Year in Review
Aug. 1, 2020
It's been quite a year. The pandemic has affected our lives in countless ways. To keep people safe, the college launched virtual events in April. Below is a snapshot of the past academic year. For more photos, visit our Flickr site.
Commencement
The college held a virtual commencement celebration on May 10, 2020, where 101 candidates were recognized. The virtual ceremony featured video remarks from Dean Ben Barros. Alumni, faculty, staff, friends, and family also had the opportunity to post video messages to graduates. Eli Boldt '20 received the Valedictorian Award, and Raina Dawson '20 received the Dean's Award. Additionally, faculty awards were presented to Eric Chaffee, Kara Bruce, and Nicole Buonocore Porter.
COVID-19 Legal Issues Forum Series
The COVID-19 crisis has impacted every one of us in multiple ways. No matter what we are doing — we are doing it from a distance, often remotely. In April 2020, the college launched a virtual legal issues series about how this public health crisis is impacting specific practice areas. To date, sessions have covered topics like business, health care, courts, public service, entertainment, and sports law. New topics will continue to be added. Recordings are available to watch on-demand.
PILA Auction
The ever-popular, annual Public Interest Law Fellowship Benefit Auction took place on Feb. 28, 2020. The event included live and silent auctions. Proceeds fund public interest summer fellowships for Toledo Law students. The event, now in its fourteenth year, was organized by Toledo Law's Public Interest Law Association (PILA) student organization, along with Katie Schuyler, assistant director of the Office of Professional Development.
Obergefell / Hodges Supreme Court Lecture
Law Review hosted a conversation with named parties from the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case on same-sex marriage on Feb. 13, 2020. Despite being on opposing sides of one of the most important rulings in recent history, Jim Obergefell and Rick Hodges discussed their unique road to friendship. The recording is available to watch on-demand. Law Review also published a transcription of the event session. Photo: Mary Pencheff.
Strang Book Launch & Lecture
The college celebrated the release of Professor Lee Strang's latest book, "Originalism's Promise: A Natural Law Account of the American Constitution" on Jan. 29, 2020. In the book, Strang provides the first natural law justification for an originalist interpretation of the Constitution to show why Americans' reverence for it, its framers, and its legal system, is supported by sound reasoning. The recording is available to watch on-demand.
Great Lakes Water Conference
Carrie Sowden, archaeological director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes, was the keynote speaker at "Lake Erie Bill of Rights, PFAS, Plus More" on Nov. 8, 2019. The conference and CLE featured three panels of law and policy experts who debated the Toledo's controversial "rights of nature" ordinance, explored water quality problems posed by PFAS chemicals, and discussed the Clean Water Act, H2Ohio initiative, and a new diversion of Great Lakes water.
Conversation with Jeffrey Sutton
The Hon. Jeffrey Sutton, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, offered his thoughts to law students about state constitutional law and advocacy on Oct. 25, 2019. Judge Sutton also discussed his role on the Federal Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, where he served as chair from 2012-16. He was appointed to that committee by Chief Justice John Roberts. Professor Evan Zoldan hosted the session.
Day of Giving
Toledo Law faculty, staff, and students participated in Fall Fest activities, organized by the Student Bar Association, to raise funds for UToledo's Day of Giving on Oct. 15, 2019. In total, the college raised $86,887 for Day of Giving from 154 donors, including alumni and friends. The funds continue to support excellence in legal education, as they were invested in valuable programs, opportunities for current students, and scholarships to attract tomorrow's aspiring lawyers.
Law Review 50 Year Celebration
The college celebrated 50 years of Law Review the weekend of Oct. 11-12, 2019. Remarks were made by Richard Walinski '69, editor-in-chief for Board 1, and a toast was given by Lindsey Self '20, editor-in-chief for Board 51. The celebration included collections of Law Review Board photos, messages from current students, highlights and photos from the last 50 years, the full Law Review collection, dancing, and more. The recordings are available to watch on-demand. Photo: Randy Mascharka
Law Review Symposium
Law Review presented its annual symposium and CLE "Fighting Back: A Legal Framework for Defeating the Opioid Crisis" on Oct. 11, 2019. Despite the decrease in opioid deaths in Ohio during the last year, experts predict death from opioids will continue to rise in the next decade. The symposium featured scholars and practitioners who analyzed the past efforts made towards defeating the opioid crisis. The event addressed the legal implications from a variety of perspectives.
Cannon Lecture
Professor Kimberly Norwood of Washington University School of Law presented "Ferguson Five Years Later: A Look at the Legal & Social Reverberations in Ferguson and Around the Nation" on Sep. 26, 2019. Norwood discussed how various laws, social conditions, and economic and political policies may contribute to racial and socioeconomic conflict. She also examined institutional, systemic, and cultural structures that resulted in racially disparate treatment in Ferguson.
Stranahan Lecture
Professor Ilya Somin of George Mason University presented "Free to Move: Foot Voting and Political Freedom" at the Stranahan Lecture on Sep. 12, 2019. Most Americans think of ballot box voting as the essence of political freedom. Somin explained how we can best empower ordinary people by expanding opportunities for them to "vote with their feet," whether it be in the private sector, between jurisdictions in a federal system, or even by moving to a new nation.
Class of 1969: 50 Year Reunion
The Class of 1969 celebrated their 50 year reunion Aug. 9-11, 2019. Scheduled events included an evening baseball game, tour of the Toledo Museum of Art, cocktails at the home of Dick and Shelley Walinski, a dinner gathering at Byblos, and some stayed on for brunch and a tour of the law school building (that didn't exist in '69). Classmates and guests from Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island attended various events with former law professor Niki Schwartz and his wife, Bobbie.