News Archive
Wayne Law professor to speak during State of the Detroit River Boat Tour
June 18, 2013
Join Canada’s Citizens Environment Alliance — and Wayne State University Law School Professor Nick Schroeck —on July 13, when the nonprofit international group holds its annual State of the Detroit River Boat Tour 2013. Schroeck, who teaches the Transnational...
Gay rights attorneys, plaintiffs and law expert slate press briefing for expected day of Supreme Court same-sex marriage decisions
June 18, 2013
Also on hand for comment will be the attorneys for April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse of Hazel Park, a lesbian couple hoping to overturn the state of Michigan’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. The couple, both nurses who work in Detroit, also may be at the briefing. The women...
Bioethics expert available to comment on Supreme Court gene patent decision
June 14, 2013
The Supreme Court ruled June 13 in a unanimous decision that human genes can’t be patented, even when a company has spent millions on research to isolate those genes. Wayne State University Law School Associate Professor Lance Gable, a public health attorney who specializes in...
National security law expert available to discuss NSA leaks and the aftermath
June 10, 2013
National security law expert Paul Dubinsky, associate professor of law at Wayne State University Law School, is avidly following the ongoing situation of former CIA employee Edward Snowden exposing the National Security Agency’s data collection program. Snowden left his job, traveled to...
Dean visits China to promote new LL.M. program
June 10, 2013
A growing number of students from China are expected to study at Wayne State University Law School in 2014 — a result of the school’s decision to offer a master’s degree in U.S. law and its vigorous outreach efforts to promote it. Wayne Law Dean Jocelyn Benson just returned...
Law School honored for diversity outreach
June 04, 2013
Ten American law schools were honored as finalists in the Law School Admission Council Inc.’s annual Diversity Matters Award, and among them was Wayne State University Law School — the only Michigan law school named. The award goes to a law school that “has demonstrated the...
Wayne Law’s first-time bar exam passage rate is highest in the state
May 31, 2013
Ninety percent of Wayne State University Law School graduates who took the state bar exam for the first time in February passed — the highest passage rate of any law school in the state. The state average was 65 percent. Second after Wayne Law for first-time passage rates was the...
Professor goes public over pet coke concerns
May 31, 2013
Mountains of petroleum coke — a byproduct of oil refining from tar sands in Alberta, Canada — have drawn public concern from politicians, environmental experts, community activists, business owners and residents in the southwest Detroit neighborhood where the black mounds have been...
Ballgame fundraiser honors legacy of public interest attorney
May 24, 2013
Ten years ago, friends of the late public interest attorney Mark Weiss, a 1969 alumnus of Wayne State University Law School, created a fundraiser to honor his legacy. Today, that event — Mark Weiss Day at Comerica Park — is going strong. It raises money to provide scholarships...
Wayne Law students to intern with international businesses
May 23, 2013
Four Wayne State University law students will spend this summer as interns exploring the world of international business and law. Their placements around the globe are made possible by Wayne Law’s dynamic and expanding Program for International Legal Studies, which is offering more travel...
Benefit to honor Justice Marilyn Kelly, build public interest law scholarship
May 21, 2013
A benefit to recognize and continue the public service legacy of former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly, now distinguished jurist in residence at Wayne State University Law School, will take place June 11 at the Roostertail in Detroit. The event, which includes a strolling supper...
Author to speak about rise of powerful conservative law group
May 16, 2013
Author Michael Avery will speak about his new book, “The Federalist Society: How Conservatives Took the Law Back from Liberals” (co-author is Danielle McLaughlin), at 5:30 p.m. May 28 at Wayne State University Law School. The event is free and open to the public. The Federalist...
Wayne Law students have more international opportunities than ever before
May 15, 2013
The opportunity for law students to work and study abroad has never been better at Wayne State University Law School, where the robust Program for International Legal Studies continues to expand and thrive. Nine Wayne Law students will be traveling this summer to England, the Bahamas, the...
The 313 Project needs your Facebook votes
May 15, 2013
The 313 Project is in the running against 11 other organizations to win a $250,000 grant from the Home Depot Foundation, and your Facebook votes are needed. The 313 Project, a nonprofit organization founded by three Wayne State University Law School students who are now alumnae — Aisa...
Professor of Law Linda Beale to chair ABA committee
May 11, 2013
The new chair of an American Bar Association committee that sets and enforces ethical standards of conduct for tax lawyers will be Linda Beale, professor of law at Wayne State University Law School. She’s the author of an award-winning and often-quoted blog called A Taxing Matter that...
