May 2007

Welcome to UT Law News, our monthly electronic newsletter. The News is sent to help keep you informed about current events at the University of Texas School of Law.

• UT Law Clinic Makes Impression at SCOTUS

  Last fall, the U.S. Supreme Court granted Certiorari in three cases brought by the Law School’s Capital Punishment Clinic. On April 25, 2007, the Court handed down opinions in favor of all three defendants.

  For more information: http://www.utexas.edu/opa/news/2007/04/law25.html

• Law School Internship Program Recognized by Texas Senate

  On April 18, 2007, the Texas Senate recognized the Law School’s legislative internship program, now in its third year. UT Law students intern with individual members and committees of the Texas House and Senate, as well as with other departments within the legislative branch. The program began in 2005 under the direction of UT Law Professor Eden Harrington and Senator Judith Zaffirini.

  Read more: http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2007/042307_internship.html

• Tarlton Law Library Launches Two New Online Resources
  
  
  • Actual Innocence Awareness Database

    The Tarlton Law Library has compiled a database containing citations and, where possible, links to current articles, scholarship, legislation, and other materials on wrongful convictions. The database supports the work the Texas Center for Actual Innocence and the Actual Innocence Clinic at UT Law School.

    Full story: http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2007/041307_tarlton.html

  • Guide to the Papers of Harold J. “Tex” Lezar, Jr.

    The Tarlton Law Library has made its guide to these papers available at Texas Archival Resources Online. The papers of Tex Lezar, ’76, span the years 1961–1998, and document his education and his career in public service. Lezar served in the administrations of presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Lezar’s papers were donated to the law library by his widow, Merrie Spaeth, following Lezar’s death in 2004. Friends of Tex Lezar also established an annual lecture in his memory. This year’s keynote speaker was Lezar’s friend and colleague, Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts.

    To access the guide to the papers of Harold J. “Tex” Lezar, Jr.: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utlaw/00023/law-00023.html

    For more information on Lezar and to view Chief Justice Roberts’ address: http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2007/030807_chief.html

• Student Honors

  The Law School has announced the selection of six graduating students as recipients of the 2007 University Co-Op Public Interest Awards. The awards, made possible by a grant from the University Co-Op, include a cash gift and recognition at the Co-Op’s Excellence in Graduate Education banquet. This year’s recipients are Shelly Chattopadhyay, Parisa Fatehi, Elizabeth Hardy, Shirley Horng, Tom Linney, and Elizabeth Wagoner.

  Full story: http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2007/041807_coop.html

• Faculty Honors

  Professor Linda Mullenix awarded Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Law in Italy
  See story: http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2007/041807_Mullenix.html

  Professor Kate Litvak receives Best Paper award for special issue of the Journal of Corporate Finance.
  Read more: http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2007/042607_litvak.html

  Professor Barbara Hines honored by American Immigration Lawyers
  Full story: http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2007/042607_bhines.html

Upcoming Events

• Meet the Dean: Austin Alumni Reception
  May 3, 2007

  Austin area alumni and friends are invited to join Dean Larry Sager and members of the faculty for the Law School’s annual Austin alumni reception. The reception will be held from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. at the Shoreline Grill, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. For more information and to RSVP for this event, please contact Shanan Storm at 512-471-6314 or sstorm@law.utexas.edu.

• The Politics of Peace and the Consequences of War
  May 6–7, 2007

  The University of Texas at Austin hosts a two-day interdisciplinary workshop that includes scholars of communication, economics, history, law, political science, and sociology exploring the domestic political consequences of war. UT Law professor and highly-regarded constitutional scholar Sanford Levinson is a participant in the conference. The workshop is open to the public and will take place on the 10th Floor the LBJ Library and Museum. You may register online through May 2nd.

  For more details:
  http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/warpeace2007.shtm

• Access to Justice Internship Program
  May 18–19, 2007

  UT Law will host the two-day orientation for this internship program, sponsored by the Texas Access to Justice Commission. The program places two law students from every Texas law school in public interest law internships around the State. UT Law Professor Eden Harrington is one of two faculty leaders for the internship program. James B. Sales, ’60, chairs the Texas Access to Justice Commission, created in 2001 by order of the Texas Supreme Court.

  For more information:
  http://www.texasatj.org/Internship

• Sunflower Ceremony
  May 19, 2007

  It’s that time again! More than 400 UT law students will participate in graduation exercises on Saturday, May 19. The ceremony takes place in the Frank Erwin Special Events Center on the UT campus beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Honorable Ron Kirk, ’79, former Texas secretary of state and former mayor of Dallas will be the commencement speaker. Kirk is also a trustee of The University of Texas Law School Foundation. A reception for the graduates and their guests will be held at the Law School immediately following the ceremony.

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