Intelligator,
Michaelson Top Oralists; Hardacre Wins Best Writer in Annual
 Intramural
Moot Court Competition
Following
thoughtful arguments that covered a range of thorny legal
issues, Sarah A. Intelligator was named Best Oralist
in Southwestern’s 2005 Intramural Moot Court Competition
held on Saturday, April 2. Lindsay J. Michaelson, who
was also Intelligator’s moot court partner in Professor
Gharakhanian’s legal writing class, took the second-place
oralist title. The final bench of leading jurists included
Hon. Louis B. Butler, Jr., Justice of the Supreme Court
of Wisconsin; Hon. Rives Kistler, Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court of Oregon, Hon. Steven Levinson, Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii; and Hon. Albert
 Rosenblatt,
Associate Justice, New York Court of Appeals. After
the winner was announced, Judge Levinson commented, “If
you only knew how you both stack up in terms of the aptitudes
that you exhibited in this argument – against lawyers
who do this for a living and have been doing it for years – you
would be very proud of yourselves.” In the writing
competition, Colin Hardacre (pictured, right)
took the Best Writer Award. read
more...
Prince Team Earns Two Awards in New York
 Southwestern’s
advocates recently returned from the Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence
Competition in Brooklyn, New York with awards in
hand. The team of Jennifer Dolan, Silva Megerditchian and Julia
Sullivan earned the title of second place team, and Sullivan received
the award for best final round oralist. They argued a problem regarding
the issues of whether recorded statements to a 911 operator are admissible,
and whether a defendant can be compelled to produce his personal diary
if it will deny him his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
Advised by Professors Anahid Gharakhanian and Austen Parrish, they
defeated teams from Georgetown University, New York University, Villanova
University and the University of North Carolina.
“Julia, Jennifer and Silva represented Southwestern extremely well with
a spectacular performance. A justice from the quarterfinal bench said that
the Southwestern advocates were one of the strongest, if not the strongest, team
she had seen in over a decade of judging the Prince competition. In the final
round, they orally outscored a Hastings Team before a very difficult bench.
Unfortunately,
the oral score was not high enough to overcome the Hastings’ brief, which
was worth 40% of the final score,” said Professor Parrish.
Honors Programs Announce 2005-2006 Leadership
Southwestern
congratulates the following students on their appointments to leadership
positions
in the school’s honors programs:
Moot
Court Board of Governors
Jay Mykytiuk – Chair
William Frank
Emma Graglia
Elizabeth Hayes
Marlene Nicolas
Danielle Sundberg
Interscholastic
Trial Advocacy Program
Board of Governors
Daniel Varon – Chair
Michael Carroll
Elizabeth Huynh
Oksana Sigal
Brian Yasuzawa
Students Elect 2005-2006 SBA Officers
After
elections held earlier this month, the Student
Bar Association announced
next
year’s governing board. The officers for the 2005-2006
are:
President – Chris
Harmon
Vice-President (Day) – Tessa King
Vice-President (Evening) – Alex Raminfar
Secretary – Tara Rose
Treasurer – Marisa Maclennan
ABA Representative – Shahrokh Sheik
For a list of recent faculty activities, click
here.
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Strader, Pellman Receive Excellence in  Teaching
Awards
Southwestern is pleased to announce that Professor
J. Kelly Strader has been selected to receive the 2005
Excellence in Teaching Award  and
Professor
Amy M. Pellman has been selected to receive the 2005 Adjunct
Excellence in Teaching Award. The
awards are based upon student and faculty nominations which provide
written documentation that addresses stated criteria for excellence.
While
there is no single checklist for measuring such excellence, the stated
criteria include: effects on student learning in the classroom, on
student motivation and on learning outside the classroom.
Professor,
Students Help Make ‘Adoption Day’ a Success
Putting
their new skills to practice in the real world, Southwestern students
in the course “Children
and the Law” facilitated the legal union of 46 foster children
with their adoptive families at a ceremony on Thursday, April 21
at Los Angeles Children’s Court in Monterey Park. The event,
now in  its
third year, was part of the course curriculum designed by Adjunct
Professor Amy Pellman (pictured, right), legal director
of the Los Angeles-based Alliance
for Children’s Rights.
Earlier in the semester, Professor Pellman assigned each student to a single
child. Students spent several weeks working with the children and their families
to wade through the legal procedures necessary to move the adoption forward.
