Topic: Law
Law school dean addresses “Obama effect” on public interest law
Robert Klonoff, dean of the law school, spoke with the National Law Journal about how the next administration under President-elect Obama might effect the field of public interest law. Public interest law is the practice of law pursued on behalf of both individuals and causes that are not typically served by the for-profit-bar. Public interest lawyers can serve the public by working for civil legal services organizations, non-profit organizations, public defense organizations, prosecutors offices, government agencies and lobbying for non-profit organizations.Lewis & Clark Law School graduates enter public interest careers at a rate that is more than three times the national average. In 2007, the law school had the fifth highest percentage of graduates entering public interest law careers.
National Law Journal The latest ‘Barack effect’: new interest among law students in government, public interest jobs
NCVLI wins two grants from the U.S. Department of Justice
In October, the National Crime Victim Law Institute, an organization that advances crime victims’ rights, was awarded two two-year grants from the U.S. Department of Justice. First, NCVLI received a multi-million dollar grant from the Office for Victims of Crime. Most of the funding will pass through to NCVLI’s nationwide network of 8 pro bono legal clinics serving crime victims and to establish up to 4 new clinics. In addition, these funds will continue NCVLI’s amicus curiae work, legal technical assistance to attorneys and advocates, training and education, newsletter, and the annual Law & Litigation Conference.
Second, NCVLI was awarded a 2 year grant of $150,000 by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to focus on the rights of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or dating violence. This grant will allow NCVLI to provide training and legal technical assistance to OVW grantees across the nation. NCVLI will partner with the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence and the Victims Rights Law Center on many of the trainings.
NCVLI promotes balance and fairness in the justice system through crime-victim-centered legal advocacy, education, and resource sharing. NCVLI also provides legal technical assistance to attorneys and advocates of victims and educates lawyers, judges, law students, victims’ advocates, the law enforcement community, and the public about victims’ rights.
Assistant Professor of Political Science Todd Lochner analyzes slow-moving obscenity case
Todd Lochner, assistant professor of political science, discusses the slow process of prosecuting obscenity cases during the past eight years of the Bush administration. Lochner points out that because, under the Clinton administration, these charges were typically coupled with other counts, they became higher priority. Considered more of a “moral barometer” under the current administration, these obscenity cases face numerous delays. “It’s not so much the number of obscenity cases they bring, but the qualitative nature of what they’re trying to do by bringing them. The prosecution is trying to set boundaries as to the acceptable realm of adult material,” says Lochner.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Penn.) Federal obscenity case, filed 5 years ago, has stalled
William Funk expresses doubt in the roof-crush rule
This September, Professor of Law William Funk co-wrote an op-ed on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new “roof-crush” rule. The rule is set to strengthen automobiles’ roofs, but Funk contends the change will have little effect on the safety of drivers; in actuality, only half of 1 percent of the 10,000 rollover accident deaths per year will be prevented. Instead, NHTSA’s new rule would preempt lawsuits arising from the faulty design of automobiles. The authors maintain that by undercutting lawsuits and preventing victims from seeking justice, the “roof-crush” proposition will inevitably slow down the “march toward safer automobiles.”
The Ann Arbor News (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Other Voices: NHTSA roof-crush standard could deny justice for crash victims
Law professors Miller and Funk discuss Oregon tribe’s same-sex marriage law
Robert Miller, professor of law and Bill Funk, professor of law:
This August, the Coquille Indian Tribe on the southern Oregon coast adopted a law allowing same-sex marriages at the request of a tribal member and her partner. The Coquille are the first tribe to adopt this type of law, although Professor Robert Miller, an Indian law expert, said Congress may intervene. Historically, tribes have authority over domestic issues, but Congress has the power to take these rights away. “Congress is the 900-pound gorilla in the corner,” Miller said.
Professor Bill Funk, a Constitutional law expert, points out that, because the federal law does not recognize same-sex marriages, it may be difficult for the couple to receive Social Security and other federal benefits.
Associated Press (Portland, Ore.) Oregon tribe to allow same-sex marriages
Art LaFrance speaks on health and safety
Art LaFrance, professor of law:
On April 2, LaFrance presented “Ethical Perspectives and the Changing Face of American Health Care” at the Health Care Reform and Patient Safety conference at the University of Wyoming. LaFrance spoke on a topic generated by the Supreme Court’s decision in Clarke vs. OHSU, stressing the importance for hospitals and doctors to take responsibility for any errors they may make.
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