The Criminal Defense Practicum, in partnership with the DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office and the Southern Center for Human Rights, secured a full acquittal for its client facing a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. Practicum Director Elizabeth Taxel served as lead counsel throughout the nine-day trial in DeKalb County Superior Court. Third-year students Charles A. "Charlie" McKeown and Hailey S. Laurie provided ongoing trial support alongside administrative assistant Jessie Des Jardines, who created the trial’s exhibits and demonstratives.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden signed the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sexual Abuse Victims Act of 2022, which eliminates the statute of limitations for a variety of federal civil claims, such as the sexual abuse of a minor and sexual exploitation of children. To help child sexual abuse survivors and their advocates, the Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic – which is the first of its kind in the nation – has created a resource guide explaining common questions about the new law that can be found on the clinic's website.
The Appellate Litigation Clinic has won its case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Third-year student Roby A. Jernigan presented oral argument in the case Jordan v. State of Georgia during July. The clinic's client was stabbed 11 times by his cellmate while two officers watched from outside his door. The question raised was whether the officers violated Jordan’s Eighth Amendment rights by failing to prevent the attack and by failing to intervene once it started. Class of 2022 graduates Tinsley J. Stokes and Mark L. Bailey helped write the briefs.
The University of Georgia School of Law will host the Georgia Court of Appeals on September 28 for oral arguments in four cases involving ineffective assistance of counsel, the scope of discovery, the TV Act, and service of process by substituted service. A question-and-answer session with the judges will follow the arguments. The event is free and open to the public. Please note seating is limited, and professional attire is required. Also, guests will only be permitted to enter and exit between arguments.
The School of Law's First Amendment Clinic is one of nine university-based legal clinics to receive a portion of a $2.4 million grant from The Legal Clinic Fund for Local News. The money will be used to increase each clinic's "capacity to serve more journalists and expand their impact." Clinics advancing and defending First Amendment rights, media freedom and transparency at the universities of Harvard, Cornell, Duke, Tulane, Buffalo, California - Irvine, Yeshiva and Inter American (Puerto Rico) also received funding.