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Spring 2008 LawNotes, The t.S Mary's University School of Law Newsletter St. Mary's University School of Law

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» THE CHINA INSIDE: Attorney General Grants Award CONNECTION to Law Clinic

St. Mary’s Partners with China’s Top Law School Mock Trial Team China is one of the world’s oldest civilizations with deep cultural at Nationals heritage and pride. Today, it is a leading economic force to be New Scholarships reckoned with, yet vast differences between the East and West for South Texas mean China remains a mystery to many Americans. For some St. Mary’s law students, that will change next summer. Alumni Chapters Spring Up In keeping with St. Mary’s University’s strategic plan Vision 2012, which calls for a curriculum that expands our borders and Homecoming Honorees takes into consideration an interdependent global economy, School of Law Interim Dean Charles Cantú has established a new study abroad program in China that will open the doors to a new world of opportunity. » continued p. 1 » A NOTE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Fellow Graduates,

It has been my pleasure to travel the state – and even as far as China – as your interim dean for most of the past year. Getting reacquainted with so many old friends and colleagues has been a joy. It has been truly invigorating to see that St. Mary’s has produced so many high quality attorneys and judges over the years who are striving to live our mission every day in their life’s work.

It is my firm belief that our curriculum and professors, teamed with our outstanding clinical programs, are doing justice to our Marianist heritage and that we are staffing the legal community with lawyers with a heart for service, our ultimate goal. You will find in this issue of Law Notes how busy the students have been and much that has been accomplished since we’ve last visited.

The dedication to student success is what energizes our alumni to become involved in their local alumni chapters. Our alumni are crucial in recruiting and mentoring our students. I would like to thank those of you who have hosted admitted student receptions, mentored current students, provided internships and helped in any way in recruiting the next class. I have been traveling across the state and the country to organize new chapters of the law alumni association and keep existing chapters on the pulse of the law school. I encourage you to all become involved in your local chapter – and if there isn’t one established, let’s get one started.

Finally, I must touch on something that has taken up a lot of my time, working with you to raise money for our law school. To date, we have raised a little over $4 million in pledges, scholarships, endowments and naming opportunities. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. We want to continue to improve as a law school and provide opportunities for all students that have a passion for what we do.

These efforts are part of meeting my main three objectives of reaffirming our academic excellence while realigning our programs with our Catholic and Marianist heritage, re-engaging our alumni, and developing new scholarship opportunities for our outstanding students.

Please enjoy this issue of Law Notes, come back to St. Mary’s as often as possible, and keep up the good work in your lives and communities.

Sincerely, Charles E. Cantú Interim Dean and South Texas Professor of Law CONNECTION Wangfujing incentral BusinessDistrict Beijing. Photo courtesy of Robert Hu, Ph.D. ofRobert Photo courtesy THE CHINA law, traveled to Shanghai and Beijingto explore of law the and library assistant professor of Cantú fall, Last Hu, and Bob Ph.D., director » and Shanghai University Lixin of Commerce. pastthe year with Wuxi SouthCollege Ocean addition to two others University the in signed ofCollege Creative Technology. These are in Foreign Trade and Yangtze University –Tai Lake University inTaiwan, Shanghai Institute of were on signed that trip with Fu Jen Catholic ThreeChina. memorandums of understanding returned from atrip to Taiwan and mainland President Charles L.Cotrell, Ph.D., recently St. Mary’s administrators, including University happening at University. the Adelegation of with are China ties of apart alarger effort effortsThese by Cantú to create educational and systems legal inChina. issues concerning construction the of democracy emphasis on important theoretical and practical pastthe 45years, Institute the of Law has placed affairs.role and political inChinese social For scholars and works, academic it plays amajor of nationally and internationally known central government of With China. anumber official researcharm think-tank and the for partner.academic The InstituteLaw of the is prominent law as new schoolinBeijing, their Academy Chinese the a Sciences, of Social St. Mary’s team chose The InstituteLaw of at considering possible the partners, several programs with schools After inChina. carefully possibilitiesthe of exchange and summer continued from cover

