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Fall 2011 LawNotes, The t.S Mary's University School of Law Newsletter St. Mary's University School of Law

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This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law Publications at Digital Commons at St. Mary's University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Law Notes by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons at St. Mary's University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. | St. Mary’s University School of Law Fall 2011

A Look at St. Mary’s Legal Minds A NOTE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Fellow Graduates,

The accomplishments of our students, faculty and you—our graduates—continue to make St. Mary’s a school of which to be proud. The Hon. Marina Garcia Marmolejo ( J.D. ’96) was confirmed by the United States Senate recently as a federal judge in the U.S. Southern Judicial District of . David Morales ( J.D. ’94) recently was appointed general counsel for Texas Gov. , and Rolando Pablos ( J.D. ’98) was appointed to the Texas Public Utility Commission.

As you will read in this issue, we honored Chief Justice Catherine Stone and James “Jimmy” Jones as our 2011 Distinguished Law Graduates. This was our biggest event ever, with 79 tables sold and more than 700 in attendance. I sincerely thank each of you who participated for making this dinner an astounding success and a warm homecoming for so many.

This fall, I have been traveling around the country visiting our Law Alumni Association chapters. We began our tour in Dallas, Denver and St. Louis, and then joined our chapter in Washington, D.C., to recognize Congressman Michael McCaul ( J.D. ’87). The fall tour finished in Fort Worth for a celebration of Pollard Rogers ( J.D. ’76) as a local outstanding law alumnus. We will continue visiting our chapters in the spring as well as joining Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., on his stewardship tour of University Alumni Association chapters.

For the first time in a number of years, the law faculty participated in a retreat this semester. The main focus of the discussions was curricular issues, particularly the possibility of adding practical aspects, such as a third-year capstone or portfolio course. It was decided to launch an experimental intersession this winter of practice skills courses. We have outstanding faculty members who are dedicated to the highest quality of legal education. A few examples of their latest scholarly work are showcased in this issue.

Sister Grace Walle, F.M.I., has served St. Mary’s University as a professed Marianist for 30 years and the School of Law as campus minister for nearly 20 years. Her impact on thousands of St. Mary’s alumni has been tremendous. I sent you a letter regarding her accomplishments with an opportunity to support her many service activities. Soon, you will also receive information about our General Fall Campaign in your mailbox. We depend on you to help us continue the great work of our law school, and appreciate your generosity.

If your busy careers and lives take you through the International Airport, look for our new advertisement in Concourse A. We are promoting our successful evening legal studies program to raise awareness within San Antonio’s business community. Enjoy reading Law Notes, come back to St. Mary’s often, and keep up the good work in your lives and communities.

Sincerely, Charles E. Cantú (J.D. ’64) Dean and South Texas Distinguished Professor of Law ON THE BORDER Legal Aid to the Underserved

