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News Archive

2003

Q & A: Fried on Senators, Judges and the Court: Professor Charles Fried, a former U.S. solicitor general and justice on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court discusses judicial confirmation battles and his recent cases before the Supreme Court. Fried’s book, “Saying What the Law Is: The Constitution in the Supreme Court,” will be published in February. [Mon, 22 Dec 2003]
HLS Students to Continue Representing Inmates: Each year more than 80 Harvard Law students assist prisoners in parole and disciplinary hearings as participants in the school's Prison Legal Assistance Project. For the first- and second-year law students that participation was threatened by a proposed new rule that would have barred them from representing Massachusetts inmates in prison hearings. However, the new acting commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction has announced that the proposed rule has been rescinded. [Wed, 17 Dec 2003]
School Wins Record Number of Skadden Fellowships: HLS students and recent graduates have won an unprecedented eight Skadden Fellowships to pursue public interest work. The awards represent the most given to applicants from any single law school in the 15-year history of the Skadden Fellowship Foundation. [Thu, 11 Dec 2003]
Student Spotlight: Stephan Sonnenberg: The hardest part of Stephan Sonnenberg's job last summer was telling his clients about the likelihood of a five-year wait for their day in court. Still, the Chechen refugees were excited as they sat with Sonnenberg '06 in Ingushetia, a neighboring republic to the war-ravaged Chechnya, as he collected testimony about their "disappeared" relatives for cases to go before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. [Tue, 09 Dec 2003]
HLS Professors Collaborate with HBS Colleagues: Six Harvard Law School professors have joined with nine of their colleagues at Harvard Business School to comment on proposed Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding shareholder access to corporate proxy elections. The letter represents a continued collaboration between faculty at HLS and HBS. The recently formed study group on corporate governance has been meeting once a month for the past year to analyze current corporate governance issues. [Fri, 05 Dec 2003]
Assistant Prof. Samuel Bagenstos on Disability Law: Assistant Professor Samuel Bagenstos is writing the plaintiff’s brief for a case scheduled to be heard before the Supreme Court this term, in which the state of Tennessee is challenging the Americans with Disabilities Act’s requirement that people with disabilities have access to state facilities. Bagenstos, who has worked on two other ADA cases heard by the court, describes how he got involved, how the law is evolving and what’s at stake. [Wed, 03 Dec 2003]
Faculty Shed Light on SJC Decision: In the days following the landmark decision on gay marriage by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, members of the Harvard Law School faculty have provided their legal expertise and answered many complex questions on the ramifications of the ruling. [Wed, 26 Nov 2003]
HLS Grad Breaks a Gender Barrier in Peru: Beatriz Merino I.T.P./LL.M. ’77 joined the ranks of Harvard Law School trailblazers when she was appointed prime minister of Peru this summer, becoming the first woman to hold that position. A tax expert who headed the National Tax Administration, she first entered politics when she was elected to the Peruvian senate in 1990 after working for years in the private sector. [Sun, 23 Nov 2003]
Bush Campaign Manager to Speak at HLS: Tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. in Griswold 110, Ken Mehlman, campaign manager for Bush-Cheney 2004 and a Harvard Law graduate, will speak about next year's presidential race. The event has been organized by <a href="http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/gop/">HLS Republicans</a> and is closed to the press. [Thu, 20 Nov 2003]
Prof. Bebchuk on Improving Corporate Governance: In the new issue of Harvard Magazine, Professor Lucian Bebchuk writes: The many corporate scandals of the past two years have highlighted the importance of effective corporate governance. Cases that are by now notorious, such as Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, and Healthsouth, provided vivid examples of how companies and investors can be hurt when boards of directors do not do their jobs well. How can we improve board performance? One main way is by reducing the extent to which boards are now insulated from, and unaccountable to, shareholders. We need to rethink the arrangements that determine the current power of the board vis-à-vis shareholders. [Tue, 18 Nov 2003]
New Joint Degree with Univ. of Cambridge: Harvard Law students will soon have the opportunity to study in two cities of Cambridge and earn two law degrees.In a new joint degree program with the University of Cambridge law faculty in Cambridge, England, up to six HLS students each year may spend their third year in England to pursue that school’s LL.M. degree. After earning an LL.M. at the end of the academic year, students would then be eligible to return to HLS for a single semester to compete their J.D. degree. The joint program will start during the 2004-2005 academic year. [Mon, 17 Nov 2003]
Experts to Explore Financial Market Regulation: This evening, November 14, the Harvard Law School Program on International Financial Systems will bring together policy makers and leaders of the financial sector in Europe and the United States to explore the nature and causes of what appears to be a widening gap in financial regulatory policy. This invitation-only symposium will be held at Citigroup’s Executive Planning Center in Armonk, NY, beginning with dinner on Friday night and ending with lunch on Sunday. It is the second annual Symposium on Building the Financial System of the 21st Century: An Agenda for Europe and the United States. [Fri, 14 Nov 2003]
HLS Democrats to Host Student Convention: Beginning Friday, November 14, the Harvard Law School Democrats will be hosting a convention of Democratic law students, policy-makers and intellectuals. Up to 600 students from across the country are expected to attend the two-day event. [Thu, 13 Nov 2003]
