Francisco Corona, Denver Law LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate and Santiago, Chile, Attorney, Meets With Don Smith

Francisco Corona, a 2003 LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate and attorney in Santiago, Chile, recently met with Don Smith, director of Denver Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Program. 

Mr. Corona is a natural resources law attorney for Carey y Cia, one of the leading law firms in South America. He also serves as an Assistant Professor of Mining Law at the University of Chile School of Law in Santiago.

Mr. Smith said, "It is always a great pleasure, as I travel around the world, to meet with Denver Law LLM graduates. Francisco's practice in Santiago reflects his expertise in the mining field. All of us in Denver wish him much good luck (buena suerte) in his career!" 

Denver Law Environmental Clinic Student to Argue Before U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals

Jenni Barnes, a third year law student in the Environmental Law Clinic at Denver Law, will argue before the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals at a special session of the court to be held in Boulder at 9 am on Thursday. The Court will be sitting at the University of Colorado School of Law.

The case involves a 2007 decision by the National Park Service regarding the management of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Park has an excess of elk, which have degraded the quality of willow and aspen habitat from overgrazing.

The Park Service decided to use "volunteer" sharpshooters to "cull" elk in the Park for the next 20 years. The Environmental Law Clinic's client, WildEarth Guardians, has challenged this decision on the grounds that the government should have considered reintroducing wolves into the Park to restore the natural elk-predator balance. In addition, the Appellant argues that the use of volunteer hunters to cull the elk population violates the Congressional ban on hunting in the Park.

DU Law community members are welcome to attend the 10th Circuit oral arguments. The CU organizers suggest that attendees get there early to ensure that they get through security and get a seat. They also suggest that attendees park in lot 308 for $8 cash/person.

Denver Law Students Elisabeth Hutchinson and Robert N. Miller II win Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Scholarships

Two Denver Law JD students have won scholarships from the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), one of the leading professional natural resources organizations of its kind.

Elisabeth A. Hutchinson was awarded two scholarships from the RMMLF, the Joe Rudd Scholarship as well as a RMMLF Scholarship, Robert N. Miller II was awarded a RMMLF Scholarship. The RMMLF Scholarship program is an especially significant one since the Foundation includes the best natural resources practitioners from the U.S. and Canada as well as from all around the world.

Don Smith, Director of Denver Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program said, "Few scholarships in the natural resources field are as prestigious as those awarded by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.  For that reason, we are particularly proud of Ms. Hutchinson and Mr. Miller's recognition."

Scholarships awarded by the RMMLF support well-qualified law students who have the potential  to make significant contributions to scholarship in natural resources law.  The Rudd Scholarship Program was established in 1980 in honor of Joe Rudd, a prominent natural resources attorney in Alaska. The RMMLF Scholarships were established in 1993.