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HLS News 2005

School to host broadcast of 'Mad Money' featuring graduate Jim Cramer
On February 1, Harvard Law School will host a broadcast of the popular CNBC investment program "Mad Money," which features well-known market analyst Jim Cramer, a 1984 Harvard Law graduate. The show will be taped in the Ames Courtroom in Austin Hall before a crowd of approximately 300 Harvard students. The event is the first in a series of "Mad Money" broadcasts on university campuses around the country.
Professor Hanson on Supreme Court politics
When it comes to Supreme Court nominees, conservatives are in agreement: Situation matters. Pundits on the right shouted down Harriet E. Miers over concerns that her evangelical backbone would whither under Washington winds. Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. stepped into her spot seeming of far more stalwart vertebrae, but as his backers have stressed recently, he is a creature of situation as well.
Professor David Westfall, 1927 - 2005
David Westfall, who held the John L. Gray and Carl F. Schipper, Jr. professorships at Harvard Law School, died earlier today, surrounded by his family. He was 78.
HLS students contribute to victory at Inter-American Court
On November 30, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San José, Costa Rica, dismissed Brazil’s preliminary objections to a case involving the death of a man in custody of a Brazilian mental health institution. James Cavallaro, clinical director of the Human Rights Program at HLS, served as lead counsel to the victim's family, and a team of HLS students – Jonathan Kaufman, Fernando Delgado, Deborah Popowski, and Jane Hopwood assisted with the litigation in Costa Rica.
HLS students win record number of public service fellowships
Harvard Law students won nine out of 27 Skadden fellowships for 2005. The Skadden program provides funding to graduating students and recent alumni to pursue public interest legal work. This year's achievement is the most in the history of the fellowship program awarded to students from a single school.
International experts debate corporate governance
On December 6, an international panel of experts will gather to discuss the current state of corporate governance in the global marketplace. The discussion will focus on particular hypothetical situations related to recent problems involving investor trust and corporate scandals.
HLS hosts planning session on international disability rights
On Saturday, December 3, Harvard Law School will host a seminar to address international disability rights. As the United Nations proceeds with a three-year planning process to develop a new human rights treaty regarding the disabled, this seminar will offer a public forum for discussing the treaty and its implementation.
Michelman wins American Philosophical Society award
At a November ceremony in Philadelphia, the American Philosophical Society awarded Professor Frank Michelman its Henry M. Phillips Prize in Jurispudence. The prize has only been given 20 times in more than a century, and honors Michelman's significant contributions to the field of jurisprudence
Op-ed co-written by student Rebecca Hamilton: Darfur needs follow-through
Fourteen months ago, President Bush used the word "genocide" to describe the slaughter in Darfur. In the ensuing year, the United States took no action as countless women were raped and hundreds of thousands of civilians died at the hands of the government of Sudan. But this month, fragments of a more active relationship with Sudan are taking shape, begging a new question: Is our complacency turning into complicity?
Harvard Law School launches new center to investigate intersections of health, technology and law
The nation's oldest law school is expanding into cutting-edge legal territory with today's launch of the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology and Bioethics. The new Harvard Law School program is the result of extensive academic planning and a $10 million gift from the Caroll and Milton Petrie Foundation and HLS graduate Joseph H. Flom.
HLS student teams up with former college president in new book
While most undergraduates spend college learning from teachers, Martin Kurzweil '07 spent much of his time in college practicing how to be one. During his undergraduate years at Harvard, Kurzweil spent up to four days a week tutoring students at area middle schools.
The Professional: A conversation with Professor Wilkins
Professor David Wilkins directs the Program on the Legal Profession and its affiliate, the Center on Lawyers and the Professional Services Industry, at HLS. Here he discusses recent trends and pressures in the profession with staff writer Mary Bridges.
Webcast: Ames Moot Court Finals
On Thursday, November 17, two teams of HLS students presented oral arguments in the final round of the Ames Moot Court competition before three judges: Supreme Court Justice David Souter, Emilio Garza of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and Ilana Diamond Rovner of the Seventh Circuit. The case they argued, McNeil v. Lu, centered on the constitutionality of a curfew law for minors.
Bebchuk delivers lecture at Yale on the 'myth' of shareholder power
Professor Lucian Bebchuk, director of the HLS Program on Corporate Governance, recently delivered the John R. Raben Fellowship Lecture at Yale University. The lecture was based on a working paper titled "The Myth of the Shareholder Franchise," in which Bebchuk argues that shareholders rarely, if ever, successfully vote to replace the board of a public company.
An op-ed by Professor Gerken: Citizens Must Drive Electoral Reform
In his column on the failure of redistricting initiatives to pass in Ohio and California last week, Stuart Rothenberg gets the diagnosis right ("On Redistricting, Voters Have Spoken Up for the Status Quo," Nov. 10). But, like most U.S. reformers, he overlooks a promising cure for the problem he identifies - one that could help reformers overcome the hurdles they face in getting reform through the initiative process.
HLS students win northeast negotiation championship
Amar Mehta and Sabastian Niles, both third-year law students, won the American Bar Association Northeast Regional Negotiation Championship. Coached by Robert C. Bordone, the Thaddeus R. Beal Lecturer on Law at the Law School, Amar and Sabastian bested teams from 20 other law schools to win first place.
