houck2040/law huggingface dataset:
Texas A&M Law Professor Glynn Lunney

In his latest piece of scholarship, forthcoming Summer 2018 in the California Law Review, Professor Glynn Lunney examines the incentives that lead parties to litigate and how those incentives bias the trademark cases that come before the courts and how courts perceive them.
“It’s a different look at trademark law than what we’ve seen before,” Lunney said of his article, "Trademark Law’s De-Evolution: Why Courts Get Trademark Cases Wrong Repeatedly."
In the paper, Lunney argues that modern day trademark law has lost sight of its original intent, protecting consumers, and makes the case for why and how this should be remedied. 
“Rather than focusing on whether the plaintiff or the defendant should win, we should be focusing on how the consumer can win, specifically by supporting more effective competition,” he said. “It’s a shift away from the self-interest of trademark plaintiffs and toward trademark reform in the public interest.”
Lunney’s article proposes a series of reforms to encourage trademark defendants to fight for pro-competitive trademark law, specifically by changing the incentives for bringing and defending trademark lawsuits through enhanced attorneys’ fees, broader antitrust counter claims, and the participation of neutral witnesses to keep the court’s perspective consumer-focused.
“Right now, we have an incoherent morass where current trademark law favors corporate welfare,” Lunney said. “I’m trying to reframe the question the court should be asking.”
He also proposes legislation to discourage anti-competitive trademark litigation. The Strategic Lawsuit Against Competition proposal is modeled on existing anti-SLAPP provisions, created in the wake of online reviews and restaurant owners filing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP). 
“In that instance, it’s hardly worth it for the individual consumer to fight it out in court, giving these businesses the power to effectively stifle the efforts of consumers giving honest reviews,” Lunney said. “Trademark litigation has a similar problem. It is hardly worth it for trademark defendants to fight for pro-competitive interpretations of trademark law. Trademark plaintiffs, on the other hand, have a strong incentive to bring anti-competitive trademark litigation in an attempt to throw sand in the gears of their competitors, raise their costs, and if possible, drive them out of the market.”
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges at the evening reception held at Texas A&M School of Law.

In late September, Texas A&M Law proudly welcomed to campus the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which travels periodically to hear oral arguments at various locations around the state. 
On Wednesday, September 27, the Court heard oral arguments for two cases, presented to a packed room of more than 200 students and guests.
“While law school generally involves reading about cases, the hearings allowed our students to observe the legal system in action,” said Neil Sobol, Professor of Law and Director of Texas A&M Law’s Legal Analysis, Research & Writing Program. “Students saw attorneys present their cases and respond to questions from the state’s highest Court. Afterwards, the Court had a question and answer period giving our students an opportunity to interact with the judges.”
Texas A&M Law student Megan Reed, who will clerk for Judge David Newell in 2018, served as bailiff.
“It was an honor to serve as bailiff during the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals oral argument at our school,” Reed said. “This was also the perfect opportunity to encourage first-year students to think about the benefits of either interning or clerking for a judge. I hope the 1Ls will seek out those positions in response to the judges’ encouragement.”
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judges

Presiding Judge Sharon Keller
Judge Michael Keasler
Judge Barbara Hervey
Judge Elsa Alcalá 
Judge Bert Richardson
Judge Kevin Patrick Yeary
Judge David Newell
Judge Mary Lou Keel
Judge Scott Walker 


“We are delighted that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral arguments at our law school,” said Interim Dean Thomas Mitchell. “All of the judges were incredibly gracious. Our students and guests had the rare opportunity both to observe an esteemed appellate court in action hearing very difficult cases and to hear directly from the judges in a very illuminating question and answer session.”
On the evening before the hearings, Texas A&M Law hosted a reception for the nine judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, also including local judges, members of the Tarrant County Bar Association, law faculty, and students. Dean Mitchell welcomed the Court to Fort Worth.
The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest state court for appeals in criminal cases. Annually, the Court disposes of nearly 10,000 matters.
Aggie Law students Taylor Wood and Megan Reed with Judge David Hagerman of the 297th District Court, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge David Newell and Texas A&M Law Professor Mark Burge. Reed, who will clerk for Judge Newell in 2018, served as bailiff for the ​oral ​arguments held at the law school in Fort Worth.
Professor Nuno Garoupa, Texas A&M University School of Law

