Feb. 18 Boyd Briefs Now Available

The Feb. 18 issue of Boyd Briefs is now available.

This week's edition features Professor Addie Rolnick, student Tyler Mowbray, and alumna Audrey Beeson '07.

Professor Rolnick engages in scholarly work and advocacy within three main areas: criminal and juvenile justice in Indian country, race and criminal justice, and Indians and race. Before joining Boyd, she represented tribal governments; she continues to advocate for indigenous people as well as other groups and individuals who are poorly served by the justice system.

Mowbray is interested in mediation and litigation as a future career. Growing up in a Nevada legal family, he observed the positive impact lawyers have on their clients, and the positive impact of third-party neutrals who resolve many conflicts before they wind up in litigation.

Beeson is of counsel with The Law Offices of Frank J. Toti Esquire; and owns her own business, Audrey Beeson, Esq. PLLC. Her practice focuses primarily on family law and she is a Nevada Board Certified Family Law Specialist. She also does some estate planning -- drafting simple wills, POA's and trusts.

To subscribe to Boyd Briefs, visit law.unlv.edu/BoydBriefs.

Boyd Professors Attend Law and Society Association Annual Meeting

Clockwise from top left: Ruben Garcia, Leslie Griffin, Francine
Lipman, Addie Rolnick, Ann McGinley and Elizabeth MacDowell

Boyd professors Ruben J. Garcia, Dr. Leslie C. Griffin, Francine J. Lipman, Elizabeth L. MacDowell, Ann C. McGinley, and Addie C. Rolnick attended the Law and Society Association Annual Meeting in Seattle May 28-31 where they presented papers, chaired discussions, and participated on roundtables.

Professor Garcia presented his paper “The Constitutional Right to a Minimum Wage,” chaired a panel on “Who is a ‘Worker’? Who is the ‘Employer’?” and co-chaired the activities of the Collaborative Research Network on labor rights. 

Professor Griffin participated on panels discussing a chapter of her forthcoming book Feminist Legal Judgments.

Professor Lipman presented her paper titled “Access to Tax Justice” on a panel.

Professor MacDowell presented her paper titled “Domestic Violence and the Politics of Self-Help.”

Professor McGinley presented her paper “We are All Contingent: Recognizing Vulnerability in a Global Workplace” on a panel on labor rights, and participated on a roundtable on the Feminist Judgments Project, edited by fellow Professor Linda Berger.

Professor Rolnick presented her paper, along with co-author Professor Kim Pearson from Gonzaga University, titled “Race, Gender, and Ideal Parenthood in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl” as part of a panel on children’s rights and best interests. She also participated on a roundtable discussing “Promise and Pathos in Indian Law.”

The Law and Society Association is an interdisciplinary scholarly organization dedicated to scientific, interpretive, and historical analyses of law across multiple social contexts. Annual meetings are an important part of the association’s activities and provide participants an opportunity to exchange ideas in multiple ways and socialize.

Professor Addie Rolnick to Present at University Forum Lecture

Addie Rolnick is an associate professor of law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

On Thursday, April 30, Professor Rolnick will present at a UNLV University Forum Lecture titled, "Race and Self-Defense Law: Beyond Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown." A professor of criminal law and Critical Race Theory, she will discuss self-defense, reasonable fear, stand your ground laws, and police shootings to show how race impacts nearly every case of stranger self-defense.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. inside the Barrick Museum Auditorium. It is presented by the UNLV College of Liberal Arts.

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Professor Addie Rolnick Writes Guest Column in Las Vegas Sun

Addie Rolnick is an associate professor of law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

On March 15, Professor Rolnick penned a guest column in the Las Vegas Sun titled “Expansions to Nevada’s self-defense law are unnecessary and dangerous.”

In the article, Professor Rolnick discusses Nevada’s current “stand your ground” law and examines the implications of the legislature’s consideration of a new bill that would expand Nevada’s self-defense law to make it available in more circumstances and easier to prove.

Professor Rolnick says, “Expanding self-defense law is both unnecessary and dangerous. …There is also no reason to change the process. Prosecutors have discretion, so if the self-defense claim seems solid, the prosecutor may choose not to file charges at all. Changing the presumption would take these cases away from a jury and would tie a prosecutor’s hands, leaving little or no safeguard to prevent people from killing out of vengeance or unreasonable fear.”

