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Harvard Law Today: July 2011

L. Barry Hetherington

Left: Impromptu—and incognito … To the surprise and delight of this year’s graduates, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’56-’58 dropped in on HLS’s commencement after receiving an honorary degree from the university earlier in the day. Justice Ginsburg reminisced about her time at HLS and congratulated the graduating Class of 2011. Right: 2011 Class Marshals, [L-R] Sameer Birring, Sakisha Jackson, Megan Jeans and Paul Ray, led the class to Harvard Yard.

Scholars analyze the evolution of anti-discrimination law

In recent decades, legislative bodies throughout North America and Europe have enacted sweeping laws to protect racial and ethnic minorities, women, the disabled and other groups who are victimized by discrimination. Perhaps not surprisingly, these efforts have encountered resistance—oftentimes successful—leaving anti-discrimination scholars and activists to ponder new strategies for dealing with an age-old problem.
Briefs

Steiker appointed to public counsel services committee; The law and finance of mark-ups; A ‘Public’ circus at HLS; Benkler, Stevenson named Ford Foundation visionaries; Zittrain joins FCC as Distinguished Scholar; Top Ten corporate and securities law articles in 2010; and Collaborating with Sciences Po
Constitutional reform for Honduras

HLS Professor Noah Feldman and a team of HLS affiliates have written a report at the request of the Commission on Truth and Reconciliation of Honduras, examining the constitutionality of the actions in Honduras that resulted in the 2009 military coup that removed President Manuel Zelaya from office.
Thinking big

“HLS Thinks Big,” inspired by the global TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) talks and modeled after the college’s “Harvard Thinks Big” event, was held at Harvard Law School on May 23 in Austin North.
Rule of law in Afghanistan is critical to an enduring transition, says Brig. Gen. Mark Martins

Army Brig. Gen. Mark Martins ’90 accepted the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor conferred by Harvard Law School, and gave the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture on April 18 at HLS.
“Race and Justice: The Wire”

“Race and Justice: The Wire:” Using lessons that come not from a law book but from the television series “The Wire,” a celebrated portrayal of street gangs in inner-city Baltimore and the institutions that have failed its residents, Professor Charles Ogletree ‘78 has established a new class with a curriculum that includes readings and discussions on drug policy, police practices and legal tactics.
Giving back through music

The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard helped shape the agenda of Rethink Music, a conference that brought together legal, business, and academic experts to discuss new business models for creating and distributing music.
Exit interviews

Five new graduates—Humu-Annie Seini LL.M., Ben Hoffman, Gabriel Davis, Elizabeth Benton and Kevin Cooper—and where they’re headed
Appointments: Lazarus, Desai, Spamann, Greenwald and Jackson

Dean Martha Minow continues to grow the faculty with five new appointments. Minow described the latest hires as “superb teachers who will bring their enormous talent and wisdom to the HLS community.”
Celebrating the Class of 2011

Harvard Law School graduation festivities began on Class Day, Wednesday, May 25, and continued through Commencement on Thursday, May 26. This year, the law school conferred a total of 790 degrees—585 J.D.s, 195 LL.M.s and 10 S.J.D.s.