Spring 2012 Benchmark Alumni Magazine

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SPRING 2012

THE THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL MAGAZINE

BenchmarkBenchmark

InsideCooley Student and AdventureSeeker – Charles Hamel

A Man on a Mission – ProfessorE. Christopher Johnson

Cooley Announces Tampa BayCampus Faculty

13th Annual Cooley 5K Race for Education

A MoreDiverse LegalProfessionJudge Hugh Clarke, (Wiest Class,1979) says that since he graduated, he has seen a significant change inthe diversity of attorneys who arepracticing law.

Early EntryCapital City River Run Weekend of Races

September 15-16, 2012

ccriverrun.com

Sohns Kids’ RacesSaturday, Sept. 15, 2012Impression 5 Half MarathonSunday, Sept. 16, 2012Cooley 5k Race for EducationSunday, Sept. 16, 2012


Sohns Kids’ RacesSaturday, Sept. 15, 2012Impression 5 Half MarathonSunday, Sept. 16, 2012Cooley 5K Race for EducationSunday, Sept. 16, 2012

EditorTerry Carella

Co-EditorSharon Matchette

Contributing WritersSeyferthPRseyferthpr.com

DesignImage Creative Groupimagecreativegroup.com

PhotographyCover © Gennara Photographygennara.com

Call for SubmissionsThe Benchmark is seeking story ideasfrom graduates. We are looking for storieson a variety of subjects such as graduateachievements, international law, culturaldiversity, legal information helpful to prac-titioners, unique law practices, advice toprospective law students, and special events.If you would like to share a story idea,please write, call, or e-mail:

Communications OfficeThomas M. Cooley Law SchoolP.O. Box 13038Lansing, MI 48901

Phone: (517) 371-5140 ext. 2916Fax: (517) 334-5780E-mail: [email protected]

Postmark: Benchmark is published twicea year by the administrative offices of theThomas M. Cooley Law School, P.O. Box13038, Lansing, MI 48901

STAYING IN TOUCH

In this issue, as in all other issues of Benchmark and Benchmark Column, we proudly highlight theaccomplishments of alumni, faculty, staff, and students. We also feature important events heldacross our campuses. It is always heartening to receive so many positive comments from you uponreading these publications.

But these publications are just one way in which we stay in touch with you and vice versa. I want youto know of some other good ways.

COOLEY’S NEW BLOG: At the beginning of the year, we launched our new blog, cooleylawschoolblog.com.We have posted some great pieces about Cooley, our students, and alumni. You will enjoy Michael Sobel’s(Wiest Class, 1979) memorable account of early Cooley days. You will be fascinated by the postings fromCooley student Michelle Zurcher reporting on her wonderful foreign study trip to Australia. You will lovethe story from Ann Arbor campus students Tara Lay and Andrew MacLeod who met as first-termers,fell in love, got married, and are now proud parents of Baby Sam. Finally, I invite you to send your ownstory to us for consideration. E-mail us at [email protected].

COOLEY’S LINKEDIN GROUP: Nearly 2,200 Cooley alumni and students have joined our newLinkedIn Group. In our group, we exchange case referrals, practice tips, and job leads. If you are notalready on LinkedIn, go to LinkedIn.com and create your own account, then access the Cooley LawSchool Community under the Groups tab. Being a member of Cooley’s LinkedIn Community is a great way to share professional references and tips.

COOLEY'S ALUMNI EVENTS: We have nearly 20 events planned across the nation over the nextfew months. See the events listings and make an RSVP easily by clicking on our alumni webpage at cooley.edu/alumni/events.html.

COOLEY ALUMNI DIRECTORY: We have commissioned Publishing Concepts, Inc. to produce ourfirst printed alumni directory in many years. When you are contacted by PCI on our behalf, wehope that you will update your contact information, the better for us all to reach one another.

We love hearing your Cooley stories, we value your comments, and we enjoy the chance to see you inperson. So please stay in touch!

Sincerely,

James D. RobbAssociate Dean of Development and Alumni [email protected] DATABASE

The user name will always remain the wordalumni. The password changes are disclosedin Benchmark on the inside front cover.Please call the Alumni Relations Office at 517-371-5140, ext. 2038, or e-mail [email protected] if you have any problems. The current password for this term isknowledge.

BenchmarkThe Thomas M. Cooley Law SchoolAlumni Magazine

Letter from Cooley

ICG.0212.002.BM

school news

Cooley professor honored by MichiganAcademy of Science, Arts & Letters

The Michigan Academy ofScience, Arts & Letters (theAcademy) has awarded theCohn Prize in Law and PublicPolicy Scholarship to CooleyLaw Professor Norman OttoStockmeyer. He was honoredfor his paper "The TortuousHistory of the Mutual-MistakeDoctrine in MichiganContract Law," which was

presented at the academy's 2011 annual conference.

Professor Stockmeyer's paper has been published in theacademy's academic journal, Michigan Academician, and canbe accessed at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1789778.

The Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters is aregional, multidisciplinary academic society. The academyawards the Cohn Prize for the paper presented at theannual conference that best contributes to the existingscholarly literature on the topic of law or public policy.

The Cohn Prize recognizes Judge Avern L. Cohn for hispatronage of the academy and legal scholarship.

Professor E. ChristopherJohnson, Jr. recognized asone of the nation’s mostinfluential black attorneys

Professor and Director ofCooley’s graduate degree program in Corporate Law and Finance, E. ChristopherJohnson, Jr. has been selectedas one of the nation’s mostinfluential black attorneysworking in government or academics by On Being A Black Lawyer Media Company(OBABL). Johnson’s selection

will place him on OBABL’s inaugural Power 100 SpecialEdition list.

Professor Johnson is a national leader in efforts toincrease access to law school and expand diversity in thelegal profession. He is vice chair of the Council for Racial andEthnic Diversity in the Educational Pipeline (formerly thePresidential Advisory Council on Diversity) and a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Council for LegalEducation Opportunity. He is a member of the ABASection of Legal Education Standards Review Committeeand a past chair of the ABA Africa Law Council.

OBABL produces e-newsletters, events and social mediaplatforms to engage black legal professionals in an effortto help advance diversity in the legal profession. OBABLhas been recognized by the American Bar Association,National Black Law Students Association, and the NationalAssociation of Black Journalists.

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THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL BENCHMARK SPRING 2012

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10A MAN ON A MISSIONCooley Professor E. ChristopherJohnson advocates for the elimination of human trafficking.

12COOLEY ANNOUNCESTAMPA BAY FACULTY

Top-notch legal professionalsjoin Cooley at our Tampa Baycampus, ready to educate thenext generation of practice-ready attorneys.

2A MORE DIVERSE LEGALPROFESSIONJudge Hugh Clarke, (WiestClass, 1979) says that since hegraduated, he has seen a signifi-cant change in the diversity ofattorneys who are practicing law.

6COOLEY STUDENT ANDADVENTURE SEEKERCharles Hamel’s life has been anadventure. Born in Washington,D.C., he spent much of his childhood in Uruguay beforemoving to Alaska.

Join your fellow alumni on LinkedIn®

COOLEY ANNOUNCES

TAMPA BAY FACULTYCOOLEY ANNOUNCES

TAMPA BAY FACULTY

Cooley News pg. 18-20

• Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahraspeaks at Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus

• The health of health care debated on April 11– Event offers diverging views on resource allocation

• Cooley celebrates Equal Access to Justice Day

• Cooley Professor Otto Stockmeyer honored by Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters

• Professor E. Christopher Johnson, Jr. recognized asone of the nation’s most influential black attorneys

Hugh Clarke, (Wiest Class, 1979) Judge for the 54-A District Court in Lansing, Michigan

A MORE DIVERSE LEGAL

PROFESSION

Hugh Barrington Antonio Clarke II, 57, of Lansing, Mich.was appointed judge of the 54-A District Court in Lansingon Dec. 20, 2010. Clarke (Wiest Class, 1979) says thatsince he graduated, he has seen a significant change in thediversity of the attorneys who are practicing law.

“While attending Cooley, I was working as a parking lotattendant in the same lot where then Cooley PresidentThomas Brennan Sr. parked,” Clarke explained. “Hewould talk to me on a regular basis and, one day, heasked me what the school could do to become morediverse and welcoming to minorities.”

At that time, Clarke helped form the Black Law StudentsAssociation at Cooley and he began going on recruitmenttrips with then Professor Don LeDuc in an effort to makethe law profession more diverse. Eventually, Clarke co-founded the Lansing Black Lawyers Association.

Growing up in Detroit, Clarke first experienced integra-tion when he was bused to a middle school in a whiteneighborhood. He still recalls the not-so-positive greet-ing when his bus arrived on the first day of school. “Athird of the way through the school year, some of thesame students who had used racial terms on our firstday of school started to protect us,” said Clarke.

“Going to law school was an eye-opening experience. By the time I went to Cass High School in Detroit andthen to Wayne State University, things were pretty well integrated. When I got to Cooley, I was the onlyAfrican-American in the class orientation on Friday, and on Monday it was still just me,” Clarke recalled. “I remember on Monday morning three other blackmales were looking through the classroom window tosee how many new minorities were enrolled.”

Clarke soon realized that the rigors of law school wereenough to ease his personal tensions about race. In addi-tion to President Brennan, Professor Peter Jason helpedease the transition, sharing tips on how to succeed inlaw school. To this day, Clarke shares one of those tipswith anyone who is studying the law or beginning apractice. He explains to them, “You must communicatein writing to the professor that you know the materialjust as you must communicate to a judge that you knowwhy the law favors your client. If you can’t communicateyour defense, your client loses and, if you can’t commu-nicate in writing to your professor that you know thematerial, then your grades will reflect it.”

Judge Hugh Clarke says that since he graduated,he has seen a significant change in the diversity ofthe attorneys who are practicing law.

