St. Thomas Law Hosts Annual John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy

This summer, The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy hosted its week-long professional development training from July 23^rd to July 27^th, 2018. The primary focus was addressing the issue of human trafficking within the United States.

The Academy, directed by St. Thomas Law professor Dr. Roza Pati, welcomed 54 participants from around the country. These participants represented various professional groups including social service providers, child protective investigators, psychologists,  government representatives, attorneys, law enforcement, teachers, academics, human rights advocates, entrepreneurs, students, and faith-based organizations. The Academy was especially pleased to welcome several recipients of the 2018 Survivor Scholarship, generously funded by the Thomas E. Lemons Foundation.

Rev. Msgr. Franklyn Casale, former President of St. Thomas University,  paid tribute to Mr. John J. Brunetti for his support to St. Thomas University over the years and his most recent contribution to the Human Trafficking Academy, which now bears his name.

In her opening remarks, St. Thomas Law’s Acting Dean Tamara Lawson, noted that the Academy is one of the most important events held at St. Thomas Law. "Iinjustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere and I believe that is why you all are here today, to address injustice…especially for those who cannot speak up for themselves,” she stated.

The Academy consisted of 15 training courses taught by top-experts in the field, drawing from their own professional and personal experiences. The week of concentrated courses covered a range of topics arranged thematically by day.

Day 1 covered sex trafficking with courses on child sex trafficking, a profile of sex traffickers, and a profile of the buyers of sex;

Day 2 turned greater focus to the survivors of trafficking, with sessions about populations facing a higher risk of exposure to trafficking, a powerful course from a trafficking survivor’s perspective on the debate between the language of ‘Victim’ or ‘Survivor’, as well as a trauma-informed screening and interviewing course;

Day 3 was focused entirely on labor trafficking, with courses about domestic servitude, trafficking in the agricultural sector, and trafficking in the hospitality industry;

Day 4 shed light on the different contributors to the fight against trafficking and the importance of forming partnerships, including courses on the Florida Safe Harbor Act, government & NGO partnerships, and the response of Miami’s G.R.A.C.E. Court to child trafficking cases;

Finally, Day 5 focused on the causes and effects of vicarious trauma, featuring a course about coping with trauma exposure, a second session about understanding the ethical implications of dealing with vicarious trauma and burnout, and closing with course about building self-care and happiness. Father Paul VI Karenga, current J.S.D. candidate of the Intercultural Human Rights Program concluded the Academy with a closing prayer.

The esteemed course instructors hailed from across the world and various disciplines:

Nathan Earl

Founder and Executive Director of Ark of Freedom Alliance

Dr. Mohamed Mattar

Clinical Professor of Law and Director the Law Clinic at Qatar University College of Law

Bill Wolf

Retired Detective, Fairfax County Police Department, Executive Director & Trainer, Just Ask Prevention Project

Tessa Juste

Graduate Fellow, Human Trafficking Academy

Marina Rakopyan

Human Trafficking Academy Research Assistant and J.S.D. candidate, St. Thomas University School of Law

Savannah Parvu

Survivor Leader and Speaker

Brenda Mezick, Esq.

Chief, Human Trafficking Unit, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office

Victor Williams

Retired Special Agent, Department of Homeland Security

Barbara Martinez, Esq.

Chief, Special Prosecutions Section, Human Trafficking and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, U.S. Attorney’s Office

Todd Forester

President, i-5 Freedom Network

Brianna O’Steen

Ph.D. Student & Instructor, Oregon State University

Ana Vallejo, Esq.

Co-Director VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc.

The Honorable Maria Sampedro-Iglesia

Associate Administrative Judge, Unified Children’s Court & Human Trafficking Division, G.R.A.C.E. Court

Milagros Santiago-Maldonado

Clinical Director, Trauma Resolution Center

Dr. Ana Christina Nuñez

Researcher, Americas Division, Human Rights Watch

Dr. Jodi Grace, Associate Professor of Psychology, St. Thomas University

The Academy also had the privilege of welcoming a special luncheon guest speaker, Maria Kaldani, who serves as the Scientific Supervisor at The HOME Project in Athens, Greece. Ms. Kaldani shared with participants the powerful work that her organization is doing to meet the needs of child refugees who have migrated to Greece. The HOME Project provides long-term housing, immigration assistance, psychological support, educational skills, and whatever else the children may need to adjust to the circumstances with which they are faced. In her presentation, Ms. Kaldani outlined the overlap between issues of trafficking and the migrant crisis in Europe, and shared how it has affected some of the children who have come to be cared for by The Home Project.

This intensive week of training was organized to empower anti-trafficking professionals and advocates with the tools and knowledge to work as effectively and compassionately as possible against the scourge of human trafficking. 


The feedback of participants indicates that the 2018 Human Trafficking Academy succeeded in this aim.

“An incredible week full of education, inspiration, fantastic speakers and building a network of connections across the community. I’m so thankful I was able to attend.”

-  Lucas Samuel Hall, Ark of Freedom Alliance

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“As a survivor, I’m sure one can imagine that this course is a lot for me all at once. I would like to thank the Academy for providing a trauma-informed education. I felt that his atmosphere and approach were sensitive and understanding. What a great variety of instructors and attendees! Even as someone who has experienced some of these crimes firsthand, I learned new things and was exposed to new ideas and information. Thank you!”

