The Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic presented oral argument before the Supreme Court of Georgia representing a woman who was abused by her parents throughout the entirety of her childhood. The case involves the choice of law and the constitutionality of the Hidden Predator Act. Third-year student Devin Mashman argued the case.
Congratulations to third-year students Jared R. Allen, Ian L. Kecskes and Sarah A. Nelson who finished as national finalists in the prestigious Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship. This invitation-only tournament is for the top 16 moot court programs from law schools across the country based on performances from the previous academic year. In the tournament, they defeated teams from New York University and St Mary's University. UGA continued its strong performance at this "best of the best" tournament and now boasts two championships, two finalist and two semifinalist performances since 2014.
The School of Law regrets to share news of the passing of Carter Chair Emeritus R. Perry Sentell Jr. on Jan. 28, 2021, at the age of 86. This sad announcement comes shortly after the passing of his wife, Jeannette, just eight days earlier. A 1958 law school alumnus, he retired in 2004 after 46 years of teaching and service at the University of Georgia. Sentell was a titan in the legal academy and a demanding instructor who set high expectations but with a warm heart for his students. Many of those students went on to hold leadership roles in the bar, the bench and government. Famous for his annual Palsgraf lecture, Sentell taught Torts, Municipal Corporations and Law of Legislative Government and published nearly 30 books. Among his law school honors are a bust in the Alexander Campbell King Law Library, the law school's Distinguished Service Scroll Award and an endowed scholarship fund named in his honor. He is survived by his son Robert Perry Sentell III, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Please be sure to keep the Sentell family in your thoughts and prayers during this extremely sorrowful time.
Congratulations to the School of Law's American Constitution Society student group for being named Student Chapter of the Week by its national organization. The American Constitution Society works "to uphold the Constitution in the 21st Century by ensuring that law is a force for protecting our democracy and the public interest and for improving people's lives" through approximately 200 student and lawyer chapters in almost every state and law school throughout the country.
In 2019-2020, School of Law students enrolled in clinical and field placement programs provided more than 80,000 uncompensated service hours. More than 24,000 of those hours occurred under the direct supervision of law school faculty members directing in-house clinical programs - all of which provide access to justice services for underrepresented communities and individuals.