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Today, Judge Clarke looks at the Ingham County CircuitCourt as a great example of how the legal field hasbecome more open for individuals from all ethnic backgrounds and both genders. “We went from a male-dominated circuit court to a female-dominated circuitcourt,” he observed. “This is a good thing. Only goodthings can happen when you bring more people withdiverse backgrounds into decision-making roles.”

Outside of the law, Clarke is a self-proclaimed “golf-a-holic.”He is married to Dr. Judi Brown Clarke, an Olympic silvermedalist in the 400 meter hurdles during the 1984Olympics in Los Angeles. The couple enjoys the challengesof raising their son Tony and watching him compete bothathletically and academically. The Clarkes currently havelimited guardianship of one of Tony’s classmates whoseparents were transferred out of the area for a new job andthought it was best to let their son graduate from highschool with his friends.

Clarke’s involvements go beyond family. He has coachedyouth baseball and basketball in Lansing for nearly adecade and has served on the school board in the Cityof Lansing. Since serving on the school board, Clarkehas helped launch some very important programs,including meals for middle school students involved inathletics at no cost to the school district.

When Lansing Public Schools students excelled on theMichigan Education Assessment Program Test, Clarkewanted to reward the students for their hard work and,without any additional cost to the district, he foundcommunity sponsors who were willing to give pizza parties to elementary school classes, when 100 percentof the students exceeded their grade levels in math or reading.

Today, Judge Clarke looks at the Ingham CountyCircuit Court as a great example of how the legalfield has become more open for individuals fromall ethnic backgrounds and both genders.

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“I am doing what is right for kids. My decisions on theschool board were based on one question, ‘How doesthis help the kids?’” Clarke said. “I support public education and I am proud of the students.”

As an attorney, Clarke learned early on that you have tobe committed to be successful. After graduating fromCooley, Clarke worked for the Michigan Senate and,after which in 1981, he went into private practice. He quickly built a reputation as an attorney who was willing to go to court and fight hard for his clients.

“It took me two years to build a reputation as a fighterfor individuals,” said Clarke. “Whenever anyone walkedin the door with work, I would get on the case.”

Clarke took his dedication and commitment as a father,husband, lawyer and community leader with him to thebench. “I had a lot of mentors and have been in front ofa lot of judges during my 30 years as an attorney,”Clarke recalled. “Being on the bench is an awesomeauthority and I want to be the type of judge that lawyersand the public are proud to come before.”

Clarke worked for the Michigan Senate and, afterwhich in 1981, he went into private practice. Hequickly built a reputation as an attorney who waswilling to go to court and fight for people.

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CLIMBING

COOLEY

STUDENT

FOR A CAUSE

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BENCH-

Charles Hamel’s life has been an adventure.Born in Washington, D.C., he spent much of his childhood in Uruguay beforemoving to Alaska.“I was drawn to Alaska because I had very little money after my first year ofcollege and I had heard about how prosperous the commercial fishing industrywas,” he said. “Fifteen seasons later, I had put myself through the University ofAlaska. I like to think that salmon paid for everything.”

Charles Hamel, Cooley Law School Student


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After earning two undergraduate degrees and amaster’s degree in economics, Charles Hamelwent to work as an economist for a federal fish-eries management agency in Anchorage. He thenreceived a faculty appointment at the University of Alaska, where he returned to teach classesand continue his research in fishery policy. In hisdown time, he worked as a wilderness guideand boat captain.

“This was when I was first exposed to rockclimbing,” he said. “I loved it from the minute I started. Climbing provided both a challengeand a great community of people who havebecome my good friends.”

A few years later, Hamel traded in his life inAlaska to move to the Virgin Islands.

“I needed a change,” he said. “New things andnew places motivate me, so I sold everything Iowned and I moved to the Caribbean.”

While living in the Virgin Islands, Hamel captainedcharter yachts and dive boats. He also took uptriathlon and open water swimming, but alwaysfound time to rock climb.

“One of my favorite places to climb was TheBaths on the island of Virgin Gorda,” he said.“Whenever I would take guests sailing throughthat part of the British Virgin Islands, I wouldmake sure that we stopped there so I could spend some time ‘bouldering’ – a style of climbingpracticed on large boulders. I loved it there.”

After six years in the Virgin Islands, however,Hamel decided it was time for another change.

“I woke up in St. Croix and one year had turnedinto six,” he said. “I felt a little restless and I wanted to get back on track.”

A bet with a close friend determined the directionhis life would take.

“We bet whether or not I would attend lawschool,” he said. “I had previously taken the LSAT,so I decided I would do it, and my search for theright school began.”

Hamel decided on Cooley Law School becausethe scholarship was irresistible.

Charles Hamel (left) and climbing partner Allen Zeitlin

“Rock climbing is my passion, so it became an outlet for me when school gotchallenging,” he said. “I taught climbingclasses at the YMCA and spent a lot oftime in Grand Ledge, Mich. Climbingwas something that helped me unwind.”


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“I was so grateful because I didn’t have muchmoney at the time and Cooley scholarships wereable to cover the majority of my tuition,” he said.”So I packed my bags and headed north.”