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“I believe this academy opened my eyes to this level of crime that damages victims more often than not. It has changed my thinking and encouraged me to get involved in the solutions.”

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“Outstanding program. Thank you for all of the content and community engagement.”

St. Thomas Law Delegation Aid Separated Migrant Families in Texas

The humanitarian crisis caused by the separation of migrant children from their asylum-seeking parents has had an effect on everyone that has heard the heartbreaking stories.

The St. Thomas Law family answered the call, sprung into action and headed to Texas to lend their much-needed expertise to assist detained and separated families. This time the effort was launched by the Immigration Law Students Association (ILSA) at St. Thomas University, its president, Andrea Valencia, and immediate past president, Diego Sanchez. The ILSA raised their own funds with the help of generous contributions from our law school faculty members.

The St. Thomas Law Karnes Pro Bono Project partnered with RAICES, a non-profit organization that remains on the front lines on this issue. Nathalia Lozano, Vanessa Baez and Catherine Perez were the Project Coordinators.  

This is the third such trip that St. Thomas Law has taken to the Karnes Detention Center in Texas, having gone there in 2016 to assist with immigrant issues.

But this trip was different. While all the stories are hard to hear and difficult to fathom, the ones that detail the ripping of children from their parents heightens the urgency of the situation.

Led, once again, by supervising St. Thomas Law Professor Lauren Gilbert, who teaches Constitutional Law, Family Law, Immigration Law, and an Immigration Seminar, the team was comprised of law students, professors and mental health professionals.

The Team from St. Thomas University at the Alamo in Texas.

The law students chosen for the 2018 team are: Lucas Aisenberg (3L), Jacqueline Vazquez-Aldana (3L), Vanessa Baez (3L), Alida Bustos (2L), Sofi Henshaw (2L), Maria Cornu Laport (2L), Nathalia Lozano (3L), Stefanie Morse (3L), Donna Nasimov (3L), Jasmine Ramos(3L), Otto Ruiz Frantzen(3L), and Alexsandra Simoes (3L).

The group also included a team of mental health experts. Professor Dr. Judith Bachay, Program Director of the St. Thomas University Graduate Counseling Programs, oversaw the trauma specialists. Lory Toledo, Executive Director of the Trauma Resolution Center who accompanied the  Karnes team in 2016, sent members of her team, including Carla Barrows, Camila Montesano, Stephanie Vasquez, and Tizrah Neves.

STU Law student, Donna Nasimov, created a blog, within which the other attending students wrote about the experience from their own perspective.  One of the most poignant perspectives comes by way of a letter written by Professor Gilbert. It can be read below:

I am writing after our fourth day at the Karnes Detention Center.  It has been an overwhelming, inspiring, devastating, exhausting week.  Today, Wednesday, was a particularly hard day, and left some of us feeling a bit empty inside.  On Saturday afternoon, after the entire STU team assembled at the Alamo, we received a call from Kathryn Delgado, the pro bono coordinator.   She said that we were needed at Karnes on Sunday.  An injunction preventing the reunified families from being deported was about to be lifted, and they needed us to meet with the fathers and sons to determine if they wanted to fight their cases.  Most of these were new arrivals to Karnes.  Almost all of them were separated upon arrival to the United States and held in separate detention facilities until Judge Sabraw ordered their reunification by July 26, 2018.  Many of the parents and kids we met with that Sunday had only been reunited for a few days. 

For many it has been a joyful experience, but many parents told us that they keep asking their children for forgiveness for what happened.  Some must confront horrible choices, such as whether to remain together and fight their cases, to remain together for deportation, or for the fathers to accept deportation while their sons to seek a better life.  Most of the time, fathers and children are in agreement, but sometimes conflicts arise.  Today we asked children, from age 6 to age 16, what they wanted to do, away from their fathers who had asked to be deported because they could not bear another day in detention.  It was devastating, particularly where the child’s desires were at odds with the parent’s, which was how our day ended.  

I suspect that Karnes is being used by ICE as a staging ground for removal of fathers and sons who range in age from 5 to 17.  Most fathers were separated from their sons within 1-2 days of their arrival. Some had a few minutes to say goodbye.  Dads and kids remained separated while in the same detention facility for 1-2 days before being shipped off to their destinations. Many dads were then sent to federal prisons, where they were prosecuted for illegal entry.  After completing brief sentences or being sentenced to time served, they were transferred to ICE detention centers.  Most of the dads had their credible fear interviews (CFIs) with the Asylum Office and IJ Reviews with the Immigration Judge (IJ) soon after their separation from their kids.  Many described severe symptoms of trauma and anxiety during these interviews, including chest pains, headaches, and extreme anxiety.  Their hearts were literally aching!   Most received negative decisions by the Asylum Officer and Immigration Judge, which, in many cases, we are now trying to overturn. 

After Judge Sabraw set July 26 as the deadline for reunification, ICE shipped many fathers and kids to a facility in El Paso.  Some fathers were given humanitarian parole, made to sign a ton of documents, told they were being released, and then reunited with their kids.  This was a moment of great hope, until they realized that they were not being released after all.  The same night of their reunification, fathers and sons were put on buses and sent to Karnes.  The next day, their humanitarian parole was revoked. 

