News & Announcements
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich to teach at Georgia Law
Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will be joining the law school as a Carl E. Sanders Political Leadership Scholar this spring teaching a course on judical review. Alumnus J. Randolph Evans (J.D.'83), a frequent lecturer and author on government ethics and politics, will be assisting Gingrich with instructing the class. (learn more)

Justice Thomas visits school
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas made his fourth visit to Georgia Law earlier this fall to spend time with students and faculty. Some of his activities included lecturing in class, participating in small group discussions and responding to students during a question and answer session. Students asked Thomas about a wide variety of topics such as affirmative action, his experience as a first-year law student, his relationships with the other Supreme Court justices and influential figures in his life, among others. Regarding the state of the legal profession today, Thomas said, "I feel better about it after I've been here." (view photos)

School of Law ranked sixth in practical training
In the September 2008 edition of The National Jurist  magazine, Georgia Law ranked sixth in the nation for providing opportunities for practical training to its students. Having recently formalized the Special Education Practicum into the curriculum, the law school now offers 10 service learning/clinical programs. Georgia Law was one of the schools highlighted in the magazine article accompanying the rankings. (learn more)

Student competitive teams off to a great start
Georgia Law's advocacy teams have started this year's season with a victory over the University of Florida in the 27th Annual Hulsey-Kimbrell Moot Court Competition, a top eight finish at the national 5th Annual Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trail Tournament and a Best Brief Award at the National Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition. (learn more) 
Additionally, the law school recently fielded two teams in the ABA Law Student Division's Negotiation Competition as part of the school's new transactional law and ethics focus. Alumna Carol E. Morgan (J.D.'79), who is helping to develop new curricular offerings in business/transactional law at the school, said the Georgia Law students performed very well at the tournament and that they are looking forward to future competitions.

Judicial training program celebrates 10th anniversary
Georgia Law's International Judicial Training Program will celebrate its 10th anniversary this December with 50 members from the Brazilian judiciary and two from the Argentine judiciary arriving to be trained in the workings of the U.S. legal system. The IJTP, which is co-sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education, is designed to introduce foreign judges and court personnel to the U.S. judicial system as a potential model for their own countries, allowing participants to gain ideas and insights on possible ways to strengthen their own judicial systems. (learn more)
 
Faculty on the Record
This month, the National Tax Association will present Shackelford Professor Walter Hellerstein with its most prestigious award, the Daniel M. Holland Medal for distinguished lifetime contributions to the study and practice of public finance. (learn more)

Associate Professor Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge has been appointed to serve on an American Arbitration Association delegation to the United Nations' Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). The commission's mandate is to reduce the disparities in national laws governing international trade thus furthering the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade.

Professor David A. Brennen was quoted in The San Diego Union-Tribune  regarding California Proposition 8's proposed ban on same-sex marriage and the relationship to the issue of the tax-exempt status of churches that refuse to perform same-sex marriages.

In a recent Associated Press article, Callaway Chair Ronald L. Carlson was quoted on the detention of six Chinese sailors in San Francisco as material witnesses.

The Washington Post  quoted Professor Donald E. Wilkes Jr. regarding the habeas rights of terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay.

More Faculty Activities

Around the Law School
Dean White discusses goals and objectives for school
Earlier this year, Dean Rebecca H. White was featured in Columns, UGA's faculty and staff newsletter, regarding her tenure as dean of the law school. In the article, she addresses key issues facing the school and legal education. (learn more)

State bar pass rate rises to 38-year high; UGA first-timers lead in-state schools
Nearly 85 percent of the 1,302 would-be attorneys who took the Georgia Bar exam in July passed - the highest proportion of successful test takers since the Office of Bar Admissions began keeping records in 1970. Georgia Law led in-state schools with a 98.7 percent pass rate for first-time test takers. (learn more)

Georgia Law hires new development director
Next month, Scotty G. Mann will join the law school staff as the director of development. This University of Chicago Law School graduate comes to Georgia with significant law school fundraising experience from the University of Minnesota and the University of Chicago. Mann will replace Anne S. Moser, who will soon be on a leave of absence while her husband conducts research in Brazil. Moser will rejoin the development office staff on a part-time basis next summer.

Online alumni directory to launch next month
In early December, Georgia Law will launch an online password-protected alumni directory. Alumni will be able to access it at www.law.uga.edu/alumni after completing a simple one-time registration process.

Building on campus named for alumnus and former governor
A student residence hall at UGA has been named the S. Ernest Vandiver Jr. Hall in memory of the former governor. Vandiver (LL.B.'42), who passed away in 2005, was governor of Georgia from 1959 to 1963. During his administration, UGA received state appropriations for several residence halls and other major buildings on campus. (learn more)

Call for nominations - 2009 Distinguished Service Scroll Award
Each year, the Law School Association recognizes one or two graduates of the law school for their dedication and significant service to the legal profession and/or the law school. Do you know someone who should be honored? The nomination form is simple and should be submitted no later than Dec. 1. (Nominate a Georgia Law graduate)

Equal Justice Foundation prepares for annual auction
EJF is asking alumni, law firms and businesses to donate items for the 24th Annual EJF Auction, which will take place Feb. 27 in Athens.  Proceeds from the auction provide stipends to help fund summer fellowships for students who work for public interest organizations. If you would like to donate artwork, tickets, jewelry, gift certificates, a weekend getaway or anything else, please contact the EJF at EqualJusticeFoundation@gmail.com.

Commemorative 150th anniversary School of Law sweatshirts
The Davenport-Benham Black Law Students Association is currently selling hooded sweatshirts in honor of Georgia Law’s 150th anniversary, which will be celebrated in 2009. Order one for yourself or as a gift by going to www.law.uga.edu/blsa and clicking on the "BLSA Support" button.

Best wishes for the upcoming holiday season 
Please note that the law school will be closed: Nov. 27 - 28 (Thanksgiving Break), Dec. 25 - Jan. 1  (Winter Break) and Jan. 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).