DePaul Law News

Gregory Mark prepares to lead College of Law

Gregory Mark, the newly appointed dean of DePaul University College of Law, will make several visits to the school before assuming the deanship this July. He plans to meet with law school faculty and staff during his visits, as he continues to shape his vision for the college.

“It is enormously important for the law school to be an integral part of the intellectual life of the entire university,” said Mark. “The law school should play a part in all of the university’s constituent communities, which are global. It’s also important that our law students understand that they are joining a law community that goes back nearly a century.”

Mark currently serves as vice dean, professor of law and the Justice Nathan L. Jacobs Scholar at Rutgers University School of Law in Newark, N.J.  He was selected to lead the College of Law following a national search by a committee that included law school faculty, a staff representative and a student representative, and was led by attorney and DePaul trustee Gery Chico.

Almost two decades as a law professor
A noted legal historian with extensive experience in academia, administration and the professional world, Mark has nearly 20 years’ experience as a law professor.  He also has been a member of the graduate faculty in history at Rutgers and has served as a teaching fellow in the history department at Harvard University.

Prior to his career in academia, Mark served as associate counsel for the Office of Independent Counsel in the Iran-Contra affair. In that role, he helped develop a successful case against Duane Clarridge, a former high ranking official of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Clarridge later received a presidential pardon. Mark also led a project on foreign intelligence and national security concerns in the prosecution of government officials and acted as liaison to the White House Counsel’s Office, the U.S. Senate, the National Security Agency and the CIA (1988-93).

Mark earned a bachelor’s degree from Butler University and a master’s degree in history from Harvard University. No stranger to Chicago, Mark earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was articles editor for the law review. After graduating, he clerked for Judge Bruce M. Selya of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in 1988 and 1989.

“My wife and I love Chicago, and we are eager to get back to what my daughter calls the ‘golden city,’” said Mark. “My last visit reminded me of the Chicago I knew when I was in law school. It was zero degrees and windy.”

Source: DePaul Newsline.

Law in the Family: The Schillers

• Sidney S. Schiller (JD '33)
• Harry Lastick (JD '36)
• Donald C. Schiller (JD '66)
• Eric E. Schiller (BA '91)
• Jonathan Z. Schiller (JD '99)

 

Common ground, and a little serendipity 

By Kortney Moore

Sidney Schiller, one of five children raised in Chicago, watched three of his siblings go to medical school, but he was more attracted to the study of law. So Sidney began a new family tradition at DePaul. 

After receiving his JD, he soon returned to the law school to teach a couple of classes as an adjunct professor. That’s when he met law student Harry Lastick whose father needed legal assistance. And that’s how he would eventually meet his future wife, Harry’s sister Edith. 

Sidney established a successful practice in Chicago, primarily focusing on corporate and real estate law, and with Edith, raised his children in a household that encouraged conversations about legal issues. 

Above: From left, Eric, Don and Jonathan Schiller.

“My brother and I would often meet people who were in the legal field,” says Don Schiller, senior partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP in Chicago. “It was an integral part of our lives and I don’t think there was much of a doubt about what we wanted to do when we grew up.” Both Don and his older brother pursued legal careers. For Don, the combination of several events guided him to the practice of family law.  

CPIL hosts local attorneys to share experience of food policy with students

The Center for Public Interest Law (CPIL) hosted two local public interest attorneys on Wednesday, February 16, to speak about their work in food policies to an audience of 50 DePaul students. Virginia Martinez (JD '75), legislative staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), spoke about MALDEF’s current program to fight childhood obesity. Josh Orenstein, assistant attorney general in the Consumer Fraud Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General's Office, spoke about the Four Loko litigation against alcoholic energy drinks.

By working with health care providers and community activists, Martinez works to change policy and address the epidemic of childhood obesity. In Illinois, one in five children is obese. She spoke about how childhood obesity particularly affects African American and Latino populations. In fact, Latinos are 23 times more likely to be overweight than non-Latinos. This is often caused by lack of education, supervision and parental involvement during meal times. She works on policy changes such as promoting exercise and healthy eating in schools. She also works on a program to encourage breastfeeding, which correlates with a 22 percent reduction in childhood obesity.