We have seen loving fathers who want the best for their sons.  Many are sacrificing themselves to be deported so their sons can remain.  We have encouraged these fathers, many who have strong cases, to stay and fight.  Sadly, it seems like those with the strongest cases are most torn between staying here with their sons and returning to their countries to protect their remaining family members.  Although we expected to work with women and children when we planned our trip to Karnes, I have to say that I am grateful for this opportunity to work with these fathers and sons.  Their strength of character and love for each other has been an inspiration. 

Lauren Gilbert, Esq.

Professor of Law

Director, Immigration Practice Certificate Program

St. Thomas University School of Law

The words of Professor Gilbert and the efforts of the entire St. Thomas team highlight our school's core mission.

St. Thomas Law's legal education goes beyond simply training attorneys; but also focuses on creating advocates who give voice to the voiceless.  Our school remains committed to teaching, training, and empowering the next generation of  community leaders, and instilling a lasting service ethic within our students that benefits them well beyond graduation.

We are grateful that our team did not simply shake their heads and offer comment about how sad the crisis is, but rather, took life-changing action to effectuate change. 

For more details and images please check out the student blog here:  https://stukarnes.wordpress.com/.

Professor Jennifer Martin Appointed Associate Dean of Faculty Development

Associate Dean Jennifer Martin

Jennifer S. Martin, Professor of Law at St. Thomas University School of Law, has been named Associate Dean for Faculty Development, effective July 11, 2018.

In announcing the appointment, Acting Dean Tamara Lawson thanked Martin for her "outstanding scholarship, teaching, and service, and her willingness to support the faculty’s continued commitment to excellence for all our students."

"I am thankful and honored to have the opportunity to serve the Law School in this role." stated Martin. "I wholeheartedly embrace St. Thomas University’s mission in legal education of serving a diverse student body, sensitive to the needs of the underrepresented communities. I look forward to working with my outstanding colleagues as we work collectively to be better scholars, teachers, and mentors."

Martin joined the St. Thomas Law faculty in 2010 after spending a year as a Visiting Associate Professor of Law at the University of Oregon School of Law. She has previously taught at University of Louisville and University of Pittsburgh.

Professor Martin has written over 40 books and scholarly articles, including most recently Contracts: A Contemporary Approach (West, 3d 2018) (with Carol Chomsky, Christina Kuna and Elizabeth Schiltz); Learning Sales Law (West 1st 2016) ) (with Carol Chomsky, Christina Kuna and Elizabeth Schiltz); Uniform Commercial Code Survey: Sales of Goods, 72 BUS. LAW. (forthcoming 2018); and Opportunistic Resales and the Uniform Commercial Code, 2016 ILL. L. REV. 487 (2016). She has also authored numerous podcasts on Contract and Commercial Law available on ITunes at Lawdibles and law tutorials available at cali.org .

Martin is an Elected Member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She currently serves as the Chair of the Contracts Section of the American Association of Law Schools, is an Editor of the Annual Survey of UCC Law for the UCC Committee of the ABA Section on Business Law (where she also serves on the Working Group to Draft Human Rights Protections in Supply Contracts), and is the President of the Board of Directors of the Computer Assisted Legal Instruction.

She tweets @commercelaw and is the publisher and editor of Commercial Law Blog, a member of the Jurisdynamics Network.

Martin succeeds Dean Tamara Lawson, who served as Associate Dean for Faculty Development since 2015 and is now the Acting Dean for the Law School.

STU Law Student Awarded 2018 Fellowship for Legal Services of Greater Miami

Portia Bethea (3L)

St. Thomas University School of Law Student Portia Bethea (3L) was recently awarded the 2018 Fellowship for Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. The award was announced at the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (“GSCBWLA”) Annual Installation and Awards Ceremony in Coral Gables on June 28, 2018.

The Fellowship will provide the opportunity for Ms. Bethea to continue Gwen S. Cherry’s Legacy of Equal Justice and, at the same time, make it possible for Legal Services of Greater Miami to help more vulnerable individuals and families resolve critical legal problems.

Law student fellows provide important assistance to Legal Services attorneys including interviewing clients and witnesses, drafting legal documents, discovery and briefs, and conducting research and investigations. Law student fellows have frequent opportunities to attend strategy sessions, hearings, mediations, depositions, and community events.

Gwen S. Cherry was a pioneer attorney at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. when it was founded in 1966. To honor her, the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (GSCBWLA) has established a Law Student Fellowship in her name.

St. Thomas Law had a long history of successful partnership with organizations that assist our communities with legal services; giving voice to the voiceless.

Associate Dean Tamara Lawson Begins Her Tenure as Acting Dean of St. Thomas Law

Acting-Dean Tamara Lawson began her
tenure this week.

Tamara Lawson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, this week began her tenure as Acting Dean of St. Thomas University School of Law. She succeeds Dean Alfredo Garcia, who is now Acting Provost of the university. Both appointments were made by retiring university President, Monsignor Franklyn Casale.

Lawson, who joined the St. Thomas Law faculty in 2004, was previously Associate Dean for Faculty Development. She has taught Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence. Her research and writing interests focuses on trial advocacy, cyber crime, international criminal law, race and law, and professional responsibility; it also includes distinguished published writings including a lead article in the American Journal of Criminal Law, entitled, Can Fingerprints Lie? and an invited book chapter in Contemporary Controversies: Forensic Technology, entitled Before the Verdict and Beyond the Verdict: The CSI infection within Modern Criminal Jury Trials. She also co-wrote the legal casebook Criminal Prodecure- Cases and Materials.

