2004 News Index

R. Brent Clifton, a partner in the Dallas office of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, met with students for dinner on Wednesday, November 17, and again on Thursday, November 18, to talk about a deal lawyer's practice and the importance of understanding tax issues in such a practice. He also discussed topics from his paper, "A Chicken in Every Pot and a (Potential) Tax Shelter in Every Transaction," which he presented at the 54th Annual Kansas Tax Conference in Overland Park, Kansas, on November 18. Mr. Clifton's experience includes counseling and developing tax strategies for public and private transactions involving mergers, acquisitions, debt and equity placements with particular emphasis on real estate transactions involving institutional partnership programs, REITs, partnership roll-ups and corporate joint ventures. (Posted November 22, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society hosted Judge Duane Benton in a half-day program devoted to "Ethics on Appeal" on October 28, 2004. Judge Benton is the newest member of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He conducted a question-and-answer session with students, gave a lecture, and had lunch with a few students and faculty. His presentations emphasized the ethical obligations facing an attorney practicing before appellate courts. He challenged the students to scrupulously uphold the standards of professional responsibility, not just for the sake of avoiding trouble, but also to maintain the dignity of the profession. (Posted November 12, 2004)

Washburn Law and the Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted the Kansas Court of Appeals on October 21 and 22, 2004. The panel heard oral arguments in the Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center. See the full story. (Posted November 12, 2004)

Leonard Buddenbohm, Class of 1976, spoke to Washburn Law students on Thursday, November 11, 2004 about his experiences as county counselor in Atchison, Kansas. See the full story. (Posted November 12, 2004)

Washburn Law and the Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted two panels from the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on October 6, 2004. The panels heard oral arguments from two dockets of Kansas appeals in the Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center. This was the fourth time in the last thirty years that the Court travelled to Washburn from its seat in Denver, Colorado. See the full story. (Posted November 11, 2004)

The Christian Legal Society hosted Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline at a presentation and question and answer session on Wednesday, November 10, 2004. In his opening remarks Kline observed that the calling of the United States, and its uniqueness in history, is that it is a place that upholds human dignity and protects the inherent rights granted by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. He also responded to audience questions about mandated reporting of child sexual exploitation, abortion, and the recent national elections. In closing, Kline encouraged attendees to engage the debate and enshrine discussion. (Posted November 11, 2004)

Equal Justice Works and the Career Services Office hosted several speakers who discussed public interest careers on Thursday, November 4, 2004. Joel Elmer and Ruth Petsch work for the Missouri Public Defender's Office, Tom Stratton (Class of 1984) is with Kansas Legal Services, and Patricia Scalia (Class of 1978) is with the Kansas Board of Indigent Defense (pictured left to right). The speakers shared information about their organizations and their individual careers and answered questions from students. (Posted November 8, 2004)

The Washburn Business Law Society hosted a breakfast with Sue Jean White, Class of 1980, on Friday, October 29, 2004. White is associate general counsel for Shell Oil Co. and manager of the corporate secretary's office, which maintains the corporation's books and records. See the full story. (Posted November 8, 2004)

Professors Lynette Petty and James Concannon conducted a Bar Review Seminar on November 1 and 3, 2004 for students planning to take the February 2005 bar exam. Professor Petty provided general information about the exam and bar loans. She also offered suggestions on how to develop an effective study schedule and choose commercial bar preparation programs. Professor Concannon presented his Ten Commandments for Writing Essay Answers on the Bar Exam and advised students how to improve their essay writing skills. (Posted November 4, 2004)

Judge Nancy Caplinger, Class of 1985, is the most recent Washburn University School of Law graduate to be appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals. Professor Stephanie Mathews interviewed Judge Caplinger at the end of October 2004 so students, faculty and staff may become acquainted with her. See the full story. (Posted November 2, 2004)

Equal Justice Works and the Black Law Student Association hosted Uzo Ohaebosim at an immigration law lecture on Monday, October 25, 2004. Mr. Ohaebosim spoke about the specialization of immigration law, the critical impact that criminal law has on immigration law, and the effect of terrorism on immigration. Mr. Ohaebosim is a partner of Shores, Williamson & Ohaebosim L.L.C., located in Wichita, Kansas. (Posted October 28, 2004)

The Tax Law Society hosted Kelly Alton (formerly of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Chief Counsel's office and currently in Deloitte and Touche's National Tax Practice in Washington, D.C.) and Alan Lederman (partner in Broad and Cassell's Miami office) on October 13 and 14, 2004. They met with a group of students for dinner and spoke at a luncheon lecture about the administrative law making process within the IRS and how tax practitioners influence that process. In particular, Kelly Alton spoke about her role in the publication of Revenue Procedure 2000-37, and Alan Lederman spoke about his efforts to obtain an influential private letter ruling from the IRS applying Revenue Procedure 2000-37 to a specific transaction. Alton and Lederman are co-authors with Professor Brad Borden of an article on this topic scheduled for publication in the December issue of Taxes, the Tax Magazine. (Posted October 28, 2004)