p.1 | LAW NOTES p.2 | LAW NOTES cultural icon andonlyminutes from thecampus. Built from 1406to 1420,theForbidden isaChinese City Yale, Harvard, Columbia and University the of university, have though they partnered with Institute of have Law will with an American Thisthe firstis study abroad partnership the beautiful Imperial parks and gardens nearby.” attraction, is a15-minute with two walk, Forbidden City, amajor cultural and tourist of history,”neighborhood is full Hu said. “The location couldn’t“The better.be school’sThe cultural sites. to government agencies, courts and many housed and be and is convenient will faculty minutes from two top hotels where students the downtown schoolis the acouple Beijing, Location, however, is abig draw. in Located and law best firms,”Cantú said. governmentChinese and world’s the biggest andfacilities, history connections to the both for our students. Not only location, but also haveSciences many so outstanding advantages “Beijing and Academy Chinese the of Social bring around 500American students infor country.in the Hu estimates schools those inhabitants, is home to many top law schools acityBeijing, with more than 12million human rights theory. of Law took initiative to develop and research principles of law. civil In Institute 1990s,the the law, marriage law, corporate law and general including law, criminal procedure criminal than 100laws and regulations at state the level, played major roles drafting and morereviewing departments and 12research centers. It has The InstituteLaw of houses 11 research and exchange academic endeavors. inresearch atCalifornia cooperation Berkley doing business and inChina, professional re on international commercial arbitration, and commercial transactions with classes Students primarily will study law Chinese to travel to Beijingfor month-long the program. St. Mary’s is aiming for aclass of 24students When program the kicks off next summer, programthe off,” takes Hu continued. That is definitely back the in of ourminds after visit and research and for to them come here. “We would love for our to faculty go there to exchange. Another possibility down road the is afaculty involved inteaching our students.” law and fluent inEnglish. We’d like to them get Academy professors are who of Chinese experts majority courses,” Hu said. “There aresome Business’ and our professors teach the will ῾St. Mary’s Institute on Law and Chinese “We are tentatively program the calling taught by St. Mary’s professors. five courses over four weeks of Beijingstudy in of world. the St. Mary’s program include will to student the evenon experience, other the side with other top American law students add will summer study abroad programs. Interacting - of how business is done and inChina an andChina return with agreater understanding “It is our hope that our students explore will with internship positions. firms have agreed to place St. Mary’s students multinational companies as clients. Both practice and represent American and extensive and Chinese international legal Beijing. Offices in The firms are involved in law firms, King and and Wood Jun LawHe Cantú and Hu visited with China’s two largest for some of students. best the tolead agreater interest global and internships introduction to doing business will inChina sponsibility. Cantú and Hu hope this Photos courtesy of Robert Hu, Ph.D. of Robert Photos courtesy classmateof thefirmandformerlawschool ofHu. China’s largest lawfirm, by Yang Xiaolei,seniorpartner The St.Mary’s duowere andWood, ledonatour ofKing Photo No. 4: Wall ofChinanearBeijing. oftheGreat sections Hu visited preserved thebest Photo No. 3: Institute ofLaw ontheircampus. dean oftheChineseAcademy Sciences ofSocial Hu andCantú metwithFeng Jun(middle),associate Photo No. 2: hub since Dynasty. theMing The Wangfujing acommercial hasbeen District Photo No. 1: works and wherefit they into it,”Cantú said. increased understanding of how world the

p.3 | LAW NOTES » CAMPUS BRIEFS

Security in a Post 9/11 People´s Law School winner of the Alma L. Lopez Woman World Subject for Conferences Returns to St. Mary´s in Law Student Leadership Award. Chief Justice Lopez presented the The Center for Terrorism Law has St. Mary’s partnered this semester award to second-year law student held two conferences in with the San Antonio Bar Foundation Paula DeWitte. this March, Cyberterrorism: Policy, to offer free legal information to the Legal and Operational Responses public when the 15th Annual People’s Minority Pre-Law Symposium Symposium, and Preparing Law Law School was held on campus. Celebrates White v. Regester Enforcement for Emerging Terrorist Threats, which was held in Local attorneys shared their expertise The Seventh Annual Minority conjunction with the Texas Chapter in a series of classes covering many Pre-Law Student Symposium was of the FBI National Academy legal topics including social security, held for minority high school and Associates, the FBI – San Antonio family law, immigration, disability, college students interested in a legal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office guardianship, employment, wills, career. The event is coordinated for the Western District of Texas, the real estate and bankruptcy. Classes and sponsored by the Center for San Antonio Police Department, the were offered in Spanish on several Latina/o Legal Studies and funded Texas Department of Public Safety immigration issues. All events were by a grant from the Law School and the Texas Police Association. open to the public and also included Admissions Council. The daylong a community resource fair. workshop included various speakers, Last fall, the center held a State information on the law school Open Government Law and Practice Fourth Court on Campus admission process and financial aid, in a Post-9/11 World: Legal and a college fair and culminated with a Policy Symposium at the National As part of Women’s History Month Chicano Rights Banquet. The banquet Press Club in Washington, D.C. activities in March, the Fourth Court honored the 35th anniversary of the The public discussion was a forum of Appeals heard oral arguments in landmark case White v. Regester and for the research collected in the the School of Law’s moot courtroom. the struggle for Latino voting rights, 2006 Congressionally-Directed The two panels heard one criminal in which the Supreme Homeland Defense and Civil Support and one civil case. Chief Justice Alma Court held that Latinos and other Threat Information Collection L. Lopez (J.D. ’68), Justice Phylis minorities cannot be denied the grant administered by the Air Force Speedlin (J.D. ’83), Justice Catherine opportunity for meaningful voting Research Laboratory. Several subject Stone (J.D. ’82), Justice Sandee Bryan participation. The keynote address matter experts from around the Marion (J.D. ’80), Justice Rebecca at the banquet was delivered by

