Cooley Law School student Michelle Guzman was recently named a 2024 Outstanding Law Student by the National Association of Women Lawyers. She was nominated by Cooley Professor Joseline Hardrick for her contributions to advancing women in society and the legal profession, academic achievements, and leadership. Guzman will be recognized during the law school’s Honors Convocation in July.

“Michelle’s exceptional journey from the military to the legal profession, underscored by her unwavering commitment to advancing women’s roles in society and the legal field, makes her an exemplary candidate for this prestigious accolade,” Hardrick said of Guzman in her nomination letter. “Her ability to balance academic excellence with extracurricular leadership and community service is commendable. I am confident she will continue to inspire and significantly contribute to the legal community.”

Before joining Cooley, Guzman lived in Coamo, Puerto Rico, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources management from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Her collegiate journey was marked by active involvement in the Mu Alpha Phi Sorority and an internship with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) in Washington, DC. Opting for a career in cybersecurity with the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Guzman received the Air Force Reserve Meritorious Service Medal and was recognized as the 2018 Airman of the Quarter and Outstanding Airman of the Year. 

While at Cooley, Guzman has served as Hispanic Organization of Legal Advocates president, 3L Senator for the Student Bar Association and the Diversity & Inclusion Chair, and volunteered with Cooley Law School’s Debt Relief Clinic.

The National Association of Women Lawyers’ Outstanding Law Student Award recognizes third-year law students who are nominated by a faculty member of their respective law school. Nominees must meet the following criteria: contribute to the advancement of women in society, promote issues and concerns of women in the legal profession; exhibit motivation, tenacity, and enthusiasm; demonstrate high academic achievement; and earn the respect of their colleagues.

Guzman will be recognized in the Women Lawyers Journal and will receive complimentary registration to NAWL's annual meeting in July.

 

Cooley Law School will recognize Pride Month in June with a Community Conversation virtual event held on June 13.  Rickie Kreuzer, a Cooley student and founder of the Chosen Family of Michigan organization, where he serves as executive director & board president, will speak about the important work of LGBTQ+ advocacy.

When: Monday, June 13, 2023, Noon

JOIN THE VIRTUAL 6/13 EVENT HERE
 

Kreuzer was a field supervisor in a Fortune 500 company prior to transitioning into advocacy and politics. He began in LGBTQ+ advocacy for the Human Rights Campaign, followed by voter education with the League of Conservation Voters, and was a relational organizer for Michigan United/Michigan People's Campaign while leading the LGBTQ+ initiatives during the 2020 general election. He serves as the board secretary for the American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan and chairs the organization’s DEI Committee. Kreuzer serves on the Michigan HIV/AIDS Council’s Policy & Advocacy Committee. In 2022, Kreuzer was appointed by Governor Whitmer with Senate consent to the State Board of Nursing. In 2023, Kreuzer was asked by the director of the bureau of HIV/STI Programs at MDHHS to lend his expertise by joining the Medicaid HIV Quality Improvement Policy Group as a consultant. Kreuzer previously held a teaching permit, has assisted in HR consulting, and has hosted many events and workshops throughout his career. 

Cooley Law School student Catherine Gagnon was selected as the 2024 winner of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Michigan Chapter Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Corporate and Business Classes. She will be honored as the $3,000 scholarship recipient during the ACC award ceremony later this spring.

As part of of the ACC’s mission of encouraging law students to consider careers in corporate legal department, the ACC Michigan Chapter selected Gagnon for the scholarship based on demonstrating academic achievement, particularly in business-law related classes.

Since its inception in 1983, the Michigan Chapter of ACC has grown from an initial group of about 35 to more than 600 attorneys serving as general counsel, assistant general counsel and corporate counsel to automotive companies, financial institutions, health care providers, utilities, retailers, science and technology companies, and educational institutions throughout Michigan. The chapter’s offerings include: continuing legal education, opportunities to network with other in-house attorneys, and advocacy on behalf of the profession.

 

Three Cooley Law School students were named as recipients of scholarships from the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) Foundation. Cooley Law School students who were each presented $3,500 scholarships on May 31 included Codie Drake, a Jean Ledwith King Scholar sponsored by the members of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan; Samantha Hulliberger, who is a Dobrusin Law Firm Scholar sponsored by The Dobrusin Law Firm; and Sukayana Almusawi, a Masco Corporation Scholar, sponsored by Masco Corporation. 

The foundation selects the recipients based on their endeavors to advance women’s roles in essential areas of the law, including STEM, social justice, equality, child advocacy, and domestic violence. The WLAM Foundation has awarded over $824,500 to more than 307 law students since 1997.

“It is an honor for our students to be leaders in advancing women’s roles in law,” said Karen Poole, Cooley Law School’s director of career and professional development. “I cannot think of any better candidates than Codie, Samantha, and Sukayana. They continually share their enthusiasm for social causes through their involvement outside the classroom.”

 

Pictured: Cooley Law School students were named recipients of scholarships from the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) Foundation on May 31. Pictured (left-right) Sukayana Almusawi, Samantha Hulliberger, and Codie Drake.
 

