Regent Law News

Raising nearly 30 children has provided Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann with negotiating skills that serve her well in the nation's capital. Bachmann, a passionate advocate for foster care and adoption, visited Regent University on November 20 as part of the university's recognition of National Adoption Awareness Month. Bachmann and her husband, Dr. Marcus Bachmann, are the parents of five biological children and 23 foster children. She shared their story as parents and also their connection to Regent during a special law chapel for students, faculty and staff. "It's been a marvelous experience for us. Being foster parents has allowed us to teach our biological kids that they're not the only kids in the world," Bachmann said. "Our foster care kids have been able to see what a picture of an imperfect 'normal' family is like. And we saw the beauty and worth in them. "Twenty-three times, we've seen these kids graduate from hig...

Regent made sure to do its part to make National Adoption Awareness month a success. Each November across the country community groups, government agencies, schools, and individuals herald the cause of the hundreds of thousands of orphans in our country. Throughout the week of November 16 – 21, Regent’s Council of Graduate Students (COGS) sponsored a series of events to raise awareness of orphans’ need for permanent families. Because they will soon be in a position as policy-makers and advocates, Regent’s law students have taken the lead in presenting two key events highlighting the responsibilities legal professionals have to these children. Tuesday’s Focus on the Children panel brought together experienced professionals from Virginia and D.C., including The Honorable Angela Roberts, Chief Judge of the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, to speak about the policies behind permanency, the needs that foster children face, and what it takes to be a successful adoption...

Regent University School of Law’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Board (ADR) made a strong showing at the ABA Regional Negotiation Competition held Nov. 13-14 at William and Mary School of Law. The 2L team of Mary Katherine Bratton and David Crossett finished second overall from a roster of over 20 teams representing American University, Georgetown, Washington & Lee and other law schools throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. While all three of Regent’s competition teams placed in the top ten, Bratton and Crossett look forward to an official invitation from the ABA to compete in the national competition, February 5-6 in Orlando, FL. Team coach Prof. Eric DeGroff commented on Bratton and Crossett’s exemplary performance. “Our team was able to zealously represent their clients within the bounds of the law and with integrity,” he said. “They balanced making a strong case and presenting their client in the best possible light...

Morgan A. Cox (’03) and Shantell S. Nashatka (’03) were both recognized as Virginia Rising Stars in the 2009 edition of Virginia Super Lawyers. Cox has been practicing family law in Vienna, Virginia at the Maddox Law Firm, P.C. for four years and is an active member of the community. Nashatka practices in the Domestic Relations department at Huff, Poole & Mahoney, P.C. in Virginia Beach and also spends her time caring for needs in her community. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Each year, the magazine solicits nominations for the best attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. After an in depth research and interview process, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to the Rising Stars list. Congratulations to these rising stars, and those alumni who have formerly been given this ho...

In one of a handful of electoral races that captured national attention this year, Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell '89 (Law and Government) has been elected the 71st Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the first alumnus of Regent University elected to a state's highest office. By 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, major news networks had called the election for McDonnell, who held a commanding lead over his opponent, state Senator Creigh Deeds. At 10:00 p.m., with 95 percent of precincts reporting, McDonnell was ahead with 59 percent of votes, compared to Deeds' 41 percent. McDonnell took the stage at the Richmond Marriott, surrounded by family, friends and supporters, as the Black Eyed Peas song, "I gotta feeling tonight's gonna be a good night," played, and people cheered and clapped. "Eight months ago, I applied for the job of Govenor of Virginia. Tonight you have hired me. Thank you," he said to several hundred people gathered fo...