January 2003

The Northwestern Law Alumni Association is pleased to present this edition of Northwestern Law E-Briefs, an electronic newsletter for alumni and friends of the Law School. We hope you enjoy this connection to Northwestern Law, its alumni, and its students.

Northwestern Law E-Briefs Features:

* Illinois Gov. George Ryan Commutes Death Sentences
* Want to be a Judge? Give it a Try in the Julius H. Miner Moot Court Competition
* Law & Economics Topic of Spring Colloquium Series
* New Book Examines American Democracy
* Faculty in the News
* Alumni in the News
* Upcoming Events

ILLINOIS GOV. GEORGE RYAN COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES
In a speech on Saturday, January 11, 2003, in Northwestern Law's Lincoln Hall, Gov. George Ryan announced his decision to commute Illinois' remaining 156 pending executions to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During his speech he praised the work of Larry Marshall and students and faculty working in the Bluhm Legal Clinic's Center on Wrongful Convictions. To read Ryan's speech, click here. To read Larry Marshall's introduction, click here. To see media coverage of the speech, click here.

WANT TO BE A JUDGE? GIVE IT A TRY IN THE JULIUS H. MINER MOOT COURT COMPETITION
The 40th Annual Julius H. Miner Moot Court Competition will take place in February and March 2003 at Northwestern Law. Each year approximately 70 second-year students compete in this prestigious competition. If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in sitting on the other side of the bench (if only for one night), please email Jesse Manchester (j-manchester@law.northwestern.edu). For more information, click here.

LAW & ECONOMICS TOPIC OF SPRING COLLOQUIUM SERIES
Scholars from around the country will meet at Northwestern Law this semester to exchange views about their cutting-edge research in law and economics. Organized by Professors David Dana and Robert Sitkoff, the Law and Economics Colloquium will take place at the Law School on specified Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. in Rubloff 339. Each presenter's paper can be downloaded in advance from the colloquium web site.

NEW BOOK EXAMINES AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
American democracy is among the most durable forms of government in the world despite "counter-majoritaran" tendencies, according to Professor Robert Bennett's new book, "Talking It Through: Puzzles of American Democracy" (Cornell University Press). For more information, click here.

FACULTY IN THE NEWS (click title to read full article or interview)

Commentary; The timing game that justices play
Steven G. Calabresi and Ilya Somin in Los Angeles Times, January 13, 2003

A corporate cover-up?
Douglass Cassel in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 09, 2003

Now is the time to retool
John O. McGinnis in Broward Daily Business Review, December 23, 2002

ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

GOP Delegation backs Palo Alto attorney to lead state party
George Sundheim, class of '80, in San Jose Mercury News, January 09, 2003

Fein gets 2 years on bench
Roger G. Fein, class of '65, in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 02, 2003

My lesson learned was to be true to my vision
Marc Schulman, class of '79, in Chicago Tribune, December 23, 2002

To see more of Northwestern Law in the news, click here. If you have Northwestern Law media coverage to report, click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, January 15, 2003
Lee Walker, a participant in the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott, will reflect on the memory and the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Law School. Other events will also take place at the Law School on Monday, Jan. 20.

Film Festival: Bad Boys/Bad Girls: Youth in Trouble, January 16, 2003
"Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills" will launch "Bad Boys/Bad Girls: Youth in Trouble" a two-day film festival that the Children and Family Justice Center is hosting as part of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the center.

Second Annual Lawyer as Problem Solver Conference, January 27, 2003, Hyatt Regency, Chicago
This all-day off-campus conference for first-year Northwestern Law students highlights skills modern lawyers use to facilitate problem solving for clients in settings outside the courtroom or boardroom. Current sponsors of the program include Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon; Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw; Latham & Watkins; LexisNexus; M.R. Bauer Foundation; Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal; and Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Firm and Corporate Relations.

30th Anniversary Securities Regulation Institute, January 29-31, 2003, Coronado, California
A timely analysis of recent laws and developments in the securities law field presented by senior SEC officials and leading SEC practitioners for corporate counsel and corporate lawyers.

Alumni Luncheon at Perkins Coie LLP, February 7, 2003, 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4800, Seattle
For more information contact Shay Owens, Director of Alumni Relations, at 312-503-8175 or s-owens2@law.northwestern.edu.

Pope & John Lecture Series on Professionalism, February 11, 2003
Milton C. Regan, Jr., professor of law at Georgetown University, will deliver a lecture about the 1998 bankruptcy fraud conviction of a young partner at the law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy