Ms. Gerson also will be available to meet with a small number of students afterwards for individual consultations between 1:40 and 5:00 p.m. If you would like to schedule a 20-minute consultation with her, please email Suzanne Mund at smund@gmu.edu with your availability during that time period. Appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please contact Suzanne Mund in CAAS with any questions.

Attendees at the August 27 Welcome Back reception were privileged to witness the award of the 2009 Richard S. Murphy Memorial Prize to third-year law student George Ingham.

Ingham, a graduate of the College of William & Mary with a degree in economics, was selected by Dean Polsby for the honor based upon demonstrated excellence in the study of law and promise of contributing to the thoughtful study and analysis of the law.

Family, friends, and former students established the Richard S. Murphy Prize and Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of Richard S. Murphy, a popular young professor at the law school from 1994 until his untimely death in the spring of 1997. Murphy received his JD from the University of Chicago. After law school, he clerked for The Honorable Frank H. Easterbrookof the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis. At Mason Law he taught courses on contracts and privacy. After his first year of teaching, he was nominated by the student body for a university teaching award.

Extending his legacy further, Murphy is honored by his former students, who host a yearly pool tournament in his name to raise scholarship funds. In 1999, a bronze and granite plaque was placed at the base of a tree planted on Fairfax Drive in Murphy's honor as a permanent tribute to his contributions to the law school.

Ingham expressed his gratitude to the Murphy family, saying, "I am deeply honored to be selected as the recipient of the 2009 Murphy Prize. It was a pleasure to meet the Murphys. I am very grateful that they are so generous, both in tribute to Professor Murphy as well as in support of George Mason."

The Murphy family members, which include Richard Murphy's parents, widow, and two children, are valued and long-time supporters of the School of Law. The family can be seen frequently at the law school at events held in the late professor's honor.

Photo at top shows recipient George Ingham at center, flanked by Professor Richard Murphy's parents.

The Steele Scholar Program is named in honor of Chief Justice Myron T. Steele of the Delaware Supreme Court, a noted business jurist who also has developed a substantial body of corporate legal scholarship. The program is administered by the Corporate Federalism Initiative (CFI) at Mason Law, which is directed by Professor J.W. Verret.

Steele Scholars are selected based on a competitive process involving academic performance and submission of an article. During their terms, Steele Scholars receive a substantial stipend and commit to writing an article of their own, as well as assisting faculty researchers at the CFI in their investigations into corporate law and financial regulation.

Bradfute, a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a BBA in business administration, began her studies at Mason Law in fall 2007 and is currently a third-year evening student.

Those interested in applying for the Steele Scholar Program should contact Professor Verret.

Juli Porto, Natasha Clay, and Steve Fugelsang left Andrews Air Force Base on Monday, July 27, on board a contracted civilian aircraft bound for GTMO (the DoD abbreviation for the naval base). Until their departure from Guantánamo Bay on July 30, the three were billeted in air conditioned military tents featuring plywood floors and partitions at Camp Justice on the base.

The primary purpose of the trip was to tour the base facilities and legal operations, which included a visit to the Expeditionary Legal Complex (ELC), built for the Office of Military Commissions (OMC), including the state-of-the-art courtroom and holding cells in which Khalid Sheik Mohammed and other detainees in the War on Terror were tried by military commission. The visit allowed for briefings on the history of military commissions, as well as the background and present status of the military commission process, and included discussions with a prosecutor, a defense counsel, and a military commissions judge for a full perspective on the commissions process.

A bus tour of Camp Delta allowed the group to visit six of the detainee prison camps on base, viewing the exteriors of the camps and disembarking for a closer view of one portion of the prison area. The chief of detainee investigations and a representative from the detainee medical corps charged with overseeing the health and well-being of the 230 prisoners on base briefed the interns during their visit.

An additional destination was the Marine Corps East Gate to Cuba, the designated Cuban-American border area where U.S. and Cuban officials conduct monthly meetings to discuss issues pertaining to the American presence on the island.

“It was an intense and sobering experience,” said Porto, an Army JAG intern at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia. “I gained a perspective of the legal and practical issues facing the United States regarding how to manage the Guantánamo Bay detainees that I don’t believe can be gleaned from second-hand reports.”

