very Detailed” (Feb. 13, 2013, ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct)

Schwait was quoted in the manual after he recently served as the chairman of the committee that submitted amendments to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar in reference to lawyer advertising rules. The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed the amendments Jan. 31, 2013, and Justice Pariente noted in her dissenting opinion: “The Bar commenced further study under the able leadership of Board of Governor member Carl Schwait and proposed the amendments currently before the Court.”

From the article:
Carl B. Schwait, a member of the bar’s board of governors who chaired the committee that developed the revised rules, told BNA he believes the rules strike the right balance between protecting consumers, which the Florida Supreme Court has focused on in its decisions, and complying with the First Amendment, which is the chief concern of the federal courts.

“We wanted to mesh those two’ in rewriting and restructuring the rule,” Schwait said. He is a partner with Dell Graham in Gainesville, Fla.

Schwait said that compared with the old standards the revised rules are more articulate about the boundaries of permissible advertising while being more compliant with constitutional dictates.

“We tried to provide much more of a bright line for lawyers so they would be comfortable that their advertisements comply with the rules no matter who is evaluating their ads within the bar,” he said.

Schwait noted that this revamp does not amend other rules pertaining to for-profit lawyer referral services. “Revisions to those rules are being developed on a separate track,” he said.

Former Gov. Buddy MacKay (JD 61), center, and his wife Anne speak Feb. 12 to UF Levin College of Law Professor Jon Mills (JD 72), UF Law students Vivek Babbar (3L), LL.M. candidate Alexis Segal and Chelsea Sims (3L) during a fundraiser for a UF Law environmental fellowship. The fundraiser was held at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in downtown Orlando. (Photo by Richard Goldstein)

By Richard Goldstein

At the behest of a who’s who of Florida politicians, the foyer of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in downtown Orlando was packed with 70 people for an evening fundraiser.

The crowd gathered on behalf of UF Law students and in honor of the “defender of the Everglades.” Friends and colleagues said Thom Rumberger devoted much of his career fighting on behalf of the Florida environment.

Former Gov. Buddy MacKay (JD 61) and his wife Anne mingled in the crowd Feb. 12, and MacKay, who was Rumberger’ UF Law schoolmate, was just one of several prominent figures lending their names to the goal of raising $300,000 for environmental law scholarships. Others include former Gov. Charlie Crist, former Attorney General Bill McCollum (JD 68), former Comptroller and gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

The law firm and UF Law are spearheading the drive to endow the E. Thom Rumberger Everglades Foundation Fellowship Program.

“This fellowship celebrates three of Thom’s favorite passions: The Everglades, the University of Florida Law School and the law itself,” Frank Sheppard, managing partner of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, told the crowd.

Jon Mills (JD 72), a UF Law professor and director of the Center for Governmental Responsibility, worked with Rumberger on landmark environmental and constitutional cases.

“We’re going to have a permanent legacy of students who represent the kind of principled commitment and integrity that Thom Rumberger represented,” Mills said. “So exhibits one, two and three, please step forward.”

UF Law students Chelsea Sims (3L), Vivic Babar (3L) and LL.M. student Alexis Segal squeezed to the front of the room. These are the type of students who will benefit from the fellowship, Mills said.

Sims, from Bevard County, is working on a Conservation Clinic project securing permits to salvage tires damaging endangered corals off the coast of Fort Lauderdale.

Babar, from Lake Mary, works with UF Law Conservation Clinic clients drafting legislation for a noticed general permit for oyster reef restoration and who participated in UF Law’s three-week course on South Florida ecosystems in the Everglades.

Segal is seeking an LL.M. in environmental and land use law. She launched the Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper in January 2011. It’s a nonprofit devoted to protecting, conserving and enhancing the water quality of Biscayne Bay and its surrounding watershed. Segal is a Climate Institute Fellow who works with the UF Law Conservation Clinic to assist a Bahamian nonprofit to establish a marine reserve zone and research facility in Long Island, Bahamas.

“What this fellowship will do is create the opportunity for students to work in the public interest areas, Everglades restoration in particular … in order to build a career,” explained UF Law Dean Robert Jerry. “I promise you that we will use your investment in this fellowship most wisely and the future returns on this investment will be wonderful.”

