JANUARY 2006 E-NEWSLETTER

Dear TMSL Alumni & Friends

I am excited to present to you our first issue of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Alumni E-Newsletter.  This month’s newsletter is intended to inform you of the latest news and events surrounding our law school.  As we begin a new year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on all that happened in 2005.

This has been a year of transition in alumni affairs.  Since joining the staff as the Director of Alumni Affairs in July, I have fevered the transition with all the excitement and adoration that I have for this law school while having the pleasure to work with the most dynamic group of faculty, staff, students and alumni.  TMSL alumni presence is definitely worldwide.  Our alumni receptions and other gatherings have reconnected TMSL alumni in Houston, D.C., Orlando, Edinburg (“Keno Ranch”) and New York City; with the premiere of Thurgood Thursday in September, alumni participation continues to grow each month; the more intimate settings of the Dinner with the Dean have fostered more personal connections with alumni; and the growing number of alumni who have made contributions and shown support and admiration of Thurgood Marshall School of Law has been tremendous.

I am very much looking forward to 2006.  I promise to keep providing you with opportunities to reconnect with fellow alumni and friends of our law school.  My hope is that each of you will participate and support TMSL in whatever capacity best suits your schedule and needs.  By working together, we, the alumni of Thurgood Marshall School of Law can ensure the continued success of our law school.

Please feel free to provide suggestions and comments about the e-newsletter and all alumni events and programs.  Your suggestions are always welcomed.  As always, we welcome your visit to the newly renovated law school. 

Now with respect to what is going on at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, please continue reading the e-newsletter and Happy New Year!!!

Sincerely,
Prudence N. Smith
Prudence N. Smith, Esq. ‘99
Director of Alumni Affairs
Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Email: prsmith@tsulaw.edu
Phone: (713) 313-1142                                               

 Admissions

The Fall recruitment period is winding down with recruitment efforts in Austin, College Station, Houston, Brownsville, Corpus Christi and San Antonio Texas; Norfolk and Hampton Virginia; Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento California; Nashville and Memphis Tennessee; Jackson and Tugaloo, Mississippi; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Atlanta and Savannah Georgia; Washington, D.C. and Miami, Florida. Future recruiting sites shall include cities in the U.S. Virgin Islands, North Carolina and Michigan.  Alumni are welcome and encouraged to participate in recruiting.

The present first year class consists of 245 students.  The demographics are as follows:   50.42% women, 49.58% men, 45% African American, 22% Hispanic, 9% Asian/Pacific Islander, 13% Caucasian, and 11% Other/Unknown.  In keeping with the tradition of continued diversity and high academic achievement, the Office of Admissions continues to look for students with a median LSAT of 147 and a median GPA of 2.91.  For more information on how to volunteer in recruitment, please contact Tiffany Simmons, Assistant Director of Admissions at (713) 313-1149 and for more information about the Office of Admissions, go to:   www.tsu.edu/academics/law/admissions .

TMSL Clinical Legal Studies Program

 The TMSL Clinical Legal Studies department currently houses the following clinical programs:  Civil Law Externship, Criminal Law Externship, Judicial Law Externship, Civil Law Clinic, Criminal Law Clinic and the Administrative Law Clinic which includes environmental law and immigration law.  The Clinical Program provides the most practical experience and development of lawyering skills. 

On October 7, 2005, the Clinic hosted its open house to introduce students and alumni to its program.  Also, the Immigration Law Clinic in conjunction with HYLA hosted an exhibit called American Justice Through Immigrants Eyes which depicts the candid photos of immigrants in the U.S. detention and judicial system.  This compelling exhibit has traveled throughout the country since September, 2005 and is expected to return to Washington, D.C. in mid-February 2006.  For more information about the TMSL Legal Clinic, visit www.tsu.edu/academics/law/clinic. 

If you are interested in joining the Alumni Attorney Referral Network and benefit from client referrals in areas of law not suited for the Clinical Program (i.e. auto accident cases) and/or clients who the Clinical Program determines can afford an attorney, please go to www.tsu.edu/academics/law/alumni/alumniprograms or contact the TMSL Legal Clinic directly at (713) 313-7275.