Webcast: 2003 Ames Finals: On Wednesday, November 12, Harvard Law School will host the 92nd Ames Finals Moot Court Competition. Oral arguments will take place in the Ames Courtroom in Austin Hall at 7:30 PM. Click <a href="http://media.law.harvard.edu:8888/ramgen/ames_competition/fall_03/2003-11-12_ames_0730-0930.rm">here</a> to watch a recorded webcast of the proceedings. [Mon, 10 Nov 2003]
HLS Announces Environmental Law Fellowship: Harvard Law School has announced a new fellowship program that will place recent graduates at the Natural Resources Defense Council for two years of training in nonprofit environmental law. The Beagle/Harvard Law School Fellowship program, which will begin this year, has been created through a donation from Beagle Foundation and its co-founder Joy Covey, a 1989 graduate of the law school. [Fri, 07 Nov 2003]
Webcast: Michigan Affirmative Action Cases: On Thursday, November 6, the Harvard Law School Saturday School program will host a speech by attorney John Payton. Payton served as lead counsel in Gratz v. Bollinger, which challenged the University of Michigan undergraduate admission program and Grutter v. Bollinger, which challenged Michigan's law school admissions policies. Payton's remarks on the meaning and challenges of the Michigan decision will begin at 6 p.m. in Pound 107. The event will be webcast live for those unable to attend. [Wed, 05 Nov 2003]
Berkman Center Launches Digital Media Project: Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society has launched a study to explore options for the future of copyright in a digital environment. The Digital Media Project will examine how the shift to digital media (primarily music, movies and books) is affecting the legal and regulatory landscape. The project, which recently received a $600,000 three-year grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is also being supported by Gartner|G2 and the Soros Foundation. [Fri, 31 Oct 2003]
Grad Program Alumni Assume Leadership Positions: Four Harvard Law School Graduate Program affiliates from around the world have recently taken on new leadership positions in multilateral organizations, government and the judiciary. [Wed, 29 Oct 2003]
Celebrating a Legal Services Partnership: This afternoon Harvard Law School and the Boston-based law firm Hale and Dorr will celebrate 10 years of partnership in the Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, which is located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. The event will include remarks by Elena Kagan, dean of Harvard Law School; John Hamilton Jr., chairman of Hale and Dorr; and Charles Ogletree, the law school’s vice dean for clinical programs. [Fri, 24 Oct 2003]
HLS to Host Panel on Sexual Violence: On Thursday, October 23, Harvard Law School will host a panel discussion titled "The 10 Most Important Things We Can Do to Stop Sexual Violence." The event, which is being held in conjunction with National Domestic Violence Awareness month, is co-sponsored by Students Organized for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, the Harvard Women's Law Journal and the Women's Law Association. The discussion will begin at 6 p.m. in the Austin West classroom. It is free and open to the public. [Thu, 23 Oct 2003]
Prof. Bebchuk on Shareholders' Power: In the Financial Times, Professor Lucian Bebchuk writes: The Securities and Exchange Commission formally proposed a rule this month that would provide shareholders with some access to the corporate ballot - the proxy card distributed to all voting shareholders. The rule would require some companies in certain circumstances to include the names of candidates nominated by shareholders who satisfy some minimum ownership requirements on the corporate ballot. [Wed, 22 Oct 2003]
Author Joshua Green to Talk on Dachau Trials: At 7 p.m. on October 21, the HLS Jewish Law Students Association will host a lecture by Joshua M. Green, the author of "Justice at Dachau: The Trials of an American Prosecutor." The book explores the Dachau trials, which brought more than 2,000 guards and administrators of the Nazi concentration camps to justice. The events are told through the perspective of chief prosecutor William Denson, a 1937 graduate of Harvard Law School, who won 177 convictions--more than any other Nazi prosecutor. [Mon, 20 Oct 2003]
Webcast: Panel on Judicial Confirmation: A webcast of a panel discussion titled "Beyond Bush & Estrada? Ideological Judges & the Confirmation Process." Panelists include University of Chicago Professor Cass Sunstein and HLS Professors Charles Fried and Martha Minow. Dean Elena Kagan will moderate the discussion. [Mon, 20 Oct 2003]
Justice Richard Goldstone on International Law: On Monday, October 20, Justice Richard Goldstone of the Constitutional Court of South Africa will speak on the role of international law in preventing deadly conflicts. The event, which is sponsored by the Harvard Law School Graduate Program, will begin at 4 p.m. in the Pound 100 classroom. It is free and open to the public. [Mon, 20 Oct 2003]
Fisher Named Hale and Dorr Professor: Professor William Fisher III has been named the Hale and Dorr Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan announced. The Hale and Dorr chair was established in October 2002 in connection with a gift from the Boston-based law firm. [Sat, 18 Oct 2003]
Webcast: HLS Honors Archibald Cox: On Wednesday, October 8, Harvard Law School honored the life and career of Professor Emeritus Archibald Cox. In addition to a video presentation on Cox's experience as the first Watergate special prosecutor, the event featured remarks by Dean Elena Kagan and Professors Philip Heymann, Clark Byse, Carol Steiker and David Wilkins. [Fri, 17 Oct 2003]
Video Q & A: Professor Phil Heymann on Terrorism: Harvard Law School Professor Phil Heymann's new book, Terrorism, Freedom, and Security: Winning Without War, examines the United States' response to the September 11 attacks and concludes that the "War on Terrorism" is the wrong approach to combating global terrorism. Instead, Heymann argues, the U.S. needs to put more focus on diplomacy, intelligence and international law. In this video Q&A, Heymann discusses the administration's response to September 11 and the dangers of the current U.S. strategy. [Tue, 14 Oct 2003]