Conference probes Nuremberg's legacy for law and education
The International Military Tribunals at Nuremberg are widely regarded to have changed the course of history. The legacy of the trials for courts, social institutions and broader society was the focus of the two-day conference, "Pursuing Human Dignity: The Legacies of Nuremberg for International Law, Human Rights, and Education."
Webcast: Dean's Forum on executive power and the war on terrorism
On Wednesday, November 9, a panel of experts tackled the subject of executive power and the war on terrorism as part of Harvard Law School's latest Dean's Forum event moderated by Dean Elena Kagan.
Op-ed by Professor Manning: Balancing Act
Some Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have argued that Judge Samuel A. Alito's nomination to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor merits more thorough scrutiny, if not outright rejection, because it would disturb the "balance of the court." Whether Judge Alito will in fact shift the Supreme Court to the right on any matter is unknowable.
Glendon to be honored at White House ceremony
Professor Mary Ann Glendon has been named a recipient of the National Humanities Medal. She will be presented with the award tomorrow at an Oval Office ceremony with President Bush. Glendon is among a small number of Americans to receive the humanities medal this year, which was revealed yesterday in conjunction with the announcement of the National Medal of Arts recipients.
HLS Fellow wins distinguished peace advocate award
Betty Murungi, a fellow at the HLS Human Rights Program and an advocate for human rights in Africa, has been named this year's International Advocate for Peace by the Cardozo School of Law. The award honors contributions to justice, peace and conflict resolution. Previous recipients include former President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke.
Op-ed by Laurence Tribe: Alito's world
The following op-ed by Professor Laurence Tribe, Alito's world, appeared in The Boston Globe on November 7, 2005: You can't help doing a double-take when you read Judge Samuel Alito's opinion holding Congress powerless to compel states to provide family medical leave to their employees.
Op-ed by Professor Minow: The lessons of Nuremberg
Professor Martha Minow writes: The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg opened its doors 60 years ago this month. No one then imagined that the use of criminal trials to respond to mass atrocity would become a familiar and even expected feature of international relations.
Panel debates whether directors of companies should be personally liable
On Friday, Novemeber 4, The Program on Corporate Governance at HLS will host a panel discussion to debate personal liability for corporate directors. This question became a central one in the recent WorldCom and Enron cases, in which directors paid settlement fees out of their own pockets. Panelists will consider whether personal liability makes directors accountable, or whether it could deter directors from serving and make serving directors excessively defensive.
Ben Heineman Appointed to Fellowships at Harvard University
Ben W. Heineman, Jr., GE's Senior Vice President for Law and Public Affairs, will become the first Distinguished Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School's Program on the Legal Profession, beginning in the spring semester. At the same time, he will become a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Professor Warren on the new bankruptcy law
Professor Elizabeth Warren writes: Is there celebration in the halls of Citibank this week? Is MBNA uncorking the Champagne while Ford Motor Credit serves cake? Eleven years ago, these and other creditors pushed hard to re-elect sympathetic members of Congress who would enact a tougher bankruptcy law. Last Monday, the law they lobbied for went into effect.
Op-ed by Professor Fried: What Miers must show
Professor Charles Fried writes: What is indispensable is that [Miers] be able to think lucidly and deeply about legal questions and express her thoughts in clear, pointed, understandable prose. A justice without those capabilities -- however generally intelligent, decent, and hardworking -- risks being a calamity for the court, the law, and the country.
Sadako Ogata comes to HLS to receive the 2005 Great Negotiator Award
Following the announcement on October 6 that the former United Nations high commissioner for refugees, Sadako Ogata, is the winner of the 2005 Great Negotiator Award, this week Ogata came to Harvard Law School to receive the award and speak to the HLS community.
Book by HLS lecturer Robert Bordone wins top honor
A new book co-edited by Harvard Law School lecturer Robert C. Bordone has received the top book award from the National Institute for Advanced Conflict Resolution.
Report on 'trauma and learning' is based on HLS students' clinical work
The clinical casework of students in Harvard Law School's Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative is the foundation of a landmark new report called Helping Traumatized Children Learn.
Halley launches series on literature and connections to law
The HLS Program on Law and Social Thought is offering its annual series "Book Trouble" to engage readers with the legal, psychological and theoretical challenges raised by literature. This fall, the series will put artists and lecturers in discussion with students and faculty, including HLS Professors Gerald Frug and David Barron.
An op-ed by Professor Elizabeth Warren: Bankruptcies to surge
Those swamped by Katrina face tougher bankruptcy law. Much has been made of the Hurricane Katrina blame game. Congress immediately began to point its finger, justifiably, at FEMA and those responsible for the governmental incompetence that followed the tragic storm. Some of its awful consequences are indeed "man-made" but if Congress is assessing blame, it can also point a finger at itself.
Newt Minow reflects on legal career from Cuban Missile Crisis to present
On Wednesday, October 5, Newt Minow spoke at Harvard Law School as the first in the "Great Lawyers" speakers series. Minow's career has included practice in both small and large law firms, government service and business. The conversation was moderated by Dean Elena Kagan and Professor Martha Minow, his daughter. An archived webcast of the event is now available.
