FlaLaw » Volume VI Issue 14

In the Spotlight: Michael Gordon

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 15:52:12 +0000

Chesterfield Smith Professor Michael W. Gordon’s fourth casebook, International Civil Litigation (coauthored with Charles Baldwin, Ronald Brand and David Epstein), will be published in the fall by West. This will be his 22nd volume written or co-authored for West. Others include Law of NAFTA, Comparative Legal Traditions and International Business Transactions. • Stephen C. O’Connell Professor

In the Spotlight: Christopher Peterson

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 15:50:59 +0000

Assistant Professor Christopher Peterson has worked as a public-interest lawyer, focusing on consumer protection and debt. He received B.A. degrees in political science and philosophy and J.D. from the University of Utah, then clerked at the U.S. 10th Circuit court of Appeals.

In the Spotlight: Cally Jordon

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 15:50:18 +0000

Cally Jordan received a D.E.A. in French Civil Law with honors from the University of Paris; B.C.L., LL.B. from McGill University; M.A. from University of Toronto; and B.A. with distinction from Carlton University. Jordan has worked with a variety of other countries on corporate and financial law matters. Jordon has practiced in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Hong Kong, and served as advisor to the Hong Kong Government Financial Services Bureau, Government of the United Kingdom, International Development Agency, American Arbitration Association and others.

In the Spotlight: Mary Jane Angelo

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 15:49:17 +0000

Mary Jane Angelo focuses on environmental, water, bio-technology and administrative law. She has worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and St. Johns River Water Management District and taught as an adjunct at UF and Vermont Law School. She earned her B.S. in Biology, M.A. in Entomology and J.D. (top 5 percent) from UF. “Mary Jane’s background covers a broad range of environmental law — federal toxic substances and pesticide law, Florida water and wetlands law, and biotechnology regulation,” said Flournoy. “Her scientific background and interest in problems of science and law lay the groundwork for interesting curricular and research developments.”

In the Spotlight: Christine Klein

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 15:48:11 +0000

Christine Klein clerked at the U.S. District Court (Colorado), then worked for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, where she specialized in waterrights litigation. She has taught at the universities of Colorado, Denver and Michigan State in environmental, land use and property law. She earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado and LL.M. from Columbia. “The addition of Christine, with her practical experience and publications on western water law is timely, since there is ongoing discussion about reform of Florida’s water law and the western model is often part of those discussions,” said Flournoy. “Her scholarship also addresses important issues relating to public lands, building our strength in that field.”

In the Spotlight: Michael Wolf

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:44:36 +0000

In addition to new Dean Robert Jerry and Legal Information Center Director Mary Kathleen Price, both who arrive in July, UF Law will welcome in Fall 2003 Environmental and Land Use Law professors Michael Wolf, Mary Jane Angelo (arriving in Fall 2004) and Christine Klein; Associate Professor Cally Jordan and Assistant Professor Christopher Peterson. And George Yin will serve in Spring 2004 as a visitor in the Freeland Eminent Scholar in Taxation Chair.

University of Richmond Law and History Professor Michael Wolf earned his B.A. from Emory University, A.M. and Ph.D. from Harvard, and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. His focus is on Property, Land-Use Planning, Environmental Law, Environmental Law and Policy and Local Government. He also has been visiting professor at The American University Washington College of Law, Associate Professor at Oklahoma City University School of Law, and research associate and teaching fellow at Harvard. He is a prolific and widely published author. “Michael draws on legal history extensively in his work on land use law; and his keen interest in the intersection of land use and environmental law is a great fit with our program, which emphasizes the relationship of these two fields,” said Program Director Alyson Flournoy. “As the Richard E. Nelson Chair of State and Local Government Law, his interest in land use will enrich our program in state and local government law.”

Dean’s Message

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:42:35 +0000

I am pleased to report the successful conclusion of two major law school efforts — our search for a new leader for the Levin College of Law and another phase of our building campaign. Most of you have learned by now of University of Florida President Charles Young’s announcement that former University of Kansas Law School Dean Robert Jerry will join the college in July as its 13th dean. Jerry is now Missouri Endowed Floyd R. Gibson Professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. (Complete story on Jerry at www.law.ufl.edu.) Many of you also may know that while we received the bulk of our funding — more than $23 million in public and private funds — for construction before last fall, we continued to raise funds to enable us to again apply for state matching dollars and come closer to the estimated $50 million needed to complete all phases of our construction and renovation plans. We intensified this effort in September, and by the end of the year received $564,000 in gifts and pledges — from $25 to $100,000 — from 105 donors. As a result, UF has placed the law school on a list for a Courtelis Fund match of $1,128,000. Construction begins later this year. More than $300,000 of the contributions resulted from a fund-raising effort for the Justice Stephen C. O’Connell Supreme Court Reading Room. The project was initiated by his widow, Cynthia O’Connell, to seek gifts from his friends and colleagues to name a large study room in the new library space in his honor. A special note of thanks and congratulations for the success of this project goes to our alumni leaders and Development Director Donald Hale, Associate Director Kelly Wood and others in the Development and Alumni Affairs Office for theirhard work and dedication. As I have said, we need facilities that match the quality of our students, staff, faculty and alumni. Now we will fulfill that promise. As you may read in the message below from Professor Jerry — sent to the law school community following President Young’s announcement — this kind of shared commitment to the advancement of an institution is vital to its success. Professor Jerry feels — as I do — that people here are dedicated to the best interests of the law school. He shares our vision for the future of this great place, and I am pleased he is joining us. — Dean Jon Mills

Please know I am delighted that I will soon be moving to Gainesville to serve as dean of the Levin College of Law. My wife, Lisa, shares my enthusiasm. We are eager to make the transition and appreciate your many offers of assistance. When the search process began many weeks ago, I spoke honestly when I told search committees, provosts and presidents that I did not want to be a dean again unless it could be at an institution where there was a shared commitment among the faculty, administration and alumni to take a strong institution and move it to the next level. I believe I have found that situation at Florida. You already have faculty, staff, and students of extraordinary quality. But I am confident that if we work together and make good decisions that build on this foundation, the college’s best years are in its future. I will be making a number of trips to Gainesville before July 1. Although some of those trips will be short, I hope I will be able to visit with many of you on those occasions. — Professor Robert Jerry