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Cleveland-Marshall Black Law Students Association Moot Court Team Qualifies for National Competition

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law’s Black Law Students Association moot court team members DeAngelo LaVette and Chris McNeal Sr. placed third at the Midwest regional Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition in Indianapolis, Ind. February 20-21. With the third place finish, the Cleveland-Marshall team advances to the 39th National Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition held March 11-15 in Portland, Ore.

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law students Thomas Vanik and Ankur Thakkar placed 3rd in the American Bar Association (ABA) Law Student Tax Challenge. The team of third-year J.D. students, competing in the largest and most prestigious tax competition in the United States, was also recognized for “Best Written Submission” in the January 29-31 competition in Houston.

The Main Courtroom of the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals in Downtown Cleveland is a truly impressive place. With ornately carved woodwork, historical murals, exquisite chandeliers and magnificent high ceilings, the courtroom invokes a sense of history and gravitas. The atmosphere in such a courtroom can be daunting, even to an experienced attorney.

However in early January, Cleveland-Marshall Civil Litigation Clinic Student Elizabeth Bonham was right at home in the courtroom, as she presented oral argument to a panel of the Court of Appeals in an unemployment benefits appeal case represented by the Clinic.

December is a busy time for Cleveland-Marshall students as they prepare for and take final exams. However, students in the Civil Litigation Clinic were busy for an additional reason – as they represented clients in three different in-person unemployment compensation hearings. The trying wait for the results in those cases was worth it, as in each case the Clinic’s client prevailed.

A panel of local attorneys, professors and activists spoke on the legal issues related to the recent use of lethal force by police officers at the January 26 Criminal Justice Forum hosted at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, “Ferguson, Staten Island and Cleveland: A Legal Discussion about the Use of Lethal Force by Law Enforcement Officers.” The free program was co-sponsored by the City Club of Cleveland, American Constitution Society, Norman S. Minor Bar Association, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Dean’s Diversity Council and the Cleveland-Marshall Black Law Students Association.

The Honorable William G. Batchelder, former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and the second longest-serving representative in the Ohio House, has been appointed executive in residence at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

“It will be my honor to return to the faculty of Cleveland State University,” Batchelder said.

In addition to a wealth of political acumen, Batchelder brings a background in practicing and teaching law to CSU, where his position will commence in January. He will lecture on the application of law matters related to legislative, political and statutory environments.

Students from the Civil Litigation Clinic at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law fulfilled the school’s motto – “Learn Law. Live Justice.” – by assisting several immigrants in needs during the Fall 2014 semester.

Cleveland's economic and cultural renaissance and how laws and policy have helped shape the new cityscape were the focus of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law's November 21 event "Cleveland on the Rise: Fun, Food, Film and the Law,” sponsored by the Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Scholarship Fund.

The day was broken up into five panels – film, recreation, events, economic development and food – with Cleveland-Marshall Dean Craig M. Boise and City Club of Cleveland CEO Dan Moulthrop moderating the discussions. Panelists included representatives from the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, Cleveland Metroparks, Gay Games Cleveland, Cleveland City Council, Cleveland Convention Center, and the City of Cleveland.