Judge Carlos Lucero of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Speaks to Sturm College of Law Environmental and Natural Resources Law Students

Recently Judge Carlos Lucero, a member of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, spoke to a gathering of University of Denver Sturm College of Law students from the Environmental and Natural Resources Law program.

Judge Lucero spoke about his involvement with the ABA Rule of Law Initiative's Latin American and Caribbean Division, which supports legal reform efforts and judicial capacity building. He told the gathering of a meeting he had with members of the Chilean Supreme Court at which the group discussed the country's constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment alongside the concept of "absolute rights." Judge Lucero was quite impressed with the Chilean judges' consideration of how these rights are balanced and ultimately implemented.

Judge Lucero, who was appointed to the federal bench in 1995 by President Bill Clinton, also discussed his own experience with U.S. environmental law during the period when he practiced law in Alamosa, Colorado. During his years in private practice, Judge Lucero was involved with water law and public lands issues in particular.

Judge Lucero has a bachelor's degree from Adams State College and a law degree from George Washington University Law School. He served as a law clerk for former Colorado U.S. District Court Judge William E. Doyle from 1964-1965.

(Editor's note: In the top picture, Judge Lucero, far right, and Sturm College of Law Academic Dean Fred Cheever, far left, speak with 1L student John Hedges; in the middle picture, Judge Lucero speaks with Don Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law (ENRL) program; the bottom picture is of Judge Lucero and Lucy Daberkow, Assistant Director for the ENRL.)

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Visits Sturm College of Law; She Addresses High School, College, and Law Students

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke yesterday at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Justice Sotomayor addressed 250 high school and university students and offered her observations about working her way from a humble background to America's highest court.

The students, and others who attended the event, heard Justice Sotomayor talk about the need to work hard and the value of a good education.

Kathleen Nalty, executive director of the Colorado Campaign for Inclusive Excellence, said, "Justice Sotomayor said she didn't want to talk to lawyers, she wanted to talk to students." And that's exactly what Justice Sotomayor did. More about Justice Sotomayor's appearance can be learned by clicking here. A video feed from C-Span is available by clicking here.

The day also included remarks to a gathering of Environmental and Natural Resources Law program students by U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Carlos Lucero. The blog will be reporting soon on Judge Lucero's remarks.

"The Case Against Corporate Social Responsibility:" Wall Street Journal Special Report Examines the CSR Concept

The debate about whether companies have a "corporate social responsibility" (CSR) and if so what that means has been going on for at least a decade. To date, there has been no definitive answer. It is more likely to take the form of "it depends on the circumstances and facts."

The CSR concept has been widely adopted in Europe where consumers and governments have been quick to call companies to task for failing to serve broader interests than just those of shareholders. In March 2010 the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, made a commitment to "renew the EU strategy to promote Corporate Social Responsibility as a key element in ensuring long term employee and consumer trust." Click here to learn more about the Commission's position. However, in the U.S. the rate of acceptance has been somewhat more limited.

In any case, the case for and against CSR continues apace, and anyone involved in representing or working for businesses must be familiar with the concept and what various stakeholders think about it.

The Wall Street Journal has published (Aug. 23, 2010) a special section called "The Case Against Corporate Social Responsibility." The special section, produced in collaboration with the MITSloan Management Review, begins by saying:

"Can companies do well by doing good? Yes--sometimes. But the idea that
companies have a responsibility to act in the public interest and will
profit from doing so is fundamentally flawed."

There are obviously many reports about the value of CSR. But this one, because of its timeliness and the involvement of MITSloan Management Review, deserves a look by anyone interested in CSR.

Speakers Series Established by the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program: First Event Features Former Interior Asst. Secretaries on Sept. 15

The Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program (ENRLP) at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law has announced establishment of a "Speaker Series" that will feature leaders in the environmental and natural resources sectors.

The Speakers Series will kick off on Sept. 15, 2010, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in room 125 with remarks by two former Assistant Secretaries of the U.S. Interior Department, John A. Carver Jr. and Rebecca C. Watson.

Mr. Carver, an emeritus professor who taught at the College of Law from 1972 to 2005, and Ms. Watson, a DU law graduate and now a parter at the Denver-based firm of Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, will allow students to hear about two different periods in the history of the Interior Department.

