The law library will open earlier and close later during the exam period, April 21 to May 1. However, it will be closed Derby Weekend (May 2-3) and the following weekend (May 9-10) for graduation.

Please refer to our Library Hours for details.

 

Due to the hard and enterprising work of Algeria Ford and Barry Dunn, a brand new event has been added to the law school calendar:  The 1L Oral Argument Competition.  

More than two dozen 1Ls have volunteered to participate in the competition. The final round, slated for 3:00 p.m. this Friday, will be argued in the Allen Courtroom before the following panel of jurists: Chief Judge Danny Boggs, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; Judge McKay Chauvin, Jefferson County Circuit Court; Judge Ann Shake, Jefferson County Circuit Court

The presence of students, faculty and staff will be greatly welcomed. A brief reception featuring our guests and 1L finalists will follow immediately in the Cox Lounge.   

Below is the moot court bracketing from the quarterfinals (today) through the final round on Friday.

We'd also like to recognize all the 1Ls who participated in the competition:

 

• Ben Basil
• Brian Bennett
• Matthew Birkhofer
• Nathan Chittick
• Jacob Davis
• Sean Donaldson
• Michael Gray
• Nicole Kersting
• Phil Lawson
• Eric Lowe
• Michael McKay
• Blake Nolan
• Marilyn Osborn
• Courtney Phelps
• Aaron Price
• Katie Reisz
• Jared Sawyer
• Daniel Schoenbaechler
• Beth Schroeder
• Zachary Springer
• Tommy Sturgeon
• Samantha Thomas
• Whitney True
• Jenny White

The American Constitution Society, a new organization at the Law School, is hosting its first Speaking Event on April 8 at noon, in room 175.  Attorney Gregory Belzley is a Pro Bono Attorney with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.  He will be speaking on "Civil Rights of the Incarcerated."

We will also be holding executive board elections on April 14th for the fall term.  To stand for elections for the ACS executive board, you must join the national chapter. Membership can be obtained at www.acslaw.org/join.  Elections will be held in room 80 from 5-6 PM. 

ACS is a progressive-minded national legal organization.  As a charter member of the national organization, the American Constitution Society at Brandeis School of Law seeks to promote the mission of the American Constitution Society:

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) promotes the vitality of the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental values it expresses: individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, access to justice, democracy and the rule of law.  These abiding principles are reflected in the vision of the Constitution’s framers and the wisdom of forward-looking leaders who have shaped our law throughout American history.  As a result of their efforts, the Constitution has retained its authority and relevance for each new generation.

The American Constitution Society embraces the progress our nation has made toward full embodiment of the Constitution’s core values. ACS believes that law can and should be a force for improving the lives of all people. We are revitalizing and transforming legal and policy debates in classrooms, courtrooms, legislatures and the media, and we are building a diverse and dynamic network of progressives committed to justice. Through these efforts, ACS will ensure that the institutions of American law reflect the highest values of our nation and serve the needs of its people.

James S. Fisher
University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law

The Moot Court Board would like to thank all of the students who competed in the Law School's first ever 1L Oral Argument Competition. Every competitor was extremely qualified and the scores reflected the immense preparation by each of you.

With that said, the following competitors have made it to the quarter final round:

• Courtney Phelps
• Marilyn Osborn
• Jared Sawyer
• Blake Nolan
• Ben Basil
• Eric Lowe
• WhitneyTrue
• Tommy Sturgeon

The competitors will be arguing on Wednesday as follows:

Time	Appellant	Appellee	Location
3:00	Courtney Phelps	Marilyn Osborn	Allen Courtroom
4:00	Jared Sawyer	Blake Nolan	Allen Courtroom
5:15	Ben Basil	Eric Lowe	Allen Courtroom
6:00	Whitney True	Tommy Sturgeon	Allen Courtroom

                                      
The Board would also like to thank all of the judges, students, and professors who helped make this competition possible today.

