Retired psychotic kindergarten teacher speaks out

The phrase “Canadian legal academia” wouldn’t ordinarily conjure up an image of heated controversy. But, as Inside Higher Education reports, our neighbors to the north “have been buzzing in the last week about a harsh critique of the country’s law schools, which are compared to ‘psychotic kindergartens’ in a journal article published by Robert Martin, [...]

Elon Law Review

The Elon Law Review, for which I have the pleasure of serving as faculty advisor, published its first issue last semester. The complete contents of Vol. 1, No. 1 (featuring symposium pieces by five leading death penalty scholars) are now available online. The second issue is currently in the works, and the editors are now [...]

First Amendment does not compel public law school to fund group that excludes members based on “Statement of Faith” and “sexually immoral lifestyle”

A federal court has granted summary judgment dismissing a suit against the University of Montana Law School for denying funding to a Christian student group because of the group’s exclusionary membership standards. As at many law schools, the University of Montana maintains a non-discrimination policy under which all groups receiving funds from student activity fees [...]

There Ain’t No Sanity Claus

Supremacy Claus, a blog by someone who obviously suffers the lingering psycho-emotional effects of some awful experience with law school or the legal system, deserves a prize for one of the most (unintentionally?) hysterical (in both senses) statements ever about legal education: The IRAC is from Peter Abelard and Alexander of Hales, monks of the [...]

Elon Law names new Dean

We just got the very good news today that the University has appointed George Johnson as Dean of Elon Law School. George has been serving as interim Dean since Leary Davis, the founding Dean, stepped down this summer. Having served on the search committee, I can attest that Dean Johnson emerged from a very competitive [...]

Welcome, Elon Law Class of 2011

Orientation for new students begins today. This year, I’ll be teaching Civil Procedure, so I’ll have an opportunity to intimidate teach the 1Ls (unlike last year, when I only taught the jaded 2Ls). I’ve modeled my first lesson plan on this example.

Elon Law Talent Show

I apologize for the late notice, but Debris readers in Greensboro (or willing to make the trip) are cordially invited to the inaugural Elon Law School Talent Show, which takes place at the Law School (201 North Greene Street) tomorrow evening. Admission is $4, with the money going to support student activities. I will be [...]

Cheese, Flies, & Business Organizations

BYU law professor Gordon Smith has embarked on a fascinating study of business organization and relations among cheesemakers in Wisconsin. What a great idea — he’ll undoubtedly have loads of fun collecting his data, and the study promises to shed light on the interesting, and underexamined, world of business cooperatives. And it gives me a [...]

It’s a Wonderful Second Life

For about the past month, I’ve been exploring the virtual world of Second Life, with an eye toward research on legal issues and legal communities there. What I’ve seen thus far has been fascinating. Right now, a controversy is brewing over a decision by Linden Labs (creators of Second Life) to shut down in-world “banks” [...]

Taking stock, and finding a bull market

As the year winds to a close, it is customary to reflect on the past and look toward the future. For me, the most significant development of this past year was my move to a new city and my start at a new career. Nearly 6 months in, I remain unreservedly happy about both. Being [...]