Last week, President Donald J. Trump nominated Terrence M. Andrews ’97 – better known as “Mike” to his classmates at Roger Williams University School of Law and most of his colleagues today – to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Federal Claims . Originally from California but a resident of Virginia for many years, Andrews currently serves as Staff Director and Chief Counsel to the…
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For Karen Lara , a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to grant cert. in a case she first saw argued at Roger Williams University School of Law as a 1L symbolizes the progress of her own educational journey. It began on March 25, 2019, when the Honorable John J. McConnell, Jr. , Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, held court – as has become his…, Caniglia v. Strom, , 396 F. Supp. 3d 227 (D. R.I. 2019). On appeal, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed in an opinion written by the RWU Law courtroom’s namesake, Judge Selya. , Caniglia v. Strom, , No. 19-1764 (1st Cir. 2020). Karen Lara In the meantime, Lara had established herself as a standout student at RWU Law, a member of the school’s Honors Program and, Law Review, . The Arizona native – whose parents originally came to the U.S. from Mexico as migrant farm workers – also served as president of the Latino Law Students Association, and as a teaching assistant for Professor Colleen Brown . “Seeing the sacrifices my parents made when we were kids, I really wanted to take advantage of the opportunities they were giving me,” Lara said. “They used to say, ‘Our job…, Caniglia, happened to be passing through that court. “It was such a wonderful internship opportunity, right after completing my 1L year, to go and work at the First Circuit,” she said. While, Caniglia, itself never landed on her desk, “I was there to experience this next step in the process.” A few weeks ago, on November 20, 2020, the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in the case on the question, “Whether the ‘community caretaking’ exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement extends to the home.” And while the pandemic has kept Lara at home in San Luis, Ariz., for most…
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Type: Faculty & Staff Profile
Exams are almost over and that is always a reason to celebrate. In this world that has so many disruptions to our familiar patterns, it is sometimes good to remember that we can still celebrate normal things like the end of exams. December is full of special days that have not changed. We can take a quiet moment to remember the day “which live in infamy” on December 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance…
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2020 brought us some memorable moments and unforgettable experiences like an impeachment trial, Brexit, COVID, murder hornets, Tiger King, the murder of George Floyd and other Black Americans, raging wildfires, an election, and the death of RBG. Enough is enough. Let’s celebrate the end of 2020. And new beginnings! May 2021 be filled with peace, kindness, grace, and joy. Happy New Year from…
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We are excited for the Spring 2021 semester. Classes begin (online and in-person) on Monday, January 25, 2021. We have scheduled this Question and Answer Session to provide a forum for students to ask questions about RWU Law's plans related to a safe reopening. Students may use the link below to submit questions, comments or suggestions in advance of the Question and Answer session. Please note,…
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What is facial recognition? Facial recognition is a type of computer algorithm that seeks to identify a person in an image. This technology has been in development since the 1960s . Early systems used photos processed by humans to compare measurements of facial features to determine matches. Today’s systems use AI and machine learning to recognize human faces. In recent years, the technology has…, State Statutes Regulating Collection or Disclosure of Consumer Biometric or Genetic Information, , 41 A.L.R.7th 4 (Originally published in 2019) [Available on Lexis or Westlaw].
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The second annual RWU Law , Women in Law Leadership Lecture, , featuring, Debra Katz, Esq., A Fireside Chat with RWU Law Professor Emily J. Sack ., Wednesday, March 3, 2021, 6 – 7 p.m. ET, Debra Katz is a founding partner of Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP, where she concentrates her practice on employment discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower, and Title IX matters. She has developed extensive litigation experience in federal and local courts and has achieved significant courtroom successes in a number of high-profile cases. Throughout her legal career, Ms. Katz has…, Washingtonian, magazine. Ms. Katz represented Dr. Christine Blasey Ford in proceedings before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2018. In recognition of Ms. Katz’s work at the forefront of whistleblower and employment law, she has been recognized as "Civil Rights Lawyer of the Year" for Washington, D.C. by , The Best Lawyers© In America, for 2018, and as a “Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar” by, Law360, . In 2019, Washingtonian Magazine recognized Ms. Katz as one of "Washington's 150 Most Powerful Women," a biennial list honoring women in the D.C. area who have achieved great success., Rhode Island MCLE Credit, This program has been approved for one (1) CLE hour in Rhode Island., No recording of this event is permitted., This virtual event is open to the public., In addition to Ms. Katz, the event will feature our announcement of the winners of the RBG Essay Contest for RI schoolchildren., This event is made possible by the generosity of sponsor, Cervenka Green & Ducharme LLC, ., CGD logo, and individual support from , First Women, honoree Louise Durfee (1966).