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Professor Addie Rolnick Quoted in Las Vegas Review-Journal

Addie Rolnick is an associate professor of law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

Professor Rolnick was interviewed for a March 25 article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal titled “Ayden McKinnon, charged with attempted murder at 14, is a boy among men in jail.” 

The article discusses the case of a 15-year-old charged with attempted murder and the change in Nevada Revised Statutes regarding teens charged with felonies.

Professor Rolnick commented on the system and how it has reversed course on how to prosecute young defendants.

“The juvenile system in general is built around the idea that kids are more capable of rehabilitation, to correct wayward behavior as opposed to punish,” she said in the article. “A system that is mostly intended to provide services is a very different animal than a system that is mostly intended to punish. …With most kids, what’s going on with them is going to be better dealt with through treatment. Adult jails tend to turn kids into worse criminals. That’s not to say that you wouldn’t want to punish a kid. In a perfect world we would think more carefully about why we’re doing it.”

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Jan. 22 Boyd Briefs Now Available

The Jan. 22 edition of Boyd Briefs is now available.

This week's edition features Professor Addie Rolnick, student Jackie Witt, and alumna Katelyn Franklin '14.

Professor Rolnick has created a practicum in Tribal Law. Under her supervision, students can complete independent legislative drafting and legal research projects for local tribes. Professor Rolnick's research focuses on improving tribal juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Witt was drawn to Boyd for its curricular offerings and experiential opportunities in Indian Law as well as its unmatched gaming law curriculum. Now in her second year, she is vice chair of Boyd's Native American Law Students Association and is a member of the UNLV Gaming Law Journal.

After studying indigenous peoples and their struggles to maintain land and their political, cultural, and other fundamental rights against the forces of mainstream ideological and physical displacement, Franklin was drawn to law school. Currently, she represents unaccompanied children from Central America as a justice AmeriCorps member in Boyd's Immigration Clinic.

To subscribe to Boyd Briefs, visit law.unlv.edu/BoydBriefs.

Boyd Faculty Attend Association of American Law Schools 2015 Meeting

Many William S. Boyd School of Law faculty members recently attended the Association of American Law Schools 2015 Annual Meeting held Jan. 2 through 5 in Washington, D.C.

The theme of this year’s meeting, Legal Education at the Crossroads, focused on the state of American legal education today and its effect on students, faculty, and the profession at-large.

This year, the Boyd School of Law was again significantly represented at several key events, beginning with a reception hosted by the school on Friday, Jan. 2.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, UNLV Executive Vice President and Provost John Valery White participated on a panel titled “Higher Ed and Legal Ed: Partnering for Success in Challenging Times.” The panel, which brought together former law school deans who are now working in university leadership roles, facilitated discussion about the ways deans and university leaders can work together to further strategic goals.

On Sunday, Jan. 4, Professor Ruben Garcia sat on a panel titled “Working but Poor: Understanding and Confronting the Working Poor Phenomenon” in which panelists examined the increasing number of working poor and explored possible causes.

On Monday, Jan. 5, Professor Addie Rolnick chaired a Law and Anthropology panel titled “Legislating Belonging” in which roundtable participants explored legal and social indices of belonging in various political communities.

Professor Addie Rolnick to Attend Meeting on Tribal Juvenile Justice

Addie Rolnick is an associate professor of law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

Professor Rolnick will attend the 2014 Tribal Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Think Tank meeting in Tucson next week.

One of a select group of experts on juvenile justice in Indian country, Professor Rolnick will take part in a series of meetings designed to explore and facilitate the use of detention alternatives in tribal juvenile justice systems.

The meeting is sponsored by three organizations: the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization devoted to developing brighter futures for children at risk of poor educational, economic, social and health outcomes; the Association on American Indian Affairs, an organization whose mission is to promote the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Natives and provide programs that support their youth/education, cultural preservation and sovereignty; and the National Indian Child Welfare Association, a private, nonprofit membership group and the only national American Indian organization focused specifically on the tribal capacity to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Professor Addie Rolnick Cited in Report by United States Attorney General

Addie Rolnick is an associate professor of law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

The United States Attorney General's Task Force on American Indian and Alaska Native Children recently released a report titled, "Ending Violence so Children Can Thrive."

A portion of the report addresses juvenile justice and Native youth, with multiple cites to Professor Rolnick's scholarship and work.