Professor Jackson on the 'Real' Budget Deficit: Writing in the New York Times, Professor Howell Jackson argues that the federal budget deficit is far larger than reported. "Through an accounting sleight of hand with far greater consequences than the corporate scandals of recent years, the federal government distorts public debate, threatens social programs and impoverishes future generations." [Fri, 10 Oct 2003]
Lambda Conference to Explore Gays and the Military: This week, on October 10 and 11, the Harvard Law School chapter of Lambda will host a conference on the United States' policy toward gays and lesbians in the military. Participants will consider the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas on military integration, the legality of the Solomon Amendment, and why military service is an important issue in the movement for gay and lesbian equality. [Thu, 09 Oct 2003]
Professor Archibald Cox Honored: This afternoon, Harvard Law School honored the career of Professor Emeritus Archibald Cox. The ceremony included an unveiling of the law school's new portrait of Cox and speeches by Dean Elena Kagan and Professors Philip Heymann, Clark Byse, Carol Steiker and David Wilkins. [Wed, 08 Oct 2003]
Gov. Bill Richardson on Politics and Latino Vote: On Tuesday, October 7, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will discuss the future of the Democratic Party and the Latino vote at the 2003 Wurf Memorial Lecture at Harvard Law School. The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. in the Ames Courtroom. [Mon, 06 Oct 2003]
Global Finance Experts to Gather in Japan: From October 3-5, leaders of the financial systems of the United States and Japan will gather in Gotemba, Japan to discuss issues affecting the global financial system. The occasion is the sixth annual Symposium on Building the Financial System of the 21st Century: An Agenda for Japan and the United States, sponsored by the Harvard Law School Program on International Financial Systems, in cooperation with The International House of Japan. [Fri, 03 Oct 2003]
'BloggerCon' to Explore the Impact of Weblogs: Will easy and inexpensive publishing technology change the face of politics, business, journalism, the law, medicine, engineering and education? Is a revolution underway, or are weblogs just the latest Internet craze? Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society will be hosting a conference this weekend that will explore these issues. Educators, journalists, scientists and representatives of political campaigns will be among the participants discussing how new publishing technologies are changing their industries. [Fri, 03 Oct 2003]
Vorenberg Fellowship Recipients Announced: Two Harvard Law School alumni, Carrie Leonetti and Sarah Walter, have been selected as the first recipients of the James Vorenberg Fellowships in Criminal Justice. Fellowships are awarded to HLS graduates participating in the Low Income Protection Plan, a loan repayment program pioneered at Harvard that assists graduates who work in public service. [Thu, 02 Oct 2003]
Eizenstat Wins Great Negotiator Award: On Wednesday, October 1, the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School will present Stuart Eizenstat with its annual Great Negotiator Award. [Mon, 29 Sep 2003]
Olin Fellow Examines Prenuptial Agreements: Why are there so few prenuptial agreements? A paper recently released by Heather Mahar, an Olin Fellow in Law and Economics at Harvard Law School, attempts to explain why only 5 percent of married couples have prenuptial agreements even though roughly 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Mahar, a 2002 Harvard Law graduate, discusses her findings and her future research. [Thu, 25 Sep 2003]
Glendon Wins Inaugural Bradley Prize: Harvard Law School Professor Mary Ann Glendon has been selected by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation as one of four winners of the inaugural Bradley Prize. The $250,000 prize will be presented at an October 7 ceremony at the Library of Congress. [Wed, 24 Sep 2003]
David Cole to Speak on Immigrants and Terrorism: On Wednesday, September 24, Georgetown Law Center Professor David Cole, legal affairs correspondent for The Nation and commentator for NPR's All Things Considered, will give a talk on his upcoming book, "Enemy Aliens and American Freedoms: Why Sacrificing Immigrants' Rights in the War on Terrorism Undermines Our Security and Our Liberty." A book signing event will follow his remarks. [Tue, 23 Sep 2003]
Professors Differ on California Recall Decision: Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Law Professors Einer Elhauge and Laurence Tribe took opposing views of the recent Ninth Circuit Court decision to delay the California recall until the punch card voting systems used in some California counties could be replaced. [Thu, 18 Sep 2003]
Professor Dershowitz on the Case for Israel: Writing in the National Post, Professor Alan Dershowitz comments on the nature of criticism of Israel: "No other country in the Middle East, and few countries in the world, would permit this kind of public self-criticism of its actions. Israel is a vibrant democracy with freedom of the press and a long tradition of self-criticism. Indeed, most of the books published by Israeli writers are deeply critical of Israeli policies and actions. That is why I decided to write The Case for Israel, since few Israelis ever bother to make the case for the embattled democracy. Most Israelis take for granted the basic arguments justifying Israel's right to exist and to defend its population against terrorist attack. But outside of Israel -- particularly in Europe, Canada, Asia and even on some U.S. university campuses -- this case is being increasingly challenged. One-sided critics of Israel see only the bad and not the good." [Tue, 16 Sep 2003]
Harvard Law Announces 'Facing History' Fund: Harvard Law School has announced the creation of a fund to support courses, seminars, research and conferences on ways to combat discrimination and prejudice. The Sheldon Seevak/Facing History and Ourselves Fund, established with a $2 million gift from Sheldon Seevak, will be managed by HLS Professor Martha Minow. [Mon, 15 Sep 2003]