Eric Eikenberg, executive director of the Everglades Foundation, noted Rumberger’s long involvement with environmental conservation and encouraged everyone in the room to call elected representatives on behalf of pro-Everglades environmental policy.

“We need to ensure that in these tight budget times the commitment to conservation remains strong,” Eikenberg said.

Debbie Rumberger called the scholarship an apt send off for her late husband.

“This is such a fitting legacy for him and on behalf of the family,” she said. “I want to thank you from the bottom of our heart.”

To donate to the E. Thom Rumberger Everglades Foundation Fellowship Program go to www.uff.ufl.edu/appeals/Rumberger.

Dean Emeritus Jon Mills is accepting applications for a paid research assistant position for the spring semester working for up to 10 hours per week. The position is open to second- and third-year law students. Mills’ research interests include: First Amendment law, cyberlaw and the legal implications for privacy in the digital age. Interested students should send a resume and a legal writing sample (i.e. journal note, 1L memo, etc.) to Lenny Kennedy at lkennedy@law.ufl.edu by Friday.

Introduction to Law School and the Profession (ILSP) 2013 Ambassador Program

Ambassadors are current students who are selected for their interest in helping new students prior to, during, and even after the ILSP. If you are interested in being a part of the Ambassador team, submit an application(s) and resume to the Office of Student Affairs and sign up for an interview.

Visit the webpage, which further explain the process:

• Program Overview
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Coordinator Application
• Ambassador Application
• Returning Ambassador Application

Coordinator application packets are due by Friday, Jan. 25, at noon. Ambassador application packets are due by Wednesday, Feb. 6, at noon. Contact Michelle Ocepek in Student Affairs for more information at ocepek@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0620.

Overton

Ben F. Overton (JD 52), former Florida Supreme Court Justice, University of Florida Levin College of Law alumnus and adjunct professor died Saturday, Dec. 29, in Gainesville of complications from heart surgery. He was 86 and was Florida’s 62nd justice since statehood.

“Justice Overton was one of the most influential members of the court after the sweeping reforms of the 1970s,” Chief Justice Ricky Polston said. “He will be remembered not only for his far-seeing opinions, but also for his efforts in the 1970s to make the state courts more accessible by allowing cameras into our courtrooms.”

In the mid-1970s, Overton was one of several newly appointed justices who elevated the reputation of the Court after it earlier had become involved in scandal. He was the first justice chosen through a merit selection process created by Gov. Reubin Askew that soon was added to the Florida Constitution by vote of the people.

From his appointment March 27, 1974, until his retirement Jan. 4, 1999, Overton authored more than 1,400 decisions and was a central figure in a vast series of reforms that made his court one of the most respected and accessible in the nation. He served as chief justice from 1976-1978 and chaired the Article V Review Commission in 1984. Following his retirement, Overton was an active adjunct professor of law at UF Law

“He is the profile of what you would expect a judge to be,” UF Law Dean Emeritus Jon Mills told The Gainesville Sun.

“He was smart, fair. He wrote some terrifically important opinions in education, privacy and a broad number of constitutional areas,” said Mills, who is director of UF Law’s Center for Governmental Responsibility. “He was an independent thinker. When he was on the bench, he could look pretty fearful.”

A native of Green Bay, Wis., Overton became a double Gator, earning both his bachelor’s and law degrees from UF. He also earned an LL.M. in jurisprudence from the University of Virginia in 1984. He was honored as a distinguished alumnus of the University of Florida in 2008.

Overton not only helped make Florida one of the first states to allow television coverage of court cases, but was instrumental in making the state supreme court one of the first in the world to have a website. Overton later played a pivotal role in seeing that every Florida Supreme Court case was televised, webcast and stored in an online archive.

Overton served nearly 10 years on the Pinellas County circuit court and for several years as its chief judge. He was well known for his work in legal education and dispute resolution and was chairman of the Dispute Resolution Section of the American Bar Association.