Veterans Legal Association of Washburn hosted Kenneth Carpenter, Class of 1973, on October 26, 2004. Mr. Carpenter provided an overview of the process that veterans use to apply for health benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the appeals process when claims are denied. He described a number of problems that the veterans face in obtaining care, particularly for psychiatric disorders, and how legal professionals can assist veterans as the appeals process progresses. Mr. Carpenter's private practice in Topeka focuses exclusively on Veterans Disability Law, particularly in the representation of psychiatrically disabled veterans (most with combat related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). He is a founding member of the National Organization of Veterans' Advocates. (Posted October 27, 2004)

Equal Justice Works hosted Phil Gibson, Director of the Midwestern Innocence Project at UMKC, on October 26, 2004. Mr. Gibson reviewed several cases, emphasizing the contributions made by students assisting with the cases. The Innocence Project is non-profit criminal justice legal clinic, litigating on behalf of wrongly convicted persons by using DNA testing to exonerate them. The Project has helped exonerate 151 people who were falsely convicted and have served prison time due to the faulty conviction. (Posted October 26, 2004)

Lew Cramer, International Chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, spoke to members of the Washburn Student Chapter and their spouses on Saturday morning, October 23, 2004. He offered words of encouragement, discussed the importance of ethics and integrity in daily practice and gave pointers on several possible career paths, including service in the federal government and with non-profit agencies in Washington, D.C. See the full story. (Posted October 25, 2004)

Equal Justice Works, Women's Legal Forum, and the Children and Family Law Center hosted Connie Sanchez (left in photo) and Lisa Hecht at a forum on Monday, October 18, 2004, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Connie Sanchez, Director of the YMCA Safe Visit program, discussed the two main aspects of the program, supervised visits and monitored exchanges. Lisa Hecht, Director of the Battered Women's Task Force in Topeka discussed how this program assists individuals experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. (Posted October 21, 2004)

The Washburn Business Law Society hosted Brian Burris, Class of 1988, on Thursday, October 7, 2004. Mr. Burris, Assistant General Counsel with Raytheon Aircraft Credit Corporation and Raytheon Airline Aviation Services, LLC, spoke on aspects of international business transactions, focusing on negotiating and writing contracts and understanding how cultural differences can effect international transactions. See the full story. (Posted October 19, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted a lunchtime discussion with Harold S. Youngentob of Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds, & Palmer, L.L.P. on Thursday, October 14, 2004. Mr. Youngentob discussed a recent architectural malpractice suit in which he won a judgment of $1.2 million for Newman Medical Plaza. The defendants, Everton Oglesby Architects, failed to take into account the soil composition in Kansas. Because of this oversight, the hospital was built on a rather unstable foundation. The jury's award was based on the cost of remedial repair and the projected loss of rental income. See the full story. (Posted October 18, 2004)

Eric Kraft, Class of 1999, a lawyer with the law firm of Duggan, Shadwick, Doerr, and Kurlbaum, and President of the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the Kansas Bar Association, spoke as part of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy's Luncheon and Lecture Series on Monday, October 11, 2004. Kraft discussed the advantages of joining the YLS and described the opportunities for public service, networking, and continuing legal education available to lawyers in the section. He also told about his trips outside Kansas, representing the YLS at American Bar Association meetings. Kraft made a good case for the importance of active participation in the YLS for younger lawyers' professional development and choice of career paths. After Eric Kraft's talk, a number of students filled out applications for student membership in YLS. (Posted October 14, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted Mark Schoenhofer, Class of 1992, on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 as part of its Fall 2004 Luncheon and Lecture Series. Schoenhofer, a criminal defense lawyer and solo practitioner from Wichita, Kansas, discussed "Cross-Examination of Cops: the Rest of the Story." Speaking to a standing-room-only audience, Schoenhofer used a recent DUI case in which he had won an acquittal to demonstrate the principles of cross-examination starting with thorough fact investigation and legal research. See the full story. (Posted September 29, 2004)

The Washburn Business Law Society hosted Warren Hummer, Class of 1974, on Thursday September 16, 2004. Warren Hummer spoke to students regarding his experience in franchise law. According to Hummer, fifty cents of every dollar spent is spent within a franchise business. Hummer identified two major types of franchises. The first type is a product distribution franchise, such as Coca-Cola. The second is a business format franchise, such as McDonalds. See the full story. (Posted September 29, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted Jared Maag on Monday, September 13, 2004 as part of its Lecture and Luncheon speaker series. Mr. Maag, Class of 1995 and Assistant Deputy Attorney General of Kansas, Criminal Litigation Division, discussed his experience prosecuting State v. Dixon. See the full story. (Posted September 17, 2004)

The Mid-America Deposition Program was presented on September 10 and 11, 2004 by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) and the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Washburn University School of Law. This two-day program helped practicing attorneys improve their deposition skills. See the full story. (Posted September 17, 2004)

The Children and Family Law Center hosted a presentation by Linda Pease and Joanna Penn, former and current Resource Development Directors for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004. Ms. Pease discussed the history of the CASA program, as well as the role of a CASA, what it takes to be a CASA, and what those interested in being a CASA should do. See the full story. (Posted September 15, 2004)