For third-year law student Miranda Legal and Social Justice’s Immigration “We just hustle in and begin seeing Guerrero, the idea that the St. Mary’s and Human Rights Clinic. Instead, it clients,” Guerrero said. During their School of Law would offer legal is the new consumer fraud section that October visit, the clinic students opened outreach to those in need along the takes the majority of cases from the 10 new possible cases and counseled Texas- border makes perfect border towns. eight different existing clients, all in just sense. “This is the good stewardship that “Our efforts at the border focus on three hours. St. Mary’s is all about,” Guerrero said providing legal services to one of the Guerrero, who has completed her of the St. Mary’s Center for Legal and largest underserved populations in the student clinical hours is now a teaching Social Justice’s work along the border. state,” said Amanda Rivas, associate assistant, serves as a mentor facilitating St. Mary’s clinicians and their director of Practice Credit Programs, the process and advising students which student lawyers routinely address the who has organized the clinic’s expansion legal codes to research and use before unmet legal needs of low–income to border communities. “We provide they present the case to their supervising people in San Antonio and South Texas. an opportunity to seek legal counsel professors. She is a trained social worker Although they get plenty of cases in in the areas of social security, property embarking on a second career through Bexar County, the Civil Justice Clinic issues, consumer, and family law issues. the Evening Law Program, and her also travels to the severely resource- We have seen an unfortunate increase social work skills often come in handy. starved border region throughout in consumer fraud issues that only For example, she helps fellow law the year, bringing law students and highlight their vulnerability if they students assist domestic violence victims supervising attorneys to Eagle Pass and continue to lack legal representation.” who are upset and do not want to talk Laredo and taking on several new cases The lack of English-speaking skills about their situations. each trip. among this population increases the “I work with the students and help “There were literally no legal services problems. “They feel ill-prepared to them relate to the clients. We have to being offered there,” said Genevieve ask basic questions to get the help they let the victims know that, as difficult as Hébert Fajardo, clinical professor. “It need. We educate them on resources it may be to relate this information, it is was Associate Dean Ana Novoa’s vision available to them,” said Guerrero. “We important for their agencies to know.” to expand our clinical program to that get a lot of landlord-tenant issues and The border clinics are so popular region and it really took off last year.” consumer fraud, where people are with law students that they have become Since August 2010, the clinicians simply victimized because of their lack a regular part of the clinical rotation. have opened 38 litigation, extended of language skills.” The clinical programs include the services or brief service cases from the Each group making the trip is Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, border. In the same time period, they generally made up of four interpreters a Criminal Law Clinic and the Civil were able to offer legal advice on more and eight students—mostly because that Justice Clinic, which the border law and than 50 other issues. is all that will fit into the van. On clinic consumer fraud programs fall under, “We are unequivocally making a Saturdays, the students do intake with have waiting lists for students wanting difference with these border clinics,” potential clients and take cases based to participate. The civil clinic activities said Guerrero, a law student involved on the answers to four questions: What are funded through a grant from the in the program. “Our work is deeply is the issue? Can we help them? Do we Texas Access to Justice Foundation. appreciated by the clients.” have the resources? What can be done? “I absolutely love the clinic,” Although immigration issues In Eagle Pass, the group sets up at Guerrero said. “It is the perfect would seem the logical issue at hand, the Seco Mines Community Center. The marriage of client advocacy and St. Mary’s is not staffed to handle that center coordinator handles the logistics interface and applying classroom load. Students do, however, refer some for the day, so the students can swoop in knowledge.” ■ immigration cases to the Center for and begin the intake process.

lawnotes | p.1 AN EPIC AS BIG AS TEXAS

Michael Ariens, a St. Mary’s professor of law and director of faculty scholarship, has A Look at written an engaging read on the legal history of Texas. Lone Star Law tells the legal story of Texas and how laws evolved, including a history of the legal profession in the Lone Star State and colorful tales of property, criminal and tort laws. St. Mary’s Gordon Morris Bakken, professor of history at California State University–Fullerton, wrote in the book’s foreward that Ariens “clearly explains the multinational legal heritage of Texas, the challenges of the Republic, and the Legal Minds accomplishments of statehood. He surveys a legislative past as well as the judicial heritage that confronted problems of land, water, crime, St. Mary’s University School of Law prides itself on graduating students and industrial revolution amid an agricultural who are prepared to become ethical and competent practitioners of the and ranching economy… Texas produced presidents, senators, and representatives for the law. This would not be possible without top-notch faculty members who national political and legal system, but in Texas continue to stay abreast of the latest legal debates and who are experts law, people in local and state politics mattered. in many facets of the law. St. Mary’s law professors’ interest areas and Michael Ariens gives the reader a sense of how.” Ariens is a constitutional scholar known their research concentrations are as varied as the professors themselves. A for his expertise in American legal history and look at the current work of Michael Ariens, Colin Marks, Jamie Lund and church-state issues. He has written books on topics including how to be successful in law Vincent Johnson shows the range of St. Mary’s law faculty’s research. school and one called Religious Liberty in a Pluralistic Society. Ariens, who has taught at St. Mary’s since 1987, earned his juris doctor at Marquette University and an LL.M. at Harvard University.

