Regent Law News

Just a week after President Obama’s inauguration and in light of the President’s goals to communicate through mediums such as YouTube, Law Professor Thomas Folsom spoke to Federal Computer Week about the possible ramifications governments face when using commercial media. Federal Computer Week, a part of 1105 Government Information Group, is the leading provider of integrated information and media for the government information technology market. Professor Folsom recommended that the government consider posting to more than one commercial provider so that it wouldn’t seem to be endorsing that provider’s content or favoring one over the other. The full story can be found here . Law Professor Kathleen McKee was interviewed in February by WAVY, a Hampton Roads news station, regarding how attorneys defend clients with mental health issues. Her interview was prompted by the tragic story of a father who killed his son on February 10th, 2009 and subsequently was committed to a mental instit...

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark First Amendment ruling clearing the way for governments to accept permanent monuments of their choosing in public parks. Regent Law students participating in the  American Center for Law and Justice’s summer internship program  played an integral role in the critical First Amendment case of Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, in which the ACLJ represented the Utah city in a challenge to a display of the Ten Commandments in a city park. Click here for the ACLJ's full coverage of this victory, including the opening brief and the reply brief . The critical question before the Court was, ''Can a city decide which permanent, unattended monuments, if any, to install on city property?'' Regent Law interns spent an intense summer in the ACLJ’s on-campus offices helping prepare ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow to answer this question. They edited legal documents; researched city policies regarding m...

For the second year in a row, Regent University's School of Law Moot Court Team took first place honors at the William B. Spong National Moot Court Tournament, sponsored by the College of William & Mary School of Law. Regent's team consisted of 2L students Chuck Slemp (Law-Government) and Audre Honnas, who were coached by Michael Hernandez, faculty Moot Court Board advisor and Law professor. "This competition is outstanding," said Hernandez. "Chuck and Audre were spectacular. I think their semi-final argument was the best moot court team argument that I've ever seen. Numerous state and federal judges judged several rounds—the exposure to the bench and bar, as well as other law schools, is invaluable." In preparation for the tournament, Honnas and Slemp had five intensive weeks of practice with many professors, students and alumni. Their efforts paid off—Regent defeated New York University (5th ranked law school in the nation) in the finals and South ...

Beginning Monday, February 16th and running through Thursday, February 19th, the Regent Law chapter of the American Bar Association and the Student Bar Association are offering the first annual Professionalism Week. The sponsored events are meant to provoke discussion and provide information on how decorum can either negatively or positively affect a law career. It is the hope of the week’s organizers, third year law students Leandra Rayford and Emily Sheets, that Professionalism Week will create a laid back forum wherein students feel welcome to ask authorities in the legal field candid questions on anything from rules of the court to use of Blackberries before the bench. Rayford and Sheets were concerned that students are ill prepared for the complex aspects of decorum required in the legal world. While minding P’s and Q’s is common sense, there are enough hoops to jump through when entering a court room, managing clients, or asking for a continuance that other etiquette issues c...

Law Professor Eric DeGroff has recently been appointed to serve as Chairman of the Environmental, Natural Resources, & Energy Section (The Section) of the Virginia Bar Association (VBA). The Section is one of 19 practice-area sections of the VBA, a voluntary association of attorneys licensed in Virginia designed to enhance the standards of integrity, professionalism and excellence in the practice of law. As appropriate, the VBA seeks improvements in both the substance and administration of the law. Approximately 125 individuals make up The Section. While these individuals are primarily attorneys from private firms, some are also law school faculty and representatives of government agencies and public interest groups who have a special interest in environmental law. The Section provides conferences and seminars on various aspects of environmental law and other opportunities to help members remain current on changes or expected changes in the law. The Section is also asked periodical...

Law students hailing from schools including Villanova University, University of Cincinnati and J. Reuben Clark (Brigham Young University) travelled to Regent University's campus to compete in the 2009 National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition.  Regent's School of Law hosted the event, February 6-7, where 12 teams and more than 20 local attorneys and several judges participated. At the concluding awards banquet, keynote speaker Dr. Francis J. Beckwith, professor of philosophy and church studies at Baylor University, discussed a topic related to the problem that the teams competed on throughout the weekend: "Can Theology Be Knowledge? What the Intelligent Design Debate is Really About." Beckwith talked about the intersection of faith and reason, and the rationality of religious claims in the courtroom. He quoted James Hitchcock's book, The Supreme Court and Religion in American Life , as well as from the canon of scholars and philosophers to show the h...

For law students Lindsey Powdrell and Elizabeth Fabick, representing Regent University in the invitation-only 2009 Moot Court National Championship meant both honor and hard work. Their intense preparation for the competition paid off—Regent placed second in the tournament, with Powdrell receiving the award for best oralist. "Regent's placement was a great result," said Jeffrey Brauch, dean of the School of Law. "It shows wonderful coaching, outstanding talent and preparation." The tournament, sponsored by the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC), was held in the Federal Courthouse in downtown Houston. Many of the rounds were judged by members of the judiciary and prominent attorneys. "The tournament was held where I'm from," Powdrell said. "My family was able to come and our team had a little cheering section. Regent ranked number one in the semi-finals, and we were thrilled." Powdrell and Fabick were coached by Regent Law professor S...

Regent Law already sends students to study in France, Spain, Israel, England, and other international destinations; but recently, the doors to international opportunities have opened a different way. The L.L.M. in American Legal Studies is a unique program that brings international law students to Regent University. Professor Hernandez, Director of the program, greets interested students below: Less than one third of American law schools have a program such as this, and Regent Law is the only Christian University to offer foreign law graduates training in American law. Just as a sound understanding of international law is imperative for American students, knowledge of America’s common-law system, standards of res judicata, or basic contract law principles are vital to any foreign lawyer. There’s also great incentive for graduates of foreign institutions with a J.D.-equivalent and a desire to practice law in the U.S. Many state bar associations allow these students to sit for the bar if...