Professor Shalini Bhargava Ray served as a consultant this year to the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS), an independent agency that works to improve federal agency processes. Prof. Ray’s final report on “individualized guidance” served as the basis for a set of recommendations that the ACUS Assembly adopted at the 81st Plenary Session in Washington, D.C. on June 13th.
Professor Clare Ryan’s essay Children’s Autonomy Rights Online was recently published in the Chicago Law Review Online. Ryan wrote the essay for the Chicago Law Review’s 2023 symposium on Children and the Law. Click here to read the essay.
With heavy hearts, the Alabama Law community mourns the passing of Shelley E. Jones. Shelley was an influential education advocate, friend to the Law School, and spouse of the late Alabama Law interim dean and professor, Tom Jones, who was recently inducted into the Alabama Lawyers Hall of Fame. Even after Tom’s passing, Shelley remained in close contact with the Law School, and she will forever be a part of the Alabama Law community.
Shelley spent 34 years in the public school system, including her service as principal at Woodland Forrest Elementary, where she retired in 1995. Shortly after retiring, she became involved with The University of Alabama’s Honor College. Shelley’s role as a principal and in developing the educational curriculum led to her receiving the national Distinguished Principals Award from the Library of Congress. Read more about her life and career here.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to her loved ones. We will miss Shelley greatly.
Professor Daiquiri Steele’s article, Rationing Retaliation Claims, has been reviewed in Jotwell. The original article focuses on claims of employer retaliation by employees. Read the article review here.
On Sunday, May 5, The University of Alabama School of Law honored 161 graduates at its annual Commencement Ceremony at Coleman Coliseum. Among the graduates, 153 received Juris Doctor degrees—including one student who also earned a dual degree in Business Administration and six students who earned dual JD/LL.M degrees. An additional eight members of the 2024 Class received standalone LL.M degrees.
“For you, the Class of 2024, we celebrate thousands of hours of study, achievement, and service,” Dean Bill Brewbaker said. “We celebrate friendships made. We celebrate the completion of a significant challenge and the beginning of new opportunities.”
The commencement address was given by the Honorable L. Scott Coogler of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Coogler has served as District Judge for over 20 years, and has been a pillar of the Law School community by teaching as an adjunct professor, judging various moot court competitions, and mentoring numerous students and graduates through internships and clerkships in his chambers.
“When you are living the fast-paced exciting life that you will no doubt have after graduation, take time to stop – to listen to your heart…,” Judge Coogler said. “And sometimes – not always, but sometimes – do yourself a favor and follow them. They will open up a world you will otherwise miss.”
Swapanthi Mandalika gave the valedictorian’s address. Swapanthi and her classmate, Trent Gill, both finished law school with the highest possible official GPA—4.0. Because Mandalika finished her academic career with the most A+ grades, she was selected to give the address. In the coming months, Mandalika has two clerkships lined up. First, she will be in the Northern District of Alabama clerking for the Honorable Anna Manasco, and then she will move over to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals serving with the Honorable Scott Matheson Jr. Upon completion of those clerkships, she has been offered the opportunity to work for the firm Latham & Watkins in Washington, DC. Gill will be clerking for Judge Elizabeth Branch at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals before clerking for the Honorable Allison Jones Rushing at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and he has received an offer from the firm McGuireWoods in Richmond, Virginia.
Erik Clifton, past president of the Student Bar Association, also offered a reflection, and the national anthem was performed by Davis Dykes–another member of the graduating class.
To watch the full 2024 Alabama Law Commencement Ceremony, visit this link on the Law School’s website.
Aleah Brown, Virginia Willis, and Simone Hampton
Simone Hampton, Aleah Brown, and Virginia Willis, students in the Criminal Defense Clinic at The University of Alabama School of Law, recently secured the early release of a woman who was subject to abuse and retaliation by prison staff while incarcerated at FCI Dublin in California.
The prison has been under investigation for some time, and at least eight of its employees have been charged with crimes against inmates who were housed at that facility. Additional prosecutions and lawsuits against the prison for its culture of sexual abuse have led to its recent closure.
After transferring to a facility in Alabama – just an hour away from the Law School – the client was referred to the Alabama Law Criminal Defense Clinic by the NGO Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM).
Throughout the Fall 2023 semester, the Clinic students spent over 300 hours researching new changes in applicable law, applying federal sentencing guidelines and factors, and writing a motion for compassionate release. In December 2023, under the direction of Professor Amy Kimpel, the clinic students filed a 300-page motion of legal arguments and supporting exhibits for their client’s early release. The prosecutor assigned to the case then did not oppose the release. In March, the judge in the case granted the motion, and the clinic team spent the next day supporting their client while she was released and later reunited with her family. She is now excited and inspired to enjoy her family, work a job, eat ice cream, and live her life for the better; the Clinic is very proud of her progress.