In connection with her research on the Trayvon Martin case, Professor Lawson has made media appearances and was selected as the reporter for the American Bar Association's Task Force on Stand Your Ground Laws.

The St. Thomas Law family welcomes Acting Dean Lawson into this new position and wishes her every success. 

St. Thomas Law Student Interns at the United Nations in New York

St. Thomas University School of Law offers its students opportunities outside of the traditional classroom setting through its transformative clinical and internship programs.

Third-year student Janice Santiago recently completed one such opportunity through her externship at the United Nations in New York. This immersive experience allowed her to be a full delegate to the United Nations where she attended UN General Assembly and Security Council meetings, and rubbed shoulders with ambassadors and UN delegates from all over the world. She had full access to the UN including attendance at committee meetings, observation of general debates, draft resolutions, and informal consultations. 

Third-year St.Thomas Law Student Janice Santiago at the United Nations General Assembly 

Through these meetings, Ms. Santiago gained invaluable insight and was able to witness history in the making. 

"You attend a security council or general assembly meeting one day and read about it in the New York Times the next day," stated Janice."I am so lucky that our school and Professor Mark Wolff provides this incredible externship."

Located at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, the United Nations Internship is a residential, single-semester placement at Permanent Missions, inter-governmental organizations (IGO’s), and non-governmental organizational (NGO’s) credentialed to the United Nations. The interns function as accredited representatives to the UN and follow major policy issues on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly such as the Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on the Status of Women, HIV/AIDS, Law of the Sea, International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, Human/Child Trafficking, and the Human Rights Council. Each intern prepares analytical reports on issues and a final in-depth research paper in one area, with these materials selectively published and shared electronically across the worldwide Pax Romana international network, through Pacem In Terris.

Click here to learn more about St. Thomas Law's Clinical and Internship Programs. 

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St.Thomas Law Alumni Form Powerhouse Law Firm

Law partners and St. Thomas Law graduates, Wesley Farrell '09 and Ricky K. Patel '09 of the law firm of Farrell & Patel, have joined forces with the law firm Jomarron & Lopez; headed by St. Thomas Law alum Jesmany Jomarrón '09 and his partner Mario E. López, to form a new, combined powerhouse firm - Farrell, Patel, Jomarron & Lopez, Attorneys at Law - with five offices and a wide array of specialized services.

“It’s incredibly exciting to embark on this journey with our new partners,” said Ricky Patel, Esq. “Our number one priority is the care and attention we provide our valued clients, and it’s gratifying to team up with a like-minded firm that equally prioritizes helping those who need it most.”

Ricky Patel '09

Wesley J. Farrell, '09

Wesley Farrell and Ricky Patel initially created a law firm based on strength, compassion, and guidance because they wanted to help innocent victims find justice. After growing their law firm from the ground up and finding successful resolutions for thousands of clients, they continue to practice complex litigation nationwide. They have been continuously recognized nationally as some of the most innovative lawyers in America. Among other high-profile cases, Farrell & Patel stood up for those harmed by big business after the BP Oil Spill, one of the greatest environmental disasters in U.S. history. They successfully represented over 3,000 claims against BP stemming from the 2010 oil spill tragedy. More recently, the firm has focused on complex litigation, including class action cases against some of the largest companies in the world.

Jesmany Jomarrón '09

Partners Jesmany Jomarron and Mario E. Lopez have a long history of helping clients navigate through extremely complex legal issues. They built their practice on a foundation of trial advocacy. Their practice areas include complex business disputes, real property litigation, community association law, and high-value estates litigation. They also developed a specialized division to handle a high volume of large, catastrophic property losses throughout the State of Florida. This property insurance division is composed of a statewide network of attorneys, adjusters, contractors, experts, and engineers ready to handle all aspects of their clients’ property insurance claims.

“Growth just for the sake of it has never been our goal,” said Jesmany Jomarron. “Our primary objective is to help clients get through difficult times, and we expand intelligently to meet their growing needs. Combining forces with our partners accomplishes this goal and sets us up for tremendous future success.”

In addition to the success both firms have experienced on behalf of clients, they also focus on giving back to the communities they serve. By helping families who need it most with pro-bono legal work, as well as supporting myriad charities such as Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Haitian Orphanages, Habitat for humanity and other organizations that help children in need. The firm believes in shared value and creating opportunities for those who need it most. All four name partners are self-made, and believe in helping the next generation of leaders succeed.

St. Thomas Law salutes these alumni who the embody the spirit and live the mission of the law school; showing that hard work coupled with compassionate community service will lead to success. 

Human Trafficking Academy Hosts Representative Ross Spano to Commemorate 'National Crime Victims’ Rights Week'

On April 11^th, in honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Human Trafficking Academy was honored to host Florida State Representative Ross Spano in a talk attended by law students, faculty, staff, and community members. Professor Roza Pati, Director of the Human Trafficking Academy, welcomed Representative Ross Spano to St. Thomas Law and highlighted his tremendous work in the State of Florida to confront the problem of trafficking in human beings, to find solutions and to eradicate this scourge.

