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News Archive

2005/03


Spitzer '84 finds niche as "The Equalizer": This story comes from the Harvard Law Bulletin, Spring 2005 -- Eliot Spitzer's zeal for justice has made him enemies and friends. It may also make him governor... He has no time to waste. Instead of hello and a handshake, the New York state attorney general greets a visitor with "OK, let's get to work." [Thu, 31 Mar 2005]
Human Rights Program offers gateway to a better world: This story from the spring issue of the Harvard Law Bulletin focuses on Harvard's Human Rights Program, which has pioneered legal training in international human rights through an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines scholarship with work in the field. The program has grown from the first handful of interested students in the mid-1980s to some 200 students involved today. [Wed, 30 Mar 2005]
Requirement connects law students to the practice of public service: Harvard law students have always felt the pressure to do well, but the Class of '05 is the first that has to do good. The 557 J.D. candidates are the first to be subject to the school's pro bono requirement: 40 hours of law-related, uncompensated work. (From the Harvard Law Bulletin, Spring 2005) [Wed, 30 Mar 2005]
Barron explains recent trends in eminent domain: Is it getting harder for the government to take away your land? In the "Ask the Professor" column of this spring's Harvard Law Bulletin, Professor David Barron discusses a string of recent court cases that have cut back the government's power to exercise eminent domain. [Tue, 29 Mar 2005]
Faculty Viewpoints: Can Reporters Refuse to Testify?: Thirty years ago the U.S. Supreme Court said no. Two scholars -- Frederick Schauer '72, a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and Dean Elena Kagan '86 -- tell us why it's still not settled. (From the Harvard Law Bulletin, Spring 2005.) [Mon, 28 Mar 2005]
Student's blog strikes chord, generates book deal: The debate raged online for almost a year: Who was Anonymous Lawyer? Was he real, or just the fictional character he claimed to be? He certainly seemed real enough to many readers of his Web log, anonymouslawyer.blogspot.com, where he posted cynical commentary about life in a large Los Angeles law firm. (This story is from the April 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today.) [Thu, 24 Mar 2005]
Panel examines effects of privatizing government services: On Wednesday, Harvard Law School will host a conversation on the rising trend toward privatization of government duties. The discussion on "Outsourcing Force" will examine a series of questions such as whether private companies are more efficient at operating prisons, police, and even the military. The event will take place at 7:30 pm on March 23 in Langdell South. [Tue, 22 Mar 2005]

HLS student writes book on Reagan's nuclear record: Paul Lettow was too young to vote for Ronald Reagan, but that hasn't kept the third-year law student from writing a book on Reagan's policies that is causing some to rethink the record of America's 40th president. "Ronald Reagan and His Quest to Abolish Nuclear Weapons" hit bookstores in February and earned praise in The New York Times for being "provocative, informative and largely persuasive." (This story is from the April 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today.) [Mon, 21 Mar 2005]

Reality check for Compton attorney: It wasn't a makeover--it was a make-better. A team of decorators and their entourage of producers, assistants and camera crew members recently descended on the law office of Luz Herrera '99 for four days, while another set of designers whisked her away to a posh Los Angeles hotel for shopping, massages and manicures. Why was this young attorney getting the royal treatment? (This story is from the April 2005 issue of Harvard Law Today.) [Fri, 18 Mar 2005]
Conference examines future of rights and liberties: This weekend, Harvard's Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review will host its 40th anniversary conference, "Bridging the Gap: Constructions of Rights and Liberties in the New Civil Rights Era." The conference will bring scholars and public policy experts together to focus on issues like economic disparities, privacy rights and the balance between liberty and security. The event will take place Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at Harvard Law School. [Tue, 15 Mar 2005]
Harvard Black Law Students Association's annual conference focuses on leadership: This weekend, the Harvard Black Law Students Association will host its annual conference, "A Call to Consciousness: Defining Professional and Social Responsibility to Inspire Progressive Leadership." Acclaimed poet and political activist Nikki Giovanni will offer the keynote address. The conference was organized by second-year students Tara Curtis, Jenée Desmond-Harris, and Danielle Lewis along with faculty members and a 40-student committee. [Fri, 11 Mar 2005]
Students compete for European law championship: For the first in the law school's history, a team of Harvard students will compete in the finals of the European Law Moot Court Competition, which began this week in Luxembourg. The team is one of four to qualify for the All European Finals, based on an original pool of 92 universities. [Thu, 10 Mar 2005]
HLS Jessup Moot Court Team wins regionals: Harvard Law School recently captured the Northeast Regional championship of the 2005 Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, defeating the University of Vermont and Boston College in elimination rounds. The HLS team consisted of team captain Hugo Torres (3L), Rachel Rebouche (2L), Brandon Miller (1L), Erica Gaston (1L) and Marc Jacob (LL.M.). [Wed, 09 Mar 2005]
Warren leads students in bankruptcy blogging: Professor Elizabeth Warren and three Harvard Law students are experimenting with a non-traditional way of sharing legal research about bankruptcy legislation. They're not using op-eds, the mainstream press or books to influence the political process; instead, they're blogging. Earlier this week, the group launched a website affiliated with the popular political site, Talkingpointsmemo.com. Their blog focuses exclusively on a recent bankruptcy bill under debate in the U.S. Senate. [Wed, 09 Mar 2005]
Symposium brings global perspectives to legal thinking: Harvard's International Law Journal will host a symposium on March 5-6 to consider a range of perspectives on international legal theory and practice. "Comparative Visions of the Global Public Order" will offer roundtable discussions on topics ranging from corporate law to global pluralism. The symposium, held in Austin Hall at Harvard Law School, will also honor two retiring Harvard Law faculty members for their work in transnational law and international legal studies. [Fri, 04 Mar 2005]
Professors file brief on laws of music downloading: Harvard Law Professors Terry Fisher and Jonathan Zittrain along with John Palfrey, executive director of the Berkman Center, have filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in MGM v. Grokster -- a closely watched case that is likely to have a dramatic impact on the future of music downloading. [Fri, 04 Mar 2005]
Panel questions current state of regulation for capital markets: Harvard Law School's Program on International Financial Systems will host a panel discussion with senior government and industry officials to address the effect of regulations on the capital markets. "The Current State of Regulation of the Capital Markets: Too Much, Too Little or Just Right?" will take place on March 7 in Ames Courtroom from 2 - 5 p.m. A reception will begin at 5 p.m. following the discussion. [Thu, 03 Mar 2005]
Symposium will examine criminal sentencing changes: On Thursday, March 3, the Harvard Journal on Legislation and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice will present the 2005 JOL Spring Symposium, "Criminal Sentencing at the Crossroads." The symposium will examine federal sentencing guidelines in light of the United States Supreme Court's decisions in Booker and Blakely, which found the Guidelines inconsistent with the Sixth Amendment. [Wed, 02 Mar 2005]