News (6)

Cooley Professor Ret. Brig. Gen. Michael C.H. McDaniel Shares Importance of U.S. Military During Veterans Day Event

Cooley Law School Professor Ret. Brigadier General Michael C.H. McDaniel spoke to a group of citizens about the importance of the U.S. military during a Veterans Day event hosted by the Lansing Board of Water and Light on Wednesday, Nov. 8. “When you think about Homeland Security or Law Enforcement or Board of Water and Light workers, we are working best when the public does not think about us and they forget that we are even there, applying essential services,” said McDaniel, who served as Michigan’s first homeland security adviser. “That is true for the U.S. military worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of service members are in over 80 countries around the world, to assure peace, and if not peace, at least stability.” The event focused on the importance of the nation’s military services throughout the years and how veterans are in need of support long after they’ve returned home. “There are over 2.3 million American veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and at least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD and/or depression,” said McDaniel, who detailed national data about veterans suffering from PTSD, substance abuse and suicide. “Fifty percent of those with PTSD do not seek treatment, and out of the half that seek treatment, only half of them get ‘minimally adequate’ treatment. These statistics are sobering and often ignored.” McDaniel delivered message to the nation’s veterans, echoing the words of first U.S. President George Washington in his speech to the Connecticut troops before their enlistment ran out during the Siege of Boston in 1775: “Your exertions in the cause of freedom, guided by wisdom and animated by zeal and courage, have gained you the love and confidence of your grateful countrymen; and they look to you, who are experienced veterans, and trust that you will still be the guardians of America. More human glory and happiness may depend upon your exertions than ever yet depended upon any sons of men. He that is a soldier in defense of such a cause, needs not title; his post is a post of honor, and although not an emperor, yet he shall wear a crown—of glory—and blessed will be his memory. McDaniel concluded, “Veterans, blessed will be your memory. Thank you. God Bless the United States of America. Cooley Law School Professor Ret. Brigadier General Michael McDaniel spoke to a group of citizens about the importance of the U.S. military during a Veterans Day event hosted by the Lansing Board of Water and Light. Nov 14 2023

Cooley Professor and Graduates Honored as Top Women Lawyers

Cooley Law School Associate Dean of Academics and Professor Tonya Krause-Phelan has been selected as a member of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2023 Class of Influential Women of the Law. Each year, the Women of the Law program honors women attorneys and judges for their excellent work on behalf of the justice system and for their clients, their commitment to their communities and their service to the profession. In addition to Criminal Law, Krause-Phelan teaches Criminal Procedure, Defending Battered Women, Criminal Sentencing, and Ethics in Criminal Cases. She is currently making strides to improve the law school community and student curriculum by actively engaging with faculty on identifying the key objectives, as well as roles and responsibilities of a full-scale curriculum review. “Dean Krause-Phelan’s leadership reaches beyond the classroom,” said Tracey Brame, Cooley professor and director of the Cooley Law School Innocence Project. “She is a mentor to students, a committed change-maker, and a servant to the law. Evidence of her commitment and passion can be seen in public defender, prosecutor, and public service offices across our community, where her former students are carrying on her torch.” Before joining the ranks of academia, Krause-Phelan began her legal career working as an assistant public defender at the Kent County Office of the Defender. While a defender, she handled and tried all types of felony cases ranging from shoplifting to murder. After three years as a defender, she moved to private practice, specializing in criminal defense where she represented both appointed and retained clients in both state and federal courts. While still practicing, she began her teaching career as an adjunct professor at Ferris State University where she taught both Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure to criminal justice majors In addition to Krause-Phelan, Cooley graduates Stephanie Arndt, Christensen Law; Jennifer Hetu, Bodman; Mary Pat Meyers, Meyers Law; and Lori K. Smith, O’Reilly Rancilio are among the 35 lawyers selected for this year’s honor. An awards luncheon honoring the nominees will be held on Sept. 22 at Petruzzello’s in Troy. Aug 02 2023

WMU-Cooley to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Event Featuring Robyn McCoy