Fugelsang echoed Porto’s sentiments, saying, “After seeing the unrivaled dedication and professionalism of our uniformed men and women at Guantánamo, I’m more committed than ever to serving our country in the Armed Forces." An Air Force JAG intern at the U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals at Bolling Air Force Base, Fugelsang hopes to join the U.S. Navy JAG Corps after graduation.

Clay, an Air Force JAG intern at the Eleventh Wing Base Legal Office at Bolling Air Force Base, comments that, “I had an incredible experience, and I’m really looking forward to applying to be an Air Force JAG after graduation.”

Clay, Porto, and Fugelsang stand in front of the Marine Corps East Gate to
Cuba. In the photo at the top of the page, Fugelsang and Clay flank the sign
at the entrance to Camp Justice, where the trio stayed in military tents during
their visit.

(Special thanks to Steve Fugelsang for assembling photographs and detail for this story.)

Please RSVP through Symplicity

Podcast of the presentation

The tournament will begin with a 1:00 shotgun start and conclude with an awards reception. Cost is $120 per golfer ($90 for law students) and includes greens fee, golf carts, awards reception, tournament welcome kit, and a chance to win prizes. The tournament format is an 18-hole tournament/captain's choice (best ball) for 4 players (individuals and twosomes will be matched). Contests include a Hole in One, Closest to Pin, Longest Drive (men and women), and 1st and 2nd place teams. Mulligans may be purchased at the registration table for $10 (maximum of 8 per foursome).

Proceeds of the tournament will benefit the George Mason University School of Law Alumni Association Student Scholarship Fund.

Click here to register online or download the registration form/flyer and mail it to the address given on the form. Sponsorships are available, and requests to sponsor must be made by noon on October 14.

Please note that only soft spikes are permitted at Westfields Gold Club. Details regarding dress code and directions are available at www.westfieldsgolf.com. Please acquaint yourself with the course regulations.

Please contact Dana Fallon ('99) of Alumni Services at 703-993-9862 or lawalum@gmu.edu with questions.

In the present economy, students are strongly urged to consider government summer, school-year, and permanent positions. Students will hear the perspectives of attorneys who work for various government agencies, including the SEC, FCC, Departments of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, and more. Panelists will talk about the range of work agencies offer, recommended steps for securing positions during and after law school, and how best to present your skills and experiences to a government employer. Information will be provided regarding recommended government Internet sources and alumni contacts.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP in Symplicity. Click on the "Events" tab, click on "Federal Government Opportunities," and then click on the "RSVP" button. Pizza will be provided.

Please contact CAAS at lawcareer@gmu.edu with any questions.

AUGUST

Fundamental Skills Workshop I – American Legal System, Preparing for Class, and Case Briefing

Saturday, August 22, 9:00-10:30 am OR 11:30 am -1:00 pm, Room 121 

Department of Justice Jobs Information Session

Monday, August 24, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 329

Back to School Happy Hour with Students, Faculty and Staff

Thursday, August 27, 5-6:30 pm, Levy Atrium

SEPTEMBER

Federal Government Opportunities

Wednesday, September 2, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225

Pathways to International Law Careers, with the ABA

Wednesday, September 9, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225, followed by a reception in the Back Atrium

Judicial Clerkship Interview Advice

Thursday, September 10, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 121

SBA Meet the Student Organizations Fair & Happy Hour

Thursday, September 10, 5:00-7:30 pm, Levy Atrium

Fundamental Skills Workshop II – Synthesizing, Outlining, and Time Management

Saturday, September 12, 9:00-10:30 am OR 11:30 am -1:00 pm, Room 121

Presidential Management Fellow Program Information Session

(jointly hosted by various Mason graduate programs)

Monday, September 14, 5:30-7:00 pm, Arlington Original Building, Room 329

JDs in Business, with Alumni and the Mason School of Management

Wednesday, September 16, 4:30-6:00 pm, Room 225

Constitution Day Lecture with Professor Rabkin

Thursday, September 17, 12:00-1:00 pm, Room 121

JAG Information Session

Monday, September 21, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225

Information Session on Domicile Appeals, with Philip Hunt, Associate Registrar for Certification

Monday, September 21, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Room 221

