Sharing a Wealth of Learning
As both a justice of the state Court of Appeals and a UB Law alumnus, Eugene F. Pigott Jr.'73 has a foot in two worlds. He wanted those worlds to meet – and the result went beyond all expectations.
"We had sat in the 4th Department in the Letro Courtroom at the Law School," Pigott says."But we were limited as to what we could and couldn't do. So I thought, maybe we want to invite the faculty to come to the mountain. We started talking about it, and once the dean got into it, it just seemed to click."
What followed was billed as "A Briefing for the Judiciary on Recent Law Faculty Scholarship." Held March 5 in the majestic wood-paneled Ceremonial Courtroom of Erie County Hall in downtown Buffalo, the gathering brought jurists of all levels together to hear brief presentations by six UB Law School faculty on their research. A copy of the Law School's 2008 Faculty Scholarship brochure was distributed. About 35 judges and faculty members attended, and following the presentation they enjoyed a reception hosted by Francis M. Letro '79.
"They knocked our socks off," Pigott says of the faculty presenters."I have gotten so many responses from judges saying this was an incredible thing to do."
Professor Robert S. Berger talks with Family Court Judge Lisa Bloch Rodwin '85
Professor Errol E. Meidinger, vice dean for research and faculty development, spoke of the importance of research to the school's mission."I firmly believe that research advances teaching," he said."The more I grapple with trying to get insights into something, the better I am as a teacher, the less formulaic, the more I can push students to see where the soft spots are and where the hard spots are. A strong research program is absolutely essential to respect in the world of law schools."
The faculty members who spoke were Professors Charles Patrick Ewing, Susan V. Mangold, Robert S. Berger, James A. Gardner and James Wooten, and Associate Professor Ruqaiijah Yearby.
"What we have done here today is a down payment for what we will do in the future," Dean Makau Mutua said to the assembled jurists. "Today we talked at you. In the future, want to create opportunities for dialogue between us."