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Transcript of The Current Summer 2012
ASL, Wellmont illuminate health care act
the magazine of the Appalachian School of Law
Spring/Summer 2012
the current
Also inside
Remembering Blackwell, Sutin, and Dales
qq A fond farewell to the Class of 2012
Forging aheadIncoming dean detailsnext goals for ASL
the currentis published twice a year by
the Appalachian School of Law. Send
comments, questions, and alumni
updates to [email protected].
Editor, designer: Saundra Latham
Photos: Taylor Burgess unless otherwise credited; Class Notes photos courtesy
of alumni; Herman mug (pg. 5) courtesy of Maryann Herman; McKechnie mug
(pg. 13), Marcum mug (pg. 15) and gala/golf photos (pg. 15) by Jason McGlothlin
Contributors: Lucy McGough; Saundra Latham; Stewart Harris; Sandy McGloth-
lin; Jina Sauls; all Class Notes submissions courtesy of alumni
tt The Current is now online! Go to issuu.com/appalachian_school_of_law
to read this issue and previous editions.
Editor’s note: Lucy S. McGough will
become�the�Appalachian�School�of �Law’s
eighth�dean�on�July�1.
Ihave�been�asked�if �I�wanted�to�share�my
vision�of �ASL,�and�I�quickly�agreed,
though�just�as�quickly,�I�want�to�deny
any�notion�that�my�vision�is�any�different
than�that�held�by�most�of �you.
The�dean�whom�I�most�admired�was
Louisiana�State�Dean�Bill�Hawkland,�one
of �the�drafters�of �the�Uniform�Commercial
Code�and�a�member�of �the�Illinois�Law�fac-
ulty�who,�some�say,�“defected”�to�deaning.
Bill�liked�to�explain�that�he�did�not�dictate
where�the�sidewalks�were�to�be�poured.�In-
stead,�he�would�wait�to�see�where�the�paths
were�worn�in�the�grass�and�put�the�walks
where�the�walkers�wanted�them�to�be.�
That’s�a�metaphor�for�leadership�of �the
collective�constituencies.�I�spent�a�lot�of �my
time�in�November�and�again�in�February�try-
ing�to�discern�where�the�various�groups�–
faculty,�students,�alumni�and�trustees�–
wanted�those�walks�to�be.�I�firmly�believe
that�listening�to�others�to�divine�their�vision
is�leadership.
Everyone�wants�for�ASL�to�grow�in�all
sorts�of �ways.�We�certainly�want�to�continue
to�improve�bar�passage�and�create�more�op-
tions�for�graduates�in�their�search�for�a�pro-
fessional�niche.�Steps�have�already�been�taken
by�Dean�Wes Shinn,�with�my�blessing,�to
hire�a�new�Director�of �Admissions,�Mary
Ragland.�In�addition,�though�it’s�hard�to�let
Tommy Sangchompuphen go,�we�look�for-
ward�to�the�arrival�of �Maryann Herman,
who�will�take�the�reins�of �the�Academic�
Success�program.�Empowering�those�who
are�here�to�become�licensed�professionals�is�
a�critical�promise�of �our�mission.�
We�are�also�devoting�more�of �the�budget
in�support�of �Career�Services�and�the�inde-
fatigable Janie Castle.�Before�the�fall,�we
hope�to�have�a�new�software�system�in�place
to�facilitate�her�communication�with�students
about�internship�and�job�opportunities�and
to�provide�additional�support�for�programs.
We�should�also�all�acknowledge�that�the�staff
members�provide�the�engine�for�ASL�to�sur-
vive�and,�more�than�that,�detail�a�route�for
the�realization�of �our�aspirations.
We�want�to�enrich�the�possibilities�for
specialization�for�graduates.�As�you�know,�we
are�adding�a�specialty�in�natural�resources�law
and�all�sorts�of �professional�enhancements
through�the�Natural�Resources�Center.�We
are�so�honored�that�Elizabeth McClanahan
of �the�Virginia�Supreme�Court�has�agreed�
to�direct�these�new�initiatives.�A�colonial
mansion,�the�Bunn-Richardson�House,�has
been�acquired�as�a�home�for�the�center�and
various�student�organizations.�Plans�are�afoot
to�expand�current�environmental�law�offer-
ings�to�provide�specialty�courses�for�students,
a�joint-degree�collaboration,�and�several�con-
tinuing�legal�education�programs�for�alums
and�other�members�of �the�bar.�This�enrich-
ment�will�come�at�no�expense�to�the�existing
commitment�to�alternative�forms�of �dispute
resolution�that�we�consider�essential�to�grads’
professional�development.�
We�want�to�build�a�sturdier�scaffolding�for
the�ASL�of �the�future�by�enhancing�our�en-
dowments�and�seeking�foundation�support
for�our�mission.�To�this�end,�we�have�hired�a
new�Director�of �Development,�Karen Har-
vey.�In�order�to�secure�alumni�support,�we
need�to�regard�current�students�as�“alumni-
in-residence.”�To�that�end,�we�pledge�to�re-
spond�to�student�concerns.�We�also�know
educational�debt�can�suffocate�professional
dean’s perspective
“Much is afoot at the AppalachianSchool of Law:There is great optimism aboutthe future ... for realizing both immediate andlong-term goals.”
Louisiana State University
ASL was named one of the top schools in the nation
for externships by preLaw magazine, a national publication
targeted at college students interested in going to law school.
ASL, which was ranked ninth on the magazine’s list, requires all
students to complete an externship after their 1L year. For six weeks,
students earn three hours of academic credit by spending at least
200 hours working in a judge's chambers, public law office, or public
interest organization.
tt Externships earn recognition
choice.�With�increased�endowments,�we
hope�to�hold�tuition�at�affordable�levels.
With�my�support,�in�April,�key�faculty
hosted�a�student-faculty�forum,�the�first�of
what�I�hope�will�be�a�regular�community
meeting�for�the�sharing�of �constructive
complaints�about�present�policies.�I�use
“constructive”�not�in�an�exclusive�sense�
of �forbidding�negative�comments�but�in
the�positive�sense�of �providing�criticism
that�leads�to�suggestions�for�solutions.��
For�example,�in�my�experience�partici-
pating�in�the�ABA�accreditation�process,
when�the�Accreditation�Team�meets�with
concerned�students,�invariably�there�are
two�concerns:�not�enough�jobs�are�pro-
duced�by�the�Career�Services�Department,
and�parking�options�are�limited�and�lousy,
given�the�tuition�we�are�paying.�Note�that
while�these�criticisms�are�real�and�deeply
felt,�they�are�concerns�of �the�current�stu-
dent�body.�It’s�when�current�students�con-
front�the�larger�issues�of �barriers�to�the
school’s�emergence�as�a�leader�in�legal�
education�and�a�leader�in�service�to�the
underserved�that�we�are�all�engaged�to
find�long-term�solutions.��
The�most�troubling�comment�at�the
forum�was�a�student’s�charge�that�the
name�and�mission�of �ASL�was�a�hin-
drance�in�retaining�law�students�and�in
employment.�That�speaker�had�not�done
his/her�homework.��In�legal�education
circles�and�major�hiring�markets,�ASL�
enjoys�name�and�mission�recognition�and
is�highly�respected�for�its�success�in�teach-
ing�and�professional�preparation.�You
need�not�worry�about�this
school’s�reputation.