For a first of its kind empirical study, holistically examining judicial behavior of high courts at the international level, comparative law scholar and Texas A&M Professor of Law Nuno Garoupa has received an $86,130 National Science Foundation grant.
Garoupa is leading the project, “Facilitating Empirical Study of Judicial Behavior on Constitutional Courts from a Comparative Perspective”, along with Rebecca Gill, Director-designate of the Women's Research Institute of Nevada and associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Lydia Tiede, associate professor of political science at the University of Houston.
The impetus for the project began when Garoupa noticed that throughout the extensive body of judicial research, the vast majority is country-specific.
“Without a mechanism to compare these findings at a broader level, the impact of this research is limited,” Garoupa said. “While there are significantly more studies about judicial behavior in high courts outside the United States than in the past, there is no unifying theory or concerted effort to use the country specific knowledge to develop a more integrated body of judicial decision-making theory and empirical research. To address the resulting single-country focus, it’s important to bring together a wide range of scholars to develop generalizable theories about judicial behavior on high courts.”
In Spring 2018, Texas A&M Law will bring these scholars together for a two-day workshop, expected to culminate in both a reference book by high court region, and new research for publication in leading political science, law, sociology, and economics journals.
In advance of the workshop, Garoupa, Gill, and Tiede are conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis on data collected from courts, while also identifying measurable determinants and generating measures that are equivalent across systems. 
“This grant and the associated research are just the start of developing generalized theories of judicial court behavior across multiple regions,” Garoupa said. “In the long run, we hope that the workshop will lead to further workshops and additional publications advancing and testing comparative theories of judicial decision-making.”
On September 30, the Center for Law and Intellectual Property (CLIP) at Texas A&M University School of Law hosted the Intellectual Property Workshop for North Texas Inventors and Entrepreneurs. The event was organized by CLIP in collaboration with the Texas Regional Office of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
This workshop aimed to provide practical advice to inventors and entrepreneurs in the North Texas community. Its format includes three distinct components: informational presentations, breakout sessions and one-on-one consultations.
 The event brought to the School of Law volunteer lawyers who have specialized expertise in the patent and trademark areas, including former students from the Texas A&M community. Students from the USPTO-certified Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinics at Texas A&M Law School also attended some of the sessions.
 "As part of a land-grant university, we take seriously our mission to help the community understand the important roles intellectual property rights can play in their businesses, creative endeavors and inventive activities," said Professor Peter Yu, the director of CLIP.
“Workshops like this reflect what is best about Texas A&M Law’s intellectual property program," concurred Professor Saurabh Vishnubhakat, who served as the principal legal advisor to the USPTO's first two chief economists. "Together with practicing lawyers from the State Bar of Texas and experts from the Patent and Trademark Office, we show our students how advising entrepreneurs, educating the public and promoting innovation all converge."

Photo credit: Doug Thurman
Back: Megan Hoyt, ‎Regional Outreach Officer, USPTO; Prof. Vishnubhakat; Joseph Cleveland, Brackett & Ellis, P.C. (principal organizer); Prof. Jeffrey Slattery, Director, Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinics; and Prof. Shubha Ghosh, Syracuse University College of Law
Front: Prof. Yu; Hope Shimabuku, Director, Texas Regional Office of the USPTO; Arturo Errisuriz, Assistant Dean of Career Services and Bar Relations; and Kirby Drake, Klemchuk LLP
Professor Felix Mormann
Chosen for his scholarship and professional service, the S.J. Quinney College of Law at The University of Utah has named Felix Mormann its 2017 Stegner Center Young Scholar.
Mormann is an Associate Professor of Law with Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth. 
On Nov. 1, he will present the Stegner Young Scholar lecture on Utah Law’s campus, focusing on the topic of Clean Energy Equity.
The talk will draw on Mormann’s chief research interests, exploring the intersection of law and innovation in the context of energy law and policy.
“I feel extremely honored to be selected as the Stegner Center’s Young Scholar for 2017, following in the footsteps of thought leaders whose work has shaped the fields of environmental and energy law,” Mormann said. “The Stegner Lecture offers the perfect platform to present my work on the pressing equity challenges posed by the ongoing transition to a more sustainable energy future. On a personal level, Wallace Stegner’s “Angle of Repose” is one of my all-time favorite books making it even more special to be giving a lecture in his honor.”
The associated paper also will be published in the Utah Law Review. 
In addition to his role with Texas A&M Law, Mormann serves as Faculty Fellow at Stanford University’s Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance. 
He is an internationally trained corporate and energy lawyer, known for producing empirically informed research based on the premise that environmentally sustainable energy solutions require an economically sustainable policy landscape to leverage necessary investment.
Mormann currently investigates domestic and international regulation and policy related to clean-energy technologies, and is often called upon to advise federal policymakers on clean energy and energy efficiency.
On June 5-6, 2017, the Center for Law and Intellectual Property (CLIP) at Texas A&M University School of Law and the Confucius Institute and the Department of Communication at Texas A&M University jointly hosted the Chinese Internet Research Conference.
This annual conference was co-founded in May 2003 by Professor Peter Yu, who directs CLIP at the School of Law and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Communication. Since its inception, the conference has attracted scholars from a variety of academic disciplines, including journalism and communication, political science, law, sociology, psychology and education. Past participants have examined not only the impact of the internet on China but also China’s impact on the internet.
"It seems only yesterday when I was planning the inaugural conference with Professor Jack Qiu of the Chinese University of Hong Kong," said Yu. "The last time Texas A&M University hosted the event was a decade ago. So, I was naturally excited when the conference returned to our campus for its 15th anniversary celebration."
The theme of this year's conference was "Divergence and Convergence in China’s Internets." In addition to Professor Yu, the organizing committee included Associate Dean Charlotte Ku of the School of Law and Professors Randy Kluver and Cara Wallis of the Department of Communication.