Ariens

p.2 | lawnotes Lund

Marks Information SUPREME IRONY pollution

Colin Marks, professor of Jamie Lund, assistant professor law, specializes in commercial and of law and a thought leader in the corporate law, teaching and writing eLEARNING field of intellectual property, joined on commercial law, contracts and St. Mary’s faculty in 2010. Lund’s business associations. Marks came paper titled “Property Rights to Vincent Johnson, professor of law to St. Mary’s in 2006 from the Information” was recently published and co-director of St. Mary’s Institute Houston firm Baker Botts, where in the Northwestern Journal of on Chinese Law and Business, has been he concentrated on commercial Technology and Intellectual Property. published prolifically and frequently cited litigation. In the article, she investigates the by federal and state courts. For example, Currently, he is working on an unique nature of the harm from what his article on the economic loss rule has article of interest to those who she calls “information pollution,” been cited or quoted by the state supreme practice in the corporate and the misinformation rampant on courts in Arizona, Iowa, Tennessee and commercial realm, examining the the Internet ranging from a wrong Texas. Today, he is on the cutting edge, Supreme Court decision of AT&T phone number to misleading product finishing a book that is literally the first Mobility v. Concepcion, which reviews. Lund criticizes modern of its kind. It is a teaching text for courses upheld a class action waiver clause media for being so quick to post on professional responsibility that is in arbitration. Marks critiques the a story with no fact-checking and totally electronic–complete with clickable decision, which has largely been opines that modern media causes links to reference articles and legal codes regarded as striking a blow to the more harm from information as well as online quizzes. It is a state-of- ability of consumers to bring suits pollution than traditional media the-art text that is expected to be used in against companies via class actions. due to the viral nature of spreading law schools nationwide. He makes the case that the decision, the message. The legal remedy to though premised upon a desire this problem, she argues, is that an to promote arbitration, ironically individual should own property discourages consumers from using rights to his indisputable personal arbitration when the individual sums information, which would allow that owed are thought to be too small for person to demand a retraction or an the reasonable consumer to justify amendment to a webpage, rather than the time and effort to seek a remedy. punitive damages. ■ He also explores the meaning of the case beyond class action waivers. The article will appear soon in the Indiana Johnson Law Journal’s online publication, The Supplement.

lawnotes | p.3 2011 St. Mary’sD Stone was appointed to the Fourth by the Texas Supreme Court, the Federal University School Court of Appeals by Gov. Ann Richards Courts for the State of Texas in the of Law and the Law in 1994inne and was sworn in as Chief Justice Southern and Western Districts, the Alumni Association in 2009. She served on the St. Mary’s United States Court of Appeals for the honored Chief Law Journal while at St. Mary’s, and has Fifth Circuit and Supreme Court of the Justice Catherine practiced trial and appellate law with the United States. He has also argued pro hac M. Stone ( J.D. San Antonio law firm of Watkins, Mireles, vice in courts in the Republic of Mexico. ’82) of the Fourth Brock, and Barrientos, before furthering Jones serves on the St. Mary’s School Court of Appeals, her appellate practice in the Law Offices of Law Foundation. He is a trustee of and Laredo attorney of Catherine M. Stone. She served on the Helen Richter Watson Charitable James Kenton Jones the Texas Supreme Court Task Force on Foundation, which promotes fine art study Jr. (J.D. ’81) as the Foster Care from 1994 through 2007, and and appreciation throughout South Texas. 2011 St. Mary’s currently serves as a member of the Texas A fifth–generation Texan, Jones often Distinguished Law Multidistrict Litigation Panel. speaks to groups on his family’s history and Graduates at an awards dinner in October. Jones, an accomplished oil and gas living on the border. The annual awards are given to individuals attorney specializing in mineral owners’ with outstanding achievements in the legal rights, is a partner in the Laredo law firm profession and dedicated service to the of Jones and Gonzalez. In his 30–year School of Law. career, he has been admitted to practice

