June 2022

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of UDC Law, we invite you to elect 50 alumni to the UDC Law Hall of Fame to be recognized at the UDC Law Gala on Nov. 17, 2022.

More details coming and nominations open in late July. Meanwhile, sign up to receive updates about the gala.

Doug Stringer '02 on Pro-Life for the Whole Life

Heather Molina '07 on Dobbs ripple effect

On June 17, UDC Law donors (many of whom are alumni), students, board members, faculty and staff came together to celebrate all Juneteenth stands for – progress, perseverance, community and excellence – and to salute financial supporters of the District’s only public law school at the second annual Cheers to You! Juneteenth Kickoff and Donor Appreciation Celebration.

Since 1993 the DC School of Law Foundation has provided millions to support UDC Law’s 50-year commitment to training exceptional students, the majority of whom are from groups traditionally underrepresented at the bar. We couldn’t have done any of that without your support, and this celebration highlighted our appreciation.

Of course, we also couldn’t have done it without the talents of KanKouran West African Dance Company, DioMara, DJ Javar, Dr. Omekongo wa Dibinga, District Graze, SmokeDatt Barbecue and BartenderChicks.

Thanks to 3L Songo Wawa, Terry Jennings from LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation and Dean Renée Hutchins for sharing their words and to Robert Newman ’14 for lending his emcee skills.

Through the Townsend Scholarship, Kadian Townsend '22 and her brother Clayon are helping college freshmen overcome challenges to their educational dreams.

Read more about the Townsend Scholarship.

The gifts and challenges of being a quadriplegic father

Medical malpractice attorney Josh Basile '13 was profiled by Caitlin Gibson in The Washington Post about parenting his infant child, sharing experiences with other fathers and making physical connections with his son.

Read the full story.

Behind a lawsuit, an excruciating wait for housing for disabled residents

Legal Counsel for the Elderly senior attorney Melanie Acuña '09 spoke to The Washington Post's Theresa Vargas about DCHA accountability, challenges for residents living with disabilities.

Read the full article.

Robert Baldwin III ’15 contributed to this NPR interview with retired federal judge J. Michael Luttig on the Jan. 6 hearings.

Want to keep up with your fellow alumni? Join the official UDC Law Alumni Facebook Group

The Apollo Theater in NYC has extended an invitation for UDC Law alumni to attend “Amateur Night at the Apollo” and host an exclusive pre-reception. Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at the Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald to Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, D’Angelo, Jazmine Sullivan and Machine Gun Kelly. The family friendly show, great for all ages, also includes the Child Stars of Tomorrow who compete for a chance to win $5,000. 

Have you run or are you running for public office? Do you hold public office now? Let us know.

Hear from Interim Dean Johnson in our next issue.

Also check out Prof. Karin's piece in Ms. Magazine, co-written with Prof. Margaret E. Johnson of The University of Baltimore School of Law.

In honor of our 50th Anniversary, UDC Law will partner with alumna and renowned DC photographer Nancy Shia '75 to curate rare photos and stories from the first years of the school’s history. With the support and partnership of the Humanities DC Project, head of Institutional Advancement Shola Akintobi will produce an exhibit open to all District residents preserving an important moment in black history, women's history and DC history.

The exhibit will be out this fall. Alumni who have a great story to share of Jean Camper Cahn or Edgar Cahn should share via lawalumni@udc.edu 

Pictured above: First photo, from left: LoiShirl Hall, Assoc. Dean Lindsay M. Harris, Pearl Mansu. Second photo, from left: Delali Dagadu, Assoc. Dean Harris

On June 21, 2022, Imani*, an Immigration and Human Rights Clinic client from East Africa, was granted asylum after nearly two years of work with the clinic. Associate Dean of Clinical and Experiential Programs Lindsay M. Harris and three 2022 graduates – Delali Dagadu, LoiShirl Hall and Pearl Mansu – began working on the case in the Fall of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

*not the client's real name

Read the story.

Prof. John C. Brittain spoke at the Education Law Center’s Education Justice Lecture on bridging the divide between diversity in schools and equity in education. He offered a path for moving beyond the “great debate” over how to remedy the education disparities experienced by students in the nation’s segregated public schools.

Watch his presentation, Beyond Either/Or: The Constitutional Right to an Equitable and Diverse Public Education.

Dean Hutchins talks to Law.com about HBCU law school underfunding

"The racial injustice and income inequality that generally plague the nation as a whole are often felt acutely by our student bodies, making holistic student support a mandatory component of each institution’s mission to deliver a high-quality legal education," she said. 

Read more of Dean Hutchins's thoughts (sub. req.)

The late Edgar S. Cahn honored as "legend" by D.C. Bar at 2022 Conference

From the D.C. Bar: "As the largest unified bar in the country, the D.C. Bar is home to many legal trailblazers whose careers and accomplishments have helped move the profession forward, opened a path for others to follow, and advanced the Bar’s mission to promote access to justice. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the D.C. Bar honors six outstanding members who have exemplified excellence in their practice and public service."