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Cumberland School of Law

Cumberland School of Law The official Facebook account for Samford University's Cumberland School of Law. Second, Lawyering and Legal Reasoning. Third, our location.

Founded in 1847, Cumberland School of Law is one of the nation's oldest law schools and is nationally recognized for trial advocacy and quality instruction. Our Juris Doctor curriculum trains students to practice in all areas of law, including corporate law, trial advocacy, health law, environmental law and public interest law. There are three components to the law school that combine to create it

s successful academic environment:

First, the collegial, scholarly interaction between its faculty and students. Known on and off campus simply as LLR, this comprehensive, cutting-edge writing course gives each first-year student hands-on experience in skills that range from the initial client interview through the preparation and presentation of an appellate brief. Cumberland School of Law is situated on Samford University’s campus near downtown Birmingham, one of the legal hubs of the Southeast. Our proximity to this dynamic market offers our students an environment rich with opportunities for externships and extracurricular activities that enhance the classroom experience. In addition to the Juris Doctor degree, Cumberland School of Law offers the Master of Laws (LL.M.) for lawyers and Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) for nonlawyers, both completely online. Cumberland School of Law is part of Samford University, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Operating as usual

David M. Smolin, the Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law and director of Cumberland School of Law's Center ...
12/19/2022

David M. Smolin, the Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law and director of Cumberland School of Law's Center for Children, Law and Ethics, is a sought-after expert on international children's issues, and family and juvenile law, among others.

Recently, Smolin co-wrote a chapter for the "Research Handbook on Surrogacy and the Law" titled "Surrogacy, Intermediaries, and the Sale of Children."

Learn about this book chapter and more of Smolin's latest research: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/news/2022/Smolin-Publishes-New-Articles-Based-on-Childrens-Legal-Issues-and-Rights-.

Congratulations to Keith Blackwood '07 who was elected to be the district attorney for Mobile County, Alabama.
12/15/2022

Congratulations to Keith Blackwood '07 who was elected to be the district attorney for Mobile County, Alabama.

Health care fraud in the United States costs the nation tens of billions of dollars every year, according to the Nationa...
12/14/2022

Health care fraud in the United States costs the nation tens of billions of dollars every year, according to the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association. One common scheme used to commit health care fraud is kickbacks.

A former assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, Chinelo Dike-Minor served as the office’s criminal division’s health care fraud coordinator. Today, as an assistant professor at Cumberland School of Law, she is researching the legislative histories of kickback laws in the United States and argues that the current criminal kickback statutes are not enough to deter health care fraudsters.

Read the full story that originally appeared in the fall 2022 issue of Seasons magazine here: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/news/2022/Dike-Minor-Finds-Flaw-in-US-Health-Care-Fraud-Statutes

William Ross, the Albert P. Brewer professor of law and ethics, is a regular contributor to Jurist. His latest contribut...
12/13/2022
Should the US Supreme Court have an Ethics Code?

William Ross, the Albert P. Brewer professor of law and ethics, is a regular contributor to Jurist. His latest contribution addresses the question "Should the US Supreme Court Have an Ethics Code?".

Read here:

Recent concerns about leaks of US Supreme Court decisions and Justice Clarence Thomas’s refusal to recuse himself in a case that might involve connections to his wife, Virginia Thomas, have spurred ca...

Robert Wick ’99, general counsel and secretary of Schaeffler Group USA Inc., was named the Legal and Policy Professional...
12/12/2022

Robert Wick ’99, general counsel and secretary of Schaeffler Group USA Inc., was named the Legal and Policy Professional of the Year by the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance.

The awards recognize individuals who work at South Carolina manufacturing facilities and are employed in the finance, human resources, legal and policy, and operations fields.

Congratulations to Champ Crocker '01 who was elected district attorney of Alabama's 32nd Judicial Circuit in Cullman Cou...
12/08/2022

Congratulations to Champ Crocker '01 who was elected district attorney of Alabama's 32nd Judicial Circuit in Cullman County during the midterm elections in November. Crocker will assume the office in January.