Distinguished Alumni Present:  Practical Tips on How to Outline and Study for Exams

Wednesday, September 23, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225 OR 8:00-9:00 pm, Room 332

Day in the Life Series:  Bankruptcy Lawyers

Wednesday, September 23, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 120

Presidential Management Fellows Program Information Session for Mason Law

Wednesday, September 30, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225

Day in the Life Series: Transactional Lawyers

Wednesday, September 30, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 120

OCTOBER

Day in the Life Series: Litigators

Wednesday, October 7, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225

Mason Law Clinical and Externship Programs 

Tuesday, October 13, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225 

Practice Exams & Exam Preparation Resources

Wednesday, October 14, 4:30-5:30 pm, Room 225 OR 8:00-9:00 pm, Room 332

Day in the Life Series: Immigration Lawyers

Wednesday, October 14, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 120

Choosing Small, Choosing Smart with author and consultant Donna Gerson

Tuesday, October 20, 12:00-1:00 pm, Room 332; individual sessions 1:30-5:00 pm, Room 332

Civil Rights Law Journal Symposium: Education Law

Wednesday, October 21, 3:00-7:00 pm

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

875 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC

Small Firm Information Session

Wednesday, October 21, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225

Speednetworking with Small Firms

(open to upperclass students first)

Thursday, October 22, Evening, Atrium

Fundamental Skills Workshop III – Exam Taking Tips & Tackling Essay Questions

Saturday, October 24, 9:00-10:30 am OR 11:30 am -1:00 pm, Room 121

Equal Justice Works Public Service Career Fair

Saturday, October 24-Sunday, October 25, All Day, Washington, DC

Day in the Life Series: Immigration Lawyers
Wednesday, October 28, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Room 225

Business Marketing For Lawyers

Thursday, October 29, 6:30-8:00 pm, Room 215

NOVEMBER

Kate Patterson: How to Get a Job in Intellectual Property

Week of November 2

No Spin Zone: Get the Skinny on Finding a Job with Upperclassmen

Monday, November 2, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225

First-Year Career Orientation Weeks

November 3- November 25, Locations of Introductory Career and Counseling Sessions TBA

Fundamental Skills Workshop IV – Essay, Short Answer & Multiple Choice Questions

Saturday, November 7, 9:00-10:30 am OR 11:30 am -1:00 pm, Room 121

First-Year Applications to Early Hiring Employers

Monday, November 16, 12:30-1:00 pm, Room 120

Department of Homeland Security Honors Program Information Session

(with School of Public Policy)

Monday, November 16, 6:00-7:00 pm, Original Building

Resume & Cover Letter Workshops

Monday, November 16, 12:00-12:30 pm, Room 120

Wednesday, November 18, 12:00-12:30 pm, Room 120

DC/Baltimore Public Service Career Fair Information Session

Wednesday, November 18, 12:30-1:00 pm, Room 332

Day in the Life Series: Energy and Environmental Law Lawyers

Wednesday, November 18, 5:00-6:00 pm, Room 225

JANUARY — MAY

First-Year Students’ Shadow/Mentor Program with Alumni

Wednesday, January 13, 8:00-9:00 am, Atrium

Interview Skills Session

Monday, January 18, 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm, Room TBA

Mock Interview Week

Wednesday, January 20-Wednesday, January 27, various times and locations

Virginia Bar Association Professionalism Event for Virginia First-Year Law Students

Wednesday, January 27, Evening, Hazel Hall

DC/Baltimore Public Service Job Fair

Friday, January 29, All Day, Hazel Hall

Speednetworking Event with Alumni (February)

(open to first-year students first)

Spring Recruiting Program (February-April)

Clerkship Information Session (March)

Academic Advising & Planning Session (March)

First-Year Moot Court Competition (March-April)

Business Etiquette Dinner (March-April)

Fall Hiring Season Overview (April)

Judicial & Legislative Reception (May)

Day in the Life Series Continued (January-May) 

          Public Policy Professionals

          Alternative Career Professionals

          Criminal Law Lawyers

          Antitrust Lawyers

          Corporate Litigators and In-House Lawyers

          Health Care Lawyers

And much more . . .