I�hope�you�will�come�along�with�me:
ASL’s�mission�will�not�change.�We�will
continue�to�seek�those�who�have�realized
that�they�learn�best�under�an�intimate�
faculty-student�mentoring�model.�We�will
recruit�those�who�want�to�live�in�a�stun-
ningly�beautiful�small�community�and�
who�think�potluck�dinners�with�faculty
and�staff �are�cool.�We�will�support�and
nurture�those�who�respond�to�an�ideal�
of �public�service,�whether�within�a�large
firm�with�a�public�service�commitment�
or�as�a�county�attorney�or�public�defender.
These�are�equally�life-affirming�profes-
sional�goals.�We�will�support�our�alumni
with�continuing�career�advice�about�op-
portunities�and�connections:�This�is�a�life-
time�partnership�in�the�law.
None�of �these�pledges�could�be
realized�without�faculty�support.�I
am�amazed�at�the�energy�and�commitment
of �these�souls.�On�any�afternoon�at�many
law�schools,�tumbleweeds�blow�down�the
halls�with�no�faculty�member�in�sight.�This
ASL�faculty�works�more�hours�for�less�pay
than�any�faculty�of �whom�I�am�aware.
They�actually�care�what�happens�to�you
beyond�the�end�of �their�courses.
Much�is�afoot�at�the�Appalachian
School�of �Law:�There�is�great�optimism
about�the�future�and�enormous�commit-
ment�for�realizing�both�immediate�and
long-term�goals.�We�hope�you�will�recom-
mit�to�this�vision,�which�you�either�know-
ingly�or�unknowingly�wed�when�you�chose
ASL.�This�law�school�now�has�18�years�of
experience.�We�now�enter�the�middle
years.�As�Robert�Browning�said�in�his�love
poem�“Rabbi�Ben�Ezra”:�“The�best�is�yet
to�be.�The�last�for�which�the�first�was
made.”�n
Jesse Markley ’12 speaks with incoming Dean Lucy McGough. ASL held a
reception in McGough’s honor during a campus visit in February.
Spring/Summer 2012 n 3
dean’s perspective
4 n the Current
around campus
Experts�in�health�care,�law,�and
insurance�gathered�to�discuss
federal�health�care�reform�in�an
April�panel�cosponsored�by�ASL�and
Wellmont�Health�System.�The�event,�held
at�Bristol�Regional�Medical�Center�in�
Tennessee,�was�broadcast�live�at�ASL.
The�panel,�“Health�Care�at�the�Cross-
roads:�Charting�Our�Country’s�Future,”
focused�on�the�debate�surrounding�the
Patient�Protection�and�Affordable�Care
Act.�Panelists�were�ASL�Professors�
Stewart Harris and�Doug McKechnie,�
Virginia�Attorney�General�Ken Cuc-
cinelli,�Wellmont�President�and�CEO
Margaret “Denny” DeNarvaez,�CVA
Heart�Institute�President�and�Executive
Medical�Director�Gerald Grant Black-
well,�Virginia�Court�of �Appeals�Judge
Stephen McCullough,�and�Diane
Boyle,�vice�president�of �federal�govern-
ment�relations�for�the�National�Associa-
tion�of �Insurance�and�Financial�Advisors.
David Bailey,�host�of �“This�Week�in
Richmond,”�was�the�event’s�moderator.�
McCullough�noted�that�on�one�side
of �the�issue�are�those�who�believe�the
Constitution�“represents�a�profound
viewpoint”�about�how�to�govern,�and
that�it’s�the�states,�not�the�federal�govern-
ment,�that�should�have�the�power�when�it
comes�to�health�care.�Others,�he�said,
argue�that�what�was�important�when�the
Constitution�was�written�has�naturally
evolved,�and�big�problems�require�big�in-
tervention.�
Cuccinelli�said�Virginia�was�the�first
state�to�sue�over�health�care�reform.�“The
bill�is�about�health�insurance�and�health
care�…�the�lawsuit�is�about�liberty.�If
Congress�can�order�you�to�buy�insurance,
they�can�order�you�to�buy�a�car,�they�can
order�you�to�buy�asparagus,�they�can
order�you�to�buy�a�gym�membership.”�
Harris�took�the�opposing�view,�saying
that�“that�horse�done�left�the�barn”�be-
cause,�in�part,�health�care�is�so�unique.
“The�federal�government�has�man-
dated�…�people�who�run�hospitals�pro-
vide�you�with�health�care.�We�decided�as�
a�society�years�ago�that�we�wouldn’t�leave
people�to�die�in�the�street.”�
Harris�said�the�insured�are�already�pay-
ing�for�the�uninsured�to�receive�care,�and
the�federal�government�is�already�exercis-
ing�its�power�to�regulate�commerce�via
health�care.�“I�think�of �this�as�the�‘anti-
freeloader�statute.’�”
Boyle�said�the�crucial�parts�of �health
care�reform�are�access�and�affordability.
“If �you�make�health�care�more�afford-
able,�you�address�a�large�part�of �that�ac-
cess�issue,”�she�said.�
DeNarvaez�said�reform�has�to�focus
on�the�front�end�of �health�care�–�preven-
tative�steps�–�rather�than�the�back�end.
We�are�“going�to�have�to�work�harder�on
creating�wellness�as�an�agenda,�and�not
just�illness�and�treatment,”�she�added.
Blackwell�argued�that�health�care�re-
form�is�a�“very�complicated�topic�that�is
being�posited�as�having�simple�solutions,”
but�that�isn’t�true.�In�the�end,�tort�reform
is�crucial�to�reform,�he�said,�or�“the�costs
are�not�going�to�be�driven�down.�In�our
emergency�rooms,�the�only�way�doctors
can�get�in�trouble�is�if �they�undertest.”�
Cuccinelli�traveled�to�Grundy�to�meet
with�faculty,�staff,�and�students�at�ASL
the�day�after�the�panel.