In the past 15 years, the conference has been held at leading research institutions from around the world, including Georgetown, Oxford, Peking, U.C. Berkeley, Penn and U.S.C. Annenberg. Texas A&M University and the University of Southern California remain the only two universities having the distinction of holding the conference twice.​

Texas A&M Professors Peter Yu and Cara Wallis and Professor Min Jiang (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), a member of the CIRC Secretariat, present a prize to Dr. Gillian Bolsover (Oxford Internet Institute), winner of the Graduate Student Paper Competition.
Assistant Dean and Professor Stephen Alton led the Borderlands course in Summer 2017. This Special Topics course in international law is a two-part program that examines contemporary legal issues related to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The first part of the program included a two-week course with experiential components presented by Professor Vanessa Casado Perez held at Texas A&M International University in Laredo exploring a variety of border-related issues, including water, oil & gas, energy and environmental challenges.

The second part of the program included a five-week externship, during which students were placed in private firms, businesses, and governmental and public interest settings around Laredo.
Dori Boone-Costantino, J. Turner Thornton, Texas A&M Law Professor Meg Penrose, who served as Movant for the Bar admissions, Heather E. Ozuna, Rachel Ruth Hale and Lorein "Lori" Jedlicka Campbell
Five law school alumni, Dori Boone-Costantino, Texas Wesleyan School of Law (TWL) ’10, J. Turner Thornton TWL ’12, Heather E. Ozuna TWL ’11, Rachel Ruth Hale TWL ’11 and Lorein "Lori" Jedlicka Campbell TWL ’11 were sworn into the Bar of the United States Supreme Court on May 22, 2017, in Washington, D.C. 
Following the reading of three SCOTUS decisions that morning, Texas A&M Law Professor Meg Penrose made a motion before Chief Justice John Roberts and six of the other Justices present, including newly-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch. 
While this is the first year Texas A&M Law has sponsored a group, plans are already underway to return in 2018. To become eligible for admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, you must obtain two sponsors that are current members of the bar who know you personally and are not related to you by blood or marriage; you must also be in good standing with the highest court of your state (i.e., Texas Supreme Court); and have been admitted to practice law in the highest court of your state for at least three years.
For more information, or if you are interested in joining us for the trip in 2018, please contact Kristi Kaiser Trail '00 Director of Alumni, Former Students and External Relations, kktrail@law.tamu.edu or 817.212.3837.
Professor Peter K. Yu
Professor Peter K. Yu, the Co-Director of the Center for Law and Intellectual Property at Texas A&M University School of Law, has recently been appointed the Co-Director of Studies of the American Branch of the International Law Association (ILA).

Founded in Brussels in 1873 and currently headquartered in London, ILA is the preeminent international non-governmental organization involved in developing and restating international law. It has 60 branches and over 4000 members.

Established in 1922, the American Branch, one of the largest in the association, nominates members to participate in ILA committees. Committee members have opportunities to "help prepare draft treaties or studies in collaboration with leading international lawyers and international law academics from around the world."

In addition, the American Branch features 17 internal committees, which allow participating members to combine service, academic and advocacy work in their effort to promote international law developments at the national level. Specialized areas covered include arms control and disarmament, international arbitration, international commercial law, the International Criminal Court, international environmental law, international human rights, law of the sea and space law.

"In these times of great uncertainty and rapid changes, the development of international law cannot be more important. It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the co-director of studies of such a historical and influential organization. I look forward to working closely with the president, the president-elect and the board of the American Branch to promote the study and development of international law," said Yu, a leading U.S. expert in intellectual property, international trade, and international and comparative law.

Andrew Morriss, Dean, Texas A&M School of Law; Professor Charlotte Ku, Associate Dean for Global Programs; Edward Kwakwa, Senior Director, Global Challenges Department and former Legal Counsel, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); David Stewart, President, American Branch of the International Law Association, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law School; and Professor Peter K. Yu, Co-Director of the Center for Law and Intellectual Property, at the American Branch of the International Law Association International Law Weekend -- South conference hosted by Texas A&M School of Law Global Programs.
Photo credit: Doug Thurman, Texas A&M Law
Since October 2006, Yu has served on the board (and previously the executive committee) of the American Branch. He currently chairs the branch's Committee on International Intellectual Property. He is also one of the four U.S. delegates to the ILA Committee on Intellectual Property and Private International Law, along with Professors Rochelle Dreyfuss (NYU), Jane Ginsburg (Columbia) and Marketa Trimble (UNLV). 