globe gathered to discuss a variety Simmons and Justice Steven C. Hilbig Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., President of security and technology matters presided. Afterward, a reception was of St. Mary’s University, who was the relating to state open government law. held honoring the justices and the

| LAW NOTES | LAW p.4 plaintiff’s expert witness inWhite v. Nutritionals bankruptcy to Regester. The banquet is also a time supplement their consumer law for students to interact with the legal programs. community. In January, Abbott held a press Law School Announces conference on St. Mary’s campus Casseb Scholars Program to officially hand over the award. Cantú, Clinic Director Ana Novoa, The late distinguished alumnus Paul E. Professor Amy Kastely and clinical Casseb (J.D. ’41) gave a gift to the Law student Amanda Rivas spoke to School Foundation a number of years the media about clinic’s consumer ago creating a visiting professorship. Professor Amy Kastely, Attorney General Greg advocacy program. The visiting professorship has brought Abbott and Interim Dean Charles Cantú hold a many talented instructors to the press conference to announce the award given to the Center for Legal and Social Justice. St. Mary’s Center for Legal and Social School of Law. Recently, those funds Justice addresses the legal needs of have been matched with another gift action against the San Antonio-based low-income people in San Antonio from his estate and are transforming company for its widespread and South Texas. The legal clinic into a $1 million endowed scholarship deceptive marketing and sale of provides advice and representation program for law students. The unproven weight-loss products in the areas of criminal defense, scholarship recipients will be called known as “Body Solutions.” immigration law, family law and Casseb Scholars with the first scholars civil matters. on campus this fall. Casseb was “We would like to thank the Attorney honored with the Distinguished Law General and his staff for the support,” St. Mary’s Mock Trial Team Wins Graduate Award in 1976 for his work said Interim Dean Charles Cantú. Regional, Looks to Nationals in the legal community, and was “St. Mary’s University School of Law repeatedly named to the St. Mary’s strives to graduate students who will For the third time in five years, a team Honor Roll for his donations to the one day become legal professionals of St. Mary’s School of Law students University. In 2006, he received the with a dedication to excellence, a won their region of the National Lifetime Achievement Award from the passion for service and a commitment Trial Competition, advancing to the School of Law. Although Casseb died to ethical practice of law. A significant national championship in Austin. this past summer, his legacy lives on part of that educational process is the in the law school. work done at the Center for Legal and The National Trial Competition, one Social Justice. Through the clinical of the oldest and most prestigious Texas Attorney General Grants work there, we nurture our students’ mock trial competitions in the United Award to Law Clinic desire to seek justice while meeting States, invites all ABA-accredited our University’s mission of reaching law schools to compete in the annual Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott out to our community.” competition. The top two teams awarded $100,535 to St. Mary’s from each of the 13 regions advance University School of Law, which The Attorney General ultimately to the championship rounds next will use the funding to expand legal persuaded the bankruptcy court month. Eleven schools from Texas services its consumer law clinic that the funds remaining in the and Louisiana sent a total of 22 provides to South Texas residents. case could best be used to advance teams to compete in the regional consumer law education in Texas. tournament hosted by Texas Tech The money was awarded in a cy In 2005, law schools at Southern School of Law in Lubbock. A team pres ruling from the bankruptcy from Baylor Law School is the other Methodist University and the of Mark Nutritionals, Inc. In University of Houston received winner from the Texas and Louisiana December 2002, the Office of similar awards from the Mark region to advance. the Attorney General took legal | LAW NOTES | LAW p.5 St. Mary’s Regional Champion team special Lamar Bruni Vergara event slated for May 8. To find out of Jeff Starnes, Allison Skipper and Scholarship that will provide highly more about upcoming events or Megan David beat teams from Texas qualified Webb County students chapters in your area, contact Al Tech University School of Law, Tulane with tuition and fees at St. Mary’s Hartman at [email protected] University Law School, South Texas School of Law. or (210) 431-3660. College of Law and Loyola University College of Law on their way to the A $1 million endowed gift was given Student Andria Brannon finals where they defeated Baylor Law to the School of Law last summer honored by Marianists School’s nationally recognized team. from the Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust St. Mary’s third-year law student Jeff to fund the scholarships. The first Starnes was named Best Advocate of two scholarships will be distributed the competition. this fall.