Now in its fourth year, this awards program recognizes the lawyers who are setting the standard for other lawyers in Virginia. "Leaders" are recognized for changing the law, serving the community, changing practice or improving Virginia's justice system, among other accomplishments.

The honorees will be celebrated at a reception on Oct. 22 at the Bolling-Haxall House in downtown Richmond. The "2009 Leader of the Year," to be voted on by the 2009 honorees themselves, will be announced at this reception. Each honoree also will be profiled in a special publication that will be distributed at the event and inserted into Virginia Lawyers Weekly in early October.

Costello's career as an academic dates back to 1977, when Costello, a 1955 graduate of Pennsylvania State University's Dickinson School of Law, retired after a 22-year career in the U.S. Army JAG Corps that culminated with his role as associate judge for the U.S. Army Court of Military Review in Falls Church, Virginia. At that time, Costello began his association with the International School of Law (ISL), destined in 1979 to become the first and only law school in northern Virginia: George Mason University School of Law. During the ISL's struggle to become part of a larger educational institution and to achieve ABA accreditation, Costello participated in the successful efforts to make both become realities. In his 32 years as a professor, Costello has retained the dedication that characterized that challenging era in the law school's history, and he remains a repository for information pertaining to the law school's early years. He serves on multiple committees at the law school and is particularly interested in student and alumni matters and the legal market in Virginia. Not surprisingly, he remains in touch with many Mason Law alumni, most of whom remain in the Commonwealth.

Costello has long served as George Mason's primary externship advisor and general connoisseur of the Virginia legal market. In this role, he mentors students through the day-to-day challenges of serving as a legal intern in the private and public sectors, assists students in finding suitable internship and attorney positions, lectures on ethics in the workplace, and provides job leads to George Mason's career office and alumni population. Given his knowledge of the local legal market, Costello has assisted literally hundreds of students and practitioners.

Some of Costello's most significant contributions to the Virginia Legal Community include state-accredited CLE pro bono presentations. Since 1997, he has presented an annual 2-hour legal ethics program. At this popular and well-attended event, Costello covers developments in Virginia ethics law.

Costello has served the Commonwealth and his profession from 1979-1984 and from 1996 to the present as a member of the Law School Review Committee of the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners, which meets semi-annually to review the most recent bar exam. In addition, in 2005 Costello served at the invitation of Chief Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr. of the Supreme Court of Virginia as a task force member of the newly formed Commission on Virginia Courts in the 21st Century.

This year, in testimony to Costello's tireless contributions to the law school and his positive impact on a generation of law students and lawyers, the George Mason University School of Law Trial Advocacy Association established and hosted the first John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Competition, which will continue as an annual event.

In addition to Virginia Remedies and Virginia Practice, Costello has taught Professional Responsibility, Federal Courts, The Organized Legal Profession, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Agency, Evidence, Appellate Practice, Trial Advocacy, and the Supervised Externship courses. He is the author of numerous articles in academic, peer reviewed, and ABA publications.

The entering class has a median LSAT of 163 and a median GPA of 3.72, representing a rise in GPA over the entering class in 2008, and incoming students hold a total of 30 advanced degrees.

Students beginning their studies this week at Mason Law were drawn from 146 different undergraduate institutions. Fifty-seven percent of the entering students are male, while their female counterparts represent 43 percent of the class. Average age of the entering students is 24.6 years.

This year's entering class has a higher percentage of out-of-state students, with 57 percent coming to Mason Law from outside the Commonwealth. Virginia residents make up the remaining 43 percent of the class.

Currently serving as the senior senator from Virginia, Webb serves on the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, and the Joint Economic Committee. His legislative priorities have been guided by three themes: reorienting America's national security posture, promoting economic fairness, and increasing government accountability.

Webb was named one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century by Esquire, "Rising Star" by The Washingtonian, and "Rookie of the Year" by Politico newspaper. Webb also was honored for his leadership in sponsoring the Post-9/11 GI Bill signed into law on June 30, 2008. He was awarded the Gold Medal and Citation of Merit by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Award of Merit by the Military Coalition.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Webb is a descendent of the Scots-Irish settlers who came to this country in the 18th century and became pioneers in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Both sides of Webb's family have a strong citizen-soldier military tradition.