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Professor Addie Rolnick to Present at UCLA Critical Race Studies' 6th Annual Symposium

Addie Rolnick is an associate professor of law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

Rolnick will attend the 2014 UCLA Critical Race Studies' 6th Annual Symposium - Whiteness as Property: A Twenty-Year Appraisal from Oct. 2 to 4.

She will present a talk titled, "Whiteness as Property and the Significance of Inter-Racial Histories."

This year, the symposium will be centered on Cheryl Harris' seminal article, Whiteness as Property. The conference will reflect on the political, legal, and intellectual context out of which the article emerged, its impact across academic disciplines, and its relevance for a range of civil rights debates.

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Associate Professor Addie Rolnick Featured in Al Jazeera America

Addie Rolnick is an Associate Professor of Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

On Feb. 12, she was featured in the Al Jazeera America article DOJ hearing: We are failing the children of Indian Country.

The article is about the second of four national hearings held by the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence. Professor Rolnick was invited to testify as an expert witness.

The article reads, "Rolnick said automatically locking up a child, particularly outside of his community, only exacerbates the trauma the child has gone through, costs more money and perpetuates the cycle of kids being away from their communities and families. Rolnick’s solution for building better juvenile justice systems originates inside tribal communities, and maintains that such systems be purposefully developed around treatment options, early intervention, substance abuse programs and mental health programs. 'Jail, or incarceration, should be the last option,' she said."

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Associate Professor Addie Rolnick to Testify as Expert Witness

Addie Rolnick is an Associate Professor of Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

Professor Rolnick has been invited to testify on Feb. 11 as an expert witness at one of four national hearings held by the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence.

This hearing will focus on the Juvenile Systems’ (Tribal, State and Federal) Response to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Children Exposed to Violence.

Professor Rolnick will testify, along with two members of the national Tribal Law and Order Commission, as part of a panel entitled "Overview of American Indian Children and Youth in Tribal, State, and Federal Juvenile Justice Systems."

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Dean, Several Faculty Members, and Alumna Featured in UNLV Magazine

Several members of the Boyd community are featured in the Fall 2013 issue of UNLV Magazine.

Dean Dan Hamilton is featured in a piece titled The New Deans. In it he says, "We want to be for gaming law what NYU is for tax law - the place to go for people who need to be trained and kept current in gaming law. We have, in Vegas and in the state, a great advantage to be the leader. It's a natural fit for us, and we're going to pursue that."

Professor Bret Birdsong is spotlighted in Federal Appointment. The piece reads, "Law professor Bret Birdsong has been appointed by the Obama administration to serve as deputy solicitor for land resources at the U.S. Department of Interior in Washington, D.C." It continues, "He will be one of six deputy solicitors reporting to Solicitor Hilary Tompkins, the Interior Department's top lawyer."

Professors Ruben Garcia, Francine Lipman, and Addie Rolnick are featured in Queue Up These Flicks, a piece where each of them explain the importance of the movies shown at the 2013 Public Interest Law Film Festival that took place in September.

Professor Lipman is also featured in Don't Miss It, which highlights upcoming University events, including her University Forum Lecture titled "Everything You Need to Know About the Social Security Benefits Formula, But Don't Even Know to Ask." Professor Lipman's lecture will take place on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Barrick Museum Auditorium.

Finally, alumna Heather Procter is highlighted in How To..., an article that asks all winners of this year's UNLV Alumni of the Year Awards for insight in their areas of expertise. In her profile, Procter is asked how she finds the details that matter in an argument. She responds, "In my work, it's about finding the legal standard in situations, and staying focused on that, and not allowing yourself to get distracted by superfluous issues."

Associate Professor Addie Rolnick Co-writes Guest Column for Al Jazeera

Addie Rolnick is an Associate Professor of Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

On Aug. 3, she co-wrote a guest column for Al Jazeera titled Why we must do more than repeal 'stand your ground' laws in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin's death.

The column reads, "We will not be saved by the repeal of 'Stand Your Ground' laws because they are only a small piece of the larger picture of self-defence and racial profiling responsible for so many Black deaths."

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Associate Professor Addie Rolnick Provides Commentary on KNPR's State of Nevada

Addie Rolnick is an Associate Professor of Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

On July 17, she provided commentary on KNPR's State of Nevada segment titled Trayvon Martin Verdict Echoes In Las Vegas.