The second team from St. Mary’s, The Lamar Bruni Vergara trust Blake Stribling, Thom Nisbet and was established to ensure the Alexis Lorick, missed breaking in to philanthropic efforts of lifelong the semifinals by one ballot. Laredo resident Lamar Bruni Vergara continued long after her death. The St. Mary’s external advocacy program trust has supported a variety of teams are coached by local attorneys religious, health and educational and alumni Bill Squires and Cliff efforts in South Texas. While this Herberg, with assistant coaches is the first endowment, the Vergara Andria Brannon, Marianist Heritage Leadership Nicole Thornbro, Paul Huckabay Trust has previously given money to Award Winner, shown here with Chief Justice Alma Lopez of the Fourth Court of Appeals with and Morgan Matson. the law school for scholarships. whom she has worked as an intern.

Another St. Mary’s mock trial team, Law Alumni Chapters Third-year law student Andria comprised of Allison Skipper, Jeff Popping Up Brannon was named the recipient Starnes, Thom Nesbit, Matt Hill and of the Marianist Heritage Student Dean Cantú and Assistant Dean Austin Sanford, finished second in Leadership Award. the Eighth Annual National Trial Al Hartman have been logging a lot miles visiting with established Advocacy Competition held last The Marianist Heritage Student alumni chapters and starting new law semester at Michigan State University Leadership Award is given to alumni chapters around the state and College of Law. The competition drew graduating students who express country. Houston and Dallas have 26 teams from the country’s most their faith through action and whose vibrant, dynamic chapters that have recognized schools in trial advocacy. qualities of leadership positively been the example for other chapters St. Mary’s was edged out by Southern enhance the community. It is an award to aspire to. McAllen, St. Louis and Methodist University in a hard-fought for demonstrated concern for social Austin chapters are right on their trial that marked the final round. justice and participation in service heels becoming active chapters, to St. Mary’s and the community. recruiting new students for St. Mary’s St. Mary’s Law School Heralds Brannon was given the award by Sister and becoming mentors for current Scholarships for Webb County Grace Walle, F.M.I., in a University students. Many of these chapters Law Students ceremony earlier this year. She is one have been involved in this recruiting of only three law students who have cycle by hosting admitted student University President Charles L. ever received the University-wide receptions in their areas to woo the Cotrell, Ph.D., Interim Law Dean honor. Charles Cantú and distinguished law admitted students into committing to alumni from Laredo visited Texas St. Mary’s. The Fort Worth Chapter Brannon is a Vernon, Texas, native organized in December and is actively A&M International University this who holds both bachelor’s and gearing up for their major kickoff spring to announce the details of a master’s degrees from the University | LAW NOTES | LAW p.6 of North Texas. Prior to attending the House Committee on Agriculture. St. Mary’s, she worked with the He has also received the Republic of Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Mexico’s Order of the Aztec Eagle, the Texas, New Beginning Center, a highest award given to a non-resident, battered women’s shelter, and and was the 1979 Distinguished Law Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Graduate. During her legal studies at St. Mary’s, she has served on the Supreme Court Webcasts Women’s Law Association Board of Directors, worked with Sister Grace St. Mary’s University School of Law as a member of the Marianist Social and the Supreme Court of Texas Justice Collaborative and serves as collaborate to provide the public with a mentor for first-year students. She access to live webcasts of the Court’s interned with the Fourth Court of oral arguments from Austin. The Appeals, the Travis County Juvenile arguments may also be viewed at a Kika de la Garza speaks to the Homecoming later time through the law school’s Public Defender and the Texas Reunion and CLE lunch as his wife, Cecile, looks on. Municipal Courts Education Center. archives. To view Supreme Court She is currently participating in the Alumnus. Hegar was elected to the proceedings, go to Criminal Justice Clinic at the Center Texas House of Representatives in www.stmarytx.edu/law/webcasts for Legal and Social Justice where she 2003 and to the Texas Senate in is defending the indigent and low- 2007. He has been recognized for his income residents of Bexar County. congressional leadership with many » Next Issue awards, but David Courreges, the Law Hegar and de la Garza Alumni Association board member honored at Homecoming who presented the award, said that Hegar did not receive this award because he’s a senator.

