	On The Move Archives

	April 2009

Judge Ralph Tyson Named 2009 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

The Hon. Ralph E. Tyson, a 1973 graduate of the LSU Law Center and the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, has been named the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.

LSU Law Center Chancellor Jack M. Weiss made the announcement on Friday, March 20, at a joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and Young Alumni Leadership Council.

Judge Eugene Davis to Serve as Commencement Speaker

Judge W. Eugene Davis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has been selected as the speaker for the LSU Law Commencement ceremony on May 28.

Chancellor's Council Honors Saúl Litvinoff

Saúl Litvinoff, Boyd Professor of Law, was honored on March 20 at an event hosted by Chancellor Jack M. Weiss and members of the LSU Law Center Chancellor's Council.

Members of the council, former students, friends, colleagues, and family members, gathered at the Energy, Coast and Environment Building to pay tribute to the professor for the contributions he has made to the Law Center and legal community over his 43 years of service at LSU. Litvinoff will retire following the spring 2009 semester.

Chancellor's Council Membership Grows

Dean Sutherland ('75) completed his term as Chair of the Chancellor's Council on March 20. He looks back on his tenure with satisfaction, noting that Chancellor's Council membership grew by six percent in 2008, despite a troubled economy. Twenty-five new members and 20 members from years past joined 189 from the 2007 roster who renewed memberships during 2008.

So far in 2009, we've welcomed 19 new members and 24 returning members. Read more here.

Final Call to Provide Update for Alumni Directory

Thousands of you have already responded to update your information for our new LSU Law Alumni Directory. The directory will be a complete listing of all LSU Law alumni, including professional and personal biographical information, as well as email addresses.

Harris Connect, on behalf of LSU Law, has mailed or emailed postcards asking you to call and verify your information. We encourage you to update your information and appreciate your participation in this worthwhile project.

PLEASE NOTE: If you entered your information online, your residential address and email will be printed. If you decide you do NOT want your residential information published, please call Harris Connect BEFORE April 27 to suppress publication in the directory.

The toll-free number is 1-800-546-3756.

LSU Law Faculty and Students Involved in Juvenile Confessions Reform

Following the state Subcommittee on Juvenile Confessions' recent Juvenile Confessions Conference at the LSU Law Center, the consensus among the state and national panelists was that there needed to be reform in the laws governing the interrogations and confessions of juveniles. What exactly that reform might entail, however, was another matter.

More Than 70 Students Attend Law Center’s Admitted Student Visiting Day

A diverse group of 72 students attended LSU Law's most recent Admitted Student Visiting Day, getting a firsthand look at what life as a law student at LSU involves.

The students represented eight states, 24 undergraduate schools, and 25 academic disciplines, with the oldest student being born in 1970 and the youngest being born in 1988.

Volume 1 of the Journal of Civil Law Studies Published

The LSU Law Center's Center of Civil Law Studies is proud to announce the publication of Vol. 1 of the the Journal of Civil Law Studies. The JCLS is intended to promote a multidisciplinary and pluralistic approach to legal scholarship. The first volume publishes the papers of the Robert A. Pascal Civil Law Workshop Series, Revisiting the Distinction between Persons and Things. Authors from various parts of the world and from different legal systems contributed to this project.

The JCLS is peer-reviewed and is circulated freely and electronically. The Board of Editors is composed of distinguished comparatists from all over the world. LSU Law students contribute as associates to the editing process, and each issue will publish at least one essay by an LSU student.

Six weeks after its publication in December 2008, the JCLS had been read in 34 countries on all continents. For additional information about the JCLS, please click here.

Louisiana Law Review Holds Annual Banquet

The Louisiana Law Review held its annual banquet on March 27, 2009, celebrating the successful publication of Volume 69 of the review. Chancellor Jack Weiss welcomed the 130 attendees with warm words about the contributions the Law Review has made to the LSU Law Center. The guest of honor at the event was Symeon C. Symeonides, dean of Willamette University College of Law and former Judge Albert Tate Professor of Law at LSU, who delivered remarks on the value of student-run law reviews. Symeonides humorously acknowledged the criticisms levied at law reviews, but explained why student-run publications remain important, influential mediums for legal scholarship.

LSU PILS Completes 1,000 Hours Challenge

LSU law students recently helped the LSU Public Interest Law Society—or PILS—complete its 1,000 Hours Challenge, volunteering more than 2,000 hours of community service, including pro bono work, in and around Baton Rouge. In recognition of their community service, students who completed at least 10 hours of service were invited to a banquet at Fred's in "Tigerland," where donated prizes were randomly awarded to the participants.

Federalist Society Guest Speaker Discusses Censoring Unwanted Speech

Patrick Garry, an associate law professor at the University of South Dakota School of Law and director of its Center for Empirical Legal Research, recently spoke at a meeting of the LSU Law Federalist Society on the topic of "Rediscovering a Lost Freedom: the First Amendment Right to Censor Unwanted Speech."

A Career With the FBI

Special Agent Sidney Reed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New Orleans field office recently spoke to the students of the LSU Law Center about the various career opportunities within the FBI. Students were informed that the Bureau will be hiring for all divisions over the next 3-5 years. Options include Special Agent and Professional Support Staff, which includes the legal division and the Honors Internship Program. The Honors Internship Program is a 10-week, paid summer program which introduces the participants to each division of the FBI, including the Special Agents Division.

2009 Class Reunion Dates Set

This spring, the Class of 1959 will observe its 50th reunion at commencement. The "Golden Grads" will don gold robes and march with the graduating class on Thursday, May 28. A member of the '59 class will be selected to address our newest alumni, and classmates will celebrate with a luncheon in the Tucker Room afterward.

Our "51 years and better" grads will gather on Friday, May 29 for the second annual Les Avocats Luncheon. The luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Faculty Club.

Fall reunions are scheduled on two different dates. The classes of 1969, 1979, and 1984 will meet on Friday, October 30, the night before the Tulane game. The classes of 1989, 1999, and 2004 will meet Friday, November 13, the night before the LA Tech game. Reunions will be held either at the Law Center's Tucker Room or Student Lounge, or at the LSU Faculty Club.

Register Today for LSUcle Punitive Damages Symposium

The LSU Law Center's Continuing Legal Education program will hold its Symposium on Punitive Damages Today and Tomorrow, Friday, April 17. On-site registration and continental breakfast begin at 7:20 a.m. at the Law Center. The registration fee for those wishing to receive six hours of CLE credit is $269. The registration fee for those not wanting to receive CLE credit is $50. For more information, visit LSUcle online or call 225/578-5837.

Student Honors

2009 Ira S. Flory Trial Winners

LSU Law Wins Second Place Overall and Sweeps Individual Awards

William Joel Kolarik, II, a third-year student at the LSU Law Center, was recently published by State Tax Notes. His article, Restricting a Taxpayer's Right of Court Access, Louisiana Style, appeared in the March 23 issue of the publication. To read the full article, click here.

Faculty/Staff Highlights

Find out more about the recent achievements and work being done by the LSU Law Center's Faculty and Staff.

Alumni News

Find out the latest news on where and what your classmates are doing these days.