Dean's Message

The ice and snowstorm of early December in St. Louis ushered in winter, and presided over the end of fall classes. As I write this note, our students are taking examinations and our faculty is beginning the laborious task of reading hundreds of examinations and papers.

As you will see in the pages that follow, the fall semester provided a rich, textured and diverse menu of extracurricular offerings for our students. Take, for example, Health Law Moot Court. Students from our very own Health Law Moot Court team won this year’s National Health Law Moot Court Competition! This was a fitting victory for a team fielded by the nation’s best Health Law program!

This victory is just one of the many that illustrate the ways in which the central activity at the School is the academic work of our 950 students and their 51 full-time and 25 adjunct faculty. This is the heart of the School of Law and it has never been more vibrant.

Visiting professors are also included in this list, and fall saw the arrival of Hauwa Ibrahim, our colleague from Nigeria, who taught our students about West African Legal Systems. A remarkable woman, Ms. Ibrahim’s story is profiled on page 12.

Scholars and visiting practitioners also aid our students’ understanding of the law. We were pleased to host one of our D.C. alums, Mal Harkins, as this year’s Center for Health Law Studies Practitioner-in-Residence. Judge Raymond W. Gruender of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit served as Jurist-in-Residence, visiting classes and meeting with students and faculty, and our students benefited from countless speakers in the legal field, most of whom are listed on page 2. We also had moments, like the one on October 19, where legal issues weren’t the focus. Instead, a sizable crowd gathered in the William H. Kniep Courtroom to share stories about Judge Theodore McMillian, ’49, in a portrait ceremony held in his memory. It was truly a touching occasion.

You may notice that this issue has an international theme. The School has a connection to so much — both here and abroad — and we wanted to keep you up to date. We introduce you, on page 8, to our newly launched Summer Law Program in Berlin, which is already generating quite a bit of buzz. You’ll find profiles of two international alums, Khavan Sok, a researcher in the Office of Co-Investigating Judges, Cambodian Genocide Tribunal, and Don Anton, a professor at the University of Melbourne Law School.

Also featured are profiles of Stephen J. Murphy, ’87, and Jacqueline Albus, ’99, who are doing some great things in Michigan and Chicago, respectively. I think you’ll find this issue to be filled with all sorts of interesting stories.

As a final note, I send my greetings to all for a wonderful holiday season. We appreciate your support of the School of Law. You make a difference!

Sincerely Yours,

Jeffrey E. Lewis
Dean and Professor of Law