Office of Career Services

The Career Services office provides assistance in job placement to Alumni through its Alumni Newsletter which reveals job openings to attorneys and J.D’s in Texas and several other states.  Available positions are in areas ranging from law firms and small practices to corporations, academics and government.  To receive this newsletter, please email your request to Mrs. Andreaus Toure at:  Anboise@tsulaw.edu.

For more information regarding the Office of Career Services visit www.tsu.edu/academics/law/careerservices.  In addition, the Office of Career Services invites alumni to participate in its Career Mentoring Program.  For more information or to sign-up go to www.tsu.edu/academics/law/careerservices/mentoring

Academic Support

The Office of Academic Support is pleased to announce an increase in the July 2005 bar passage rate.  TMSL had a passage rate of 59.38%; 57 first time takers and 13 repeaters passed.  We congratulate the following July 2005 Bar Passers:

Vincent Abazie
Fernando Alvares
Jesus Andarza
Evelyn Ayers
Damiane Curvey Banich
Fabian Barrera
Brock Benjamin
Roy Boujaoude
Gina Boul
Martin Brett
Veronique Broussard
LaQuita Byrd
Shelly Davis
Stefanee Gibson Davis
Roberto De La Garza
Elliot Diamond
Kamisha Dumas
Remeko Edwards
Baldwyn English
Jennifer Landrieu Ferrara
Shelia Schultze Fox
Laura Franco
Farrah Gathright
Mario Gonzalez
Carl Gordon
Davida Green
Loren Green
Angel Hagmaier
Angel Hall
Mark Harris
Crystal Henderson
Jesus Hernandez
Kevin Hicks
Travis Hill
David Holmes
Edith Jamison
Kronsky Kennon
Kenisha Larkins
Marvin Lewis
Reggie London
Kacy Menefee
Terena Molo
Jenny Moman
Kristina Montes
Paul Motz
Monica Ogilvie
Davida Ogletree
Keval Patel
Tonya Powell **
Jennifer Power
Caren Presley
Karla Recio
Misty Robinson
Preston Robinson
Johnny Rodriguez
Roberto Salazar
Erika Salter
John-Baptist Sekumade
Paula Silva
Patrick Simon
Bryan Sky-Eagle
Syngman Stevens
Sheigh Summerlin
Clemetric Thomas
Erika Thompson
Trung Tran
Rene Trevino
Paul Tu
Ericka Turk
Khela Von Linsowe
Kiana Williams
Tangela Thomas Winston 

**Highest bar score of all July 2005 TMSL passers.

 In preparation for the February 2006 and July 2006 Bar Examination, the Office of Academic Support is conducting the following:

• Bar review courses
• BARBRI Scholarship Awards
• Bar Mentoring Program
• Bar Resource Center in the TMSL Library

If you are interested in getting involved with the Office of Academic Affairs as a bar mentor, please register on line at www.tsu.edu/academics/law/alumni/programs or contact Ms. Ijeoma Opara at (713) 313-1140.  For more information about the Office of Academic Support, go to www.tsu.edu/academics/law/life/support

Academic Institutes

The Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy, Inc. with Thurgood Marshall School of Law and The Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger and Peace presented the Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act and Disenfranchisement of America’s Voters Conference on Saturday, October 29, 2005 at Texas Southern University.  This was the first annual Earl Carl Institute and Mickey Leland Center Annual Public Policy Conference designed to provide thoughtful consideration of the legal and social implications of modern methods of disenfranchising America’s electorate including issues impacting the renewal of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  For more information about this conference, please visit www.earlcarl.org

The Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy, Inc., The Institute for International and Immigration Law and Thurgood Marshall School of Law hosted a Symposium on The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which presented an in-depth analysis of federal, state, and local governmental challenges; race, class, and gender issues; first amendment and media controversies; and immigration and international law implications of Hurricane Katrina. 