The�Supreme�Court�heard�a�case�on
the�topic,�Florida et al v. United States De-
partment of Health and Human Services,�in
March.�A�ruling�is�expected�in�late�June. n
ASL, Wellmont team up in health debate
Wellmont Health System
Moderator David Bailey introduces panelists during a forum on health care reform cosponsored by ASL and Wellmont Health
System in Bristol, Tenn. The forum, held in April, can be viewed online at www.ustream.tv/recorded/21727701.
Pat Baker will represent ASL at the
Southeastern Association of Law
Schools (SEALS) New Scholars work-
shop in Florida in July. He has written
“The Case Backlog Before the Federal
Mine Safety Health Review Commis-
sion: Why Reforming the Commis-
sion’s Role and the Hearing Procedure
will Present a Viable Solution to Case
Gridlock,” publication forthcoming.
Judie Barger’s “Innocence Found:
Retribution, Capital Punishment and
the Eighth Amendment” has been ac-
cepted by the Loyola of Los Angeles
Law Review and will appear as lead
article in fall 2012.
Mark Belleville presented to the Ap-
palachian Trail Conservancy on “Con-
tracts 101: How to Avoid Liability,” and
“Appalachian Wind Wars: Harnessing
the Wind Energy of the Appalachian
Highlands in a Sustainable Way.” He
also recently participated in a panel
discussion for the Radford University
Pre-Law Society on non-traditional
ways to use your law degree.
Charlie Condon’s “RFID and Privacy:
A Look at Where the ‘Chips’ are
Falling,” was published in the fall/win-
ter 2011 edition of the Appalachian
Journal of Law.
Stewart Harris’ 2009 article “Some-
times We Really Do Suck” was se-
lected for inclusion in Techniques
for Teaching Law 2. His new article,
“Which Bible? Which God?” will be
published in the Appalachian Journal
of Law this fall. He will be speaking at
the University of Tennessee’s College
of Law on the role of law professors
in political debates in July.
Derrick Howard lectured on human
trafficking to the International Law
Society in spring 2012. He was also a
lecturer at the University of Kentucky
College of Law’s Developing Ideas
Conference in summer 2011 and par-
ticipated in the New Scholar workshop
at SEALS. His “The Appearance of So-
lidity: Legal Implementation of the
Human Right to Water in the United
States,” appeared in the fall/winter
2011 edition of the Appalachian
Journal of Law.
Kendall Isaac’s “Resolving Race Dis-
crimination in Employment Disputes
Through Mediation: A Win-Win for all
Parties” is being published in the
American Journal of Mediation, Spring
2012. His article “Is American Law
Behind the Times for not Outlawing
Workplace Bullying?” will be pub-
lished in the Spring/Summer issue of
the ABA Employment Law and Litiga-
tion Newsletter. He presented on "En-
trepreneurship and the Law” at the
London, Ohio, Correctional Institute
in December and on “Using ADR as
a Remedy for Workplace Bullying”
to the Virginia Mediation Network in
March and the Minorities in ADR Con-
ference in Columbus, Ohio, in May.
He will present on the same topic as a
new scholar at SEALS in July. Isaac also
co-presented on “Employer Implica-
tions on Conducting Background
Checks in a Post-9/11 Environment”
in April at the Society of Business,
Industry, and Economics Conference
in Florida.
Faculty Scholarship Award Winner –
Doug McKechnie’s “The Death of the
Public Figure Doctrine: How the Inter-
net and the Westboro Baptist Church
continued on page 13
Bowers, Herman to be newest faculty additionsJames Bowers
is�a�Montana�native
and�was�recently�the
Oliver�P.�Stockwell
Professor�of �Law�at
Louisiana�State�Uni-
versity,�where�he
taught�since�1982.
He�is�also�chair�of
the�American�Asso-
ciation�of �Law�Schools�Section�on�Law
and�Economics.�He�holds�a�bachelor’s
and�bachelor�of �laws�from�Yale�Univer-
sity.�He�has�taught�Contracts,�Uniform
Commercial�Code-
Sales,�Secured�Trans-
actions,�and�a�Legal
Scholarship�Seminar.
Before�joining�the
faculty�at�LSU,�he
taught�at�Texas�Tech
University�Law
School�in�Lubbock
and�William�Mitchell
College�of �Law�in�St.�Paul,�Minn.�He�also
spent�eight�years�in�private�practice�in
Minnesota.�He�is�husband�of �incoming
Dean�Lucy McGough.
Maryann Herman will�be�directing
ASL’s�Academic�Success�program.�Her-
man�has�served�as�the�Director�of �Edito-
rial�at�BARBRI�Inc.�for�the�past�four
years,�and�was�a�senior�attorney�editor
with�BARBRI�before�that.�She�also
served�as�a�staff �attorney�with�the
Chicago�Legal�Clinic.�Herman�holds�a
J.D.,�cum�laude,�from�Wayne�State�Uni-
versity,�where�she�was�editor�of �the
Wayne Law Review. She�earned�her�bache-
lor’s�at�Siena�Heights�College�in�Adrian,
Mich.,�and�is�licensed�to�practice�in
Illinois�and�Michigan.�n
Bowers Herman
Recent Faculty Scholarship
Spring/Summer 2012 n 5
faculty spotlight
Members of the ASL community take a load off
during a bike trip on the Creeper Trail, which runs
between Abingdon and Damascus, Va. (1) ... Professor
Stewart Harris gets cozy in the hot seat during a
student-organized “roast” (2) ... Members of the ASL
Softball team take a break from competition during
the University of Virginia Law Softball Invitational in
Charlottesville, Va. (3) ... ASL and the Buchanan
County Sheriff’s Office pause to remember Deputies
Neil Justus and Billy Stiltner, killed near Vansant
in March last year (4) ... Dean Wes Shinn presents
Elisabeth Griffith ‘12 with the Sutin Soul of ASL
Award during the annual awards banquet in March at
Mountain Mission School (5).
around campus
6 n the Current
1 2
3
4 5
Sandy McGlothlin
Maggie Ransone
Akiah Highsmith
Runners take to the Grundy streets during the annual
Memorial 5K run in March (6) ... Nicole Lawson ‘12 and
Sarah Brown ‘12 of ASL Cares snap a picture with
Laura Donahue, center, Virginia State Director for the
Humane Society of the United States, who spoke on
campus in April (7) ... Students load up on southern fare
during a campuswide barbecue hosted by the Student
Bar Association in March (8) ... Members of the ASL
community pitch in to spruce up their surroundings
during Campus Beautification Day in April (9).
around campus
Spring/Summer 2012 n 7
6
7
8 9
8 n the Current
ASL�held�its�13th�annual�commencement�May�5�at
Riverview�Elementary-Middle�School,�recognizing�the
91�members�of �the�Class�of �2012.�The�new�graduates
mean�ASL�now�has�more�than�1,000�alumni.
