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SRBLSA EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW BLSA MEMBER. For Immediate Release:

Washington, DC October 9, 2007)--It is with deep regret that we mourn the loss of Georgia State University College of Law (GSU COL) student, Paul Brady, who died Monday evening after a very strong willed and heroic fight for his life. Paul Brady suffered serious injuries last Tuesday morning when he was hit by a truck at the intersection of Piedmont Rd. and Decatur St. in Atlanta. He was taken to Grady Hospital where he was initially listed in critical condition and underwent abdominal surgery. Paul’s initial improvement was stalled by a lung infection and fever that he developed over the past weekend.

Paul, 26 years old, was beginning his first year of law school as a full time student at GSU COL. He is remembered as a God -fearing man, a friendly face, and a person who never met a stranger. Paul left a positive impression with everyone whom he came in contact with.

On, Tuesday, October 09, 2007, the Black Law Students Association at GSU COL distributed memorial ribbons to students and provided greeting cards to present to the family. Additionally, with support from the law school, BLSA at GSU COL has planned a candlelight vigil to take place on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 7:15 p.m. in the second floor courtyard of the school. Many of Paul’s family members plan to be in attendance. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made, but will be posted by the family at http://www.getwellpaul.blogspot.com/ when they are available. For more information, please contact Tiffany Williams at tiffanydwilliams@gmail.com.

On behalf of the National Black Law Student Association, we extend our condolences and prayers to Paul’s family, friends, and colleagues. Although we mourn the manner in which he left us, we must celebrate and remember his life, never forgetting the impact he had on ours. We ask that our membership join the GSU COL community on the evening of October 10, 2007, in thought or prayer for Paul and his family.

Founded in 1968, the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is a nationwide organization formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuates change in the legal community. As the largest student run organization in the country with over 6,000 members, NBLSA includes chapters or affiliates in six different countries including The Bahamas, Nigeria, and South Africa. NBLSA encourages the development of talented, social conscious lawyers of tomorrow.


Eddie L. Koen Jr.
National Chair 2007 – 2008

Brian Baptiste`
Southern Regional Chair 2007 - 2008

Death in Our SRBLSA Family

Together with Georgia State University College of Law, SRBLSA mourns the death of 1L Paul Brady. On October 2, 2007, Paul was hit by a small truck while crossing the street at the intersection of Decatur and Piedmont near Georgia State University in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Paul passed away today, after a short stay at Grady Memorial Hospital. Please make sure to lift up the Brady family in your prayers. For more information, see http://getwellpaul.blogspot.com/

The National Black Law Students Association Calls For Justice in the Jena Six Case

In past weeks and months we have watched events unfold in Jena, Louisiana with heavy hearts. In response to a racial incident arising from nooses being hung from a tree at the local high school, a group of six African-American students got into a fight with a white student, who allegedly had been racially taunting black students in support of the students who hung the nooses. Allegedly, the white student was taken to the hospital treated, released, and reportedly attended a social function later that evening.
While the National Black Law Students Association does not condone violence, the actions of the Jena District Attorney and the Judge in this case have amounted to a gross miscarriage of justice. The six African-American students involved in the altercation were initially charged with attempted second degree murder. On the morning of the trial, the District Attorney reduced the charges from attempted second degree murder to second degree aggravated battery and conspiracy. Aggravated battery in Louisiana law demands the attack be with a dangerous weapon. The prosecutor was allowed to argue to the jury that the tennis shoes worn by Mychal Bell, one of the defendants, could be considered a dangerous weapon.
Therefore, the National Black Law Student urges the Judge to consider all the factors surrounding these events during sentencing of Mychal Bell, the first of the six students to be tried. Additionally, we appeal to the Jena District Attorney, Reed Walters, to drop the charges against the remaining five students.

The National Black Law Students Association dedicated a significant amount of the Charles Hamilton Houston Leadership Weekend to activities surrounding the Jena Six case. On September 20, 2007, hundreds of our members traveled to Jena, Louisiana to protest against the injustice taking place there. In addition, On September 21, 2007, our members rose early for a Jena Six presentation, followed by an intense roundtable discussion of this issue. BLSA leaders discussed the responsibilities of our local chapters in this matter.

In addition to the creative ideas discussed during the Leadership weekend, we are also calling on the Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr to intervene in the Jena Six case to ensure that the defendants’ constitutional right to a fair trial is ensured. The National Black Law Students Association is working with the ACLU of Louisiana to provide pro bono assistance to Mychal Bell and the other defendants in the Jena Six case.

You can contribute to this cause in a variety of ways such as:
1) Writing a letter to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and State Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr to intervene in the Jena Six case. A letter can be emailed to Governor Blanco at contact@la.gov and the State Attorney General can be contacted at Executive@ag.state.la.us.
2) You can also sign a petition demanding justice in the Jena Six case athttp://www.nblsa.org/news/mailinglist/lt/t_go.php?i=196&e=NDEwOTQ=&l=http://colorofchange.org/jena/.

We must all make sure that our communities stay informed of situation going on in Jena, Louisiana. WE MUST NOT BE SILENT ON THIS MATTER!!

U.S. Department of Justice

There are many opportunities available to law students and judicial clerks at the Department of Justice. They are actively seeking applications for the Attorney General's Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program from law students and judicial clerks who are interested in litigation at the federal level and in pursuing careers in legal service.

Each year the Department of Justice hires approximately 150 entry-level attorneys through the Attorney General's Honor Program. The application deadline for the program is Monday, September 17, 2007. Detailed information about the application process, interview schedules and notification about candidate status and offers of employment is available at usdoj.gov/oarm .

CALL FOR NOTES, ARTICLES, AND COMMENTS

The Southern Region Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) Law Journal formally announces its call for Notes, Articles, and Comments to be published in its Third Volume.
The SRBLSA Law Journal is unique in that it attracts the attention of both the academic community and the Black professional community – publication by the Journal provides excellent exposure for authors. Submissions to the Journal may also satisfy the writing requirements for member Law Schools; individuals interested in pursuing this option should contact the Editor-In-Chief for additional information.
In order to be considered for publication, all abstract proposals should be submitted by September 30, 2007. Although we will accept meritable submissions after that date on a case-by-case basis, complying with this deadline will allow the Editorial staff to help authors flesh out their ideas and assist their writing process with suggestions and recommendations.

Camille C. Bent
Editor-in-Chief, SRBLSA Law Journal
eic@srblsalawjournal.org

**CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER PRESIDENTS OR SUB-REGION DIRECTOR FOR MORE DETAILS!