On Adoption Day, the students worked side-by-side with the Alliance’s pro
bono attorneys, leading the children and their families through the final legal
step in the adoption process. As evidenced by the warmth and gleeful smiles that
filled the court, many students developed close bonds with their “clients,” while
receiving hands-on training in juvenile law. read
more...
Southwestern
Welcomes New Adjunct Faculty
Experts
in disability rights, religion and the law, jurisdiction, legal practice,
music publishing and media law have joined Southwestern’s adjunct
faculty for Summer and Fall 2005. read more...
Professor
Scott brings International IT Law Experts
to Campus to Discuss
Emerging  Legal
Issues
Anyone interested in information technology transactions, and those
who want to litigate, arbitrate or mediate IT-related disputes should
consider the 2005
International Information (IT) Law Conference for
their
summer calendar. The two-day event
will feature 24 panel discussions, memorable keynote speeches and
numerous networking opportunities and will take place June 9-10,
2005 at Southwestern, under the auspices of the Biederman
Institute. Students interested in attending should contact Professor
Michael Scott, event co-chair.
Southwestern to be Honored for Historic
Preservation
The Los Angeles Conservancy has selected Southwestern as the recipient
of its 2005 President’s Award “for showing true vision
in integrating the former Bullocks Wilshire department store into
its campus expansion plan…and for meticulously restoring and
transforming the beloved Los Angeles  landmark into a unique, state-of-the-art
learning environment and model of adaptive reuse.” The President’s
Award is presented annually to recognize special achievement in historic
preservation. Among recent recipients of the award are the City of
Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
In
his letter announcing the award, Mr. Roland Wiley, President of the Los
Angeles Conservancy
Board of Directors, indicated that Southwestern
was chosen this year for “exemplary preservation and rehabilitation
work at Bullocks Wilshire,” and for “contributing to the
recognition, preservation and revitalization of the region’s
architecture and cultural heritage." The award will be presented
at the Conservancy’s Awards Ceremony on May 2, 2005, and is the
11th award Southwestern has received for historic restoration and adaptive
reuse.
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Staff
Changes
Southwestern announces new staff members in offices across campus:
Rosalyn
Escobar, Student Services Assistant, Dean's Office and Office of Administrative
Services – Rosalyn earned her bachelor’s
degree in Latin American and Latino Studies from the University of California,
Santa Cruz, where she worked as an office intern for the Chicano/Latino
Resource Center. Most recently she was an office manager and legal assistant
for wedding
and legal services.
Johanna Gan, Student Services Assistant, Administrative
Services – Johanna’s
work experience includes English instruction with the Nova Group in
Tokyo, Japan and an internship at the Crane Kalman Gallery in London,
England. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Art History
and Sociology from Boston University, where she volunteered at
United South
End Settlements, assisting teachers with adult education lesson
planning and teaching.
Jason Mandell, Senior Writer, Public Information – Jason
is an experienced journalist who comes to Southwestern from the Los
Angeles Downtown News, where he served as both lead staff writer
and city editor. He previously wrote for LA Weekly and
the Central City Association. Originally from New York, Jason
earned his
bachelor’s degree in English at Pomona College and also
studied at the University of Florence, Italy.
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Cynthia
Moj, Registrar – Prior to joining
Southwestern, Cynthia was the Director of Administrative Affairs
and Registrar for the School of Paralegal Studies at the University
of West Los Angeles. Before that, she was Director of Financial Aid
and Registrar at the Phillips Graduate Institute in Encino and Associate
Campus Director at the Ameritech College in Bakersfield. She also
served in the United States Air Force, where she received a Strategic
Air Command, Airman of the Year special award. Cynthia earned her
bachelor of science degree in business from California State University,
Northridge.
Angelique Porter, Faculty Services Supervisor – Angelique
spent eight years with the Financial Services Division of the Superior
Court of California, County of Riverside, where she worked as a Financial
Services Officer and later a supervisor for the Financial Services
Assistants assigned to three court locations. She has also worked for
the Internal Revenue Service and Household Finance.