Sadako Ogata named as the 2005 Great Negotiator
The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School today announced that the recipient of its 2005 Great Negotiator award is Sadako Ogata, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the 1990s.
Stuntz says Bush 'pulled a Truman' by selecting Miers
The following essay, The Truman Show: In choosing Miers, Bush pulled a Truman, by Professor William Stuntz originally appeared in The New Republic Online on October 4, 2005: What kind of president picks both John Roberts and Harriet Miers? They look like the ultimate odd couple. Roberts is not a Bush crony, he has a résumé to die for, and everyone who knows him says he's unbelievably smart. Miers is more than a crony but certainly not less.
Webcast: HLS faculty examine upcoming Supreme Court term
On the same day that President Bush nominated his second Supreme Court justice, members of the Harvard Law School faculty assembled in Langdell Hall to examine recent trends on the high Court and speculate about upcoming cases and the beginning of John Robert's tenure as chief justice.
HLS student gets a front-row seat for U.N. action
From the September 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today: Fifteen ambassadors took their seats at the round Security Council table. Two rows behind U.S. Ambassador Gerald Scott sat Alex Wong ’07, summer intern at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
High Court justices compare their roles
On Wednesday, September 28, Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer and Antonin Scalia were joined by their British counterparts for a wide-ranging panel discussion on the similarities and differences between the judicial systems in the U.S. and U.K.
Japanese and U.S. financial experts convene in Japan
On September 30, 2005, approximately 130 leaders of the financial systems of the United States and Japan will convene in Gotemba, Japan for discussions over three days on issues affecting the future of the global financial system.
Harvard Law grad John Roberts confirmed as chief justice of the United States
Following a 78 to 22 confirmation vote by the U.S. Senate, today Harvard Law School graduate John Roberts became chief justice of the United States, the highest ranking position in the American judiciary.
Gerken examines the use of ranking systems to improve elections
Professor Heather Gerken: Yesterday, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) released the results of a national study of election practices. Created in the wake of the 2000 presidential election, the commission is charged with improving how elections are run. Unfortunately, Congress gave the new agency a modest mandate, little money, and less clout.
Professor Irving compares Australian and U.S. court nominations
The following op-ed by Visiting Professor Helen Irving, Judging the judges, originally appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald on September 25, 2005: The contrast could not be starker. On Tuesday, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, announced the Government's choice of Susan Crennan, Federal Court judge, to replace Justice Michael McHugh in the High Court. For the public, it was the start and end of the process.
Chayes Fellows go global to see the law in action
The following story is from the September 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today: This summer, while some classmates in New York and Boston drafted briefs or finalized memos in high-rise office buildings, the 28 Harvard Law students selected as 2005 Chayes Fellows encountered entirely different challenges.
Webcast of Dean Kagan's 'state of the school' address
Dean Elena Kagan gave her annual "state of the school" address in Ames Courtroom this week to mark the beginning of the academic year. Click here to watch an archived webcast of the address.
Professor Heymann on the Patriot Act
A Boston Globe op-ed by HLS Professor Philip Heymann and Kennedy School lecturer Juliette Kayem -- and HLS graduate -- on congressional reauthorization of the Patriot Act.
Op-ed by Professor Dershowitz: A painful absence of balance
The following op-ed by Professor Alan Dershowitz, A painful absence of balance, originally appeared in The Times (UK) on Septeber 21, 2005: On the Day of Simon Wiesenthal’s death, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, could be found in The Guardian proposing the abolition of Holocaust Memorial Day because it is offensive to Muslims.
Professor Warren on bankruptcy and the middle class
On April 20, 2005, George W. Bush signed into law a bankruptcy bill that had been pending in Congress for eight years. More than just a giveaway to the credit-card companies, the bill was a moral judgment against the bankrupt.
HLS Professors file brief in Supreme Court case on military recruiting
At noon today, Professors Martha Minow and Laurence H. Tribe held a press conference on the steps of Langdell Hall, at which they released a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that the Solomon Amendment -- the 1994 law that allows the secretary of defense to block federal funds to universities that restrict military recruiters' access to students -- does not prevent Harvard from enforcing its nondiscrcmination policies.
Gerken discusses compromise on the Voting Rights Act
This fall, Congress will begin debating whether to renew one of the most powerful, and controversial, civil rights laws ever passed: Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). Section 5 requires certain state and local governments--mostly in the Deep South--to ask the federal government's permission before making any change, no matter how small, in the way they run elections.
Obama delivers keynote address at Celebration of Black Alumni
On Saturday, September 17, Sen. Barack Obama, a member of the class of 1991, will deliver a keynote address following his acceptance of the Harvard Law School Association Award. The event is part of this weekend's Celebration of Black Alumni and will be webcast live at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Professor Glendon examines the Court's use of foreign law
Professor Mary Ann Glendon writes: At first glance, it is hard to see why these side-glances at what other countries do have provoked such alarm. True, the references have increased somewhat, but they remain rare, and no one suggests that the court has directly based any of its interpretations of the Constitution on foreign authority.