Brian Koepke, Class of 2000 and in-house attorney for Caterpillar, Inc., met with students at Washburn Law several times on Thursday, August 26, 2004. As part of his talk for the Business and Transactional Law Center's WBLS Lunch 'n Learn series, Koepke told students about his experiences since graduation from Washburn. Koepke earned his LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. and recommends LL.M. programs for students to decide whether they are interested in working in a particular area of law. His LL.M. program focused on securities law and led to a job with the Securities and Exchange Commission. His SEC experience landed Koepke a job at Caterpillar, a company that employs more than 100 attorneys worldwide. He works out of the Illinois office. During his visit to Washburn Law Koepke also met with Professor Steven Ramirez's Business Associations class and discussed LL.M. programs in a lecture co-sponsored by the Career Services Office. (Posted September 15, 2004)

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius appointed Nancy Caplinger to the Kansas Court of Appeals. Caplinger replacing Judge Robert J. Lewis Jr., who passed away in May. Caplinger has practiced law since 1985 and has specialized in appellate writing and appellate advocacy. She was an associate attorney with Overland Park-based Spencer, Fane, Britt and Browne for six years. From 1985 to 1987, she worked for Kansas Supreme Court Justice Harold Herd. From 1987 to 1989, she served as law clerk for U.S. District Judge Patrick Kelly. Caplinger has been an assistant U.S. attorney since 1995, serving as the appellate coordinator since the position was created in 1999. Caplinger served a three-year term as Kansas attorney representative on the 10th Circuit Advisory Committee which ended in July 2004. She currently is secretary of the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Commission. (Posted September 13, 2004)

Lynn Ward, Class of 1990, head of the Family Law Department at Morris, Laing, et al., coordinated a three hour program at the Women's Attorneys Conference in Lindsborg, Kansas, on July 17, 2004. Distinguished Professor Linda Elrod, Director of the Children and Family Law Center, teamed up with Dr. Janet Johnston to discuss high conflict custody cases. See the full story. (Posted August 30, 2004)

WashLaw Web is recognized by the June 2004 issue of Internet Law Researcher in its "Internet Guide to the Top 100 Legal Reference Sites." The sites in this article "have proven ... that they're reliable ... provide solid, relevant information that will help researchers find answers or solve problems." The article refers to the service maintained by staff of Washburn University School of Law Library as "An enormous index, WashLaw was one of the first to offer and maintain a legal index, and they still do a great job. The home page is a model of almost Zen-like simplicity." In his "From the Editor" column, Don MacLeod also observes how he is reminded of "just how much legal researchers owe to the early pioneers of Web-based information. The work of people like Mark Folmsbee of Washburn University in Kansas ... pointed the way that would lead to the grand banquet of instant gratification we enjoy today." (Posted August 23, 2004)

Evelyn Zabel Wilson, Class of 1985, was appointed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius as the Shawnee County District Court 5th Division judge on Thursday, August 5, 2004. Her appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James M. Macnish. Wilson's caseload will consist of domestic cases, including divorces, child custody questions, and child support issues. She is an experienced and talented litigator with 19 years of practice in government and large and small law firms. For many years Wilson has been a trial advocacy teacher in the Washburn University School of Law's Trial Advocacy Program. As a teacher Wilson is both knowledgeable and patient and has long been a role model for students about to make the transition from the academic to the legal world. Wilson is currently president of the Topeka Bar Association and is also a member of the Sam A. Crow American Inn of Court. Read more about Evelyn Wilson in the Topeka Capital-Journal articles from August 6, 2004 and August 8, 2004 (registration required). (Posted August 9, 2004)

The Washburn Law community is pleased to welcome new permanent members of the faculty for the Fall 2004 semester. Associate Professor of Law Bradley T. Borden is teaching Taxation of Individual Income and Taxation of Partnerships. Associate Professor of Law Janet Thompson Jackson is teaching Property, Race and the Law and Real Estate Transactions. Associate Professor of Law Aliza Organick is teaching in the Law Clinic. Associate Professor of Law Robert J. Rhee is teaching Torts and Civil Procedure II. In addition, two faculty are visiting Washburn Law for the 2004-2005 academic year. Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Jeffrey D. Jackson is teaching Constitutional History and Legal Analysis, Research and Writing. Visiting Professor of Law Peter Linzer joins Washburn Law is teaching Contracts I and II, Constitutional Law II and Commercial Drafting. (Posted June 23, 2004)

On March 30, 2004 the Center for Excellence in Advocacy and the Business and Transactional Law Center sponsored a public lecture by Michael J. Kuckelman, Class of 1990, entitled "Litigating the 9-11 Losses." Kuckelman spoke about the litigation that is being undertaken by individuals who do not qualify to participate in the Victims Compensation Fund (VCF). See the full story. (Posted June 22, 2004)

The Washburn Law School Association honored two Washburn Law faculty members at its Alumni Luncheon held in conjunction with the Kansas Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 19, 2004, at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Topeka. Professor David L. Ryan, as a Washburn alumnus (Class of 1965), received the Distinguished Service Award. Professor Myrl L. Duncan, as a non-Washburn alumnus (Georgetown, Class of 1975), received an Honorary Life Membership in the Washburn Law School Association. (Posted June 21, 2004)

