School of Law Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge announces the University of Georgia School of Law's intent to participate in the current U.S. News & World Report rankings cycle and provides his views for the school’s decision. “Agreeing with other law schools about the value of multiple sources of information to students and their families, the University of Georgia School of Law will not withhold information from U.S. News & World Report,” Rutledge said. “U.S. News is ultimately just one source of information among many that help consumers make informed choices. Amid a squabble about a magazine, let’s not lose sight of the big picture: Tuition, cost, debt, jobs and bar passage are the topics that students and their families discuss around the kitchen table when deciding whether and where to pursue a professional degree. Tackling those issues is one of today’s great moral imperatives for leaders in higher education, and what we’re doing by guaranteeing financial aid to all first-generation college graduates and veterans.”
Congratulations to 2022 alumnus Richmond B. Wrinkle for receiving the 2022 Law School Student Excellence in Access to Justice Award. Sponsored by the State Bar of Georgia Access to Justice Committee and the Pro Bono Resource Center, he was recognized for his "commitment to prioritizing pro bono service at the law school level by helping design a pro bono law school class at UGA and increasing recognition for student pro bono service." His award was presented by U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas.
Hosch Professor Logan E. Sawyer III presented “Government by Originalism: Originalism and the Politics of Principle Inside the Reagan Administration” at the American Society for Legal History Annual Meeting during November.
Brumby Distinguished Professor in First Amendment Law Sonja R. West was featured in Teen Vogue regarding the First Amendment and flag burning. The article titled "Texas v. Johnson Significance: The Supreme Court Case That Protected Flag Burning" was written by Catherine Caruso and published 11/24/22.
Callaway Chair of Law Emeritus Ronald L. Carlson was featured in The Guardian regarding the Fulton County district attorney's investigation into the 2020 presidential election. The article titled "Could Trump's 2024 campaign keep his legal troubles at bay?" was written by Chris McGreal and published 11/18/22.
Callaway Chair Elizabeth Chamblee Burch was featured in The Washington Times regarding attorney's fees in mass tort cases. The article titled "Law firms spending millions on ads could rake in billions in damages for vets ill from Camp Lejeune" was written by Alex Swoyer and published 11/28/22.
Associate Professor Laura Phillips-Sawyer and her book American Fair Trade: Proprietary Capitalism, Corporatism, and the ‘New Competition,’ 1890-1940 were featured on Deutschlandfunk (German public radio) regarding John D. Rockefeller and antitrust laws in America. The segment titled "Aufstieg und Zerschlagung des Rockefeller-Konzerns" ("Rise and breakup of the Rockefeller corporation") was hosted by Caspar Dohmen and aired 11/2/22.
Hosch Professor & Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Lori A. Ringhand was featured in the Savannah Morning News regarding the potential impacts of Georgia's Senate runoff election. The article titled "Georgia's runoff will determine if Senate is split 50-50 or 51-49. What's the difference?" was written by Abraham Kenmore and published 11/28/22. The article was reprinted in USA Today and other outlets.
Hosch Professor & Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Lori A. Ringhand was featured in Vox regarding voting in Georgia's Senate runoff election. The article titled "The high stakes and unique weirdness of the Georgia Senate runoff, briefly explained" was written by Li Zhou and published 11/25/22.
Brumby Distinguished Professor in First Amendment Law Sonja R. West co-authored "Presuming Trustworthiness," based on her presentation at the Columbia University Knight First Amendment Institute symposium titled "Lies, Free Speech, and the Law" (with R.A. Jones) earlier this year.
President Joe Biden will soon sign the Safe Connections Act into law. The legislation, which seeks to help survivors of domestic violence sever ties with their abusers by offering a path to more easily separate from shared wireless service plans, was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate. Assistant Professor Thomas E. Kadri, whose research focuses on law and technology with an emphasis on technology-enabled abuse, has been an adviser on the text of the bipartisan legislation. He offers insight into the new law.
Interim UGA Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, University Professor & Kilpatrick Chair of Corporate Finance and Securities Law Usha Rodrigues was featured in Politico regarding the Trump Media & Technology Group/Digital World Acquisition Corporation merger. The article titled "SEC poses next obstacle in quest to take Trump's Truth Social public" was written by Declan Harty and published 11/22/22.
Associate Dean & Hosch Professor Jason A. Cade co-authored "Creando un Mundo Nuevo (Creating a New World): Campesinos in the United States" in Latinx Mental Health: From Surviving to Thriving (E.A. Delgado-Romero ed.) (IGI Global, 2023).
Assistant Professor Thomas E. Kadri presented "Interoperable Obscurity” at a University of North Carolina School of Law faculty workshop during November.
Interim UGA Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, University Professor & Kilpatrick Chair of Corporate Finance and Securities Law Usha Rodrigues was featured in Intelligencer regarding special purpose acquisition companies. The article titled "SPACs Are Dead. Why Did Grindr Use One?" was written by Jen Wieczner and published 11/21/22.
Congratulations to third-year students Lucas J. Iddings, N. Molly Laughlin and Roby H. Jernigan for finishing as finalists in a regional round of the National Moot Court Competition. Iddings was named the best advocate of the preliminary round.
Regents' Professor of International Law & Woodruff Chair in International Law Diane Marie Amann presented as part of the Research Forum panel titled "The Behavior of International Courts" at the 2022 American Society of International Law Midyear Meeting during November. In her capacity as an ASIL Counsellor, she also participated in the biennial meeting of the ASIL Executive Council.
Associate Dean for International Programs & Post Professor Melissa J. "MJ" Durkee presented her article “The Pledging World Order” (which is forthcoming in Yale Journal of International Law) and spoke on the topic of "Global Trends in International Law-Making" as part of a Research Forum panel at the 2022 American Society of International Law Midyear Meeting held during November. She also attended the society’s American Journal of International Law Editorial Board meeting and the ASIL Executive Council meeting.
The Community Health Law Partnership Clinic has successfully negotiated for immigration benefits, including deferred action and employment authorization, from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for noncitizen workers who survived gas leaks while employed at a poultry processing plant. The clinic's representation has included facilitating Department of Labor witness testimony as part of federal investigations into these matters, which led to the deaths of several coworkers. Law students involved in this advocacy included 2022 graduates Navroz N. Tharani and Ariane C. "Ari" Williams, third-year students Victoria Hiten Carabello, Savannah L. Grant, Zakary D. Pearsall and Nia N. Waller, and second-year students Andrew M. Dietz and Madeleine B. "Maddie" Hoss. They were assisted by Clinic Paralegal Sarah Ehlers and supervised by Associate Dean Jason A. Cade and Staff Attorney Kristen Shepherd.
Clinical Assistant Professor & First Amendment Clinic Director Clare R. Norins was featured in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding a recent U.S. District Court ruling relating to Forsyth County Schools school-board meeting rules. The article titled "Federal judge orders Forsyth schools to allow profanity at meetings" was written by Ty Tagami and published 11/18/22.