“We are honoring Glenn not because he’s in a position of power, but because he has done great things with his opportunities. He embodies the spirit of the University through his good works; one example is his work to memorialize St. Mary’s Distinguished Young Alumnus Senator student Sarah K. Thompson through Glenn Hegar Jr. with Law Alumni Association sponsoring the Sarah K. Thompson President Judge Barbara Hervey. Act,” Courreges said. As part of the Homecoming Reunion and CLE activities, the Law Alumni De la Garza’s lifetime of Association, Interim Dean Charles achievement and service as a state Cantú and St. Mary’s President Charles and U.S. congressman was rewarded L. Cotrell, Ph. D., honored retired as his portrait was unveiled to be hung on permanent display in the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia U.S. Congressman Kika de la Garza visited the campus on April 3. He had (J.D. ’52) and Texas State Sen. Glenn Law Alumni Room of the Sarita lunch with the faculty and fielded student Kenedy East Law Library. De la questions from behind the bench of the A. Hegar Jr. (J.D. ’97). courtroom for over an hour. More on St. Mary’s

Garza served in the U.S. House relationship with the High Court will be in The Law Alumni Association named of Representatives for 32 years, the upcoming issue. Hegar the 2008 Distinguished Young spending 14 of them as Chair of | LAW NOTES | LAW p.7 » IN MEMORIAM

Ernest A. Raba Sr. Dean Emeritus, Law School Champion

Ernest A. Raba Sr., longtime professor and dean emeritus of St. Mary’s University School of Law, died Dec. 3 at the age of 95.

Raba, the third dean of St. Mary’s School of Law, served from 1946 to 1978, making him one of the longest-serving deans in American legal education. As dean, he ushered in the modern era of legal education at St. Mary’s, overseeing the law school’s initial accreditation by both the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools, the building of the law library’s holdings and the school’s move from St. Mary’s original downtown campus to its current location in 1967. In addition, he was responsible for securing funding for many of the law school’s current facilities.

“St. Mary’s School of Law exists today because of the groundwork laid by Ernest A. Raba,” said St. Mary’s Interim Dean Ernest A. Raba at the downtown law school. Dean Charles Cantú. “He devoted his life to fulfilling this physical plan. There are many successful lawyers practicing today only because Dean Raba saw their potential and took a chance by admitting them to law school. His death creates a big gap in the fabric of legal education.”

1940s 1970s Paul E. Casseb, J.D. ’41, E. Dickinson “Dick” Ryman, J.D. ’70, San Antonio, died Aug. 17, 2007. San Antonio, died April 26, 2007. Jackson B. Love, J.D. ’45, John Baker Britt, J.D. ’73, Llano, died Aug. 6, 2007. San Antonio, died Aug. 29, 2007. Manuel M. Peña, J.D. ’49, Edward J. Mihalko, J.D. ’73, San Antonio, died April 7, 2007. San Antonio, died Aug. 25, 2007.

1950s Patricia Swanson McQuarrie, J.D. ’78, Sylvan R. Alter, J.D. ’50, Peachtree City, Ga., died Jan. 23, 2008. San Antonio, died Sept. 15, 2007. Patricia A. Mansell, J.D. ’79, Carroll Henry Sierk, J.D. ’53, San Antonio, died Aug. 6, 2007. Lakewood, Ohio, died May 10, 2007. 1990s

Walter P. Gray, J.D. ’54, Richard F. Sciaraffa, J.D. ’96, San Antonio, died Jan. 1, 2007. San Antonio, died May 10, 2007.

1960s Marvin D. Shaw, Sr., J.D. ’96, Lufkin, died Sept. 24, 2007.

| LAW NOTES | LAW Herman Fletcher Brown, Jr. J.D. ’63, p.8 Arcadia, Fla., died April 24, 2007. » ON THE BENCH

Craig A. Gargotta (J.D. ’89) Austin, has been appointed as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in Austin for the Western District of Texas. Delia E. Martinez Carian (J.D. ’90) San Antonio, is an associate judge for Bexar County.

» St. Mary’s alumni Pamela Craig (J.D. ’00), Nico La Hood (J.D. ’02), Roland Ramos (J.D. ’98) and Edward Shaughnessy (J.D. ’81) have been appointed as Bexar County Magistrates.