Washburn University held its annual Employee Recognition Ceremony Thursday, May 6, 2004. Several Washburn Law employees received awards. Vickie Doze (Library, 5 years) and Debra Schrock (Clinic, 5 years) received Classified and Administrative Length of Service Awards. Professors John Christensen, Allen Easley, Nancy Maxwell, Sheila Reynolds and James Wadley were recognized with Faculty 25-Years of Service Awards. John Bostwick (Library Administrative Assistant), Elizabeth Fischer (Assistant to the Dean for Administration) and Donna Haverkamp (Administrative Secretary) were nominees for Outstanding Service Awards in the Administrative and Secretarial/Clerical categories. (Posted June 21, 2004)

Professor Jim Wadley participated in the IDS-Water Americas 2004 conference from May 10-May 24, 2004. Held entirely via the Internet, the conference was sponsored by a partnership between the International Desalination Association, the International Society of Trenchless Technology, the National Society of Trenchless Technology and other groups and focused on areas such as Environmental Issues, Sewerage and Sludge, Tunnelling and Trenchless Technology, Desalination and Filtration, Water and Wastewater, etc. Professor Wadley was the keynote speaker in the Environmental Issues area. His topic focused on the dilemmas associated with adjusting water rights to environmental needs. (Posted June 15, 2004)

The Children and Family Law Center's Family Law Student Society hosted several visiting speakers during the Spring 2004 semester as part of its luncheon series. Linda Pease, Resource Development Director, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Shawnee County, spoke about this program on January 28, 2004. Judge Daniel L. Mitchell, Class of 1973, spoke on March 3, 2004 about family law issues he deals with as Division 10 Judge on the Shawnee County District Court. Antwaun Jones spoke March 17, 2004 about a non-profit foundation that operates group homes for foster children in Topeka. Mr. Ian Sumner, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, discussed "Emerging Forms of Partnership and Marriage in Europe" on April 1, 2004. Dr. "Bud" Dale, a licensed psychologist spoke about children's legal issues in Topeka on April 6, 2004. Doug Fincher, Class of 1998, provided an overview of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO) on April 21, 2004. (Posted June 14, 2004)

Thirty-six Washburn Law students participated in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP), a new two-hour course that trains law students to be trial lawyers. The program was held May 16-23, 2004. Each day students practiced trial skills as part of small group workshops, watched live trial skill demonstrations, and attended to faculty lectures. Students ended the week by participating in a civil or criminal simulated case they prepared during the week. See the full story. (Posted June 2, 2004)

Washburn University School of Law held its 98th Commencement on May 15, 2004 to recognize the Class of 2004. The Juris Doctor (J.D.) was conferred upon approximately 150 students during the ceremony. The Honorable Paul L. Brady, Class of 1956, gave the commencement address. See the full story. (Posted June 2, 2004)

Washburn Law student Andrea Walker has been named one of five inaugural recipients of the J.L. Weigand, Jr. Notre Dame Legal Education Scholarship for the 2004-2005 school year. The Weigand scholarships -- thought to be the largest legal education scholarships in the country -- were established to offer assistance to law students from the state of Kansas. See the full story. (Posted May 27, 2004)

Washburn Law faculty and staff honored Associate Dean Allen Easley at a going away party, Saturday, May 8, 2004. Dean Easley is leaving Washburn at the end of June 2004 to become the next president and dean of William Mitchell College of Law. Highlights of the evening included sharing personal memories of Dean Easley during his 25 years at Washburn and the presentation of gifts. Dean Easley is shown with a painting done by Professor Jim Wadley. The faculty also presented Dean Easley and his wife with matching sets of his and her snowshoes to help with their travels in Minnesota. (Posted May 10, 2004)

Washburn Law alumni were recognized at the Washburn University All-Alumni Luncheon held in conjunction with the 2004 Alumni Weekend, Friday, April 23, 2004 at the Bradbury Thompson Center. Bernard Bianchino and Judge Christel Marquardt, both Class of 1974, received Distinguished Service Awards. Distinguished Service Awards recognize outstanding alumni whose professional contributions and service to humanity have brought honor to Washburn. Jared Maag, Class of 1995, received a GOLD Award. The GOLD Award is presented to a Graduate of the Last Decade who has demonstrated leadership in career or civic endeavors and loyalty to Washburn. Learn more about the recipients. (Posted April 26, 2004)

Washburn Law students were recognized at the Eleventh Annual Awards Banquet for Washburn Law Journal, Moot Court Council, Trial Advocacy, and Family Law Quarterly. See the full story. (Posted April 26, 2004)

Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and the Career Services Office hosted The Honorable Sam A. Crow, Senior District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Wednesday, April 14, 2004. The luncheon event provided students a glimpse into the Federal judicial appointment process. See the full story. (Posted April 21, 2004)