Celebration of Black Alumni begins this weekend
This weekend, Harvard Law School will hold its second Celebration of Black Alumni. Highlights of the three-day event include a keynote address by Sen. Barack Obama, a 1991 Harvard Law graduate, and speeches by Harvard President Lawrence Summers and Law School Dean Elena Kagan. Hundreds of alumni are expected to return to campus for the event.
Fried to testify in Roberts hearings
Today, Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify in support of chief justice nominee John Roberts, a member of the class of '79, regarding Roberts' qualifications for the position. In his service as the chair of the practitioners’ reading committee, Fried examined Roberts' previous decisions to evaluate Roberts for the Standing Committee on the Judiciary of the American Bar Association.
Launch kicks off Houston Institute for Race and Justice
The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice will hold its official launch at Harvard Law School on Thursday, September 15. Speeches and ceremonies will be webcast live.
Clark honored at University of Iowa legal symposium
The work of Professor Robert Clark, a corporate law specialist and the 10th dean of Harvard Law School, was the focus of a major symposium this past weekend at the University of Iowa College of Law. The nation's leading corporate law experts convened for two days of panel discussions and presentations that focused substantially on Clark's landmark treatise, "Corporate Law," which was first published in 1986.
HLS Professors debate confirmation process
On Tuesday, September 13, three leading legal scholars from Harvard Law School will come together to discuss the Senate hearings of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts '79 and the role of the Senate in the judicial confirmation process. Professors Charles Fried, Alan Dershowitz and Richard Fallon will speak at the panel discussion sponsored by the HLS Federalist Society.
Assistant Professor Jed Shugerman: Revisiting the Senate's 'nuclear' option
The following op-ed by Assistant Professor Jed Shugerman, Revisiting the Senate's 'nuclear' option, originally appeared in The Boston Globe on September 12, 2005: A second opening on the Supreme Court raises the stakes for the Senate hearings and doubles the chances of the Senate going "nuclear": The Senate Democrats filibuster, the Republicans vote to change the rules for closing debate, and the Democrats grind the Senate to a halt.
Op-ed by Professor Alan Dershowitz: Lasting peace in the Middle East?
The following op-ed by Professor Alan Dershowitz, This time, peace may be real thing, originally appeared in the Chicago Tribune on September 9, 2005: There have been many false starts in establishing a two-state solution to the Arab-Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but this time all the basic elements appear to be in place.
Op-ed by Professor William Stuntz: The Anti-Theorists
George W. Bush has lost his favorite Supreme Court Justice. No, Antonin Scalia has not quietly resigned. (Does Scalia quietly do anything?) And yes, Bush does like to say that Scalia is his favorite Justice. But I have a sneaking suspicion his heart beats faster for William Rehnquist.
Op-ed by Professor Tribe: Gentleman of the Court
The following op-ed by Professor Laurence Tribe, Gentleman of the Court, originally appeared in The New York Times on September 6, 2005: In October 1971, the White House tapped Assistant Attorney General William H. Rehnquist to respond to my critique of someone at the top of its short list for one of the two vacancies created by the nearly simultaneous resignations of two justices.
Dean Kagan announces hurricane relief efforts
Dean Elena Kagan sent the following letter to the Harvard Law School community today, outlining some of the school's efforts to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Op-ed by Visiting Professor Dudziak: Hurricane damage
The following op-ed by Visiting Professor Mary Dudziak, Huricane Damage, originally appeared in The Boston Globe on September 2, 2005: As waters rose in the streets of Biloxi and New Orleans, President Bush took to the airwaves in San Diego on Tuesday in an effort to capture the nation's attention with a different crisis. The war in Iraq, which he framed as part of a ''war on terror" tied to Sept. 11, had its legacy in World War II, he argued, and the nation must devote itself to this new war.
Recent graduate examines office blog policies
The following op-ed by Jeremy Blachman '05, Job Posting, appeared in The New York Times on August 31, 2005: Last month, Nadine Haobsh, an associate beauty editor at Ladies' Home Journal, was about to resign and take a job at Seventeen, where she had been offered a similar position. Then the magazines discovered she was blogging about work, and her two jobs became none.
Five new professors join HLS faculty
The ranks of the Harvard Law School faculty expanded over the summer with the arrival of three new assistant professors and two new tenured professors of law. The hires are part of an effort to bring about a net increase of 15 faculty members over the next decade.
HLS to hold second Celebration of Black Alumni
This September, Harvard Law School will hold its second Celebration of Black Alumni, bringing hundreds of black Harvard Law graduates to campus for a range of programming focusing on national and international legal issues. Highlights of the three-day event include a keynote address by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, a 1991 Harvard Law graduate, and speeches by Harvard President Lawrence Summers and Law School Dean Elena Kagan. The event will take place on the HLS campus September 16-18.
Op-ed by Professor Shavell on the Vioxx verdict
The following op-ed co-written by HLS Professor Steven Shavell and Stanford Professor A. Mitchell Polinsky, Vioxx verdict's dark side, appeared in the Boston Globe on August 23, 2005.
Op-ed by Professor Freeman: Schwarzenegger and environmental law
This op-ed originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times on August 21, 2005: Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks he's an environmental governor. He wants to combat global warming, develop alternative energy sources and protect coastal waters and sea life. But taking on multinational oil companies and auto manufacturers is a lazy man's environmentalism.
