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Greta Van Susteren will be Georgetown Law's 2013 Commencement Speaker

Admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:14:50 +0000

Photo courtesy of Wikimeda CommonsThis year’s Georgetown Law Commencement Speaker is alumna and former Law Center professor Greta Van Susteren (L’79, LL.M. ‘82), according to an announcement published April 30, 2:19 p.m., on Van Susteren’s website. Van Susteren is known for her current role as a Fox News personality.

An excerpt from Van Susteren’s announcment is included below:

“Georgetown Law Center has invited me to be their 2013 Commencement speaker as well as the recipient of an Honorary Degree (I have two law degrees from Georgetown — JD and LLM…but the Honorary degree is particularly fun!)

So how long did it take for me to make up my mind and accept? oh…maybe 1 second (or even a 1/2 second?) It is my alma mater and that’s always particularly fun.

I loved Georgetown. I had so much fun going to law school at G’town and it has shaped my career in so many ways. I also spent years as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown — until the students got just too smart for me and I could not keep up with them.

Yes, going to Georgetown was one of those ‘game changers’ in life.”

Neither Georgetown University nor Georgetown Law administration has publicly confirmed Van Susteren’s status as Commencement Speaker or status as honorary degree recipient. As of May 1, 2013, the Office of Dean of Students and Dean’s Office have both declined to comment. The Georgetown Law Office of Student Life (OSL) also declined to comment, except to note that OSL “does not have a hand in choosing the [Commencement] speaker.”

In a blog post on May 1, Van Susteren noted: “[N]ow I just have to write a good speech! That feels like being back in school!”

Van Susteren currently hosts “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” airing weeknights at 10pm ET on Fox News Channel. Last year, Forbes Magazine ranked Van Susteren #94 on their annual “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” list.

Georgetown victorious in space law competition

Ann Y. Du — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:01:06 +0000

by Zachary Garthe, 3L

Georgetown Law students won the competition for the first time in five years. Photo courtesy of Zachary Garthe.Saturday, March 23, Georgetown University Law Center students Adam Wesolowski (L’13) and Amanda Krause (L’14), made Georgetown Law history. Agent Wesolowski and Agent Krause (as they were referred to during the competition) emerged victorious at Georgetown Law’s signature moot court competition, the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition.

In addition to winning the competition, Agent Krause won the award for Best Oralist, and Agents Wesolowski and Krause together won the award for Best Briefs.

The Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition is organized globally by the International Institute of Space Law, named for former Chief Judge of the International Court of Justice, Manfred Lachs. Georgetown Law has hosted the competition since its inception in 1992. The competition was the largest it has ever been this year, including a total of 17 schools in the North American Regional tournament.

Law Center students sweep softball tournament

Ann Y. Du — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:58:29 +0000

by Michael CourtAll three of Georgetown Law’s softball teams made it to to the playoffs. Photo courtesy of Kukui Claydon., 3L

On a gorgeous weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Georgetown Law Softball Club participated in the 30th UVA Law Softball Invitational. The tournament attracted over 40 law schools and over 100 teams, with some law schools traveling as far away as Michigan to compete for the title and bragging rights. In keeping with tradition, the majority of the proceeds from the event were donated to the Children, Youth and Family Services, Inc. of Charlottesville (CYFS). It is expected that the tournament will donate in excess of $20,000 to charity.

As with most events involving law students, “networking” was the main activity for the weekend and softball a distant second. The schedule included a barbeque on Saturday afternoon as well as two nights sponsored by UVA at local bars.

However, socializing was not reserved for the bars. Most teams brought the party to the playing field with cheering sections and music. Amid all the revelry it is hard to believe that competitive games of softball were actually played.

Westlaw to discontinue free printing services

Ann Y. Du — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:55:42 +0000

by Andrew Russell, LL.M.Free printing from the Westlaw printers in the Wolff and Williams libraries will no longer be available next academic year. Photo courtesy of Andrew Russell.

Thompson Reuters Westlaw has terminated its printing services effective June 30th, 2013. Westlaw confirmed a March 12th Campus Broadcast email informing students of the cancellation. Rumors of the cancellation of the printing services in law schools have been bubbling under the surface on the internet since May 2012.

While law schools will continue to have access to the Westlaw database, the printing of documents will need to be funded by the students themselves. Westlaw provided three reasons for its termination of the longstanding printer support to law schools across the U.S. Primarily, Westlaw believes that legal practitioners’ “workflow habits” no longer rely on the printing printing legal research. Unfortunately no statistics to support this position were cited by Westlaw.

Mock Trial team takes home national title

Ann Y. Du — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:49:23 +0000

by Rob Silverblatt, 3L3Ls Lars Hulsebus and Amanda Tuminelli led the Law Center to it’s first ever title at the prestigious Chicago-based mock trial tournament. Photo courtesy of Rob Silverblatt.

Two Law Center students beat out 27 other top-rated mock trial teams from around the country en route to winning a national championship.