Moving from the Virgin Islands to return to schoolin Michigan was an adjustment for Hamel.

“I lived in Alaska, so I was fine with the coldweather,” he said. “But I had gotten rid of all myprofessional clothes moving to the Caribbean. Ionly had one tie, and suddenly I had to wearshoes again!”

Despite obstacles, Hamel has excelled at Cooley.Now in his final semester, he feels that rockclimbing played a role in his success.

CLIMBING FOR A CAUSE“Rock climbing is my passion, so it was an outletfor me when school got challenging,” he said. “Itaught climbing classes at the YMCA and spent alot of time in Grand Ledge, Mich. Climbing wassomething that helped me unwind.”

Hamel is now using this passion to raise moneyand awareness for individuals affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“My climbing partner, Allen Zeitlin, is a medicalstudent and veteran of the wars in Iraq andAfghanistan,” he said. “He has several friendswho are struggling with PTSD and he wanted tofind a way to help them. So we createdwww.climbing4PTSD.org.”

The charity employs the pair’s love of climbing toraise money, which will then benefit the Brain &Behavior Research Foundation and fund a grantfor PTSD research.

In December 2011, Hamel and Zeitlin completedtheir hardest climb to date at the limestone cliffsof El Potrero Chico, which lies in Mexico's easternSierra Madre in the state of Nuevo Leon. TimeWave Zero, the climber’s chosen route, is 2,300feet – making it the second longest sport route inNorth America.

“We decided to climb Time Wave Zero becauseit was the most challenging route that we felt wehad a reasonable chance of summiting,” he said.“And I think that it represented the struggles thatindividuals with PTSD face.”

Today, www.climbing4PTSD.org has raised morethan $5,000 for the Brain & Behavior ResearchFoundation.

“I feel that Allen and I have achieved somethingtruly great,” he said. “My hope is that we cancontinue to raise money and awareness for the disorder.”

But for now, Hamel’s next adventure is graduatingfrom Cooley Law School in September 2012.When he gets his degree, he hopes to work as animmigration attorney. The real question, however,is where he will practice.

“I want to go where there is water and goodclimbing,” he said. “Maybe I will end up back inthe Caribbean. But you never know. I am luckythat way. Things always work out the way theyshould.”

Charles Hamel (foreground) and climbing partner Allen Zeitlin, Charles Hamel


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During his multi-year legal career withGeneral Motors Corporation, CooleyProfessor E. Christopher Johnson, Jr.traveled the globe, interfacing with someof the world’s most progressive compa-nies and sophisticated organizations.

Yet a mission trip to India last fall withhis Novi, Michigan church stopped

Johnson dead in his tracks. While touring the impoverishedstreets of Mumbai, Johnson’s group came upon an atrocityhe cannot get out of his head – human trafficking. After further investigation, Johnson learned this crime against theinnocent isn’t isolated to one remote area of the world.Rather, human trafficking is a massive, organized crimeinvolving millions of people in sexual and labor exploitation.

Prevention of human trafficking has become a new missionfor the four-year Cooley professor. But taking on toughcauses isn’t new to Johnson. Johnson has made it his life’swork to take on issues ranging from diversity to breast cancer awareness.

Johnson recently led a campus-wide simulcast discussion onhuman trafficking with Cooley students, state experts and specialists that he hopes will educate law students, communitymembers and the public in this horrific crime.

“I did not have a concept of how detestable a crime againsthumanity it really is,” said Johnson. “I am proud that Cooley,along with the International Law Society, the AmericanConstitution Society and Cooley’s graduate program inCorporate Law and Finance, hosted this conference to makeour students, faculty and members of the public more awareof this issue and engage them in working on solutions.

But Johnson is not resting. He is gearing up for a much larger event in the fall, looking to engage a broader base of supporters. “Awareness of human trafficking is the first step in eliminating it,” he said.

As chair of Cooley’s Corporate Law and Finance LL.M. program, Johnson is hoping to bring human trafficking aware-ness into the classroom so that law students can understandthe risk of labor exploitation issues in the supply chain.

“Plain and simple, lawyers are ministers of justice, and I feelan obligation to take a stand on this issue and not sit back,”he said.

E. Christopher Johnson, Jr., Associate Professor and Graduate Program Corporate Law and Finance Director

MAN ON

A MISSIONCooley Professor E. Christopher Johnson, Jr. Advocates for the Elimination of Human Trafficking

Cooley Professor Shines Light on a Global Atrocity


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COOLEY ANNOUNCES

TAMPA BAY FACULTY

Cooley Associate Dean Jeff Martlew has announced the school’s initial Tampa Bay campus faculty, who will be in place when classes start this spring. Joining Cooley’s Tampa Bay staff is prominent Florida attorney Carolyn House Stewart, and three currentCooley professors from the school’s Michigan campuses; John Scott, Brendan Beery and Ronald Sutton.