According to Professor Rolnick, Nevada's self-defense law is in many ways similar to Florida's.

"Both have the stand your ground provision that says normally you have to retreat first before you use deadly force. In your home you don't, and in the street you don't either in a number of situations," she said during the segment.

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Associate Professor Addie Rolnick Featured on Turtle Talk Blog

Addie Rolnick is Associate Professor of Law at the UNLV Boyd School of Law.

On July 1, she was featured on the Turtle Talk Blog, Michigan State University College of Law's Indigenous Law and Policy Center, for her series of posts on PrawfsBlawg about the Baby Veronica case. To access her blog posts, click here.

On July 3, she was featured on the Supreme Court of the United States Blog for her series of blog posts. Click here to see the SCOTUSblog entry.

Professor Rolnick's scholarship focuses on bridging gaps between civil rights, Critical Race Theory, federal Indian law, and indigenous rights.

Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic to Host Panel Examining the Death Penalty

The Boyd School of Law is very pleased to announce that the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic will host a panel entitled, "Nevada's Death Penalty: Can We Live Without It? The Future of the Death Penalty - Should It be Abolished?"

The panel, which was organized by the Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty and is co-sponsored by the Criminal Law Society, will be moderated by Professor Addie Rolnick (Boyd School of Law) and will include Howard Brooks (Clark County Public Defender), Alzora Jackson (Clark County Special Public Defender), Honorable Stephen Dahl (Retired Justice of the Peace, North Las Vegas Township), and Dan Edwards (Bishop at Episcopal Dioceses of Nevada).

The Panel will be held on September 24, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. in the Thomas & Mack Moot Court Facility.

Boyd Faculty Honored at Annual Law & Society Meeting

As reported in the June 2012 edition of Road Scholars, Professors Rachel Anderson, Ruben Garcia, Michael Kagan, Ann McGinley, Terry Pollman, Jeff Stempel, and Stacey Tovino attended the 2012 International Conference on Law & Society in Honolulu, HI.

The Boyd School of Law is very pleased to announce that Professor Addie Rolnick (right), received an honorable mention at the Conference for the 2011 Article Prize for her recent article, "The Promise of Mancari: Indian Political Rights as Racial Remedy," published in Volume 86 of the NYU Law Review. Professor Rolnick joined the Boyd faculty in fall 2011, bringing expertise in Criminal Law and Procedure, Critical Race Theory, Indian Law, and Juvenile Law.

Boyd was well represented at the Conference. Professor Rachel Anderson presented her paper, "Corporate Citizenship in Corporate Governance: Possibility or Pipe Dream?" as part of a Corporate Law and Human Rights panel. During an Author Meets Reader session, Professor Ruben Garcia discussed his new book out of NYU Press, Marginal Workers: How Legal Fault Lines Divide Workers and Leave Them without Protection. Professor Garcia also presented a paper relating to workplace citizenship during a Collective Labor Law and Worker Participation session. Professor Michael Kagan presented his paper, "We Live in a Country of UNHCR: The UN Surrogate State as an Alternative Basis for Refugee Rights," as part of a Regulating Immigrant Rights: Comparative Perspectives session. Professor Ann McGinley chaired a panel entitled, "Gender from a Multidimensional Perspective: Masculinities Theories and Law," presented her paper entitled, "Because of Sex," commented on Ruben Garcia's Marginal Workers during Garcia's Author Meets Reader session, and commented on Susan Stiritz's "Hooking Up as a Neoliberal Practice" during a Feminist Legal Theory Collaborative Research Network panel. Finally, Professor Jeff Stempel participated in a roundtable entitled, "Power Grab: The Diminishing of Parties' Authority and Effectiveness through Procedures and Otherwise."

Boyd Welcomes Five New Faculty Members

The Boyd School of Law is pleased to welcome five new faculty members.

Professor Linda Berger, one of the nation's leading figures in Legal Writing and Law and Rhetoric, comes to Boyd after serving on the faculties at Mercer University School of Law, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and the University of San Diego School of Law.

Professor Michael Kagan, an expert in immigration law, asylum law, international human rights, and evidence law, served on the faculties of Tel Aviv University and the American University in Cairo and brings with him a decade of experience building legal aid programs for refugees throughout the Middle East and Asia.