Webb graduated from the Naval Academy in l968. First in his class of 243 at the Marine Corps Officers' Basic School in Quantico, Webb served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in Vietnam, where as a rifle platoon and company commander in the infamous An Hoa Basin he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts.

Webb received his JD at Georgetown Law Center in 1975. He served as counsel to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs from 1977 to 1981. In 1984, he was appointed the inaugural Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, and in 1987 he served as Secretary of the Navy.

In addition to Webb's public service, he is the author of nine books, including six best-selling novels. He has worked extensively as a screenwriter in Hollywood, taught literature at the Naval Academy, traveled worldwide as a journalist, and earned an Emmy Award for his PBS coverage of the U.S. Marines in Beirut. In 2004, Webb went into Afghanistan as a journalist, embedded with the U.S. military.

Along with George Mason University's Administration of Justice Department, Webb hosted an October 2008 symposium, Drugs in America: Trafficking, Policy and Sentencing, at Mason Law. On March 26, 2009, Webb introduced The National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 in the Senate. The act calls for a blue-ribbon commission to look at every aspect of the country's criminal justice system with an eye toward reshaping the process from top to bottom.

The new Homeland and National Security Law Concentration requires students to take six courses: Administrative Law, Homeland Security Law, and National Security Law, plus three elective courses selected from a list of twelve.

Mason Law currently has four tenured and tenure-track faculty who teach in the fields of homeland and national security law (Professors Jonathan Mitchell, Jeremy Rabkin, Neomi Rao, and Nathan Sales), as well as numerous adjunct faculty who have taught related courses at the law school for years. In addition, the law school offers a wide array of courses ranging from a standard introduction to national security law to specialty courses like aviation law, immigration law, international law, privacy law, and technology and terrorism. The law school's close relationship with the Center for Infrastructure Protection offers opportunities to supplement in-house expertise with outside and affiliated experts in homeland and national security law, as well.

The addition of the new concentration brings to 11 the number of concentrations available to George Mason Law students, who through them have the opportunity to gain expertise in a particular substantive area of law while still maintaining the flexibility to take electives on a broad range of topics. The other ten concentrations are in Corporate and Securities Law, Criminal Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Business Law, Legal and Economic Theory, Litigation Law, Personal Law, Regulatory Law, Tax Law, and Technology Law.

George Mason law students also enjoy a unique opportunity to specialize and focus their legal studies in the areas of Litigation Law, Patent Law, and Regulatory Law through three specialty track programs. The specialty tracks offer students the kind of sophisticated understanding of particular practice areas usually gained only after years of practice or through advanced legal study.

Rising 2Ls and 3Ls at Mason Law have a new and attractive addition to their course selections—Law 624, a class focusing on the "duties, powers, and responsibilities of the State Attorneys General." The course was highlighted in March by a debate event,  Perspectives on Preemption: Federalism and the State Attorneys General.

Law 624, "The Office of the State Attorney General," debuted in spring 2008. The course commences with introductory lectures on attorney generals' (or AGs') roles in the legal and political system, narrowing in subsequent weeks to specific issues like consumer product safety, environmental law, and antitrust. Each week, state AGs or other high-ranking officials affiliated with the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) visit the class. Students recently have heard from AGs of Rhode Island, Maryland, and Utah. The course is a 2 CU writing seminar that counts toward the Mason Law writing requirement.

3L student Kimberly White Fedinatz notes that the course gives students "direct and unfiltered access to high-ranking officials on a weekly basis."  She also points out the benefits of the class for students interested in litigation, noting that in making an argument, it is "very persuasive to have an understanding of a state AG's view as support to your case." Fedinatz also explains that the class gives students exposure to real-world application of the law. She makes a case in point, referring to a recent memorandum the class wrote to advise Utah's Attorney General Mark Shurtleff on antitrust issues in the Bowl Championship Series. Shurtleff subsequently visited the class, discussed the students' work, and graded their memoranda.

Adjunct Professors Rob Raffety, Lynne Ross, and Hal Stratton teach this course. Professor Raffety is the associate director of the Regulatory Studies Program and the Government Accountability Project at the Mercatus Center, Professor Stratton is the former attorney general for the State of New Mexico and former chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Professor Ross is the former executive director of NAAG.

