Columbia Law School Winter 2010
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From the Dean On August 17, 2009, Dean David M. Schizer offered his welcoming remarks to the incoming class of J.D. and LL.M. students at Columbia Law School. An edited version of that address appears below. This is both an inspiring and a challenging time to come that excellence is measured in many different ways—in to law school. It is inspiring because the world needs you the pride you take in your work, in the reputation you more than ever. We live in troubled times, and many of develop among your peers, and, more importantly, in the great issues of our day are inextricably tied to law. Our the eyes of the people you have helped. But to my mind, financial system has foundered, and we need to respond excellence should not be measured in dollars. with more effective corporate governance and wiser The second fundamental truth to remember is that regulation. Innovation, competition, and free trade need integrity is the bedrock of any successful career. It is a to be encouraged in order for our economy to flourish. great source of satisfaction to know that you have earned Because of the significant demands on our public sector, your successes, that you didn’t cut any corners, and that our tax system needs to collect revenue efficiently and people trust you. fairly. Our dependence on imported fuel jeopardizes our As for the specifics of what career choices to make, national security, and our emission of greenhouse gases you are just beginning that journey. Most likely, there places our environment at risk. Terrorists threaten our will be twists and turns along the way, many of them national security, and our responses need to be effective unplanned. Indeed, if the world pushes you to take and faithful to our core values. Social issues such as risks and move out in new directions—in part because same-sex marriage, affirmative action, and abortion the more familiar paths are harder to navigate than they continue to divide our society. used to be—you may find yourself even more fulfilled, Each of these challenges demands the creativity and and more successful, because you charted a course that rigor of first-rate lawyers. [And] an extraordinarily was best suited to you. The bottom line, then, is that broad range of opportunities is open to you. We are all you have many exciting choices ahead of you. different, and you should take this opportunity to think I want to conclude by quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, expansively about what would be most fulfilling for you. the wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Class of 1907. I can promise you that, whatever your dream turns out As Mrs. Roosevelt famously said: “Yesterday is history, to be—whether it involves public interest litigation, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift.” So I would academia, entrepreneurship, politics, private practice, encourage you to enjoy your time with us at Columbia or something else—we will prepare you for leadership in Law School, and to appreciate the remarkable gift that any sector, anywhere in the world. we all have been given by being together at this exciting Your goals should be success and happiness, of course, time and in this wonderful place. but the challenge in the coming years is to define what Welcome to the Columbia family! this means for you. As you try to figure this out, keep two fundamental truths in mind. First, excellence is its own reward. You have been blessed with extraordinary ability. You should appreciate what a glorious gift that is, and you should savor it. At the same time, remember LAW.COLUMBIA.EDU/MAGAZINE 1 Tableof Contents: 28 14 departments 4 14 18 19 20 EX POST FACTO SEE ALSO SETTING THE BAR FACULTY FOCUS PROFILES IN Kahlil Williams, Emma Education Policy, Civil Rights, SCHOLARSHIP 5 Neff, Erik Lindemann, James S. Liebman Olati Johnson Jane M. Spinak NEWS & EVENTS Jennifer Sokoler 48 ALUMNI PROFILES 52 Paramount leadershiP 48 evolving justice BY Peter Kiefer BY Carl Freire Viacom President Takesaki Hironobu ’71 and CEO Philippe LL.M., Japan’s chief Dauman ’78 remains justice, welcomes at the top of his game changes in the country’s during especially judicial system and sees challenging times for a unique opportunity the media industry. 56 from Professor to judge for learning. 54 By Debra A. LIvingston AT ISSUE ESSAYS A look at how issues of critical importance to leveling the 54 mediating medical judges are perceived Playing field conflicts by law professors, and BY Lila Byock BY Carol B. Liebman vice versa. As the driving force behind When addressing a highly successful health care disputes, 58 minority scholarship and the use of voluntary CLASS NOTES mentoring program, Della mediation makes a Britton Baeza ’78 builds on good deal of sense. 