Regent Law News

Just when does government regulation of the media go too far? Or, does it ever not go far enough? Even if a particular regulatory act is constitutional, is it prudent? The 2009 Law Review Symposium is set to answer these questions October 9 – 10, 2009 on the Regent University campus in Virginia Beach, VA. Law Review Editor in Chief, Benjamin Eastburn, commented on the forum topic’s timeliness: “We chose ‘Media and the Law’ because of its seemingly universal presence in political discussions and news stories over the past year,” he said. “People have heard a lot about the Fairness Doctrine, television and internet regulation, et cetera. Discussion on these topics is necessary to inform the legal community on the difficult questions our symposium poses.” The weekend begins on Friday at 6:30 p.m. with a kick-off banquet featuring special guest Judge Andrew P. Napolitano. Judge Napolitano , former New Jersey Superior Court Judge, serves as FOX News’ senior judicial analyst. He joi...

This past summer, Regent 2L Terah Gaertner was privileged to attend three-days of training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of her U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) internship. She spent most of her summer internship at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia where she drafted memos, researched law, and observed court proceedings at Langley Air Force Base and the Federal Magistrate Court. “I was immersed in issues ranging from DUI cases, to ethics issues, to the law of war and what the military must do legally in order to apprehend a perceived hostile,” said Gaertner. The highlight of her internship, however, was an invitation from the Office of the Judge Advocate General in Washington, D.C., to travel with a select group of students to Guantanamo Bay. Selected JAG interns from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia took three days to tour the facilities and learn about the base’s military operations. They spoke with doctors, lawyers, translators, guards, and high-ranking military off...

Thursday, September 17, 2009, Regent’s Trial Advocacy Board hosted its first Trial Practice Seminar of the year. Aiming to orient students to all aspects of prosecuting cases, the seminar explored both the theoretical and practical decision-making strategies of prosecutors. Three Commonwealth Attorneys were the guests of honor: Chesapeake’s Nancy Parr, Newport News’ Howard Gwynn, and Virginia Beach’s Harvey Bryant. The notable figures spoke to students on a wide array of criminal justice topics. “Regent students were fortunate to have the expertise of three elected Commonwealth Attorneys,” said Andrew Page, Chairman of the Trial Advocacy Board. “These are the attorneys who present the biggest and most controversial cases. They also have the responsibility of representing the large number of citizens who voted them in.” The night was a great success, giving students answers to important practice questions such as: What standard do prosecutors use when deciding to bring a case? Whe...

Law Professor Brad Jacob took part in a panel discussion interview for Enrichment Journal, a print publication for Assemblies of God ministers, on legal issues facing the church. Law Professor Lynne Marie Kohm continued her ongoing discussion of the case of Rifqa Barry with CBN News last Tuesday. Barry, an Ohio teenager, fled to Florida because she feared reprisals from her family for converting from Islam to Christianity.

Each year the University Library, in partnership with the Law Library and the Office of Student Services, presents an informative panel designed to give students a deeper appreciation for the Constitution and its impact on current events. The 5th Annual Constitution Day on September 17th addressed the issues of freedom of expression and new developments in first amendment interpretation. The following distinguished guests spoke from their expertise on the topics, including discussions on the first amendment and the press, journalism, the internet, and legal obligations: Admiral Vern Clark (Retired Chief of U.S. Naval Operations) Dr. Bruce Swaffield (School of Communications and the Arts) Professor James Duane (School of Law) Wendy Griffith (co-anchor of CBN News) Professor Lynne Marie Kohm (School of Law) “My goal is to help develop an exciting, informational and inspirational event for the campus community that will help the library stay at the core of academic life o...

“Corporate Law. Business Transactions,” laughed Lisa Rothwell-Copeland, “These aren’t bad words!” A group of students interested in public interest law gathered last Friday to hear from Rothwell-Copeland, a successful public interest advocate who founded Public Interest Legal Advocates of Regent (PILAR) as a 1L in 2001. Today, PILAR has grown to a membership that includes over one third of the student body. Rothwell-Copeland returned to encourage all students that in the depressed economy there is a huge need for public interest lawyers. She also reminded those gathered that the desire to be a corporate attorney is not a bad thing. “No matter what your expertise or chosen field,” she said, “there are always pro-bono clients in need of your service.” Like many Regent students, Rothwell-Copeland came to Regent to pursue a legal career that benefits under-represented populations. She now primarily deals with family law cases in rural Ohio. Nationally, no more than 2.5 to 3 percent...

Joel Rosenberg, best-selling author and communication strategist, spoke with Regent students on September 9th about the increasing threat radical Islam is to America and its allies. Rosenberg has written numerous fiction titles centered in the Middle East and based in Christian end times beliefs. He has also advised influential leaders including Steve Forbes, Rush Limbaugh, former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky, and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His newest nonfiction work, Inside the Revolution, illuminates three groups he sees battling for the Middle East: Radicals, Reformers, and Revivalists. An accompanying documentary film with the same title explores the global implications of radical Islam and the church’s response. Rosenberg reminded students of their place in a pivotal point of history and encouraged them to think about what role the church should play at “such a time as this.” Rosenberg will explore this issue in great detail during a...

On Thursday , Professor Lynne Marie Kohm commented on the case in Florida involving a teen girl who converted to Christianity from Islam and has run away from her Ohio family because she fears for her life. Kohm appeared on CBN News again on Friday  morning to discuss further developments in the Rifqa Bary case.

Regent University School of Law Alumni continue to publish with some of the nation’s leading journals. Here’s just a snapshot of Regent Law alumni who have published scholarly articles and essays in recent years: (Please Note: All links will open in a PDF file) William Lee Andrews III (’97) " No Bull’s Eye for “Targeted” International Tax Rules " 16 Virginia Tax Review 781 (1999). Charles Mark Bennett (’06) "Takings Under the Big Sky Post Kelo" 31 Montana Lawyer 5 (March 2006). Karen Turnage Boyd (’05) " The Tale of Two Systems: How Integrated Divorce Laws Can Remedy the Unintended Effects of Pure No Fault Divorce " 12 Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender 609 (2006). Lisa A. Brion (’08) " Constitutionally Coerced: Why Sentencing a Convicted Offender to a Faith Based Rehabilitation Program Does Not Violate the Establishment Clause " 7 Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal 263 (2008). Debra M. Bryan (’04) " It’s ...