» LEGAL TENDER

The students, faculty and staff of St. Mary’s School of Law would like to extend their deepest gratitude to those who have so graciously given back financially to support our students through scholarships, professorships and other generous endeavors. Since last summer, more than $4 million has been pledged or paid to law school funds. Here are a few examples of the generosity of alumni and friends:

• Harry Levine has pledged money for a minority student scholarship. • Henry and Marie Ellert have started a scholarship in memory of their daughter, Karen Ellert Peña. • Carol and Ted Thompson have begun a scholarship in memory of their daughter, Sarah K. Thompson. • Ted Craver pledged to add each year to his established scholarship. • The estate of Norma Fink Huffaker has established a scholarship for women in advocacy. • A scholarship in the name of Hal Walker has been boosted by donations. • The Chief Justice Alma Lopez Scholarship has also grown from anonymous donations.

• The Roger L. and Laura D. Zeller Charitable Foundation made a gift to the law school. • A gift was made to the Charlotte Walston Endowed Scholarship Fund. | LAW NOTES | LAW p.9 » KUDOS & CLASS NOTES

Allan B. Polunsky Appointed ’51 high-profile death penalty case Chairman of Texas Public Roy R. Barrera Sr., J.D., San Antonio, involving Victor Saldano, an Safety Commission is celebrating 50 years in partnership Argentine national on Texas’ death with Anthony Nicholas. Two of his row. This award is presented to Texas Gov. Rick Perry has appointed sons, Roy R. Barrera Jr., J.D. ’75, outstanding foreigners whose San Antonio attorney Allan B. and Robert J. Barrera, J.D. ’83, “services and personal works have Polunsky (J.D. ’75) as Chairman of the are attorneys with the firm and his been distinguished by and deserve Texas Public Safety Commission. The daughter, Carmen Barrera Ramirez, the gratitude of the Nation.” Stanley TPSC is responsible for formulating B.A. ’79, is a secretary for the firm. is one of two Texans to ever receive and overseeing policies for the Texas the award. The honor was for the Department of Public Safety, the ’54 successful effort to seek resentencing state’s chief law enforcement agency. Robert L. Vale, J.D., San Antonio, of Saldano, who received the death who died in 1992, will have the penalty several years ago after a Polunsky has served on the TPSC Northside Independent School state-sponsored psychologist testified since 2007, and becomes the first District’s 16th middle school, that he deserved the death penalty person to serve as chairman of both scheduled to open in the fall, based in part on the fact that he was the TPSC and the Texas Board of named in his honor. Hispanic. Ultimately, the courts Criminal Justice, the state’s top two agreed that Saldano, and at least five ’70 law enforcement agencies. He others who were sentenced to death Harvey P. Levine, J.D., La Jolla, previously served five years as based on testimony from the same Calif., was recently named to the chairman of the TBCJ. expert, should be given a new California State Bar’s Trial Lawyer sentencing hearing. After the Saldano Hall of Fame. He is managing partner and founder case was widely publicized, the Texas of Polunsky & Beitel LLP, a law firm John Stempfle, J.D., Grosse Pointe, Legislature banned the use of similar that specializes in real estate and Mich., was re-elected to a four-year testimony in the future. mortgage lending with offices in San term as a councilman for the City of Antonio and Dallas. He was recently Grosse Pointe. Schneider is a partner at the Houston honored with the Distinguished law firm of Schneider & McKinney Service Award from the Texas ’73 PC. He is board certified in Criminal Mortgage Bankers Association for his Robert C. Cowan Jr., J.D., Law by the State Bar of Texas and outstanding work and commitment San Antonio, was invited by the is currently First Vice President of to the mortgage banking industry. American Association for Justice the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers to be a delegate to their People to Association. Polunsky is a current member of People Exchange Program in China Gov. Perry’s Border Security Council, in October 2007. His daughter, Anna ’75 and previously served on the Finance Lisa McDonough, J.D. ’91, also Larry W. Harrison, J.D., Sugar Commission of Texas. He has also attended. The purposes of the Land, an adjunct professor at the has served the City of San Antonio meetings were to exchange ideas, Sugar Land Campus of the University as chairman of the City Zoning thoughts, and information on each of Houston-Victoria teaches a Commission, president of the of our judicial systems from the junior-level