HLS Professors Reflect on 9/11: Writing in the current edition of the Harvard Law Record student newspaper, Professors Alan Dershowitz and Charles Ogletree weighed in on the various responses to the terrorist strikes of September 11, 2001. [Fri, 12 Sep 2003]
Danny Glover on Patriotism and the Patriot Act: On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Danny Glover, chairman of the board of directors of TransAfrica Forum will speak on the Patriot Act and patriotism. The remarks, sponsored by the Harvard Law School Saturday School Program, will begin at 6 p.m. in the Ames Courtroom in Austin Hall. For those unable to attend the event, the speech will be webcast live. [Tue, 09 Sep 2003]
Professor Warren and the 'Two-Income Trap': Does a two-income family have a harder time making ends meet than a single-income family did a generation ago? According to a new book by Harvard Law School Professor Elizabeth Warren the answer is, "yes." In "The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Mothers and Fathers Are Going Broke," Warren and her daughter, Amelia Warren Tyagi, argue that rising costs of essentials--such as housing, education and health care--are increasingly causing middle-class Americans to fall into debt. [Mon, 08 Sep 2003]
Warren Christopher to Speak on Public Service: On Friday, September 5, former Secretary of State Warren Christopher will speak on the role of lawyers in society, with an emphasis on the value of public service. Christopher will be interviewed by Harvard Law School Professor Carol Steiker. The conversation, entitled "Lawyer and Citizen: Serving the Public Good" will begin at 4 p.m. in the Ames Courtroom. [Tue, 02 Sep 2003]
Harvard Law Hosts 'Color Lines' Conference: More than 1,000 of the nation's civic and business leaders, journalists, activists, and policy-makers will gather at Harvard Law School this weekend for a four-day conference exploring the progress of racial integration in the United States. Sponsored by the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University, a joint program of the Harvard Law School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Color Lines Conference will consider the current trends in racial integration, how to shape the future, and what public policies and private practices are most promising. [Thu, 28 Aug 2003]
Student Spotlight: Sarah Bennett: Sarah Bennett admits she probably should have been on crutches when she arrived in Cambridge last fall to start her first year at HLS. But the West Virginia native was, by her own account, too stubborn. Never mind that only three weeks before, she'd been bucked off a horse that then fell on top of her, breaking her knee and causing her to hit her head so hard she had a seizure before losing consciousness. [Thu, 21 Aug 2003]
The New Yorker on Professor Warren's New Book: "The Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren and her daughter Amelia Warren Tyagi demonstrate, in their forthcoming book 'The Two-Income Trap,' that having a child is now the best indicator of whether someone will end up in 'financial collapse.' Married couples with children are twice as likely as childless couples to file for bankruptcy. They’re seventy-five per cent more likely to be late paying their bills. And they’re also far more likely to face foreclosure on their homes. Most of these people are not, by the usual standards, poor. They’re middle-class couples who are in deep financial trouble in large part because they have kids." (The New Yorker) [Sat, 16 Aug 2003]
Prof. Ogletree to Head Brown v. Board Commission: Harvard Law School Professor Charles Ogletree has been appointed to head the American Bar Association’s Brown v. Board of Education Commisssion. The commission will host a series of events across the nation to recognize the 50-year anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The anniversary will be on May 17, 2004 [Wed, 13 Aug 2003]
Professor Frug's Book Honored: Harvard Law School Professor Gerald Frug’s recent book, "City Making: Building Communities without Building Walls," has been named the 2003 Paul Davidoff Award winner by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. The Davidoff Award is presented every two years to a book that "promotes participatory democracy and positive social change, opposes poverty and racism as factors in society and reduces disparities between rich and poor, white and black, men and women." [Thu, 07 Aug 2003]
HLS Launches Nuremberg Trials Project: The Harvard Law School Library has launched a new website, the Nuremberg Trials Project, devoted to analysis and digitization of documents relating to the Nuremberg Trials. The site will make available on the web for the first time more than one million pages of documents related to the trials of military and political leaders of Nazi Germany and other accused war criminals before the International Military Tribunal (IMT) and the United States Nuremberg Military Tribunals (NMT). [Thu, 31 Jul 2003]
The Washington Post on Prof. Kennedy's Latest Book: The Washington Post reviews Professor Randall Kennedy's book Interracial Intimacies: "Throughout, Kennedy displays his usual plain-spoken sharpness, his disavowal of the determined drama of much academic race theory, and an old-fashioned respect for empirical complexities. Ranging from legal cases to contemporary mating rites, from history to novels, Kennedy examines the tangle of attraction and loathing as it has appeared from slave times through black power; in the enforcement and collapse of antimiscegenation laws; in the mix of self-abasement and defiance that energized "passing" (as white); and in recent battles over biracial families, child custody and adoption." [Tue, 29 Jul 2003]
Berkman Center Gains Ownership of Web Log Format: The Berkman Center took over ownership of the Really Simple Syndication (RSS) 2.0 specification this week after UserLand, a company owned by RSS 2.0 author David Winer, transferred the copyright to the center. RSS, also known as rich site summary, is an XML-based format for content distribution that is becoming increasingly popular tool in creating online personal journals known as Web logs, or "blogs." The technology allows people to create, and Web users to access, content such as news and observations that can be automatically syndicated to other Web sites. (from cnet.com) [Fri, 25 Jul 2003]
