Criminal Law @ Moritz College of Law

An essay competition to consider (perhaps for extra credit)

Via e-mail, I just learned of this notable competition for law students sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  I urge all student to consider submitting an essay (after exams!) on the important topic selected by NACDL for this competition.  Here are the details:

NACDL Essay Competition Call For Entries: In keeping with its goal to promote diversity within the criminal defense bar, NACDL invites law students from accredited law schools in the United States to submit essays for a chance to be published in The Champion magazine.

Topic: It has been reported that from 1993 to 2008, the entering enrollment in law schools dropped by 7.5 percent for African-Americans and 11.7 percent for Mexican Americans (see AmLaw Daily article from January 2010, Study: Minority Law Student Numbers Dip as Law School Capacity Rises). With the numbers of historically underrepresented minorities seeking a law degree either stagnant or dropping in recent years, what steps would you recommend for increasing diversity in the profession and, in particular, on the bench? And why?

Eligibility: The contest is open to all current law students who are in good academic standing at accredited law schools in the United States.

Prizes: There will be one first prize winner, one second prize winner, and one honorable mention.

1.The first prize winner will have his or her winning essay published in a forthcoming edition of NACDL's magazine, The Champion; receive a $200 cash prize; receive a free one-year student membership; and receive a certificate of recognition.

2.The second prize winner will have his or her winning essay published in a forthcoming edition of NACDL's magazine, The Champion; receive a $100 cash prize; receive a free one-year student membership; and receive a certificate of recognition.

3.The entrant who receives an honorable mention will have his or her winning essay published in a forthcoming edition of NACDL's magazine, The Champion; and will receive a certificate of recognition.

Entries must be received by 5:00 pm on December 31, 2010.  Please email entries to Terrica Redfield at [email protected]; subject line NACDL Essay Contest.  [Complete contest rules can be downloaded here.]

Award Date: Winning entrants will be notified on February 1, 2011.

As the title to this post hints, I will be inclined to give a smidgen of extra credit to any student who sends me a copy of any essay produced for this NACDL competition.

More information and a place to share thoughts/findings on the Ohio Pudelski case

I previously provided basic background fact to John Pudelski Ohio case in class.  I can here provide additional links that provide a lot more details about the case.  Students interesting in helping with this case should check out this website (and the documents linked there) and also should review this Sixth Circuit ruling rejecting John's effort to obtain relief via habeas corpus.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to share thoughts about this case in the comments to this post.  In addition, as I mentioned in class, I am interested in finding reports/details on similar Ohio cases in which a defendant has been held responsible for the death of a child and gotten lighter sentences.  Such findings can/should be placed in the comments, too.

More information and a place to share thoughts/findings on the California Kruzan case

I previously provided basic background to the Sara Kruzan California case discussed here at my SL&P blog, and now I can provide additional documents providing a lot more details about Sara and her case.   Students interesting in helping with this case should check out a letter and memo prepared by Sara's lawyers in support of her clemency application:

Download 9-27-10 Letter to Governor S on Kruzan

Download 9-24-10 Memo on Kruzan case details

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to share thoughts about this case in the comments to this post.