The Journal of Animal & Environmental Law will hold an information session on Tuesday, March 31^st in Room 075 from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. for anyone interested in joining the JAEL for 2009 -2010. We are very excited about the upcoming year and cannot wait to tell you all about it! Free Pizza will be provided while supplies last! Applications are available downstairs by the student mailboxes or on TWEN under the course "Journal of Animal and Environmental Law."

If you are interested but unable to attend the meeting,  please feel free to e-mail Rexéna Napier at r0napi01@louisville.edu or Algeria Ford at arford01@louisville.edu with any questions. 

The Moot Court Board will have a mandatory meeting at 12:10pm in Room 071 on Wednesday, April 1.  Several issues will be addressed during this meeting:

1) We will finalize/summarize this year
2) We will hold an election for the one contested position: Internal VP (Pirtle Washer)
3) We will let the new board begin outlining its plan for the future.

Please donate to the Animal Care Society, Louisville's only no-kill shelter, as part of Community Service Day! Items will be taken to the shelter as part of the Community Service Project on April 4^th.  Bins are provided in the Law School Lobby. We also ask that you please consider volunteering at the shelter on Community Service Day! For information please contact Rexéna Napier at r0napi01@louisville.edu.

 Items Need by the Animal Care Society:

•     Non-scoopable, clay Kitty Litter*
•     Large cat "trees" for our free-roaming cat rooms.
•     Bleach*
•     Pine-Sol*
•     Windex
•     Anti-Bacterial Dish-Washing Soap
•     Anti-Bacterial Waterless Hand Sanitizer
•     Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap
•     Laundry Detergent/Powder*
•     Paper Towels*
•     Toilet Paper
•     33 Gallon Garbage Bags*
•     50-55 Gallon Trash bags*
•     Disposable Vinyl Gloves (one-size-fits-all or large)
•     Cat/Kitten Toys
•     Dog/Puppy Toys
•     Dog Collars and Leashes (especially for Toy and Small Breeds)
•     Dog and Cat beds(washable preferred)
•     Gently used Blankets,Towels, Bath Mats, and Small Rugs
•     20 lb Paper (white,light pink, light blue)
•     8 1/2" x 11"or Legal Pad Paper
•     Stamps*

(*denotes items needed the most)

ACS also would be happy to receive your aluminum cans for recycling. Newspapers (minus salesinserts) are also greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all your help!        

The Journal of Animal & Environmental Law will hold information sessions on Monday, March 30^th in Room 175 and on Tuesday, March 31^st in Room 075 from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. for anyone interested in joining the JAEL for 2009 -2010. We are very excited about the upcoming year and cannot wait to tell you all about it! Free Pizza will be provided while supplies last! Applications are available downstairs by the student mailboxes or on TWEN under the course "Journal of Animal and Environmental Law."

If you are interested but unable to attend either meeting,  please feel free to e-mail Rexéna Napier at r0napi01@louisville.edu or Algeria Ford at arford01@louisville.edu with any questions. 

The Andrew Young Memorial Walk/Run was held on Sunday, March 29. Students, faculty, staff and alumni joined together with Andrew's family to celebrate his life. Before and after the event, members of Andrew's law school family had an opportunity to share their feelings with Andrew's parents, brother and other relatives.

Thanks to all who joined together for this memorial.

 

This is a final reminder that the 2nd Annual day of collective community service will take place on Saturday, April 4. All law students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate. Family and friends are also welcome.

We're now collecting donations for the Animal Care Society, Family Scholar House and Kentucky Foster Care & Special Needs Adoption Program. Please place your items in the bins in the Mosaic lobby. Don't forget to sign up there to register for a gift card.

Volunteers have three interesting and diverse projects to choose from again this year. The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund has made arrangements for an animal welfare project at the Animal Care Society, Louisville's only no-kill shelter; the Women's Law Caucus has arranged to create gift baskets for mothers at the Family Scholar House in preparation for their final exams; and the Environmental Law & Land Use Society has organized a clean-up project at Iroquois Park.

A fabulous array of door prizes will be awarded to volunteers who attend the kick-off party at 11 AM that morning.

For more details, see: 2009 Louisville Law Community Service Day.