A number of Washburn Law students recently attended a recognition ceremony where each received an award from the Washburn University International Programs scholarship fund to study abroad. Shown left-to-right are Kathryn Peacock, Kimbra Caywood, Jenoise Callahan, Jessica Cafferata and Melissa Castillo. Also receiving scholarships, but unable to attend the ceremony, are Christopher Lanfranca, Ashley Polston, Jennifer Sifford and Brian Woolley. All the students received scholarships to attend Washburn Law's Utrecht Summer Study Abroad Program except Kimbra Caywood, who received her scholarship to attend LL.M. courses at the Law Faculty of Limerick University in Ireland during the Fall 2004 semester. (Posted April 13, 2004)

Washburn Law students presented the Topeka Battered Women's Task force with a check for $6,000 on Thursday, April 8, 2004. The funds were raised at the November 2003 Barristers' Ball and Charity Auction. The Battered Women's Task Force has provided housing, court advocacy, support, and counseling to women and children in the Topeka community for more than 26 years. The Task Force is dependent upon individuals and groups, such as Washburn Law's Barristers' Ball Committee, for continuing support of its essential services. Funds are used to help women and their children who are victims of sexual and domestic violence. Local businesses, faculty, and students donate time and funds to organize and hold the annual Ball and Auction. The 2003 event was co-chaired by Melissa Doeblin and Melissa Moodie. (Posted April 12, 2004)

Washburn Law students are again participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program during the 2004 tax season. Through VITA, students gain valuable skills and practical experience assisting people with preparing and filing their tax returns. The efficiencies of the computer software used to prepare returns has allowed the program at Washburn Law to expand so volunteers can help almost anyone with their return unless complicated business accounting is involved. The 15-20 volunteers in Washburn's VITA program typically file 140-170 returns per season. The 2004 program at Washburn Law is being administered by Evan Montoya, President of the Washburn Tax Law Society. The Washburn VITA program was highlighted in a WIBW-TV news report on March 31, 2004. Though the story cautioned listeners to beware of scams when having taxes prepared, Washburn's VITA volunteers were recognized as "knowledgeable," "honest," and "they know what they're doing." (Posted April 9, 2004)

The Children and Family Law Center co-sponsored a Collaborative Family Law Workshop with the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, March 25-26, 2004. Collaborative Family Law is a recently developed "model" for ending marriages. This model is radically different because it employs a contractual commitment to use a process that avoids litigation. See the full story. (Posted April 9, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy and Washburn PreLaw Association hosted U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren, Class of 1985, at Washburn Law on April 5, 2004. Mr. Melgren spoke about the U.S.A. Patriot Act and changes it made in internet taps, phone taps, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and existing criminal law. These changes were viewed as necessary to keep the law relevant in an era of digital communication and the wide-spread use of cell phones. Mr. Melgren attributed 9/11 to "failures of security." He observed the Act was needed to counter threats posed by post-9/11 terrorist activity and is meant to address and remedy some of the security failures. In the course of many community presentations about the Act, Mr. Melgren has seen criticism of the Act split into two categories: 1) criticism of non-existent items, and 2) criticism of other policies and activities of the federal government not contained in the Act. However, he went on to say that not one single abuse of the Act has been reported since its passage. Though the Act had generated a lot of criticism, Mr. Melgren attributes this to critics misunderstanding the content and application of the law. He also asserted that interested parties, including Senator Diane Feinstein and the American Library Association, contribute to the misunderstanding by misrepresenting and overstating the Act's danger to civil liberties. (Posted April 6, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted Doug Wells and Sergeant Don O'Dell for a demonstration of DUI cross-examination techniques on Tuesday, March 30, 2004, in the Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center. Mr. Wells demonstrated how subject matter expertise and the right questions can draw the jury's attention to small variations in fact patterns that can resolve a case. He also showed how knowing the regulations that guide the field sobriety test allows an attorney to question the validity of any particular test result, thus creating reasonable doubt in the mind of the jury. Doug Wells, Class of 1979, is a Topeka attorney specializing in defending DUI cases. Sergeant O'Dell is a 15-year veteran of the Topeka Police Department; he supervises DUI arresting officers and trains officers in the correct application of field sobriety tests. (Posted April 1, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted Professor Doug Colbert as the first Washburn Advocacy Scholar-In-Residence, March 15-17, 2004. Professor Colbert teaches at the University of Maryland School of Law. See the full story. (Posted March 31, 2004)

John D. Kemp, Class of 1974, is co-editor of the recently published book Reflections From A Different Journey: What Adults With Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew (McGraw-Hill, 2004). This work presents 40 stories by successful adults who grew up with disabilities and provides a glimpse inside the lives and minds of people with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, deafness, developmental disabilities, spina bifida, and chronic health conditions. The stories provide insight into what it is like to persevere in the face of community prejudices, and what it takes for families and children with disabilities to work together toward fulfillment. See barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com for ordering information. (Posted March 31, 2004)

On February 20-21, 2004 the Washburn Law Federalist Society attended the 23rd Annual Student Symposium at Vanderbilt University School of Law in Nashville, Tennessee. The Symposium consisted of several panel debates on the topic of private law versus public law. The Symposium concluded with a banquet which featured Kenneth Starr as the keynote speaker. Pictured, left-to-right, are: Jesse Paine, vice-president and his wife; Harley Gifford; Carolyn Oelkers, secretary; The Honorable Frank Easterbrook of the U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit; Tanya Bidwell; and Ryan Ringelman, president. (Posted March 9, 2004)