The Cooley Law Review held its 38th annual Distinguished Brief Award ceremony on May 30, featuring guest speaker John Bursch, and honoring attorneys (L-R) George Sinas, Lauren E. Kissel, Mark R. Granzotta, Nick Curcio, and Thomas R. Alward.

The ceremony recognized the most scholarly briefs filed with the Michigan Supreme Court in 2023. These briefs were evaluated by a panel of judges, using seven criteria: questions 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 and to celebrate outstanding work by practicing lawyers. The winning briefs will be published in an upcoming edition of the Law Review.

Sinas, Kissel, and Granzotta were honored for their brief in Andary et al v. USSA Casualty Ins. Co. et al. That case concerned the medical-benefit reductions in the 2019 auto no-fault reform legislation. The question was whether those reductions could be applied retroactively to persons whose policies predated the new legislation and who were injured before its effective date.

Attorneys Curcio and Alward were honored for their brief in Schaaf v. Forbes. The question was whether trustees appointed under the Michigan Trust Code can hold property, in their individual capacities, in a joint tenancy with other persons. The brief argued that such an arrangement was prohibited by common law.

During the event, Bursch, the former solicitor general for the State of Michigan, discussed collegiality among U.S. Supreme Court justices and advocates as a model for modern political discourse.

“The U.S. Supreme Court practice modeled by justices and advocates in the clerk's office [should] be a beacon of light, a path that political members of this this system should be looking towards, as we try to have a more civil dialogue in our country," said Bursch.

 

Distinguished Brief Award Keynote Speaker John Bursch spoke on on Collegiality Among U.S. Supreme Court Justices & Advocates as a Model for Modern Political Discourse. 

 

Cooley Law School Professor Mark Cooney recognized honorees during Cooley Law Review’s 38th annual Distinguished Brief Award ceremony on May 30, 2024.

Cooley Law School unveiled their new branding with a social event at both the law school’s campuses in Tampa Bay, Florida (June 10) and Lansing, Michigan (June 12). The school’s new branding focuses on reintegrating Cooley’s mission and vision, along with the development of three pillars – readiness, preparation, and community –  informed by months of research that included surveys, market analysis, focus groups, and workshops. 

“With this important process, we are reclaiming our past successes as we continue to build our brighter future,” said Cooley Law School President and Dean James McGrath. “We are putting Cooley into perspective for people who don’t really know us. We are telling the world: We know where we have been, we know where we are going, and we know who we are.

 

“We’re proud to be a law school that provides our students with a rigorous academic experience – while integrating real-world practice, all guided by a faculty of accomplished experts and scholars,” McGrath continued. “Our access mission drives our support for our students - and our graduates - to become leaders who will also reflect the communities they will serve.”

As part of the readiness pillar, Cooley’s curriculum continues to blend traditional legal principles with leading-edge practices, focusing on real-world application to prepare students to emerge not only practice-ready but future-ready. The preparation pillar intends to facilitate a rigorous and hands-on classroom experience, including legal clinics and externships, taught and mentored by experienced faculty who are experts in their fields. The final pillar, community, draws strength from the diverse backgrounds and experiences of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The supportive and engaging environment fosters teamwork and will continue to prepare students for real-world legal collaboration.

“Ours is a story of transformation,” said Paul Zelenski, senior vice president and associate dean of administration, enrollment, and student services. “What I love about this place is our ability to adapt and move forward.  Our emerging brand reflects our values, and our personality as we look to the future, and what kind of law school we want to be and should be as we prepare future ready attorneys.”

The rebrand launch party ushered in a new era of Cooley Law School, looking ahead to the future and honored the legacy of the school. During the event, attendees enjoyed a food truck, ice cream, and giveaways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooley Law School hosted a Community Conversation event on June 18 to celebrate Juneteenth, the day which marks the end of slavery and signifying freedom for African Americans in the United States. The event featured Dr. Roger Cleveland, board chair of Black Males Working Academy, as the keynote speaker.

 

“When Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday, our country took a step towards healing by acknowledging Black pain and Black trauma,” said Cleveland. “African Americans deserve to have their history remembered. By making a commitment to ensure Juneteenth is a national holiday will lead to a giant leap in our nation’s reckoning and our country’s mission of justice and fairness.”

Cleveland, an educator, researcher and leader in the fields of diversity, equity, cultural humility and academic innovation, has spent over 20 years working in K-12 and higher education. He has served as director of Kentucky Department of Education’s division of equity and federal programs, and hosted numerous nationwide equity, leadership, and organizational workshops and lectures. Additionally, Cleveland has published several equity, inclusion, and education-related articles. In his role at Black Males Working Academy, he helps guide male Black youth on college and career readiness through academics, social-emotional learning and leadership.

During the event, Cleveland reviewed and examined the current status of African Americans throughout the past 150 years. Additionally, he asked attendees to consider what they or their institutions are doing to promote equity and social justice, and encouraged them to act on those thoughts.

“Equity is about access, fairness and justice,” said Cleveland. “Equity is the process – equality is the outcome. The product is only as good as the process.”