Alumnus Lawrence Mann’s generous donation will expand Advocacy at Wayne
May 08, 2013
A $100,000 gift from Lawrence Mann, Wayne Law ’80, will support Advocacy at Wayne, a dynamic expansion of the Law School’s Student Trial Advocacy Program (STAP) founded in 1985. Wayne Law has a strong tradition of graduating attorneys with real-world practice skills as well as a firm...
Fellowships allow law students to serve public interest
May 08, 2013
Fifteen students will get hands-on experience with the practice of public interest law this summer, with the support of the 2013 Public Interest Law Fellowships. Wayne State University Law School created the fellowships in 2009 to help students gain experience before graduation, and to help the...
Professor Noah Hall to serve as expert on PBS TV show
May 03, 2013
When the producers of PBS series “Constitution USA” were fishing for an expert to help them with the legal issues snarled around the invasion of Asian carp, they reeled in Wayne State University Law School Associate Professor of Law Noah Hall. “Pete Sagal (of NPR’s...
Judge Nancy Edmunds to receive honorary degree and keynote Commencement May 13
April 29, 2013
Judge Nancy Edmunds has presided over numerous high-profile cases during her more than 20 years on the federal bench. She’ll share her wisdom with the 2013 Wayne Law graduating class when she keynotes Commencement and receives an honorary doctor of laws degree at 5 p.m. Monday, May 13, at the...
ABA moot court team goes to quarterfinals
April 25, 2013
Two teams from Wayne State University Law School competed in the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition’s St. Louis Regional moot court recently. The team of Bonnie Smith and Frances Murphy, oralists, and brief writer Nick Ranke advanced to the quarterfinals, where...
Transactional law team places third in competition
April 22, 2013
Wayne State University Law School’s transactional law team parlayed countless hours of preparation into a top-notch learning experience — and a fine finish, as well. The team placed third in the region for its buyer’s draft of a purchase agreement amendment during the National...
Wayne Law Dean Jocelyn Benson honored by NAACP
April 22, 2013
Wayne State University Law School Dean Jocelyn Benson has advocated for voting rights for many years, created and directed the Michigan Allies Project to track hate incidents and give legal support to victims, and supported equality in a hundred other ways. Now, Benson will be honored by the...
Wayne Law Career Services Office articles continue to be published in NALP publication
April 22, 2013
Wayne State University Law School staff members Diane Fears, director of Career Services, and Kathy Fox, director of Employer Development, have been busy raising the profile of the school by writing articles for the NALP Bulletin. NALP —The Association for Legal Career Professionals...
Distinguished jurist in residence has busy speaking schedule
April 22, 2013
Justice Marilyn Kelly, Wayne State University Law School’s first distinguished jurist in residence, has been living up to her dynamic reputation since she joined the faculty in March. She has a full speaking schedule this month, as she advocates for education and judicial reform. Kelly, a...
Wayne Law Moot Court program sees increased success at competitions
April 19, 2013
The Wayne Law Moot Court Outside Competitions Team recently wrapped up its 2013 season with one of the more successful years for the program. The team, made up of 10 junior members selected through competitive tryouts, travels to four different competitions that represent four different areas...
Patent clinic celebrates successful first year
April 15, 2013
Students, clients and professors are singing the praises of Wayne State University Law School’s new Patent Procurement Law Clinic after its first year. Wayne Law developed the clinic last year, and it’s the only school in Michigan — and among only a few dozen law schools...
Can human genes be patented? Wayne Law professor can explain Supreme Court case
April 15, 2013
If a company spends millions on research, and discovers it can isolate specific human genes linked with a disease, can the company then patent the genes and the research and treatments that result from its discovery? Of course, the issues surrounding Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad...
Environmental moot court team shines in competition
April 12, 2013
The three students — Robert Johns, Jessica Wayne and Kenneth Cox — on Wayne Law’s environmental moot court team have completely different backgrounds, but together, they mesh into an award-winning unit. The team recently competed at Pace Law School in New York and won the award...
Wayne Law moot court team makes 'best showing ever' in international tournament
April 11, 2013
Wayne State University Law School’s five-member team, dubbed “the famous ladies of Wayne State,” finished 18th in the world, and third-year student Rachel Hom, chancellor of the team, finished as seventh best speaker in the world in the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court...
Wayne Law patent clinic to be part of World Intellectual Property Day
April 11, 2013
When Alyssa Reiter was 9 years old, she had a great idea. She put her hamster in a clear ball, and trained it to knock over bowling pins using a specialized game board she designed. The hamster was rewarded with a treat. Knowing others might want to steal her idea and perhaps market it...