Professor Alex Glashausser spoke to a group of undergraduate students visiting from Washburn's sister school in Japan, Fukouka University on Friday, March 5, 2004. Glashausser's talk was entitled "The Fairness of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund." The students offered their perspective on the fund and efforts in the United States to help victims of terrorist attacks and other tragedies. Much of the discussion focused on whether the survivors of people who died in terrorist attacks are more worthy of government aid than the survivors of people who died at the hands of non-terrorist criminals. (Posted March 8, 2004)

Washburn Law and the Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted Kenneth R. Feinberg March 3-4, 2004 at the School of Law and Washburn University's campus. Mr. Feinberg's visit included a public lecture entitled "The September 11 Victim Compensation Fund: Lessons Learned" on Thursday at the Bradbury Thompson Center. Mr. Feinberg is the Special Master chosen by Attorney General John Ashcroft to administer the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. See the full story. (Posted March 5, 2004)

Washburn University School of Law, in cooperation with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), sponsored a Minority High School Moot Court Program, Friday, February 27, 2004 at the Kansas Judicial Center. LSAC has designated February as National Minority Recruitment Month, creating an opportunity to increase outreach to minority students in high school. Minority students from Topeka area high schools learned about the legal system first hand by participating in a series of oral arguments regarding a fictional racial profiling case. Two-person teams of students studied cases designed to give them an idea of what courts consider in determining whether a traffic stop violates a driver's right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure and a driver's right to equal protection under the law. They worked with law school student coaches from Washburn Law to use the cases and the Constitution to develop their presentations. Arguments were held in the Kansas Supreme Court Courtroom and heard by a panel of seven judges, including two from the Kansas Court of Appeals. (Posted March 2, 2004)

Professor Mildred W. Robinson, University of Virginia School of Law, presented the 26th Annual Foulston Siefkin Lecture in the Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center on Friday, February 20, 2004. Professor Robinson's lecture was entitled "Fulfilling Brown's Legacy: Bearing the Costs of Realizing Equality." See the full story. (Posted March 2, 2004)

The Honorable Christel E. Marquardt, '74, Judge, Kansas Court of Appeals, spoke to the Family Law Seminar students on February 26, 2004 about women lawyers in family law. She discussed the changes that have occurred within the profession, with the increase of women practicing law, presenting a historical overview of women attorneys in Kansas and the U.S. (Posted March 2, 2004)

Professor Ali Khan has been hired by The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan as an expert to critically review and analyze the draft curriculum for LL.B degree (offered at all law schools in Pakistan) "to bring it in line with international standards." Professor Khan will review the academic program, proposed by a committee of law school deans and members of the Paksitan Bar Association. "Learning from my teaching experience at Washburn," said Professor Khan, "I want to recommend to the Commission that legal education in Pakistan be modern in content and skills, with a good dose of international law and comparative law, particularly including a meaningful study of the American constitution." (Posted February 27, 2004)

Professor Nancy G. Maxwell presented her article "Unification and Harmonization of Family Law: The United States Experience," 4 Commission on European Family Law (CEFL) 249 (2003), to a group of interested law faculty and students, Tuesday, February 24, 2004. Her article is an overview of the United States experience in attempting to harmonize divorce grounds and spousal support among the states. The Commission on European Family Law is engaged in a long term project of studying family law in the various European countries, with the goal of developing unifying principles of family law that would apply throughout Europe. The first areas of study are grounds for divorce and spousal maintenance. Professor Maxwell was invited to the inaugural conference of the Commission on European Family Law held in Utrecht, the Netherlands, in December, 2002, to present a paper on the U.S. experience in attempting to harmonize and unify divorce grounds and spousal support in the states. (Posted February 26, 2004)

Washburn Law's Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center is featured on the cover of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy's (NITA) 2004 Catalog of Educational Products and Services. Judge Sanford M. Brook of the Indiana Court of Appeals visited Washburn Law on October 3, 2003 to conduct a training session for Trial Advocacy Workshop leaders. Participants in the Advocacy Teacher Training program were introduced to the NITA learning-by-doing teaching method, learned and participated in effective critiquing skills, and discussed the use of video review in teaching. A photograph of the eagle on the west side of the School of Law building is also on the cover of the catalog. (Posted February 20, 2004)

The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) celebrated Black History month by hosting a poetry slam Monday, February 16, 2004. Law students, faculty and staff who attended the event experienced the rich African-American oral tradition and history. A number of black and non-black students and faculty read from favorite poets or their original compositions. The African-American oral tradition that began in West Africa as a form of expression and a vehicle for passing down history from generation to generation was largely lost along with other elements of African-American culture when blacks were forced into slavery in the United States. Slaves eventually created a new oral tradition, including folktales, spirituals, jazz and blues. African-Americans, along with many other ethnic groups, helped reinvigorate the spoken word movement in the 1960s under the leadership of a group of populist thinkers known as the Beats. Spoken word poetry is "'performed' alouded" and encompasses a variety of styles, encourages diversity and has a democratic energy. The BLSA poetry slam provided the Washburn Law community the opportunity to experience this unique poetic phenomenon. (Posted February 18, 2004)