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CAROLYN HOUSE STEWART PROFESSOR, TAMPA BAY CAMPUSCOURSE: CONTRACT LAW

EXPERIENCE:> Partner Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen> Florida Board of Bar Examiners> Licensed to Practice Before the U.S. Supreme Court

Stewart will teach Contract Law to Cooley’s incomingclass at Tampa Bay. She is a shareholder in MacfarlaneFerguson & McMullen, one of Florida’s oldest law firms.She has been with the firm since 1994, handling cases inthe firm’s civil litigation, casualty and labor law sections.Stewart received her Juris Doctor from the University ofSouth Carolina and was admitted to the Florida Bar in1978. She has practiced before the U.S. District Courtsfor the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and theU.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th and 11th Circuits.Stewart is also licensed to practice before the U.S.Supreme Court and recently completed a five-year termon the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

“I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the legal professionthrough this new role in the education and training of practice-ready lawyers. Ihave been involved in continuing legal education as a workshop leader andlecturer on a variety of topics over the course of my legal career.” CAROLYN HOUSE STEWART

Jeff Martlew, Associate Dean / Carolyn House Stewart, Professor


JEFF MARTLEW ASSOCIATE DEAN, TAMPA BAY CAMPUS

EXPERIENCE:> Cooley Law School Board of Directors> Chief Judge, Clinton County Circuit Court> Executive Board, Michigan Judges Association> Faculty, Michigan Judicial Institute

Professor Jeffrey L. Martlew, has been designatedas the Associate Dean for the Tampa Bay campus.Martlew joined the full-time faculty at Cooley LawSchool after 14 years on the bench at the 29thCircuit Court in Michigan. Professor Martlew was firstelected to the circuit court in 1993. He was namedChief Judge in 1994 and served in that capacity untilhe retired in May 2007. Previously he served as judgefor the 65th District Court in Clinton County, Mich., 1985-1992.

Professor Martlew served as an adjunct professor atCooley 2005-2007, then as a visiting professor untilhis appointment to the full-time faculty.

JOHN N. SCOTT PROFESSOR, TAMPA BAY CAMPUSCOURSE: PROPERTY LAW

EXPERIENCE:> Specialized in Family Law, Criminal Law,

Property & Bankruptcy Litigation> Administered Cooley’s Trial Workshop Program> Coached Cooley Teams in National Competitions

Professor John Scott will teach Property Law at Cooley’sTampa Bay campus. Scott joined Cooley’s faculty in 1978.Before that, Scott specialized in family law, criminal law,property and bankruptcy litigation. Scott received his JurisDoctor from the University of Michigan. He administeredCooley's Trial Workshop program for 10 years and coachedCooley teams in ABA, ATLA, and NACDL National TrialCompetitions for law students. Scott is the national co-chair(with Cooley Professor Gerald MacDonald) of the NACDLCriminal Trial Competition. They co-author the case-fileproblems used in that competition every year.

BRENDAN BEERY PROFESSOR, TAMPA BAY CAMPUSCOURSE: CONSTITUTIONAL & CRIMINAL LAW

EXPERIENCE:> Partner, Mahjoory, Mahjoory & Beery P.L.C.> Associate, Thrun, Maatsch & Nordberg, P.C.> Research Attorney Michigan Court of Appeals

Professor Brendan Beery will teach Constitutional andCriminal Law. Beery joined Cooley’s full-time faculty in2003. He received his Juris Doctor from Cooley LawSchool in 1998. Thereafter, he served as a research attor-ney for the Michigan Court of Appeals and then went intoprivate practice, first as an associate with the law firm ofThrun, Maatsch & Nordberg, P.C., and then as a partnerin the firm of Mahjoory, Mahjoory & Beery P.L.C. ProfessorBeery served as an adjunct professor at Cooley before joining the full-time faculty.

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“We are excited to have top-notch legal professionals join Cooley at ourTampa Bay campus, as we educate the next generation of practice-readyattorneys.” JEFF MARTLEW, ASSOCIATE DEAN, TAMPA BAY CAMPUS

BENCHMARK SPRING 2012 COOLEY.EDU

John N. Scott, Professor / Brendan Beery, Professor / Ronald Sutton, Professor


RONALD SUTTON PROFESSOR, TAMPA BAY CAMPUSCOURSE: TORTS

EXPERIENCE:> Deputy Circuit/Probate Court Administrator-Attorney

Referee for the 56th Judicial Circuit Court> President of Sutton Sports Management Co.> Attorney-Shareholder with Fraser, Trebilcock,

Davis & Dunlap, P.C.

Professor Ronald Sutton has been teaching at Cooley formore than 20 years. Sutton received his Juris Doctor fromWayne State University Law School. Before joining Cooley’sfull-time faculty in 2011, Sutton served as the DeputyCircuit/Probate Court Administrator-Attorney Referee forthe 56th Judicial Circuit Court in Eaton County, Mich. He was president of Sutton Sports Management Co. from 1998-2010, where he was involved with worldwide representationof professional basketball players, coaches and broadcasters.Before that, he was a shareholder with the law firm of Fraser, Trebilcock, Davis & Dunlap, P.C. Sutton will be teaching Torts.

