Darbi Spellman’s first week interning with the Drake Wrongful Convictions Clinic (WCC) didn’t start with paperwork or orientation—it began with a high-stakes courtroom observation. She watched as Erica Nichols Cook, director of the Wrongful Conviction Unit for the Iowa State Public Defender’s Office and WCC supervisor, argued for a new trial in the case of...
Author: Terri Howard (Terri Howard)
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From Service to Law: Spotlight on Some of Drake Law’s Student Veterans
In honor of Veterans Day, Drake Law School salutes some of the members of the student body who served in the armed forces. Marie Bowen (1L) served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. For Marie, joining the Marines was a pathway to escape poverty and adversity and to...
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From Texas to Des Moines: 2L Wyatt Harlan Practices his Passion for Agricultural Law at Drake
Growing up on his family’s farm in the Texas Panhandle, Wyatt Harlan developed a deep passion for the agricultural industry and the people who face the challenge of feeding and clothing a growing population. As his involvement in the farm grew, he realized the integral role law plays on the family farm. “From regulatory compliance...
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Celebrating Drake Law School Alumni African American Judges in Iowa
Hon. Luther T. Glanton Jr. Luther T. Glanton Jr. was Iowa’s first African American Judge. He was appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy on the Des Moines Municipal Court in 1958 and won election to that seat the following year. In 1973, Judge Glanton was appointed as an associate district judge and then as a...
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Grant awarded to Iowa State Public Defender’s Office will build on the Wrongful Convictions Clinic’s ability to represent the wrongfully accused
The Drake Wrongful Convictions Clinic (WCC) will continue its work with the Iowa State Public Defender’s Office to seek DNA testing for wrongfully convicted Iowans. The Iowa State Public Defender’s Office has received a $855,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to build on the Clinic’s ability to represent indigent Iowans who are...
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Student attorneys in the Drake Refugee Clinic assist Afghan refugees through the immigration and family reunification processes
Over the last year, student attorneys with the Drake Refugee Clinic helped numerous Afghan nationals navigate the complexities of the immigration process through the Clinic’s collaboration with the Afghan Legal League of Iowa (ALL Iowa).* They provided direct representation before immigration agencies, and helped develop pro se materials, intake processes, and conducted needs assessments to...
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Drake’s Criminal Law Clinic provides tremendous public service through the Iowa Sentencing Project
Students in the Criminal Law Clinic, under the supervision of the clinic’s director Robert Rigg, participate in the Iowa Sentencing Project, researching and publishing annual updates to the Iowa Criminal Statues Summary Chart (Chart). This sentencing “bible” is used by every criminal defense lawyer, prosecutor, and judge across the state and helps ensure the efficient,...
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Children’s Rights Clinic Case Involving Expert Witness Fees Goes to the Iowa Supreme Court
A Children’s Rights Center (CRC) case involving the recovery of expert witness fees is under review by the Iowa Supreme Court. Expert witnesses provide specialized knowledge and opinions that are essential for a fair and informed legal process. Recovering witness fees from the courts ensures that individuals, particularly those with limited resources, can access the...
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Alumni Giving Creates the Matt and Laurie Doré Endowed Fund
Through the support of a group of Drake Law alumni, with lead gifts from Brian Kennedy (LW’91) and Elizabeth (Liz) Van Arkel (LW’12), Drake Law is proud to celebrate the creation of the Matt and Laurie Doré Endowed Fund to support the moot court program. Upon the retirement of long-time faculty members Matt and Laurie...