Law School News Briefs

Law School News Briefs

Team wins National Environmental Moot Court

Lewis & Clark Law School won the National Environmental Moot Court Competition for the third time at Pace University in New York early this year.

After 10 appearances and three wins, Lewis & Clark has captured more national competitions than any other law school, according to Don Large, professor of law.

“That’s double the competition of the closest school,” says Large, noting that 58 law schools participated in the national moot court.

Allison LaPlante ’02, Tanya Sanerib ’02, and Tyson Smith ’03 won all six rounds they argued, defeating the Uni-versity of North Carolina and Florida State University in the finals before a three-judge panel led by Judge Martha Daughtrey of the Sixth Circuit Court.

Many graduates of the Moot Court program donate time to coaching evening practice rounds. “Their dedication to the program plays a part in our continued success,” says Large.

Alumni Day: good judges, good grapes

On April 5, more than 100 alumni meandered through the halls of the law school, reminisced with professors, and marveled at the innovative design of Wood Hall.

To add substance to this year’s Alumni Day, Professor Bill Funk moderated a panel discussion critiquing the speech Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia gave in February at the dedication of Wood Hall.

The panel included U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown ’80, U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Jones ’53, U.S. Magistrate Dennis Hubel ’76, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain, an adjunct professor at the law school.

Following the discussion, the crowd dispersed to the Faculty Reading Room, where John Platt ’73 and his wife, U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Furse, shared a collection of award-winning wines from their Helvetia Vineyard.

In addition, the law school hosted three reunions that had been postponed because of last year’s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Planning for Law Alumni Day 2003 is already in the works. To offer suggestions or volunteer your time, contact Tiffany Weiss, director of alumni relations, at lawalum@lclark.edu or 503-768-6607.

Law professor to help prosecute Enron

Lewis & Clark College announced that John Kroger, assistant professor of law, is taking a leave of absence from the law school to serve as special attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice Enron Task Force in Washington, D.C.

Kroger, who teaches criminal law and criminal procedure, will assist in the investigation and prosecution of federal crimes related to the collapse of Enron. He will report to Leslie Caldwell, task force chief.

From 1997 to 2001, Kroger was a federal prosecutor in New York, where he worked on a number of major cases. In 1998, he achieved a conviction of mafia captain Gregory Scarpa Jr. for homicide after a four-week trial. In 1999, Kroger successfully prosecuted Texas drug kingpin Juan Rodriguez for shipping cocaine, valued at $100 million retail, to New York. In 2001, he convicted Alphonse Persico, boss of the Colombo organized crime family, on racketeering and money laundering charges.

Law School No. 1 in environmental law

Lewis & Clark Law School’s environmental law program is best in the nation, according to the recently released U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey of graduate programs.

“Our program includes a diverse and talented environmental law faculty; one of the most extensive environmental law curricula in the country; the first environmental law journal in the country; the first (and still only) animal law journal in the country; and clinics serving public interest clients worldwide,” says Janice Weis, director of Lewis & Clark’s environmental and natural resources law program.

In addition, the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Environmental Law honored the program with its 2001 Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy Award. The ABA award recognizes individuals, organizations, or programs that have distinguished themselves in environmental law and that have contributed significant leadership toward improving the substance, process, or understanding of environmental protection.

Law Annual Fund drive proves successful

The law school’s Annual Fund held its own this year, thanks to loyal alumni, friends, faculty, and staff who made an extra effort to give. Once again, 100 percent of the alumni board, staff, and faculty gave to the annual fund. In addition, 84 percent of all donors were alumni—an all-time high. The Board of Visitors and Lewis & Clark trustees also supported the Annual Fund with generous gifts.

Highlights of the 2001-02 Annual Fund Campaign included a fall letter-writing drive by class agents and the most-successful-ever fall and spring student-phonathon. The Gantenbein Society, whose members give $5,000 or more annually, has grown from just two members three years ago to 37 members today.

The law school is grateful to all of the donors and volunteers who helped make this year’s Annual Fund Campaign a success.

 

James Huffman, dean and Wood Professor of Law, and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer socialize in Armstrong Lounge with law school grads, whose tykes received “diplomas” at a specialized children’s ceremony.

 

Upcoming Events

Natural Resources Distinguished Visitor Lecture: On Thursday, September 26, at 5:45 p.m., Professor Robert Percival of the University of Maryland Law School will deliver the Natural Resources Distinguished Visitor Lecture at Lewis & Clark Law School. The Natural Resources Distinguished Graduate Awards presentation to Dan Cole ’86 and Nina Bell ’91 will precede the lecture at 5:30 p.m., and a reception will follow at 6:45 p.m.

Harpole Lecture and Awards: The fifth annual Joyce Ann Harpole Lecture and Awards will take place at the law school on Friday, October 18. The lecture events will run from 1:30 to 5 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony and reception until 7 p.m.

Distinguished Honors Dinner: The 2002 Distinguished Honors Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, at the law school. The event pays tribute to Distinguished Graduate Mark Tratos JD ’79 and Honorary Alumna Judge Ellen Rosenblum.