Op-ed by Lecturer Noah Sachs: Roberts and environmental law
This op-ed originally appeared in The Baltimore Sun on August 17, 2005: Supreme Court nominee Judge John G. Roberts Jr. hasn't generated a lengthy paper trail revealing his views on environmental law, but he's left the equivalent of a few Post-It Notes.
Op-ed by Professor Minow: High stakes for legal issues
The following op-ed by Professor Martha Minow appeared in The Boston Globe on July 21, 2005: Now we know whom President Bush wants to take Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the United States Supreme Court. We also know the legal and social issues in the balance. But we don't know, yet, whether the Senate can cut through partisan politics to make its "advice and consent" a constructive process for us all.
Harvard Law grad John Roberts nominated to fill Supreme Court vacancy
President Bush has nominated Harvard Law graduate John G. Roberts Jr., a federal appeals court judge, to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created earlier this month when Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement. Roberts graduated from Harvard Law School in 1979 and from Harvard College in 1976.
Petition from HLS class helps push case to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court recently agreed to hear the case Whitman v. Department of Transportation in which the petition for certiorari prepared by a class at Harvard Law School. The winter 2005 Supreme Court Litigation class, taught by instructors Amy Howe and Thomas Goldstein, researched and wrote the petition.
Students contribute to prominent human rights reports
Two new human rights reports from international groups Human Rights Watch and Front Line draw on research and writing from students in the Clinical Advocacy Project of Harvard Law School's Human Rights Program.
Kirkland & Ellis Gift Honored by Renaming Major Harvard Law School Teaching Space
Harvard Law School's historic Langdell South classroom has been renamed Kirkland and Ellis Hall in recognition of a $3 million gift made by the Chicago-based international law firm. The gift will support preservation and upkeep of this important 162-seat teaching space and -- as part of the Harvard Law School endowment -- support the law school's general educational and research activities.
Berkman Center launches partnership with the Oxford Internet Institute
Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society -- the first research center for cyberlaw -- and the Oxford Internet Institute -- the world’s first multidisciplinary Internet research center -- today announced a new research and teaching collaboration.
Global finance experts discuss U.S.-China relationship
This weekend, leaders of the financial systems of the United States and China will gather in Armonk, New York to examine issues affecting the financial relationship between the two countries.
HLS students play a role in major court decision on asylum
Last week the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a family is a protected and recognized social group for purposes of refugee protection and asylum eligibility—a ruling praised a group of Harvard Law School students. The students, working with the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic and the Harvard Human Rights Program, had filed an amicus brief in the case of Thomas v. Gonzales urging the court to reach the conclusion reflected in the ruling.
Symposium celebrates half-century of South African rights declaration
On Thursday, June 16, Harvard Law School will host a celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of the South African Freedom Charter. The Charter, adopted in 1955 by the African National Congress and its allies, set out principles regarding equality and respect for human rights for South Africa.
In talk to new grads and alumni, Spitzer cautions against 'hubris'
New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer told an HLS Class Day audience today that self-regulation by corporations and financial institutions has been an “abject failure” and he warned graduating 3Ls not to succumb to hubris or the delusion that they are “Masters of the Universe.”
Martha Minow wins Sacks-Freund Teaching Award
Professor Martha Minow is the winner of the prestigious Sacks-Freund Teaching Award, an honor bestowed each year on a member of the Harvard Law School faculty by the graduating class. Presented at Class Day--the day before commencement--the Sacks-Freund award recognizes teaching ability, attentiveness to student concerns, and general contributions to student life at the law school.
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.
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."
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.
Fallon says Constitution is 'underenforced'
The following remarks are excerpted from a lecture delivered by Professor Richard Fallon at Harvard Law School in February marking his appointment to the Ralph S. Tyler Jr. Professorship of Constitutional Law. He argues that a recent U.S. Supreme Court case reveals a willingness by the Court to allow a "permissible disparity" between what the Constitution says and the way it is enforced. (From the April 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today.)
Bellow Award honors public service of student and alumna
On Thursday, April 28, the Gary Bellow Public Service Award will be given to an accomplished student and alumna for their community-focused work. Chi Mgabo, 3L, will receive the student award for her human rights advocacy, and Luz Herrera '99 will receive the alumna award for her legal service for underserved communities in California. The ceremony and reception will take place at 4 p.m. in Austin East.
Course offers webcast on collaborative technology and cyberlaw
At 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 25, Assistant Professor Jonathan Zittrain hosts a special version of his class, Cyberlaw, which will be avaible to the public via a webcast. Jimmy Wales, founder of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, will be the guest speaker, and the webcast of Zittrain's class will offer viewers the chance to participate and contribute questions.
Finance experts discuss evolving US-EU market relationship
This weekend, leaders of the financial systems from the U.S. and Europe convened in Eltville, Germany to discuss the function and stability of the global financial system. The three-day symposium was organized by Harvard Law School’s Program on International Financial Systems and the Centre for European Policy Studies.
Professor Jackson on Social Security: No easy fix
Professor Howell Jackson ’82 isn’t afraid to touch what’s long been considered the third rail of American politics: Social Security reform. Jackson, the James S. Reid Jr. Professor of Law, has long taught about regulating financial institutions and pensions, and he’s made Social Security one of his top research interests. He recently spoke with Harvard Law Today about the problems facing the Social Security system and the prospects for fixing them.