Tasia Craig, M.S.L. '22, a rental assistant demonstration closing coordinator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urb...
12/07/2022

Tasia Craig, M.S.L. '22, a rental assistant demonstration closing coordinator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, reflects on her experience in our Master of Studies in Law program:

"My experience at Cumberland School of Law was truly transformative. Since obtaining my degree, I was promoted from my prior role and am now stationed in Washington, D.C. This program armed me with expanded knowledge of applicable governing regulations and regulatory enforcement, and I’m able to quickly adapt to constant regulatory changes."

Learn more about her experience and the online program for nonlawyers here: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/master-of-studies-in-law.

For its 2022 annual Christmas drive, the Student Bar Association partnered with the Church of the Highlands' Woodlawn ca...
12/06/2022

For its 2022 annual Christmas drive, the Student Bar Association partnered with the Church of the Highlands' Woodlawn campus to support their Giving Hope Christmas Experience.

Through the drive, the Cumberland students, faculty and staff donated 200 gifts valued at more than $3,000, which will be distributed to families and children in need. It's times like these that make the Cumberland community so special.

Lynn Hogewood, director of academic support, is passionate about student and lawyer health and wellness. This fall, she ...
12/02/2022

Lynn Hogewood, director of academic support, is passionate about student and lawyer health and wellness.

This fall, she was a speaker for a CLE hosted by the Women’s Section of the Alabama State Bar which focused on this topic.

Additionally, she was a part of a panel during the AccessLex Symposium, LexCon ’22, in Nashville, Tennessee, where she shared about best practices for law schools when it comes to financial well-being and success for law students.

Erik Heninger ’01, partner of Heninger Garrison Davis LLC in Birmingham, is currently serving as president of the Alabam...
12/01/2022

Erik Heninger ’01, partner of Heninger Garrison Davis LLC in Birmingham, is currently serving as president of the Alabama Association for Justice. As well, he is completing his third elected term as a bar commissioner for the 10th Judicial Circuit with the Alabama State Bar.

One hundred and seventy-five years ago, our law school was founded with a vision unusual for its time. Founder, Judge Ab...
11/30/2022

One hundred and seventy-five years ago, our law school was founded with a vision unusual for its time. Founder, Judge Abraham Caruthers, referred to what we now know as the Cumberland School of Law “adventure” and an “experiment.”

In his inaugural address, Caruthers expanded on his view of the experiment: instead of learning by trial and error, students would "be prepared to enter at once on the duties of the profession” and focused the education on intensive trial preparation.

The Cumberland experiment worked and, 175 years later, it still has a life-changing impact on generations of trial lawyers.

Read the full story of Caruthers' experiment: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/news/2022/175-Years-of-Trial-Advocacy

David Silverstein '81 was recently recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as a "Partner in Philanthropy" and hono...
11/29/2022

David Silverstein '81 was recently recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as a "Partner in Philanthropy" and honored by the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center for his service on its board.

Silverstein's state and local volunteer and community service is extensive, including serving as president of the Alabama Chapters of the American Heart Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He is president of the Board of Directors for the Alabama Holocaust Education Center and a member of the Board of Directors for Ascension Alabama and Leadership Alabama.

He founded The FiveStone Group, a commercial real estate firm in Birmingham where his son, David Silverstein Jr. ‘15, is also a principal.

David M. Smolin, the Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law and director of Cumberland School of Law's Center ...
11/28/2022

David M. Smolin, the Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law and director of Cumberland School of Law's Center for Children, Law and Ethics, is a sought-after expert on international children's issues, and family and juvenile law, among others.

In Cumberland Law Review's Vol. 52, Issue 1, Smolin contributed “Kids Are Not Cakes: A Children’s Rights Perspective on Fulton V. City of Philadelphia.

Learn about this article and more of Smolin's latest research: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/news/2022/Smolin-Publishes-New-Articles-Based-on-Childrens-Legal-Issues-and-Rights-.

In all things, give thanks. This year we are grateful for 175 years of developing excellence-driven, service-minded Cumb...
11/24/2022

In all things, give thanks. This year we are grateful for 175 years of developing excellence-driven, service-minded Cumberland lawyers.

During the midterm elections, Congressman Robert Aderholt was re-elected for a 14th term to represent Alabama’s Fourth C...
11/23/2022
Congressman Robert Aderholt wins 14th term

During the midterm elections, Congressman Robert Aderholt was re-elected for a 14th term to represent Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Aderholt is a member of Cumberland School of Law's class of 1990.