Ross credits Law 624's success to the state AGs' interest in informing students about the value of a career in public practice. She also said that Mason Law's location has been a great incentive for speakers to "come out and share their experiences." Ross herself can be credited for the exceptional guest lecturers, having established a strong relationship with NAAG over 27 years of experience in the field.

The debate event on March 16, sponsored by the American Constitution Society, was a fitting example of the distinct nature of Law 624 classroom instruction. Moderated by Professor Stratton, the debate featured Michael Greve, director of the Federalism Project at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), and Doug Kendall, founder and president of the Constitutional Accountability Center (CAC). The debate focused on preemption, namely whether the states or the federal government are in a better position to protect the American public.

Greve brought an important economic perspective to the debate, observing that "the central regulatory problem we're having is not ‘too few regulators' or ‘inadequate regulation', but the proliferation of uncoordinated regulatory agencies. So to the extent that preemption can curb that tendency—because it takes at least fifty and potentially a hundred or so players out of the process—it's all to the good" of the public welfare to have preemption. Kendall focused on the need for states' discretion in regulating important aspects of citizens' welfare, noting that "Congress has the power to displace states if it chooses to do so, but it should only do so where it has a very good reason to do so, and does so explicitly. Courts should not be activists in striking down state and local protections for the health and welfare of their citizens." Kendall pointed to a 2009 Supreme Court decision, Wyeth v. Levine (affirming a Vermont decision to reject federal preemption of state drug labeling regulation), as "very good news for our notions of democracy."

Law 624 looks forward to more fascinating guest lecturers this semester, including NAAG Supreme Court Counsel Dan Schweitzer. Mason Law students should give a special thanks to Dean Polsby, who was integral to setting up the course program with Professor Stratton in 2008. 

Maher's receipt of the 2009 award marks the third consecutive year that a Burton Award has been won by a Mason Law student. Alumni Andrew Grossman and Miranda Jones won the award as students in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Maher has been invited to attend the organization's 10th annual black-tie presentation of the Burton Awards at a reception and dinner in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., on Monday evening, June 15, 2009. Included among the honorees and speakers for the event will be U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Other honorees include retired Chief Judge Judith Kaye of the New York Court of Appeals, author Bryan Garner, and television screenwriter David E. Kelley. Vonda Shepard of the television program Ally McBeal will perform at the event.

Founded in 1999, the Burton Awards program is run in association with the Library of Congress and its Law Library. Nominations for the award are made by law school deans and managing partners of the 1000 largest U.S. law firms.

If you are attending the July Bar Exam in Roanoke and plan to join us for these free events, please RSVP by July 20, 2009.

While the Roanoke area can accommodate the approximately 1500 people taking the summer exam, hotel rooms near the Roanoke Civic Center fill up fast. To help you select accommodations, CAAS has prepared a list of hotels where Mason Law alumni have stayed in the past. View the list on our website.

Since Davies' Justice William H. Rehnquist bobblehead first appeared on the scene in 2003, tradition has held that the dolls are mysteriously spirited into chambers to greet the justices they represent. To date, the dolls have graced the desks of, in addition to Rehnquist and Souter, Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens, and Anthony Kennedy.

Each of the bobblehead statues is adorned with symbols of cases or history associated with the justice represented. In Souter's case, there are four specific symbols of note:

(1) The justice's black robe is adorned with a replica of jewelry worn by members of the rap group 2 Live Crew that Souter wrote about in Campbell v. Acuff Music, a "fair use" copyright protection case;

(2) The lifeguard stand on which Souter is seated represents his ruling in Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, a sexual harassment case;

(3) The bobblehead contains an audio snippet of "Float On," a song by Modest Mouse, referencing his decision in MGM Studios v. Grokster, a copyright infringement case; and

(4) A copy of U.S. Reports citing his ruling in U.S. v. Winstar, holding the government liable for its handling of the savings-and-loan crisis.

Davies began distributing the bobbleheads to subscribers of the law journal, but demand for the bobbleheads soon outstripped supply, typically an edition of 1,000 to 2,000 pieces. Each is numbered, and Davies' staff keeps a tight control on distribution by producing personal certificates that can be exchanged for one of the coveted bobbleheads. Hot collectors' items, the dolls have fetched high prices in online auctions such as eBay, and they are particularly popular with attorneys and former law clerks.