Conference examines tradeoffs between technology and privacy
On April 21 and 22, Harvard's Journal of Law and Technology will host its annual symposium with a focus this year on "Law, Technology and Privacy." The event will examine modern law enforcement techniques, biotechnology and identification tracking as well as the implications of these technologies on privacy rights.
In timely lecture, Hauser asks 'Is U.N. reform possible?'
International legal expert Rita E. Hauser will deliver an address titled "Is United Nations Reform Really Possible?" on Wednesday April 20 at 5 p.m. in Pound Hall 102. A former US Representative to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Hauser is currently chair of the International Peace Academy and a member of the President's Intelligence Oversight Board.
Viscusi appointed to EPA homeland security committee
Professor W. Kip Viscusi has been appointed to serve as a member of the EPA's Science Advisory Board's Homeland Security Advisory Committee. As a member of the committee, Viscusi will provide expert advice critical to the pursuit of the EPA's mission to protect public human health and the environment.
Report documents Internet filtering in China
Yesterday, representatives of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School presented a report on Internet censorship in China to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in Washington, D.C. The report -- released by the OpenNet Initiative, a research partnership -- documents blocking of websites, blogs, email and online discussion forums by the Chinese government.
Symposium tackles ethics of cloning
This Friday, April 15, Harvard Law School will host a symposium titled, "Law and Ethics in A Brave New World: What Should Government Do About Cloning and Stem Cell Research?" Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) will deliver the keynote address at the event sponsored by the HLS Society for Law Life and Religion.
Students use summer funding to explore the spectrum of law
The following story is from the April 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today: A typical 10 minutes inside the Office of Public Interest Advising in Pound Hall was like a train station full of students with questions about how to make their connections how to strategize, fund and secure summer public interest jobs.
Feldman examines future of justice in Iraq and Afghanistan
Noah Feldman, author of "After Jihad," spoke at Harvard Law School about establishing post-war justice in Afghanistan and Iraq. While recent news coverage has focused on political changes in both nations, Feldman focused on the longer-term challenge of building a legal system that will be socially, culturally and politically viable.
Film event spotlights diversity of careers
Saturday evening, Harvard Law School will host a film screening with alumnus Hill Harper '92, actor on the popular TV series, "CSI: New York," and film critic Elvis Mitchell. The event will bring together a range of campus organizations for a discussion of the film "Lackawanna Blues" and of non-traditional career paths available to law school students. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. on April 9 in Austin North.
HLS Democrats strategize about rebuilding the left
This week, the Harvard Law School Democrats hosted their annual conference, "Rebuilding the Democratic Party and the Left." The five-day event focused both on practical and theoretical questions related to campaigning, messaging and political strategizing.
Conference focuses on women in war
"Women in War: Law and Gender in Situations of Conflict" will be the focus of the upcoming annual conference of the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender. The event will examine the variety of ways that women experience and participate in violent conflict. The conference, which takes place in Austin West at Harvard Law School on April 8 and 9, will feature leading legal and policy scholars, practitioners and students analyzing war through a gender-conscious lens.
Berkman Center hosts 'Signal or Noise 2k5: Creative Revolution?'
One week after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the legal and economic ramifications of music downloading, Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society is hosting a conference to examine the impact of the Internet and digital technologies on the arts and business models associated with distribution of the creative work.
Law School shows dramatic side in upcoming 'W;t'
This weekend, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "W;t" will begin its four-night run at Harvard Law School. Professor Bruce Hay directs the cast of law students and other actors in the series of performances on April 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. in Ames Courtroom.
A Harvard first in European law championship
A group of law students recently made history as the first Harvard team to win the European Law Moot Court, the second largest moot court competition in the world. After competing with over 90 schools from around the world for a spot in the finals, the team traveled to Luxembourg to argue their case before judges of the European Court of Justice.
Harvard hosts 'Spotlight on Darfur' series
This week, Harvard will host a series of events to focus attention on the current crisis in Sudan. The lectures and discussions were coordinated by the Darfur Action Group, a coalition of students from across the University, including the Law School's Human Rights Program and the HLS Advocates. The group was formed in response to the atrocities that have claimed an estimated 300,000 lives in Sudan.
Student's blog strikes chord, generates book deal
The debate raged online for almost a year: Who was Anonymous Lawyer? Was he real, or just the fictional character he claimed to be? He certainly seemed real enough to many readers of his Web log, anonymouslawyer.blogspot.com, where he posted cynical commentary about life in a large Los Angeles law firm. (This story is from the April 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today.)
Panel examines effects of privatizing government services
On Wednesday, Harvard Law School will host a conversation on the rising trend toward privatization of government duties. The discussion on "Outsourcing Force" will examine a series of questions such as whether private companies are more efficient at operating prisons, police, and even the military. The event will take place at 7:30 pm on March 23 in Langdell South.
