UB Law Forum Volume 21 Number 1 Spring 2009 Article 1 4-1-2009 UB Law Forum Volume 21 Number 1 Spring 2009 University at Buffalo School of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/ub_law_forum Recommended Citation University at Buffalo School of Law (2009) "UB Law Forum Volume 21 Number 1 Spring 2009," UB Law Forum: Vol. 21 : No. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/ub_law_forum/vol21/iss1/1 This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Alumni Publications at Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in UB Law Forum by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UBLAWFORUM The Magazine of the University at Buffalo Law School The State University of New York SPRING 2009 Meet the latest stars to join our faculty Wentong Zheng Tara Melish S. Todd BrownMichael Halberstam Angela P.Harris Lessons Bridge-term learning experience of the in Bosnia, Serbia and Kosovo Balkans proves life-changing Contents 1 UBLAWFORUM The Magazine of the University at Buffalo Law School The State University of New York MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN 2 A message from Dean Makau Mutua BRIEFS 3 Short takes on what’s up ALUMNI PROFILES 44 12 8 Bella Maisel Goldin ’31, a pioneer Buffalo attorney, turns 100 Obama appointee Law 9 D. Christopher Decker ’98 works for human rights in Kosovo Mark G. Pearce ’78 Review 9 Dennis Patterson ’80 accepts position with elite European Dinner University Institute LAW SCHOOL REPORT 10 Lessons of the Balkans 11 Students of Color Dinner celebrates achievement and promise 12 Buffalo Law Review finds satisfaction in a productive year 13 Career Services report FOCUS ON FACULTY 14 S. Todd Brown to teach bankruptcy and business law 16 Michael Halberstam investigates theory and practice of governance 18 Tara Melish will direct the Buffalo Human Rights Center 20 Wentong Zheng brings an economist’s eye to legal study 22 Angela P.Harris first Baldy Distinguished Visiting Scholar 24 Virginia Leary, lawyer, professor, human rights activist, passes away in Geneva, Switzerland 25 New books by our professors 26 Baldy Center creates innovative working groups 11 27 Faculty members on the move 28 Theorists and Jurists Series at Baldy Center Students of Color LAW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Bella Maisel 29 Court of Appeals justice addresses New York City 9 Goldin as alumni luncheon a graduate 30 Distinguished Law Alumni Dinner Alumni Profile, in 1931. 32 Class Action: Reunions/marriages/births/deaths Chris Decker AS WE GO TO PRESS 8 44 UB Law alumnus appointed by Obama to NLRB Donna Brazile 32 6 at UB Reunions UB LAW FORUM • SPRING 2009 2 Message from the dean We want to be great – not just good memorable for our gradu- pleased with the new faculty ber is leaving for the Univer- ates and the community. It that we have hired over the sity of Toronto. will be headlined by Prime past year. We have hired six I believe that the mission Minister Raila Odinga of new faculty with star poten- of the Law School is to pro- Kenya,who will deliver the tial. Last fall,we hired Profes- duce great attorneys and in- Commencement Address on sor Stuart Lazar (JD Michi- fluential scholarship. In this the rule of law. Prime Minis- gan) to teach tax and Profes- regard,we are taking steps to ter Odinga is one of the most sor Ruqaiijah Yearby (JD create a rich and balanced charismatic politicians of our Georgetown) to teach public curriculum. That is why we times. The commencement health law. Four new faculty created this spring the Legal will also be special because will join us in this fall. Profes- Skills Program to bring cur- SUNY will confer honorary sor Michael Halberstam (JD riculum and administrative doctorates to two prominent Stanford,PhD Yale) for civil rationale,oversight and co- lawyers and global citizens. procedure and civil rights herence to all skills offerings. Irene Khan,the secretary- law; Professor Wentong The Legal Skills Program will general of Amnesty Interna- Zheng (JD,PhD Stanford) be headed by a tenured facul- tional,the world’s largest and will teach commercial law; ty member. We are carrying most influential human Professor Tara Melish (JD out internal reforms geared rights organization,will be Yale) will teach international to more accountability and one of the honorees. The law and human rights; and transparency in all our oper- other will be J.Mason Davis Professor S.Todd Brown (JD ations – academics,teaching Jr. ’59,a civil rights attorney Columbia) for bankruptcy, and scholarship by faculty, The Law School he spring