This symposium presented 5.50 free MCLE hours for attorneys and was open to the entire legal community and to the public.  The panelists consisted of a diverse group of scholars and leaders from around the nation.  For more information about this symposium, please visit www.earlcarl.org

On January 4, 2006, The Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy, Inc., The Center For Government Law and Thurgood Marshall School of Law in collaboration with HBCU Law Schools:  Florida A&M, Howard University, North Carolina Central University, Southern University Law Center and the University of District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law presented,  A Scholar’s Forum:  Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr.  An African American Perspective at the David A. Clark School of Law, 4200 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008 from 8:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.  Admission was free.  This event received national media coverage from CSPAN and The Washington Post with continued coverage in Washington, D.C., Texas, Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina.  This forum was approved by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE for 4.00 hours and MCLE approval is pending in Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.

Faculty News

The members of the TMSL faculty have been hard at work writing and publishing articles.  The following faculty members have published articles this year:

Gabriel Aitsebaomo, Ancillary Joint Ventures and the Unanswered Questions After Revenue Ruling 2004-51, Vol. 40, No. 3 Texas Journal of Business Law 429 (Winter 2005).

Sally Terry Green, Prosecutorial Waiver into Adult Criminal Court:  A Conflict of Interests Violation Amounting to the States’ Legislative Abrogation of Juveniles’ Due Process Rights, 110 Pennsylvania State Law Review 233 (2005).

Martin L. Levy, Constitutional Law Cases and Materials, Volume I, Governmental Powers, 3^rd Edition, West Publishing (2005) ISBN: 0-314-14680-6.

Martin L. Levy, Constitutional Law Cases and Materials, Volume II, Individual Rights and Liberties, 3^rd Edition, West (2005).

The following faculty members have law review articles accepted for publication:

Gabriel Aitsebaomo, The Individual Alternative Minimum Tax: An Escalating Tax Quagmire Tumbling Out of Orbit That Should be Repealed by Congress, University of Missouri Kansas City Law Review (forthcoming Winter 2006).

Samuel V. Jones, Have Conditions in Iraq Confirmed the Inadequacy of Juridical Constructs Governing Combatant Conduct in Armed Conflict? An Examination of the Confluence between Social Contract Theory and the Scope of Civilian Immunity under International Humanitarian Law, Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law (forthcoming Spring/Summer 2006).

Walter Champion, Clarett v. NFL and the Reincarnation of the Non-Statutory Labor Exemption in Professional Sports, South Texas Law Review (forthcoming February 2006).

Martin L. Levy, The Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties, Routledge Press (forthcoming 2006).

Ana M. Otero, In Harm’s Way – A Dismal State of Justice: The Legal Odyssey of Cesar Fierro, Berkeley La Raza Law Journal, Vol. 16.2 (forthcoming).

Lupe S. Salinas, Latino Educational Neglect:  The Result Bespeaks Discrimination, Volume 5, University of Maryland Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class (forthcoming Spring 2006).

Faith Jackson, What’s in it for me? School Partnerships in Texas: Are we Bribing our Kids to Perform?, Seton Hall Legislative Journal (forthcoming).

Crisarla Houston, From the Farm to the Factory:  An Overview of the American and European Approaches to Regulation of the Beef Industry, University of Arkansas Journal of Food Law & Policy (forthcoming).

Constance Fain, Professional Liability – Revised Treatise Chapter – To be published-(forthcoming Lexis Nexis December 2006).

April Walker, Parental Alienation Syndrome: Raising the Awareness in the Legal Community as a Defense in Juvenile Proceedings, Loyola University Chicago Children’s Legal Rights Journal (forthcoming Spring 2006).

L. Darnell Weeden, Back to the Future: Should Grutter’s Diversity Rationale Apply to Faculty Hiring? Is Title VII Implicated?, Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law (forthcoming).