2022Slider Congressman Robert Aderholt wins 14th term By Brandon Moseley - November 10, 2022 0 33 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Congressman Robert Aderholt on Wednesday released a statement thanking the voters of Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District for electing him to a 14th term r...

Our criminal law professors recently hosted a prosecution and defense panel for the first-year class. Thanks to Cumberla...
11/23/2022

Our criminal law professors recently hosted a prosecution and defense panel for the first-year class. Thanks to Cumberland School of Law alumna Julie McMakin, a Jefferson County deputy district attorney, and Samford alumnus James Gibson, a federal public defender, for sharing your knowledge and insights with us!

During the fall semester, Cumberland students had the opportunity to experience the humbling task of helping incarcerate...
11/21/2022

During the fall semester, Cumberland students had the opportunity to experience the humbling task of helping incarcerated individuals be granted parole through an externship with Alabama-based nonprofit, Redemption Earned. According to Redemption Earned, Alabama’s correctional institutions house over 2,200 incarcerated persons over the age of 65 who present a low risk of recidivism. Redemption Earned works to identify, assist and represent those individuals who have spent decades behind bars, demonstrating they are transformed and earned the right to parole.

Second-year student Arin Suggs said, “Working with Redemption Earned has been a life-changing opportunity. Before this experience, I was aware of the struggles incarcerated people faced, but now I can see beyond statistics; I see the humanity in the people we serve and how deserving they are of a second chance. When I began this semester, I never anticipated that I would find an organization I would spend the rest of my career volunteering with, but that's exactly what I've found in Redemption Earned. Externships like this are a big part of why I chose to attend Cumberland, and I'm so grateful for the chance to serve alongside my fellow classmates and the staff at Redemption Earned.”

https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/news/2022/Redemption-Earned-Provides-Humbling-Real-World-Experience-for-Cumberland-School-of-Law-Students

This week, Dean Blake Hudson was honored by his undergraduate institution, the University of Montevallo, for his career ...
11/17/2022

This week, Dean Blake Hudson was honored by his undergraduate institution, the University of Montevallo, for his career achievements. The event held in his honor was hosted by the university's National Alumni Association and Division of Advancement.

Here, Dean Hudson is pictured with fellow Montevallo alumnus and Cumberland School of Law graduate Judge Matt Fridy '01. Hudson and Fridy were fraternity brothers during their time at Montevallo.

On Thursday, Nov. 10, we were honored to host students from the Ramsay High School Law Academy. The newly formed academy...
11/15/2022

On Thursday, Nov. 10, we were honored to host students from the Ramsay High School Law Academy.

The newly formed academy consists of high-achieving students in the 9th-12th grades. While on campus, the group attended the Oral Arguments of the Supreme Court of Alabama and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, gathered for lunch in the university cafeteria, met with Dean Blake Hudson, and sat in on Professor Ramona Albin's Criminal Procedure class.

Thanks to third-year student Alexis Heard for her hard work to bring the Ramsay students to campus. We look forward to hosting many more aspiring law students to encourage them that law school is within their reach if they want to pursue it.

Mary Blanche Hankey '07 has been appointed chief of staff by U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville. Promoted from her current ro...
11/14/2022

Mary Blanche Hankey '07 has been appointed chief of staff by U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville. Promoted from her current role as the senator's chief counsel and policy advisor, Hankey will assume her new position later this month.

Prior to joining Tuberville's office, she held several roles at the Department of Justice, including deputy assistant attorney general and chief of staff, as well as counselor in the Office of Legislative Affairs. Additionally, she served as the White House liaison in the Office of the Attorney General and was former legislative counsel in former Senator Jeff Sessions’ office.

https://yellowhammernews.com/boyd-departs-as-tubervilles-chief-of-staff-senator-promotes-within-office/

A simple "thank you" to our service men and women for their sacrifices will never be enough. May we recognize your coura...
11/11/2022

A simple "thank you" to our service men and women for their sacrifices will never be enough. May we recognize your courage and selflessness today and every day.

Today, we were proud to partner with the Birmingham Bar Foundation to host oral arguments of the Supreme Court of Alabam...
11/10/2022

Today, we were proud to partner with the Birmingham Bar Foundation to host oral arguments of the Supreme Court of Alabama and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.

