FALL 2008 FALL UFUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FREDRIC LAW G. LEVIN COLLEGE OF LAW • FALL 2008 CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 13 Ceremonial Classroom at the UF MARCH 17 UF LAW Eighth Annual Richard E. Nelson Symposium Levin College of Law from 9 a.m. to The Second Annual Wolf Family Lecture is on “The Squeeze on Local Governments.” 6 p.m. The live music showcase will in the American Law of Real Property is John G. Roberts Jr. Presenters will include Professor James be on the evening of Friday, Feb. 20 from scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, at the Ely, Milton R. Underwood Chair in Free 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at a local music law school. The lecture will be delivered Judges UF Moot Court Enterprise at Vanderbilt University Law venue. For more information contact by Gregory S. Alexander, A. Robert Noll School; John Echeverria, currently executive Conference Executive Director Sondra Professor of Law, Cornell University Law director of the Georgetown Environmental Randon at [email protected]. School. For more information, contact Law and Policy Institute and, professor Barbara DeVoe at 352-273-0615. of law at Vermont Law School; and Frank FEBRUARY 26 – 28 Alexander, professor of law at Emory The 15th Annual Public Interest APRIL 24 & 25 University. The symposium will be held at Environmental Conference is titled, “Beyond 100 Year Celebration/All Classes Reunion. the UF Hilton Hotel on Friday, Feb. 13. For Doom and Gloom: Illuminating a Sustainable Join your classmates and professors for the more information, contact Barbara DeVoe at Future for Florida.” The conference will focus Levin College of Law Centennial Celebration 352-273-0615. on farsighted and innovative approaches to and All Class Reunion. Activities include The our environmental problems, emphasizing Heritage of Leadership and Distinguished FEBRUARY 20 & 21 sustainability solutions from science and Alumnus Ceremony, the Century Welcome The Seventh Annual Music Law Conference technology, progressive regulation and Reception, Reunion Dinners, Decade is titled “From the Suits to the Stage.” economics and behavioral change through Dinners, and a Family BBQ with Albert and Conference includes music law symposium communication and social marketing. Alberta. For more information or to register, and panel discussions, and will take place For more info, contact Simone Harbas at contact Development & Alumni Affairs at Saturday, Feb. 21, in the Chesterfi eld Smith sharbas@ufl .edu. 352-273-0640. CALENDAR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID JACKSONVILLE, FL UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LEVIN COLLEGE OF LAW LEVIN COLLEGE OF LAW UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Levin College of Law PERMIT NO. 877 P.O. Box 117633 Gainesville, FL 32611-7633 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: COUNTING THE VOTE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DESEGREGATION AT UF WEATHERING THE STORM UP AND COMING LETTERS TO LINDY As a 1958 graduate of the U of F law school I enjoy receiving UF LAW. It is a fi ne publication. However, in an article on UF Law Student Wins Diversity Scholarship page 10 of the spring edition, I think the BY DANIELLE D’OYLEY proof reader missed a beat. That article ith a move from bustling Chicago to a sparse- “They didn’t treat me as a clerk,” he said. “They twice mentions “Florida Bar Association.” ly populated Tennessee town in his early treated me like an associate.” As a 50-year member of “The Florida teenage years, a stint as a 13-year-old college The fi rm’s specialty areas spanned the gamut, but Bar,” I can tell you that “Association” has W student, and a Jewish Puerto Rican background, Jesse his employers were perceptive to what Butler enjoyed not been a part of its name for that period Butler’s (2L) life has been anything but usual. working on and accommodated his strengths. He quick- of time. These experiences contributed to his selection as a ly learned what he did and didn’t like to do and ended This is a minor blip. Keep up the good work. 2008 Diversity Scholarship recipient by the Sarasota up focusing primarily on civil and commercial litiga- County Bar Association, a scholarship awarded to mi- tion and insurance defense — areas he sees himself fo- —CLARENCE JOHNSON (JD 58) nority students at Florida law schools with an interest in cusing on in the future. practicing law in Sarasota County upon graduation. The In addition to the direction the internship gave him, Congratulations on the FALL 2008 two recipients are given a $5,000 scholarship at the end he also says he has a completely different understand- edition, your fi rst as editor. ‘The ultimate of a 10-week employment period in Sarasota County. ing going into his second year of law school with more goal for UF LAW is to be a good read.’ It After writing an essay and undergoing an interview practical knowledge. He’s realized how much of what is indeed. process with both the Sarasota County Bar Associa- he studied was needed while working this summer. However (you knew this was coming, tion and his future summer employer, Syprett, Meshad, didn’t you?) on page 53, the editorial Resnick, Lieb, Dumbaugh, Jones, Krotec & Westheim- “They didn’t treat me as a clerk,” he said. comment re Ms. Lidsky’s quote in Time er, P.A., Butler was offered the scholarship and an in- “They treated me like an associate.” Magazine, leads to the question: Do sharks ternship with the fi rm. generally use cages in their killing? The Chicago native moved at age 13 to a small Ten- “I never expected to have to think about adverse —YOUNG J. SIMMONS (LLB 57) nessee town with a population of about 400 people, a possession after taking Property Law, but it came in stark contrast to his old home. Before he and his mother right away,” Butler said. “Everything I’ve studied came arrived, Butler said he didn’t believe many of his new into play somehow.” Yours is the best statewide story on neighbors had ever even seen new residents, let alone Because of his impressive performance, the fi rm has JESSE BUTLER water I’ve read in a very long time! Puerto Ricans or Jewish people. decided to keep Butler as a part-time employee during (2L) —CYNTHIA BARNETT, In addition to this culture shock, Butler also took the the school year and asked him to return next summer. If Florida Trend senior reporter and SAT when he was 13 and was accepted to University of everything goes well, he’s been told a position will be author of Mirage: Florida and the Tennessee at Martin as a part-time student, where he waiting for him upon graduation. Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S. enrolled during the eighth grade for computer science “They were very successful in luring me. Now I and chemistry courses. He was the youngest person have to say that the highest probability is that I will EDITOR’S UPDATE: Read the white ever accepted to the school. be there, especially since they want me to come back paper, “Reforming The Florida Water “It’s almost surreal looking back and thinking about and everything went so well,” Butler said. “I don’t Resources Act of 1972: Beyond the how I was sitting there and everyone around me was think I’ll have another fi rm where I’ll enjoy what I do fi rst 35 years,” written by UF Law twice my size,” Butler said. “They actually had to put as much as I did there.” professors and distributed to the Century phonebooks under me for my picture because I was a He encourages anyone with an interest in working Commission’s 2008 Water Congress held foot shorter than everyone else.” in Sarasota County to apply for the scholarship, as Sept. 24 & 25. Visit http://www.law.ufl . A year later he moved to Ft. Myers, Fla,. for high he said this summer was an incredible oppor- edu/ufl aw. school and went on to attend the University of Central tunity. Everyone in the Sarasota County Bar Florida for his undergraduate degree in legal studies. Association was professional, and he was af- Got commentary? Whether exegetic He was honored to receive the scholarship and in- forded opportunities to attend events and or approbatory, we want to know! Send ternship offer, especially as a fi rst-year law student, and meet prominent judges and attorneys in your letter to the editor — bearing in credited his selection to luck and his UF Law educa- the area as a Diversity Scholarship mind submissions will be edited for tion. recipient. style, grammar and length — to Lindy “Two out of the three interviewers I had were UF Butler’s decision to apply for Brounley, UF LAW Editor, UF Law graduates,’ Butler said. “It was a common ground we the scholarship has been one of the Communications, P. O. Box 117633, had.” decisions he’s made that will have Gainesville, FL. 32611-7633, or e-mail it Butler describes his time at Syprett, Meshad, the biggest impact on his life. to [email protected]fl .edu. Resnick, Lieb, Dumbaugh, Jones, Krotec & Westheimer, “I went in to the summer having no —LINDY BROUNLEY (JM 88) P.A. as an incredible experience that exceeded any ex- idea what I wanted to do, not expecting the UF LAW Editor pectations he held. He worked primarily for all the fi rm’s internship to really change that,” he said. partners and described the atmosphere as familial. “That was a life-changing experience.” FALL 2008 2 UF LAW Vol. 45, Issue 1 FALL 2008 CONTENTS 10 Desegregation 14 Counting the Vote 30 Weathering the Storm Pioneers Honored During The lasting legacy of Florida’s Three years post Katrina, the City UF Constitution Day 2000 presidential election of New Orleans struggles to rebuild BY SCOTT EMERSON & BY LINDY BROUNLEY BY SCOTT EMERSON KATIE BLASEWITZ Editor NEWS Associate Director of Communications Lindy Brounley 2 DEAN’S MESSAGE 58 ANNUAL REPORT Director of Communications 100 Years of UF Law • Alumni Receptions Debra Amirin, APR • Financial Overview 4 NEWS BRIEFS Communications Coordinator • Donors Katie Blasewitz • S.C.