Law meets fiction: Batman oral arguments, student publishes novel

By Sara Gold, Editor-in-Chief

Students defend Arkham Asylum in Batman mock trial

Ching-Yun Li, second from left, and Claudia Salinas, second from right, defended Arkham Asylum at a mock trial at San Diego Comic Fest.

Claudia Salinas (1L) and Ching-Yun Li (3L) were selected from among law student applicants nationwide to participate in a Batman-themed mock trial at San Diego Comic Fest on March 9.

Joined by teammate Zachary Sterling from the University of Kentucky College of Law, Salinas and Li served as defense counsel for Arkham Asylum, the psychiatric hospital featured in the Batman comic books. Arkham Asylum was on trial for alleged civil rights violations against comic book supervillain Two-Face (former lawyer Harvey Dent).

CWSL CommentaryApril 8, 2019April 11, 2019Leave a comment

Legal News/Opinions

Student perspective: Advice for finals preparation

By Nick Ahadzadeh, News Editor, & Ryan Stygar

We would like to start this article with a quotation from our favorite author:

“Ahhh, finals season. What a beautiful and joyous occasion.” – No One Ever

Finals are upon us, and they are quite similar to hurricanes – you want to prepare before they actually happen. Because we have already provided Academic Achievement’s exam tips, this time we wanted to give you our student perspective on how to get through finals with your sanity intact. The first set of tips is about study strategies, and the second set is about general study habits.

CWSL CommentaryApril 8, 2019Leave a comment

Sports

3L team wins CWSL basketball championship!

By Kianna Williams, SBA Intramurals Director

CWSL intramural champions Allen, Iver & Sons: Dylan Contreras, Marcus Glover, Jasmine Braswell, Mauricio Campos, Tyler Marquez, Daniel Trevino, and Jason Baluarte

The 2019 intramural basketball season, involving five teams of Cal Western students, kicked off March 3. Allen, Iver & Sons, a team of 3Ls named after the famous basketball player Allen Iverson, faced off against 2 Live Crew, an aptly named team of 2Ls. 2 Live Crew put up a great fight, but in the end they were no match for the veteran crew, who defeated them 60-28.

The next week proved to be better for the young team. 2 Live Crew prevailed in a close game against the all 1L team BBB, winning with a score of 27-23. However, they did not fare well against the Savage Esquires, a veteran team. The 2Ls fell short in the match, losing 58-37, but managed to fight their way to the playoffs.

Pearson, Specter Litt, named after the firm of Harvey Specter, is another notable team who came in as the underdogs being the only team with no substitute players. This fierce group of four not only fought their way into the playoffs but placed fairly well.

CWSL CommentaryApril 8, 2019April 12, 2019Leave a comment

Campus News, Environmental

Petition to continue environmental law classes at CWSL

By Breanna Hayes, News Editor

What made you go to law school? Some of us came to law school with a particular pursuit or passion in mind. Perhaps the plight of the planet played a part in your decision to study law, or you’ve simply contemplated the problem.

On March 25, the Environmental Law Society (ELS) created an online petition to continue environmental law classes at CWSL. So far, 59 people have signed the petition urging the administration to consider hiring another environmental law professor in light of Professor Richard Finkmoore’s retirement after the Spring 2019 trimester. Prof. Finkmoore has been CWSL’s only environmental law instructor, and currently no new environmental law classes are planned due to his departure.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE – PLEASE SIGN TODAY!

CWSL CommentaryApril 8, 2019April 10, 2019Leave a comment

Past Issues

Spring 2019, Issue #2 (3/14/19)

In this new edition of The Commentary: *SBA Elections*: Read the candidates’ statements before voting on 3/15/19! Barrister’s Ball Barrister’s Ball Sails Smoothly: SBA hosted one of the largest balls in the school’s history! Q&A with Legal Writing Professor of the Year Roberta Thyfault Campus News AROUND CAMPUS: Read about the latest student org events! Symposium: ‘The Main Event’ imparts practical wisdom on aspiring entertainment … Continue reading Spring 2019, Issue #2 (3/14/19)

CWSL CommentaryMarch 13, 2019April 8, 2019Leave a comment

Campus News

Around campus

Campus life was vibrant this past month, with numerous student org events by groups including the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, South Asian Law Student Association, Women’s Law Caucus, Black Law Students Association, and Child Advocacy Law Society.

APALSA Judicial Roundtable — By Chae Kim

From left, Judges Truc Do, Selena Epley, Dana Sabraw, and Rohanee Zapanta

Students were able to meet and network with Asian-American judges at a judicial roundtable Feb. 15 hosted by the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA). Judge Selena Epley, a San Diego Superior Court judge, led the panel with a light and fun tone as she questioned the other judges. First to be introduced was Judge Truc Do, the first Vietnamese judge appointed to the San Diego Superior Court bench. The second was Judge Rohanee Zapanta, the second-ever Filipino judge appointed to the San Diego Superior Court. And last but not least was Judge Dana Sabraw, a U.S. District Court judge who recently gained notoriety when he ruled to reunite separated migrant families along our southern border.

CWSL CommentaryMarch 13, 2019Leave a comment

Campus News

Barrister’s Ball sails smoothly

CWSL CommentaryMarch 13, 2019March 14, 2019Leave a comment

Campus News, Legal News/Opinions

Supreme Court panel: Professors discuss citizenship-based discrimination and more

By Rabiya Tirmizi & Oday Yousif

California Western School of Law has a tradition of hosting a panel with the constitutional law professors, where they comment on current and upcoming cases that have made their way to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). On March 5, the American Constitution Society (ACS) and the Federalist Society continued this tradition by holding the “SCOTUS at Halftime: Review of the Current Court Session” panel event.

More than 60 students were in attendance as Professors William Aceves, Jessica Fink, and Glenn Smith all presented a case that has either been decided or is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court. Each professor explained the significance that the case will have not only on society, but on constitutional law.

CWSL CommentaryMarch 13, 2019March 13, 2019Leave a comment

Campus News, Entertainment

‘The Main Event’ imparts practical wisdom on aspiring entertainment and sports lawyers

By Vincent Chiaverini

Ladies and gentlemen the moment you have all been waiting for, is finally here…introducing—drum roll—…the one and only…2019 Annual Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium at California Western School of Law! Hosted by your very own, Entertainment and Sports Law Society (ESLS).

What exactly is this symposium? Law students and other practicing lawyers attend the event to better understand what it takes to work in the sports and entertainment industry. ESLS assembled a diverse lineup, which included guest speakers who were sports agents, general counsel for baseball organizations, and even lawyers who work for Marvel Television.

CWSL CommentaryMarch 13, 2019March 13, 2019Leave a comment

Entertainment

Caught between a rock and a Hot Pocket

By Nick Ahadzadeh

As law students, most of us understand how difficult it can be to afford and make time for food – especially healthy food. Who wants to cook a well-balanced meal for 30-45 minutes when Costco sells Hot Pockets for bulk pricing? I wanted to write this article so that I could share my insight into the world of decent eating on a law student budget, and how to ensure that you actually make time to eat it.

NOTE: This is not exactly a “Healthy Eating” article, but is truly meant to provide some guidance for California Westerners to find affordable food near campus.

CWSL CommentaryMarch 13, 2019March 30, 2019Leave a comment