Law School News

The Law School's National Moot Court teams had successful showings at the regional tournament hosted by Hamline School of Law from Nov. 17-19, 2011.

Judge Edward J. Cleary (’77) has been appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton to the Minnesota Court of Appeals representing the Fourth Congressional District, replacing Judge Harriet M. Lansing (’70), who retired this year. Currently assistant chief judge in the Ramsey County District, Cleary was appointed in 2002 by then-Gov. Jesse Ventura and was subsequently elected twice.

Thomas W. Pugh (’76) was appointed to the bench of Minnesota’s First Judicial District by Gov. Mark Dayton on Nov. 21, replacing Senior Judge Thomas B. Poch (’67), who retired earlier this year. The First District covers Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, LeSueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley counties.

Three Law School students were awarded scholarships from the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL) Foundation at its Annual Scholarship Gala on November 12, 2011. Rashya Cunningham (’13) received the William McGee scholarship, Tennille McCray (’12) received an MABL scholarship, and Elisha Rapp (’13) received the Pamela Alexander scholarship.

Benjamin Krause (’13) has been an advocate for disabled veterans for nearly ten years. In 2009 the "formerly frustrated veteran turned journalist," as he describes himself, founded DisabledVeterans.org. The site provides information about compensation, pensions, vocational rehabilitation, and other issues of importance to veterans, plus a forum for discussions about the challenges they face.

Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, former Canadian Foreign Minister, will present "The Responsibility to Protect" on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in Lockhart Hall (Room 25) at the Law School. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will introduce Dr. Axworthy.

The University of Minnesota Law School negotiation teams made a great showing at the ABA Region 5 Negotiation Competition this past weekend, Nov. 5-6, at the University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Law. Bobby Mir (’12) and Ben Tozer (’12) composed one team, and David Morine (’12) and Jade Holman (’13) the other team.

In the fall 2011 issue of With Equal Right, Erin Furlong (’05) shares her experiences and the advantages of obtaining a joint J.D. and M.P.H. degree through the Law School's Joint Degree Program in Law, Health, & the Life Sciences.

David Wippman, dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, announced today the inaugural meeting of the newly created Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, to be held Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at the Law School.

The fall 2011 issue of With Equal Right features the Law School’s Legal Writing Program through essays by three of its instructors: Pamela Siege Chandler (’95), also senior director of law school publishing at Thomson Reuters; attorney Nadia Wood (’10), who has her own appellate and trial motion legal writing services practice; and third-year student Nadia Aboussir (’12).

Dean David Wippman announced the appointment of Michael E. Smith, Haight-Bascom Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin, as executive director of the newly created Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice.

A concentration in criminal justice became available to Law School students this fall, bringing the number of offerings in this program to seven. Concentrations build on and complement the standard Law School curriculum through interdisciplinary partnerships with other University programs. Students who complete the concentration requirements are well grounded in a wide range of topics in the field and prepared for the opportunities that present themselves after graduation.

Leo Disburg (’90) was recently appointed a magistrate judge in South Dakota's Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers 14 counties in the central and south central areas of the state, beginning November 9. He will replace retiring Magistrate Judge Mark Smith. John L. Brown, presiding Sixth Circuit judge, said in a news release announcing Disburg's appointment that "his experience and temperament will serve the Circuit well."

An article by Law School student Thomas J. Braun (’12)—"Cleaning Up the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act: The Ambiguous Definition of 'Disposal' and the Need for Supreme Court Action"—has not just been published by The Federal Lawyer. It's the cover story of the October 2011 issue.

David Wippman, dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, announced today the creation of the Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice.