The Docket

Arlington Campus Governance

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

GMU is one of the few universities that does not have an Association of Graduate and Professional Students (GAPSA). That is about to change. Student leaders and school administrators across the Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William campuses have been meeting over the semester to set up the framework for just this sort of institution.

BarBri Course Moved From Mason to George Washington

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

At this point, everyone already knows that Bar/Bri moved its classes from GMU to GWU and to Arlington Temple United Methodist Church. So that does not really qualify as news. Even so, to know where we are going, it is often necessary to know where we have been.

FCBJ Announcement

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Federal Circuit Bar Journal is proud to announce the 2008-2009 Board
of Editors:

Timothy Shirk, Editor-in-Chief
Carolyn Abbate, Executive Editor
Stephen Yam, Managing Editor
Danielle Pawlowski, Senior Articles Editor
Matthew J. Slowik, Senior Notes Editor
Matthew J.

Honor Code Announcement

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The SBA discussed the Amended Honor Code at their final meeting of the semester, which took place on April 13, 2008. Pursuant to 1.06(b)(3) of the Honor Code, the Amended Honor Code was ratified by a majority of a quorum of the SBA Board of Governors and is now in effect.

IPLS Announcement

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to the new IPLS Board for 2008-2009.

President: Andrew Lyons
Administrative V.P.: Rebecca Harker
V.P. of Speakers: Anna Balishina
Treasurer: Rosie Rust
Information Officer: Thomas Lee
Technology Officer: Lincoln Allard

We look forward to another good year under their leadership.

Moot Court in the News

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Last week, the Moot Court wrapped up its most successful competition schedule to date. Here are some of the extramural results:

- The team of J.C. Estevez and Robert May, both 3Ls, took 1st place in the Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition held May 28-29th in Buffalo, New York.

SBA Announcement

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to the 2008-2009 SBA Board of Governors!

President - Rob Duffy
Honor Committee Chair - Townsend Bourne
Vice President, Day Division - Heather Britton
Vice President, Evening Division - Amanda Stone
Vice President for Social Affairs - Bethany Nichols
Vice President for Community Outreach - Becky Harker
Budget Treasurer - Kimi White
Accounts Treasurer - Mark Donahey
Secretary - Nick SanFilippo
4E Class Representatives - Susan Courtwright-Rodriguez, David Rostker
3D Class Representatives - Heather Hickman, Scott Scher

(Photos are of the incoming and outgoing SBA Board of Governors.

The First Year Competition

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A reality TV show. A poor family. A giant corporation. And a dune buggy accident.

This year's First Year Competition (FYC) had all the elements you would look for in a meaty contract dispute. Students have spent the majority of the semester researching whether a corporation can enforce a waiver and release of liability against an injured race participant.

Trial Ad Announcement

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Congratulations the Trial Ad Executive
Officers for the 2008-2009 school year:

President - Rebacca Thacher
Executive Vice President - Robert May
Vice President - Timothy Silvester
Secretary - Elizabeth Nacewicz
Treasurer - Rebecca Harker

Congra

Tuition Increase Ahead

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

By the end of May, GMU's Board of Visitors will likely become the bearers of bad news for University Students concerned about the cost of tuition. The BOV will meet on the 21st to decide the final increase for summer tuition. According to Dan Walsh, GMU Press Secretary, the decision will immediately be posted on the web.

VBA Recognizes Pro Bono Work

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Students at GMUSL have completed hundreds of hours of pro bono work during the 2007-2008 academic year. These students have volunteered at many organizations on and off campus. One organization that offered volunteer opportunities to students was the VBA Pro Bono Society, through their Intake Initiative and the New Orleans Pro Bono Project.

WLA Announcement

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Ms. JD, a national non-profit organization, held a Leadership Summit in New York City on April 4th and 5th. The purpose of the summit was to bring together law students from around the country to form a national organization of women law students.
The event was attended by approximately 100 students from over 60 law schools with representatives in attendance from over 30 states.

An Open Letter To Rhinovirus Vectors

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Dear Sickies,
You knew it when you woke up today. You are sick. Snuffles? Check. Coughing?
Check. Sallow complexion? Check again. Damn. Still, you are in denial. You could
stay home, watch cartoons, and eat dry Cheerios, just like in the old days. Bob Barker
may not be hosting The Price is Right any more, but that doesn?t mean you can?t take
an hour out of your day to prove to yourself that you know exactly how much a tube of
Aim toothpaste costs (oh, and don?t forget to spay or neuter your pet).

CAAS Update

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Career News
Summer 2008 Positions Still Available: If you are looking for summer employment, continue to monitor Symplicity, as well as other national job banks during and after exams. Employers - particularly small and medium-size firms, small companies, and nonprofit associations - post new positions as we draw closer to the summer.

Darts & Pats

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A Pat the graduating classes. Good job. Last lap, on the home stretch. Now pass the bar.

A Dart to Bar/Bri for all this crap. We don't need it. Especially not now.

A Pat to Dean Nields for putting up with Bar/Bri.

A Dart to Dean Polsby for using the term "apocalypse" to describe the construction in front of the Bar/Bri Representative.

I Promise This Column Has A Point

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Episode IV:
My story starts in the dusty town outpost of Williamsburg, Virginia. I was a
liberal arts major. On a whim, I bought a cheap laptop computer and some goldenrod
paper. But the laptop held a secret. The computer and goldenrod paper
got me into law school, and with them, I found my mentor.

Important Information for Graduates (Dec/May/Jul)

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Career, Academic and Alumni Services Office wishes the Class of 2008 great success and hopes everyone stays in touch after graduation! Please note the following regarding continuing services to alumni, including: employment counseling, GMU email accounts, and the law alumni directory:

Employment Counseling: CAAS offers counseling to alumni as well as to students and will continue to work one-on-one with any graduate continuing to look for post-graduation employment.

Loose Leaves

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Library Fine Amnesty
April 14-18 is National Library Week! Return any overdue materials and we will forgive up to $10 in fines per student. This is a great time to clean off your shelves and clear up your library record. Graduating students: you must clear up all financial obligations to the University in order to receive your diploma.

Making Sausage

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

If you're like most people, you've probably wondered how all those casebooks you use are made. To be fair, if you're like most people, you have no idea what a casebook is and would likely fall asleep if it was explained to you. Well, nuts to you. We're going to talk about it anyway.

Meeting With Justice Ginsberg

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

On Tuesday, April 1st, students from Professor Katzen-Dyk's Administrative Law class attended a question-and-answer session with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court. Justice Ginsburg fielded student questions for an hour in the Lawyer's Lounge of the Supreme Court.

Message from the 2008-2009 SBA President

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

I am very excited about serving as the 2008-
2009 SBA president. This past year's SBA board
of governors was very effective under the leadership
of Gene Granger, and I hope to live up to
the standard he has set. Due to the quality of the
newly elected SBA board, I am confident that we
will continue progress in increasing the role of
the SBA in the law school and the university as a
whole.

Message from the SBA President

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

As a write my final column for the Docket as SBA President, I feel it's appropriate to reflect upon an incredibly busy but successful year and recognize our students, who've been responsible for such an outstanding year.

Our student organizations have continued to grow and flourish.

Police Blotter

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

03/27/08 - Vandalism (Fairfax). A drivers car was kicked by a pedestrian as she was traveling on Patriot Circle causing approximately $150.00 damage.

04/02/08 - Trespass (Arlington). Individual was trespassed after exhibiting unusual behavior.

04/04/08 - Information Case (Arlington).

Seen & Heard

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"No man is above the law and
no man is below it; nor do we
ask any man's permission when
we ask him to obey it."
-Theodore Roosevelt

"The law is not the private property
of lawyers, nor is justice the
exclusive province of judges and
juries. In the final analysis, true
justice is not a matter of courts
and law books, but of a commitment
in each of us to liberty and
mutual respect.

Softball Tournament & Murphy Pool Tournament Photos

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

That's Show Business, Baby

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

To paraphrase Ethel Merman, "there are not a great deal of industries which resemble the entertainment industry." The glitz, the glamour. The� cease and desist letters? The law and lawyers are just as much a part of it as the stars. Intellectual property law, contract law, labor law, and a number of other specialties all have their place making sure the business of show business runs smoothly.

The Movie Reviewer Reviews Movies

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

So it's come to this. The last drop of measured cinematic judgment, carefully rationed to quench a thirsty reading public.
Yeah. Right. I have no illusions about how many people read this part of the paper. I think I have caught three people even looking at this feature.

Thoughts From A 1L

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

We are less than two weeks away from finishing our first year of law school and I find myself reflecting on all the past year has brought. I have a mix of memories made with new friends and a whole host of new experiences under my belt. Over the course of the year, I have presented before judges, written more memos than I've ever cared to write, become intimately acquainted with GMU's library, gotten to know many professors and staff members, have been caught both prepared and unprepared by professors, and have learned quite a few things along the way.

Editorial: Bar/Bri

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The following editorial is entirely composed of my own opinions and contains a fair amount of theorizing based on the facts at hand, plus some conjecture based on admittedly inadmissible hearsay evidence. I do not know that this is true, but I believe it to be true based on suppositions and the facts at hand.