The�ceremony�was�Dean�Wes Shinn’s sixth�and�final�com-
mencement�as�leader�of �ASL.�The�graduates,�he�said,�were�be-
coming�“students�of �the�law�for�life.”�He�also�urged�graduates
to�acknowledge�the�family�and
friends�who�encouraged�them
during�their�studies,�prompting
a�standing�ovation�in�honor�of
the�audience�of �supporters.�
The�commencement
speaker�was�Beverly Perdue,
the�governor�of �North�Car-
olina�and�a�Buchanan�County
native.�She�was�introduced�by
Associate�Dean�Sandra Mc-
Glothlin,�who�noted�that
Perdue�grew�up�in�Harman
a�coal�miner’s�daughter.�She
started�at�Grundy�High�when�it�was�still�in�the�building�that
now�houses�ASL�and�eventually�graduated�third�in�her�class.
She�was�elected�to�the�North�Carolina�House�in�1986�and�
became�the�first�female�governor�of �North�Carolina�in�2009,
“shattering�the�glass�ceiling,”�McGlothlin�said.�
Perdue�encouraged�the�graduates�to�take�time�to�think
about�where�their�journey�has�led�and�where�they�want�it�to
lead�next.�“We�have�very�few�opportunities�to�think�about�our
hopes,�the�people�we�love,�the�choices�we’ve�made�or�might
have�made,”�she�said.�“My�team�calls�it�a�‘moment�of �magni-
fied�purpose.’�My�hope�for�you�is�that�you�take�a�few�minutes
for�your�personal�moment�of �magnified�purpose.”�
The�ceremony’s�student�speaker,�an�honor�that�goes�to�
the�student�who�graduates�first�in�his�or�her�class,�was�Daniel
Newby ’12,�a�native�of �Johnson�City�who�graduated�from
East�Tennessee�State�University.�
“We�made�it�to�the�law�school�finish�line,”�he�said.�While
hurdles�such�as�the�bar�exam�remained,�he�noted,�they�didn’t
reduce�the�significance
of �the�achievement�that
was�finishing�law�school.�
ASL�Alumni�Associa-
tion�President�Suzanne
Kerney-Quillen ’03
issued�the�alumni�chal-
lenge�to�the�new�gradu-
ates,�noting�that�the
Class�of �2012�meant�that
ASL�now�has�more�than
1,000�alumni,�“an�incred-
ible�milestone.”�Previous
graduates�had�laid�the
groundwork�for�the�newest�alums’�success,�she�said,�“and�your
success�will�pave�the�way�for�future�students�of �ASL.”�Ker-
ney-Quillen�also�presented�Newby�with�the�Sutin-Blackwell
Award�for�Excellence�for�graduating�first�in�his�class.�
McGlothlin�presented�the�graduates�with�their�hoods,�
and�Shinn�awarded�the�degrees.�Professor�Stephen P. Par-
sons gave�the�invocation�and�benediction.�Pianist�Terry
Ratliff and�the�Appalachian�Highlanders�Pipes�&�Drums�
provided�music.�Faculty�members�formally�welcomed�all�
graduates�to�the�profession�with�a�handshake�after�the�cere-
mony,�a�tradition�instituted�at�last�year’s�commencement.�n
The Class of 2012
“You are stars,and there arepeople all overwho need to beinspired by stars.”
— North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue
Akiah Highsmith
2012 commencement• Dominick M. Angotta
• Courtney Lynn Armstrong
• Claude Addison Barnhill
• William Blake Belcher
• Joseph Michael Birchfield
• Bradley S. Blanchard
• Sarah Kathryn Brown
• James Anthony Burdoff III
• Richard Joseph Burningham
• Jeffrey Ellis Caudill
• Evan Heath Chaffin
• Alex Anderson Chesnut
• Adam Storm Chess
• Hansi Stevenson Chowdhry
• Joshua Greg Cohen
• Morgan Hall Constantino
• James Richard Cook II
• John Michael Crotts
• Jacob L. Davidson
• Steven Craig Davis
• Alexander N. DerGarabedian
• William B. Divis
• Curtis Edward Dotson
• Brandie Inez Eaton
• Joshua R. Evans
• Jennifer Leigh Ferrara
• Ryan Christopher Frank
• James Paul Glover
• Brandi Nicole Goad
• Elisabeth Nicole Griffith
• Ralph Joseph Hagy
• Meka Danielle Hall
• T. Brooke Howard II
• Amber Lee Howe
• Laura Ashley Humphries
• Penny Sueann Mullins Hunter
• Garylene Ana Joji Dedoyco Javier
• Jennifer Gail Jones
• Robert Bruce Josey Jr.
• David Thomas Kasper
• Pamela Sinclair Keeling
• Jamie Clifton King
• Samantha Eve LaRoche
• Brandi Lee Olive Lawrence
• Nicole Amber Lawson
• Brooke Ashley Lewis
• Bethany Michelle Long
• Danny Lee Lunsford Jr.
• Katherine M. Madon
• Jesse C. Markley
• Lance V. McFadden
• Lucille C. McGee
• Kathryn Emily Mooney
• Eugena Moulton
• Daniel Armon Newby
• Patrick Richard Newlun
• Edward Nicholson
• Brittani O’Brien
• Ashley Elizabeth Owen-Cunningham
• Elena Georgiev Patarinski
• Ankur R. Patel
• George Anderson Payne Jr.
• Tania Razara Perez Rodriguez
• Sean F. Pinner
• Valerie Elaine Powell
• Bryan Linzie Ragland
• Noorassa Aroosha Rahimzadeh
• Chloe Denise Richland
• John Ross Rogers
• Stephen Patrick Shepard
• Joshua Gentry Shrieves
• Jonathan Louis Silvester
• Charles Wade Simmons
• Shelly Lynette Smith
• Alexandra James Smith
• John Stanley Stacy II
• Jason Adden Stegner
• Gary Wayne Stiltner
• Kevin Ray Sullivan
• Jessica Brooke Taylor
• Tracy D. Taylor
• Alexis Christine Thore
• Neal Robert Tucker
• Carl Eric von Kleist II
• Stephen Lee Walters Jr.