CLICK HERE to view the full Community Conversation with Dr. Cleveland or visit the Cooley Law School YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/xGOfQEr9Gzk .

 

Cooley Law School’s Innocence Project collaborated with State Appellate Defender Office and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit in the release of Duane Williams, of Detroit, after spending more than 11 years in prison for being wrongful convicted of arson and murder. He is expected to be released from prison within the week. 
 

On June 18, Wayne County Circuit Judge Bradley Cobb vacated Williams’ convictions and sentences and granted a personal recognizance bond while the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office continues to review the case during a new pre-trial period. Williams, who was convicted of felony murder, has been serving a life sentence for felony murder for allegedly starting a fire in 2012 that killed two people.  

“We are pleased that we were able to offer investigative resources and support in drafting motions to the State Appellate Defender Office which helped to play a small role in Mr. Williams’ relief,” said Ann Garant, Cooley Innocence Project  managing attorney.

The evidence used to convict Mr. Williams featured the all-too-common dynamics of a wrongful conviction:

• An unreliable jailhouse informant claimed that Mr. Williams confessed to starting the fire.
• An interview that contradicted the informant’s testimony was not provided to the defense at trial. And new evidence, including a $5,000 reward that the informant received after trial, casts further doubt on that testimony.
• At trial, the State’s fire investigator testified that there were no smoking materials found near the fire’s area of origin. The defense received neither a report nor photographs showing a Zippo style lighter, a “smoking material” that was found near the fire’s origin.
• An expert in the cause and origin of fires never examined and rebutted the prosecutor’s theory that the fire was intentionally set. A fire investigator consulted by SADO has stated that an accident cannot be ruled out as the cause of fire. 

State Appellate Defender Office said additional evidence and consultant investigations showed there was no evidence the fire was set and that “an accident cannot be ruled out as the cause of the fire.”
 

“Duane has been unjustly imprisoned and fighting for his freedom for more than 11 years,” said Maya Menlo, an assistant defender with SADO and Williams’ attorney. “Thanks to his perseverance and intellect, Duane’s unconstitutional convictions came to the attention of SADO, the Cooley Innocence Project, Clemency Investigations, and the Conviction Integrity Unit at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. After so many years, we are pleased that he won some relief.”

The Cooley Innocence Project is part of the Innocence Network which has been credited with the release of over 375 wrongfully convicted prisoners, mainly through the use of DNA testing. It is the only post-conviction DNA innocence organization in Michigan. Since its inception, the office has screened over 6,000 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of nine individuals: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Kenneth Nixon (2021), Gilbert Poole (2021), Corey Quentin McCall (2021), George DeJesus (2022), and most recently, Louis Wright (2023), who spent 35 years being wrongfully imprisoned. Additionally, the Cooley Innocence Project also helped to exonerate Lacino Hamilton, Ramon Ward, Terance Calhoun, and Crystal Mulherin.

Cooley Law School held its 33rd annual Golf Classic at Eagle Eye Golf Course in East Lansing on Monday, June 17.  All proceeds from the outing go to support the school's Student Scholarship Fund. 

Winning teams include:

First Place: Barnes & Thornburg team of Rob LeFevre, Peter Medmea, Scott Dienes, and Brian Bemis. 

Second Place: DK Security team of DJ Benedict, Johnny Kendall, Zach Simmons, and Jake Wolffis.

Third Place: Cooley Law School student team of Chuck Bloomfield, Jamie Linnell, John Carley, and Marc McDonald.

 

 

 

Joseph Kimble, a distinguished professor emeritus at Cooley Law School, recently published the second of his Mr. Mouthful children’s books: “Mr. Mouthful and the Monkeynappers.” Mr. Mouthful is a fan of big words that kids can’t understand, leading to one misadventure after another. In the new book, his hotshot pet monkey, Dupree, goes on a romp and gets into big trouble – only to have kids come to the rescue, as they did in the first book, “Mr. Mouthful Learns his Lesson.”

The second installment of Mr. Mouthful has received stellar reviews:

• Kirkus: a "comical sequel" and "fun read-aloud."
• Booklife (Publisher's Weekly): a "frolicking romp of adventure, excitement, and, above all the pleasure of learning unusual words."
• Forward Clarion: "Bountiful physical comedy and jaunty wordplay results in considerable charm" (four stars).

The first Mr. Mouthful book, published in 2017, won several awards and was described by the National Parenting Center as “a book you will fall in love with.” 

Kimble regularly visits elementary schools with this message: “You’ll never be sorry if you learn to love words.” He would be happy to hear from teachers who would like to schedule a visit this fall. For more about the books, including testimonials from teachers and students, visit www.mrmouthful.com.

Kimble taught legal writing at Cooley for 30 years, and many people will be familiar with his advocacy for plain legal language. He has been the editor of the Plain Language column in the Michigan Bar Journal for 36 years; just published the second edition of his book Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please: The Case for Plain Language in Business, Government, and Law; and in 2023 won the State Bar’s Roberts P. Hudson award. He also served as drafting consultant on the projects to rewrite the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Evidence, and Bankruptcy Procedure, as well as the Michigan Rules of Evidence.