He co-chaired the annual meeting of the American Branch in New York in 2016 and 2006. With Professor Charlotte Ku at Texas A&M Law, he also co-chaired the branch's inaugural South regional meeting, which was held at the Law School in March 2017.
Texas A&M Law moot court team, 2Ls Élan Moore and Lorraine Birabil, placed second at the national finals of the NBLSA Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition

Texas A&M University School of Law advocacy teams celebrate several recent successes, including two teams at the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) national finals competition in Houston in March, and one team at the ABA regional mediation competition.  
The Texas A&M Law moot court team of 2Ls Lorraine Birabil and Élan Moore placed second at the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, narrowly missing winning the national championship outright. They were coached by Judge Matthew Wright (Texas Wesleyan Law ’08).  
Texas A&M Law ​mock trial team, ​3Ls ​Amy Eades, Greg Franklin, Zo Onyeise and ​Ashu Balimba, placed ​fourth at the national finals of the NBLSA Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition
3L Greg Franklin received the Best Advocate Award at the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition national finals. The Aggie Law mock trial team of 3Ls Ashu Balimba, Zo Onyeise and Amy Eades, along with Franklin, placed fourth at the competition. The team was coached by Doug Greene and assisted by Matthew Jackson (Texas A&M Law ’13).
In alternative dispute resolution (ADR), our team of 3L Gabrielle Morales Mathis and 2L Travis Alley placed second at the 18th Annual ABA Representation in Mediation Regional Competition held in Norman, Oklahoma, on February 26, narrowly missing a berth to the national finals. The team was coached by Adjunct Professor Kay Elliott.
Director of Advocacy Programs, Jennifer Ellis (Texas Wesleyan Law ’05), congratulates these hard-working and talented students and coaches on their achievements.
“Such high success, especially at the national finals where everyone is the best of the best, is extremely impressive,” said Ellis. “It takes hard work, dedication and strong coaching to succeed and they have brought honor to our school.”
Learn more about the Texas A&M School of Law Advocacy Program:
The Advocacy Program at Texas A&M School of Law is a key component of making Aggie law students practice-ready. Directed by Jennifer Ellis, the Advocacy Program consists of three disciplines: appellate advocacy (moot court), trial advocacy (mock trial) and dispute resolution (mediation, negotiation and client counseling).
Our Moot Court, Mock Trial and Alternative Dispute Resolution teams are nationally recognized. Since the law school’s inception, the program has received:

3 international championships
12 national championships
22 regional championships
1 state championship
15 best advocate awards
13 best brief awards
The Texas A&M Law Review will host its symposium, “American Immigration Law: The New Colossus,” for timely interactions with members of the community, academics and practitioners and the opportunity to bring together people with differing opinions to have respectful discussions and gain perspective on what immigration law changes mean locally and in the greater community on Friday, April 21 in Fort Worth.
Law Review Symposia Editor Tave Doty said this discussion is important because American immigration laws and the enforcement of the same are rapidly changing.
“Almost daily, there is something in the news related to these issues,” she said. “Our discussions are intended to give historical context and academic perspective to these important conversations and to address the impact of the dynamic and developing immigration laws.”
The symposium will offer timely discussions pertaining to the evolving landscape of immigration law and policy, Doty added.  
“Specifically, preeminent scholars and immigration experts will address relationships between the federal government and state and local governments and agencies in the enforcement of United States immigration laws and the implications of ‘extreme vetting’ for would-be immigrants and refugees,” she said. “As representatives of one of the nation’s leading public research universities, Texas A&M Law Review is committed to upholding the university’s mission of maintaining freedom of inquiry and an intellectual environment nurturing the human mind and spirit and our spring symposium on immigration law will provide a forum to do just that.”
Keynote speakers will be:

Bill Ong Hing, Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco and Professor Emeritus at U.C. Davis School of Law, and
Sarah Saldaña, Former Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Morning and afternoon panelists will be:

Spencer Amdur, ACLU Immigrants’ Right Project;
Rick Su, University of Buffalo School of Law;
Victor Viramontes, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund's National Senior Counsel;
Sabrineh Ardalan, Assistant Director and Lecturer on Law at the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program;
Denise Gilman, University of Texas Law School; and
Julie Kornfeld, International Refugee Assistance Project.

Those who wish to attend the symposium at Texas A&M School of Law must register online. The cost is $50 for general admission; $35 for former Texas A&M Law and Texas Wesleyan Law students and Legal Aid employees; and admission is free for 2016 Aggie Law grads, current students from other institutions and current Texas A&M Law students and our faculty.  
“We understand that this topic has broad appeal in today's environment and would consider it a privilege to host any individuals who may be interested in joining us for this valuable conversation,” Doty said. 