Law student awarded post-graduation fellowship to help veterans
April 11, 2013
Air Force veteran Kimberly Adams, after graduation from Wayne State University Law School this spring, will be using her legal skills and the insights she’s gained from her life’s experience to help other veterans through an Equal Justice Fellowship. She recently learned that she...
Wayne Law elects new student board, professors of the year
April 09, 2013
A new Student Board of Governors has been elected by Wayne State University Law School students, and so have professors of the year. Associate Professor Janet Findlater came out on top as First-Year Professor of the Year for the 18th time since she joined the Wayne Law faculty in 1976....
Professor of Law Christopher Waters to discuss the role of the international law of armed conflict April 10 at Wayne Law
April 07, 2013
University of Windsor Professor of Law Christopher Waters will lead a discussion about the modern day relevancy of the law of armed conflict at 12:15 p.m. April 10 at Wayne State University Law School. The event is free and open to the public. The international law of armed conflict and its...
Wayne Law Review announces editorial board for 2013-14
March 29, 2013
Wayne State University Law School congratulates the student members of the 2013-2014 Wayne Law Review Editorial Board. The board: Lynn Bartkowiak, editor-in-chief; Elizabeth Gotham, managing editor; Suzanne Sutherland, production editor; Emily Mayer, executive articles editor; Chelsey...
Author Jeanne Theoharis to lead reading and discussion of “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” April 11 at Wayne Law
March 29, 2013
“The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks,” a new book by Jeanne Theoharis, will be discussed by the author – who also will field questions – during a reading at noon, April 11, in the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University Law School. The event is...
Wayne Law panelists say Michigan’s indigent defense system is inadequate and that sequester threatens indigent defense in federal courts
March 29, 2013
Imagine that you’ve been arrested and wrongly charged with a serious crime, and that you haven’t the money to hire an attorney. A panel of legal professionals at Wayne State University Law School on March 25 lent their expertise to consider what happens next in that instance. Fifty...
More than 25 percent of DBusiness Top Lawyers are Wayne Law alumni
March 28, 2013
Detroit business journal DBusiness recently named its Top Lawyers for 2013, and more than 25 percent —265 out of 963 honorees — are alumni of Wayne State University Law School. Honorees were chosen based on nominations from more than 21,000 attorneys in Oakland, Macomb, Wayne,...
Get ready for gala reunion weekend!
March 27, 2013
The 16th annual Treasure of Detroit Gala and reunion weekend, set from Sept. 27-29, will honor some of the legal community’s best and brightest. This year’s reunion weekend will start with a reception on Friday, Sept. 27, which will be followed by a tailgate party and a Wayne State...
Wayne Law alumni will discuss their roles in nonprofits
March 27, 2013
Three Wayne Law alumni will share their experiences founding Detroit-based nonprofits and discuss the role of their law backgrounds in their current work during a special panel presentation April 3 at Wayne Law. The lecture begins at 12:15 p.m. in room 2242 of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil...
Wayne Law alumna Valerie Newman to be honored with Headliner Award
March 27, 2013
Valerie Newman, a 1992 graduate of Wayne State University Law School, will be honored April 27 by the Women of Wayne Alumni Association. Newman is an assistant defender of the State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) in Detroit, and last year was named one of Michigan Lawyer Weekly’s 20 Women...
Are you tough enough? Join the Wayne Law Tough Mudder team and prove it!
March 26, 2013
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are invited to join Wayne State University Law School Dean Jocelyn Benson in running through fire, crawling through mud-pits, and scaling walls during Tough Mudder, a 10- to12-mile extreme obstacle course considered one of the toughest and most popular...
Tough Mudder chief creative officer shares job tips with law students
March 26, 2013
Since Alex Patterson graduated from law school, his life has taken a twisty route that eventually led to his current job as chief creative officer at Tough Mudder, a rapidly growing company that stages military-style obstacle course events around the world. His career path is unusual, to say the...
Former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly joins Wayne Law faculty
March 25, 2013
Justice Marilyn Kelly, who served for 16 years on the state’s top court, will bring what she has learned over her illustrious career to the halls of her alma mater. She has joined the faculty of Wayne State University Law School as its first “distinguished jurist in...
U.S. Attorney’s Office and Wayne Law panel to discuss criminal defendant’s right to a lawyer
March 19, 2013
The Hon. Edward Ewell, Wayne County Circuit Court, will moderate a panel at Wayne State University Law School exploring the modern-day application of a criminal defendant’s right to counsel. The discussion will begin at 12:30 p.m., Monday, March 25, in Partrich Auditorium. The event is free...
