Welcome to See infra, our e-newsletter delivering a sampling of news from St. John's Law.

IN BRIEF

Announcing Our 2023 Commencement Speaker
Hon. Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson, who has led a life of service to the people of the State of New York, to the legal system, and to the core value of equal justice under law, will be the Law School's commencement speaker on 5/21. Read the full announcement.

Giving a Warm Reception
Manhattan's iconic Harmonie Club set the scene for this year's Endowed Scholarship Reception, celebrating the generosity of alumni and friends who fund student scholarships at St. John's Law. Donors and scholarship recipients mixed, mingled, and joined in their appreciation for alma mater. View the event photo gallery.

Gathering to Explore Racial Inequity
Christina Swarns, Executive Director of the Innocence Project, will be the keynote speaker at our 3/10 Anti-Racism Day. Students will gather for a full-day program exploring the legal roots of racial inequity. In morning and afternoon sessions, leaders in the field will explore a range of topics—from affordable and sustainable housing, race and education, and race and refugee policies to bail reform, reconstruction and reparations, and employment discrimination.

Celebrating Women in the Law
To mark Women's History Month, on 3/15, our student-led Women's Law Society and the Law School's Alumnae Leadership Council are co-hosting a very special event honoring four alumnae who serve as role models. Erika Lee '99 will receive the Trailblazer honor. The Public Service honor will go to Lisa Kurbiel '92, while Lisa Harris '07 will be the Outstanding Alumna honoree. We’ll also honor Megan Quail '13 as a Rising Star. Many thanks to event sponsor SheppardMullin!

Launching the Center for Race and Law
On 3/24, the Center for Race and Law, under the leadership of Professor Renee Nicole Allen and in collaboration with the St. John's Law Review, will host its inaugural symposium. This virtual event will bring together a diverse group of legal scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders to discuss racialized notions of professionalism and the law. You can register online to attend the symposium.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Get the Latest Alumni News
“The work ethic you develop as a college athlete is truly unmatched. Competing taught me to continually strive to outdo myself, which has made me a better and more efficient advocate and colleague.” Samantha Ojo '19 talks life and work in sports and sports law in a story produced by Morgan Lewis, where she works as an associate on the firm’s global sports industry team.

Please join us in congratulating Michael J. Molina '14, VP, Legal - Deputy General Counsel at Flock Safety, on being named one of 33 HNBA/VIA Top Lawyers Under 40 for 2023 by the Hispanic National Bar Association.

The newest installment of our Mattone Institute's Real Estate Alumni Spotlight series features J.P. Morgan Asset Management VP Maria Castiglie '15. Visit the Mattone Institute online to read the full Q&A with Maria.

For the latest St. John's Law alumni news—including births, marriages, and in memoriam—visit stjohnslawseeinfra.com. Have something to share? Great! We publish Class Notes online twice a year (9/1 and 3/1). Please email your news to Claire C. McKeever '80SVC, '93L at mckeevec@stjohns.edu.

Mark Your Calendars!
3/28-30 | Public Interest Auction
This year’s Public Interest Auction is coming to you online (3/28, 29) and live (3/30) to support the Law School's Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program and other public interest initiatives. If you would like to donate an auction item or make a monetary gift, please visit the 2023 Public Interest Auction website.

3/31 | Diversity & Inclusion Gala
Take in the beautiful vistas at Tribeca 360° in lower Manhattan as you celebrate with us at this year's Diversity & Inclusion Gala. Your support matters! Visit the Diversity & Gala website to sponsor this special event and buy tickets.

For more information about these upcoming alumni events, please contact Associate Dean for Law School Advancement Brian Woods at brian.woods@stjohns.edu.

FACULTY FOCUS

The president of the New York State Bar Association has appointed a special committee to examine the selection of judges for New York's Court of Appeals. All the best to Professor John Q. Barrett and colleagues as they undertake this important committee work.

Professor Jennifer Baum presented to a national audience at the Practicing Law Institute on Ethical Considerations When Representing Domestic Violence Survivors: The Ethics of Social Media Use.

Professor Robin Boyle's essay, “Didn't I Cover That in Class? Low-Stakes Technique of Quizzing to the Rescue,” appears in Legal Writing, the Journal of the Legal Writing Institute.

As part of an NIU Law Review symposium on Teaching Critical Approaches to Legal Research, Professor Courtney Selby presented on incorporating critical perspectives into legal research pedagogy.

Professor Cheryl Wade presented on a panel addressing Fairness in Real Estate Appraisals: Valuation, Subjectivity, and Bias sponsored by the American Bar Association. She also participated in a plenary session on Climate Change, Risk, and Racism at the International Insolvency Institute's Annual Conference.

INSOL International, the global insolvency organization, has appointed Professor G. Ray Warner to a four-year term as Chair of its academics' section.

STUDENT SUCCESS

Winner's Circle
DRS
Congratulations to the St. John's Law Dispute Resolution Society (DRS) team of Esteban Angeles '24, Destiny Harrison-Griffin '24, Chloe Nenner '24, and Kymberley Walcott-Aggrey '24, who bested a talented field to advance to the finals of the New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Annual Mediation Tournament. The team also won Best Mediation Statement and took third for Best Mediation Advocates.

In more great DRS news, at this year's National Tulane Baseball Salary Arbitration Competition, the team of Matthew Stewart '23 and Jacob Wetter '23 placed in the top 25% of all schools. Teammates Kathryn Rose Russotto '24 and Ramona Miller '23 placed first in the writing portion of the competition.

Moot Court
Let's hear it for Takunda Muziwi '24 and Ashton Bryan '24! Representing St. John's Black Law Students Association, the team earned first place at the 2023 Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition held during the Northeastern Black Law Students Association's annual convention. Congratulations, too, to Moot Court coach Alex Bisogno '23 and to Fanta Ba '23, who coordinated the St. John's Law student contingent's convention weekend.

PTAI
So proud to share that the Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute (PTAI) team of Rebecca Goldberg '24, Camille Perbost '24, and Jaden Thornton '24 advanced to the regional finals of the Texas Young Lawyer Association's National Trial Competition.

Krista Apostle ’24 earned the award for Best Opening at the Queens District Attorney’s Mock Trial Competition. Nicely done, Krista!

Last, but certainly not least, congratulations to Michael F. Pecorella '23, who was named Best Overall Advocate at the John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition.

Pathways to Practice
“I’m ready to take everything I’ve learned at St. John’s and apply it to being an advocate for those who need it the most. Being a prosecutor is a privilege. It’s a job that gives you power—you’re a voice for the people—and it’s a job I’m honored to have as I carry out justice with the highest degree of integrity.” Read our story about Victoria Rubino '23 and her path to becoming a Brooklyn ADA.

Comments, Suggestions, or Content Ideas?
Please email Lori Herz, See infra's Managing Editor and Lead Writer, at herzl@stjohns.edu.

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IN BRIEF

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

FACULTY FOCUS

STUDENT SUCCESS

Comments, Suggestions, or Content Ideas? Please email Lori Herz, See infra's Managing Editor and Lead Writer, at herzl@stjohns.edu.

Comments, Suggestions, or Content Ideas?
Please email Lori Herz, See infra's Managing Editor and Lead Writer, at herzl@stjohns.edu.