Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog

Conference on the Wisconsin Supreme Court: Review and Preview

Post author:Richard M. Esenberg
Post published:October 31, 2009
Post category:Speakers at Marquette Wisconsin Supreme Court

At the beginning of this semester, I proposed that the law school host a conference on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dean Kearney lent his support and we were fortunate enough to obtain the co-sponsorship of the Appellate Practice section of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

So yesterday we hosted a sold out gathering of over 100 lawyers for “Conference on the Wisconsin Supreme Court: Review and Preview.” Our meeting began with a plenary panel discussing the question of judicial recusal predicated on campaign contributions and speech. The discussion was moderated by the Hon. Diane Sykes (L’84) of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the panelists included Attorney Robert Henak (who has filed motions to recuse Justice Michael Gableman is connection with certain campaign ads and support), along with our own Chad Oldfather and me. Much of the discussion focused on the implications of the recent decision in Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co. and the recent consideration by the Wisconsin Supreme Court of competing rules on recusal.

This discussion was followed with breakout panels discussing business and criminal law cases, respectively.

Truth and Reconciliation, Stories from the Diaspora

Post author:Jessica E. Slavin
Post published:October 29, 2009
Post category:Human Rights Immigration Law International Law & Diplomacy Uncategorized

Several months ago I blogged about the situation of Liberians who fled their country for the United States (but who did not receive official status as refugees) and who have lived here for years in a “temporary” status, while it remained unsafe to return to Liberia. As I explained in those posts, these US residents face yearly the prospect of deportation to Liberia, unless Congress acts to pass legislation allowing them to stay permanently. Last year the crisis was once again temporarily resolved by President Obama’s one-year extension of protection. It’s unclear whether any permanent status for this group is on the horizon, as legislation on the issue seems to be, at this time, stalled in committee in both the Senate and theHouse, so I may be posting about this again next spring.

Anyway, if you followed those posts with any interest, or if you are generally interested in the experience of refugees, then you may want to review the recently-released report from The Advocates for Human Rights, entitled A House with Two Rooms: The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia Diaspora Project. (Confession: as previously disclosed, I worked for the Advocates during and after law school, and I think it’s a terrific organization.)

Writing Competition Success

Post author:Rebecca K. Blemberg
Post published:October 28, 2009
Post category:Legal Writing Marquette Law School

I am pleased to announce that 3L Douglas Hoffer just won third place in the James E. Beckley National Writing Competition, which is sponsored by the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association. Doug received a cash prize, and his paper, “A Square Peg in a Round Hole: Why the Investment Company Act is a Poor Regulatory Fit for Hedge Funds,” will be published in the PIABA Law Journal later this year or early next year.

I encourage students to follow in Doug’s footsteps and enter national writing competitions. Many competitions award cash prizes and give students publication opportunities. A link that contains information about student writing competitions is here.

Congratulations, Doug!