The Veterans Legal Clinic has successfully helped two women obtain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. In one case, the clinic helped a woman veteran who lived for years with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from a military sexual trauma: a rape by another service member. Second-year student Eli F. Klenberg and third-year students A. Ligon Fant, Riley Gardner, Trisha D. Hyatt, Lauren A. Johnson and Bethany L. Strain developed the evidence that supported her claim. The decision resulted in increased monthly benefits and recognition by the VA of the long-term impact of the trauma. In the second case, the clinic assisted the widow of a Vietnam veteran who died of stomach cancer resulting from chronic substance use to self-treat his post-traumatic stress disorder caused by his experiences in service. Class of 2022 graduates Margaret Uhler and Jack Mayo identified and researched the medical links between his mental and medical conditions that materially contributed to this win. The decision resulted in a substantial retroactive award and ongoing monthly payments to the widow.
Callaway Chair of Law Emeritus Ronald L. Carlson was featured in The Guardian regarding offers of immunity for individuals involved in investigations surrounding the 2020 presidential election. The article titled "Trump rages after sexual abuse verdict but legal woes have only just begun" was written by Chris McGreal and published 5/14/22. The article also appeared on various other news outlets.
The School of Law regrets to announce former employee Kathryn Jo "Kathy" T. Burkes passed away December 27, 2019. She worked at UGA from March 1993 to April 2002. During that time she served as an administrative assistant in the school's advocacy office. She will be missed by law school faculty, staff and former students.
Clinical Assistant Professor & Prosecutorial Justice Program Director Melissa D. Redmon was featured in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding a possible trial relating to the 2020 presidential election. The article titled "Could Trump's town hall remarks help Fulton prosecutors investigating him?" was written by Tamar Hallerman and was published 5/11/23.
Callaway Chair Elizabeth Chamblee Burch was featured on Georgia Law News regarding the outcome of a Georgia case against opioid distributors. The article titled "Opioid distributors cleared of liability to Georgia addict families" was written by Alice Barrett and published 5/11/23.
The First Amendment Clinic and its director, Clinical Assistant Professor Clare R. Norins, were featured in an Associated Press article regarding the recent settlement of Hassan v. City of Atlanta, in which the clinic represented plaintiff Sharif Hassan, a photojournalist arrested while covering summer 2020 protests in Atlanta. The lawsuit asserted that Hassan was arrested in retaliation for exercising his First Amendment right to record. The litigation also challenged the City of Atlanta’s city-wide curfew order that contained no exception for the working press. The article titled "Atlanta to Pay Journalist $105K to Settle Lawsuit Over 2020 Protest Arrest" was published 5/10/23. It has appeared in several media outlets across the country including The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Daily Report.
Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge and LL.M. student Vladyslav Rudzinskyi published "Eleventh Circuit Switches Stance on Grounds for the Vacatur of Non-domestic Awards" in the Daily Report on 5/11/23.
The University of Georgia School of Law has reached another milestone as it seeks to redefine what it means to be a great national public law school – one that offers a world-class, hands-on, purpose-driven educational experience while never surrendering its commitment to accessibility. In the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings released earlier today, the school now ranks 20th among the nation’s 196 fully ABA-accredited law schools (our highest ranking ever). This historic ranking places the School of Law among the top seven public law schools in the nation and as the leader in Georgia for the third straight year.
Alston Associate Chair in Corporate Law Lindsey Simon was featured in a Bloomberg article regarding corporate bankruptcy failures. The article titled "Repeat Bankruptcies Are Piling Up at Fastest Rate Since 2009" was written by Jeremy Hill and Jonathan Randles and was published 5/10/23. The article was reprinted on Yahoo Finance and Financial Advisor.
Clinical Associate Professor & Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic Director Emma M. Hetherington presented “Trust-Based Relational Intervention: An Opportunity for a Trauma-Informed Legal System” and “Improving Outcomes and Responses for Survivors of CSEC in Foster Care” at Georgia’s Child Welfare Law Specialist conference during May.
The First Amendment Clinic and its director, Clinical Assistant Professor Clare R. Norins, were featured in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the recent settlement of Hassan v. City of Atlanta, in which the clinic represented plaintiff Sharif Hassan, a photojournalist arrested while covering summer 2020 protests in Atlanta. The lawsuit asserted that Hassan was arrested in retaliation for exercising his First Amendment right to record. The litigation also challenged the City of Atlanta’s city-wide curfew order that contained no exception for the working press. The article titled "Atlanta to pay settlement to photojournalist arrested in 2020" was written by Riley Bunch and published 5/8/23.
The First Amendment Clinic and its director, Clinical Assistant Professor Clare R. Norins, were featured on Fox 5 Atlanta/Fox News regarding the recent settlement of Hassan v. City of Atlanta, in which the clinic represented plaintiff Sharif Hassan, a photojournalist arrested while covering summer 2020 protests in Atlanta. The lawsuit asserted that Hassan was arrested in retaliation for exercising his First Amendment right to record. The litigation also challenged the City of Atlanta’s city-wide curfew order that contained no exception for the working press. The news items titled "Atlanta pays settlement to photojournalist arrested during George Floyd protests" and "Atlanta agrees to $105K settlement with photojournalist arrested during George Floyd protests in 2020," respectively, were published 5/9/23.
Distinguished Research Professor & Shackelford Distinguished Professor in Taxation Law Emeritus Walter Hellerstein was featured on Bloomberg Law regarding the practice of worldwide combined tax reporting. The article titled "Litigation Cloud Floats Over Minnesota's Corporate Tax Overhaul" was written by Michael J. Bologna and published 5/5/23.
Clinical Associate Professor & Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation Clinic Director Emma M. Hetherington and third-year student Copelenn C. McMahon published "Trauma-Informed Legal Representation for Youth in Sexual-Abuse-to-Prison Pipeline" in 25 Children's Rights Litigation (American Bar Association, 2023) (with A. Dunnigan).
Clinical Assistant Professor & Prosecutorial Justice Program Director Melissa D. Redmon was featured in the Athens Banner-Herald regarding the Prosecuting Attorneys Oversight Commission. The article titled "Kemp signs into law prosecutors oversight commission targeting district attorneys" was written by Drew Favakeh and published 5/7/23.
Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge publishes "Law Schools Shouldn't Blame 'U.S. News' for Their Own Moral Choices" in The Chronicle of Higher Education on 5/5/23.
Callaway Chair of Law Emeritus Ronald L. Carlson published Carlson on Evidence: Comparing Georgia and Federal Rules, 8th ed. (LexisNexis, 2023) (with M. Carlson). Carlson on Evidence has been cited in over 60 appellate decisions by the Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals to date.
Congratulations to third-year student Ellen T. "Ellie" Williams for her selection for the Equal Justice Works Regional Public Interest Award for the South Region. Recipients were chosen for "their innovation, impact, and commitment to public interest law," with each student being recognized for "providing extraordinary service through clinics, volunteer work, internships, and more."
Distinguished Research Professor & Shackelford Distinguished Professor in Taxation Law Emeritus Walter Hellerstein was featured on Bloomberg Law regarding the practice of worldwide combined tax reporting. The article titled "Minnesota Targets Corporations Shifting Profits to Tax Havens" was written by Michael J. Bologna and published 5/2/23.