Representative Spano, who is also currently a candidate for Florida Attorney General, opened up about why it is that he was called to advocate on behalf of victims of human trafficking, and offered insights into the laudable legislative efforts that he has championed in the pursuit of this aim.

Representative Spano began the talk by emphasizing the need to stand up to bullies, which he learned from his own childhood experiences. “There are all sorts of bullies in life,” he said, “and one of those bullies takes the form of a human trafficker.” He shared the experience of pushing for the passage of numerous bills to protect victims of sex trafficking. These legislative measures covered a range of issues including, the ability for victims of sex trafficking to petition for any prostitution convictions in their record to be vacated or expunged, an increase on the criminal penalty for pimps and for those who solicit the services of sex trafficked persons, the ability for prosecutors to pursue RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) charges against traffickers, and protecting the locations of safe-houses for trafficking victims from public disclosure.

Representative Spano’s passionate commitment to eliminating human trafficking in Florida was palpable and was mirrored by the audience. The attendees were engaged throughout, asking many thought-provoking questions during the latter half of the session.

Some students who were in attendance shared their thoughts about the talk afterwards. Kimberly Colón, an LL.M. student, said that “Representative Ross Spano was very insightful on the different laws regarding human trafficking in the State of Florida.” Diego Sánchez, a 2L, stated that, “It was great to hear from someone who has been at the legislative forefront of tackling this very important issue in our State.” Added Nadia El Nur, another student from the LL.M. program, “I really enjoyed the lecture organized by the Human Trafficking Academy. The discussion held afterward was inspiring and very informative.”

Representative Spano has pledged to continue to “fight for victims of human trafficking until we completely eradicate this scourge from Florida.” There can be no doubt that his work, including the talk he gave on the 11^th, has inspired others to take up the fight as well.

Professor Roy Balleste Joins High-Level International Team Crafting New Outer Space Laws

St. Thomas Law Professor Roy Balleste has been asked to join a new team of internationally-renowned  experts on space law who will be developing rules applicable to the military use of outer space.

The project, MILAMOS (Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space), was inaugurated at McGill University in 2016,  and aims to develop a "widely-accepted manual that clarifies the fundamental rules applicable to military uses of outer space by both States and non-State actors in times of peace, in periods of rising tensions, and in times of armed conflict."

To date, the MILAMOS Project has already gathered the support and endorsement of various stakeholders, academic institutions and governments around the world, and has gained widespread attention in the international media.

Professor Balleste was selected as a member of the team based on his American and international perspectives in cyber security, space law and human rights, as well as his service in the United States military. He will be one of dozens of high-level experts and other international government and non-governmental contributors including Federal Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany, Intersputnik (Russia), University of Western Sydney (Australia), Leuven University (Belgium), Keio University (Japan), Harvard University-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (USA), University of Geneva, Xi'an Jiatong University (China) who will draft this manual that may shape State behavior, and strengthen the security and sustainability of outer space.

St. Thomas Law salutes Professor Balleste on his hard work and the dedication to his field that has led him to be internationally-recognized and invited to be part of such a prestigious project.

St. Thomas Immigration Law Students Host Free Legal Screening Clinic

On Saturday, March 17th, the School of Law and the Immigration Law Students Association (ILSA) partnered with Catholic Legal Services and Americans for Immigrant Justice to provide free immigration legal screenings to the surrounding community. The clinic primarily offered an interview and legal consultation for the purpose of determining immigration relief eligibility.

Student volunteers

More than 20 student-volunteers from St. Thomas Law received valuable hands-on experience working alongside a team of attorneys. The volunteers got the chance to complete intake forms for those seeking aid, observe attorneys conduct legal interviews, and were introduced to South Florida’s two leading immigration nonprofits for future internships and employment opportunities. 

“Participating in the clinic provided me with the unique opportunity to observe attorneys’ interactions with clients,” stated Catherine Yepes (1L). “This experience allowed insight into what my day-to-day life would be as an immigration attorney,” she added.

Student-volunteers 

For Tessa Juste, an LL.M student graduating in May, the experience hit close to home. “My parents were immigrants to this country, and I know it was not an easy road for them. So I am grateful that, because of their struggles and efforts, I am able to bring things full circle and help people who are walking that same path today,” stated Tessa.

Students had face-to-face interactions with individuals who may be eligible for different types of relief, including asylum-seekers and survivors of domestic violence. Alida Bustos (1L) was excited to have the opportunity to complete an intake for someone who needed to renew her application for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. She hopes to be a part of future programs.

Students interested in participating in similar projects should contact ILSA at ilsa@stu.edu.

St. Thomas Law Intercultural Human Rights Law Review Hosts “Dreaming with DACA” Symposium

The St. Thomas Law Intercultural Human Rights Law Review recently hosted its annual symposium. This year, the event focused on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Titled “Dreaming with DACA”, the event took the form of a panel discussion featuring immigration attorney and St. Thomas Law alum Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez, Esq.’03; Andrea Senteno, Legislative Staff Attorney of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Adrian Escarate’11, St. Thomas Alumni and DACA Recipient; and Julio Calderon, a South Florida community organizer and DACA Activist.

The panelists had an open discussion about the issues regarding DACA, case laws, decisions and where the program stands. The symposium was sponsored by the St. Thomas Law's Intercultural Human Rights Law Review, the LL.M./J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights, the Human Trafficking Academy and the Themis Bar Review.