• Erin A. Waugh
• Brian Andrew Wenham
• Gregory T. Whitley
• Robert Samuel Willett
• Phoenicia D. Williams
• Domica Martha Winstead
Spring/Summer 2012 n 9
Akiah Highsmith
10 n the Current
the heart the soul the spirit... of ASL
TOM BLACKWELL
As remembered by
Professor Stewart Harris
On�January�16,�2012,�it�was�precisely�
10�years�since�our�friend�and�colleague
Tom Blackwell was�suddenly,�brutally,
and�senselessly�murdered.�We�miss�him
and�we�mourn�him�still.
Tom�was�a�devoted�husband�to�Lisa
Blackwell and�a�wonderful�father�to�Zeb,
Jillian,�and Zeke. My�office�was�next�to
his.�Although�we�had�known�each�other
only�a�few�months,�we�were�already�good
friends.�On�the�day�before�he�died,�Tom
and�I�had�a�conversation�about�his�chil-
dren,�who�had�spent�the�previous�after-
noon�playing�with�Priscilla’s�and�my�chil-
dren�at�our�home.�I�commented�that�his
kids�were�extraordinarily�well-behaved,�in-
telligent,�and�–�surprisingly�for�such�young
children�–�even�witty.��I�told�him�that�I
hoped�they�would�come�over�many�times
in�the�years�to�come.�Tom’s�response:
“Well,�it’s�hard�to�believe�that�I�could�pro-
duce�such�good�kids,�but�I�guess�I�have�to
agree�with�you.”�He�paused,�and�then
added,�“It�must�be�their�mother’s�
influence.”
Tom’s�career�achievements,�though�
always�secondary�to�his�family�commit-
ments,�were�impressive�right�from�the�
beginning.�I�remember�one�conversation
we�had�about�scores�on�the�LSAT,�the�Law
School�Admission�Test.�After�a�little�prod-
ding�from�Lisa,�Tom�told�the�story�of �his
own�experience�with�the�LSAT.��He�said
that�he�had�given�a�friend�a�ride�to�the
exam,�and�that�the�friend�had�suggested
that,�rather�than�waiting�in�the�car�all�day,
Tom�should�take�the�test,�too.�So�he�did:
Without�studying,�without�knowing�any-
thing�about�the�LSAT,�Tom�took�the�test,
cold.�He�scored�in�the�top�1�percent�and,
indeed,�came�very�close�to�achieving�a�per-
fect�800.��
Later,�after�breezing�through�Duke�Law
School,�Tom�had�a�long�and�successful�ca-
reer�in�private�practice�until�he�decided�to
begin�teaching.��He�started�as�an�adjunct�at
Texas�Wesleyan�School�of �Law�while�still
maintaining�his�private�practice�and�while
going�to�the�University�of �Texas�at�Arling-
Many thought ASL could not survive after January 16, 2002 – a new institution,
just provisionally accredited, improbably located, and in a challenging professional
environment. The fact that we are here today, a decade later, as a thriving academic
community, remembering, is a testament to the contributions of our three friends
and colleagues.
– Dean Wes Shinn
January 16, 2002 memorial
ton�to�begin�his�Ph.D.�in�mathematics.�He
then�taught�full-time�at�Chicago-Kent�and
finally�came�to�the�Appalachian�School�of
Law.�He�was�one�of �the�finest�teachers�I
have�ever�known.
Tom�was�also�a�giver�to�this�commu-
nity.�A�few�weeks�before�he�died,�he�and
his�entire�family�performed�in�the�Christ-
mas�show�at�the�Mountain�Mission
School.�(It�wasn’t�enough,�you�see,�for�the
Blackwell�kids�to�be�brilliant,�polite,�and
funny�–�they�also�had�to�be�musical.)��Tom
pounded�nails�and�got�his�boots�muddy
volunteering�with�a�local�community
group�that�renovates�the�homes�of �low-in-
come�families.�And�his�contributions�to
the�law�school�were�too�numerous�to�list.
It�suffices�to�say�that�without�Tom,�ASL
would�not�have�had�a�website�until�much
later,�would�not�have�nearly�the�respect�it
had�already�earned�in�the�legal�education
community,�and�would�not�have�been�the
wonderful�place�it�was�before�he�died.
I�am�pleased�to�report�that,�in�the
10�years�since�the�death�of �their�husband
and�father,�the�Blackwells�have�done�well.
Tom’s�kids�did�come�over�to�our�house
many�times�and�played�with�our�children
frequently�until�the�Blackwells�moved�back
to�Texas�in�2005.�Lisa�recently�completed�a
master’s�degree�in�counseling.�Zeb�gradu-
ated�from�Princeton�in�2009,�Jillian�will
graduate�from�the�University�of �Pennsyl-
vania�this�year,�and�Zeke�is�a�member�of
the�Class�of �2013�at�Yale.�The�institutions
Tom�served�have�also�carried�on�his�work.
The�Association�of �Legal�Writing�Direc-
tors�has�established�an�annual�award�in
Tom’s�honor.��
ASL�obtained�its�final�accreditation�in
2006�and�continues�to�thrive�as�the�town
of �Grundy�is�reborn�around�it.��
Tom�came�to�ASL�because�he�wanted
to�help�create�a�law�school�where�one�was
truly�needed,�a�law�school�that�would�pro-
duce�lawyers�who�cared�about�more�than
money�and�prestige,�lawyers�who�would
devote�themselves�to�service�and�to�justice.
He�wanted�to�help�people�who�otherwise
would�never�have�had�a�chance�to�obtain�a
legal�education.�As�the�past�decade�has
amply�demonstrated,�Tom�achieved�his
goals,�to�a�greater�extent�than�he�could
have�known.
n n n
TONY SUTIN
As remembered by
Associate Dean Sandra McGlothlin
On�January�16,�2002,�when�Dean�Tony
Sutin died,�many�thought�that�the�Ap-
palachian�School�of �Law�would�die�along
with�him.�They�were�wrong.
Tony�Sutin�graduated�from�high�school
in�Bellport,�N.Y.,�as�valedictorian�of �his
class.�He�graduated�with�honors�from
Brandeis�University�and�graduated�cum
laude�from�Harvard�Law�School.�
He�was�a�judicial�law�clerk�for�the�U.S.
District�Court�under�the�guidance�of
Judge�Barefoot�Sanders.�He�was�a�partner
in�the�Washington,�D.C.,�firm�of �Hogan
and�Hartson�before�accepting�a�position�in
the�U.S.�Department�of �Justice,�where�he
served�in�various�positions�until�he�was�ap-
pointed�by�Attorney�General�Janet�Reno
to�serve�as�Acting�Assistant�Attorney�Gen-
eral.