According to The Green Bag's bobblehead web page, distribution of bobbleheads is done as follows: "We make no promises about when we will make them or who will get them. Some (but not all) subscribers to the Green Bag as of the date we announce the release of a bobblehead receive a certificate potentially redeemable for a doll, and we arbitrarily and capriciously give certificates to some folks who are not subscribers (mostly law school public interest groups that auction the dolls at their annual fundraisers)." 

For those who would like to have a bobblehead of their very own, here's a rare opportunity: You can bid on several bobbleheads graciously donated by Davies to the law school's annual APIL Auction, to be held Thursday evening, April 2, at Bailey's in Ballston Common Mall.

Read about the latest bobblehead (Tony Mauro, The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times)

ABA Journal marks the debut

Read an archived story about the bobbleheads

GMUSL ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

PRESENTS...

 The 12th Annual

APIL AUCTION and HAPPY HOUR

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Bailey's Pub & Grille

4238 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203

(in the Ballston Commons Mall)

7:00 Happy Hour begins

7:15 Paddle Registration begins

7:30-9 AUCTION

Drinks and appetizers provided!

Thank you Prof. Vermont and Prof. Schleicher, our Auctioneers!

Plan out your bids by checking out the Auction Booklet

Proceeds of the event go toward the Summer Scholarship Program, which assistsstudents spending their summers working in unpaid public interest law jobs.

All items purchased at the Auction, even those purchased by proxies,must be paid for on April 2 via cash or check.  Please plan accordingly.

Mark your calendar for the 12th Annual Judicial & Legislative Reception to be held on Wednesday, May 20, in the Levy Atrium from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

This popular event began in 1998 as an opportunity to recognize and honor those who serve the people of our region on the bench or in an elected position and has grown to be characterized as "the premier legal event in Northern Virginia." Over the years attendees have included governors, members of Congress, state legislators, and and federal and state court judges from Virginia and the District of Columbia. Plan to join attorneys, judges, legislators and Mason Law alumni for this annual gathering.

As in previous years, sponsorships are available at four levels. All sponsors will receive an allotment of tickets, as well as recognition in a full-page Virginia Lawyers Weekly advertisement and on the evening of the event. Complete details are available in the sponsorship flyer. The sponsorship deadline is May 1. A portion of your sponsorship is tax deductible. Contact 703-993-9862 for more information.

Other attendance options will include:

Single ticket—$35
Block of 10 tickets—$300
Mason Law students and May 2009 graduates—$15

For more information, Call Dana Fallon, Assistant Director of Alumni Services, 703-993-9862 or dfallon@gmu.edu, or click here to RSVP online.

For more information on the Virginia Bar exam including filing deadlines, visit the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners website at www.vbbe.state.va.us or contact them at (804) 367-0412.

The team finished the competition with a 7-0 record, winning all rounds, and brought home a 5th place win for their memorial (brief). In addition, all four competitors finished in the top twenty oralists out of a field of 96, with Adeel Bashir finishing in 3rd place. Teammate Lucas Kline finished 7th, while Alyssa DaCunha and Alex Morris finished 13th and 17th, respectively. A fifth team member, Anna Balishina, participated with research and in the writing of the brief. Commenting on the win, team member Adeel Bashir said, "Winning this competition with such a close-knit team makes the last year of hard work, research, and brief-writing more than worth it. The Jessup experience has been an excellent complement to our law school education, and we look forward to representing our school and our country at the international rounds."

Team advisor Jennifer Thornton, an attorney with the Department of State, praised the team's efforts, saying, "The team demonstrated exceptional facility with the basic principles of international law and a mastery of the relevant international jurisprudence. The members demonstrated consistently that each independently is a gifted oral advocate."

This year's Jessup Competition represents the 50th year of existence for the world's largest moot court competition, which features the participation of over 500 law schools in more than 80 countries. Teams from each school prepare oral and written pleadings, arguing both the applicant and respondent positions in a fictional dispute between nations before the International Court of Justice.