COOLEY’STAMPA BAYCAMPUS Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus is located at 9445Camden Field Parkway, Riverview, Fla. Constructionbegan in Sept. 2011 to upgrade the existing buildingon that site into a new, state-of-the-art law school.The Tampa Bay campus will begin offering eveningclasses on May 7, followed by morning classes inSeptember, then afternoon classes in January 2013.Cooley’s full curriculum will be rolled out over athree-year period.

Over three phases, with the final phase finishing inlate 2012, the Tampa Bay facility renovation will lookto be certified by the Society of EnvironmentallyResponsible Facilities (SERF). Cooley has several build-ings in Michigan certified and is seeking certification for all buildings by SERF.

All classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-artelectronic educational tools, and the entire buildingwill be wireless.

• 24 classrooms with 1,374 seats

• Four distance educations classrooms with 204 seats, a computer laboratory with 28 seats

• A trial courtroom with 90 seats

• Appellate courtroom with 96 seats

Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy the law school’slibrary, which will be approximately 25,600 squarefeet in area and have about 15,000 lineal feet ofcompact or movable shelving. The library will alsoinclude offices, work areas, reference and circulationareas, study rooms, study carrels and study tables.Cooley Tampa Bay will have its own law clinic as wellas a variety of meeting rooms and offices to servestudents, faculty, and staff.

The Tampa Bay campus will beginoffering evening classes in May2012, followed by morning classesin September 2012, and afternoonclasses in January 2013.

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Sohns Kids’ RacesSaturday, Sept. 15, 11:00 a.m.Impression 5 Half MarathonSunday, Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.Cooley 5k Race for EducationSunday, Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.

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The Impression 5 Half Marathon offers a mostly flat andfast course, featuring paved trails, parks, scenic treksalong rivers, as well as a portion of the beautiful MichiganState University campus. The Cooley 5K Race forEducation starts at Cooley Law School Stadium in down-town Lansing and runs by the State Capitol and other historic downtown attractions. Both races end in AdadoRiverfront Park for a fun and festive finish, including therhythm and blues music of the Uptown Band, a fantasticfood spread, and a beer tent – in celebration of each participant's accomplishment!

The Cooley 5K raises money for schools and theImpression 5 Half Marathon raises money for Impression5 Science Center. Both races support education.

WIN MONEY FOR YOUR SCHOOL – TWO WAYS.

FIRST, any person who turns in a paid race entry form forthe 5K or Half is eligible to win race proceeds for his or herschool by nominating their favorite school on the form. Fivewinners are drawn, with one designated school winning 50percent of proceeds, another receiving 25 percent, tworeceiving 10 percent each, and one, 5 percent.

SECOND, schools have an opportunity to win moneythrough the School Competition. Cooley Law School distributesschool competition awards of $1,000 for 1st place (the schoolwith the most nominations), $750 for 2nd place, and $500 for3rd place.

The 13th Annual Cooley 5K Race for Education

Capital City River RunWeekend of RacesCooley 5K Race For EducationThe Impression 5 Half Marathon and the Cooley 5K Race for Educationjoin forces again in the Capital City River Run Weekend of Races; one ofmid-Michigan’s premiere running events.


school news

Michigan Supreme CourtJustice Brian Zahra speaksat Cooley’s Auburn HillscampusMichigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahra was the keynotespeaker at the State Bar of Michigan’s Professionalism inAction Orientation Program held at Cooley Law School’sAuburn Hills campus on January 5, 2012. Justice Zahra spoketo incoming Cooley law students about the importance ofethics and professionalism in their legal careers and lives.

During the program, Judge Colleen O’Brien, Judge of theOakland County Circuit Court, was presented with Cooley’sFrederick J. Griffith III Adjunct Faculty Award. CaterinaAmaro, a Cooley graduate, was presented with the school’sPro Bono Recognition Award. Amaro has donated countlesshours of her time to Cooley’s Immigration Outreach ProBono Project.

Attendees included: Auburn Hills Associate Dean JohnNussbaumer, Professor Tammy Asher, Wayne CountyAssistant Prosecutor Patrick Muscat, Judge Colleen O’Brien,former Judge Brian Levy, Michigan Supreme Court JusticeBrian Zahra, Assistant Dean Lisa Halushka, Assistant U.S.Attorney John O’Brien, Attorney Henry Baskin, AttorneyCaterina Amaro, Professor Toree Randall, ProfessorHeather Dunbar, former Senator Mike Bishop, JudgeGershwin Drain, Attorney Steven Drakos, Attorney andCooley Board Member James Vlasic, and Michigan State BarSecretary Thomas Rombach.

The health of health careto be debated on April 11Event offers diverging viewson resource allocationReforming our nation’s health care system will have a profound impact on individuals for years to come. Andthere’s no shortage of opinions about how health careresources should be allocated.