Then,�in�September�1997,�Tony�con-
tacted�the�Appalachian�School�of �Law�to
find�out�if �they�anticipated�expanding�their
faculty�the�next�fall,�and,�if �so,�he�ex-
pressed�his�interest�in�being�considered�for
any�openings.�In�November�of �that�year,
after�an�initial�interview�with�some�repre-
sentatives�of �the�school,�Tony�wrote�in�a
letter�to�ASL,�“I�believe�I�share�the
founders’�vision�of �what�the�school�can
and�should�be,�and�would�enjoy�the�oppor-
tunity�to�participate�in�bringing�that�vision
to�fruition.”��
You�see,�there�was�no�need�to�sell�him
on�the�mission�of �the�school.�It�was�con-
sistent�with�how�he�lived�his�life�and�with
what�he�wanted�to�do.
So�in�1999,�Tony�Sutin�left�a�position�as
Acting�Assistant�Attorney�General�of �the
United�States�to�become�an�assistant�pro-
fessor�at�a�start-up�law�school�in�rural�Vir-
ginia�that�was�still�unaccredited.
Tony�and�his�wife,�Margaret,�who�also
became�a�professor�at�ASL,�and�their�son,
Henry,�who�they�adopted�in�1998�from
Russia,�moved�to�Grundy�in�1999.�In
2000,�although�he�had�been�at�the�school
less�than�a�year,�the�faculty�and�Board�of
Trustees�asked�Tony�to�serve�as�dean.
In�May�2000,�the�school�graduated
its�first�class.�Shortly�thereafter,�Tony�faced
his�biggest�challenge:�to�get�ASL�accred-
ited.�In�April�2001,�Tony’s�hard�work�paid
continued on page 12
Members of the ASL community release balloons in memory of those killed and
wounded in the January 2002 shooting during a 10-year anniversary memorial.
Spring/Summer 2012 n 11
continued from page 11
off:�The�ABA�granted�ASL�provisional�
accreditation.
Tony�was�not�just�a�leader.�He�was�a
leader�who�genuinely�cared�about�all�of
those�around�him.�Tony�reached�out�to�
assist�those�who�struggled,�even�his�own
future�assailant,�buying�him�a�laptop,�pay-
ing�his�electric�bill,�and�counseling�him�re-
peatedly�on�his�classwork.�
Something�I�vividly�remember�being
said�about�Tony�by�a�colleague�from�his
D.C.�law�firm�at�his�memorial�service�was
that�“Tony�was�just�as�kind�and�consider-
ate�to�the�guy�that�took�the�trash�out�of
his�office�everyday�as�he�was�to�his�boss,
the�Attorney�General�of �the�United
States.”�That�quote�was�a�real�inspiration
to�me.�I�find�it�popping�up�in�my�memory
quite�often.
In�2001,�shortly�before�his�tragic�death,
Tony�and�his�wife,�Margaret,�adopted�a�lit-
tle�girl,�Clara,�from�China.�Tony�and�Mar-
garet�liked�the�idea�of �raising�their�kids�in
a�small�town.�They�adapted�easily.�Tony
walked�to�school�in�the�mornings�and�fre-
quently�joined�Henry�for�“Dads�&
Donuts”�get-togethers�at�the�public�li-
brary.�It�was�common�to�see�Margaret�and
the�children�visiting�with�Tony�in�his�of-
fice�at�lunchtime.
Tony�Sutin�did�not�die�in�vain.�After
that�tragic�day�in�January�2002,�the�Ap-
palachian�School�of �Law�did�not�perish,
but�instead,�it�thrived.�By�the�following�
semester,�six�new�professors�had�joined
the�faculty,�and�student�applications�were
up�more�than�50�percent.
There�is�a�quote�that�I�think�best�sums
up�Tony�Sutin’s�dedication�to�ASL.�It
comes�from�Ted�Kennedy’s�concession
speech�in�his�campaign�for�nomination
as�the�Democratic�presidential�candidate
against�incumbent�Jimmy�Carter,�a�cam-
paign�that�Tony�had�been�a�part�of.�The
quote�goes�like�this:�“For�me,�a�few�hours
ago,�this�campaign�came�to�an�end.�For�all
those�whose�cares�have�been�our�concern,
the�work�goes�on,�the�cause�endures,�the
hope�still�lives,�and�the�dream�shall�never
die.”
n n n
ANGELA DALES
As remembered by
Community Service Director Jina Sauls
On�January�16,�2002,�Angela Denise
Dales died�tragically�in�a�shooting�at�ASL.
This�senseless�act�devastated�the�entire
ASL�community.��
One decade later, their memories live on ...In 2003, a year after her husband’s
death, Lisa Blackwell presented the
first Thomas F. Blackwell Memorial
Award for outstanding achievement
in the field of legal writing to Richard
Neumann of Hofstra University School
of Law. The Blackwells’ children, Zeb,
Jillian, and Zeke, were also on hand
for the occasion.
The honor has been bestowed each
year since at the meeting of the Asso-
ciation of Legal Writing Directors and
has become one of the most coveted
in legal writing. Recipients must have
“made an outstanding contribution”
to legal writing through exemplary
teaching and fruitful efforts to advance
the field. They receive a $1,000 prize,
a plaque, and a desk lamp. The lamp’s
meaning is two-fold: It symbolizes the
light Blackwell “shed on his students
and colleagues” and pays homage to
his love of light bulb jokes.
The 2012 winner of the 10th annual
Blackwell Award was Suzanne Rowe,
director of the Legal Research and
Writing Program at the University of
Oregon. A plaque listing all winners is
on display at ASL.
The Blackwell Award is one notable
example of the ways his memory, as
well as those of Tony Sutin and An-
gela Dales, lives on. ASL’s chapter of
the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity is also
named for Blackwell, and an ASL pro-
fessorship bears his name.
Sutin’s name graces a public service
fellowship at Harvard University and
an annual award, the L. Anthony Sutin
Civic Imagination Award, given by the
Department of Justice. ASL’s chapter of
Phi Alpha Delta bears his name, and
ASL established the L. Anthony Sutin
professorship, held by Dean Wes
Shinn.
Angela Dales’ name graces ASL’s
Student Services office and student
scholarship program. Route 624 from
U.S. 460 to the Buchanan County line,
which traverses Dales’ Garden Creek
home, was renamed the Angela Dales
Memorial Highway.
ASL continues to honor Blackwell,
Sutin, and Dales every year with the
Memorial 5K, and the school’s annual
memorial awards – The Blackwell
Heart of ASL award, Sutin Soul of ASL
award, and Dales Spirit of ASL award –
recognize students who embody the
character of each person. The trio of
trees in front of ASL’s visitor parking
lot also memorializes the three.
Zeke, Lisa, and Jillian Blackwell
present Suzanne Rowe, second from
right, with the 2012 Thomas F. Blackwell
Memorial Award in Washington.