The Washburn Business and Transactional Law Society hosted Harold A. Houck, Class of 1996, Friday, February 13, 2004. Nine law students met with Mr. Houck for dinner and to explore the differences between civil litigation and business transactional law. Mr. Houck shared his thoughts on the difficulties in balancing these two different areas of law within a general practice firm. The group discussed several real world applications of corporate law. Overall, Mr. Houck provided practical insight to the students regarding his day-to-day practice. Mr. Houck's practice areas at the Topeka firm of Cavanaugh, Smith and Lemon, P.A. include business and transactional law, corporate law, real estate, whistle blower, employment law, and landlord tenant. The dinner and discussion was sponsored by the Business and Transactional Law Center to provide interaction between students interested in pursuing a career in business transactional law and local practitioners. (Posted February 18, 2004)

The Washburn Law Client Counseling teams met the University of Kansas School of Law in the Sunflower Client Counseling Competition, Saturday, February 14, 2004. Washburn's teams placed first and second. John Patrick Foley and Paul Oman took the first place trophy and Danielle Saunders and Tateasha Davis placed second. Both teams will compete in the Regional Competition the weekend of February 21, 2004 in Columbia, Missouri for the opportunity to move on to the March Nationals in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Posted February 17, 2004)

Washburn Law Professor Linda D. Elrod has been selected by The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) to serve as reporter for the Drafting Committee on the Prevention of Abduction in International Child Custody Disputes Act. The reporter primarily is responsible for providing research and for drafting the act for the drafting committee. The drafting committee, composed of NCCUSL members from across the country, makes policy decisions. The drafting committee for the new act will have its first two day meeting in April 2004. The reporter is expected to attend all drafting committee meetings as well as annual meetings at which the act is being considered. The reporter's obligation is to raise all relevant issues, to furnish all information and to raise all considerations that might be helpful in resolving the issues. Most NCCUSL projects take one to three years. (Posted February 17, 2004)

Washburn Family Law team members Sheri Gibisch and Angie Hungerford will compete against 23 other teams in the 2004 Grabrielli Family Law Competition at Albany Law School, Albany, New York, on February 26-28, 2004. Awards include: Winning Team; Finalist Teams (two); Best Oralist; Best Brief Overall; Best Briefs (representing the two remaining parties). (Posted February 16, 2004)

The Business and Transactional Law Society hosted Eric Kraft, Class of 1999, Friday, February 13, 2004. Mr. Kraft spoke to students and faculty about the practice of law in the business litigation field. He discussed his experiences working in large and small Midwest law firms, organization techniques, and answered a variety of questions from students. Mr. Kraft advised attendees about studying for the bar examination, differences between the law in Kansas and Missouri, and the importance of treating employees and court staff with courtesy. He said "Be nice to your staff. They will love you for it. They are a wealth of knowledge and will help you more than you can know." He also made suggestions about curriculum choices for law students considering a career in business law. Mr. Kraft works for Lathrop & Gage, L.C. in their Overland Park, Kansas office and represents clients in litigated and non-litigated business to business disputes such as real estate matters, breach of contract matters, loan enforcement actions, construction matters, insurance disputes, regulatory matters, business torts and professional liability matters. (Daniel Arkell contributed to this news item. Posted February 13, 2004)

WashLaw, Washburn University School of Law's Guide to Legal Information on the Internet, was recognized in the January/February 2004 issue of Legal Management. Each month the "Caught on the Net" column highlights the "best of the web" as selected by one of the journal's readers. Janis Jerman, Director of Administration & Finance and Bar Counsel for the Connecticut Bar Association, included WashLaw as one of her Law Related web site selections. In writing about WashLaw, she observed "This comprehensive site offers links to a wide range of information: case law directories (state and federal), codes, journals, legal humor, ethics, law schools, e-mail directories, magazines and books, and organizations. And this is only the tip of the information iceberg that is available on this site." (Posted February 13, 2004)

Don Zemites, executive director of Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program (KALAP), spoke to Washburn Law students and faculty about the program, Wednesday, February 11, 2004. Mr. Zemites shared his own experience with alcoholism, the effect it had on his personal life and law practice, and his eventual recovery with the help of colleagues. KALAP provides assistance to lawyers seeking to overcome problems caused by substance abuse, mental health disorders and other disabilities. KALAP services include a peer support network, interventions, education, and referrals to mental health and substance abuse professionals. Further information is available at their web site: http://www.kalap.com/. (Rebecca Alexander contributed to this news item. Posted February 11, 2004)

Professor Megan J. Ballard gave a presentation to faculty, staff and students at Washburn Law, Tuesday, February 10, 2004, on some of the challenges associated with privatizing social services. The talk was based on Professor Ballard's recent article, "Profiting from Poverty: The Competition Between For-Profit and Nonprofit Developers for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits," 55 Hastings Law Journal 211 (2003). Professor Ballard points out that as governmental actors continue to withdraw from providing social services, private nonprofit and for-profit entities have stepped in to fill the gap. In doing so, nonprofit and for-profit actors vie for limited governmental incentives offered to encourage the privatization of social services. Professor Ballard argues that this competition between nonprofit and for-profit entities over privatization resources may adversely affect the beneficiaries of these social services. Professor Ballard explores these ideas through an analysis of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and concludes that policy makers ought to protect nonprofit particiation in the LIHTC program. (Posted February 11, 2004)