Ranked 6th amongst human rights journals worldwide, the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review is an annual journal, whose goal is to publish well-written, cutting-edge human rights scholarship by academics, practitioners, and students. Each year, the journal sponsors numerous discussions and debates on a wide variety of intercultural human rights issues.

Editorial Board Members of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review

Professor Roza Pati, Faculty Advisor, and Guest Panelists

St. Thomas Law Graduate, Tarlika Navarro, Appointed to Broward County Circuit Court

Tarlika N. Navarro '10

St. Thomas Law alum Tarlika N. Navarro is one of two recent South Florida judicial appointments made by Governor Rick Scott.  She will serve in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit for Broward County.

Navarro, who graduated from St.Thomas Law (cum laude) in 2010, is currently in private practice. She is a managing partner at Tarlika Nunez Navarro PLLC. and the Bacchus & Navarro Law Group. She previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.

"I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Broward County," stated Tarlika.

While a student at St. Thomas Law, she was active on our Mock Trial Team, the St. Thomas Law Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL), and the American Trial Lawyers Association. 

We proudly salute Tarlika on this achievement.

St. Thomas Law Students' Life-Changing Experience Assisting Detained Somali Refugees

Professor Lauren Gilbert and eight St. Thomas Law students -  Carolina Acosta-Fox, Mirtha Garcia-Alvarez, Tessa Juste, Diego Sanchez, Melany Cornejo, Catherine Perez, Vanessa Baez, Nathalia Lozano -  recently spent two days at the Glades County Detention Center working on behalf of several Somali deportees whose flight back to Somalia got turned back in Senegal for reasons that remain unclear.

Members of the student team from St. Thomas Law included  Catherine Perez, Diego Sanchez, Vanessa Baez, Nathalia Lozano, Mirtha Garcia Alvarez, and Carolina Acosta-Fox. 

A team of lawyers including groups from the University of Miami School of Law, Americans for Immigrant Justice and Broward Legal Aid successfully sought a preliminary injunction in federal court against the return of the Somalis on that flight. 

Ready to work: Members of the St. Thomas Law student group will be
participating in similar projects in the future.
Pictured are Cynthia Rosa (standing), Tessa Juste and Diego Sanchez. 

Many of these Somali fled their country when they were little children, and entered as refugees. Many still suffer PTSD as a result of their experiences, and several relived those experiences while meeting with the student teams. One young man, who fled with his family when he was eight, described being carried by his father through the jungle and witnessing his sister’s leg being blown off after she stepped on a land mine. 

Another young single mother described the fear she experienced about being sent back to Somalia as an Americanized woman, and how the guards on the plane refused to allow her to change into more traditional clothing before the plane landed. Several of these individuals are seeking a second chance, applying to have their removal orders reopened and for relief under the Convention Against Torture. 

Al Shabaab, an extremist group that has taken over large parts of Somalia and targeted Americanized Muslims and Christians, has carried out several bombings in recent months, including a deadly car bombing in February near the Presidential Palace. Also, the return of the Somalis’ flight has been extensively publicized in Somalia, making the persons on that flight likely targets of Al Shabaab. While the federal lawsuit is pending, pro bono attorneys and law students are seeking to have their cases reopened based on changed country conditions. 

"The Glades experience was life changing," stated Catherine Perez.  "After hearing some of the detainees stories, you really start to cherish principles like freedom of religion, that the great majority of Americans take for granted. This experience reminded me of why I chose to come to law school in the first place."

Over the two-day period, the students and Professor Gilbert met with approximately 15 individuals finishing up work on the cases, including finalizing I-589 applications, personal statements and notes from the meetings. The St. Thomas Law team has been collaborating with Miami Law and Americans for Immigrant Justice providing on the ground support for the pro bono attorneys around the country assigned to these cases. Each team worked on at least two different cases, and had the experience of drafting a personal statement and I-589, while some also explored other possible remedies. Diego Sanchez (3L), the President of  St. Thomas Law's  Immigration Law Students Association was pivotal in recruiting and organizing teams. 

There are similar, future projects being planned. Students interested should contact Professor Gilbert or Diego Sanchez. 

St. Thomas Law Alum, Eneami Bestman, Recognized as Rising Star by Attorney-at-Law Magazine

St. Thomas Law 2016 graduate, Eneami Bestman, recently had the honor of being recognized as a "South Florida Rising Star" by Attorney-at-Law Magazine.

The magazine's January 2018 "Top Lawyers" issue featured an in-depth interview with Ms. Bestman, who was nominated for the recognition by her legal peers. The conversation covered Eneami's reason for pursuing a legal career, mentors who have helped her since graduating law school, and the relationships she has developed with her fellow attorneys.

"When I learned that I was going to be featured, I was humbled and overwhelmed," stated Ms. Bestman. "It is an honor."


She noted how much of her current work ethic and tenacity was learned while she was a law student. She also credits the St. Thomas Law incubator program - L.E.A.D. - for providing the groundwork and mentoring network for her to successfully launch her solo-practice, The Bestman Law Firm.


Eneami plans on continuing her work with a concentration in Elder Law. She sees herself as a public servant who will continue to use her legal platform for the greater good well into the future.

Attorney at Law Magazine is created specifically for  legal professionals providing relevant industry news and trends to the entire legal community.