12 n the Current
Lisa Blackwell
January 16, 2002 memorial
continued from page 5
Spawned a Killer” will be pub-
lished in the University of Cali-
fornia Hastings College of Law
Journal in the fall. He will mod-
erate a panel on “Evaluating
Student Performance and Pro-
viding Feedback” at SEALS in
July, where he will also present
on “Supreme Court and Legisla-
tive Update: Individual Rights.”
He spoke on “A License to
Speak Freely on Matters of Pub-
lic Concern: Everything Old is New Again,” at the South-
eastern Law Scholars Conference in Charleston, S.C., in
October 2011.
Alan Oxford’s “When Agents Attack: Judicial Misinter-
pretation of Vicarious Liability Under ‘Aided in Accom-
plishing the Tort by the Existence of the Agency Relation’
and the Restatement 3rd's Failure to Properly ‘Restate’
the Ill-fated AS:219(2)(d) Provision,” will be published in
Oklahoma City University Law Review this summer. His
article “O Brother, Where Art Thou and Thine Unequal
Share?: Simplifying the Computation of Unequal Inheri-
tance Shares With a ‘Count-the-Shares’ Approach,” will
be published in the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal,
spring 2012.
Paula Young’s “The Crisis in Insurance Coverage for
Mediators – Part 2: Even Lawyer-Mediators are ‘Going
Bare’” is forthcoming in the American Journal of Media-
tors. She presented on “Malpractice, Ethics, and UPL
Claims Against Mediators: How the Ethical Mediator Can
Avoid Them,” at the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution
14th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., in April.
She also spoke on “Updating Your Agreement to Mediate
and Opening Orientation to Reflect the Requirements of
the Revised SOEs,” at the Annual Spring Training Confer-
ence of the Virginia Mediation Network in Richmond in
March. She was a Faculty Workshop Presenter at the
Quinnipiac-Yale Dispute Resolution Workshop in Con-
necticut in March and at the Salmon P. Chase College of
Law in Kentucky in April. Young also was a presenter and
panelist at the annual Fall Training Conference of the Vir-
ginia Mediation Network in September 2011 as well as a
presenter and trainer for the Collaborative Law Process
Collaborative Professionals of Roanoke in July 2011.
Angela�exemplified�the�mission�and�the�spirit�of �ASL.
She�was�born�and�raised�in�Buchanan�County,�Virginia.��
Angela’s�father�was�a�coal�miner,�and�her�mother�worked�as
a�cook�in�the�local�school�system.�Angela�possessed�a�desire
to�learn�and�was�determined�to�succeed.�
She�graduated�third�in�her�class�from�Garden�High
School.�She�was�an�honor�student�at�Virginia�Intermont
College.�She�graduated�with�a�double�major�in�English�and
political�science�and�received�the�school’s�highest�awards.
While�at�Virginia�Intermont�College,�Angela�also�partici-
pated�in�the�Worrell�Honor’s�Program�for�Studies�Abroad,
wherein�she�studied�at�the�University�of �Munich�in�Munich,
Germany.��
After�returning�to�Virginia,�Angela�enrolled�in�graduate
school�at�Radford�University�and�later�accepted�a�position
at�ASL�as�an�admissions�counselor.�Adversity�was�not�a
word�that�she�ever�recognized.�As�a�single�mother,�she�con-
tinued�to�perform�work�toward�her�graduate�degree�while
she�spent�a�lot�of �time�traveling�to�showcase�the�law�school.
She�personally�recruited�many�of �the�students�in�the�earlier
classes�to�ASL.��
As�a�member�of �the�charter�class�at�ASL,�I�met�Angela
while�she�was�working�in�admissions.�Angela�was�an�ab-
solutely�beautiful�human�being.�After�only�a�few�conversa-
tions�and�interactions�with�Angela,�I�realized�her�beauty
radiated�from�within.�Angela�was�a�loving�daughter�and�sis-
ter�and�a�devoted�mother�to�her�daughter,�Rebecca.�Angela
was�a�selfless,�giving�person.�You�could�see�this�just�by�look-
ing�in�her�eyes.�She�cared�about�people�and�always�put�oth-
ers�before�herself.�She�loved�to�do�things,�buy�things�or
make�things�for�other�people.�She�never�expected�anything
in�return.�She�possessed�an�innate�ability�to�make�those
around�her�feel�important�and�appreciated.�Her�laughter�
was�contagious�and�her�smile�could�brighten�any�room.���
Angela�believed�that�ASL�would�produce�attorneys�who
would�benefit�society.�She�enjoyed�working�for�ASL.�She
loved�it�so�much�that�she�recruited�herself.�This�did�not
come�as�a�surprise�to�some�members�of �the�Dales�family.
They�could�feel�her�energy.�She�was�excited�about�the�op-
portunity�to�attend�law�school�and�to�fuel�her�passion�for
learning.���
At�the�time�of �her�death,�Angela�was�a�1L�at�ASL.�
Not�unlike�some�of �the�students�in�attendance�today,�An-
gela�probably�spent�the�initial�days�of �that�spring�semester
anxiously�awaiting�her�first�grades.�She�excelled�as�a�student
at�ASL�and�earned�the�distinction�of �being�on�the�Dean’s
List.�She�had�also�been�elected�treasurer�of �Phi�Alpha�Delta,
one�of �the�first�student�organizations�on�campus.��
Angela�was�drawn�to�ASL�by�its�mission,�and�she�
believed�in�it.�Her�dream�will�live�on�as�ASL�graduates�
become�citizen�lawyers.�Angela�will�forever�remain�in�the
hearts�of �all�those�who�knew�her.�As�poet�Thomas�Camp-
bell�once�wrote,�“To�live�in�the�hearts�we�leave�behind�is�not
to�die.”�n
Spring/Summer 2012 n 13
McKechnie
2001
Clayton M. Craft ’01 has�released�
his�first�novel,�entitled�The HawkenEye.
The�young�adult�fantasy�novel�came�
after�years�of �reflection�on�his�childhood�
survival�of �cancer.�It�is�available�at�
Amazon.com�and�barnesandnoble.com.
He�currently�serves�as�vice�president�of
SunTrust�as�their�real�estate�officer�for
Western�Virginia.�Photo 1.