New Faculty

There are new faces amongst our faculty.  The following joined the faculty in 2005:

Samuel V. Jones ‘95 – Visiting Professor
Maurice Hew, Jr. – Visiting Clinical Professor
Crisarla Houston – Visiting Skills Instructor
Elizabeth Hall – Visiting Professor
Asmara Tekle – Visiting Professor

New Administration and Staff

The following reflects changes made in our administration and staff for 2005:

McKen V. Carrington – Dean, Thurgood Marshall School of Law
L. Darnell Weeden – Associate Dean, Thurgood Marshall School of Law
DeCarlous Spearman ‘95 – Interim Law Library Director
L. Monique Gonzalez  ‘99– Learning Resource Librarian
Prudence N. Smith  ‘99– Director of Alumni Affairs
Donna Davis – Director of Career Services
Kira Cross ‘03 – Director of Annual Fund/Giving
Thaddeus Lassai – Academic Support Program Coordinator
Karen Percival – Financial Aid Coordinator
Leonard Spearman, Jr. ‘86 – Director of Government Law Center
Mattie Chadwick – Administrative Assistant
Lydia Lewis – Administrative Assistant
Norma Lemon-Pearson – Office Administrator, Legal Clinic

Alumni News & Class Notes

Class of 1982
The Honorable Willie E.B. Blackmon received the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Texas A&M University.  For more information go to:  www.aggienetwork.com/distinguishedalumni/ .  Mr. Blackmon was quoted on October 5, 2005 for saying, “If it wasn’t for Texas Southern University, I would not have received this honor, because a great deal of my accomplishments are a direct correlation to my degree at Thurgood Marshall School of Law.”

Charles Portz, partner of Portz & Portz law firm represented Brandy Briggs in her appeal.  Briggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the death of her two month old son.  Her conviction was overturned after serving five (5) years in prison

Class of 1995
Victor Vital was honored as a “Texas Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics, Texas Monthly (October 2005), and “Texas Rising Star” by Law and Politics, Texas Monthly (July 2005).

Class of 1996
Ronald Green was re-elected as Houston City Councilmember Position 4 At-Large.

Class of 1998
Major Adams is the agent representing former University of Texas quarterback Vincent Young.  Young is expected to be the third pick in the next NFL draft. 

Class of 1999
Terri Leftwich left Discovery Communications, Inc. and is now working for the National Georgraphic Channel in Washington, D.C. as Manager in Business and Legal Affairs. 

Valencia Nash is running for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2.  This area includes Oak Cliff, Balch Springs, Pleasant Grove, Wilmer-Hutchins, portions of Duncanville and Cedar Hill.  Timothy Ammons ‘99 is serving as her Assistant Campaign Manager.

Class of 2000
Loran Black has taken the position of Associate Compliance Director for the Southland Conference.

Lucinda Daniels, former Director of Career Services at TMSL is now the District Director and Counsel for fellow alum, Congressman Al Green of the 9^th District of Texas.

Class of 2001
Kronsky E. Kennon, joined the law firm of Rose Walker, L.L.P. in Dallas, Texas.  Prior to joining Rose Walker, Ms. Kennon completed a clerkship for U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt in Houston.  Previously, she worked as an associate in the litigation department at Rider Bennett, LLP, in Minneapolis, where she practiced commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and white collar criminal defense.  She also served as a judicial extern for Judge William Greendyke, former Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Henry “Hank” Johnson Jr. announced his candidacy for the new 4^th U.S. Congressional District of Georgia. He will face incumbent Cynthia McKinney for the Democratic nomination. For more information go to:  www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Weddings

Visiting Professor Asmara Tekle and Timothy L. Johnson, October 8, 2005.

Donna Davis-Gregory, Director of Career Services married Michael Gregory over the Christmas Holidays on December 17, 2005.

Joseph Denson ’05 got married this year.

Engagements

Jeff Loeffler ’05 lives in Grand Island, NE and is getting married on July 22, 2006.

Births

Wife and Johnny Papantonakis ’00, a son, named Xander Papantonakis, born July 28, 2005, 9 pounds and 9 ounces.

Ronald Green ’96 and Hillary Harmon Green ’98, a son, named Ronald Christopher Green, II born September 13, 2005.

Larissa and Percy Singlterry ’04, a daughter, named Naiya Elise on September 14, 2005.

