Regent Law News

Regent University law school alumnus Sharla Mylar serves as the Special Assistant Attorney General in Alaska Department of Law. - Image courtesy, Sharla Mylar. Lost in in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela as a 19-year-old exchange student, Sharla Mylar (SOL ’18) told God this was his second chance. His chance to speak to her. With little knowledge of the language, no memory of her local address, and an unreliable sense of direction, she couldn’t find her way home. “Isn’t this what You do? Find lost people,” she prayed. Lost Mylar was, and not just geographically. A few days earlier, her faith had taken a hit when she heard the extremely negative impression fellow students had of Christians. She had asked God to speak to her so that she could believe in Him. He chose that day to speak. A “God-thought” came to Mylar to “turn left,” and then another thought and another, guiding her from street to street, till she found her way home. “Re-meeting Jesus” that day was a tur...

Regent University School of Law and School of Business and Leadership alum Rebekah Woods will step into the position of president at Columbia Basin College this fall. She is the first female president of Columbia Basin College. Woods previously served as Lansing Community College’s dean of Student and Academic Support and Strategic Enrollment Management. She then took up the position of provost for Jackson College. She was received into Aspen Institute’s 2017-2018 Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. She said those looking to lead — whether in organizations, businesses, or higher education — should not only stay humble, life-long learners, but to “find a place that is a good fit for you where you can make a difference and [where] your natural leadership style is going to be effective.” “Remain true to yourself and who you are as a leader,” she said. “I don’t think anyone should ever feel that they have to change who they are in order to join an organiza...

Jason Rodriguez, Class of 2016 "Regent Law's outstanding courses and Moot Court Program enabled me to immediately and seamlessly transfer from student to criminal appellate practitioner. Immediately after passing the bar in 2016, I was hired as an Assistant Attorney General in Florida in the Criminal Appeals Division. Since then, I have briefed over 100 cases before the First District Court of Appeal, participated in two successful oral arguments, and provided supplemental research on a brief opposing certiorari in the United States Supreme Court. I have frequently received compliments from both colleagues and opposing counsel on the quality of my briefs and the fact that I am able to perform at such a high level with less than a year of experience outside of law school. My success is directly attributable the skills I learned in Regent's rigorous writing courses, like Advanced Legal Analysis Research and Writing and Appellate Advocacy, along with the practical feedb...

Regent University School of Law (LAW) alumnus Judge Ronald Salmons ’06 always knew he wanted to be a lawyer. What he didn’t know was when he went back to school as a 40-year-old law student, he’d be simultaneously raising his fifth-grade daughter to share the same passion. But as R. Salmons was taking the bench as Judge of the Family Court of West Virginia, 10th Circuit in Lincoln County and Boone County, West Virginia in early 2017, his daughter, Karrah Salmons ’19 (LAW), began pursuing her own legal career as a Master’s in Law student at Regent. Photo courtesy of Judge Ronald Salmons. “I told my dad back [when he was a law student] that I never wanted to be an attorney, I thought they were really stuck up,” she said. Salmons vaguely recalls her family’s move from West Virginia to Virginia Beach all those years ago. And when she returned to Regent to pursue her own degree, she recalled some of the friendly faces of her professors from when she’d visit classes with her fat...

Regent University School of Law alumnus Gabriel McCoy (’11) had never been a part of a Christian higher education institution before. He recalls very clearly week one, first semester of his 1L year. “I remember telling my dad that I never met so many people that were as intelligent, hard-working, hungry to compete and loved the Lord all at the same time,” said McCoy. “The caliber of people were elevated, and it was fun to run with this pack of motivated folks.” To this day, McCoy still runs with his “Regent pack,” after co-founding Pierce/McCoy, PLLC, with Regent Law alumnus Nathaniel Pierce ’08 in April 2013. The firm, based in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, serves clients in Hampton Roads, Richmond, Texas, New York and even Serbia. The decision to begin the daunting, yet “adventurous” task of beginning a firm came at a time when the legal market was extremely competitive and the “opportunities were few and far between.” McCoy walked in faith and in prayer asked that the Lord w...

Two paths diverge in a wood, and Regent University School of Law alumnus Justice Daniel Kelly ’91 took the road that led to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Justice Daniel Kelly. The newly appointed justice calls his life a “winding road,” after growing up in Santa Barbara, California and just outside of Denver, Colorado. He landed in Wisconsin to pursue his undergraduate degree, where he met his wife. “I’ve been terribly blessed by the places I’ve been able to call home,” said Kelly. Another one of those places? Regent University. Kelly returned to campus for the first time this fall to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Regent Law Review – he served as the publication’s first-ever editor-in-chief. “It’s phenomenal, this campus has changed so much it was hard to recognize,” said Kelly. “Except for the library, of course, I spent nearly all of my time there.” Kelly’s professional path follows a roundabout pattern as well, returning to Wi...