“Hosting oral arguments of the state’s highest courts was such an honor,” said Dean Blake Hudson. “Being able to expose our law students to this experience was a privilege, particularly since some members of both courts are Cumberland School of Law graduates. It is important for our students to know that they can be leaders at the highest levels shaping critical areas of law and policy.”

Cumberland School of Law alumni represented on the bench include Judge Richard J. Minor ’93 on the Court of Criminal Appeals and Associate Justices Michael F. Bolin ’73, Greg Shaw ’82 and Brady E. Mendheim ’93 on the Supreme Court of Alabama.

https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/news/2022/Cumberland-School-of-Law-Hosts-Oral-Arguments-of-the-State-of-Alabamas-Highest-Courts

On Friday, Nov. 4, nearly 300 attorneys joined us for the Jere F. White Jr. Trial Advocacy Institute. This CLE seminar, ...
11/10/2022

On Friday, Nov. 4, nearly 300 attorneys joined us for the Jere F. White Jr. Trial Advocacy Institute.

This CLE seminar, put on in partnership with the Alabama chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers, featured a “who’s who” of skilled litigators and judges, and former Senator Doug Jones '79 who served as the keynote speaker.

Thank you to all who were involved in coordinating this event and to all of our sponsors for ensuring the event's success.

The application for Cumberland School of Law's online Master of Laws (LL.M.) program is now open for the fall 2023 cohor...
11/09/2022

The application for Cumberland School of Law's online Master of Laws (LL.M.) program is now open for the fall 2023 cohort. The program, for those who already hold a J.D., offers compliance-focused concentrations in financial services, higher education, health care and legal operations.

"I practice in the areas of health care regulatory compliance and transactional law and I would not be where I am today—doing what I love—without my LL.M. from Cumberland. From the intriguing courses, to the exceptionally experienced and engaged professors, I highly recommend Cumberland’s online master’s program for any professional seeking to complement and enhance their expertise to obtain a desired career or elevate a current career. "—Mitchell Surface, J.D./LL.M. ’21

Learn more and apply: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/master-of-laws.

This Thursday, Nov. 10, we look forward to partnering with the Birmingham Bar Foundation to host the Oral Arguments of t...
11/08/2022

This Thursday, Nov. 10, we look forward to partnering with the Birmingham Bar Foundation to host the Oral Arguments of the Supreme Court of Alabama and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.

Please join us for this unique event in Samford University's Wright Center. The doors will open at 8 a.m. and the Call to Order will promptly be at 8:45 a.m.

View the cases and the agenda here: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/events/Oral-Arguments-of-the-Alabama-Supreme-Court-and-the-Alabama-Court-of-Criminal-Appeals-Appellate-Courts.

Congratulations to KC Hairston '01 who was recently elected to serve as president of the Alabama Municipal Judges Associ...
11/04/2022
Hairston named AMJA president

Congratulations to KC Hairston '01 who was recently elected to serve as president of the Alabama Municipal Judges Association where he will serve a two-year term.

Mountain Brook’s city judge KC Hairston was recently elected to serve as president of the Alabama Municipal Judges Association where he will serve a two-year term.

Cumberland School of Law’s National Trial Team competed in the Syracuse National Trial Competition, Oct. 21-23. Cumberla...
11/03/2022

Cumberland School of Law’s National Trial Team competed in the Syracuse National Trial Competition, Oct. 21-23. Cumberland was represented by six students making their first appearance in a national competition where they advanced to the semifinal round.

“We went into the competition with a young team and four first-time advocates,” coach Julie McMakin '09 said. “We finished the preliminary rounds as the top seed which is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication to the program. We are so proud of this team and their accomplishments and cannot wait for the spring.”

https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/news/2022/Cumberland-School-of-Law-Reaches-Semifinals-and-Awarded-Best-Advocate-in-Syracuse-National-Trial-Competition

Today, Cumberland School of Law's Student Bar Association, the Florida Student Bar Association and the Intellectual Prop...
11/02/2022

Today, Cumberland School of Law's Student Bar Association, the Florida Student Bar Association and the Intellectual Property Law Society partnered to host a day of gratitude and service for the first of November. Together, the groups built toiletry bags for Be A Blessing Birmingham and wrote thank you notes to someone they are thankful for.

