Cortlin Bond, Trey Bundrick, Tyler Foster, Florence Thompson, and Morgan Thompson Shelton, all 3Ls, recently competed in the Southeastern Regional Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in New Orleans.
The Law School’s team was a perfect 4-0 in the preliminary rounds and had a resounding victory against Emory in the quarterfinals. The team faced Yale in the semifinals and gave a flawless performance. After an excruciatingly long deliberation and high praise for both teams, the judges announced that Yale would advance to the finals. Although the close loss was heartbreaking, it did not overshadow the UA team’s overall success, which also included the award for the second best memorial (brief) and an individual oralist award for Bond.
The Jessup competition involves a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice. Teams brief both sides of an intricate and complicated problem of international law and present oral arguments for both sides.
Professors Cameron Fogle and Dan Joyner coached the team.
To celebrate Black History Month, the Law School hosted a panel discussion on Tuesday titled “The Uneasy Truth.”
Law School alumni spoke candidly about what they wish they had known before attending law school and embarking on a career in the legal profession. Panelists fielded questions about whether they had faced racism at the Law School or in the legal field, and they provided practical advice for navigating those challenges.
The panelists were:
Sharon Hamilton Broach (’02), Attorney, Ken Perry Law Firm LLC
Christian Fuller (‘11), Assistant General Attorney, Georgia Office of the Attorney General
Bridget Harris (’17), Associate, Lightfoot & Franklin
Hon. Reginald Jeter (’04), Circuit Court Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit
Janine Smith (’00), Of Counsel, Global Business Advisors LLC
Hon. Traci Todd (‘07), Circuit Court Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit
Moderator: Darrius Culpepper, 3L
The event was sponsored by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the Law School’s chapter of the Black Law Students Association.
We’re so proud of Lindsey Barber, Cory Church, and Anne Miles Golson. Watch them discuss their recent win of the 69th Annual National Moot Court Competition in New York on WBRC Fox 6.
For more, read “University of Alabama Moot Court Team Makes History by Winning National Competition.”
Professor Bryan Fair is quoted in the Alabama Political Reporter about Alabama’s abortion law.
For more, read “As States Like New York Further Reproductive Health Rights, Alabama Remains Steadily Resistant.”
The University of Alabama’s newest student residence hall has been named for one of the University’s and state’s greatest civic leaders, the Honorable John H. England Jr. (’74), a member of the Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama System and circuit judge in Tuscaloosa.
UA President Stuart R. Bell made the surprise announcement at the Board of Trustees meeting in Birmingham Friday, Feb. 8.
“It is a privilege to announce the naming of our newest freshman residence hall in tribute to the Honorable Judge John England Jr., whose life of influence has made a lasting impact on this community, The University of Alabama and citizens of the entire state,” said Bell. “Judge England serves as a wonderful example to others, and his insights, experience and untiring compassion for UA students, faculty, staff and the citizens of Alabama reflect the mission of the UA System to impact others through excellence in teaching, research, and service.”
The freshman residence hall, with more than 490 beds, is located near the Ferguson Student Center and Lakeside Dining facility and opened last fall. It features modern amenities in the middle of campus, including a convenience store.
“Alabama has no finer citizen or public servant than John England,” said interim UA System Chancellor Finis St. John IV. “He leads by example with integrity, wisdom, and vision. This is a great day in the history of our system. I join with Judge England’s friends and family in congratulating him on this well-deserved honor.”
“John England Jr. Hall will be a campus landmark signifying the enormous contributions of one of Alabama’s most distinguished leaders,” Board President pro tempore Ron Gray said Friday. “It is a great honor to serve with Judge England on the Board of Trustees and witness first-hand the strength of his character and the depth of his commitment to our students and their success.
“On behalf of our Board, I want to express our deep appreciation to Trustee John England for all he has done and continues to do for our campuses and the Health System. We look forward to celebrating the dedication of the freshman residence hall with his family and friends. It will be a historic occasion for The University of Alabama.”
England’s life and career have been marked by distinguished leadership, including his tenure as a member of The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees since 1998. A native of Uniontown, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee Institute before serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
He later became one of the first African Americans to graduate from what is now the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. School of Law at The University of Alabama, where he also earned the 2018 Sam W. Pipes Distinguished Alumnus Award.