The following is a testimonial from lead student attorney Simone Hampton about what the students learned that they will take with them into practice:
“Working on this case offered me several invaluable lessons as a student attorney that I will take with me into my professional career. Aleah and I learned a lot about federal sentencing firsthand as this motion demanded our familiarity with the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the sentencing factors of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). With Virginia’s insights, we prepared for our client’s re-entry into society by shopping for a prison-release care package while emphasizing choices for our client. And together, we navigated the most relevant skill: communication. We supported each other as we patiently and effectively emailed courthouses, planned with U.S. Bureau of Prisons personnel, and spoke with the client’s family. My ultimate takeaway from the experience is that there are various sacrifices that attorneys choose to make for their clients, but those sacrifices are well worth it because we are in such a powerful position to really change people’s lives. I am beyond proud and honored to be part of the legal team that gave our client freedom and justice.”
Click here to learn more about the clinics that are offered at Alabama Law.
Professor Russell Gold was recently selected to participate in the inaugural UA Faculty Fellows Program presented by the UA Teaching Academy. The competitive two-year program provides opportunities for networking, scholarship, professional development and mentorship. The program is designed to foster a standard of excellence within the faculty at The University of Alabama.
To learn more about the UA Faculty Fellows Program, click here.
Professor Shalini Bhargava Ray received UA’s President’s Faculty Research Award at the annual Faculty Research Day on April 22. The award recognizes outstanding research/creative productivity and scholarship. Ray was named as one of three “emerging scholars” across the University of Alabama.
Thomas L. Jones, Albert P. Brewer, and Ralph I. Knowles Jr.
On May 3, former interim dean and professor Thomas L. Jones and Alabama Law alumni Albert P. Brewer (’52) and Ralph I. Knowles (’69) were inducted into the Alabama State Bar Alabama Lawyers Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established in 2000 to recognize and memorialize lawyers in the State of Alabama for their distinguished achievement, leadership, service, mentorship, political courage, or professional success. Read more about each inductee below.
Thomas L. Jones (1931-2017)
Thomas Logan Jones was born in 1931. He received his law degree from the University of Kentucky and his Master of Laws from the University of Michigan. In 1962, Jones became a professor at The University of Alabama School of Law and served as interim dean from 1970-1971 before returning to teaching until 2006 when he became professor emeritus. Throughout his tenure at Alabama Law, Jones served as Associate Professor, Professor of Law, Associate Dean, Interim Dean, Vice Dean, and Class of ’36 Professor of Law. He represented Alabama on the Uniform Law Commission as vice president, and was the chief drafter of the Uniform Probate Code. Jones was a life member of the American Law Institute and director of the Alabama Law Institute. In 2016, former students established a scholarship and raised funds to renovate the Alabama Law Institute reception area and name it in his honor. Jones also served in various roles for Alabama Athletics, and remained a beloved member of the Law School community even after his retirement. He was dedicated to his church and community, was known for his sincerity and genuine love of people, and was a recognized legal teacher and scholar.
Albert P. Brewer (1928-2017)
Albert Preston Brewer was born in 1928 and earned his law degree from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1952. He practiced law in Decatur, Alabama, before serving three terms in the Alabama House of Representatives. He was elected Lieutenant Governor and became Governor in 1968 before returning to private practice in 1971. Brewer is the only person in Alabama history to serve as Speaker of the House, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor in succession. In 1987, Brewer became a professor at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham. He helped to establish the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA), and was known as a man of great wit, keen intellect, and lion-hearted courage.
Ralph I. Knowles Jr. (1944-2016)
Ralph I. Knowles Jr. was born in 1944 and raised in Huntsville. He graduated from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1969 and was known as a fierce advocate for institutionalized persons. He served as the principal lawyer in federal litigation to reform Alabama’s prison system and served on an oversight committee for Alabama’s prison system. Knowles was the associate director of the National Prison Project, chairman of the Alabama State Bar’s Task Force on Prison Reform, president of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association, and a member of the national Board of Directors for the ACLU and NOW Legal Defense Fund. He was also a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
During its annual spring banquet, the Executive Board of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Alabama Law announced that it has unanimously voted to rename its chapter the Bryan K. Fair Black Law Students Association. Professor Fair, who is the Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law at Alabama Law, has served (and continues to serve) as the BLSA chapter advisor more than 30 years.
“It was important to me and the 2023-2024 Executive Board to not wait in honoring Professor Fair and his commitment to our chapter,” said Camdyn Neal, chapter president. “This designation will ensure that Professor Fair’s unparalleled sacrifice and service to achieve justice will shape the future of the Bryan K. Fair BLSA Chapter for generations of law students.”
Professor Fair’s early ties to BLSA trace back to his own experience as a law student at UCLA in the 1980s.
“BLSA was important in my life and success in law school forty years ago,” said Fair. “It has been a privilege and pleasure to serve as the chapter advisor at Alabama Law. I am grateful for and deeply touched by this honor.”
Throughout his career, Professor Fair has been recognized at Alabama for his devotion to students, his excellence in teaching and scholarship, and his contributions to the Law School environment. Because of these attributes, Professor Fair has been honored multiple times by his students as the SBA Outstanding Faculty Member Award recipient. He has also been awarded The University of Alabama’s Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award by the UA National Alumni Association.
After making the announcement at the banquet, Neal expressed great appreciation on behalf of the newly named Bryan K. Fair Black Law Students Association, “Thank you, Professor Fair, for who you are, what you have taught us, and what you continue to teach us.”
View additional photos from the banquet on the Law School’s Flickr gallery.
Story written & edited by Callie Jackson and Josh Bird