As a consumer fraud prosecutor, Orenstein holds companies responsible for corrupt practices. He spoke about a case against alcoholic energy drinks called Four Loko. The attorney general’s office was concerned that the brand targeted people under age 21 and that the drinks used stimulants to mask the effects of intoxication. The attorney general’s office sent a letter to the FDA, which sent a letter to the alcoholic beverage manufacturers. This shifted the burden to the companies to demonstrate that their products were safe. The next day, the manufacturers announced that they would take the products off the market. The case serves as a quick success story in consumer protection.

Two articles by Professor Kwall cited in Kelley vs. Chicago Park District opinion

Today the Seventh Circuit issued the long-awaited (in IP circles) opinion on moral rights, Kelley vs. Chicago Park District.  Two of Professor Roberta Kwall's articles were cited in the opinion.

In addition, tomorrow Professor Kwall is headed for the University of Texas to be the keynote luncheon speaker at an IP conference sponsored by the school.

Art and Cultural Heritage Legal Society Scholarships

The Art and Cultural Heritage Legal Society would like to inform you of two scholarship opportunities. The applications for the scholarships are below. All students are encouraged to apply and to attend the scholarship reception!

Scholarships
The Art and Cultural Heritage Legal Society Scholarship will be available to one student at DePaul University College of Law who is working in a legal position within the mission of ACHLS. There are also a few Kaplan scholarships available to qualified 3Ls. Check out the applications: http://www.law.depaul.edu/centers_institutes/ciplit/pdf/ACHLS_Scholarship_11.pdf and http://www.law.depaul.edu/centers_institutes/ciplit/pdf/ACHLS_Kaplan_11.pdf or email achls.depaul@gmail.com for more information. The application is due on March 18, 2011.

Scholarship Reception
SAVE THE DATE for the First Annual Art Cultural Heritage Legal Society Scholarship Reception. The wine reception will take place on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 6:00pm at Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar on 626 North State Street, Chicago, IL. Tickets are for $35 per person for attorneys and professionals and $25 per person for students.
Please email achls.rsvp@gmail.com to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

ACHLS Executive Board
achls.rsvp@gmail.com

Article by Professor Sarnoff cited in Google's merits amicus brief in the Microsoft v. i4i case

Professor Joshua Sarnoff's 2008 article, "Bilcare, KSR, Presumptions of Validity, Preliminary Relief, and Obviousness in Patent Law," was recently cited in Google's merits amicus brief in the Microsoft v. i4i case pending in the Supreme Court, which will address the burden of proof of invalidity in light of the statutory presumption of validity.  Josh also provided input to and is an amicus curiae in a law professors brief in the case, arguing that the clear and convincing evidence standard should not apply to newly considered facts.

Law in the Family: The Soliunases

• Francine Stewart Soliunas (LAS '70, JD '73)
• Mikah Soliunas (JD '05)

 

A mother-daughter journey in law and service 

By Kortney Moore

For Francine Soliunas and her daughter Mikah, the decision to attend law school at DePaul really wasn’t a decision at all, but rather a natural selection. DePaul was already like family. 

“I always say DePaul chose me, in addition to me choosing DePaul,” says Francine, assistant dean for strategy and student professional development, and executive director for the Institute for Law and the Work Place at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Her longstanding relationship with DePaul is rooted in service and a love for the Vincentian mission. 

As an undergraduate student in the 1960s, Francine was actively involved in the life of the university, working with student-initiated charitable, educational and multicultural programs. She continued her service work as a law student and, today, supports and serves a long list of community organizations. 

Above: Mikah, left, and Francine Soliunas (photo credit: Nathan Keay).

“I feel I am DePaul,” Francine often says, when speaking to groups at DePaul. 

“What that means in large part for me is the quality of character that I try to be: forgiving, loving, caring, hardworking, nonjudgmental,” she says. “I’ve come to love and respect the quality of education and the way the university carries out its values and mission.” 

Journal for Social Justice hosts its annual symposium on March 3, 2011

Journal for Social Justice Annual Symposium

Juvenile justice in Chicago: Moving Forward with Restorative Justice and Expungement

Thursday, March 3, 2011

11:30 to 4:30

DePaul University College of Law (Loop Campus)

1 E Jackson Blvd, Room 8005

Sponsored by the Journal for Social Justice

Cosponsored by the Center for Public Interest Law, The Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center, the DePaul Egan Urban Center, and the National Lawyers Guild.  Supported by the Vincentian Endowment Fund.