HLS student writes book on Reagan's nuclear record
Paul Lettow was too young to vote for Ronald Reagan, but that hasn't kept the third-year law student from writing a book on Reagan's policies that is causing some to rethink the record of America's 40th president. "Ronald Reagan and His Quest to Abolish Nuclear Weapons" hit bookstores in February and earned praise in The New York Times for being "provocative, informative and largely persuasive." (This story is from the April 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today.)
Reality check for Compton attorney
It wasn't a makeover--it was a make-better. A team of decorators and their entourage of producers, assistants and camera crew members recently descended on the law office of Luz Herrera '99 for four days, while another set of designers whisked her away to a posh Los Angeles hotel for shopping, massages and manicures. Why was this young attorney getting the royal treatment? (This story is from the April 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today.)
Conference examines future of rights and liberties
This weekend, Harvard's Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review will host its 40th anniversary conference, "Bridging the Gap: Constructions of Rights and Liberties in the New Civil Rights Era." The conference will bring scholars and public policy experts together to focus on issues like economic disparities, privacy rights and the balance between liberty and security. The event will take place Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at Harvard Law School.
Harvard Black Law Students Association's annual conference focuses on leadership
This weekend, the Harvard Black Law Students Association will host its annual conference, "A Call to Consciousness: Defining Professional and Social Responsibility to Inspire Progressive Leadership." Acclaimed poet and political activist Nikki Giovanni will offer the keynote address. The conference was organized by second-year students Tara Curtis, Jenée Desmond-Harris, and Danielle Lewis along with faculty members and a 40-student committee.
Students compete for European law championship
For the first in the law school's history, a team of Harvard students will compete in the finals of the European Law Moot Court Competition, which began this week in Luxembourg. The team is one of four to qualify for the All European Finals, based on an original pool of 92 universities.
HLS Jessup Moot Court Team wins regionals
Harvard Law School recently captured the Northeast Regional championship of the 2005 Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, defeating the University of Vermont and Boston College in elimination rounds. The HLS team consisted of team captain Hugo Torres (3L), Rachel Rebouche (2L), Brandon Miller (1L), Erica Gaston (1L) and Marc Jacob (LL.M.).
Warren leads students in bankruptcy blogging
Professor Elizabeth Warren and three Harvard Law students are experimenting with a non-traditional way of sharing legal research about bankruptcy legislation. They're not using op-eds, the mainstream press or books to influence the political process; instead, they're blogging. Earlier this week, the group launched a website affiliated with the popular political site, Talkingpointsmemo.com. Their blog focuses exclusively on a recent bankruptcy bill under debate in the U.S. Senate.
Symposium brings global perspectives to legal thinking
Harvard's International Law Journal will host a symposium on March 5-6 to consider a range of perspectives on international legal theory and practice. "Comparative Visions of the Global Public Order" will offer roundtable discussions on topics ranging from corporate law to global pluralism. The symposium, held in Austin Hall at Harvard Law School, will also honor two retiring Harvard Law faculty members for their work in transnational law and international legal studies.
Professors file brief on laws of music downloading
Harvard Law Professors Terry Fisher and Jonathan Zittrain along with John Palfrey, executive director of the Berkman Center, have filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in MGM v. Grokster -- a closely watched case that is likely to have a dramatic impact on the future of music downloading.
Panel questions current state of regulation for capital markets
Harvard Law School's Program on International Financial Systems will host a panel discussion with senior government and industry officials to address the effect of regulations on the capital markets. "The Current State of Regulation of the Capital Markets: Too Much, Too Little or Just Right?" will take place on March 7 in Ames Courtroom from 2 - 5 p.m. A reception will begin at 5 p.m. following the discussion.
Symposium will examine criminal sentencing changes
On Thursday, March 3, the Harvard Journal on Legislation and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice will present the 2005 JOL Spring Symposium, "Criminal Sentencing at the Crossroads." The symposium will examine federal sentencing guidelines in light of the United States Supreme Court's decisions in Booker and Blakely, which found the Guidelines inconsistent with the Sixth Amendment.
Justice Goldstone reflects on war crimes and international law
Justice Richard Goldstone, the first prosecutor for the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, addressed an audience at Harvard Law School last week to provide a firsthand account of the state of international criminal law.
Federalist Society holds annual student symposium at HLS
This weekend the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies will hold its 24th annual student symposium at Harvard Law School. The two-day event will feature six panel discussions and a keynote speech by Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Harvard President Lawrence Summers and HLS Dean Elena Kagan will also speak.
Professor Kaufman sheds light on ethical codes for justices
The following op-ed was written by Professor Andrew Kaufman and published in The National Law Journal on February 21, 2005: "Justice Breyer deserves much credit for taking seriously the question whether he should have recused himself in the sentencing guidelines cases, but the revelation that he sought advice from an academic expert raises another issue of judicial ethics that should not be lost."
Harvard Law Review selects 119th president
Second-year student Brian Fletcher has been elected the 119th president of the Harvard Law Review. Fletcher has advocated new policies such as changing submission guidelines in response to overwhelming feedback from professors for shorter articles and launched new initiatives like the "State of Scholarship" dinner series to make the Review an active part of the HLS community.
HLS grad takes over Department of Homeland Security
Following a unanimous confirmation vote in the U.S. Senate, this week President Bush swore in Michael Chertoff, a 1978 Harvard Law graduate, as the nation's secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The new post is the latest in a series of public services positions Chertoff has held in both the executive and judicial branches of government.
Rosenfeld Named 'Champion for Change'
Diane Rosenfeld, lecturer on law, was recently named a recipient of the Champions for Change Award for her contributions in research and advocacy on the subject of sexual violence. The award, presented by the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center and co-sponsored by Beauty and Main and The Charles Hotel, honored Rosenfeld's work particularly in the area of education.
Weiler Honored for Contributions to Canadian Labor Law
Professor Paul Weiler has been named a recipient of the 2005 Bora Laskin Award, which recognizes achievements in Canadian labor law. The award is sponsored by the Centre for Industrial Relations at the University of Toronto and the Lancaster House, a publisher of books and articles on labor and employment law.
Renovations to Hemenway Gymnasium slated for summer 2005
Harvard Law School and Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences will collaborate to renovate Hemenway Gymnasium in a project slated to run from late May to September. The two schools will split the cost of the top-to-bottom interior rehabilitation of the 28,000-square-foot recreational fitness facility, which will be closed during construction.
Professor Warren warns about risks of medical bankruptcy
The following op-ed was written by Professor Elizabeth Warren and published in The Washington Post on February 9, 2005: "Nobody's safe. That's the warning from the first large-scale study of medical bankruptcy...."
Bebchuk tells CEOs: 'If it wasn't earned, it must be returned'
Professor Lucian Bebchuk, an expert on corporate governance and co-author of "Pay Without Performance: The Unfulfilled Promise of Executive Compensation," was interviewed recently on CNBC's popular business program, Kudlow and Cramer. After companies like Fannie Mae have restated earnings figures, Bebchuk argued that executives' contracts should include "give-back provisions that require the paying back of money that was raised on figures that had to be restated."
Harvard study finds medical bills push many into bankruptcy
Nearly half of all Americans who file for bankruptcy do so because of medical expenses, according to a new study released jointly by researchers at Harvard Law School and Harvard Medical School this week. The study, which is based on surveys of 1,771 individuals filing for bankruptcy, is the first of its kind to gather extensive information on the correlation between medical conditions and expenses and bankruptcy.
HLS Conference Addresses Professions in China
Scholars from as faraway as Hong Kong and as nearby as the Faculty of Arts and Sciences gathered last week at Harvard Law School for a conference on professionalism in China. The event, The Professions and Professionalism in China, sponsored by the East Asian Legal Studies Program and the Harvard University Asia Center, addressed fields ranging from law, medicine, and religion to journalism, architecture, and business.
Webcast: First I.C.C. Prosecutor Speaks at HLS
On Wednesday, January 19, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, spoke to students at Harvard Law School. Moderated by Professor Martha Minow, an expert in international justice, Ocampo spoke about his role as the first I.C.C. prosecutor and the challenges of working within an emerging legal system.
Professor Goldsmith Advocates Referring Darfur Tragedy to I.C.C.
Professor Jack Goldsmith writes: A U.N. commission chaired by the former president of the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal, Antonio Cassese, is expected to issue its recommendation this week on whether the International Criminal Court should investigate human rights abuses in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Harvard Refugee Clinic Sees Partial Victory in Asylum Decision
Following Friday's decision by the Department of Justice to allow Rodi Alvarado Pena, a Guatamalan woman, to remain in the United States, leaders of the the Harvard Law School Immigration and Refugee Clinic offered cautious praise.
In Harvard Lecture, Breyer Challenges 'Originalists'
Associate Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court delivered the 2004 Tanner Lecture on Human Values at Harvard University in November, sponsored by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics. The following is an edited version of Justice Breyer's text, which was published in the January 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today.
Students Turn the Tables on Faculty in New Workshops
Every day on university campuses, graduate students defend their scholarship in front of faculty panels whose interrogations can be withering. At Harvard Law School, the tables are being turned. Professor Kingsfield is in the hot seat, and the students are doing the questioning.
Student Wages Legal Battle to Protect Women from Forced Sterilization
The story of a current Harvard LL.M. student who is taking the Slovakian government to court over allegations of forced sterilization of poor women.
Professor Gerken on the Election: How We Fared
In a wide-ranging conversation, election law expert Heather Gerken, an assistant professor, takes a look at the legal issues surrounding the 2004 race.
HLS to Hold Panel Discussion on Asian Tsunami
On Friday, January 7, beginning promptly at 12:30 pm, the East Asian Legal Studies program is hosting a panel discussion focusing on the catastrophic events following the earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Ames Courtroom in Austin Hall.
Horwitz Class the Subject of NPR Feature
Professor Morton Horwitz's class on the Supreme Court -- specifically the Warren court -- was the subject of a feature on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" program on Monday, January 3. Click here to listen to a webcast of the NPR piece.
Subramanian Joins Tenured Faculty
Following a vote of the Harvard Law School faculty, Guhan Subramanian has been promoted from assistant professor to professor of law -- a tenured faculty position. A corporate law expert who specializes in deal making and corporate governance, Subramanian joined the HLS faculty in 2002 as the Joseph Flom Assistant Professor of Law and Business. Prior to this appointment, he spent three years on the faculty of Harvard Business School, where he taught courses on negotiations and business law.