“In addition to Justice Overton’s leadership in the judiciary, he was a tremendous supporter of the law school and its students,” said UF Law Dean Robert Jerry. “Beginning in 2001, he taught Florida constitutional law and a Florida Supreme Court seminar as an adjunct faculty member, and his interest in helping prepare our students for the legal profession had no limits. He also served as a member of the Law Center Association Board of Trustees and was a charter member of the Association’s Heritage of Leadership Committee, which selects distinguished alumni for posthumous recognition by the Levin College of Law.”

Predeceased by his wife Marilyn, Overton is survived by his children, Judge William H. Overton and wife, Dolores; Robert M. Overton; and Catherine L. Overton; two grandchildren, William E. and wife Alison; Brian H. and wife Jackie; and one great grandchild, Adelynn.

“Jordan Davis killed for loud music: mirror image of the Martin case?” (Nov. 30, 2012, Christian Science Monitor)

An unarmed black teenager was killed outside of a convenience store in Jacksonville when he was shot by a man following an argument in which the man said the teenager’s music was too loud. At the time, the shooter claimed Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law as his defense, drawing comparisons to the Trayvon Martin shooting earlier in the year. The man has since been charged with first degree murder to which he pled not guilty.

From the article:
Two weeks ago, a state task force deemed that the stand your ground law is, on the whole, sound and needs no major legislative reform. Florida has seen a growing number of “stand your ground” claims, even in prosecutions with minor injuries, says University of Florida law professor Bob Dekle. Stand your ground claims are successful about 70 percent of the time, according to a recent St. Petersburg Times analysis.

Omri Y. Marian
Assistant Professor of Law

In early December, Marian returned from Beijing where he actively participated in the seventh Sino-U.S. International Tax Forum. As part of the forum he participated in round-table discussions on trends in international taxation at Peking University Law School, Tsinghua University Law School, Renmin University Law School and at the Central University of Finance and Economics, all in Beijing. He also presented his paper, “Jurisdiction to Tax Corporations,” at the China Youth University of Political Science who hosted the forum.

Jon Mills
Dean Emeritus; Director, Center for Governmental Responsibility

“UF launches human rights collaboration in Colombia” (Nov. 28, 2012, Law.com)

UF Law, along with the Center for Latin American Studies and the College of Education, will receive nearly $757,200 from the U.S. Agency for International Development through Higher Education for Development to create the Colombian Caribbean Human Rights Center. Over the next three years, UF will work with two universities in Colombia to enhance the human rights programs at their law schools. Mills quotes from the press release were used in the article.

From the article:
“Respect for the rights of individuals, especially vulnerable populations, is vital to the development of the democracy and economy of a nation,” said Jon Mills, who heads the law school’s Center for Governmental Responsibility and will help direct the new project. “We are honored to have this opportunity to work with two distinguished Colombian universities on such an important priority for the U.S. government.”

“Gainesville funeral service Saturday for former Chief Justice Ben Overton” (Jan. 2, 2013, Gainesville Sun)

This article remembers UF Law graduate, adjunct professor and former Florida Supreme Court Justice Ben Overton, who passed away on Dec. 29.

From the article:
“He is the profile of what you would expect a judge to be. He was smart, fair. He wrote some terrifically important opinions in education, privacy and a broad number of constitutional areas,” said UF Levin College of Law dean emeritus Jon Mills. “He was an independent thinker. When he was on the bench, he could look pretty fearful.”

Mills, also a former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, said he had several cases before Overton when Overton was on the court but got to know him better once he started teaching at UF.

Overton cared deeply about teaching and would take his students to oral arguments at the Supreme Court, Mills said, adding the justices often would have lunch with Overton and the students.

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

The Public Trust awards “Halos” and “Horns” each month in its e-newsletter and Wolf was awarded December’s “Halo” for his book, The Supreme Court and the Environment  –The Reluctant Protector.  Wolf has joined a list that includes Bob Graham, Nathaniel Reed, and Robert Kennedy, Jr. Click here for a link to this month’s e-newsletter.

“Attorney: 94-year-old lost $55,000 from fake papers for Sam Snead’s Tavern” (Nov. 18, 2012, Naples Daily News)

Davis commented on a case of a shopping center in North Naples demanding more than $55,000 from a 94-year-old Pennsylvania resident because her signature appears on her deceased son’s lease agreement for his former business. She is stating the signature is forged and the witness signatures are not legible or notarized.