A live feed of the event will be available on the event page.
- Article by Jennifer Nassar, Communications Specialist, Texas A&M University School of Law
Texas A&M University School of Law Professor Gabriel Eckstein meets Pope Francis at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Seminar on the Human Right to Water held ​at the Vatican

Professor Gabriel Eckstein served as a legal commentator at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Seminar on the Human Right to Water ​held at the Vatican on Feb. 23-24, 2017. 
The purpose of the workshop was to create an opportunity for interdisciplinary debate and thoughtful analysis of how the human right to water might be pursued and implemented, said Eckstein. 
Experts such as scientists, policymakers, educators, clergy from a number of denominations, activists and thought leaders from around the world attended.
Eckstein was one of two legal experts in attendance. His role was to place the themes, comments and objectives in a legal framework and work together with the theological, technological, economic, social and other approaches for realizing the human right to water. 
“A human right is supposed to be undeniable,” he said.  “As a result, it has to be recognized at the highest political and legal levels in order to be enshrined as obligatory and non-derogable.” 
Although providing physical access to water is a critical component of the human right to water, that access is susceptible to governmental limitations and interruptions absent its legal recognition as a valid human right, he added.
The program concluded with the attendees signing the Rome Declaration on the Human Right to Water, which raises the visibility of water scarcity and water poverty on a global level.
“There are nearly three-quarters of a billion people around the world who don’t have access to even a minimal amount of clean water for daily sustenance, and more than 2.5 billion who don’t have enough for basic sanitation and hygiene,” Eckstein said. “You would think that with modern technology and programs, the global community could figure out how to provide enough water for everyone on Earth, at least enough to alleviate the suffering.”
But there is a lack of political will and legal framework to fulfill that goal, he said.
There was also a surprise guest to sign the document: Pope Francis, who issued it.
“His presence at the event really evidenced his humanity and sincere desire to help all those in need,” Eckstein said. “And his message drove home his intention to champion the human right to water and water access for all.”
Eckstein said it was one of his greatest career honors to meet the pope.
“It was surreal when he showed up,” he said. 
Click here to read the English translation of the Rome Declaration.


- Article by Jennifer Nassar, Communications Specialist, Texas A&M University School of Law
Texas A&M University School of Law Professor Neil Sobol, Director of the Legal Analysis, Research & Writing Program

Texas A&M University School of Law Professor Neil Sobol testified at a briefing, “Targeted Fines and Fees against Low-Income Minorities: Civil Rights and Constitutional Implications,” before the United States Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, D.C. on March 17, 2017.
His testimony focused on issues discussed in his article, “Fighting Fines & Fees: Borrowing from Consumer Law to Combat Criminal Justice Debt Abuses,” soon to be published in the Colorado Law Review. 
“In my article, I examine whether the framework used to address debt-collection abuses in the consumer context should apply to the abusive collection and assessment of criminal justice debt,” Sobol said. “I argue that the rationale that led to the enactment of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to combat consumer collection abuses parallels the need for a federal statute.”
Sobol’s article emphasizes that a statute should be adopted to help the Department of Justice (DOJ) coordinate the attack against abuses in the collection of criminal justice debt.
In his testimony last week, Sobol asked policy-makers to adopt remedies in three broad categories: 

Set out prohibited practices;
Establish mandatory best practices; and 
Encourage the DOJ to coordinate enforcement, education and outreach efforts.

Sobol has more than 10 years of practice in bankruptcy and consumer protection, with a scholarship focus on the collection of consumer and criminal justice debt. 
“By applying consumer law concepts, I provide another perspective to addressing criminal justice debt,” he said. “Individuals with criminal justice debt not only share the consequences associated with consumer debt—including harassment, negative credit reports, and the adverse impact on financing and employment prospects, they may also face the creation of a criminal record, denial of welfare benefits, suspension of drivers’ licenses, arrest, and incarceration.”
“To combat abuses in the collection of criminal justice debt, we should learn from, and where appropriate, borrow from our experience in confronting abusive consumer debt collectors,” he added.
Court administrators, community advocates and criminal justice experts also testified at the briefing.
The Commission intends to use the hearing to help produce a report on civil rights issues related to criminal justice fines and fees. 
- Article by Jennifer Nassar, Communications Specialist, Texas A&M University School of Law
Professor Sahar Aziz
Professor Sahar Aziz was invited to speak at Harvard University School of Law’s 5th Annual Human Rights Symposium. The symposium, titled Justice for Whom? Equal Justice and Equal Protection, will be held on April 1, 2017.

The conference aims to challenge participants to examine the extent to which the pursuit of justice in international and domestic criminal justice has improved or undermined the fair distribution of benefits and burdens.
Professor Aziz will serve on the panel “Equal Justice and Equal Protection in Criminal Justice and Technology” where she will present her research examining the racialization of surveillance practices in the national security context, with a focus on the disparate impact on Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities in the United States. Her presentation builds on her article “Policing Terrorists in the Community” published in the Harvard National Security Journal. 

Professor Aziz’s scholarship is available here.
3L Colton Lauer helping survey a river in Guanajuato, Mexico
Professor Gabriel Eckstein led a trip to Guanajuato, Mexico, over Spring Break 2017 for the field trip course, Contemporary Issues in Water Resources: U.S. Mexico Water-Energy-Food Nexus.