is now who played an important torts and corporations.These oversight and coherence in in full bloom, sig- role in the desegregation of new professors have practice our adjunct faculty,faculty of the future nifying the vitali- Alabama in the 1960s. experience in major firms or governance and quality con- must have ty of the season. You will recall that last organizations. trol across the board. All the TThis is a great cue, because year’s entering class was the units in the Law School – ad- ambitions that there has never been a better most qualified in our histo- missions,technology,com- are national time to be a member of the ry as measured by LSAT e are also be- munications and alumni re- larger UB Law community. and GPA statistics. It was coming a desti- lations,the law library,devel- ‘‘ and interna- Just as the change of the sea- also diverse. As a result of nation for opment,placement and the sons reflects a new begin- that stellar class, the caliber Wrenowned faculty around the registrar’s office – are being tional in scope. ning, the reforms that are of our applicant pool has country. Professor Angela capacitated to fulfill their Our curriculum occurring at UB Law are gone up this year. We have Harris from Berkeley Law missions. We have instituted nothing short of a renais- every expectation that we School, a nationally known town-hall meetings with stu- and long-term sance. Over the past year, we will hold, and perhaps ex- scholar in criminal law,will dents every semester to planning reflect have attracted an excellent ceed, last year’s achieve- join the Law School in the fall openly hear their concerns. student body, hired new fac- ments. The academic pro- as a visiting professor and I believe that UB Law these goals. ulty with star potential, file of our student body is a Baldy Center Distinguished must be a national law brought good governance big factor in our standing Scholar for the year to teach school,not a regional one. and accountability in the among law schools, and is a criminal law. We know she The Law School of the future Law School, and forged central plank for our push will greatly enrich our law must have ambitions that are deeper relationships with to be a top 50 law school in school, and look forward to national and international in our alumni, the bench and the country. This is one of welcoming her among us. scope. Our curriculum and the bar. And we have the measures of academic Even though the economic long-term planning reflect reached out to Albany to excellence, and we are pur- crisis has hit us hard, we hope these goals. We are reaching make our case for support suing it vigorously. But I to hire several more faculty out to all our alumni across since we are the only public want to assure you that we next year because of several the country to establish law school in the SUNY sys- are doing so while con- departures. Professors Janet structures of support and ad- ’’ tem. structing a law school that Lindgren, Judy Scales-Trent vice. This is vital because no Commencement at UB looks like America. and Barry Boyer are retiring, law school can aspire to Law this year will be very I could not be more and Professor Markus Dub- greatness without the vibrant Briefs 3 support of its alumni. Our alumni are generous and must continue to support us at higher levels as we raise funds for tuition scholarships to compete for top-notch stu- dents and establish chairs and professorships to attract and retain star faculty. We are reaching out to the bar and bench – locally and nationally – to create strong bonds. It is these efforts that we hope will help us build a stronger Court of Appeals justice Eugene F.Pigott Jr.’73 addresses faculty and judiciary. school with an excellent repu- tation. Last,but not least,I want Sharing a wealth an incredible thing to do.” to share with you some good Professor Errol E.Meidinger,vice dean for news. My ambition for UB of learning research and faculty development,spoke of Law is not simply to be an OK the importance of research to the school’s or good law school. I want UB As both a justice of the state Court of mission.“I firmly believe that research ad- Law to be a great law school – Appeals and a UB Law alumnus, Eugene F. vances teaching,”he said.“The more I grapple among the top 50 in the Pigott Jr.’73 has a foot in two worlds.He with trying to get insights into something,the country. You will remember wanted those worlds to meet – and the result better I am as a teacher,the less formulaic,the the pain we felt last year when went beyond all expectations.