From the article:
“If it’s a forged signature, it’s not a valid note,” said Jeffrey Davis, who teaches contract law at the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law. “It comes down to a matter of proof. It’s a question of fact, whether it is her signature or not. They must prove it’s her signature.”

Martin J. McMahon, Jr.
Stephen C. O’Connell Professor of Law

McMahon presented Nov. 16 at the Tennessee Tax Conference in Nashville on “Recent Developments in Federal Income Taxation” jointly with Prof. Ira Shepard.

McMahon presented Nov. 9 at the 28th Annual Arizona Federal Tax Institute in Phoenix on “Recent Developments in Federal Income Taxation.”

Jon Mills
Dean emeritus

Mills was an invited panelist for New England Law Review’s Fall 2012 Symposium “Crisis in the Judiciary” held Nov. 15 in Boston for the panel “State Court Systems in Financial Crisis.” This panel discussed how justice has changed in judicial systems of vastly diminished resources. Other panelists included Hon. Robert J. Cordy, associate justice, Massachusetts Supreme Court; Stewart Aaron, partner, Porter & Arnold, LLP, and president, New York County Lawyers’ Association; Paul T. Dacier, executive vice president and general counsel, EMC Corporation; Professor David A. Hoffman, Harvard Law School; and Harry Spence, court administrator, Massachusetts Trial Courts. New England Law Professor Jordan Singer was the moderator.

“Kindle users could get refunds on e-books” (Oct. 18, 2012, The Alligator)

A judge is looking to approve a settlement that says that Kindle users will get 30 cents back to each $1.32 spent on e-books due to the inflated price of books.

From the article:
Jonathan Cohen, a UF law professor, said a judge has grounds to sign this order because both parties have worked at a settlement, and it is enforceable. In this case, he said, it’s the court’s decision.

George “Bob” Dekle
Director, Criminal Prosecution Clinic; Assistant Director, Criminal Justice Center, Master Lecturer

“Trayvon Martin shooting: Should victim’s high school file be made public?” (Oct. 19, 2012, The Christian Science Monitor)

This article discusses the changes that will be made in the Trayvon Martin case as a new judge presides over the hearings. The final trial date was set, leading to questions surrounding whether or not it is acceptable to make Martin’s high school files open to the public.

From the article:
Currently, Nelson is dealing with practical legal questions as well as the deeper moral and ethical dilemmas the trial is likely to present, says law professor George “Bob” Dekle of the University of Florida. “Right now, she’s likely playing catch-up, trying to get up to speed on what the case really involves,” he says.

“Unnecessary does not mean unlawful, and just because somebody whose stupidity or an excess of testosterone puts himself in a situation where he has to use deadly force, the defense argument is that he still has a right to defend himself, and that is a justifiable argument that could be made in this situation,” says Professor Dekle.

“Let’s say you walk up to somebody and slap him in the face and he turns around and decides to try to use deadly force against you,” he adds. “Because you provoked that situation, under the law you don’t have a right to stand your ground, but under preexisting law, if you get backed into a corner, where you cannot retreat anymore, you still have a right to defend yourself, and use deadly force doing it.”

“Of course I can’t say anything specifically about this judge, but I have seen judges in similar situations initially deny [self-defense] motions, let the jury decide, and then come back and review the decision after the conviction and then revisit the immunity issue and dismiss the case,” says Dekle. “There could be a stimulus on the part of the judge in a situation like this to see if the jury will take care of it for them.”

Paul R. Gugliuzza
Visiting Assistant Professor

The Georgetown Law Journal recently published two online responses to Gugliuzza’s article, “Rethinking Federal Circuit Jurisdiction,” as well as Gugliuzza’s reply, “Pluralism on Appeal.”  You can find the entire discussion here:  http://georgetownlawjournal.org/ipsa-loquitur.

Jon Mills
Dean Emeritus; Director, Center for Governmental Responsibility

“Florida Supreme Court discuss merit retention” (Oct. 19, 2012, The Alligator)

Dean Mills introduced the four justices who came to discuss the importance of an independent judiciary. They discussed merit retention decided through voter election as a threat to a fair and balanced judicial system.