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St. Thomas More Catholic Law Society Community Outreach: Packaging Food for the Homeless

On February 1, 2018, the St. Thomas More Catholic Law Society hosted its First Spring Meeting and  community pro bono event.

St. Thomas Law students prepared food packages for the homeless. The packages were distributed by Servidores del Servidor a non-profit, Catholic lay ministry dedicated to providing meals and services to the homeless community.

See images from the event below:

The purpose of the St. Thomas More Society is to focus on community service and promote the highest standards of ethics, civility,human dignity, justice, professional knowledge and skill in the practice of law, with the encouragement of traditional Catholic values within the St. Thomas Law Community. One key goal includes conducting an annual Red Mass, reminding us that we should become outstanding members of the legal community, while exercising St. Thomas' Catholic Values.

St.Thomas Law's Human Trafficking Academy Commemorates International Day of Prayer

On February 8th, the Human Trafficking Academy and Campus Ministry joined millions of people of the global faith community on a day of prayer for the victims of human trafficking. 

In 2015, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (PCJP) at the Vatican designated this day as an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. The Human Trafficking Academy, directed by Professor Roza Pati, member of the PCJP, has joined this initiative in line with its social justice mission of educating, researching and raising awareness about the worldwide phenomenon of modern slavery and leave no stone unturned in order to eradicate this affront to human rights and human dignity.

The Human Trafficking Academy commemorated this day with a special mass and prayer service led by Rev. Msgr. Franklyn Casale, President of St. Thomas University. This was followed by a discussion led by Ms. Beatriz Susana Uitts and Father Paul VI Karenga, current J.S.D. candidates of the Intercultural Human Rights Program at St. Thomas Law. Ms. Uitts discussed “Human Trafficking in Cyberspace” and explained how criminals are using the internet to target, entice, groom, and solicit victims for trafficking purposes. Father Paul VI Karenga presented “Trends of Human Trafficking in West Africa” and highlighted some of the key challenges in addressing human trafficking in Africa.

St. Thomas community was joined at this service by a group of high school students from the Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory in Hollywood, whose presence and desire to learn more about preventing recruitment into human trafficking amongst youth through internet was a most welcome treat.

February 8 is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of human trafficking victims, a Sudanese woman kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery. Upon escaping to freedom, she dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering.

Learn more about Human Trafficking Academy at www.humantraffickingacademy.org.

National Champions: St. Thomas Law Beats Harvard and UC Hastings to Win National Trial Team Competition

The St. Thomas University School of Law’s trial team continued its championship run by being crowned the 2018 ABA Labor and Employment Law National Trial Competition champions. This year's national competition was held from January 27-28 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and featured six law schools from around the country - Harvard Law School, Northwestern University School of Law, University of California Hastings College of Law, William and Mary Law School, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, and St. Thomas University School of Law; all champions in their own regions. St. Thomas Law’s team was represented by students Luis Garcia, Karina Harduvel, Jillian Tate, and Chanae Wood. The team earned the trip to New Orleans  by besting Emory University School of Law in the regional competition last October.

VICTORY!
St. Thomas Law’s team was represented by students Jillian Tate, Karina Harduvel, Chanae Wood and Luis Garcia 

 Each round of the competition consisted of the teams representing either the Plaintiff or the Defendant. As plaintiff representatives, the St. Thomas Law team argued to a jury that the Plaintiff, an employee of the Defendant, was discriminated against, and fired for, religious reasons. As representatives of the defendant, the students argued that the Plaintiff was not fired for religious reasons, but rather, because the Plaintiff was harassing other employees.

In the preliminary rounds, St. Thomas competed against Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and Northwestern University School of Law. After winning both rounds, St. Thomas Law faced off against Harvard Law School in the semi-finals. Karina Harduvel and Chanae Wood argued on behalf of the Defendant, GEM Corporation. They prevailed over Harvard Law as jurors stated that St. Thomas Law team members were the best advocates of the competition.

“None of this would be possible without the support of each other and the training from our coaches. said Harduvel. “This was truly a team effort.” Teammate Wood exuded with pride as she also stated what an honor and privilege it was to represent St. Thomas on a national level. 

“Every sacrifice our team made was worth it because together we were able to make history! It is an incredible feeling to be a national champion,” said Wood.

In the final round, St. Thomas Law went head to head against the defending national champion, the University of California Hastings College of Law. Luis Garcia and Jillian Tate argued on behalf of the Plaintiff, Jamie Price, and when it was all said and done, the presiding judge, United States Circuit Court Judge of the Sixth Circuit, Bernice B. Donald, announced St. Thomas Law as the National Champions.

“I am honored and blessed to bring this home,” said Garcia . His teammate Jillian Tate also stated that she was beyond honored that the team was crowned national champions. “All the late nights and countless hours of practice were beyond worth the feeling of hearing our team being called national champions.” said Tate. 

The team was coached by St. Thomas Law alum and litigation managing attorney of the law firm PeytonBolin, PL., Michael Mayer, Esq., Assistant School Board Attorney for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Jeff James Esq., Assistant Public Defender from the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s office, Dionne McDonald-Josephs, and St. Thomas Law Professor Kenya Smith.

“These students deserve this.” said Mayer. “They exemplified the meaning of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. From the beginning, they had one goal in mind and did not let anything get in the way of making that happen. I am so very proud of them.”