Honors & Awards:

SBA/Alumni Homecoming Reception

On October 13, 2005 the SBA and Office of Alumni Affairs hosted the First Annual SBA/Alumni Homecoming Reception.  The event was a success with over 175 attendees, including over 90 alumni.

The following student organizations recognized alumni for their outstanding service to the perspective organization:

Christian Legal Society (“CLS”) –         Antionette Bradley, Calixtro Villareal, and Agnabie Osaranahoe

 Justice Law Society (“Just Ice”) -          Councilman Ronald Green

 Sports & Entertainment Law Society (“SELS”) -           Lori Brooks and Warren Fitzgerald

 Delta Theta Phi – Clive Markland and Kebharu Smith

 American Trial Lawyers Association (“ATLA”) – Domingo Garcia

 Phi Alpha Delta (“PAD”) – Ricky Anderson

 Hispanic Law Student Association (“HLSA”) – Ruben Perez

Texas Southern University Homecoming 2005, Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient – Ricky Anderson

RETIRING

Faye Webster, looseleaf and upkeep services supervisor of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Library retires after 41 years of service.  A celebratory farewell in her honor will be held at the law school on Thursday, January 26, 2006.  Please contact the school of law for more information.

Upcoming Events: 
For more information about events or to register for any event, please go to: www.tsu.edu/academics/law/alumni/events or call (713) 313-1142.

JANUARY:

Event Name:                 “Thurgood Thursday”
Event Date:                   January 12, 2006
Event Location: Red Cat Jazz Café
      924 Congress
      Houston, TX 77002
Event Time:                  6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Event Name:                 Dallas/Fort Worth Area Alumni Reception
Event Date:                   January 27, 2006
Event Location: The Palm Restaurant
                         701 Ross Ave.
                         Dallas, TX 75202
                         (214) 698-0470
Event Time:                  6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY:

Event Name:                 “Thurgood Thursday”
Event Date:                   February 2, 2006
Event Location: Murray Purcell & Crump. PLLC
                         Galleria Financial Center
                          5075 Westheimer, Suite 980
                          Houston, TX 77056
                        (713) 355-5500
Event Time:                  6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Event Name:                 “No Child Left Behind” – CLE (MCLE: 3.75)
Event Date:                   February 11, 2006
Event Location: Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Event Time:                  10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – lunch provided and reception following

Event Name:                 TMSL Night with The Rockets – Rockets vs. NY Knicks
Event Date:                   February 12, 2006
Event Location: Toyota Center
Event Time:                  7:30 p.m.

Event Name:                 NBA All-Star Week Sports & Entertainment Law – CLE
Event Date:                   February 16, 2006
Event Location: Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Event Time:                  10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The office of Alumni Affairs is planning an ASIAN ALUMNI event in Houston to be held during the month of February.  Dawn Lin ’99 is the coordinator.  Please contact the office of Alumni Affairs if you are interested in helping with this event (713) 313-1142.

Annual Fund & Giving

All alumni should have received their solicitation letter in support of the annual fund.  TMSL thrives on the continued high quality of its legal program, students, faculty, library, technology, and other educational resources.  Progress is continually made each and every year; however, our greatest source of support depends greatly on the sustained financial support of our alumni.  Make a gift or pledge today.  Encourage fellow alumni to make a donation.  Volunteer to help the Office of Annual Fund & Giving meet its 2005-2006 financial support goals.

The office is pleased to announce that it has received a total of $49,335 to date which includes 88 donors and two (2) pledges.  It is with your support that we will reach or even surpass our goal of $100,000.00 this year.  For more information about the annual fund and giving opportunities, or to make a donation, please contact Kira Cross, Director of the Annual Fund/Giving at (713) 313-1156 and visit: www.tsu.edu/academics/law/development

Special Thank You

The Office of Alumni Affairs would like to give a special thank you to the following alumni and friends who have either sponsored alumni events this year or dedicated their time in support of this office:

We’d Love to Hear From You !!!

Photos of all alumni events are on the website.

Visit www.tsu.edu/academics/law/alumni

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE E-NEWSLETTER.  PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE WITH YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION!!!!