Around Sullivan Hall

Tausend competition winner surprised with Dore Scholarship

Greta Smith, 2L, won the 2008 Fredric C. Tausend Moot Court Competition at Seattle University School of Law. Janna Oswald, 2L, was the runner-up.

Judges were Richard C. Tallman, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Charles W. Johnson ’76, Associate Chief Justice, Washington State Supreme Court; and Karen L. Strombom, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington.

As the winner of the competition, Smith was the first recipient of a $5,000 scholarship awarded through the Fred H. and Mary S. Dore Charitable Foundation. Other finalists were Kadi Davis, third place; Missy Mordy, fourth place; Stephanie Michels, fifth place, and Celia Lee, sixth place. The top six competitors qualified for the Seattle University National Moot Court Competition Team.

The Dispute Resolution Board also saw strong competitors at the ABA Regional Representation in Mediation Competition at UC Hastings Law School in San Francisco. Jane Chee and Ben Gauen won second place, and Kim Whitsitt and Caroline Bundy placed fourth. All are 2Ls. The competitors were assisted by coach Professor Melinda Branscomb and student coaches Hagen Ganem and Terra Evans, 3Ls.

Faculty granted tenure, promotions

Five faculty members have been awarded tenure or promotion this year. Christian Halliburton and John Kirkwood were awarded tenure. Legal Writing Director Laurel Oates was promoted to the rank of Professor of Law. Russell Powell and Law Clinic Director Paul Holland were promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Law. “I am delighted to announce that the School of Law enjoyed a very successful year in the University's Rank & Tenure process and that each of our candidates was successful,” Dean Kellye Testy said. “I congratulate them all.”

Associate Dean Chiappinelli named dean at Creighton University School of Law

Eric Chiappinelli, associate dean for alumni and professional relations and professor of law, has been named dean of Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Neb. His new position takes effect in July 2008.

“I am enthusiastic about taking up my new responsibilities, although I will miss my colleagues and engaging with them in the education of our students,” Chiappinelli said. “So much of my professional life has been at Seattle University School of Law, but becoming dean at Creighton is exactly the right opportunity for me.”

He thanked Dean Kellye Testy for her leadership and encouragement, and she congratulated him.

“While I am very pleased for him, we will all surely miss having him as our colleague at Seattle University School of Law,” she said. “He is an accomplished corporate scholar and beloved professor; these past two years he has also been very helpful on the administrative side of the law school.”

Chiappinelli joined the faculty in 1985, and he leaves a legacy of great teaching and dedicated institutional service. “His talents will greatly benefit Creighton students and faculty as he takes on this exciting new position,” Testy said.

She said she is pleased that Chiappinelli was selected to lead another Jesuit law school, as it shows that Seattle University School of Law faculty is looked to for leadership in Jesuit education.

“We are extremely fortunate to be able to attract a teacher, scholar and administrator of Dean Chiappinelli's caliber,” said Patrick Borchers, Creighton's former dean and now vice president for academic affairs.

Bob Boruchowitz leads project to improve public defense

One of the county's most respected public defenders is heading a new initiative at Seattle University School of Law aimed at providing better representation for people accused of misdemeanor crimes.

Robert C. Boruchowitz, visiting clinical professor of law and the former longtime director of The Defender Association, is running the project, which will advance efforts to improve public defense representation for thousands of people in Washington and provide models for application in other states.

The first project of the initiative will be a joint effort with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to conduct a comprehensive investigation of misdemeanor public defense in the United States. Boruchowitz will review the structure and effectiveness of defender systems and, with NACDL, will develop a set of policy recommendations. A report identifying strengths and weaknesses in misdemeanor public defense and incorporating suggested improvements will be completed in August.
 
Two law students are working with Boruchowitz on the project this semester, and he works closely with the law school's Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic. Through a combination of public education, research and writing, and strategic litigation, his defender initiative work will focus on reducing excessive defender workloads that threaten the effectiveness of the right to counsel, fostering a commitment to excellence in representation, and ensuring that defender lawyers with adequate resources are available and prepared to help accused persons at every stage of prosecution. The NACDL project also will explore alternatives to traditional prosecution to reduce the number of cases requiring counsel. 

“We are so pleased to have Bob working with us. His stellar reputation and life of public service are a great benefit to our students,” Dean Kellye Testy said. “His current project exemplifies his life’s work and fits in perfectly with the law school's mission of educating outstanding lawyers to be leaders for a just and humane world.”

The law school will co-host with NACDL a national conference in July. A similar conference is planned for New York.

John McKay receives Goldmark Award for efforts toward equal justice

Professor from Practice John McKay and his brother Mike received the Charles A. Goldmark Award in recognition for their exceptional work toward ensuring equal justice. The Legal Foundation of Washington presented the awards at a luncheon Feb. 29.