to our sponsors Dr. and Mrs. Eduardo Caballero and Patrick J. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Robert Salinas David McQuade Leibowitz, P.C. ChampionsArturo N. Benavides Sr. and Family Costco Liquors/Grady’s BBQ Professor Aloysius A. Leopold ThankFriends of Jimmy Jones You David C. Courreges/De Leon & Washburn, P.C. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated Lone Star National Bank/David DeAnda, President Bill Crow and Dawn Finlayson The Hon. Alma LÓpez and Jo Chris Lopez UnderwritersOmar Alvarez Dallas Law Alumni Association Chapter Margaret Maisel Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, L.L.P. Jeffrey R. Davis/Davis Law Firm The Hon. Sandee Bryan Marion and Kay Booth Dwain Dent/The Dent Law Firm The Hon. Polly Jackson Spencer Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc. Duncan, Bressler & Liu, Inc./ Antonio Martinez Haynes and Boone, LLP San Antonio Young Lawyers Association Naman Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC The Nunley Firm Sara E. Dysart and Richard H. Noll Pearl Associates, L.C. The Hon. and Mrs. Mario E. Ramirez Jr. Former Clerks to Chief Justice Stone Plunkett & Gibson, Inc. The Hon. and Mrs. Israel Ramon Jr. Friends of Jimmy Jones 2 RAB Law Firm P.C. St. Mary’s University School of Law and Friends of Jimmy Jones 3 The Law Offices of Donato D. Ramos, PLLC Dean Charles E. Cantú Friends of Jimmy Jones 4 Ray, Valdez, McChristian & Jeans Steves & Sons/Mission Park Funeral Chapels/ Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Rio Grande Valley Law Alumni Association Chapter Dilley Law Firm Adan A. Gonzalez III The Hon. Irene Rios Valero Energy Corporation Arnulfo Gonzalez Jr. Rose · Walker, L.L.P. The Hon. Monica Gonzalez, The Hon. Reneé San Antonio Bar Foundation McElhaney, The Hon. Laura Parker and Schmoyer Reinhard LLP & Keller Stolarczyk PLLC SponsorsRobert E. Aldrich The Hon. Ron Rangel Shivers & Shivers Jon Christian Amberson, P.C. Gonzalez Chiscano Angulo & Kasson, PC St. Mary’s Law School Foundation The Hon. Karen Angelini, The Hon. Phylis Speedlin, Goode Casseb Jones Riklin Choate & Watson, P.C. St. Mary’s University The Hon. Rebecca Simmons, The Hon. Steven The Hon. Paul W. Green Star Shuttle & Charter/Gray Line Tours Hilbig and The Hon. Marialyn Barnard Albert Hartman The Hon. Catherine M. and Dr. Tom Stone Ariel House Law Office The Herrera Law Firm George A. Taylor The Hon. Antonia Arteaga, The Hon. Barbara The Hon. Barbara Parker Hervey and Richard Langlois Unico Cattle Company Nellermoe, The Hon. Larry Noll, The Hon. Karen Hispanic Law Alumni Association/ Paul R. Vahldiek Jr./ Pozza and The Hon. Martha Tanner Mexican American Bar Association of San Antonio Houston Law Alumni Association Chapter Austin Law Alumni Association Chapter/ Hornberger Sheehan Fuller & Beiter Incorporated Peter S. Vogel Van Osselaer & Buchanan LLP/Peek & Toland, Jackson Walker L.L.P. Law Office of Beth Watkins and L.L.P. Jefferson Bank Wilson, Pennypacker & Thomson, L.L.P. Kennard Law P.C. Winstead PC p.4 | lawnotes CAMPUS BRIEFS