Wayne Law earns perfect score for transparency
March 15, 2013
Wayne State University Law School has earned a perfect score from Law School Transparency for providing full and accurate information online regarding student scholarships and employment outcomes. Wayne Law is among 46 law schools nationwide who earned the perfect score, according to a March 6...
Wayne Law Review roundtable event to examine ‘The Law of the First Amendment’ on March 20
March 12, 2013
Former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly will moderate an event at Wayne State University Law School honoring Distinguished Professor Robert Sedler’s work on First Amendment law. The event, set from 4 to 6 p.m. March 20 with a reception to follow, is free and open to the...
Professor Beecher-Monas is co-author of textbook’s new edition
March 12, 2013
Wayne State University Law School Professor Erica Beecher-Monas is one of four co-authors of a brand new edition — the seventh — of law textbook “Evidence: Teaching Materials for an Age of Science and Statutes.” The book is published by LexisNexis Law School Publishing, and...
Wayne Law climbs in U.S. News & World Report rankings
March 12, 2013
Wayne State University Law School continues to be recognized as one of the nation's top law schools in U.S. News & World Report's list of Best Law Schools for 2013. Wayne Law's 2013 ranking was its highest in several decades, reflecting its upward climb into the nation's top tier of law...
Federal court comes to Wayne Law, and so does the media
March 08, 2013
Wayne State University law students got the flavor of federal courtroom proceedings, and the Law School got a taste of major media attention March 7, when U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman heard arguments on a case that will have an impact on whether Michigan’s 2004 ban on same-sex...
'Motion Day' brings federal court to Wayne Law Thursday, March 7
March 05, 2013
Wayne State University Law School and the Federal Bar Association are pleased to welcome Judge Bernard Friedman of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, to Wayne Law in celebration of Motion Day 2013, on Thursday, March 7. The event, during which the judge will hear several...
Wayne Law to host symposium on race relations March 22
March 05, 2013
DETROIT— The Journal of Law in Society, in partnership with the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University Law School, will present its 2013 symposium, "Debunking the Post-Racial Myth: The Profiling of Detroit’s Most Vulnerable Populations," on Friday,...
Wayne Law to host March 6 movie screening focused on the practices of femicide and sex-selective abortion in China and India
March 04, 2013
Wayne Law Career Services and a coalition of student organizations have joined forces to bring the “It’s a Girl” international film tour to Detroit. The screening, free and open to the public, begins at 6 p.m., March 6 at the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. The event...
Tough Mudder Inc. Chief Creative Officer Alex Patterson to highlight non-traditional law careers in entrepreneurship at Wayne Law March 4
February 28, 2013
Alex Patterson, chief creative officer for Tough Mudder, a 10-12-mile race and obstacle course that challenges participants both physically and mentally, will speak March 4 about non-traditional career paths for law school graduates. The presentation, at 12:15 p.m. in room 2242 of Wayne...
Racial inequality in the juvenile justice system is focus of lecture Feb. 28 at Wayne Law
February 26, 2013
Geoff K. Ward, author of “The Black Child-Savers: Racial Democracy and the Juvenile Justice System,” will discuss the rise and fall of Jim Crow juvenile justice and the inner workings of an unequal juvenile justice system during a free presentation at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at Wayne State...
Legal symposium celebrates Professor Steven Winter's work
February 21, 2013
A symposium celebrating Steven Winter’s contributions to international legal and political theory was recently featured in the Netherland Journal of Legal Philosophy, the leading Dutch journal of legal philosophy. Winter is the Walter S. Gibbs Professor of Constitutional Law at Wayne State...
Law intern working in India has book published about human rights violations he observed
February 19, 2013
Wayne State University Law School student Eric Shovein is now a published book author, and proceeds from his publication will help an international human rights and torture law organization. “More than anything, I’m just happy to have helped the anti-torture movement in India, and I...
Stellar student gains job with international tax firm
February 18, 2013
Rachel Hom, a third-year law student, is poised to follow her Wayne State University Law School success with the launch of a career in international law after graduation. She’s been hired by Deloitte Tax LLP, one of the largest financial advisory firms in the world, to work in the...
Panel to discuss Voting Rights Act Feb. 25 at Wayne Law
February 18, 2013
A discussion focused on the constitutionality of a section of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 will begin at noon, Monday, Feb. 25, in Partrich Auditorium at Wayne State University Law School. The event is free and open to the public. The Michigan Chapter of the American Constitution Society presents...
Mentor Jet to connect legal professionals, students
February 16, 2013
A networking version of speed dating will take place at Wayne Law Feb. 21 , when about 30 attorneys and judges from a variety of practice areas will sit down across a table from Wayne State University law students, who will get five minutes with each mentor to ask questions and get advice from each...