course in business law. Industrial Development Authority, Chinese point of view and the He served as president of Fort Bend member of the Planning Commission American system of law. Lawyers Care in 2006-2007, a pro and served on the San Antonio bono legal organization for the River Authority Board of Directors ’74 indigent of Fort Bend County. for 12 years. Stanley Schneider, J.D., Houston, was presented the “Orden de Mayo James N. Higdon, J.D., San Antonio, al Merito,” Order of Merit, one of the of Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht LLP, was country’s highest recognitions, by elected to Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas as the representative | LAW NOTES | LAW the Consul General of Argentina in from the Small Sections. He also p.10 Houston on Dec. 20, for work on a received the Franklin S. Jones Best Knight LLP and his practice will focus Eastern Tax Officials Association CLE Article Award for 2006 from the on the complex matters of criminal Conference in Washington, D.C. college of the State Bar of Texas for defense, including representation of “War and Peace – Military Benefit persons and companies who have ’95 Issues in Wartime.” been charged in federal and state Christopher Burke, J.D., San court and those under investigation Antonio, began the Burke Law ’77 by federal grand juries and federal Firm and continues to practice in James Pigg, J.D., San Antonio, is an authorities. insurance coverage, commercial Army civil service employee attorney litigation and appeals. and was just reassigned from White ’86 Sands Missile Range, N.M., to the Martin Van Brauman, J.D., Plano, Jon Todd Koenig, J.D., Bainbridge Installation Management Command has been appointed interim chief Island, Wash., is vice president and West, legal office at Fort Sam Houston. financial officer of Zion Oil & Gas Inc. chief trust officer for the new Regional Trust Center for Merrill Lynch Trust ’78 ’87 Co. in Seattle and manages six trust David E. Chamberlain, J.D., Austin, Mark D. Albertson, J.D., Kent, professionals covering the company’s has been named “The Outstanding Wash., is CEO of the Albertson northwest region. Defense Bar Leader” in the nation by Law Group PS. Shawn T. Pabst, J.D., Missoula, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar, Mont., is vice president of a national organization of more than Jonathan Cluck, J.D., Boerne, a development and co-owner of 22,000 defense trial lawyers and partner with Nunley Davis Jolley TacitLogic Inc. corporate counsel. Cluck Aelvoet LLP, is president of the Kendall County Bar Association and John M. Vaught, J.D., Denver, Colo., a board member for the Hill Country ’96 has been selected for inclusion in Alternative Dispute Resolution Center. Burton D. Brillahart, J.D., Dallas, the 2007 Edition of Best Lawyers general counsel for Drive Financial in America. ’89 Services, received the Best Corporate James Hada, J.D., Corpus Christi, Counsel award from the Dallas ’79 is partner with the CGT Law Group Business Journal. David R. Weiner, J.D., Dallas, has International LLP. Michelle Majchrzak Jacko, J.D., been a member of Glast, Phillips San Diego, who started Core and Murray PC since 2002. ’92 Shelly A. Sanford, J.D., Houston, Compliance and Legal Services Inc. ’80 founder of Sanford Stevens Riff LLP in April 2006, was published in the J. Thomas Rhodes III, J.D., San in Houston, was appointed to The Journal of Taxation and Financial Antonio, is an attorney with the law Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in Planning, has a compliance column firm of Rhodes & Vela LLP. federal MDL’s including VIOXX, in Bank Advisors magazine and Fosamax, Bextra, and Viagra. She is was named a Top 20 Rising Star ’82 outside council to the State of Texas for “Who’s Who” in upcoming James F. Shrewsbury, J.D., St. Louis, in Texas’ VIOXX litigation. compliance professionals in Mo., is on the Board of Directors Compliance Reporter’s magazine. of the Great Rivers Environmental ’93 Marina Garcia Marmolejo, J.D., Center. David Glenn Rogers, J.D., Midland, Austin, has joined the law firm of is an attorney with the firm of Thompson & Knight LLP and will ’83 Fivecoat & Rogers. David W. George Riter, J.D., focus her practice on trial and dispute Plymouth Meeting, Pa., a partner ’94 resolution, primarily in the area of in the Fort Washington law firm of Sharon Nicole Humble, J.D., white collar criminal defense. Timoney Knox LLP, assumed the Berwyn, Pa., is managing partner of ’97 duties of managing partner. the Philadelphia office of Linebarger Dan Cierpiot, J.D., St. Louis, Mo., Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP and was named the executive director of ’85 was a speaker on the topic of