Professor Michael Kaye, Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, visited alumni in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona, February 6 and 7, 2004. He described the functioning of the Center, its development to date, and gave an overview of recent activities. See the full story. (Posted February 11, 2004)

Washburn University School of Law and Washburn University Political Science Department hosted 26 mock trial teams from 15 midwest colleges and universities for the American Mock Trial Association regional competition on February 6 and 7, 2004. Schools represented at the Topeka regional included Avila College, Central Iowa, Central Missouri, Creighton, Drake, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Oklahoma State University, University of South Dakota, and Washburn University. Teams participated in 4 rounds of competition over the two days. A Drake University team took 1st place, teams from the University of Kansas finished in 2nd and 3rd, a Washburn team took 4th and the College of Central Iowa took 5th. The Drake team received a bid to a national tournament at Des Moines, Iowa and the other teams will compete in St. Petersberg, Florida. Law students Sarah O'Laughlin and Christina Waugh helped coach the Washburn teams. (Posted February 10, 2004)

The Washburn Law Career Services Office hosted Anthony Mattivi, Class of 1994, Wednesday, January 28, 2004. Mr. Mattivi discussed opportunities with the United States Attorney's Office, including general opportunities and the summer internship program. The Office has an extensive summer internship program for students who have completed at least one semester of law school. Mr. Mattivi works out of the Topeka office. (Posted February 10, 2004)

Christian Legal Society hosted Kansas State Representative Daniel Thimesch (D) Wednesday, January 28, 2004. Rep. Thimesch spoke about the role of the Christian legislator in modern society, pointing out that land use regulations and legislation should enhance the public good both by ensuring a foundation for economic growth and by protecting the aesthetic beauty of the State for succeeding generations. He also spoke of the current trend in the legislative and executive branches of government to minimize aid to veterans and views this as the wrong way of reducing budget deficits. He stressed the continuing need for to investigate Gulf War Syndrome despite the waning interest of many agencies and legislative committees. Rep. Thimesch is in his ninth term representing 93d District (Sedgwick County) and serves as a Ranking Minority Member of the Agriculture Committee. He is a member of the Committee on the Environment, the General Government and Commerce Budget Committee, and the Joint Committee of the Legislative Post Audit. (Seth Meyer contributed to this news item. Posted February 10, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted Lt. Col. Vic Braden, Class of 1998, Tuesday, February 3, 2004 as part of its Lecture & Luncheon speaker series in the Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center. Col. Braden's talk was titled "Military Decision Making Process Applied to Criminal Prosecution" and focused on the preparation of a prosecution case through the use of strategic thinking. See the full story. (Posted February 4, 2004)

The Children and Family Law Center co-sponsored the program "Marriage in Other Cultures" on Wednesday, January 21, 2004. The guest speakers were Professor Ali Khan who is from Pakistan and married an American woman and Professor Alex Glashausser who is American and married a Japanese woman. The presentation in Professor Nancy Maxwell's Family Law Seminar, and discussion following, focused specifically on Pakistani Islamic marriage and modern Japanese marriage. The professors talked about the difference between expectations and roles in marriage in Japan and Pakistan as compared to the United States. They also discussed various aspects of cross-cultural/transnational marriages. (Posted January 27, 2004)

The Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted Amy Bartholow, Tuesday, January 20, 2004 as part of its Lecture & Luncheon speaker series. In her talk, "A Waltz around Miranda: Dancing the Missouri Two-Step," Ms. Bartholow described her experience in presenting the Seibert side of Missouri v. Seibert before the United States Supreme Court. The Seibert case raises a major issue concerning police interrrogation not decided under the earlier Supreme Court case of Oregon v. Elstad in 1985: Can the police deliberately withhold Miranda warnings in order to elicit incriminating statements and then get suspects to repeat the statements after being warned using Miranda warnings? Ms. Bartholow augmented her presentation with snippets of training videos showing officers being taught how to sidestep the Miranda requirements by questioning suspects before giving Miranda warnings and then having the suspects re-state any incriminating statements after being given the Miranda warnings. Following the lecture, Ms. Bartolow met with students for lunch. Bartholow graduated from Drake Law School in 1996 and has worked for the Appellate Division of the Missouri Public Defender System since 1997. She handles all types of felony appeals, but the majority of her caseload consists of non-capital murder appeals and appeals where the death penalty was sought but not imposed. (Posted January 26, 2004)

The Children and Family Law Center and the Wichita Bar Association co-sponsored the continuing legal education program "Family Law: High Conflict Custody" on Friday, January 9, 2004 at the Sedgwick County Law Center. Professor Linda Elrod spoke on Reforming the System to Handle High Conflict Cases; Professor Sheila Reynolds spoke on Ethical Considerations in Representing the High Conflict Client. (Posted January 26, 2004)

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