2015 Archive

Joe Jamail Dies at 90

Attorney and Longhorn philanthropist Joe Jamail, BA ’50, JD ’53, Life Member, Distinguished Alumnus, died Wednesday at age 90. Dean Ward Farnsworth shared these comments after learning the news: I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Jamail, our wonderful friend and graduate. It is a loss felt keenly by all of us […]

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Melinda Taylor: In The Energy Institute Spotlight

Professor Melinda Taylor, executive director of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law & Business, and one of the nation’s foremost experts on environmental law, is the subject of the latest feature by UT’s Energy Institute, in their “Research Spotlight” column. It is a well-deserved honor for this veteran of both the National Audubon […]

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Lynn Baker and Charles Silver Ask, “Is The Price Right?” for Class Action Fees

Every year, class action settlements bring $10-$20 billion into federal courts, and every year, federal judges award billions of these dollars to plaintiffs’ attorneys in payment of fees and reimbursement of expenses. But can we be sure those awards are set correctly? And, if they aren’t, what are the consequences for plaintiffs, attorneys, judges, and […]

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Sanford Levinson On “Constitutional Crises”

Professor Sanford Levinson discusses Constitutional crises and what they are and are not in this piece for Cato Unbound. Reprinted here with their permission.   On “Constitutional Crises” BY SANFORD LEVINSON Consider the impeachments of Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Did either of them amount to a constitutional crisis? The answer is no, even though […]

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Andrea Meza, ’15, Named a “Pro Bono Trailblazer”

Texas Law alum Andrea Meza, ’15, was presented with the Access to Justice Law Student Pro Bono Award by the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Access to Justice Commission. The award is presented annually to law student and recent graduates that have shown an exceptional commitment to pro bono work. Meza is one of three […]

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Be careful what you wish for in Evenwel, Justice Kennedy

In this opinion piece for “Balkinizaton,” Professor Joseph Fishkin discusses potential outcomes and consequences of Evenwel v. Abbott, a case heard by the Supreme Court on Dec. 8.   Be careful what you wish for in Evenwel, Justice Kennedy BY JOSPEH FISHKIN In another major Texas redistricting case, eight years ago, the Court faced the […]

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Denise Gilman: Asylum-Seeking Families Need Help, Not Detention

As the holiday season approaches, Clinical Professor Denise Gilman discusses the growing number of Central American families seeking asylum in the United States and the hardships that they face on a daily basis in this op-ed for the Houston Chronicle.   Asylum-Seeking Families Need Help, Not Detention BY DENISE GILMAN As my family and I enter […]

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Nothing (Still) Matters: ERISA Preemption Returns To The Supreme Court

Professor William Sage was recently featured on the Health Affairs Blog for a gripping article he wrote on the first major health care dispute involving the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) that reached the Supreme Court in over a decade. This is the second article by Professor Sage to be featured by […]

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Rapoport Center Launches Major Five-Year Initiative

On a daily basis we are confronted with horrifying stories of human rights violations both locally and globally: from the treatment of asylum seekers to new forms of slave labor, deadly working conditions and racial injustice. Other headlines present alarming statistics of international and domestic income and wealth inequality and a growing gap between the […]

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