HLS News May 2005

• Shavell named co-editor of American Law and Economics Review

  The American Law and Economics Association recently named Professor Steven Shavell as co-editor of the association's official journal, the American Law and Economics Review. Shavell will assume the co-editorship position from Judge Richard Posner.

• Professor Fried on 'Demagoguing the filibuster debate'

  The following op-ed by Professor Charles Fried appeared in The Boston Globe on Thursday, May 19, 2005: The Republican leadership may change Senate procedures so that a minority of 41 of the 100 senators could no longer permanently block a floor vote for judicial nominees. This is really a political, not a constitutional fight, and in figuring which side to support, the public should at least not be confused by bogus claims of constitutional principle.
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  Opposing student groups spark debate about Supreme Court

  Harvard Law School's Federalist Society and American Constitution Society will join forces next fall to host provocative, off-the-record moot court sessions previewing Supreme Court cases. The Supreme Court Advocacy Project, sponsored by the two organizations and Dean Elena Kagan, will invite litigants of upcoming cases to present their arguments before a panel of experts, discuss case strategy and receive critiques.

• Two-time Supreme Court victor selected as Class Day speaker

  In November 2003, at age 33, Jeffrey Fisher appeared twice before the Supreme Court. After finishing arguments for one criminal law case -- a field which was not his specialty -- he returned to the Court 15 days later to argue a second criminal case. Even more remarkably, he won both. A partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in Seattle, Wash., Fisher was chosen by the 2005 Class Marshals as this year's Class Day speaker. The address will take place on Wednesday, June 8 at 2 p.m.

• Commencement schedule announced

  On Thursday, June 9, the Harvard Law School Class of 2005 will graduate in ceremonies at HLS and at the University. Details about the occasion, and Class Day on Wednesday, June 8, are now available on the Commencement 2005 website.

• Professors win 4 of 10 best articles for corporate and securities law

  This year's list of 10 Best Corporate and Securities articles includes four selections from Harvard Law faculty: Professors Lucian Bebchuk, Mark Roe and Guhan Subramanian, who authored of two articles on the list. The list was chosen by corporate and securities law faculty from 430 selections and will be announced in an upcoming issue of the legal journal, "Corporate Practice Commentator."
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  Professor touts Boston Harbor cleanup as victory of judiciary

  In the past two decades, Boston Harbor has gone from being the nation's most degraded to a symbol of national pride. Where 12 billion gallons of raw or partially treated sewage once flowed in each year, dolphins and seals are now returning, waterfront businesses are thriving, and a state-of-the art sewage treatment plant is whirring away on Deer Island. That turnabout is thanks to, in part, one judge and his special master: Charles Haar, professor at Harvard Law School.