Dean offers strategic plan for Law School’s next year
February 15, 2013
In the Law School’s first-ever State of the Law School address, Wayne State University Law School Dean Jocelyn Benson succinctly stated her goal for the next year: “Jobs, jobs, jobs.” She outlined some of the ways she plans to attain that goal during the Feb. 7...
Bar Association Networking Day slated for students
February 14, 2013
Wayne Law is hosting a Bar Association Networking Day starting at noon on Feb. 19 in the atrium of the Law School. The first-time event is sponsored by Wayne Law’s Career Services Office to increase the Law School’s networking presence in the local legal community. Students are...
The 313 Project wins $25,000, will vie for 10 times that in May
February 06, 2013
With nearly 9,000 Facebook votes, The 313 Project won the January voting contest held monthly by Home Depot’s Aprons in Action. The nonprofit, founded by three Wayne State University students who are now alumnae — Aisa Villarosa Berg, Erika Riggs and Julianna Rivera — connects...
Two students win internships with Wilmer Hale
February 05, 2013
Steven Helton and Zachary Van Horn, students in their final semester at Wayne State University Law School, will be spending several months after graduation in the international arbitration practice of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, a 1000+-lawyer firm with offices around the world, and one...
Professor Noah Hall leads workshop for state legislators
February 04, 2013
Wayne State University Law School Professor Noah Hall took his expertise on environmental and water law to Lansing on Feb. 4 to facilitate a workshop for Michigan legislators about Great Lakes Policy. More than 20 lawmakers attended the workshop, along with legislative staff members, other...
Jessup moot court team wins regional tournament, heads to international round in D.C.
February 04, 2013
Wayne State University Law School’s five-member team reigned triumphant in a Feb. 3 regional tournament of the world’s largest international moot court competition, beating out 24 other teams in Chicago. Wayne Law has a long tradition of success in the Philip C. Jessup...
Alumni survey is coming soon
January 30, 2013
Wayne Law would like to learn more about its alumni, so — in an effort to grow the alumni relations department and further engage graduates — a brief but comprehensive survey has been developed. The survey will be sent out during the first two weeks in February via email...
New development officer embraces challenge
January 30, 2013
“Challenge” is a key word for Matt Cunningham, Wayne State University Law School’s new leadership annual gifts officer. He started the job Jan. 2. For the past three years, he worked as development director for WSU’s Office of Athletics, and had a lot of success in that...
Patent Clinic to host open house for inventors, businesses, students
January 30, 2013
Whether you’re an inventor or a business thinking about getting a patent or a student interested in patent law, the Wayne State University Law School’s Patent Procurement Law Clinic’s open house set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 21 is for you. Learn about what the clinic can do for...
Event to feature authors, celebrate anniversary of "I Have a Dream" speech
January 18, 2013
Two celebrated authors will discuss their work during a free public Jan. 22 event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The event, called “Voices of the Dream,” is sponsored by Wayne State University Law...
Federal judge to share her story of struggle and achievement
January 18, 2013
Federal Judge Ann Claire Williams will tell her story of breaking boundaries as a woman of color during her 37-year legal career in a talk titled “Reaching Back, Lifting Up” slated from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 24 in the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium at Wayne State University Law School,...
Supreme Court justice cites Wayne Law Review article in majority opinion
January 14, 2013
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas cited a 2004 Wayne Law Review article when he delivered the opinion of the Court in Ryan v. Valencia Gonzales on Jan. 8. The article, “Not to Decide Is to Decide: The U.S. Supreme Court’s Thirty-Year Struggle with One Case About Competency to...
Judge Watanabe to lecture on freedom of political activity for public officials in Japan
January 11, 2013
Japanese Judge Mitsuaki Watanbe will present a free public lecture at Wayne State University Law School at 12:15 p.m. Feb. 4 in the third-floor faculty lounge. Lunch will be provided. The judge’s lecture, titled “Introduction to Judgments Regarding Freedom of Public Officials’...
Law Professor Michael McIntyre receives President’s Award for Excellence in Service
January 07, 2013
Professor of Law Michael McIntyre has been honored with Wayne State University’s President’s Award for Excellence in Service. It’s the latest of many honors for McIntyre, who joined Wayne Law in 1975 and has been “both an inspiring teacher and productive scholar” ever...
The 313 Project is working toward $25,000 prize, needs your Facebook votes to win
January 04, 2013
The 313 Project, a nonprofit that began in 2009 as a student coalition at Wayne State University Law School, needs your help to win a $25,000 prize from Home Depot’s Aprons in Action Facebook contest. The group was founded by three Wayne Law students who are now alumnae — Aisa...