Presented by Cooley Law School, the Gerald R. FordPresidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford PresidentialMuseum, “Health Care: What We Want, What We Need,and What We Can Afford,” is scheduled for Wednesday,April 11, 2012, at 7 p.m. at the Gerald R. Ford PresidentialMuseum in Grand Rapids, Mich. The forum, which is free andopen to the public, features Ron Pollack, of Families USA; and Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D., of The Heritage Foundation;and Mary Agnes Carey, of Kaiser Health News, who willmoderate. Seating is limited; call (616) 254-0384 or [email protected] to reserve your seat today.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan


school news

Cooley celebrates EqualAccess to Justice DayLansing: Dr. Michelle Alexander, civil rights attorney, Ohio State law professor and author of the book, The NewJim Crow, spoke at Cooley Law School's Lansing campus.Alexander's appearance coincided with the school's annualMartin Luther King Jr./Equal Access to Justice Day celebra-tion and was sponsored by the Black Law StudentsAssociation and the Northwest Initiative/A.R.R.O.

While speaking at Cooley, Alexander shared how the consequences of a criminal conviction lead to barriers whenindividuals seek employment and how these barriers adverselyaffect communities, families, and taxpayers. In addition to celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Dr. Alexander joinedthe Legislative Black Caucus at the Capitol earlier in the day tokick off the “Ban the Box” campaign. The Fair ChanceCoalition is also working on the campaign to pass legislationthat would remove the box from job applications that asks,“Have you been convicted of a felony?” Visit cooley.edu to seethe video presentation.

Ann Arbor: The Black Law Students Association at CooleyLaw School's Ann Arbor campus hosted a presentation forEqual Access to Justice Day. The topic of this year's event wasRace and Politics. The event featured a panel discussion withCooley Professors Philip Prygoski, Daniel Ray and David

Finnegan as well as Attorney Solon Phillips. The panel discussion was moderated by Cooley student ShakivaWade. Millie Humphries, also a Cooley student, served as the master of ceremony.

Grand Rapids: The Black Law Students Association at Cooley Law School's Grand Rapids campus hosted itspresentation, "Where Are All The Black Men?" The programfocused on the numbers of incarcerated black men and theirtransformation when they are released from prison or jail.Program panelists included Grand Rapids attorney PatrickMiles, 61st District Court Judge Benjamin Logan, social worker Stacy McGinnis, and Joe Jones from the Grand RapidsUrban League. The program was moderated by Cooley students Kara Beaufort and Phil Harte.

Auburn Hills: Cooley Law School's Auburn Hills StudentDiversity Committee organized several Equal Access toJustice: Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities. Students, faculty members, and staff attended the United NegroCollege Fund Breakfast in Southfield, and volunteered at Grace Centers of Hope and the Baldwin Center inPontiac. The activities also included a panel discussion on economic justice, featuring Dawud Walid, director,Council on American-Islamic Relations; Stephanie Jones, president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, andProfessor Ashley Lowe, director of Cooley's Family LawAssistance Project.

Dr. Michelle Alexander, Lansing campus

Cooley's Ann Arbor campus

Cooley's Grand Rapids campus

Cooley's Auburn Hills campus


school news

Cooley Alumni, Staff andFriends Gather at CharityWine TastingCooley Law School alumni, faculty, staff and guests gathered onFriday, February 10 for the school’s 6th annual wine-tastingfundraiser at the University Club of East Lansing. Proceeds benefit Cooley’s endowed Alumni Memorial Scholarship Fund,which now totals more than $330,000. Scholarship winnersare selected by the Cooley Alumni Association.

“We are grateful to allwho came out to thislovely event in support of Cooley’s deserving students.”James Robb, Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations, and Senior Counsel

Natalie Alane (2002), Kelly Boyle, and Mary Chartier (2002)

LEFT: George Zulakis (1979) and Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Laura Baird (1979) RIGHT: Laurie andPatrick Fuller (1985)

LEFT: Tracy Brower, Susanne Harris (1993), Gary Heisler (1996), Alicia Heisler, Steven Heisler (2001) RIGHT: Marcia Stockmeyer, Professor Norman Otto Stockmeyer, and Sharon Ellis (1980)

Kelly Boyle and Bob Baldori (1987)

EditorTerry Carella

Co-EditorSharon Matchette

Contributing WritersSeyferthPRseyferthpr.com

DesignImage Creative Groupimagecreativegroup.com

PhotographyCover © Gennara Photographygennara.com

Call for SubmissionsThe Benchmark is seeking story ideasfrom graduates. We are looking for storieson a variety of subjects such as graduateachievements, international law, culturaldiversity, legal information helpful to prac-titioners, unique law practices, advice toprospective law students, and special events.If you would like to share a story idea,please write, call, or e-mail:

Communications OfficeThomas M. Cooley Law SchoolP.O. Box 13038Lansing, MI 48901

Phone: (517) 371-5140 ext. 2916Fax: (517) 334-5780E-mail: [email protected]

Postmark: Benchmark is published twicea year by the administrative offices of theThomas M. Cooley Law School, P.O. Box13038, Lansing, MI 48901

STAYING IN TOUCH

In this issue, as in all other issues of Benchmark and Benchmark Column, we proudly highlight theaccomplishments of alumni, faculty, staff, and students. We also feature important events heldacross our campuses. It is always heartening to receive so many positive comments from you uponreading these publications.

