Originally published in Student Lawyer magazine, March 2004 (Vol. 32, No. 7). All rights reserved.

CIRCUIT BOARD

To find out which ABA Law Student Division circuit your school is in, click here. To report on news from your school, e-mail your circuit governor and abastulawyer@abanet.org.

First Circuit. At Harvard Law School, the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) and LAMBDA, a gay-rights student group, co-sponsored the screening of a film titled The Business of Fancydancing. The film explores what it means to be Native American and gay. "The event was a huge success and demonstrated that working together and co-sponsoring events can be extremely beneficial to both groups," says Harvard NALSA president Carrie Lyons.

Second Circuit. A federal judge allocated $2.25 million of unclaimed funds from the Holocaust restitution claims case, Benisti v. Banque Paribas, to Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. The grant will make possible an organized program and center for Holocaust studies and human rights.

Third Circuit. The Community Law in Action (CLIA) program, an organization founded by law students at the University of Maryland School of Law to help urban youth advocate for social change, helped launch a new high school in the Baltimore area, the Baltimore Freedom Academy. The school, a part of Baltimore's public school system, teaches traditional courses and projects with a social-action theme.

Fourth Circuit. Wake Forest University School of Law hosted a talk by Richard Weisberg, a professor of constitutional law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and an expert on the conduct of lawyers and judges during the Holocaust in France.

Fifth Circuit. The Black Law Students Association and ABA chapter at Stetson University College of Law hosted the Fourth-Annual Judge E. Stringer Youth Day. High school students from the St. Petersburg area attended the event to learn more about the legal field, take part in a mock trial, and ask questions from a panel of local lawyers.

Sixth Circuit. The Journal of International Law at Michigan State University College of Law hosted a symposium titled "Global Health and Wellness: A Response to International Health Threats." The event, inspired by the SARS scare, drew legal and medical scholars from across North America to discuss the legal issues surrounding the disease.

Seventh Circuit. The Student Bar Association and Public Interest Law Society (PILS) at Marquette University Law School teamed up for an evening of caroling at St. Michael's Hospital over the holidays. Law students and local residents also attended the event, helping to bring holiday cheer to hospital patients.

Eighth Circuit. The University of Iowa College of Law presented a symposium, "Whither Goes Cuba? Prospects for Economic and Social Development." Panelists explored issues such as Cuba's economy and whether sanctions should be lifted.

Ninth Circuit. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia visited Pepperdine University School of Law, where he gave the inaugural lecture for the school's new Institute of Law, Religion, and Ethics. Scalia discussed the establishment clause and judicial interpretation of the First Amendment regarding religion in the public arena.

Tenth Circuit. The University of Kansas School of Law held its annual charity race, the Race Ipsa 5K, to benefit the Douglas County United Way. Students, faculty, and local residents raised approximately $800, making this year's event the most successful to date.

Eleventh Circuit. A PBS documentary featuring the Institute for International Corporate Governance and Accountability at George Washington University Law School received an Emmy Award nomination. The documentary, part of the PBS Voices of Vision series, looks at three companies that have combined profits with social responsibility and employee empowerment.

Twelfth Circuit. The student chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union at Willamette University College of Law sponsored a debate about the USA Patriot Act. David Fidanque, executive director of the ACLU of Oregon, debated Kent Robinson, a federal prosecutor and chief of the Criminal Division for the Oregon District.

Thirteenth Circuit. The student-run Public Interest Law Foundation at Tulane Law School raised nearly $70,000 last year to fund the school's LRAP, or loan repayment assistance program. The program provided grants to 25 first- and second-year students who chose summer jobs in the public interest sector. Fund-raising activities included selling breakfasts to students and conducting a public service auction.

Fourteenth Circuit. Stanford Law School hosted its annual student-organized conference, "Shaking the Foundations." The conference brought together law students, practitioners, academics, and advocates from across the country who are committed to using the law for social change. Speakers included representatives from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the ACLU, Bay Area Legal Aid, and other public interest organizations.

Fifteenth Circuit. Two students from the University of Wyoming College of Law were recognized at the National Pace Environmental Moot Court Competition. Scotti Shingleton was named best oralist, and Allegra Dryden received honorable mention as best oralist. The competition is held each year at Pace University School of Law in White Plains, N.Y.

Compiled by Kenneth Gorton

Kenneth Gorton, a 2L at Pepperdine University School of Law, is Student Lawyer's student editor.