In addition,
the following people have received promotions:
Tamara Moore – Program Supervisor, National
Entertainment and Media Law Institute
Oliver Olivares – Information Systems Technician,
Management Information Systems
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Campus
Construction: Spring 2005
 You
may have noticed some bustling activity in Suite 102 of the Westmoreland
building in recent weeks. The area is being upgraded and reorganized
to better utilize the space for the offices of the Registrar, Financial
Aid, Dean of Students, Student Affairs and Admissions. Construction
is scheduled to be completed early this summer. The Externship Office,
which had been housed on the first floor since 1998, has moved up
to the second floor adjacent to the SBA Office.
The
New Externship Office (April 2005)
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Westmoreland
Construction - In Progress (March/April 2005)
|
 A
dozen questions for: Professor
Paul Horwitz
Q: If you knew you could not fail, what would you do?
A: I would finally take a shot at that pro basketball career.
Q: Who are your personal heroes?
A: In the law, Holmes, Posner, and Bora Laskin (a former Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Canada). I am not averse to looking to
the Gospels for guidance and inspiration. Throw in Churchill and Blair
for a willingness to advocate and employ military force when it
was
called for, Romeo Dallaire for calling genocide by its proper name,
and, of course, Angel – the vampire with a soul.
Q: What is your favorite misconception about a law school professor?
A: Favorite misconception? That we are all incredibly bright
and charismatic. (In my case, of course, it’s no misconception.)
The most common misconception would be that we know everything already.
We teach
not just because of what we already know, but because of our excitement
about learning more.
Q: What is your car radio programmed to?
A: Mostly I listen to my Ipod – 9,000 songs and counting. For
some reason, I regularly listen to KPFK, at 90.7 FM, although more
for provocation than solidarity.
Q: When you were in grade school, what did you want to be when you
grew up?
A: The left-handed version of Neil Peart, the drummer for Rush. I’m
not sure I’ve given up that dream quite yet.
Q: Who would you want to play you in a movie?
A: Hope for George Clooney. Settle for Elijah Wood.
Q:
What have you gained by being a law school professor?
A: The opportunity to think long and hard about the legal issues that really
interest me. The joy of working with great colleagues. The challenge of responding
to students, whose questions always force me back to the cases to think some
more. And the pleasure of watching as they make connections for the first time
and become as excited about the subject as I am.
Q: Why did you decide to teach instead of practice?
A: I love to write, and to think about constitutional law, and to set
my own intellectual agenda. If you love your subject, practice can
be incredibly engaging, but teaching was my dream.
Q: How did you become involved in the area of constitutional law?
A: Being a journalist, and so having thought about the First Amendment
some, it seemed a good fit. Add to that the influence of some tremendously
inspiring teachers and mentors in the field and the sheer interest
of the material.
Q: What would you like to be known for?
A: Making a contribution to thinking about the First Amendment and
the Constitution from the ground up, instead of from the top down.
Q: What specifically are you focusing your current research on and
why?
A: My current research focuses on what I (and others) have called
First Amendment institutions – those institutions, such as the press,
religious organizations, libraries, and universities, that play a vital
role in our system of free speech. First Amendment law currently purports
to operate in a top-down fashion, focusing on the doctrine rather than
the facts, and so is largely indifferent to the particular nature and
practices of each of these institutions. I am interested in thinking
about the ways in which First Amendment doctrine might look if it were
genuinely sensitive to the social context in which speech actually
occurs, rather than trying to impose some overall doctrinal framework
that can be made to apply neatly in every case (which, invariably,
it does not). This work is the subject of my seminar, “First
Amendment Institutions.” My students this year were very helpful
in shaping my thinking on this subject, and I hope to continue learning
from my seminar students as I develop my ideas. Enroll early and often!
Q:
How should students in your classes prepare for your exams?
A: Read the cases! Treatises and outlines are a useful supplement,
but lawyers ultimately must be skilled at reading cases and discerning
a common thread (or, sometimes, the lack of one) in the mass of judges’ opinions.
Sometimes rereading the cases in a concentrated way at the end of
the semester, as well as during the semester, allows you to step
back from
the details and see the ways the subject fits together as a whole.
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“ W.A.Y.” - Who Are You & Why Are You
here?
