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Faculty News
Law School Pays Respects to Leo J. Raskind
Professor Emeritus Leo J. Raskind, a long-time faculty member and dedicated friend of the Law School, passed away March 22, 2011, in Minneapolis at age 91. His interest in law and commitment to the Law School were unflagging, and on his 90th birthday he was recognized at a faculty dinner for his years of service. The Law School held a memorial for Raskind on May 19 in the Lindquist & Vennum Conference Room, where Dean David Wippman, faculty colleague Fred Morrison, and student and friend Kris Erickson (’72) offered remarks.
Law School Welcomes Howard Bergman (’81) as Counsel in Residence
Howard J. Bergman (’81), a 25-year member of 3M's Office of General Counsel, joined the Law School as Counsel in Residence on April 1, 2011. "Howard’s wide-ranging experience will be an invaluable asset as the Law School expands its strong business law programs and its connections with the larger business community," says Dean David Wippman.
Prof. Orfield Receives Grant to Advance Institute on Race & Poverty
Professor Myron Orfield, Executive Director of the Institute on Race & Poverty, received a $400,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to support the Institute’s core operations of research, public education, and advocacy. The Institute strives to remove the racial and economic discrimination that create barriers to opportunity for communities of color and low income.
Prof. Goodwin Newest Member of the Chronicle of Higher Education Brainstorm Group
Professor Michele Goodwin is the newest member of the Chronicle of Higher Education Brainstorm group, the blog on ideas, culture, and the arts for the magazine The Chronicle Review. Brainstorm features some of the best minds in academic and policy circles. Goodwin's "The New Reproductive Frontier" is her first feature.
Prof. Painter Writes Op-ed, "The Case for Goodwin Liu"
Professor Richard Painter wrote an opinion piece for Politico in support of the Ninth Circuit Court nominee entitled "The Case for Goodwin Liu." In speeches on the Senate floor, Senators Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Coons (D-Del.) quoted it and other editorials Painter has written on Goodwin Liu. Painter also spoke on a Southern California Public Radio episode entitled "The Filibuster is Back: Goodwin Liu, Nominee to the 9th Circuit, Sunk by Senate Politics." Painter was also cited in an editorial appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle condemning the Senate filibuster of Liu's nomination.
Read Painter's op-ed in Politico.
Listen to the Southern California Public Radio episode.
Read the San Francisco Chronicle article.
Watch YouTube video of Senator Franken's speech on the floor quoting Painter's op-ed extensively.
Prof. Wolf Leads NIH-Supported Conference on Genomic Research in D.C.
Professor Susan Wolf chaired a standing-room-only conference in Washington, D.C., funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "Should We Return Individual Research Results and Incidental Findings from Genomic Biobanks and Archives?" tackled what is widely regarded as one of the most pressing issues in genetics today. The conference grew out of a two-year project funded by NIH and led by Wolf as primary investigator with three UMN co-investigators (Profs. Brian Van Ness, Frances Lawrenz, and Jeff Kahn). It featured top officials from NIH; the Office for Human Research Protections at DHHS and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services; leading academics; and a wide range of stakeholders. The day before the conference, Wolf delivered a plenary address on this problem at the annual meeting of the International Society of Biological and Environmental Repositories. The day after the conference, Wolf led a meeting of the project’s national working group to revise its consensus statement in progress on these issues. The American College of Human Genetics will publish a special issue of Genetics in Medicine on the conference.
Law School Professors Oppose Marriage Amendment
Sixty-three Law School professors sent an open letter to members of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate opposing a proposed amendment limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. "The proposed amendment," according to the letter, "would set in constitutional cement the existing hardships on thousands of families, including children, that many in the legal profession serve."
Read the Star Tribune article
Read the Politics in Minnesota article
Read the Minnesota Daily article
Prof. Cooper Publishes Article on Capstone Course
Professor Laura Cooper published an article entitled "An Experiment in Legal Education: Simulating ADR Processes in the Capstone Course on Labor and Employment Law" in the American Arbitration Association's Dispute Resolution Journal. The Law School's Capstone Course in Labor and Employment Law allows students to act as lawyers in a complex simulation integrating diverse areas of labor and employment law and provides experience in practice skills, ethics, and professionalism.
Prof. Simon Creates Online Electronic Bench Book for Judges
Professor Stephen Simon has created, in a Wiki format, an electronic bench book called Trial Procedures and Practices from the Judge's Perspective, which helps judges and attorneys quickly find information on commonly occurring issues during trial.
Prof. Carpenter's Op-Ed on Gays and the Legal Profession Published in New York Times
Professor Dale Carpenter published an op-ed in the New York Times entitled "How the Law Accepted Gays," placing in historical context the recent decision of a prominent national law firm to withdraw as counsel to the House of Representatives in litigation over the Defense of Marriage Act. In a half-century struggle, he writes, "Gay-rights supporters have transformed the law and the legal profession, opening the doors of law firms, law schools and courts to people who were once casually and cruelly shut out because of their sexual orientation."
Prof. Hickman Receives Research Grant
The University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research has awarded Professor Kristin Hickman a $14,500 Grant-in-Aid of Research, Artistry, and Scholarship. It will fund an extended empirical study of Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service regulation practices.
Prof. McGeveran Writes on Louboutin Shoes and Google Books
Professor William McGeveran contributed two articles to the new online publication, Capital. One considers a trademark dispute between Christian Louboutin and Yves St. Laurent concerning red soles on women's luxury shoes. The other is an interview with New York Law School Professor James Grimmelmann about the rejection of a proposed settlement of the Google Books copyright case.
Prof. Matheson Gives Presentation on Dodd-Frank Proxy Access Rules
Professor John Matheson was a speaker and moderated a panel discussion at the Directors Roundtable on the Dodd-Frank Act event, "Practical Information and Discussion on Challenges Companies Face Under the Dodd-Frank Act." Other speakers were Jones Day partner Joan McKown, General Mills VP/Associate General Counsel Trevor Gunderson, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause partner Peter Keller, and Winthrop & Weinstine shareholders Philip T. Colton and Joy S. Newborg.
Prof. Hall Testifies Before U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
Professor Ralph Hall testified before the U. S. Senate Special Committee on Aging at a hearing entitled "A Delicate Balance: FDA and the Reform of the Medical Device Approval Process," called to examine medical device recalls and product safety. Hall discussed medical device safety, product recalls, and post market surveillance.
Prof. Cox Elected to State Center Board of Directors
Professor Prentiss Cox has been elected to the Board of Directors of The State Center, an independent and bipartisan national organization that provides grants to state attorneys general for vigorous enforcement of antitrust and consumer protection laws.
Professors Osofsky and Shaffer Elected to New Offices
Professor Hari Osofsky was voted president-elect of the Association for Law, Property & Society and elected to the Executive Council of the American Society of Internation Law (ASIL). Professor Gregory Shaffer was elected to the ASIL Executive Committee.