Prof. Fisher Unveils Compulsory Licensing Scheme: Professor William Fisher writes: "The [RIAA's] proposed litigation campaign will be extraordinarily costly. It is likely to be ineffective--as file swappers use proxy servers, offshore Internet sites, and encrypted peer-to-peer systems to avoid detection. And it will further alienate the already disaffected community of music consumers. More importantly, better solutions to the crisis in the music industry are available. The more dramatic--but also the best--would be the establishment of a compulsory licensing system." [Mon, 21 Jul 2003]
Prof. Wolfman on Lawyers, Auditors and Ethics: Professor Bernard Wolfman discusses the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, recent tax cuts and whether law school does a good enough job teaching ethics. [Fri, 18 Jul 2003]
Kaplow in American Academy of Arts & Sciences: Professor Louis Kaplow has recently been named a new fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, an interdisciplinary society of scholars based in Cambridge, Mass. A law and economics scholar, Kaplow joins 18 other current HLS professors who have been selected to become academy fellows in previous years. [Mon, 14 Jul 2003]
Prof. Guinier on Affirmative Action and the Court: Professor Lani Guinier, writing in the Village Voice, considers the Supreme Court's decision in Grutter v. Bollinger: "In her majority opinion...Justice Sandra Day O'Connor takes pains to distinguish between a commitment to diversity as a compelling governmental interest and the unconstitutional use of quotas. Only justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia attack the idea of diversity itself, leading some legal scholars to go so far as to characterize this as a '7-2' victory for diversity." [Fri, 11 Jul 2003]
Visiting Prof. Pozen Sees Improving Job Market: Writing in the New York Times, Visiting Professor Robert Pozen notes that the "jobless recovery" might be nearing an end: "The rates of change in recent Labor Department surveys, reinforced by the optimism in the recent set of chief executive surveys, strongly suggest that the job market is about to turn the corner. The trend in these surveys may mean an end to the 'jobless' recovery as more Americans find work outside manufacturing — in areas like education, health care and credit services." [Tue, 08 Jul 2003]
Prof. Ogletree on Access to Legal Services: Writing in the Boston Globe, Professor Charles Ogletree urges the state Legislature to override three vetos in the state budget. "Last Monday Governor Mitt Romney issued a line item veto of all funding for civil legal services, including funds for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, and Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services. This week the Legislature will consider an override vote to restore funding for these programs. We urge the Legislature to move swiftly to preserve all of them." [Tue, 08 Jul 2003]
Corporate Law Professors Honored: Articles by Professors Lucian Bebchuk, John Coates, Guhan Subramanian, Reinier Kraakman and Mark Roe will be named among the top ten corporate and security law articles of 2002 in the upcoming issue of the Corporate Practice Commentator, a quarterly journal that reprints articles about corporations law. The articles were selected based upon a survey of corporate and securities law teachers across the nation. [Tue, 08 Jul 2003]
ITP Co-Sponsors Southern Africa Tax Institute: Harvard Law School's International Tax Program, working with a group of universities and international institutions, co-sponsored the second annual Southern African Tax Institute ("SATI") at the University of Pretoria from June 2 through June 27. [Mon, 07 Jul 2003]
Gerken Receives Sacks-Freund Teaching Award: Professor Heather Gerken has been named the 2002-2003 Sacks-Freund award winner. Presented each year on Class Day, the Sacks-Freund award recognizes teaching ability, attentiveness to student concerns, and general contribution to student life at Harvard Law School. [Wed, 02 Jul 2003]
Kagan Becomes Dean of Harvard Law School: Today Elena Kagan became the 11th dean of Harvard Law School. Appointed in April by Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, Kagan succeeds Robert Clark, who served as dean for 14 years. [Tue, 01 Jul 2003]
HLS Receives $5.1 Million in Gifts Honoring Clark: Several Harvard Law School alumni have made gifts totaling $5.1 million in honor of Dean Robert C. Clark, who steps down from the deanship today. The gifts come from members of the Dean’s Advisory Board, a core group of alumni leaders who also act as advisers to the School. [Mon, 30 Jun 2003]
Shah Awarded Fay Diploma: Harvard Law School has awarded the 2003 Fay Diploma to Michael Shah of Brookville, New York. The Fay Diploma is awarded each year to the graduating J.D. student with the highest combined grade point average for three years of study at the law school. [Mon, 23 Jun 2003]
Minow Receives Radcliffe Graduate Society Medal: Harvard Law School Professor Martha Minow has received the 2003 Radcliffe Graduate Society Medal. The prize, given to women who have earned a Radcliffe or Harvard Graduate degree and have made an outstanding contribution to their field, was presented to Minow at the Radcliffe Day symposium on June 6. [Wed, 18 Jun 2003]
HLS Launches Campaign to Raise $400 Million: Kicking off the most ambitious fund-raising drive in the history of legal education, Harvard Law School leaders gathered today in Cambridge to launch "Setting the Standard: The Harvard Law School Campaign." At a formal kickoff luncheon, the campaign’s chairman, Finn M.W. Caspersen, announced that $170.1 million in commitments have already been secured toward a $400 million goal. These initial gifts total more than the entire $150 million goal of the law school’s previous record-setting campaign. [Sat, 14 Jun 2003]
Conference Examines Risk-Based Capital Standards: The Harvard Law School Program on International Financial Systems held a conference today that examined risk-based capital standards for financial institutions. The conference is the culmination of a two-year study on risk-based capital, supported by Swiss Reinsurance Company. [Tue, 10 Jun 2003]
