Christine A. Klein
Professor; Associate Dean for Faculty Development

• Published “The Law of the Lakes: From Protectionism to Sustainability,” 5 Michigan State Law Review 1259 (2006) as part of a symposium on Great Lakes water allocation issues held in Chicago.

William H. Page
Marshall M. Criser Eminent Scholar in Electronic Communications and Administrative Law; Professor

• Presented his paper, “Mandatory Contracting Remedies in the American and European Microsoft Cases,” at the conference on “The End of the Microsoft Case?,” sponsored by the Searle Center of Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago on Nov. 16.
• Served as commentator in a panel on recent Supreme Court antitrust decisions at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Economic Association in New Orleans on Nov. 19.

UF Law Faculty in the News

Robert H. Jerry, II
Dean; Levin Mabie and Levin Professor

• The Independent Florida Alligator, Nov. 16. Quoted in an article discussing the recent trend of declining applications for law schools and how the University of Florida has not been affected over the last two years. “It’s fair to say that our law school is increasingly a popular first-choice destination,” said Jerry who expects the number of applications to UF law school to continue to rise. “People who take a close look at the university and especially those taking a look at the law school realize we’ve got some pretty good things going on here.”

Jon L. Mills
Professor; Director of Center for Governmental Responsibility; Dean Emeritus

• The St. Petersburg Times, Nov. 15. Mentioned as the legal advisor for House Speaker Marco Rubio, a gambling opponent who has Mills’ opinion that any compact is subject to lawmaker’s approval. Mills said legislative approval is required because table games permitted in the compact are illegal under Florida law.

Michael L. Seigel
Professor

• The Washington Post, Nov. 18. Quoted in an article discussing the recent release from prison of Arthur Bremer, who in 1972 shot and paralyzed Democratic presidential candidate Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace in Laurel, Md. The article highlights other high-profile crimes of that era. “In general, there is an odd element of nostalgia that is attached to these crimes, especially for baby boomers,” says Michael Seigel. “It may be odd, but I do think that for many of us, it brings back memories of where we were, and what we were doing and how these events impacted our lives.” In discussing citizen’s fear of Bremmer’s release, Seigel said, “Most of the time, murder is not a recidivist crime. Unless someone is a mass murderer or a psychopath, they don’t do it again. Statistically speaking, if someone kills in a fit of passion, the odds of them murdering again is not high.” Public interest in the crimes is high, however, with a proliferation of such TV shows as “CSI” and “Law & Order,” which fuel the nation’s collective fascination, Seigel said. “Americans find crime, particularly homicide, as entertainment, which is unfortunate, but has become part of our culture.”

Christopher Slobogin
Stephen C. O’Connell Chair; Affiliate Professor of Psychiatry; Adjunct Professor, University of South Florida Mental Health Institute; Associate Director, Center for Children and Families

• The Washington Post, Nov. 16. Quoted in an article that also referenced his newly published book, Privacy at Risk. The article, entitled “The Picture Of Conformity In a Watched Society, More Security Comes With Tempered Actions,” refers to the following passage from the book: “Anonymity in public promotes freedom of action and an open society. Lack of public anonymity promotes conformity and an oppressive society.” Furthermore, it discussed Slobogin’s opinion sample, which randomly selected 70 people from Florida jury pools and asked them to rank the level of intrusiveness of 25 law enforcement tactics, including several surveillance techniques. People “don’t expect to be stalked either by a person or by a camera—at least they don’t like it,” he said. “They expect to get lost in the crowd, or at least not to be monitored continuously.”

Andrew Z. Adkins III
Director of the Legal Technology Institute

• Adkins and Natalie Kelly, director of law practice management for the State Bar of Georgia, teamed up to give the 2007 ABA Tech Show attendees a how-to check list for conducting a technology assessment and developing a workable technology plan.

George R. “Bob” Dekle
Legal Skills Professor

• Delivered a lecture on the subject of Cross Examination to the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference at their Annual Fall Conference in Chattanooga, TN

Michael W. Gordon
John H. & Mary Lou Dasburg Professor of Law

• Elected to the International Academy of Comparative Law.

Robert H. Jerry, II
Dean; Levin Mabie and Levin Professor

• Agreed to serve a term on the AALS Committee on Clinical Legal Education.

Juan Perea
Cone Wagner Nugent Johnson, Hazouri and Roth Professor

• Presented his current research to the Critical Race Theory Colloquium at Northwestern University School of Law on Oct. 14.

Christopher Peterson
Associate Professor

• His draft article titled “Usury Law, Payday Loans, and Statutory Sleight of Hand: An Empirical Analysis of American Credit Pricing Limits” appeared on SSRN’s Legal Scholarship Network’s “Recent Hits” list for papers announced in the last 60 days.

Victoria Redd
Assistant Editor

• Book review appeared in the September 2007 issue of The Law and Politics Book Review on L. Hammer, A Foucauldian Approach to International Law: Descriptive Thoughts for Normative Issues.

Michael L. Seigel
Professor

• Accepted an appointment to serve on the UF Committee on a Civil, Safe and Open Environment, which is the committee formed after the student Tasering incident in September.