But these publications are just one way in which we stay in touch with you and vice versa. I want youto know of some other good ways.

COOLEY’S NEW BLOG: At the beginning of the year, we launched our new blog, cooleylawschoolblog.com.We have posted some great pieces about Cooley, our students, and alumni. You will enjoy Michael Sobel’s(Wiest Class, 1979) memorable account of early Cooley days. You will be fascinated by the postings fromCooley student Michelle Zurcher reporting on her wonderful foreign study trip to Australia. You will lovethe story from Ann Arbor campus students Tara Lay and Andrew MacLeod who met as first-termers,fell in love, got married, and are now proud parents of Baby Sam. Finally, I invite you to send your ownstory to us for consideration. E-mail us at [email protected].

COOLEY’S LINKEDIN GROUP: Nearly 2,200 Cooley alumni and students have joined our newLinkedIn Group. In our group, we exchange case referrals, practice tips, and job leads. If you are notalready on LinkedIn, go to LinkedIn.com and create your own account, then access the Cooley LawSchool Community under the Groups tab. Being a member of Cooley’s LinkedIn Community is a great way to share professional references and tips.

COOLEY'S ALUMNI EVENTS: We have nearly 20 events planned across the nation over the nextfew months. See the events listings and make an RSVP easily by clicking on our alumni webpage at cooley.edu/alumni/events.html.

COOLEY ALUMNI DIRECTORY: We have commissioned Publishing Concepts, Inc. to produce ourfirst printed alumni directory in many years. When you are contacted by PCI on our behalf, wehope that you will update your contact information, the better for us all to reach one another.

We love hearing your Cooley stories, we value your comments, and we enjoy the chance to see you inperson. So please stay in touch!

Sincerely,

James D. RobbAssociate Dean of Development and Alumni [email protected] DATABASE

The user name will always remain the wordalumni. The password changes are disclosedin Benchmark on the inside front cover.Please call the Alumni Relations Office at 517-371-5140, ext. 2038, or e-mail [email protected] if you have any problems. The current password for this term isknowledge.

BenchmarkThe Thomas M. Cooley Law SchoolAlumni Magazine

Letter from Cooley

ICG.0212.002.BM

school news

Cooley professor honored by MichiganAcademy of Science, Arts & Letters

The Michigan Academy ofScience, Arts & Letters (theAcademy) has awarded theCohn Prize in Law and PublicPolicy Scholarship to CooleyLaw Professor Norman OttoStockmeyer. He was honoredfor his paper "The TortuousHistory of the Mutual-MistakeDoctrine in MichiganContract Law," which was

presented at the academy's 2011 annual conference.

Professor Stockmeyer's paper has been published in theacademy's academic journal, Michigan Academician, and canbe accessed at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1789778.

The Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters is aregional, multidisciplinary academic society. The academyawards the Cohn Prize for the paper presented at theannual conference that best contributes to the existingscholarly literature on the topic of law or public policy.

The Cohn Prize recognizes Judge Avern L. Cohn for hispatronage of the academy and legal scholarship.

Professor E. ChristopherJohnson, Jr. recognized asone of the nation’s mostinfluential black attorneys

Professor and Director ofCooley’s graduate degree program in Corporate Law and Finance, E. ChristopherJohnson, Jr. has been selectedas one of the nation’s mostinfluential black attorneysworking in government or academics by On Being A Black Lawyer Media Company(OBABL). Johnson’s selection

will place him on OBABL’s inaugural Power 100 SpecialEdition list.

Professor Johnson is a national leader in efforts toincrease access to law school and expand diversity in thelegal profession. He is vice chair of the Council for Racial andEthnic Diversity in the Educational Pipeline (formerly thePresidential Advisory Council on Diversity) and a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Council for LegalEducation Opportunity. He is a member of the ABASection of Legal Education Standards Review Committeeand a past chair of the ABA Africa Law Council.

OBABL produces e-newsletters, events and social mediaplatforms to engage black legal professionals in an effortto help advance diversity in the legal profession. OBABLhas been recognized by the American Bar Association,National Black Law Students Association, and the NationalAssociation of Black Journalists.


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SPRING 2012

THE THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL MAGAZINE

BenchmarkBenchmark

InsideCooley Student and AdventureSeeker – Charles Hamel

A Man on a Mission – ProfessorE. Christopher Johnson

Cooley Announces Tampa BayCampus Faculty

13th Annual Cooley 5K Race for Education

A MoreDiverse LegalProfessionJudge Hugh Clarke, (Wiest Class,1979) says that since he graduated, he has seen a significant change inthe diversity of attorneys who arepracticing law.

Early EntryCapital City River Run Weekend of Races


ccriverrun.com



Sohns Kids’ RacesSaturday, Sept. 15, 2012Impression 5 Half MarathonSunday, Sept. 16, 2012Cooley 5K Race for EducationSunday, Sept. 16, 2012

Documents

Spring 2012 Benchmark Alumni Magazine