Penn State Law

Morris Dees inspires students with “Justice for All” insightsOn March 16, Morris Dees, a civil rights attorney who co-founded the Southern Poverty Law Center, shared a wide range of examples of justice against tyranny—from biblical times to present day with Penn State Law students.

Penn State Law alum begins Fulbright research in New ZealandFulbright scholar Julie Polakoski ’09 began a journey to New Zealand in February to undertake a comparative study of labor relations at the University of Victoria in Wellington. Her research will analyze the legal reforms that New Zealand has made regarding its labor laws as compared to the U.S. system, including the benefits or impediments that the reforms caused to the collective bargaining rights of workers.

Law studies help Rozynski ’11 integrate two disparate worlds

Professor Michael Foreman testifies before EEOCAt the request of the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, professor Michael Foreman, director of Penn State Law's Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, explained the impact of Gross v. FBL Financial Services on unemployed older Americans on November 17.

Professor Foreman testifies on Older Workers Discrimination ActAt the request of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, Professor Michael Foreman, director of Penn State Law's Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, testified during a hearing to examine H.R. 3721, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. If enacted, the legislation would restore civil rights protections for older workers stripped away by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2009 decision, Gross v. FBL Financial Services.

Civil Rights Appellate Clinic asks High Court to ensure that employees cannot be forced to arbitrate without fair hearingOn Wednesday, March 31, 2010, Penn State Law’s Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, acting as counsel of record for six civil rights groups, filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in Rent-A-Center, West v. Antonio Jackson, Supreme Court Docket Number 09-497.

Civil Rights Appellate Clinic retained as co-counsel in racial discrimination caseThe Penn State Civil Rights Appellate Clinic has been retained as co-counsel to work with a Washington, D.C. boutique employment firm and a national civil rights group to represent Michael Ford in Ford v. Mansfield (4th Cir. No. 10-1254), in an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The case involves a Section 1981 racial discrimination claim for interference with contractual relations.

Civil Rights Appellate Clinic files amicus brief with U.S. Supreme CourtThe Penn State Law Civil Rights Appellate Clinic filed an amici curiae with the U.S. Supreme Court in Thompson v. North American Stainless, LP on behalf of six national organizations including the National Employment Lawyers Association, American Association of Justice, AARP, The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Legal Aid Society of San Francisco Law Center.

Professor Foreman to testify before U.S. Senate Committee on Workplace FairnessAt the request of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Professor Michael Foreman, director of Penn State Law's Civil Rights Appellate Clinic and clinical professor, testified at the hearing on "Workplace Fairness: Has the Supreme Court Been Misinterpreting Laws Designed to Protect American Workers from Discrimination?" The hearing was held on Wednesday, October 7, at 10:00 a.m. in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building

Penn State Law students visit U.S. Supreme Court, meet with Justice SotomayorStudents from Penn State Law’s Civil Rights Appellate Clinic recently visited the U.S. Supreme Court to observe oral arguments in Staub v. Proctor Hospital, a case in which the Clinic had filed an amicus brief. While witnessing arguments in front of the U.S. Supreme Court is in itself extraordinary, Penn State Law students arrived a day early and had the opportunity meet privately with some of the most brilliant legal minds in the country – including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.