Kerriel Bailey is an advocate for children as a Guardian Ad Litem in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her persistence in seeking justice for the kids she represents precipitated her award as “Champion for Children” in the legal field in 2014. Outside of her work in family law, Kerriel also co-authored “ They’ve Crossed the Line: A Patriot’s Guide to Religious Freedom ” and works as an Adjunct Professor at Regent University. Kerriel’s journey to Regent Law and to a legal career started when she was already a homeschooling mom taking care of two boys. While in college, the birth of her son, Aaron, prevented her from finishing school, but she was inspired much later at a family member’s graduation ceremony to go back with hopes of finishing her Bachelor’s degree within ten years. It was her experience as an undergraduate student at a secular college that sparked Kerriel’s interest in the law and her passion for bringing justice to those who have no voice. As she progressed through her Americ...

Three more Regent University School of Law alumni have been appointed to judgeships, bringing the total number of Regent Law alumni currently serving on the bench to 28.  Read the full story . Lindsey Bachman  ('09) has joined Murphy, Taylor, Siemens & Elliot as an attorney. Kerriel Bailey  ('08) was selected as the 2014  Champion for Children  in the legal field. Timothy Creed  ('08) has joined the  Coleman Law Group . Kristy Mutchler was hired as the Strategic Partnerships Liaison by the Kansas Department for Children and Families. Ginger Poynter ('03) is   running for District Judge  in Baldwin County, AL. Poynter will face off against sitting Baldwin County District Judge Michelle Thomason in the November election. Wise attorney Charles H. "Chuck" Slemp III on Tuesday announced his intention to seek the local Republican party nomination to become the next commonwealth's attorney in Wise County pending the determination...

Three more Regent University School of Law alumni have been appointed to judgeships, bringing the total number of Regent Law alumni currently serving on the bench to 28.  Read the full story . Elizabeth Oklevitch  ('14) and Professor  Lynne Marie Kohm 's article entitled,  " Federalism or Extreme Makeover of State Domestic Regulations Power? The Rules and Rhetoric of Windsor (and Perry), " was recently listed on SSRN's Top Ten download list for: PSN: Policy Analysis (Topic). Ginger Poynter ('03) is   running for District Judge  in Baldwin County, AL. Poynter will face off against sitting Baldwin County District Judge Michelle Thomason in the November election. Danielle Ridgely  ('14) was recently accepted to Georgetown’s LL.M. in Taxation program. Monica Rey-Bailey  ('13) is now an adjunct professor at Regent University School of Law. Kahryn Riley  ('14) is now Regional Fundraiser at Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Wise a...

Andrew Esposito   ('07)  is now a research assistant at the University of Hong Kong. Steven Fitschen  ('99), president of the National Legal Foundation, was a guest blogger for  Family Restoration . He writes about his participation in a marriage debate at the Virginia State Bar's annual meeting in June. Terah Gaertner  ('11) is now a public defender in Delaware County, Pa. In addition to her work with the criminal justice system, she was recently hired to co-teach a class at the University of Pennsylvania. The course is designed to help international students learn how to adjust to the American legal education system. Terah will teach skills such as briefing cases, outlining, and taking exams using IRAC. The course is very similar to Dean Gantt's Academic Success Program, which Terah took. Terah feels confident in her ability to transfer her knowledge to the incoming international students because of the education she received from Regent Law professors. ...

Noel Sterett  ('10) published " Supreme Court Says Public Prayers Need Not Be to 'generic God,' " an article on the case for public prayer in  Town of Greece v. Galloway . Jeremy Tedesco  ('04) ) was interviewed on  The Blaze TV  about Jack Phillips, a baker in Colorado who refused to make a wedding cake for a homosexual couple in 2012 because it violated his religious beliefs. After the couple sued Phillips for discrimination, Colorado's Civil Rights commission upheld a court ruling that now forces Phillips to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples. Seth Wilson  ('06) wrote " Start Page: Make the Most of Your 24 Hours with Workflow Planning ," an article for the  Indiana Lawyer .

One hundred percent of Regent University School of Law graduates  passed the February 2014 Virginia Bar Exam on their first attempt, according to the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. The average pass rate for state-wide first-time bar exam takers was 69.96 percent.  Read the full story here . David Cortman  ('96) recently published "CORTMAN: Abortion pill mandate, Hobby Lobby, and why the Supreme Court should honor faith," in  The Washington Times . Alumnus  Steven Fitschen  ('99) filed an  amicus brief  this week, defending the right of the state of Virginia to limit marriage to one man and one woman. Brian M. Latuga  ('13) is the assistant commonwealth’s attorney in the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Nicole Thurston  ('11) joined the law firm of  Poole Mahoney PC  as part of the firm’s divorce and family law practice group. She works from the Virginia Beach office.

John M. Balouziyeh 's ('08) latest book,  A Legal Guide to Doing Business in Saudi Arabia , was released by Thomson Reuters last month. Justin Bush  ('05) became managing partner of a  new law firm  in Suffolk, Va. Justin was also listed in “Virginia Super Lawyers: Rising Stars” and is the former 5th Judicial District Representative for the Young Lawyer Section of the Virginia State Bar. Antionette Duck  ('10), founder of  Mafgia Ministry , was interviewed by  Three Angels Broadcasting Network  regarding recovery and healing post-abortion. Noel Sterett  ('10), an attorney at  Mauck and Baker  in Chicago and founding member of  Courtside Ministries , was quoted in the  Daily Herald  regarding Courtside Ministries' work in DuPage County. Courtney Lemmond  ('13), who served as law chaplain during her 3L year, spoke at law chapel on March 27.