Attorney and advocate Robyn McCoy will be the keynote presenter during WMU-Cooley Law School’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day commemoration. McCoy has received numerous awards for her commitment to social justice and has traveled extensively for the organization of programs that promote equal justice for all people. The presentation is part of the law school’s monthly Community Conversations series and will be held virtually beginning at noon on January 17. McCoy, who was mentored by first lady Michelle Obama, is a part-time lecturer at Eastern Michigan University and teaches the course “Law and the African American Experience.” She was a legislative assistant to State Representative Ronnie Peterson and is currently a partner with McCoy & Associates, PLLC located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She specializes in criminal defense, family law, education advocacy, estate planning, probate, wrongful death, and personal injury. The virtual event will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17, noon-1 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the virtual event by signing up at https://info.cooley.edu/community-conversations WATCH THE MLK DAY COOLEY COMMUNITY CONVERSATION HERE. Jan 09 2023

Cooley Golf Classic Raises Funds for Student Scholarships

The 32nd annual Cooley Classic Golf Benefit in support of the law school’s Student Scholarship Fund was held on June 20 at Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath, Michigan. The event had 90 golfers in attendance and raised $3,000 for the scholarship fund. The winning teams of the four-person scramble were DK Security and our all-student Cooley team, who both finished 15 under par. Photo on left: DK Security Senior VP and CFO, Zach Simmons (left) along with his teammates DJ Benedict, Shamus O'Keefe, and Bryan Cranston shot 15 under par to capture a first place finish in the 2023 Cooley Golf Classic. Photo on right: All student team (L-R) John Carley, Jamie Linnell, James Ward, and Charles Bloomfield also came in first place with 15 under par. WMU-Cooley graduate Vincent Welicka (third from left) has played in every Cooley Classic Golf Outing since its inception. (L-R) Cooley Alumni Association Immediate Past President Susie Harris, Cooley Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations Bill Arnold, Cooley President James McGrath, and Cooley ESS Professional Cynthia Brown. (L-R) Julie Brennan, with Cooley graduates the Hon. Thomas Brennan Jr., Liisa Speaker, and Jordan Sutton. (L-R) Cooley graduate Larry Kish, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Terry Cavanaugh, Professor Ret. Brig. General Michael C.H. McDaniel, and Professor Dustin Foster. Jun 26 2023

Law Students Named Fellows to ABA Legal Education Police Practices Consortium

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School has announced students Melissa Bianchi and Stephen J. Tobler have been appointed as fellows to the American Bar Association’s Legal Education Police Practices Consortium. They were selected to research public data about local and state law enforcement agencies. Several dozen law school deans created the consortium in 2020 in response to police killings and use of force in primarily black communities and recognition of the need for a centralized database for much of this information, especially at the national level. The data shared could lead to better policing policies and practices, and promote collaboration, where appropriate, between law schools and local police departments. This term’s fellowship comprises 40 students from 28 law schools representing 18 states, including Washington, D.C. The consortium has 60 member law schools across the country. Bianchi learned of the opportunity through the recommendation of a professor after writing a scholarly paper about how the “Defund the Police” slogan negatively impacts law enforcement agencies nationwide. Her research highlighted that more effective training for officers is a better solution than defunding. If states can standardize training and operating procedures through their state’s attorney general, this solution might help resolve the misconduct issues, she explained. A shared passion Bianchi has with the consortium stems from a Margaret Mead quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Bianchi hopes to accomplish a positive change for law enforcement agencies with her fellow Cooley colleague and the fellows across the country. Tobler has conducted risk assessments of over 1,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. He has provided use-of-force and other law enforcement training to individuals at the basic police academy, and in-service: basic, advanced, and instructor levels. Tobler also served on the WMU-Cooley Law review.. Tobler said he is excited about the opportunity to help keep officers safe while being appropriately effective in assisting their communities. Mar 30 2023