11:30am to 11:45am: Lunch will be provided.

11:45am- 1pm: The State of Juvenile Justice in 2011.

This panel will address several issues facing youth in Chicago’s juvenile justice system, issues that youth and advocates seek to address in part through restorative practices and expungement. 

1:15-2:45pm: Restorative Practices in Chicago. 

Restorative justice models of conflict resolution promote dialogue among parties to a particular conflict, restoration of order and harmony, and healing for those involved.  This panel will address restorative practices throughout Chicago: in Juvenile Court, in schools, and in communities.  

3-4:30pm: Expungement of juvenile records: clearing the path for the future.

Youth who pass through the juvenile justice system come out with records, which are not automatically sealed in IL when they turn 18. Expungement seeks to help youth move ahead with their lives without the limitations a record may cause. This panel will address the basics of expungement and the need for it, and well as focus on community and policy efforts to improve and increase access to expungement.

*Free CLE credits: up to 4.25 hours

*rsvp to alix.strunk@gmail.com requested but not required

 Click here for a flyer

Sen. Durbin announces law school loan forgiveness recipients at DePaul

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) recently announced the winners of a loan forgiveness program aimed at attracting and retaining prosecutors and public defenders in Illinois. At a news conference held at DePaul College of Law on Jan. 31, Durbin said that 128 prosecutors and public defenders in Illinois will receive loan assistance through the John R. Justice grant program.

"This program is going to strengthen our criminal justice system and make our country a safer place," said Durbin. "Law school students usually have debt the size of mortgages when they finish law school. It often makes it difficult for prosecutor and public defender offices to hire and retain good lawyers while offering starting salaries that are three to four times smaller than those in private firms."

The grant program was created by the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act, which Durbin first introduced in 2003 and included in the Higher Education Opportunity Act that became law in 2008. Illinois received an estimated $365,000 to help prosecutors and public defenders in Illinois. Funding is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

DePaul law graduates were among the awardees. "During my second year of law school I interned at the State’s Attorney’s Office, where I heard about a bill to help prosecutors pay back their student loans," said David Potter (JD '08), an assistant Cook County state’s attorney working in community justice. "I knew that I wanted to have a job that would help me make a difference in the community."

For Iris Y. Chavira (JD '07), an assistant Cook County state’s attorney who works in child support enforcement, the award will allow her to do the work she loves. "This program will allow me and others like me to remain with the State’s Attorney’s Office despite our loan debt," said Chavira. "Private practice pays a lot more money but that’s not what I want to do. This is the job I wanted during law school."

Source: DePaul University Office of Public Relations & Communications

 

Students volunteer at local school to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On Saturday, January 15th, 15 DePaul law students and 15 DePaul MBA students participated in Chicago Cares city-wide Celebration of Service event in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.  The volunteer day was one of DePaul College of Law’s Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative’s “Donate-A-Day” events, which are meaningful, short-term service opportunities for students who may not be able to make an extended volunteer commitment.   DePaul’s University Ministry in the Loop helped to plan and co-sponsored the event for law and MBA students.  The event drew over 3,000 volunteers and kicked off with an inspirational opening ceremony in Union Station’s Great Hall.  Mayor Richard M. Daley opened the event and spoke to the crowd about the importance of service to others and gun control laws.  Chris Gardner, author of "Pursuit of Happyness", also spoke to the crowd about Dr. King’s teachings and the importance of working hard and never giving up.

After the speeches, the volunteers boarded buses to various work sites throughout the city. The DePaul contingent visited Fulton Elementary School, a Chicago Public School in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.  At the school, DePaul volunteers worked on school beautification projects.  They helped create tile mosaics and paint a mural on the wall of the cafeteria. Students learned how to assemble ceramic tiles and grout the finished product. Principal and DePaul graduate ('98), Cherie Novak, helped turn the school around after failing test scores and poor teacher performance. The school now thrives within the community.

Cheryl Price, Director of DePaul's Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative, described the event as “truly inspirational” and a “wonderful opportunity for DePaul students to help Chicago Public School students by making one of their schools a more attractive and welcoming place to learn and grow.”