The course, which included students from Texas A&M Law, other Texas A&M graduate units, and students from the University of Guanajuato, provided a comparative analysis of how water, energy, and agricultural management and regulations intersect in Texas and Mexico. 

In addition to class lectures and guest speakers, students and faculty visited various private and public operations in the Guanajuato region to explore how these nexus factors interact.

Video: Texas A&M students learning traditional and modern farming techniques in Guanajuato, Mexico, as part of an interdisciplinary Water-Food Nexus field class.
This article originally appeared in The National Jurist "2017 Law Students of the Year" publication. Reposted with permission. View the original article here.

The National Jurist  2017 Law Students of the Year:
Lynne Nash, Texas A&M University 
Perhaps Lynne Nash has been cloned. In addition to being a law school student, she’s a wife, the mother of four children and a business owner.
Even in the face of such a demanding schedule, she also has competed in advocacy competitions for the law school. Her list of accomplishments does not stop there. She has also volunteered nearly 400 hours of pro bono legal services to multiple agencies in her tenure as a law student.
Her tenacity and dedication is evident in all that she does as a wife, mother, entrepreneur and law student. Prior to enrolling in law school, Nash built a successful marketing consulting firm where she aids clients, both individual and corporate, with marketing, planning and branding services. In addition to her role as CEO and law student, she dedicates time with her family helping her children with school projects, homework, and attending their extracurricular activities. Now as a law student, Nash is beginning her second career. 
In her capacity as a non-traditional student, she brings a different perspective to classroom discussions. She is a very active student with a very competitive spirit. As an attestation to her competitive nature, Lynne received the 2016 TAMU Law Board of Advocates Preeminent Advocate Award.
She is a Jim Gibson “Rising Star” Award Recipient as well as the 2016 National Champion for the ABA Representation in Mediation. This does not come as a surprise considering she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Masters of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution.
In addition to competing in advocacy competitions, Nash embodies the core value of selfless service. She has a strong desire for public interest work. She has successfully completed eight internships and nearly 400 hours of pro bono legal service; the institutional requirement is a mere 30 hours. Specifically, Nash served over 100 hours with Catholic Charities – Fort Worth, aiding attorneys with clinic intakes and interviews, prepping naturalization forms and assisted clients with immigration applications.
Afterwards, she served as an intern for Judge Bonnie Goldstein of the 44th Civil District Court in Dallas County where she assists with civil dockets, trial preparation, jury selection, file reviews, summary judgment and other case research. 
As the school notes, Nash has an unrelenting passion for helping others. Mother. Wife. Entrepreneur. Law student. Each requires dedication, time, attention, and detail to be successful. To balance all four with exceptional skill and poise is virtually non-existent. Nash exemplifies success in the face of adversity.
Nash is one of 25 future lawyers honored in the National Jurist’s 2017 “Law Student of the Year” feature. Find more honorees here.
3L Laura Falco gets first-time publication in The Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender, Social Justice
Aggie Law third year student Laura Falco’s article, “The Bad, The Ugly, and The Uglier: How Fear and Misconceptions are Flushing Away Equal Rights and Treatment for Transgender People,” was recently published in Volume 5, Issue 2 of the University of Tennessee College of Law publication, The Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender and Social Justice.
Her article examines the stigmas, stereotypes and violence transgendered people face every day and how the law should protect them, not make life harder. It also looks at the two main arguments opponents use to defeat equal rights ordinances, including the tactic of pushing bathroom bills. In addition, Falco’s paper examines potential solutions to mitigate discrimination targeted at transgender people.
“I wrote this paper after there was an influx of equal rights ordinances being defeated and bathroom bills being passed,” Falco said. “I wanted to take a look at the implications these laws had on the rights of transgendered people. It’s a topic that needs to be discussed.”
She wrote the article for Professor Susan Ayres’ Gender and the Law Seminar course, and also worked with Professor Lynne Rambo in framing up some of her constitutional arguments. 
Citing the top ranked reputation of The Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender and Social Justice, Falco said she was pleased to accept their offer to publish.
“It's a pretty amazing honor,” she said. “It was a really great experience working  with other law students at a different school.”
Falco said the experience has also encouraged her to urge fellow students to pursue publication of their own scholarship. 
“You are already doing the work; if it’s a topic you’re passionate about, do your research and pursue publication," she said. "It will only enhance what you’re already doing.”
Deborah Barnett
Texas A&M University School of Law Senior Administrative Coordinator of Events Deborah Barnett is one of 25 individual staff recipients of the Texas A&M University’s 2016-2017 President’s Meritorious Service Award (PMSA).

The PMSAs began in 1986 to recognize and reward staff for their commendable service. Currently, these awards are presented to recognize 25 outstanding individuals and two outstanding teams for their meritorious service to the university. Nominations are typically called for during the fall; an anonymous committee appointed by the President selects the recipients.