From the article:
UF adjunct law professor Carl B. Schwait began the event, and Dean Jon L. Mills introduced the justices.

“We take for granted what the Constitution did for an independent judiciary,” Mills told the crowd.

Jason P. Nance
Assistant Professor of Law

Nance presented a working paper titled “An Analysis of Strict Security Measures in Public Schools: Evidence of Racial Disparities” at the Southeast Law School’s faculty workshop held at Tulane Law School.

“‘Stand Your Ground’ Under Microscope” (March 21, 2012, WCJB TV-20),

Dekle, along with several UF Law students, contributed to this segment from TV-20 News. Dekle said Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law would be better described as the “get away with murder law,” and that it adds unnecessary layers of litigation and hoops to jump through in order to prosecute somebody.

“Legal experts weigh in on soundness of Lindsey defense strategy” (March 22, 2012, Tampa Bay Times)

The lawyer representing a teenager who shot a St. Petersburg police officer is saying the teenager, Nicholas Lindsey, did in fact kill the office – he just didn’t mean to do it. The defense is focusing on the issue of intent to possibly reduce the teenager’s sentence from life to several decades. Dekle weighed in on the strategy.

From the article:
“It ain’t the only possible strategy,” said University of Florida law professor Bob Dekle. “But it sounds like the only viable strategy.”

“Appeal court ruling in Collier case frees man accused of operating a grow house” (March 25, 2012, Naples Daily News)

Dekle reinforced an appeals court decision, which ruled that although a man who was accused of operating a grow house allowed police into his backyard to speak with him, he didn’t consent for them to further search his yard, which eventually led to the discovery of a grow house.

From the article:
George R. Dekle Jr., professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, agreed search and seizure issues are “heavily driven” by the facts of each case.

“The officers had consent to come onto the property to speak with the defendant,” Dekle said. “When they left his presence and started roaming around the property, they obviously weren’t talking to the defendant and had no right to be where they were when they smelled the marijuana.”

Michelle Jacobs
Professor of Law

“Students react to the death of Trayvon Martin” (March 22, 2012, The Alligator)

Jacobs weighed in on the Trayvon Martin shooting in this article that also addresses some student reactions to the 17-year-old’s death.

From the article:
UF law professor Michelle Jacobs said she’s not surprised Zimmerman hasn’t been charged.

“When a black person gets killed in questionable circumstances by a white person, no one should be surprised that law enforcement was slow to launch an investigation,” she said.

“Inside the Trayvon Martin Tragedy” (March 28, 2012, Legal Talk Network)

Jacobs, along with University of Missouri-Kansas City Criminal Justice Department Chair Kenneth Novak, participated in an in-depth discussion on this podcast about issues surrounding the Trayvon Martin shooting, including Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, neighborhood watches and racial profiling.

Lyrissa Lidsky
Stephen C. O’Connell Chair & Professor of Law

“Facebook advises users not to give out passwords to prying employers” (March 28, 2012, The Alligator)

Lidsky addressed the legality of potential employers asking job candidates for the their Facebook login information, following a warning from Facebook about the growing trend.

From the article:
It is legal to ask for Facebook login information, said Lyrissa Lidsky, professor at Levin College of Law.

She said giving the information isn’t the best idea, though.

“The consent is economic coercion, in a sense,” Lidsky said.

It is tough to say no to an interviewer, she said, especially in a tough economy.

“A lot of things we consent to we consent to because of social pressures,” she said.

Joseph Little
Professor Emeritus

“Collier commission aides amassed two months worth of overtime in 2011″ (March 25, 2012, Naples Daily News)

This article looks into Collier County employees who have worked over 40 hours a week and are opting to take comp time rather than the mandated time-and-a-half overtime pay.

From the article:
Joseph Little, a law professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville, said the state follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act for county employees.

“Ordinarily, it requires time and one-half for overtime,” he wrote in an email. “It does permit compensatory time for employees of state public agencies.”

