MSU Law Well-Represented at 2024 AALS Annual Meeting

MSU Law leadership and faculty actively participated in the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). This year’s four-day event, held on January 3-6 in Washington, D.C., focused on the theme “Defending Democracy.”

The MSU Law contingent included outgoing Dean Linda Greene, incoming Interim Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio, and a large representation of MSU Law professors. Many MSU Law professors shared their expertise as speakers on various topics of significance to the community of law school faculty in attendance, and two Professors received awards.

AALS Section Awards were presented during the Annual Meeting. MSU Law Professors Kathryn Fort and Dennis Kennedy were recipients. Professor Fort was recognized for her pivotal role in the landmark case, Brackeen v. Haaland with the “Practitioner Award.” Professor Fort was nominated by MSU Law Professor Nicole Godfrey for this distinguished recognition.

Professor Kennedy, also Director of the Center for Law, Technology, & Innovation, was honored with the “Inaugural Technology Mentorship Award.” He is known for motivating students by sharing his passion and encouraging them to recognize the significant role of technology in most every industry, from large corporations to the smallest of businesses and across non-profits and social services organizations.

MSU Law Professors speaking at AALS:

  • Anne Choike, panelist on two sessions: Business Associations and Women in Legal Education
  • Kevin R. Douglas, panelist on three sessions: Federalist Society Annual Faculty Conference 7 Minute Presentations Works in Progress Panel 2-B, Securities Regulation, and Legal History
  • Nicole Godfrey, panelist: Law and the Social Sciences
  • Geeyoung Min, moderator: Business Associations; panelist: Business Associations, Co-Sponsored by Transactional Law and Skills
  • Justin L Simard, panelist: Socio-Economics
  • Glen Staszewski, panelist: Administrative Law
  • David B. Thronson, panelist: AALS Open Source Program

In describing the theme of the annual meeting, AALS President Mark C. Alexander said “Law schools can play a critical role in the future of our country and our democracy. The legal profession has never had a higher profile and greater exposure than over the last few years. Lawyers are everywhere in places of prominence, power, and policy. Lawyers have shaped and will continue to shape our democracy….When we raise our collective voice, people listen. Defending democracy is not about politics. It’s about what we can do together.”

The AALS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association of 176 member and 18 fee-paid law schools. Its members enroll most of the nation’s law students and produce the majority of the country’s lawyers and judges, as well as many of its lawmakers. Learn more about the AALS Annual Meeting on the event webpage.

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