Barnett said she was “completely surprised” when she heard she was selected as the law school recipient.

“There is a huge Texas A&M family out there,” she said. “The idea that a few of us may be recognized is overwhelming; I feel greatly honored.”

She said she has an “amazing” job at the law school because it keeps her engaged with all aspects of the school.

“I have the opportunity to work with all areas of the law school,” she said. “I have the privilege to work with stakeholders on every level from my co-workers and students to the local, regional, state, national, and even international legal communities.”

Dean and Anthony G. Buzbee Dean’s Endowed Chair Andrew Morriss said he is proud of Barnett’s accomplishments.

“Deb Barnett personifies ‘excellence’,” Morriss said. “Our many programs wouldn’t be possible without her logistical skills and can-do spirit.”

As a recipient, Barnett will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize, commemorative plaque and a lapel pin at the 30th annual PMSA award ceremony on Feb. 27 in College Station. The awards are funded through the generosity of The Association of Former Students and the program is coordinated by Texas A&M Human Resources. The ceremony will kick-off Staff Appreciation Week.

Barnett said she’s very excited for the ceremony because her parents will attend, and she’ll get to meet “people who genuinely work for the betterment of the university and the core values.”

“I just hope I don’t trip,” she added.

Click here for the full list of recipients and to RSVP to attend the ceremony.
Texas A&M University School of Law students, faculty and staff can now sign up for Aggie Law’s fourth annual Big Event on Mar. 4. This service project is an opportunity for Texas A&M Law to say "Thank You" and give back to the community.

The Big Event is organized and run by students.

Shawna Smith, Program Coordinator for Student Affairs, said more than 100 students, staff and faculty have already signed up. But it’s open to more.

“It is a family friendly event, and we encourage everyone to bring their families,” she said.

The volunteers will serve at several sites around Fort Worth—Morningside Children's Partnership, Fort Worth Botanic Garden and the Salvation Army to name a few.

The 2016 Big Event was Smith’s first, and she said she’s excited for another year. 

“Big Event provides our law school community an opportunity to engage and connect with the Fort Worth community,” she said.

Smith added that the Big Event is an opportunity to live out the Aggie core value, Selfless Service, and to enjoy fellowship outside of the classroom. It’s also fun!

Click here to sign up for the 2017 Aggie Law Big Event. 
About the Big Event 

The Big Event is an Aggie tradition. ​​Now the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation, the Big Event started at the College Station campus 34 years ago with six Aggie undergraduate students. In 2016, more than 22,700 Aggies system-wide participated. The Big Event has expanded across the country and around the globe with 110 other schools in the United States and schools in Europe, Australia and Pakistan participating. Learn more.
Texas A&M University School of Law Family Law and Benefits Clinic received the Community Partner award from the Tarrant County branch of the Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans (TLTV) on Jan. 26, 2017.
During the 2017 Tarrant County Bar Foundation Annual Meeting, clinic attorneys Lynn Rodriguez and Karon Rowden accepted the award on behalf of the clinic. 
TLTV works closely with the law school’s Veterans Project and Family Law and Benefits Clinic to assist veterans, primarily low income, in Tarrant County. Aggie Law also sponsored TLTV as a ‘Soldier of Justice’ at the Bar Foundation’s 2015 Advocates of Justice Luncheon and as a ‘Champion of Justice’ at the 2016 Advocates of Justice Luncheon.
Karon Rowden, Clinic Attorney
Rowden said these efforts are made possible through grant funds from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF), which started the Veterans Project. She said neither the law school nor TLTV would have funding to help veterans if it weren’t for the TAJF. 
“Giving each of these organizations funding helps us collaborate to help our veterans,” she said.
Rodriguez, who joined the Veterans Project in Jan. 2016, said the effort is dedicated to helping improve the lives of veterans through legal and non-legal means. For Rodriguez, there is no better feeling than to know she’s helped those who have served our country. 
“Veterans come to us with many issues, some not requiring legal intervention,” she said. “Sometimes calling on a veteran’s behalf can solve a problem that is overwhelming him or her.”
Lynn Rodriguez, Clinic Attorney
Rodriguez said she decided to join the project because she has many family and friends who are veterans. Closest to home, her son-in-law is a 15-year member of the Air Force. Rodriguez’ father also fought in the Korean War.
“I am grateful for my job and for the opportunity to give back to those who have essentially given more than any of us has ever given,” she said.  
Rowden agrees. She said prior to the project, she had no idea about the issues confronting veterans.
“When I realized the enormities of what some of them are facing just to keep from being homeless, I was thankful that I could help in some small part; I hope to keep every veteran I assist off the streets,” she said.
Rodriguez and Rowden were both surprised, but honored, to receive the award.
“I never think that what I do rates an award,” Rodriguez said. “Karon was instrumental in making the TLTV connection; I just sat on her coattails.”
“I don’t do this for recognition, but of course it feels good when someone gives me a pat on the back and says ‘nice job’ or ‘thank you,’” Rowden said. “When I help a veteran and they thank me, I say, ‘It’s the least I can do for what you have done for our country.’”
Learn more about the Family Law and Benefits Clinic.
With support from the Charles Koch Foundation, Aggie Law’s criminal justice and advocacy scholars are turning classroom study into experiential learning. Grant funds support student research, including the drafting of policy papers, and also the expansion of their advocacy networks throughout the nation, subsidizing conference and related travel costs.