the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of NOTES | LAW Michael McCrum, J.D., Austin, has Sourcing Strategies at the North joined the law office of Thomson & America – St. Louis Chapter. p.11 Scot Graydon, J.D., Austin, received Wendy Vick-Willis, J.D., San David W. Jewett, J.D., San Antonio, an LL.M. degree in intellectual Antonio, has for the past year become is associate attorney with Lang Law property law from the George a spokesperson for organ donation, Firm PC. Washington University Law School working with the MultiOrgan and works for the Office of the Transplant Center at Methodist Amy E. Owen, J.D., San Antonio, is a Attorney General in the General Hospital in Houston. She is assisting prosecutor for Bexar County District Litigation Division. with fundraising campaigns for Nora’s Attorney’s Office. House, a residence for out-of-town ’07 ’98 transplant patients and their families. Devin “Buck” Benson, J.D., San Shan Marie Egliskis, J.D., San Antonio, is a partner in the law firm ’00 Antonio, is staff attorney for The of Pulman, Bresnahan, Pullen and Jason Zehner, J.D., San Antonio, is Rosenblatt Law Firm. Capuccio. a partner with the law firm of Davis, Alejandro Aguirre Montelongo, J.D., Cedillo & Mendoza Inc. Christopher Burnett, J.D., Austin, is San Marcos, is an attorney with the Law Office of Alex Aguirre M. PLLC. assistant general counsel for the Office ’01 of the Governor. Rosie Gonzalez, J.D., San Antonio, Lorilei Cronin, J.D., Dallas, is an participated in Women’s Campaign Brandon Hudson, J.D., San Antonio, associate in the litigation section of School at Yale University this past board certified for criminal law by the the Dallas office of Jackson Walker. summer. Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Jessica J. Lerma, J.D., San Antonio, is first assistant prosecutor with the ’02 is concentrating her practice in the 81st Judicial District Attorney in William M. Gerhardt III, J.D., areas of business formation, real Floresville. San Antonio, is an associate attorney estate and family law in the Law Jason Kipness, J.D., Dallas, and with Cox Smith Matthews Inc. Offices of Demetrio Duarte Jr. and Robbie Partida-Kipness, Dallas, Associates PC. ’03 opened the Kipness Law Firm PC. Colin L. Murchison, J.D., Sandra Hagee Parker, J.D., San Amy L. Nelson, J.D., Houston, was Fort Worth, associate in the tax and Antonio, is an associate with Tuggey named gift planning officer at Rice estates section of Jackson Walker Rosenthal Pauerstein Sandoloski University. firm was selected asFort Worth, Agather LLP. Texas magazine’s “Top Attorneys.” Gregory Lawrence Ryan, J.D., Anthony D’Ascenzo Seach, J.D., He is director on the American Red is an attorney at law in Austin. Honolulu, Hawaii, opened a solo Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter, a family law practice after serving in director on the Tarrant County Adult the Navy JAG Corps for five years. Protective Services Community Lt. Col. Mike Simpson, J.D., Board and also on the Trinity Valley San Antonio, whose three sons are School Alumni Board. on active duty in the Army, has been ’04 recalled into the Special Forces and is Jay A. Bender, J.D., McKinney, serving with the Multi-National Forces opened his own law office in – Iraq in Baghdad. McKinney, after serving as an ’99 assistant district attorney for both Joshua Nelson-Archer, J.D., Sugar Dallas and Collin Counties. Land, a shareholder in Rymer, Moore, ’05 Jackson & Echols, focuses his practice Riann Bensel Moore, M.A., J.D., in civil litigation. Dallas, is an attorney with Walters, Pamela Pelser-Linnins, J.D., Paradise Balido & Crain LLP. Valley, Ariz., is assistant attorney ’06 general with the Arizona Attorney Oscar Branche Jackson III, J.D., General’s Office Child and Family Austin, is an environmental attorney Protection Section.

| LAW NOTES | LAW with the Texas Commission on

p.12 Environmental Quality. » CALENDARSpring 2008

April 12 CUT ALONG DOTTEDCUT ALONG LINE

The St. Mary’s Law Journal Recognitions

and Awards Ceremony " ------April 18 Barrister’s Ball ------April 18- 19 Fiesta Oyster Bake ------May 8 Fort Worth Alumni Chapter Kickoff Event ------May 17 Law School Commencement: Tom Corbett, Pennsylvania’s 25th Attorney General scheduled to be the graduation speaker ------June 6-8 Class of 1978 30-year class reunion FOLD ON GUIDE ------

For more information on these or other events, please check our Web Site at www.stmarytx.edu/law For alumni event information, please contact Al Hartman at [email protected] lawnotes St. Mary’s University School of Law Newsletter

President Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D. (B.A. ’62, M.A. ’64) School of Law Interim Dean Charles E. Cantú (J.D. ’64) Editor Beth Barbee Designer Steven Keating Photography Robert H. Hu, Ph.D. Melanie Rush Davis Class Notes information: Type ofbusiness Job title E-mail Phone Business address Employer/firm name Employment info E-mail Phone Home address Class year Name Personal Information to dropping usanote. You canalsosubmityour information on your accomplishments byHelp keepusup-to-date » [email protected]

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