Jon Mills
Dean Emeritus; Director, Center for Governmental Responsibility

“Legal questions raised over new practice by employers seeking Facebook access of applicants” (March 23, 2012, WUFT 89.1 FM)

WUFT spoke with Mills in this radio interview about it is increasingly more common for employers to ask for potential employees’ Facebook login information so they can see the applicant’s personal Facebook account. Mills said it is important for individuals to be aware of how much personal information they put online, and said although it is legal in the U.S. it is not allowed in some other countries.

Kenneth Nunn 
Professor of Law

“Racism Is the Problem Here” (March 21, 2012, The New York Times)

Nunn contributed an editorial piece as part of New York Times’ “Room for Debate” column, which was comprised of arguments from experts in various disciplines exploring different angles of the Trayvon Martin shooting case.

From the article: Stand Your Ground statutes may be problematic for a number of reasons. But if we really want to save lives and prevent future miscarriages of justice, we will have to confront the reality of race.

Leonard Riskin
Chesterfield Smith Professor of Law

Riskin gave a presentation for students, faculty and alumni of at UCLA School of Law entitled “The ‘Negotiation’ Within: Connecting and Managing Inner and Outer Conflict” in March.

Last semester, he conducted a workshop on “Mindfulness and Conflict for the Chicago Center for Conflict Resolution.”

Katheryn Russell-Brown
Chesterfield Smith Professor of Law; Director, Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations

“Outrage unites people of all colors, but divide still exists” (March 24, 2012, Orlando Sentinel)

In this article that examines some of the racial issues tied into the Trayvon Martin case, Russell-Brown discussed how people relate to crime victims through race.

From the article:
Katheryn Russell-Brown, director of the University of Florida’s Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations, said it’s natural for people to view crime through the lens of their own race and identify with victims who look most like them.

Whites might not understand the depth of the black community’s outrage over Trayvon Martin’s death any more than blacks understood the national obsession with Natalee Holloway or the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse, or the time, money and attention devoted to the Casey Anthony case.

“It’s who you see as a family member, who you could step into their shoes and it could be you,” Russell-Brown said.

Michael Seigel
University of Florida Research Foundation Professor of Law; Director, Criminal Justice Center

“UF Professor Breaks Down ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law” (March 21, 2012, GTN News),

In this television interview, Seigel explains Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law and the ideas behind the law when it was established in 2005. Seigel said the logic behind the law was shaky from the beginning and people didn’t realize how powerful the law could be.

“‘Stand Your Ground Law’ at center of Fla. Shooting” (March 22, 2012, Associated Press)

Seigel commented on the Trayvon Martin shooting, saying that the Sanford police should have done more thorough investigation into the events before deciding not to bring charges to shooter George Zimmerman.

From the article:
“The law has definitely shifted and given a signal to law enforcement to be more careful,” he said. “But in a case where the self-defense claim is weak, you would think they would do their job.”

“Federal Prosecutors Won’t Retry Polk Bribery Case” (March 25, 2012, The Ledger)

A bribery case will not be pursued again by federal prosecutors after the case fell apart because of a wording error in the grand jury’s indictment. The indictment references “Polk County” but should have referenced the “Polk County School Board,” as employing a man accused of accepting bribes from a construction company.

From the article:
Seigel described the indictment’s wording as “a serious oversight” and a “major catastrophe” for federal prosecutors.

“There is no way to really sugarcoat it,” Seigel said. “It’s a major error on behalf of the prosecution. They did not do their homework.”

The indictment’s poor wording wasn’t a small error and touches on an important constitutional right, he said.

The Fifth Amendment includes the right that defendants know clearly and specifically what allegations they are facing, he said.

“Golden Hills seeking bankruptcy protection” (Feb. 28, 2012, Ocala Star-Banner)

With the Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club filing for bankruptcy in February, this article looks at the causes and implications of the filing. Davis offered insight into what it means for a business to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

From the article:
Chapter 11 bankruptcy isn’t the end for Golden Hills. They can still conduct business, but still owe some of their creditors money.

“Chapter 11 is known as business reorganization,” said Jeffrey Davis, a law professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. “The goal is to arrive at a plan that over time pays the secured creditors and the unsecured creditors under the terms.”

Lyrissa Lidsky
Stephen C. O’Connell Chair & Professor of Law

Lidsky’s article “Incendiary Speech and Social Media,” was just published in Texas Tech Law Review.

