University of Baltimore Forum Volume 13 Article 3 Number 2 Spring1983

1983 University of Baltimore Law Professor Selected for National Award

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Recommended Citation (1983) "University of Baltimore Law Professor Selected for National Award," University of Baltimore Law Forum: Vol. 13: No. 2, Article 3. Available at: http://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/lf/vol13/iss2/3

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D.L.S.-Doctor of Library Sci- earned degree or title derived there- their "Outstanding Contribution for ence from indicating his training in the The Advancement of Inter-Profes- D.M.L.- of Modern law." sional Achievements, Education and Languages According to my desk top dic- Relations." D.Mus.-Doctor of Music tionary (judges and lawyers so often The award resulted from the work D.O.-Doctor of Optometry; refer to the dictionary for clarifica- of Porro and Weidener in the con- Doctor of Osteopathy tion), under the heading "miscel- troversial tideland case of New Jersey J.C.D.-Doctor of laneous professional ranks and ti- Sports and Exposition Authority v. Bor- J.S.D.-Doctor of the Science of tles," the proper salutation for an ough of East Rutherford, in which Porro attorney having a J.D. degree is represented East Rutherford and LL.D.-Doctor of Laws "Dr." Webster's at 1527. This nota- Weidener was the principal mapper M.D.-Doctor of Medicine tion does not appear in editions prior and witness on its behalf. In that O.D.-Doctor of Optometry to 1979. case the State of New Jersey unsuc- Ph.D.- How long will it take lawyers to cessfully claimed most of the 1978 "come out of the closet"? Lawyers The doctoral robes for each de- acres owned by East Rutherford as are not usually considered to be shy gree are all basically the same, that tideland. Had the State been suc- or timid. It appears that we "J.D.'s" cessful, this valuable property would is, they all have the readily recog- must assume some initiative and nizable "three stripes" on each have been acquired by New Jersery condition the legal profession and single without compensation to East Ruth- sleeve. However, that is the the public to the common usage of of the var- erford. The controversy extended common denominator this title which recognizes the value ious doctoral robes. There are var- over a period of almost ten years: we place on our hard earned edu- ious colors and color combinations the trial itself took approximately one cation. One day a neighbor over- and of year. The State relied upon a com- of the robes and the stripes, heard someone refer to me as "Dr." course, the hoods traditionally worn plex biological technique to prove and he later remarked, "I thought the existence of the mean high with the robes display colors usu- you were a lawyer." "I am," I said, ally identifying the school and the waterline, an important boundary "I'm a lawyer who has earned a separating the two property inter- academic discipline to which the doctor's degree." color applies. Also, the color of the ests. East Rutherford, through a team cap and tassel may vary according of various scientific and technical to the degree. experts, disproved that line. The ex- J.D. is defined as "doctor of jur- University of perts included a surveying and isprudence", "doctor of law." The mapping team, a hydrologist, a ma- question may arise, "how can you Baltimore Law rine environmentalist, a photo- earn an LL.M. () de- grammetrist, a statistician and an gree after you earn a ?" Professor Selected historian. At the end of the year- The answer is probably due to the long trial, the court complimented fact previous law degrees were se- for National Award the State's efforts, but stated that quentially earned as an LL.B., LL.M., the representation and the evidence and LL.D. Of course, lawyers today of East Rutherford was extraordi- are quite aware that master of laws The American Congress on Sur- nary and "did better." As a result degrees are offered in various spe- veying and Mapping and American of the extensive scientific and tech- cialty fields such as trade regula- Society of Photogrammetry during nicial evidence presented, the Bor- tion, taxation and intellectual prop- its week long conference in March ough retained virtually all of the erty law. This is similar to the M.D.S. at the Washington Hilton selected a subject property which has been (master of dental surgery or science) University of Baltimore law profes- valued at approximately $100,000 per degree earned by many dentists after sor and a professional land sur- acre. they have earned the degree of veyor and planner for their highest Porro and Weidener recently co- D.M.D. or D.D.S. National Award. Alfred A. Porro, authored a technical article on the What about the ethical consider- Jr., a professor at the University of case entitled The Borough Case: A ations involved when a lawyer uses Baltimore School of Law, and James Classic Confrontation of Diverse Tech- the title "Dr."? The answer is quite Weidener of Hirth Weidener Asso- niques to Locate a Mean High Water clearly set forth in the Model Code ciates, a New Jersey professional Line Boundry. This article was pub- of Professional Responsibility under land surveyor and planner, were se- lished in the December, 1982 issue Canon 2 at DR 2-102(E)(1980) lected for their interdisciplinary of Surveying and Mapping. the official wherein it is stated, "nothing con- contributions. With approximately journal of the American Congress tained herein shall prohibit a lawyer four thousand members present to on Mapping and Surveying. The ar- from using or permitting the use of, share the occasion, the Organiza- ticle was cited at the conference as in connection with his name, an tions cited Porro and Weidener for a "monumental contribution."