England has served the Tuscaloosa city and county government in various roles. Elected to the Tuscaloosa City Council in 1985, he was first appointed to the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court bench in 1993 and earned distinction as a member of the Alabama State Supreme Court (1999-2001). He is past state president of the Alabama Circuit Judges Association, the Alabama Lawyers Association, and the Alabama Judicial Council. England volunteers his time with civic and professional organizations, including, among others, the Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, Salvation Army, Easter Seals of West Alabama and the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.
“It is impossible to commemorate the full impact of Judge England’s dedication to our University, our communities, and our state,” said Bell. “We hope those who see his name on this hall will aspire to his legendary commitment to service and leadership.”
The Law School hosted 75 undergraduate students from across the state of Alabama and Florida for its 2019 #DiversityMatters Open House on Friday, February 8.
Dean Mark E. Brandon welcomed the students, and Professor Montre Carodine provided a legal education overview. Students received information about how to apply to law school and attended a mock law school class. During lunch, alumni shared their experience working in the legal field. After a tour of the Law School, students learned about the Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars Program, which is designed to help undergraduate students to compete for admissions to, enroll in, and thrive during law school.
The event was sponsored by the Law School and the Law School Admission Council as a Diversity Matters event.
Professor Joyce White Vance writes, along with Matthew Miller, an op-ed in The Washington Post about President Trump facing jeopardy in at least three federal investigations.
For more, read “The Mueller Investigation Has Sprouted. Therein Lies the Jeopardy for Trump.”
Professor Jenny Carroll discusses on NPR a report that clears an Alabama police officer who fired shots that killed a 21-year-old man on Thanksgiving night at a Hoover mall.
For more, listen to “Alabama Officer Cleared In Fatal Shooting.”
Senator Richard Shelby (’63) received the 2019 Sam W. Pipes Distinguished Alumnus Award at the Alabama Law Alumni Society Banquet in Birmingham.
The award is given by The Law School Foundation to an outstanding alumnus who has distinguished himself or herself through service to the bar, The University of Alabama, and the School of Law. The award is named for the late Samuel Wesley Pipes (’38), who was a partner in the Mobile law firm of Lyons, Pipes & Cook until his death in 1982.
Before presenting the award, Dean Mark E. Brandon thanked Senator Shelby for his remarkable service.
Senator Shelby said during his acceptance speech that receiving the award was a “great honor.”
“I knew Mr. Pipes, somebody we all respected,” he said. “He was a pillar of the bar, a pillar of the legal profession, very well respected not only in Mobile but all over the state, someone who loved the law and loved the Law School.”
Shelby noted the Law School’s legacy and said it’s being perpetuated by Dean Brandon, students, faculty, and alumni. He said he often thinks about the Law School and the foundation of its legacy: honor, purpose, and justice.
“Put those together,” Shelby said. “That’s what you’re all about; that’s what we’re all about. That’s what we should be about. Thank you for this distinct honor tonight.”
Senator Shelby is the senior United States Senator from the State of Alabama. He was first elected to the Senate in 1986 and is currently in his sixth term. In April 2018, Senator Shelby became Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its Subcommittee on Defense. He served as chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and remains a senior member on each of these committees. He also serves on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Darrius Culpepper, 3L, Maya Hoyt, 2L, Florence Thompson, 3L, and Alex Williams, 2L, competed against 13 other teams from across the southeast during the National Black Law Students Association’s Southern Regional Competition held at The University of Memphis School of Law.
The students advanced to the quarterfinal round of the tournament and defeated the highest seeded team from preliminary rounds, The University of South Carolina. Alabama then advanced to the semifinals and competed against a strong team from Campbell University’s law school. Although they did not advance to the final round of the regional meet, the team earned enough points to place third in the overall competition and secured a place in the Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial National Competition.
Prior to the regional competition, three of the four students had never competed in trial advocacy competitions at the law school level. Thompson, the lone veteran of the competition, served as team captain. All four advocates showed tremendous skill at the tournament and immense dedication by working on the problem over the past five months.
The competitors were coached by Kayleigh Mohler (‘16) and Justin Jones (‘12). The team will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, in March to compete against 17 teams in the National Competition.