Dean Clark Honored for Outstanding Service: Robert C. Clark has been named to the newly created position of Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor, effective July 1, President Lawrence H. Summers announced today. [Thu, 29 May 2003]
CNN's Larry King to Deliver Class Day Remarks: On June 4, CNN talk show host Larry King will deliver Harvard Law School's 2003 Class Day address. The Class Day exercises will begin at 2:30 p.m. on the steps of Langdell Hall. In addition to King's remarks, the 2003 Sacks-Freund teaching award and the 2003 staff appreciation award will be presented. For those unable to attend, the event will be webcast live. [Thu, 29 May 2003]
HLS Receives $10M Grant from Olin Foundation: Harvard Law School Dean Robert Clark has announced that the school has received a $10 million grant from the John M. Olin Foundation. The gift is the largest foundation grant in the law school's 186-year history. [Thu, 29 May 2003]
Q & A: Minow on Human Rights and Refugees: Professor Martha Minow has written extensively on issues relating to war crimes, refugees and human rights. She discusses these issues, the phone calls that changed her work and why she has stayed at Harvard Law School. [Thu, 15 May 2003]
HLS to Create Sutin Fellowship: Harvard Law School Dean Robert Clark has announced the creation of the L. Anthony Sutin Public Service Summer Fellowship. Named in honor of the late dean of the Appalachian School of Law, the fellowship will provide funding each summer for a HLS student to conduct public interest work. [Tue, 06 May 2003]
HLS to Celebrate 50 Years of Women Graduates: On the weekend of May 2-4, Harvard Law School will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first graduating class of women with an unprecedented gathering of prominent women in the worlds of government, law, business and academia. More than 700 alumnae are expected to attend the event, which will feature a wide range of speakers and panelists including Mary Robinson '68, Janet Reno '63, Pamela Thomas-Graham '88, Ruth Bader Ginsburg '56-'58, and Kathleen Sullivan '81. On Saturday morning (May 3) female members of the class of 1953 with gather for a discussion of their experience at the law school and in the workplace. [Wed, 30 Apr 2003]
Panel to Explore Repatriation of Nazi-Looted Art: On Wednesday, April 30, the Harvard Law School ArtsPanel and the European Law Research Center will convene a panel discussion on the continuing efforts to repatriate art looted by the Nazis. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 3 p.m. in the Langdell South classroom. [Mon, 28 Apr 2003]
Trial Team Places 2nd in National Competition: The four-student Harvard Law School trial team has placed second in the National Criminal Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition sponsored by the Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association and the John Marshall Law School. Twenty U.S. law schools and one from England competed in the event, which was held from April 3-5 in Chicago. [Thu, 24 Apr 2003]
Ocampo Named ICC Chief Prosecutor: Following an intensive six-month international search, Luis Moreno Ocampo, the Robert F. Kennedy Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School, was unanimously elected the first chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the 89 members of the ICC's governing Assembly of States Parties this past Tuesday (April 22). [Wed, 23 Apr 2003]
Former AG Reno to Discuss Terrorism Issues: On Wednesday, April 23, the American Constitution Society at Harvard Law School will sponsor a talk on "Terrorism, Technology and Law Enforcement" by former Attorney General Janet Reno. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 5 p.m. in the Ames Courtroom. [Tue, 22 Apr 2003]
HLS Panel to Examine Amateurism in College Sports: Harvard Law School's Committee on Sports and Entertainment Law will host its annual sports law conference on Friday, April 18. The first panel discussion will focus on the role of amateurism in sports today. The second panel will honor some of Harvard's past students who have gained success in the sports world. The conference will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Vorenberg Classroom; it is free and open to the public. [Wed, 16 Apr 2003]
Public Interest Advising Office Named for Koteen: Harvard Law School Dean Robert Clark has announced that the school's Office of Public Interest Advising will be renamed in honor of Bernard Koteen, a 1940 graduate of the law school. Koteen's recent gift of $1 million will allow the Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising to continue to support the growing number of students interested in pursuing public interest employment. [Mon, 14 Apr 2003]
Assistant AG Viet Dinh to Speak on Diversity: On Friday, April 11, Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh will give a talk entitled "Unity in Diversity: An Affirmation of Our Core Values." Following the speech, Dinh will take questions from the audience. The event, which will begin at 3 p.m. in the Austin North classroom, is free and open to the public. [Thu, 10 Apr 2003]
Auction for Student Public Interest Work: A weekend in Alaska. An autographed Legally Blonde script. A ride in a vintage airplane. Dinner with Professor Alan Dershowitz. These are just some of the more than 300 items up for bid at the 10th Annual Public Interest Auction at Harvard Law School on Thursday, April 10. Silent auction bidding begins at 5:30 p.m. in Austin Hall, and the live auction starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Ames Courtroom. [Tue, 08 Apr 2003]
Constitutionality of Gun Ownership Debated: On Tuesday, April 8, Harvard Law School will host a debate on the constitutional and policy issues surrounding gun ownership. Participants will include HLS Professor Alan Dershowitz; UCLA School of Law Professor Eugene Volokh; and Dennis Henigan, director of the Legal Action Project of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The debate, which will be moderated by HLS Professor Elena Kagan, will begin at 4 p.m. in the Austin North classroom. It is free and open to the public. [Mon, 07 Apr 2003]