Team Coach Jeff James, Esq. also expressed his pride in the St. Thomas Law team and enjoyed watching them transform from law students to attorneys.

Congratulations to St. Thomas Law and the Trial Team organization.

With numerous past awards received, and state and national championships, this newest national championship is yet another reminder of the commitment to excellence in the St. Thomas trial team program. The purpose of the Mock Trial Board is to promote excellence in litigation and trial advocacy skills. Students participate in state, regional and national advocacy competitions, vying for team membership through tryouts. St. Thomas University School of Law trial teams have achieved prominence in numerous competitions.

St. Thomas Law's Human Trafficking Academy Hosts 7th Annual SAO Human Trafficking Forum

Dr. Roza Pati, Director of the Human Trafficking Academy, President Msgr. Franklyn Casale,

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle and Dean Alfredo Garcia

 St. Thomas Law’s Human Trafficking Academy,  in partnership with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, recently hosted the 7th Annual SAO Human Trafficking Forum. 

This year’s theme was “Broadening the Scope: Sexual Orientation, Gender Roles, and Developing the Appropriate Response.” Speakers included Meredith Dank, Ph.D., Research Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and Aspen Hawke, Program Manager for Chrysalis Health in Fort Lauderdale. 

In her opening remarks, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle highlighted the extraordinary work of the prosecuting team of SAO and also praised St. Thomas University and its Human Trafficking Academy for being the leading educational institution in South Florida to address the scourge of human trafficking. 

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle addressing forum attendees

“You really have been the leaders in this way before the rest of us,” she expressed to President Msgr. Franklyn Casale, Dean Alfredo Garcia and Dr. Roza Pati.

President Msgr. Casale, who has been on the forefront of the issue, shared his enthusiasm on the recent partnership between St. Thomas Law’s Human Trafficking Academy and the State Attorney’s Office, and reiterated that “collaboration is the name of the game” in the fight against human trafficking.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Annual Human Trafficking Forum gathers stakeholders and community partners to address human trafficking in Miami-Dade County and South Florida. St. Thomas Law’s Human Trafficking Academy is committed to continue working and collaborating with local leaders to develop cohesive and coherent anti-trafficking strategies.

St.Thomas Law Earns Top National Rankings for Diversity

The 2018 edition of The Princeton Review - Best 169 Law Schools has been released and St. Thomas University School of Law has maintained its Top 10 national ranking for having the
"Greatest Resources for Minority Students" and the "Most Diverse Faculty."

Based on institutional demographic data, as well as on student ratings of whether all students in their law program receive equal treatment by faculty and students, regardless of ethnicity, the survey ranked St. Thomas University School of Law as one of the best institutions to earn a law school degree.

They solicited the opinions of 19,900 students attending these law schools who reported on their experiences at their schools on an 80-question student survey.  The survey asked students about their school's academics, student body, campus life, and their career plans. They also used data on admissions, academics, financial aid, and employment information.

The “Most Diverse Faculty” ranking is based on the percentage of the law school’s faculty that is from a minority group and the student assessment of whether the faculty is made up of a broadly diverse group of individuals.

St. Thomas Law also earned top ranking in preLaw Magazine, where we are nationally ranked Top 5 "Best School for Hispanics." We are one of only two Florida law schools to be highlighted for our diversity.

The newest rankings affirms St. Thomas Law's commitment to every student's success and shines light on the pride we have in our diverse student body.  The recognition is consistent with our mission to provide opportunities to those groups that have been and continue to be underrepresented in the legal profession.

Alumni Spotlight - Tomas Randle LL.M.

St. Thomas Law’s globally acclaimed LL.M./J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights program prides itself in offering its students a unique and challenging academic experience.  Tomas Randle, Esq., who graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Master of Laws in Intercultural Human Rights program in May 2017, reflects on his educational experience at St. Thomas Law. 

Tomas Randle at work at the Public Defender's Office in Buenos Aires, Argentina

For Tomas, being a Fulbright Award recipient from Argentina gave him the opportunity to pursue his LL.M. degree at any university of his choice in the United States. After much thought and deliberation, he elected to attend St. Thomas Law’s LL.M. Program. The Intercultural Human Rights Law Review ranking sixth among all human rights law journals worldwide and the eminent instructors served as the magnet that attracted him to the program. During his study, Tomas had the opportunity to meet people from similar professional backgrounds from all over the world, and the result of sharing the same passion and concerns about human rights and the enriching intellectual experience exceeded his expectations.

"After an intense year of reading, researching and studying about human trafficking, the protection of refugees and human rights and religion, I can only be grateful to Professors Siegfried Wiessner and Roza Pati, for the high quality of the program curriculum and the faculty selected to teach each course," stated Tomas.  “I feel myself confident to deal with the daily issues that arise every day and with the knowledge acquired at St. Thomas University, I can help to enforce the human rights of the voiceless and more vulnerable people of my city."

That city is Buenos Aires, Argentina.  After completing his LL.M. degree, Tomas returned there to continue his legal career as a Public Defender. For Tomas, the knowledge and practical skills he learned in the program have had a meaningful impact in his work. 

The LL.M./J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights program's world-renowned faculty hail from places such as the United Nations, Oxford University, the Human Rights Watch and international courts. Its one-of-a-kind curriculum creates a highly stimulating learning environment for its students.