Law School News

Benjamin Krause (’13) was among those who spoke to the Platform Drafting Committee of the Democratic National Committee on July 28, 2012, at a national hearing held in Minneapolis over the weekend. Krause testified on behalf of Veterans for Common Sense, an advocacy organization at which he is assistant director for policy advocacy.

From July 1-8, 2012 the ABA Regional and National Champion Negotiation Team of Bobby Mir (’12) and Ben Tozer (’12) traveled to Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland with coach Mary Alton to compete for the United States in the 2012 International Negotiation Competition. Alums Mir and Tozer, wrapping up their third year on the Negotiation Team, made a magnificent showing in this competition, placing second and scoring better than teams from 14 other countries. Singapore took first-place honors.

Racially diverse suburbs are growing faster than white suburbs, but resegregation threatens their prosperity and stability, according to a study entitled, "America's Racially Diverse Suburbs: Opportunities and Challenges," released this week by the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity at the University of Minnesota Law School.

The University of Minnesota Law School's Institute on Race and Poverty, founded in 1993, has been renamed the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity to reflect its broadening research, announces Professor Myron Orfield, Institute Director since 2003.

Robert F. Henson (’50), a founding partner of Henson & Efron and its president for nearly 40 years, passed away June 23, 2012, in Minneapolis at age 87. In its online notice, the firm called him the epitome of "what every lawyer should aspire to be."

Faegre Baker Daniels partner Michael A. Ponto (’89) was among the honorees when the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal presented its Diversity in Business Award to top corporate leaders at a ceremony at the Westin Galleria, Edina, Minn., on July 12, 2012. The award celebrates the breadth of the Twin Cities business community and promotes diversity of race, sexual orientation, disability, and military service. Recipients are selected for contributions to their company, industry, and community.

The University of Minnesota is pleased to announce that Mark Kappelhoff, former Chief of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), has joined the Law School as a clinical professor. Kappelhoff began his career with the Civil Rights Division in 1998 as a trial attorney, later serving as Deputy Chief and Principal Deputy Chief. He became Chief of the Criminal Section in 2006. He was appointed to also serve as Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division in 2009 and as Acting Chief of the Federal Coordination and Compliance Section in 2010.

On August 9, 2012, Myron H. Bright (’47), a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit for nearly 45 years, will receive the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award at the Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The award honors individuals in participating federal circuits whose life and practice exemplify the highest character, integrity, and dedication to the principles of the legal profession and the rule of law. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge William Jay Riley will present the award.

"It has been an honor to serve as the American Ambassador here," said Scott H. DeLisi (’80) in a June 21, 2012, farewell Facebook posting to Nepal, "and I hope we have made progress together in building the ties between our nations." A few days later, DeLisi left Nepal to undertake his new assignment as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda.

On July 1, 2012, the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) began its 2012-13 bar year, with Phil Duran ('00) taking office as president-elect and Michael W. Unger ('81) taking office as secretary. Duran will be the MSBA president for the 2013-14 bar year and Unger is on track to become president for the 2015-16 bar year.