Elena Kagan Named Next Dean of Harvard Law School: Professor of Law Elena Kagan will be the next Dean of Harvard Law School, President Lawrence H. Summers announced today. A leading scholar of administrative law, Kagan has served on the faculties of both Harvard Law School and the University of Chicago Law School, in addition to holding senior legal and policy positions in the federal government. An alumna of Harvard Law School and a former law clerk to the late Justice Thurgood Marshall, Kagan will succeed Robert C. Clark, the Royall Professor of Law, who in November announced plans to conclude his service as dean on June 30, 2003, following fourteen years of distinguished service. [Thu, 03 Apr 2003]
HLS Negotiation Student Places First in U.S: Harvard Law School LL.M. student Inga Ludviksdottir has placed first among students from U.S. schools and second in the world in the second annual International Negotiation Competition for Online Dispute Resolution organized by the Center for Information Technology and Dispute Resolution. ICODR 2003 was the second international competition for online dispute resolution produced by the University of Massachusetts Center for Information Technology and Dispute Resolution, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law and Hamline University School of Law. [Wed, 02 Apr 2003]
Singer Helps Update Definitive Indian Law Book: In January, the Oneida Indian Nation made a $3 million gift to HLS, ensuring that the study and teaching of federal Indian law would be a permanent fixture at the school. But at least one member of the law school faculty has been immersed in the field for the better part of 15 years. Professor Joseph Singer '81 has been working, along with other scholars, to update Felix Cohen's "Handbook of Federal Indian Law," considered the definitive text on federal Indian law in the United States. [Fri, 28 Mar 2003]
Joint Degree Programs Bring the University to HLS: Harvard Law School is a big place. With more than 260 courses and 18 different research centers and programs, there are arguably more opportunities for students to pursue a wide range of academic interests at HLS than at any other law school. Students can take courses ranging from Abraham Lincoln and the Constitution to Wills and Estates; they can study cyberlaw at the Berkman Center or English law at the Selden Society. [Mon, 24 Mar 2003]
Dispute Resolution and the Islamic World: On Wednesday, March 19, Judge Charles N. Brower will give a public speech on international dispute resolution and the Islamic world. Brower, the co-author of "The Iran-United States Claims Tribunal," was a judge on the tribunal from 1984 to 1988. [Tue, 18 Mar 2003]
Copyright and Fair Use in a Digital Era: On March 15, the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology will host a symposium analyzing the future of the digital world and its effect on copyright and fair use. The symposium, which is open to the public, is entitled, "Copyright and Fair Use: Present & Future Prospects." The forum will consist of a series of panels, speeches and discussions featuring key players in the worlds of law, business, technology and journalism. [Thu, 13 Mar 2003]
Former NSA Berger on Iraq, Terrorism, North Korea: On Wednesday, March 12, former National Security Advisor Samuel (Sandy) Berger will visit Harvard Law School to give a serious policy address on Iraq, terrorism and North Korea. Berger's speech will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Langdell South classroom. [Tue, 11 Mar 2003]
Judge Richard Posner Presented 2003 Ames Prize: Harvard Law School has awarded its 2003 Ames Prize to Judge Richard Posner. Posner, the 25th recipient of in the 101-year history of the award, was given the award in honor of his book "Economic Analysis of Law." The award was presented at a ceremony this afternoon. [Fri, 07 Mar 2003]
Law Review Symposium to Explore Privatization: On Tues., March 11, seven leading scholars will gather to consider the legal, political, and social implications of increasing privatization of formerly public goods and services. The symposium, sponsored by the Harvard Law Review, will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Ames Courtroom. It is free and open to the public. Among the topics to be considered are school vouchers, faith-based initiatives, and contracting out of major federal programs, such as welfare. [Thu, 06 Mar 2003]
Hate Speech Symposium: On March 6, a panel of academic experts, practitioners and activists from across the nation with gather for the Harvard Law School Journal on Legislation's spring symposium, "Perspectives on Hate Speech and Hate Crimes." The event will focus on the political, social and moral merits of hate speech codes and hate crimes legislation in light of the current legal challenges to hate speech in the landmark Supreme Court cross burning case Virginia v. Black. [Mon, 03 Mar 2003]
International Interests of HLS Faculty, Students: HLS faculty and students look to other countries to better people's lives and increase their own understanding of the world of law. [Thu, 27 Feb 2003]
Bosnian Director Tanovic on 'No Man's Land': On Wed., Feb. 26, Bosnian writer and director Danis Tanovic will speak at the Harvard Film Archive about his award-winning movie "No Man's Land" depicting the reality of the Bosnian war. The event is part of the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation's conflict resolution film series. After a screening of the film, Tanovic and Harvard Law School Professor Robert Mnookin will lead a discussion about the film and international conflict resolution as it relates to the Balkans. This event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. [Mon, 24 Feb 2003]
BLSA Submit Affirmative Action Brief: The Black Law Students Association of Harvard Law School released the following announcement this morning: Yesterday, the Black Law Students Association of Harvard Law School, jointly with the Black Law Students Associations of Stanford Law School and Yale Law School (collectively, "BLSAs"), filed an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in support of the University of Michigan Law School's affirmative action program at issue in Grutter v. Bollinger. [Wed, 19 Feb 2003]