Anna Adams '12, Dean J. Lederer '99 , and 14 other attorneys filed a Joint Comment in Opposition to the Oregon State Bar’s Proposal to Amend RPC 8.4 with the Supreme Court of Oregon. The amendment would limit Christian attorneys' right to practice law based on their beliefs. The Supreme Court of Oregon has not made a decision. Joshua Bachman '09 and Daniel Baker '08 helped investigate whether health information privacy laws include anti-abortion research and medical clinics. The project was for the National Institute of Family Life Advocates (NIFLA). Matt Osman '01 , a District Court judge for Mecklenburg County, N.C., was appointed to the North Carolina Statewide Impaired Driving Task Force . Keila Molina ('12) , Director of community relations and hispanic affairs for the Honorable Edward R. Royce, 39th Congressional District (CA), co-published with Professor Kohm an article in the Berkeley La Raza Law Journal. The article is titled " Are We...

Amanda Freeman ('09) has joined the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. Read the press release here . Jeremy Gray ('09) has become a full partner at the Newman, Thompson and Gray Law Firm in Forest City, Iowa. Read the story, which is featured in the Forest City Summit, here . Stephen Casey (‘07) and Greg Terra (‘01) appeared on The Kelly Files discussing a follow-up to the news story here . View the video of the interview. On Monday, October 7, as the Supreme Court of the United States opened for its October 2013 term, Regent Law alumni Tiffany Barrans ('09) , Matthew Clark ('08) , Carly Gammill ('07) , Shaheryar Gill ('09) , Marshall Goldman ('08) , Jordan Sekulow ('09) , Abigail Southerland ('07) , Michelle Terry ('09) , Miles Terry ('09) , and Tyler Weiss ('09) were admitted to the Supreme Court Bar. Read the full story here . Congratulations to alumnus Lauren Mehosky ('05) who received one of the Insi...

STUDENT NEWS 2L Katherine David  of Leesburg, Virginia, was featured in this student spotlight. The Student Bar Association (SBA) hosted a table day for student organizations on Monday, September 16. Interviews with Army JAG were held on campus on Tuesday, September 17. The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) hosted an interest meeting on Tuesday, September 17. The group is now accepting students for their tutoring program at the Juvenile Detention Center. Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) hosted table days on Tuesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 19. As part of Regent Law's Academic Success Program, Professor Gantt and Professor Whittico hosted a Study Skills Workshop on Thursday, September 19, titled “Outlining for Exam Success.” Professor Gantt delivered the week’s Law Chapel message. Previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here . FACULTY/STAFF NEWS Professor James Boland is publishing an article titled "A Progressive Revolution: Man, Superman, ...

STUDENT NEWS 3L Joseph Maughon of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was featured in a student spotlight. On Monday, September 9, the Federalist Society hosted guest speaker Doug Bandow , a senior fellow with the CATO institute to discuss the issue of Syria and what involvement, if any, the United States should have in the matter. Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) hosted a table day on Thursday, September 12. Interviews with Suffolk City Attorney's Office were held on campus on Thursday, September 12. Dave Velloney, pastor at River Oak Church and professor at Regent Law, delivered this week’s Law Chapel message titled “The Gift of Work” about work as a blessing and gift from God. Previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here. The Virginia Bar Association Student Council (VBA LSC) hosted a table day on Thursday, September 12. In part to bring awareness to the month of September as Hunger Action Month, members also dressed in orange (the symbolic color of hunger) to spread awareness of hun...

FACULTY/STAFF NEWS Professor Kenneth Ching  spoke at Regent Law chapel this past Thursday. View chapels online  here . Professor Kathleen McKee  will be a panelist for the Hampton Roads World Affairs Council on issues surrounding human trafficking on Wednesday, September 11 in Norfolk.  See  http://www.hrwac.org/  for more details. Professor Ben Madison  recently posted his latest piece on identity formation to  SSRN . Professor Tessa Dysart ’s article published by the  Columbia Human Rights Law Review  can be found  here . Professor Kenneth Ching  recently posted his latest piece on a Thomist approach to collectivism in contracts to  SSRN . Professor Jim Davids  is sending out his latest piece on public funding of religious colleges to all the CCCU deans and colleges. 5 Regent J. L. & Pub. Pol’y 11 (2013). Dean Jeffrey Brauch  just published a piece on human rights since 9/11 at 31 Quinnipiac ...

Professor Jacob was a guest on The Tony Macrini Show (WNIS Norfolk) on Thursday, Dec. 1, to discuss constitutional law issues. Judge Greg Wilhelm '98 (Law) was appointed as one of 14 new members representing the Texas Juvenile Justice Advisory Board according to this Thursday, Nov. 24, article from the Ellis County Press . These appointments were made by Texas governor Rick Perry.