Externship Program Launched

This fall, the School of Law began offering a practice credit placement program to help students receive academic credit while gaining valuable legal experience. Associate Professor of Law Albert Kauffman and Associate Director of Practice Credit Programs Amanda Rivas ( J.D. ’09) are leading the effort to help place students with courts, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The positions can be through a law school program or found independently by students. Firms looking to fill unpaid legal positions should contact Faye Bracey, assistant dean of Career Services, at [email protected]. Berchelmann Honored By University San Antonio Celebrates 59th Annual Red Mass The Hon. David Berchelmann Jr. (B.A. ’70, J.D. ’73), along with Diane Abdo (B.A. The 59th Annual Red Mass was held at San Fernando Cathedral on Oct. 28. ’72), Mark Bagg, M.D. (B.A. ’81), were Pictured, from left: Rev. Rudy Vela, S.M.; Cantú; Archbishop Gustavo García–Siller, named this year’s distinguished alumni M.Sp.S; the Hon. Peter Sakai of Bexar County’s 225th District Court; and the Hon. by the St. Mary’s University Alumni David Medina of the Supreme Court of Texas. Association at its annual awards dinner. Berchelmann was appointed by Gov. Bill Clements in 1981 as 290th District Court Judge. He became the first Republican judge to serve on the Texas Court of Criminal drafting, and using courtroom technology. Gao specializes in private international Appeals in 1989. He has served as judge The courses are not for academic credit, but law and is studying comparative laws while for the 37th District Court for the past 19 are intended to prepare students for legal in the U.S. She received her Master of Law years. An active member of the San Antonio practice. and Ph.D. degrees from the Institute of community, Berchelmann is a past president Law of the Chinese Academy of Social of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and has Visiting Scholar Teaches Sciences, one of China’s most prestigious served on the boards of the St. Mary’s institutions of higher learning. St. Mary’s University Alumni Association, Downtown Mandarin has also welcomed a Chinese Ph.D. student YMCA, Crosspoint, Alamo Kiwanis Club, from Beihang University; another visiting St. Mary’s Youth Drop–In Center, and the Qi Gao, Ph.D., a visiting scholar and professor will join St. Mary’s in the spring Community Justice Program. professor of law at Beihang University in semester. Beijing, has been teaching conversational Mandarin to law students free of charge this Lone Star Classic Lauded Winter Intersession fall. She is researching and auditing classes at St. Mary’s as part of the St. Mary’s Introduced In October, St. Mary’s hosted its 2011 Institute on Chinese Law and Business Lone Star Classic®, an annual invitational faculty exchange program. Her stay at During the winter break, the School mock trial tournament that draws top St. Mary’s is six months, not long enough of Law will offer skills-based courses to advocacy teams from around the country. to teach comprehensive Mandarin; instead, second- and third-year law students on the This year, 16 law schools participated she is concentrating on social customs and topics of business corporations, crime and including Baylor University Law School, conversational language to prepare students immigration, deposition skills, practical Brooklyn Law School, Chicago–Kent legal writing, real estate sales transactions, for the 2012 summer program in China.