ACS to Explore Liberalism: On Fri. and Sat., Feb. 21 and 22, the Harvard chapter of the American Constitution Society will present its first annual spring conference, entitled "What is Liberalism?: A Multiplicity of Voices." The conference will feature a keynote address from U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Guido Calabresi and a keynote conversation on rights and liberalism between Jack Balkin of Yale Law School and Frank Michelman of Harvard Law School. [Wed, 19 Feb 2003]
Kirschner Elected Harvard Law Review President: The Harvard Law Review has announced that second-year student Daniel B. Kirschner has been chosen as its 117th President. Kirschner was elected from a slate of eight candidates after eleven hours of debate. [Wed, 12 Feb 2003]
Chief Justice Marshall on South Africa: On Thurs., Feb. 13, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall will give a talk titled, "Reflections of South Africa: Now and Then." Marshall, a native of South Africa, graduated from Witwaterstrand University in Johannesburg and served as president of the national union of South African students from 1966 to 1968. [Tue, 11 Feb 2003]
The Loyalist: Alberto Gonzales '82: With devotion to the president and the office, Alberto Gonzales '82 tackles the complications and controversies of the White House counsel's job. [Mon, 10 Feb 2003]
Cass Sunstein to Deliver 2003 Holmes Lecture: Professor Cass Sunstein of the University of Chicago has been named the 2003 Harvard Law School Oliver Wendell Holmes Lecturer. Sunstein will deliver his two-part remarks, entitled "The Naked Emperor: Why Societies Need Dissent," beginning on Monday, Feb. 10. Sunstein will also be awarded the law school's Henderson Prize at the conclusion of the second part of his remarks on Feb. 11. [Thu, 06 Feb 2003]
Halley and Kennedy on Crucial Texts: Beginning this Thursday, Feb. 6, Harvard Law School Professors Janet Halley and Duncan Kennedy will hold a series of workshops to reexamine notable--and often controversial--books. Entitled "Book Trouble 2003," these discussions will explore the role specific books play in the development of people's professional roles, historical crises, social alliances and social movements. The first book to be discussed will feature Professor Charles Fried on John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty". The discussion will begin at 4 p.m. in Pound 102. [Tue, 04 Feb 2003]
Fried to Speak in Honor of Reagan's 92nd Birthday: On Tues., Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Harvard Law School Professor Charles Fried will speak about President Ronald Reagan's legacy and lasting impact on American politics. This speech will kick-off the Harvard Law School Republican's "Reagan Week" festivities honoring the 40th president's 92nd birthday. The event will be held in Pound 100. [Fri, 31 Jan 2003]
Symposium Explores Global Accounting Standards: On Feb. 3, Professor Hal S. Scott, director of the HLS Program on International Financial Systems, will moderate a panel discussion on the merits of establishing a set of global accounting standards. The symposium, sponsored by NASD, will feature participants from industry and government regulatory authorities around the globe. [Thu, 30 Jan 2003]
The 'Appliancizing' of Technology: Assistant Professor Jonathan Zittrain '95, co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, discusses technology, the law and automatic dog washers. [Fri, 24 Jan 2003]
HLS Announces Oneida Indian Nation Professorship: Harvard Law School has announced the establishment of The Oneida Indian Nation Professorship of Law. This chair--the first endowed chair in American Indian studies at Harvard University and the only professorship of its kind east of the Mississippi River--will allow Harvard Law School to continue its leadership role in the development of emerging legal fields. [Wed, 22 Jan 2003]
HLS Students as Teachers: On any given school day, 3L David Bloch may be learning Roman law or teaching Latin. When he's not in class at the law school, Bloch serves as a teaching assistant in Harvard's Classics department, teaching sections on Latin and Virgil's early poetry. He's just one of many HLS students who see both sides of the university's lecture halls. According to new statistics compiled by the Office of the J.D. Dean, last year more than 80 HLS students held positions as teaching assistants around the university. (This is in addition to the 62 HLS students who, as members of the Board of Student Advisers, lead workshops in the First Year Lawyering Program.) Most assist in teaching classes at Harvard College--where they are technically known as teaching "fellows"--and are most likely to teach in the Economics department. [Thu, 16 Jan 2003]
Study Suggests Staggered Boards Hurt Shareholders: Staggered boards, which a majority of public companies now have, hurt shareholders by enabling managers to fend off value-increasing offers from hostile bidders, according to new empirical research by three Harvard Law professors. Staggered boards hurt shareholders of hostile bid targets even when a majority of the board is made of independent directors, and they do not appear to benefit shareholders of targets that are acquired in a negotiated acquisition. The new study--conducted by Harvard Law School professors Lucian Bebchuk, John Coates, and Guhan Subramanian--will appear in an upcoming Stanford Law Review symposium focusing on the researchers' work. [Tue, 14 Jan 2003]
Ken Starr to Speak on Role of the Supreme Court: On Friday, Jan. 10, Ken Starr, a partner at the firm of Kirkland and Ellis, will discuss his latest book, "First Among Equals: The Supreme Court in American Life." Starr's speech will begin at 5 p.m. in the Langdell South classroom. [Tue, 07 Jan 2003]
Study Questions Competition in Corporate Charters: A study by two Harvard Law School researchers provides evidence that the vigorous competition among states over corporate charters--the engine that many believe pushes toward rules that benefit shareholders--is largely a myth. This evidence leads the researchers to call for federal law to provide a federal incorporation option, as well as to enable shareholders to initiate and vote to approve corporate reincorporation to a different jurisdiction. The study, "Vigorous Race or Leisurely Walk: Reconsidering the Competition over Corporate Charters," by Professor Lucian Bebchuk and Olin Fellow Assaf Hamdani, will soon appear in the Yale Law Journal. [Thu, 02 Jan 2003]