Christopher Slobogin
Stephen C. O’Connell Chair; Affiliate Professor of Psychiatry; Adjunct Professor, University of South Florida Mental Health Institute; Associate Director, Center for Children and Families

• Spoke on a panel focused on the Virginia Tech shootings and hosted by National Public Radio’s Joanne Silberner at Emory Law School’s Public Interest Conference on Oct. 13.
• Spoke on a panel entitled “Speaking for the Unforgivable: Death Penalty Mitigation Testmony” at the American Association of Psychiatry and Law meeting in Miami on Oct. 19.

UF Law Faculty in the News

Juan Perea
Cone Wagner Nugent Johnson, Hazouri and Roth Professor

• Univision, October 2007. Interviewed on the news show “Aqui y Ahora” regarding a Texas town that made Spanish its official language. This was his first interview conducted entirely in Spanish.

Michael Seigel
Professor

• St. Petersburg Times, Oct. 13. Extensively quoted throughout an article discussing federal prosecutors uphill battle in filing criminal civil rights violation charges against boot camp employees in Panama City for the death of a 14-year-old boy. Seigel said, prosecutors would have to prove that the boot camp employees knew what they were doing and deliberately acted in a manner that caused 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson’s death. “It’s exceedingly rare that the federal government would come in after an acquittal and bring charges,” Seigel said. “They have the power to do so. It’s not seen as double jeopardy. It’s often seen as unfair and overbearing.”
• St. Petersburg Times, Oct. 13. In a separate article discussing the verdict, Seigel was referred to when discussing the initial statement immediately issued by the U.S. Department of Justice. Seigel said government officials likely used the statement as a measure to calm the community.

• Honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. Inman attended Carson-Newman College from 1986 to 1990 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.

Jon L. Mills
Professor; Director of Center for Governmental Responsibility; Dean Emeritus

• Appointed to Advisory Commission to the World Justice Project, American Bar Association (2007-08), a multidisciplinary and multinational initiative to foster human well-being by advancing the rule of law. Launched last year by the ABA, the project is one of the primary initiatives of ABA President William H. Neukom, a Seattle lawyer, and has received $1.75 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal is to form a multidisciplinary movement in which leaders from law, business, journalism, education, conservation and the environment, medicine and public health, and religion work together to advance the rule of law. Co-sponsors include the International Bar Association, the Union Internationale des Avocats, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association and the Inter-American Bar Association. Among the individuals who have given their endorsement and support are former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court and former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright, James Baker and Warren Christopher.

UF Law Faculty in the News

Robert H. Jerry, II
Dean; Levin Mabie and Levin Professor

• WCJB-Channel 20, Oct. 7. Discussed Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance coverage in a live news segment. On Oct. 1, Florida became the only state in the country that does not require drivers to carry personal injury protection insurance when they drive. Before Oct. 1, the law said every driver had to carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection, which paid for medical bills no matter who caused the crash. Opponents of personal injury protection said it caused insurance fraud and cut car insurance bills. Drivers, who may now be forced to sue the other driver to pay for medical bills, disagree with the law. On Oct. 3 the Florida Legislature began a special session, and two days later lawmakers sent legisaltion to Gov. Charlie Crist to re-enact PIP, also known as no-fault insurance.

Jon L. Mills
Professor; Director of Center for Governmental Responsibility; Dean Emeritus

• WRUF, Oct. 9. Interviewed on WRUF regarding the National Democratic Party’s stated intention to not count Florida’s votes in the primary due to their accelerated primary date. He said it was the Florida Legislature, not Florida Democrats, who were responsible for the date change, and that the national party was wrong in its actions.
• Florida Trend, July 2007. Recognized as one of Florida’s top lawyers in the magazine’s 2007 Legal Elite list. The special report, developed from voting by Florida lawyers who are members of The Florida Bar, lists 868 honorees, including attorneys in private practice as well as prosecutors, in-house counsel, public-service attorneys and law school professors. Attorneys were asked to name the attorneys that they hold in highest regard as professionals—lawyers with whom they have personally worked and would recommend to others.

Michael Seigel
Professor

• Criminal Law Reporter, Sept. 26. Quoted in article on a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on legislation that would limit federal prosecutors’ ability to pressure cooperation from companies under investigation for corporate fraud. The legislation would bar prosecutors from weighing a company’s willingness to waive its right to confidential communication with its lawyers when deciding to bring charges. Seigel, one of two law professors to speak against the legislation at the hearing, warned that the bill would “shift the balance of power back to the corporation,” leading companies to stonewall requests for investigation. “Companies will say, ‘we’ve given you all our unprivileged information. Now you can’t charge us.’”
• The New York Times, Oct. 9. Quoted in an article about dismissing the case against a former federal prosecutor who was charged for having sex with a 5-year-old girl in Michigan after he committed suicide in his prison cell. “They have no choice,” said Seigel, adding that case dismissal is standard procedure when a defendant dies, even after conviction if the defendant has not exhausted his appeals. “We don’t charge people in absentia in this country. You can’t prosecute somebody who’s not, in effect, there to defend himself.”

Margaret Temple-Smith
Senior Legal Skills Professor

• The Washington Post, Oct. 5. Her political site, Buck Naked Politics, was mentioned on Joel Achenboch’s blog, Achenblog, on The Washington Post website at http://blog.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/. Achenbach mentioned a note UF Law alum Deborah Cupples and Temple-Smith posted on a recent publication by the Government Accountability Office.