Lidsky traveled to Florida Coastal School of Law on March 2 to give a presentation at the Law Review’s Cyber Law Symposium.

Tom C.W. Lin
Assistant Professor of Law

Lin recently published “The Corporate Governance of Iconic Executives” in 87 Notre Dame L. Rev. 351 (2011).

Joseph Little
Professor Emeritus

“KEL law firm sues Better Business Bureau over rating system dispute” (Feb. 21, 2012,Orlando Sentinel)

KEL law firm in Orlando is suing the Better Business Bureau after the organization gave the law firm a rating of “F” because of client complaints. The law firm is claiming the bureau’s rating system is biased and flawed. Little stated that as long as the Better Business Bureau can back up its rating system and claims, its conclusions about businesses are protected speech.

From the article:
Still, a BBB agency can’t just publish information without proper due diligence to verify it, said Joseph W. Little, a professor emeritus at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. The burden would be on KEL to prove reckless negligence by the BBB, he said.

“The BBB has common law right to express fair comment and honest opinion based on true facts,” Little said. “If it does that, then it is protected speech and opinion, even though it is not the opinion the law firm would want them to have.”

“House passes random drug testing bill” (March 2, 2012, Associated Press)

The article addresses questions raised after the Florida House passed a bill that would allow state employees to submit to random drug tests. Little discussed the constitutionality if the bill were to become a law.

From the article:
For the plan to be constitutional, the state’s interest in testing employees for drugs must outweigh the employees’ right to privacy, said Joseph Little, a professor emeritus of constitutional law at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law.

“There has to be something special about the employment, though, like law enforcement officers or those with a security clearance,” Little said. “But if there’s no special need, you probably can’t do it.”

Jon Mills
Dean Emeritus; Director, Center for Governmental Responsibility

“Justices seek input on how to handle new redistricting rules” (Feb. 29, 2012, The Miami Herald)

The Florida Supreme Court questioned lawyers representing Democrats and Republicans about how to interpret Florida’s new redistricting rules last month. Mills was on-hand to represent the Democrats and was quoted in the article.

From the article:
“You are the ultimate authority,” said Jon Mills, a University of Florida law professor and former House speaker arguing for the Florida Democratic Party. The Legislature’s interpretation “may be interesting but your interpretation is binding.”

Leonard Riskin
Chesterfield Smith Professor of Law

During the fall semester of 2011, Riskin was a visiting professor at Northwestern University School of Law. While there, he received a Dean’s Teaching Award for 2011-2012 (awarded by the dean, based on student evaluations).

In October, he gave two plenary presentations on “Managing and Connecting Inner and Outer Conflict: Integration of IFS and Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice,” at the international Conference of the Center for Self-Leadership in Boston and the Pre-Conference Workshop.

He also moderated a panel presentation on The Chicago Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program, sponsored by the Northwestern Law Hispanic Student’s Association and the John Marshall Law School Mediation Program.

Daniel Sokol
Associate Professor of Law

Sokol presented his early work “A Transaction Cost Economics Explanation of Law and Entrepreneurship Vertical Contracting” at IU Bloomington Mauer School of Law.

Jeff Wade
Director of Environmental Division, Center for Governmental Responsibility

On Feb. 17-18, Wade participated in a conference as part of the run-up to the UN Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, scheduled for June of this year. The conference, titled “Contribution of International Environmental Law to Sustainable Development: Global and National Perspectives,” was held at the University of Delhi Faculty of Law in New Delhi, India. Wade presented a paper, “Coastal Development in an Unstable Climate: Precaution, Adaptation and Resilience,” and moderated a panel on marine pollution and coastal regulation.

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

Wolf made a presentation on judicial takings with Bill Treanor (Georgetown) at the Third Annual Meeting of the Association for Law, Property and Society, at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., on March 2.

The session focuses on “Change Management … Adjusting to Public Expectation” and features panel discussions on benefit and compensation issues; budgets, services, and public perceptions; and preparing for the next generation of Florida managers.

Panelists include city and county managers from throughout Florida, including Gainesville City Manager Russ Blackburn and Alachua County Manager Randy Reid, and CGR Director and Professor Jon Mills.

Registration is required and information is available online.