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Beasley Allen Attorney Gavin King was invited to speak at the Samford University Cumberland School of Law Black Law Student Association’s “Men’s Night,” he discussed career readiness, networking, and life as a young lawyer. https://bit.ly/3l6iFYV
I enjoyed visiting Cumberland School of Law to speak to students from the Cumberland Republicans and the Christian Legal Society. Thank you to everyone who came out for the discussion and to Abbi Ferrier for organizing.
Timothy L. Morton
614 N. Water Ave, Apt 614
Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 457-4193

9 October 2021

Bart Highers
113 W. Main St.
Gallatin, TN 37066

Tennessee Attorney General Conference
ATTN: Each District Attorney General in all Districts
222 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd
Nashville, TN 37219

Equity Alliance
PO 331821
Nashville, TN 37203

Tennessee Black Caucus
Cordell Hull Building, Ste 404
Nashville, TN 37243

Tennessee Attorney General
ATTN: Herbert Slattery
PO 20207
Nashville, TN 37202

Tennessee Supreme Court
ATTN: Court of the Judiciary
511 Union St.
Nashville, TN 37219

Board of Professional Responsibility
10 Cadillac Dr., Ste 220
Brentwood, TN 37027

RE: Violation of Moratorium Order/Corruption Coupled with Obstruction of Justice Display Systemic Racism and Suppress of Rights Formal Complaint

1. As listed in the subject, this is a complaint about the Tennessee Judicial system from Attorney’s to the Supreme Court. I wonder, how could you change venue on a moratorium order? In my opinion and the opinion of many asked, that would imply no court actions taken, but Sumer County and Davidson County collaborated and completed this violation of the moratorium order. Why, and who gave Sumner County the authority to transfer a case under the order, and who gave Judge Lynda Jones the authority and authority to overrule the moratorium order.

2. Contact can be made with THDA about the effective dates of the order and about any contracts in their possession. This will reflect that the deceased Harold M. Kemp signed the contracts, as well as the observation of the court in session will reflect the testimony of Bart Highers, that Kenny Kemp’s deceased mother was present with him (politician Elizabeth Anne Kemp), who has been deceased since January 2018.

3. As, I have stated, this was a civil matter, and I was not present with the opportunity to be appointed counsel, and like Torrey Johnson stated, did not have adequate defense. The court appearance should have never taken place until the moratorium order ended, but THDA will supply all needed dates.

4. It is known that the justice system in Tennessee is systemic racist, corrupt, and broken. How could you change venue on a case with a moratorium order in place? How could you execute the order, before the date? This displays, the system is broken completely in Sumner County and Davidson County will co-sign corruption.

5. I demand sanctions be imposed on both courts and individual sanctions be imposed on the 18th Judicial District of Tennessee and General Court Judge Lynda Jones, coupled with Bart Highers, which eliminates them from the practice of law indefinitely.

Timothy L. Morton

The judicial system is broken
I want to take a moment to shout out Rashad Grimes. Rashad was one of our first field organizers on our 2017 campaign. And he knocked just about every single door in District 8.

Since then, he graduated from Cumberland School of Law, passed the BAR, and has started up the premiere alcohol delivery app in Alabama.

Birmingham is on the rise. 🔥
Join us in welcoming Lorel Stano. Lorel is a rising 3L at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and will be working in our Fraud Section.
Cumberland School of Law launches several clinics during the pandemic.
Join us in welcoming Hampton Harris! Hampton is a rising 2L at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and will be working in our Personal Injury Section.
Join us in welcoming Elena Cassinelli! Elena is a rising 2L at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and will be working in our Fraud Section.
Join us in welcoming Jamie Cory! Jamie is a rising 2L at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and will be working in our Mass Torts Section.
"Times get tough, I get tougher," are words to live by for Cumberland School of Law graduate and class president Courtney Howard. Her path to law school was both unconventional and unbelievable at times; read her story here: samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/news/2021/Times-Get-Tough-I-Get-Tougher-One-Graduates-Motto-Aids-Her-Through-Life-and-Law-School
Join us in welcoming Forrest Hyde! Forrest is a rising 3L at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and will be working in our Toxic Torts Section.
We are excited to kick off our 2021 Summer Clerk Spotlight Series🎉

Join us in welcoming Ashlan Kelley! Ashlan is a rising 2L at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and will be working in our Toxic Torts Section.
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