Lars Hulsebus and Amanda Tuminelli, both 3Ls, won six consecutive trials over three days at the National Trial Competition (NTC) to bring home the trophy — as well as the accompanying $10,000 prize — and give the Law Center its first-ever title at the tournament.

Separately, Hulsebus won the award for the best individual advocate at the tournament.

EJF Auction continues to support Law Center’s public interest mission

Ann Y. Du — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:46:09 +0000

Dean Bailin and Professor Zeiler were among the faculty emcees for the event. Photo courtesy of Chris Mattox.

On Thursday, April 4, 2013, Georgetown Law’s Equal Justice Foundation hosted their annual Live Auction to raise money to support 1Ls and 2Ls that will be working in non-profit positions this summer. When EJF was first established in 1982, it provided fellowships for three students to do public interest work over the summer.

Since then, the program has experienced tremendous growth and sponsored 435 students last summer. The foundation hopes to top that by supporting more than 500 students this summer, according to Caitlin Cocilova, 1L, this year’s Auction Chair and current EJF board member, during the event’s opening remarks.

The proceeds from the auction go toward supporting students to work in public interests jobs over the summer, including government positions, judicial internships, and non-profit work both domestically and abroad.

The event had two components: a silent and a live auction. Throughout the week, students have been able to bid on items through the Silent Auction. Silent auction items included goods donated from local stores, gift certificates to restaurants, and services or treats offered by other students.

1Ls start new advocacy group at Law Center dedicated to combating sexual violence and assault

Ann Y. Du — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:39:50 +0000

by Alexa Tsakopoulos, 1L

Section 3 1Ls Kristen Cates, Myka Held, and Samantha Williams formed a new and active student group called Advocates Against Sexual Violence (AASV) in January 2013. The mission of the group is to combat sexual violence and the culture that surrounds it, both on campus and in the greater D.C. area.

The group was created because of a perceived lack of awareness of the issue of sexual violence. The three founders each have previous experience working with sexual assault survivors. Held volunteered for a sexual assault hotline for students, and realized that there was nothing comparable to this on the Law Center campus. She sought out others interested in this issue and found Cates and Williams, and together they created AASV.

These methods are being put into action and AASV co-sponsored events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. AASV partnered with the Women’s Legal Association to host the “Let’s Talk about Steubenville” event, moderated by Professor Naomi Mezey. The conversation-style symposium was inspired by the way sexual assault is discussed, both by the media in the Steubinville, Ohio controversy and here on the Georgetown Law campus, where some students had expressed that the issue was not handled in a sensitive manner.

Schnell shares her vision for future SBA

Ann Y. Du — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:37:02 +0000

by Myka Held, 1L

Parker Schnell, 2L, started her political career as “president” of her friend group in fifth grade. Fourteen years later, she has been elected president of a slightly larger group: Georgetown University Law Center’s student body. She has gained more experience since fifth grade too. Schnell served as 1L delegate last year and Student Bar Association Secretary this past year. The SBA organizes events and programs, and determines the funding for student organizations. In addition, their close relationship with the administration allows them to have a voice in the running of the school.

“Students don’t realize how much of an impact SBA has on their life… From when you can get your grades, to how late the food is open, to how your professors can grade you on the curve, all of these things are things that SBA has worked on this year,” said Schnell.

Georgetown LL.M. plans boycott of official 2013 Graduation Gala and hosts alternative celebration

Ann Y. Du — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:34:59 +0000

by Ann Y. Du

May 18, 2013 is a date marked on calendars across the Georgetown University Law Center campus. That Saturday, a week after finals will wrap for the rest of campus, is a much anticipated for the Class of 2013: commencement.

However, many graduating students were disappointed to learn that the official Graduation Gala, which is set to take place at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art & Portraiture, reached capacity before they were able to purchase tickets.

Among those dissatisfied with the ticket shortage was Luke Hornblower, LL.M. He claimed that he did not even realize graduation tickets were on sale before he learned that they were sold out. Logging onto Facebook later that day, he realized many other LL.M. students had similar experiences and found themselves on the outside of their own graduation ceremony.

After close SBA runoff, New Couch in McDonough is Day Vice President

Ann Y. Du — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:42:31 +0000

Students’ voices heard. New Couch in McDonough smiles benevolently in new position as SBA Day Vice President.The seating arrangement “New Couch” has won the Student Bar Association Day Division position of Vice President in a close election runoff against Morgan Freeman.

The election began with a pool of various candidates, all with different visions for Georgetown University Law Center. Mickey Mouse claimed he would clean up the school with a lively broom, and the Yellow Teletubby exclaimed: “laa laa,” and nobody knew what this meant.

Morgan Freeman gave a lengthy speech, enumerating the lengths he would go to to serve the Law Center. “For twenty days and twenty nights, the Emperor Penguin will march to a place so extreme, it supports no other life. In the harshest place on earth, love finds a way. For Georgetown, I will lead the way,” he said.

Despite these various positions, it was New Couch who caught the voters’ attention.