WMU-Cooley Law Review Honors Top Scholarly Briefs

The WMU-Cooley Law Review honored attorneys Steven Helton, Ann Sherman, Chris Allen, Kyla Barranco and Tonya Jeter during the organization’s 37th annual Distinguished Brief Award ceremony on March 2. The ceremony recognizes the most scholarly briefs filed with the Michigan Supreme Court in 2022. Pictured: (left-right) are Melissa Bianchi, WMU-Cooley Law Review associate editor; Justice Richard Bernstein, Michigan Supreme Court Justice; Aniela Bosca, WMU-Cooley Law Review associate editor; WMU-Cooley Professor and Law Review Faculty Advisory Mark Cooney. These briefs were evaluated by a panel of judges using seven set criteria: question presented, point headings, statement of case, argument and analysis, style, mechanics and best overall brief. The purpose of the award is to promote excellence in legal writing. The judges included: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Megan K. Cavanagh, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth M. Welch, Judge Amy Ronayne Krause, Judge Michelle M. Rick, Judge Michael J. Riordan, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, and WMU-Cooley Professor Christi Henke. The winning briefs will be published in an upcoming edition of the WMU-Cooley Law Review. Helton, Assistant Defender with the State Appellate Defender Office, was honored for his brief in the case of The People of the State of Michigan v. Robert Lance Propp. This case involved the type of showing indigent defendants are required to make to establish their right to a state appointed expert and whether prosecutors would be permitted to establish a defendant’s propensity to commit domestic violence through hearsay evidence. Four attorneys from the Michigan Attorney General’s office, Solicitor General Ann Sherman, Assistant Solicitor General Chris Allen, and Assistant Attorneys General Kyla Barranco and Tonya Jeter, were also honored. The attorneys drafted the Michigan Supreme Court brief in the Rouch World, LLC v. Department of Civil Rights case decided in July 2022. The brief argued that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act’s prohibition of discrimination “because of . . . sex” necessarily encompassed sexual-orientation discrimination because those concepts are intertwined. Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein delivered the keynote address at the ceremony, saying in part, “Ultimately, our picture of the law goes beyond the court. The reason why these awards are so significant is because for the most part, cases are won and lost off of the briefs that are submitted. The brief brings the case to life. It brings the facts to life, it brings the issue to life, it brings the clients to life, and it brings the law to life.” Mar 08 2023

WMU-Cooley Honors Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

WMU-Cooley Law School recognized Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May with a virtual Community Conversation event, featuring Mark S. Chang, senior manager and specialty compliance and ethics. Chang, who provides value-added guidance to cross functional stakeholders in the cyber security and data privacy risk management fields, reflected upon the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. “As a legal professional, we want to be as resourceful as possible whether we are presenting in court, presenting a case, or doing volunteer work in the community, and be mindful of the vast diverse of Asian American communities,” said Chang, a native of Taiwan. “There’s a huge spectrum of socioeconomic levels and educational differences amongst this entire big group. He also spoke about how those in the educational setting could help those with minority background. “Something that’s very important from a legal perspective or a legal education perspective is to continue to broaden your networking circle, not just within your particular group or class,” Chang said. “Being at Cooley we have a fortunate bank of all the alumni across the world. It doesn’t matter where you go whether in the United States or a different part of the world, you will have that resources available if you want to reach out. It is important to volunteer and help out and reach out to people at your school and people in the community who can be impacted.” Additionally, Chang spoke on how the minority population often has a negative connotation in America. “Is it bad to be a minority? If you change your mindset, that might not be a bad thing after all. How do you utilize your uniqueness to excel and overcome all of those challenges that may systematically stack up against you? I think that’s something that I was able to learn through this process and realize what am I good at and what are you not good at; then analyze the situation and try to create your own path. Because that is a minority mindset – being a pathfinder, being that entrepreneur who’s creating a new way, creating an innovative way to be successful and create your own version of the American Dream. Because the American Dream is not just to America, it’s the concept of making it your life. Whatever you’re given and what you deal with in life – no matter what part of the world you’re in – finding that freedom to make that choice to achieve your own goals you set up for yourself is valuable.” During the conversational event, Chang also spoke about what he learned from his educational experience in America. “I learned to pick up the growth mentality – you can always find your own piece of the pie,” he said. “For me, education didn’t stop at commencement, that’s where it starts because, now you’re given an educational tool – an ‘intellectual’ Ferrari or Tesla, a very incredible machine, that allowed me to grow, which is a lifelong commitment and journey.” WATCH THE CONVERSATION HERE May 25 2023

WMU-Cooley Graduate Daniel Cardwell Named International Graduate of the Year

WMU-Cooley Law School graduate Daniel Cardwell has been named the 2023 International Graduate of the Year by the International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi. Law students from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Poland compete for this recognition, which is the society's highest award given to one graduate each year. The award recognizes outstanding academic achievements, dedication to professional service, and overall merit. “Being selected as the 2023 International Graduate of the Year for Phi Delta Phi is an incredible recognition,” said Cardwell. “My goal is to consistently compete with myself for personal improvement, and it is truly an honor to see daily, consistent efforts accumulate into this recognition.” Cardwell’s notable achievements, which contributed to him receiving the honor, include: graduating ninth in his class at WMU-Cooley, winning national recognition and publication for his contribution to the Judge Constance Baker Motley DEI Essay Competition, winning the 2021 Staying in the Game Essay Competition, both sponsored by the Federal Bar Association; serving as chair of the Professional Values Committee for the Association of College & Research Libraries; and interning at the Department of Justice, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the Second District Court of Appeal for Florida. He also serves as an adjunct professor of English and tutored students at the Academic Success Center at Hillsborough Community College’s Brandon Campus. Additionally, Cardwell received the Society of Scholars Scholarship through the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He completed the Business Transaction Concentration, earning elective credits in bankruptcy law, taxation of business entities, securities regulation, and UCC Article III negotiable instruments. He was the clerk and 2022 Convention Delegate for the Janet Reno Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta. Cardwell received a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, and Master of Arts degrees from the University of South Florida and a Master of Arts degree from Northern Arizona University. Jul 19 2023