2006
In�November�2011,�Meg Sagi ’06
started�a�new�position�as�the�special
prosecutor�at�the�District�Attorney’s�
Office�for�DUI�and�Vehicular�Homicide
crimes�in�the�23rd�Judicial�District�of
Tennessee,�just�west�of �Nashville.�Previ-
ously,�she�was�the�special�prosecutor�for
domestic�crimes�in�the�jurisdiction�for
the�past�five�years.�Her�office�is�now�lo-
cated�in�Ashland�City,�Tenn.�
Jeremy Williams ’06 and�his�wife,
Meghann,�welcomed�Christopher�Cooper
Williams�on�March�6,�2012.�He�weighed�
9�pounds,�2�ounces,�and�was�born�in
Wilmington,�N.C.,�where�the�family�lives.�
Jeremy�is�working�for�Baker�&�Colby,
PLLC.�Photo 2.
2007
Jason Little ’07 accepted�a�position�
with�Steptoe�and�Johnson�PLLC�in�their
Charleston,�W.Va.,�office�in�December.
His�practice�focuses�primarily�on�energy
and�mineral�law,�and�specifically�oil�and
gas�related�to�the�Marcellus�and�Utica
Shale�areas�in�West�Virginia,�Pennsylva-
nia,�and�Ohio.�His�wife,�Jamie Webb
Little ’07,�accepted�a�position�at�the
Boone�County,�W.Va.,�prosecutor’s�office
in�March.�They�live�in�Charleston.�
Photo 5.
Erica Edanasu Parish ’07 and�Brendan
Erich�Roche�were�married�on�Sept.�10,
2011,�at�Emory�United�Methodist
Church�on�the�campus�of �Emory�&
Henry�College�in�Emory,�Va.�Erica�is�li-
censed�in�Virginia�and�Tennessee�and�is
currently�a�judicial�law�clerk�to�the�Hon.
Elizabeth McClanahan on�the
Supreme�Court�of �Virginia.�Brendan�is
an�assistant�commonwealth’s�attorney�in
Smyth�County,�Virginia.�They�live�in
Abingdon,�Va.�Photo 6.
Jonathan Roberts ’07 is�sole�practi-
tioner�and�owner�of �Wohlford�&�Roberts
in�Tennessee.�It�is�a�general�law�practice,
but�Roberts�specializes�in�plaintiff ’s�liti-
gation,�criminal�defense,�and�domestic
relations�law.�He�lives�in�Bristol,�Tenn.,
and�practices�law�all�over�the�state.�He
recently�helped�secure�a�$16�million�ver-
dict�for�a�client�in�a�wrongful-death�case.
Artie Vaughn ’07 and�his�wife,�Leeatra,
welcomed�daughter�Kimberly�Grace
Vaughn�on�Nov.�4,�2011,�at�David�Grant
Medical�Center�in�California.�The�family
is�stationed�at�Travis�Air�Force�Base�in
California,�where�Artie�serves�as�Chief �
of �Operations�Law.
Christopher Young ’07 recently�opened
his�own�law�practice,�The�Young�Law
Firm�PLLC,�in�Washington,�D.C.�His
practice�areas�are�nationwide�federal�
criminal�defense�on�the�trial�and�appel-
late�level,�as�well�as�general�civil�litigation
in�federal�court.�He�represents�clients�at
the�trial�level�and�appellate�level,�and
those�looking�for�other�means�of �post-
conviction�relief.���
class notes
14 n the Current
1 2
3 4
2009
Joshua Ferrell ’09 is�opening�the�Ferrell�Law�Office�in
Williamson,�W.Va.,�where�he�will�live.�The�general�law�practice
will�handle�areas�including�coal�mining�accidents�and�deaths,�
personal�injury,�family�law,�and�criminal�law.�
Amber Floyd Lee ’09 and�McKenna�L.�Cox�have�formed�Cox
and�Lee�PLLC�in�downtown�Johnson�City,�Tenn.�McKenna�and
Amber�both�worked�at�Legal�Aid�of �East�Tennessee�before�leav-
ing�to�open�the�practice.�The�civil�litigation�firm�specializes�in
domestic�relations,�immigration,�trusts�and�estates,�and�employ-
ment�discrimination.
2010
David Horton ’10 joined�the�public�defender’s�office�of �the
10th�judicial�circuit�of �Florida�in�November�2010.�He�won�the
“trial�dog”�award�for�most�jury�trials�in�2011.�He�recently�moved
to�defend�juveniles�and�was�on�the�local�news�handling�a�deten-
tion�hearing�for�a�14-year-old�charged�with�attempted�murder.
He�was�published�in�the�Appalachian Law Review in�2011.�Photo 4.
Nicholas M. Verna ’10 accepted�a�position�as�Of �Counsel�with
the�Gerber�Animal�Law�Center�in�Raleigh,�N.C.,�specializing�in
animal�law.�He�has�also�been�made�chairman�of �Wake�County
Bar�Association’s�community�service�subcommittee.�Photo 3.
2011
David Barnette ’11 recently�opened�his�office�in�Kingsport,
Tenn.�He�is�currently�practicing�criminal,�landlord/tenant�and
debtor/creditor�law,�but�plans�to�engage�in�other�fields�as�well.���
Justin Marcum ’11 was�sworn�in�to
the�West�Virginia�House�of �Delegates
in�January.�Marcum�represents�Mingo
and�Wayne�counties�and�is�a�member�
of �the�education�committee�and�political
subdivision�committee.�During�his�time
at�ASL,�Marcum,�a�former�miner,�penned
a�resolution�calling�for�a�day�of �apprecia-
tion�for�coal�miners�that�was�passed�in
the�West�Virginia�legislature�and�U.S.
Congress.�He�has�been�active�in�politics
as�former�leader�of �Mingo�County’s�Young�Democrats.�He�lives
with�wife�Latisha�in�Williamson,�W.Va.
Justin Plummer ’11 is�employed�with�Shapiro�and�Ingle�LLP
in�Charlotte,�N.C.�He�is�focusing�on�bankruptcy�and�foreclosure
work.
Spring/Summer 2012 n 15
tt Save the date
5 6
class notes
Marcum
ASL will host its annual gala at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, in
the courtyard. The event will feature live music, a catered dinner,
and a raffle. It will also serve as the official welcome of incoming
Dean Lucy McGough. Cocktail attire is suggested. For more details,
contact Development Director Karen Harvey at [email protected].
The annual golf tournament will also be held August 18
at Willowbrook Country Club. Morning and afternoon tee times
will be available. For more details, contact Professor Tom Scott
the currentAppalachian School of Law
P.O. Box 2825Grundy, VA 24614
www.asl.edu
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDNORTH TAZEWELL, VA 24630
PERMIT NO. 20
Give. Why? To pay it forward.
To boost your degree’s value.
To keep making a difference.
For these reasons and more,
consider making a donation to
the Appalachian School of Law’s
Alumni Fund. For more details
or to make a donation, please
contact Director of Development
Karen Harvey at [email protected]
or 276-935-4349, ext. 1241.