lawnotes | p.5 College of Law, Florida State University College of Law, Georgia State University KUDOS CLASS NOTES School of Law, Michigan State University & College of Law, and Villanova University School of Law. Fordham University School of Law was the champion over finalist Faulkner University’s Jones School of Law. The preliminary rounds were held at the Bexar County Courthouse with the final Claude E. Ducloux, J.D., Austin, has round at St. Mary’s courtroom. More than ’64 been awarded the State Bar of Texas 90 attorneys and judges volunteered and the final rounds were judged by The Hon. Charles E. Cantú, J.D., San Antonio, Gene Cavin Award, the State Bar’s Edward Prado, a judge on the United States a 1957 graduate of Marshall High highest award for contributions to Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; John School, was recognized by the continuing legal education. E. Murphy, First Assistant United States Northside Independent School District Attorney; and Henry J. Bemporad, Federal as one of its 2011 Pillars of Character. Peter Vogel, J.D., Dallas, earned Public Defender. The annual award recognizes NISD recognition from The Legal 500 Coaches and participants bragged on graduates who represent the six directory for his work as part of the St. Mary’s students and facilities noting this character traits taught to NISD students. Technology Transactions Practice as one of the finest contests in the nation. Cantu was the Pillar of Responsibility. Division of the Dallas firm, Gardere “After this experience, I can say that this is one of the best competitions in the country,” Wynne Sewell LLP. Vogel is chair of the said A.J. Bellido de Luna, professor and ’73 Electronic Discovery Group and co- head coach of the national trial team at chair of the Internet, eCommerce and the University of Maryland’s Frances Kip Van Johnson Hodge, J.D., Technology Industry team at the firm. King Carey School of Law. “The caliber of Brownsville, has been appointed schools, judges and work put in by everyone Precinct 2, Place 2 Justice of the Peace ’78 was top notch.” for Cameron County. The contest is planned and run by the David E. Chamberlain, J.D., Austin, St. Mary’s Board of Advocates with the has been elected president of the support of the local bench and bar. ’74 Austin Bar Association and treasurer Administrators Win Award Howard Baldwin Jr., J.D., San Antonio, of the Texas Chapter of the American is serving as interim commissioner for Board of Trial Advocates. He was also The Catholic Campus Ministry the Texas Department of Family and selected as a Texas Super Lawyer for Association (CCMA) has recognized the Protective Services. the seventh straight year. St. Mary’s President Charles Cotrell, Ph. D., and School of Law Dean Charles E. Cantú with the 2011 Exemplary Administrator ’75 ’79 Award in honor of their sustained support Terry Oberstone Brackett, J.D., Great Mary Jo McCurley, J.D., Dallas, a and encouragement of campus ministry and Falls, Va., has been elected vice name partner in the family law firm of the Church in higher education. president of the United States National McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson School of Law Campus Minister Sister Grace Walle, F.M.I., who several years ago Committee for UN Women. & Downing LLP, has earned a place on received the National Catholic Campus D Magazine’s 2011 listing of The Best Minister award, made the nomination. James N. Higdon, J.D., San Antonio, Lawyers in Dallas. In addition, St. Mary’s was previously has been elected national third vice acknowledged by the CCMA for the president of National Sojourners ’81 school’s Educating for Justice Program. Inc., an organization that promotes patriotism. He is a retired captain, James E. Berry, J.D., Houston, a Valencia Chairs LSAC United States Navy Reserve, and shareholder with the national law firm Committee former naval aviator, who was named of Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, a Super Lawyer in 2011 by Texas Williams & Martin, has been re- Reynaldo Valencia, associate dean for Monthly magazine and a 2011 Top elected chairman of the Houston Golf Administration and Finance, has been Lawyer by Scene in S.A. magazine. Association’s Board of Directors. appointed to a two-year term on the Board of Trustees of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), where he will serve as ’76 ’83 chair of the Board’s Diversity Committee. R. Michael Casseb, J.D., San Antonio, Carmen M. Garufi, J.D., Binghamton, As one of the Council’s standing committees, the Diversity Committee has been elected to membership in the N.Y., was selected to New York State focuses on ensuring diversity within the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation Superlawyers and Best Lawyers in pipeline of applicants to law school. for his outstanding professional America’s family law section. achievements and demonstrated commitment to the improvement of the justice system in the State of Texas. p.6 | lawnotes LAA president’s Corner