Commencement Held at Cooley Law School Tampa Bay Campus

Graduates of Cooley Law School’s Tampa Bay campus were honored during a graduation ceremony on April 15 at the law school’s auditorium in Riverview. Juris doctor degrees were conferred to 30 members of the law school’s Justice Joseph McKenna Class. Chosen by her peers, Jessica Sivillo presented the valedictory remarks. The keynote address was presented by the Hon. Jigisa Patel-Dookhoo of 18th Circuit Court in Viera, Florida. Sivillo spoke on how meaningful moments in individuals’ lives disappear in the blink of an eye, and asked her classmates, “how did we get here today?” “We have been waiting for graduation to come for what seems like a very long time, but it will soon be over in a few short hours,” said Sivillo. “Law school challenged us all to adapt and to grow. We made it to that big day we’ve all been waiting for. Here we are today. We did it!” Pictured, from left: The Hon. Jigisa Patel-Dookhoo, Cooley President James McGrath, valedictory speaker Jessica Sivillo, and Professor Christine Church. While speaking about next steps that graduates may face, Sivillo said, “one of the most important things to do right now is to take in this very moment. The phrase ‘take in this moment’ has so much meaning to this graduating class. This journey required sacrifice, dedication, and a long-term commitment. We got here with each other. We got through law school together and we will always cheer each other on.” Sivillo also spoke about the importance of graduates taking on the next chapters of their lives. “Let’s take the time to slow down and remember our purpose. Be proud of the goals we have achieved and the people we have become. Let’s be grateful to the people who support us and cheer us on.” During the keynote, Patel-Dookhoo spoke about how she felt during her graduation from Cooley’s Michigan campus. “I recall the emotions that I felt. The first was pride. I was the first of my family to graduate with a doctorate degree. The second emotion was fear. Fear is an amazing thing; it can lead to two results. First, fear can cripple you – if you let fear overcome you, you may not be able to move forward. Second, fear may motivate you. Let it motivate you, because in 2009, when I graduated, I would have never guessed that I would have had a job before passing the bar, or guessed that today I would be the first Indian-American women to serve on the judicial circuit here in Florida.” While sharing how she achieved her goals after graduation and her success and fears, Patel-Dookhoo said, “I want to inspire at least one person to see their self in a position that they had never imagined.” Patel-Dookhoo also spoke about the importance of achieving goals as an attorney, and using those skills to help others in the community. “They see you and need your word of advice to pull them back into a position of a better place,” she said. “I ask you to know that you are more than capable of what you can imagine. Take risks and build your career, but at the end of the day, be happy.” Following the presentation of diplomas, Cooley Professor Christine Church was presented with the Stanley E. Beattie Award for Excellence in Teaching. Church was chosen by the members of the graduating class for the honor. Each Cooley Law School class is named for a distinguished member of the legal profession. The commencement ceremony for Cooley’s spring 2023 graduating class honors Justice Joseph McKenna. As a young child, McKenna’s family moved from Philadelphia to California. At the age of 15, his father passed away. As the Civil War raged far away from California, he and his mother worked to keep their bakery afloat while McKenna studied law at the Benicia Collegiate Institute. He graduated from the law department in 1864. The following year, he was admitted to the California Bar, and within six months he was elected to the position of Solano County district attorney. In the mid-1870s, McKenna won a seat in the California legislature. In 1885, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he won passage of legislation extending railroad land grants, and improving port facilities. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison appointed McKenna to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, where he served for five years until he was nominated as Attorney General by President William McKinley. A year later, McKinley nominated McKenna to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. He was the last justice to take a seat on the Supreme Court in the 19th century. He retired from the bench in 1925. WATCH THE COMMENCEMENT Apr 18 2023

Cooley Law School Holds Fall Honors Convocation in Tampa Bay