The U.S. Postal Service and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law will honor the city’s native son, Louis D. Brandeis, on what would have been his 153rd birthday.

Brandeis is featured on a new set of commemorative stamps, which also includes U.S. Supreme Court associate justices Joseph Story, Felix Frankfurter and William J. Brennan Jr. Nationally-known graphic designer Ethel Kessler worked with Lisa Catalone-Castro and Rodolfo Castro on the inspired design of the souvenir sheet that incorporates images of the Supreme Court building and a detail from the first page of the United States Constitution.

The presentation will be held at 10 AM on Friday, November 13. Prior to the event, Professor and Distinguished University Scholar Laura Rothstein will be giving an overview of Brandeis with an emphasis on property issues, his distinguished career and his connection to Louisville. The lecture begins at 9 AM and the public is welcome.  In addition to Rothstein, Congressman John Yarmuth, Louisville Postmaster Richard Curtsinger, and Dean Chen will present.

• Birthday Party Photo Gallery

“It is an honor to remember such a prominent member of the Louisville community and to celebrate the many contributions he made for our nation,” said Curtsinger.

Louis Brandeis was the associate justice most responsible for helping the Supreme Court shape the tools it needed to interpret the Constitution in light of the sociological and economic conditions of the 20th century. “If we would guide by the light of reason,” he once exhorted his colleagues, “we must let our minds be bold.” A progressive, and champion of reform, Brandeis devoted his life to social justice.

“Louisville can be proud that Justice Brandeis is so connected to our community and that the values he is known for had their roots here,” said Rothstein.
 
“The principles and philosophies Brandeis is known for – including rights to privacy, free speech, curtailing big government and big business, balancing regulation with free enterprise – are timely today,” she added. “It is appropriate that his enormous contributions are recognized on this set of commemorative stamps.”

To mark the event, 153 commemorative envelopes with a special postmark — both designed by artist Leslie Friesen — will be available for sale. The envelope features a photo of the Brandeis School of Law as well as one of Brandeis’ famous quotes, “Knowledge is essential to understanding & understanding should precede judging.” The cancellation features a Corinthian capital and the numerals 153 to mark his 153rd birthday. It also features the Louis D. Brandeis commemorative stamp. Each envelope is numbered by the artist. The artist will also be on hand to sign the limited edition artwork. The envelopes are $5.

It's that time in the semester when stress begins to escalate to new levels of intensity.  However, now is also the time when you need to use your best stress resilience skills.  Stress that is out of control can lead to illness, anxiety, lessened concentration, lack of sleep, and many other problems.  Attached are a few tips on managing your stress for the remainder of the semester.

Professor Laura Rothstein's review of the latest Brandeis biography, Louis D. Brandeis: A Life, by Melvin I. Urofsky was featured in the Courier-Journal this past Sunday. Urofksy is a Brandeis scholar and a professor of law and public policy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

"Urofsky's rich and detailed biography often includes a specific reference to a current issue and analyzes it from a Brandeis perspective. He emphasizes how Brandeis dissents have almost all become the prevailing view of the law today, a testament to his prophetic abilities and his enduring values. Even without the author's highlighting, the reader is frequently reminded in reading the book of how much of Brandeis' life work is relevant today." ~Laura Rothstein

The CJ featured a story by Melvin I. Urofsky himself, Louis Brandeis' Louisville: Justice was always a son of Kentucky that includes a brief overview of Brandeis' life and accomplishments and several photos from the law library's collection.

Sunday's paper also includes an editorial by Sam Upshaw, Jr. that draws comparisons to Brandeis' and Obama's career paths and portrays them both as change agents.

The law school will celebrate Brandeis' birthday and commemorative stamp unveiling on Friday, Nov. 13 at 10 AM. The public is welcome to attend.

News features: 

• New biography pictures Brandeis as teacher (Courier-Journal, November 8, 2009)
• Louis Brandeis' Louisville (Courier-Journal, November 8, 2009)
• Brandeis and Obama: Similar paths to fame (Courier-Journal, November 8, 2009)

 

Practice; practice; and then practice.  Doing several practice questions for each of your classes is essential to exam success.  Make sure that you practice all questions given to you by your professors.  Practice questions are also available from study aids such as Examples & Explanations.  You can also look at CALI and bar prep materials for questions.  Make time this week to find practice questions for each of your classes that you can do over the break.   This extra effort will save you time in the end. 

Take a close look at your study schedule.  Are you utilizing your free time effectively, especially the time that was once reserved for classes that have now ended, including Basic Legal Skills and Professional Responsibility?  Put this additional free time to good use - review your class notes, finalize your outlines, meet with your professors.  Whatever tasks you need to accomplish in preparation for finals, be sure to take advantage of the time you now have available.

Ever consider studying abroad, as part of your legal education?  An information session is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, November 11, in Room 075.  Ms Virginia Hosono, Assistant Director, from the International Center will be there to answer questions, and our own Colleen Hagan will speak about her summer abroad experience.  Professor Kathleen Bean, Associate Dean for Student Life, will also attend. If you are interested and cannot make this meeting, contact Professor Bean for information.  

For those students who attended the Academic Success Workshop on Stress Resilience, you may recall the presenter's announcement that a star of Food Network would be visiting the University of Louisville Campus.  Geof Manthorne of the hit show Ace of Cakes will be in the SAC Multipurpose Room at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12.  Join him for a live cake demonstration!  Admission is FREE with your UofL ID.  General public $10.

30 minute massages are available for $6 at Campus Health Services on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.  Schedule and pay in advance at the Belknap Campus Health Services Reception desk.

Goal:  After each class this week, make a list of questions that you need to ask your professors.  This is the perfect time to organize the areas on which you need help.  By being ready to ask questions at the beginning of the last week of classes (next week), you will avoid the rush on the very last class days and the difficulty of finding professors over the exam period. 

This week’s tips focus on how you can use your time efficiently and effectively for studying during the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Be alert to your “highs” and “lows” in planning your study schedule.  Do the hardest tasks when you are the most alert.  It often helps to do the most difficult or most unpleasant task first so that it does not hang over you all day.  Do more active tasks when you are feeling more drained:  flashcards, practice questions, making graphics, etc.  Read and review outlines when you are the most focused.  Be aware of when you need a short break to restore your focus.