Catch up on Cooley in October's Benchmark Column

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I hope your 2023 is off to a wonderful start. Hilary Term began on January 3 and we celebrated the arrival of the Mahlon Pitney Class, the law school’s 151st entering class, with a variety of in-person and online orientation events.

In this newsletter, you will find information regarding some upcoming events, news regarding recent achievements of a few of our incredible alumni and faculty, as well as some opportunities you may wish to consider.

We are always interested in hearing from graduates about their life’s adventures. Please be sure to drop us a note to let us know what is happening in your world – alumni@cooley.edu – and we will include it in the next issue of Benchmark magazine.

Very truly, Bill Arnold, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations

We recognize and congratulate Ruby Makiyama, 1991 Edwin Lawrence Class, on beginning her 16th year in the House of Councillors in the National Diet of Japan and for attaining the position of Director of the Committee on Judicial Affairs. The House of Councillors is the upper house of the national legislature for Japan (akin to the U.S. Senate).

As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we share this 2009 flashback article from the 2009 Benchmark Column print article written after Ms. Mikyama was first elected to the House of Councillors in 2007. In the story, Mikyama stated she views her position in the National Diet as an opportunity to prominently highlight social injustice issues, as well as to bring attention to how difficult it is for Japanese women to maintain their careers while raising children.

On Tuesday, March 28, 10 WMU-Cooley alumni will be sworn in as members of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar as part of an in-person group admission sponsored by the WMU-Cooley Alumni Association.

The in-person event has been postponed for three years due to the pandemic and this year will mark the 15th year for this special alumni event. Now that the Court has reinstated in-person group admissions, the alumni association is hoping to conduct two group admission events in the coming year to provide an additional opportunity to get more alumni sworn in to the Supreme Court Bar.

If you are interested in participating in an in-person group admission, please send an email to alumni@cooley.edu.

ALUMNI FEATURE: SENATOR NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI

Nicolas Scutari, 1993 Carpenter Class, recently completed his first year as the 115th President of the New Jersey State Senate. In 2023, Senator Nicholas Scutari continues to lead the upper chamber of the New Jersey legislature for the 220th Legislative Session.

A lifelong Linden, NJ resident, Senator Scutari began his career in public service in 1994 when he was elected to the Linden Board of Education. Senator Scutari was elected to the Union County Freeholder Board in 1996. He served as Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman in 1998 and as Union County Freeholder Chairman in 1999. He is the youngest person ever to serve as Freeholder Chairman in Union County.

THE HON. MORGAN E. COLE INVESTITURE

The Hon. Morgan E. Cole (a 2011 Chipman Class graduate) was sworn in by the Ingham County Circuit Court during a ceremony held on January 20 at WMU-Cooley Law School's campus in Lansing, Michigan. The Hon. Rosemarie Aquilina, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge, (1984 Carr Class graduate) conducted the Administration of the Oath.

Judge Cole previously served as the Ingham County probate register/court administrator. She has served as Friend of the Court conciliator and investigator for the 30th Circuit Court and chief deputy Circuit Court clerk of the 30th Circuit Court. She is an advocate for supporting and expanding specialty courts — such as sobriety and veteran’s courts — according to her website and her answers to the League of Women Voters survey.

JOIN BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPEAKER ZENELL BROWN 2/23

Sign up for the Black History Month WMU-Cooley Community Conversations virtual event which will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at noon, with keynote speaker Zenell Brown.

Zenell is one of our legal profession's most sought out speaker and trainers of leadership and inclusion. She weaves her personal experiences into her keynotes and training and leaves her audiences with concrete ways they can move diversity and inclusion forward in their everyday actions. Her bottom line is "Our everyday actions and decisions that recognize and promote inclusion are more powerful than our annual kumbaya celebrations."

SUPPORTING COOLEY'S MISSION

Show your support for Cooley's mission and get your very own commemorative WMU-Cooley 50th anniversary coffee mug! For 50 years, Cooley Law School has been committed to a singular mission - creating the very best lawyers and leaders. We need the help and support of alumni and friends to ensure that the mission continues. Please make a gift to the 50th Anniversary Annual Giving Campaign in support of student scholarships, student bar preparation, and curriculum and instruction enhancements.

Those who make a gift of $50 or more will receive a commemorative WMU-Cooley 50th anniversary coffee mug. Thank you for your support.

CONGRATS TO ERIKA BREITFELD WHO WAS NAMED LAWYER OF THE YEAR 2022

WMU-Cooley Law School Assistant Dean and Professor Erika Breitfeld was selected by her peers as Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Lawyer of the Year for 2022.

We can't say that we are surprised, but she accepted the award with grace, as always.

“I am humbled by the company I keep in this room, by being called a leader. It really is my privilege to use the law to help people, and I’m sure you feel the same way. Erika Breitfeld named MiLW’s 2022 ‘Lawyer of the Year.’

watch the MLK Day of Remembrance conversation

If you didn't get to attend this year's MLK Day of Remembrance WMU-Cooley Community Conversation virtual event with keynote speaker Robyn McCoy, please take some time to watch it now.

In Robyn's words, "I think that what we can all do to advance the cause of social justice and carry on Dr. King's legacy is to speak truth to power. If you're upset about something, speak up."

Watch the Community Conversation virtual event on Cooley's official YouTube page.

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

JOIN COOLEY'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

COOLEY GOLF CLASSIC

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: RUBY MAKIYAMA