Photo from left: Team members Alyssa DaCunha, Anna Balishina, Lucas Kline, Adeel Bashir, and Alex Morris proudly display their award.

Commissioner Atkins discussed generally the organization of the SEC, focusing on the Division of Enforcement and the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE), both of which have been the topic of much discussion in light of the recently exposed Madoff fraud. Commissioner Atkins also discussed the inner workings of the SEC and identified areas of the agency that could be improved, relying on the thought-provoking law review article that he co-wrote with Professor Bondi. See Paul S. Atkins and Bradley J. Bondi, Evaluating the Mission: A Critical Review of the History and Evolution of the SEC Enforcement Program, 13 Fordham Journal of Corp. & Financial Law 367 (June 2008).

In the enforcement context, Commissioner Atkins stressed the importance of ensuring that the due process rights of defendants are observed during an investigation. Commissioner Atkins also opined on what he viewed as the faulty incentive and reward system for SEC enforcement attorneys and the inappropriate emphasis by senior SEC officers on obtaining big penalty numbers from well-known public companies. According to Commissioner Atkins, the current SEC enforcement program is not set up to detect Ponzi, pump and dump and penny stock manipulation schemes because they can be difficult to understand and, contrary to major corporate investigations and settlements, these schemes often do not result in dramatic newspaper headlines. 

The intimate nature of the class, which only has ten students, allowed for a dynamic question and answer format that complemented Commissioner Atkins' two hour visit.  

Paul S. Atkins was appointed by President George W. Bush to be a Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2002. He served in that capacity until August 2008.

The Spirit of King student award is presented to a student or student leader who has made an exceptional contribution to the development of a multicultural campus community. Some of the criteria considered in determining a recipient's worthiness are taking risks for issues and concerns greater than self and involvement in efforts contributing to the improvement of human relations on campus.

Ebeid was nominated for the award by classmate Kimi White (3D), who says, "I nominated Rifk because she works tirelessly for human rights causes, often without pay. She feels compelled to raise human rights issues through discussion and debate at Mason Law, not in a way to pad a resume, but because these issues need a forum. The Spirit of King award highlights the achievements of those who work to improve the lives of others, which Rifk does through her everyday dialogue."

Along with fellow student Ruba El-Hage (2D), Ebeid founded the law school's Arab Law Students Association (ALSA), an organization for which she now serves as president, in fall 2008. ALSA's stated goals include the nurture and promotion of knowledge and understanding of the contemporary Arab world and an appreciation for the richness of its culture. In addition, she has held leadership positions at the law school in the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the ACLU-GMUSL Chapter and has participated in the ABA Law Student Division.

A look at Ebeid's resume reveals a longstanding commitment to the principles of human rights, an area in which Ebeid holds a Master of Arts in Human Rights Studies awarded in 2005 by Columbia University. Since arriving at Mason Law in fall 2006, Ebeid has served as a legal intern for the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the American Bar Association Commission on Immigration, the World Organization for Human Rights USA, and the American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights. Prior to beginning law school, Ebeid was involved with numerous human rights organizations and efforts in New York, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Florida. She is fluent in Colloquial Arabic and has a working knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic.

Ebeid explains her dedication to her chosen cause, saying, "As a Muslim-Palestinian-American, promoting social justice has been something ingrained in me from a young age, and I look at it as an obligation incumbent upon all. In America, we are in a position of extreme privilege where there is an abundance of opportunities to make positive tangible changes in our society. I am honestly very humbled and honored to even have been considered for an award in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."

In addition to her master's degree, Ebeid holds a BA summa cum laude in Political Science, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, and expects to be awarded her JD in May 2009.

Renew friendships, meet the law review's current editors and members, and find out about exciting developments at the law review and the law school.

RSVP by February 20 to 703-993-8029 or lawalum@gmu.edu. Questions about the law review or the reception may be directed to Chris Cazanave, Executive Editor, at 504-232-6336 or to Dana Fallon, Assistant Director of Alumni Services, at 703-993-9862.

*Arent Fox is located near the L Street Metro exit of the Farragut North stop. Parking is available in two garages below the building, with entrances on 18th Street between K and L, and on K Street between Connecticut and 18th. Parking also is available at several nearby hotels and garages, in addition to limited street parking.