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A Fireside Chat with Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson, State of Connecticut Supreme Court, and Dean Gregory W. Bowman, RWU Law, The Honorable Richard A. Robinson was born December 10, 1957 in Stamford, Connecticut. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Connecticut in 1979 and a Juris Doctor degree from West Virginia University School of Law in 1984. He was admitted to the West Virginia Bar and the Connecticut Bar, and is a member of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia…, Sponsor, NP, Rhode Island MCLE Credit, This program has been approved for one (1) CLE hour in Rhode Island.
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This article copyright © 2020 Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly . It appeared in the newspaper's digital edition of Jan. 7, 2021, and print edition of Jan. 11, 2021. It is reproduced here with permission., * * * While the past year has likely presented challenges in the daily lives of just about everyone, immigration lawyer and Roger Williams University School of Law Distinguished Service Professor Deborah S. Gonzalez spent considerable energy in 2020 working on behalf of many whose congregate setting has prevented them from seeking safe haven: immigrant detainees at the Wyatt Detention Center in…, Lawyers Weekly, about the ongoing litigation and changes to the immigration landscape that might be forthcoming with the changing of the guard in Washington. ***, Q: How did you become involved in the suit?, A:, We actually filed two lawsuits. The first one was in March on behalf of only three plaintiffs who had reached out to the ACLU. They ended up being released by Judge [William E.] Smith. As for the class action, I consider it a “lesson learned.” The COVID situation was new to all of us, and I couldn’t figure out how to get calls from my office transferred to my cellphone. So I gave my phone number…, Q: What kinds of issues are typically discussed in the bail hearings?, A:, Judge McElroy put the burden on the government to show that the person would be a danger to the community or a flight risk. In large part, what we argue is the person’s immigration history, personal history, and connections inside of the United States, particularly in Rhode Island or Massachusetts. And we discuss any criminal violations. But we really hammer on the health risks, because the crux…, Q: What success have you seen? Are most detainees released after their hearing?, A:, If we were to do a survey of who Judge McElroy released, the majority are folks with non-violent crimes, perhaps drugs or stolen property or that sort of thing. Those accused of more serious crimes like sexual assault or domestic violence for the most part have not been released. I don’t have the exact stats, but at a minimum we have assisted 15 to get released through the hearings. Others were…, Q: What is happening now with the suit?, A:, We’re revved up and still in the thick of it. Nine detainees came in last week, five had come in the week before that, and we had additional bail hearings in the second week of December. Although the number is always changing, in mid-December there were 28 ICE detainees. That number is dramatically lower than when we became involved, in large part because ICE knows of this lawsuit and the judge’s…, Q: Will the Wyatt population be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Will that bring an end to the litigation?, A:, As we’re speaking today, vaccinations are beginning in nursing homes and state prisons, but because Wyatt is a quasi-private, quasi-government institution, I can’t imagine they’ll be first in line. I would venture to say that once everybody is vaccinated, they’ll file another motion to dismiss, and I can foresee a situation where at that point Judge McElroy might grant that. But I think one…, Q: What immigration policy changes do you expect to see under the Biden administration?, A:, I try not to have too many expectations because I’ve been let down other times . DACA is back; that’s great. And Biden says that, within his first 100 days, he’s going to submit a bill for full immigration reform. I really hope he does that, because our system is broken. There are 1.1 million immigration cases pending in the immigration courts right now. One thing I would really like to see is…
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