In addition to teaching courses on terrorism and the law and national security law, John McKay works to promote the law school's mission of academic excellence and social justice. He, along with former Judge Don Horowitz, organized a series of presentations at the law school throughout the year aimed at encouraging students to find a place for public service, no matter where their careers take them. He also works with the dean on special projects.

He has a long record of public service. In addition to his service as a U.S. attorney for Western Washington, he was president of Legal Services Corporation. While a partner at Cairncross Hempelmann, he received the Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award from the Washington State Bar Association. He is a past chair of the Equal Justice Coalition and was chair of the 2005-07 Campaign for Equal Justice, which raises funds to support more than 30 legal aid programs in Washington. He serves on the Advisory Council for the EJC and is on the board of the Endowment for Equal Justice.

“John is so deserving of this honor,” Dean Kellye Testy said. “We are so grateful to have him at the law school. With his strong principles and his devotion to justice, he is educating a new generation of lawyers about the importance of public service.”

Mike McKay shares his brother's passion for equal justice work, continuing to take on pro bono cases at every stage of his career, even while U.S. attorney.

Students learn how to pursue public interest goals

Heather Jarvis, an attorney with Equal Justice Works in Washington D.C., left, and Diana Singleton ’94, director of the law school's Access to Justice Institute.

Students interested in the idea of public interest work benefited from a week of events coordinated by the Access to Justice Institute to educate them about the practical side of integrating service into their careers.

Activities included informational sessions about dealing with loan debt and pursuing post-graduate fellowships, job shadows with local attorneys, and a symposium with Professor from Practice John McKay and former Judge Don Horowitz. The week ended with the Public Interest Law Foundation's annual auction, which raises money to fund public interest law summer grants.

The law school was fortunate to have Heather Jarvis of Equal Justice Works at the law school that week. She helped explain the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which helps students working in the public interest control their student loan payments. Kathleen Koch, assistant dean for Student Financial Services, explained the CCRAA, how borrowers qualify for forgiveness, and what borrowers need to do to take advantage of the benefits of the new law.

Jarvis also held another session showing students how to qualify for Equal Justice Works fellowships. EJW is the nation's largest postgraduate legal fellowship program. Erin Shea, an ’07 graduate and EJW fellow at Columbia Legal Services, talked to students about her experience.

Former Judge Don Horowitz and Professor from Practice John McKay continued their “Making a Difference” series by focusing on the development of excellent professional skills and exploring the opportunities and barriers to serving the public interest as a lawyer.

School of Law golf tournament set for May 23

Seattle University School of Law along with the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity will host the law school's golf tournament Friday, May 23, at the Golf Club at Newcastle. The day starts with breakfast and an ethics CLE presented by Professor John Strait from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by the shotgun start at 1:15. A reception and award ceremony will follow at 6 p.m. Individual registration for the golf tournament includes the CLE.

Many prominent legal and business alumni and friends will participate and enjoy the CLE and Newcastle Golf experience. Sponsorships are available ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, and players may register individually or as a team. For more information and registration go to Golf Tournament Registration.

Law school, firms host food safety conference; governor gives keynote

Seattle University School of Law will host an in-depth conference to address the important public concerns about food safety. “Who’s Minding the Store? The Current State of Food Safety and How It Can Be Improved” will be April 11 and 12 at Sullivan Hall.

Recent years have included a plethora of food warnings and recalls, raising new questions about the quality and integrity of the existing system for assuring food safety. Seattle was the epicenter of the Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak that sickened 600 and killed four 15 years ago. In addition to explaining how the present system works, this program is intended to discuss how changing consumer preferences are affecting the development and distribution of food, examine whether federal, state and industry oversight roles are changing, and discuss how the regulatory and judicial processes can be most efficiently balanced.
Gov. Christine Gregoire will present the keynote address. Featured speakers include Dr. Richard Raymond, under secretary for food safety, United States Department of Agriculture; and Dr. Patricia Griffin, chief; Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Other participants include national and local representatives of government, the food industry, consumer organizations and scientists.

In addition, the conference brings together international experts, including Jorgen Schlundt of the World Health Organization, Qiu Yueming of the China National Institute of Standardization, Deon Mahoney of Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Chris Griffith of University of Cardiff Wales, and Dr. Canice Nolan, of the EU.

The program is organized and co-sponsored by William D. Marler a 1987 graduate of Seattle University School of Law, Marler Clark LLP PS, and Kenneth M. Odza, Stoel Rives LLP.

View and a detailed agenda and register online.

Read more on other Continuing Legal Education programs throughout the spring.