Last fall, Texas A&M University School of Law Professor Lisa A. Rich received the grant to develop and teach this spring the course Criminal Justice Scholars and Advocates.
Prof. Lisa Rich 
Rich said the students enrolled in the course are well on the way to drafting their scholarship on criminal justice issues and attending conferences to expand their advocacy networks.                                                                                       
“The grant is enhancing this classroom knowledge immensely, giving our students the chance to meet expert advocates, policymakers, and scholars in their chosen fields of interest,” she said.

“Students have started the semester discussing the leadership and coalition building qualities necessary to lead and participate in a public policy setting, and now they will put that observation into practice,” she said. 

Indeed starting this month, the eight students involved will travel to New York City, Washington, D.C., Miami and San Antonio.

Students in the course are:
3L Kyle Carney – Attending the American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. 
2L Nathan Davis – Attending the American Bar Association’s 31st Annual White Collar Crime Conference in Miami.
2L Tyla Evans – Attending the 2017 LEAD Conference: Moving from Research to Policy & Practice to Improve the Lives of Youth in Washington, D.C.
3L William Gribble – Attending the 2017 Texas Emergency Management Conference in San Antonio.
3L Avery Ory – Attending the 2017 DC Prisoner & Reentry Symposium:  State of Our Union in D.C. 
2L Madeline Pricer – Attending the 2017 DC Prisoner & Reentry Symposium:   State of Our Union in Washington, D.C.
2L Kriti Sharma – Attending the 2017 DC Prisoner & Reentry Symposium:  State of Our Union in Washington, D.C.
2L Shelby Sterling – Attending the 2017 National Conference on Juvenile Justice in New York, New York.
Prof. Joe Spurlock, Dean Andrew Morriss, sculptor Robert Hogan, and 3L Gregory Franklin at Texas A&M School of Law's 12th Man statue ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Identical to the iconic 12-foot tall 12th Man statue situated in front of Kyle Field on the Texas A&M campus, Texas A&M Law now has its own quarter life-size version, or maquette, of the larger-than-life statue of E. King Gill. 
Dallas-based sculptor Robert Hogan, who created the Kyle Field statue, hand delivered the maquette to Texas A&M Law in December.
For nearly 23 years, Hogan has made a name for himself with sports and community sculptures. His creations can also be seen at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, Brenham’s Blue Bell Creamery, the City of Highland Park and more. 
Texas A&M Law’s 12th Man, the second in the edition of 36 created by the artist, is placed just outside the law school’s second floor lecture hall.
Kristi Kaiser Trail ’00, Director of Former Students, Alumni and External Relations, said the statue symbolizes the law school’s ​selfless service, one of the six Aggie core values that define personal and professional standards. 
Through both pro bono and community service, selfless service is alive and well within the law school.
In the spirit of this core value, Texas A&M Law students commit to completing a minimum of 30 hours of pro bono service. It is no surprise that each year there are students who go over and above this requirement. Indeed, the spring and fall 2016 graduating classes contributed a combined total of 12,534.8 hours of pro bono legal services. 
Students also come out in strong support each year for The Big Event, the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation. In ​March, the law school will take part in its fourth Big Event.
Exemplifying the Aggie core value of selfless service, The Big Event provides students, faculty, staff and their families with the opportunity to give back to the community.
Matthew Pellegrino, who helped facilitate bringing the 12th Man statue to the law school, with sculptor Robert Hogan
For Matthew Pellegrino, Master Maintenance Mechanic, the statue is a fitting reminder to embrace the 12th Man mentality in all endeavors. 
“It’s a wonderful reminder to live out this important Aggie tradition,” he said. 
Trail agreed.
“This is what Texas A&M stands for,” she said. “The spirit of the 12th Man makes us who we are.”
Hogan said that while he didn’t attend Texas A&M, the spirit and community of what it means to be an Aggie lives within him.
“You walk on the campus and it’s different from anywhere else,” he said. “These values are so important and special.”
The unveiling of the sculpture took place on Dec. 13, 2016. Hogan assisted Dean and Anthony G. Buzbee Dean’s Endowed Chair Andrew Morriss with the ceremonial drape removal and ribbon cutting. Judge Joe Spurlock ’60, also in attendance, represented faculty, with 3L Gregory Franklin ’04, J.D. ’17 representing the students.