by David Courreges, LAA President

The St. Mary’s Law Alumni Association (LAA) works to meet the needs and goals of our alumni and future alumni. We are ’85 Gov. Rick Perry to the Upper Guadalupe united by the St. Mary’s law community, River Authority Board of Directors. but we understand that each legal market Les Katona Jr., J.D., San Antonio, serves is unique, as are the needs of our individual graduates. This year we have made it a as managing member and president of Britannia I. Hobbs, J.D., North Beach, priority to increase communication efforts, the newly formed law firm of Cavaretta, Md., has been named senior trial escalate alumni and student involvement, and Katona & Francis PLLC. attorney in the Air Force Commercial continue to foster development of our law Law and Litigation Division at Joint Base school. So how can you get involved? Kevin L. Kelley, J.D., Dallas, with the law Andrews. Join your local chapter. With more firm of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, has than a dozen chapters of the LAA, there been named to D Magazine’s 2011 Shelly A. Sanford, J.D., Houston, is are plenty of opportunities to be active. In listing of The Best Lawyers in Dallas. He featured in a new book, All the Justice the past six months, we have created new has also been recognized by The Legal Money Can Buy: Corporate Greed on chapters in Corpus Christi, El Paso, Laredo 500 directory as the leader of his firm’s Trial, released this past June by Simon and San Antonio. It is my hope that these Real Estate Group. & Schuster and Snigdha Prakash, that chapters will follow the lead of our existing details Sanford’s work with her law chapters such as the Hispanic Law Alumni partner, Carlene Lewis, regarding mass Association, as well as city chapters in Dallas, ’86 Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, The Valley, tort litigation against Merck & Co. and Washington, D.C. We have also created Mary Amanda “Mandy” Balch, J.D., the Law Student Division to help facilitate Austin, has joined the Austin office of ’94 connections between our current students and Cox Smith Matthews Inc. As senior their future peers, and we will be launching counsel she will assist clients with David S. Morales, J.D., Austin, has been the Young Alumni Divisions soon. government relations needs while also appointed general counsel to the Texas Volunteer. LAA’s yearly events and focusing on financial institutions law. Governor’s Office. projects include the Hispanic Law Alumni Association’s annual Henry B. Gonzalez ’87 Dinner in San Antonio as well as its mentor ’96 program. The Austin Chapter hosts an annual Jonathan Cluck, J.D., Fair Oaks Ranch, Marina Garcia Marmolejo, J.D., Laredo, judicial reception every November, in addition a partner at the Nunley Firm, has been has been confirmed by the United States to multiple events throughout the year. The appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Senate as a judge for the United States Houston Chapter participates in softball and kickball leagues, while the Dallas, Fort Worth Texas State Board of Public Accountancy District Court for the Southern District of and Washington, D.C., chapters hold annual for a six-year term. Texas. receptions. Subscribe and “like” us. If you Winifred H. “Winnie” Dominguez, J.D., Ann E. Greenberg, J.D., Austin, has are one of the more than 1,500 St. Mary’s Austin, has become a shareholder in become a shareholder in the law firm of alumni who receive the Association’s Mid- the firm of Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos & Month Update, you are aware of some of Gallegos & Green PC. Green PC. the outstanding contributions our alumni are making, including organizing fire relief Earl K. Straight, J.D., San Antonio, Kristina Silcocks, J.D., Austin, has joined efforts in Bastrop, coordinating mentorship has recently published the book, Texas Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP’s Austin opportunities for our students, and developing Accident Law and You. office. She will practice in the areas continuing education programs for our of condemnation/eminent domain, members. If you are not on the list, contact Attorneys General and government Emilie Petty at [email protected]. You ’91 can also get more information by liking us on contracts. Silcocks previously served as Facebook, joining our group on LinkedIn, or L. Gayle Nelson, J.D., Corpus Christi, chief of the Transportation Division in the subscribing to us on Flickr. has been appointed municipal court Texas Attorney General’s Office. Join us again! Every graduate of the judge for the City of Corpus Christi. St. Mary’s University School of Law is a ’97 member of the LAA. However, I invite you ’92 to join us again by making a voluntary dues Maj. Woodrow J. Halstead III, J.D., San payment of $25, $50 or more. Your dues help Harold Danford, J.D., Kerrville, attorney Antonio, a 1990 graduate of Marshall us create programming and opportunities for and principal at Danford and Monroe, High School, was recognized by the alumni and students. To pay your dues and Attorneys at Law, was appointed by Northside Independent School District support your alumni association, go to www.stmarytx.edu/alumni.