76 a hall of fame legacy. IN MEMORIAM 80 QUESTIONS PRESENTED Ruth Bader 50 Ginsburg ’59 2 COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL MAGAZINE WINTER 2010 32 features 28 36 FAST FORWARD pulling their BY Ian Daly weight Law School graduates BY Ken Stier working at the intersection With an array of IN SESSION of new media technology international pro bono BY Carrie Johnson and the law are helping opportunities in Africa, Columbia Law School has a to reshape the world of Asia, Europe, and beyond, storied tradition of faculty and communications. Alumni the International Senior alumni ascending to important at Google, Microsoft, Lawyers Project enables positions in the judiciary. and Sirius XM Radio alumni with considerable For Law School students, discuss what attracted professional experience this means an unparalleled them to the field and to make a unique impact opportunity to learn from legal how technological in developing nations scholars of the highest order. advancements have around the globe. influenced their careers. 40 32 Marriage THE ROAD for same-sex LESS TRAVELED couples: BY Paula Span A conversation Around the world, and Marriage for same-sex just around the corner, couples is one of the most 22 graduates of the Law talked about legal issues in School are making an America today. Professors immense impact in the Emens, Franke, Goldberg, world of academia. For and Persily cover the issue this group of scholars, from a multitude of angles working to mold the next in a free-flowing discussion generation of intellectual that examines the future leaders and advance of marriage equality. meaningful ideas could not be more rewarding. LAW.COLUMBIA.EDU/MAGAZINE 3 Columbia Law School Magazine Dean david m. schizer Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations bruno m. santonocito Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs elizabeth schmalz Editor matthew j.x. malady Managing Editor joy y. wang Assistant Editor mary johnson Photography Director peter freed Editorial Director james vescovi Copy Editor lauren pavlakovich Design and Art Direction the barnett group Printing maar printing service, inc. Columbia Law School Magazine is published three times annually for alumni and Summer Issue 2009 friends of Columbia Law School by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Opinions expressed in Columbia Law School Magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Columbia Law School or Columbia University. Ex Post Facto This magazine is printed on FSC certified paper. appeared on page 22 too much on the plates High Hopes of the lawmakers on It seems that the real Capitol Hill to invest any challenge of the climate meaningful time into Change of address information should be sent to: change issue is its this kind of legislation. columbia law school inability to be confined With the current health 435 West 116 Street, Box A-2 to any given border. Even care debate, as well as New York, NY 10027 just addressing the issue the economic crisis, Attn: Office of Alumni Relations in the United States, while climate change policy alumni office certainly a necessary seems like it would just 212-854-2680 and important start, isn’t expend more political enough. Gerrard and capital from the Obama magazine notices Kolbert’s point about administration at this 212-854-2650 [email protected] the need for technology point than can be spared. and cash transfers speaks But this legislation has Copyright 2009, Columbia Law School. All rights reserved. to the underlying more implications for our international cooperation future than anything else that must take place. we currently face. –Anne Gilbert –Narayan Subramanian find us online! Visit law.columbia.edu/magazine Cap and trade sounds appeared on page 32 THROUGHOUT THE MAGAZINE, ICONS ALLOW like a great system on Global Positioning YOU TO SAY, DO, SEE, AND LEARN MORE. paper, but the actual More government is not implementation seems the answer; government is quite difficult, if not the problem. Government impossible. As the forced Fannie and Join the interview elucidates, a Freddie to buy subprime Conversation Go Beyond cap-and-trade system mortgages; government Tell us what Explore you think in our interactives seems ripe for gaming. failed to heed warnings comments section related to And the companies of the problems brewing the articles most affected by the there as a result; system would probably government allowed do everything in their investment banks to power to convince significantly increase the View More lawmakers in D.C. that leverage on their balance Watch videos and browse slideshows the entire idea behind sheets; and government cap and trade is a failure looked the other way Web because it would require while the credit default Exclusives more bureaucratic Read additional swaps market grew to web-only profiles control and would $53 trillion. What’s the and articles cripple our economy point of regulators if Listen In at a time of crisis.