 This
Month - Justin Righettini, 2nd-Year
Full-time Day Student
At 10 years old, Justin Righettini picked up the guitar, and for over
a decade he barely put it down. A native of Sacramento, he studied music
at California State University Northridge, where he concentrated on classical
guitar performance, practicing up to seven hours a day. Then it was off
to Italy, where he spent six months studying guitar, enjoying divine
cuisine, and contemplating his next step. He returned to the U.S. and
enrolled at the University of Southern California, where he received
an advanced degree in guitar performance. After graduating, Justin interned
at the California Senate office, which allowed him to indulge his other
passion: social policy and political debate.
Justin
decided that rather than try to make a living as a guitarist, he
would pursue
a career that would enable him to stay connected to
music. He enrolled at Southwestern, where he is currently in his second
year, focusing on entertainment law. While he admits that the school’s
rigorous demands can be straining at times, Justin said a legal education
is
ultimately highly valuable. After graduating, Justin hopes to work
for a smaller firm that represents musical artists, and ultimately
help reconcile the differences between the creative and commercial
sides of the industry.
Helpful
hints for students from Southwestern Staff
 Liz
says: Now that the beautiful
weather is back again, take advantage of the many outdoor
settings around campus to study. From the promenade
and student commons to the front entrance and terrace
on the fourth floor of the Bullocks
Wilshire building – they all
provide space to read, outline and work on your computer. Plus,
it has been shown
that daily exposure to sunlight is beneficial,
because it provides the body with Vitamin D, which helps
boost the immune system, among other things. Just remember
what Baz Luhrmann
said: “Wear sunscreen!”
Liz Reinhardt is the Assistant Director
of Public Information. She earned her B.A. degree in Psychology
from the University
of California, Santa Barbara before joining Southwestern in 2001.
"Getting
to Know You" articles based on interviews by Allison Cole,
2nd-year evening student.
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A selection
of scholarships and essay contests are available in the Financial
Aid Office (W102), on the bulletin board in the Westmoreland basement
and online.
Please
note: The information regarding scholarships and
essay contests on Southwestern's website provides a
general list for informational purposes only. Students
interested in applying for any scholarship should contact the
sponsoring organization directly for specific
details and deadlines. External sites are provided for
informational purposes only and are not endorsed by Southwestern.
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Below
is a sample of available scholarships with deadlines approaching
in the coming months. Please visit the organization's website for
further information and specific details.
The Richard V. Cruz Memorial Foundation Law Student Scholarship Program
Award: $2,000 (4-6)
Deadline: May 1, 2005
For more information, visit www.rvcruzfoundation.2givenow.org.
American
Inns of Court
The
Warren E. Burger Writing Competition
Award: $5,000 and publication
Deadline: June 15, 2005
For more information, contact Cindy
Dennis or visit www.innsofcourt.org.
The National
Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA)
Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition
Award: $1,000, publication and registration, airfare and lodging
for NLGLA’s Annual Conference
Deadline: June 15, 2005
For more information, contact Nadine
Gartner or visit www.nlgla.org.
Women
Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Scholarship
Award: $1,000 (multiple)
Deadline: June 17, 2005
For more information, contact Karen
Pointer or Kelly
Lind or visit www.wlala.org/scholarships.asp.
American
Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
The
Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition
Award-Local: 1st Place - $600; 2nd Place - $250
Award-National: 1st Place - $3,000; 2nd Place - $2,000; 3rd Place
- $1,000
Deadline: June 30, 2005
For more information, email or visit www.ascap.com/burkan.
Attorney-CPA
Foundation Essay Contest
Award: 1st Place - $2,500, 2nd Place - $1,500, 3rd & 4th Places:
$500, Regional (4): $250
Deadline: June 30, 2005
For more information, visit www.attorney-cpa.com.
University
of Alberta Faculty of Law Holocaust
Remembrance Essay Award
Award: $500 CDN
Deadline: July 1, 2005
For more information, visit www.law.ualberta.ca/students/prizes_awards.htm.
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April
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26 Last Day of Classes – Monday Classes Meet
27 – May 1 Reading Period
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May
|
2 – 13 Final Exams
18 Security Workshop, Westmoreland Steps, 12 & 5pm
22 Commencement
24 Vancouver Summer Abroad Program Begins
24-25 SCALE Appellate Advocacy Oral Arguments
29 Mexico Summer Abroad Program Begins
30 Memorial Day – No SCALE classes
Argentina Summer Abroad Program Begins
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June
|
1
First day of Summer Session classes
8-10 International IT Law Conference
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