lawnotes | p.7 IN MEMORIAM

as one of its 2011 Pillars ’06 1940s of Character. The annual award recognizes NISD Adrian A. Spears II, J.D., San Don F. Tobin (LL.B. ’44) died June 28, 2011. graduates who represent the Antonio, has opened his own six character traits taught to law practice. 1950s NISD students. He currently serves as deputy staff judge Rand Zumwalt, J.D., Austin, William R. Davis (LL.B. ’58) died Sept. 26, 2011. advocate for the U.S. Army opened his own law practice, Reserves. The Zumwalt Law Group 1960s PLLC, providing full-service general counsel to businesses George R. Adams Sr. (LL.B. ’61) died July 3, 2011. ’98 in the Austin area.

Rolando Pablos, J.D., A.J. Cook (LL.B. ’60) died April 20, 2011. San Antonio, has been ’08 appointed by Gov. Rick Perry Jeffrey M. Morehouse (J.D. ’69) died Sept. 6, to the Texas Public Utility Tonya R. Hunt, J.D., Dallas, is 2011. Commission. an associate attorney at the firm of Sedgwick LLP. 1970s Tammy Shea, J.D., The Woodlands, has joined Dawn Norman, J.D., Houston, Brig. Gen. Gerald G. Fall Jr. (J.D. ’77), USAF Cozen O’Conner as an has joined the law firm of (Retired), died Aug. 8, 2011. associate in the litigation Winston PC as an associate practice where she will attorney. 1980s represent clients in state and federal courts on matters Rees R. Oliver Jr. (J.D. ’82) died May 11, 2011. ’09 related to energy law, commercial law, premises Stratos Apostolou, J.D., Thomas K. Robinson (J.D. ’72) died Aug. 27, 2011. liability, medical malpractice, Austin, has been named products liability and Assistant Attorney General Andrea (Tachman) Woo (J.D. ’82) died July 24, environmental law. of the Year by Texas Attorney 2011. General for his ’01 work for the Child Support 1990s Division’s North Austin office. Maribel Cordova Wasmiller, Theodore D. Canfield (J.D. ’96)died April 8, 2011. J.D., San Antonio, is partner ’10 at the firm of Wasmiller, Bruce A. Craig (J.D. ’90) died June 12, 2011. Cordova, Attorneys at Law. Ryan V. Cox, J.D., San Antonio, is a law clerk for Ralph E. Williamson (J.D. ’96) died Sept. 21, 2011. ’03 Judge Orlando Garcia of the United States District Court for 2000s Jenee Margo Gonzales, the Western District of Texas. J.D., San Antonio, assistant Elaine M. Ferguson (J.D. ’00) died Sept. 21, 2011. director of Development for John Dorsett Ledbetter, St. Mary’s University, has J.D., Austin, is an associate been selected to participate attorney with the Peissel Law in the San Antonio Hispanic Firm LLP. Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Alex Briseño Leadership Development Program. Memoriamp.8 | lawnotes CALENDAR

Nov. 16 Dallas Chapter LAA Happy Hour

Nov. 18 St. Louis 5th Annual Chili Dinner

Dec. 10 Completion of Legal Studies Ceremony CUT DOTTED ALONG LINE

Feb. 24 11th Annual Symposium on Legal Malpractice # and Professional Responsibility

March 2 Scholar Immigration Symposium

March 23 School of Law Homecoming CLE and Reunion

March 31 St. Mary’s Homecoming Mass and Oyster Bake

April 20-21 Fiesta Oyster Bake

FOLD ON GUIDE

For more information on these or other events, please check our website at www.stmarytx.edu/law.

For alumni event information, please contact Al Hartman at [email protected].

St. Mary’s University School of Law Newsletter

President Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D. (B.A. ’62, M.A. ’64)

School of Law Dean Charles E. Cantú (J.D. ’64)

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