Mr. Carver, who also served as Undersecretary of the Interior, worked in the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson. From 1966 to 1972 he was a member of the Federal Power Commission. Last year Mr. Carver and the ENRL collaborated on producing an oral history of his life. The oral history can be accessed by clicking here.

Ms. Watson served in the administration of President George W. Bush, where she worked with Interior Secretary Gale Norton, also a DU law graduate. Ms. Watson served as the Assistant General Counsel for Energy Policy in the George H. W. Bush Administration. She has been a partner and counsel in two Washington, D.C. law firms in addition to practicing in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. Ms. Watson will be the Sturm College of Law Distinguished Natural Resources Practitioner in Residence in 2011.

Among other things Mr. Carver and Ms. Watson will reflect on the major issues they faced during their tenures at the Department of Interior and what lessons they took away from those experiences.

"The ENRLP is delighted to be hosting Mr. Carver and Ms. Watson," Don C. Smith, ENRLP director said. "Their insights about the Department of Interior will provide students with a great deal of context and insight into the department, how it operates, and how it has changed over time. To host two former assistant secretaries is a great honor for the Sturm College of Law, and I would encourage all students to learn from these two impressive individuals."

May 2010 LLM Graduate Captain Micah M. Miller Resumes Duties With the U.S. Marine Corps as Uniformed Environmental Attorney

As an active duty Marine Corps Judge Advocate, Captain Micah M. Miller has already served as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to advise on operational law matters.

In early 2009, he was selected to return to school to obtain an advanced law degree in environmental and natural resources law and policy. Upon his May 2010 graduation from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Graduate Program with an LL.M., Captain Miller was assigned to the Eastern Area Counsel Office (EACO) located in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The mission of EACO is to provide comprehensive and timely legal advice and support to the commanders of Marine Corps installations in the areas of business and commercial law including environmental law, land use, civilian personnel law, procurement and fiscal law, government ethics, as well as working with the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys in litigation affecting the Marine Corps.

From reviewing draft environmental assessments to interpreting state environmental statutes, Captain Miller is currently responsible for numerous environmental subjects as they pertain to Marine Corps installations in the southeastern United States. Captain Miller is also active in ongoing DoJ litigation concerning Camp Lejeune water.

Don C. Smith, Director of the ENRL program, said, "Captain Miller added a great deal of richness to the ENRL graduate program. His experience and observations, informed by his role as a member of the Marine Corps Judge Advocate General, were appreciated by all of us in the program. He is destined to contribute enormously to the U.S., and all of us in the ENRL who knew him as a student or a colleague wish him good luck in all his future endeavors."

Judge Carlos Lucero, United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge, to Speak at College of Law August 26

U.S. Tenth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals Judge Carlos F. Lucero (third from left in the picture from a recent meeting with representatives from Mexico's Federal Judicial Council) will speak from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Aug. 26 in room 259 to Sturm College of Law students. Judge Lucero was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1995 by President Bill Clinton.

Judge Lucero will speak in particular about his experience working with Latin American federal judges on matters related to environmental and natural resources cases. As member of the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Division, Judge Lucero has been actively involved with Latin American colleagues. The Latin America and Caribbean Division has conducted a variety of programs, including advancing legal education and legal profession reforms, promoting mediation, and alternative dispute resolution to improve access to justice. It has also provided neutral advice and support to restructure laws in a number of substantive areas, including arbitration and commercial mediation.

Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program, said, "It will be a great honor for the college of law to host Judge Lucero, one of the most highly respected judges in the United States. His observations about environmental and natural resources law will be of enormous interest to DU students since he has considerable experience working with and understanding the relevant laws not only in the U.S. but in Latin America as well."

All students are invited to hear Judge Lucero. Food will be served.

Antonio La Viña, DU Guest Professor and Key Figure in the Philippines Delegation to Climate Change Talks: "Climate Change: Up Close and Personal"

Dr. Antonio La Viña, dean of the Ateneo School of Government in the Philippines and widely respected expert on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, taught recently at the Sturm College of Law.

Dr. La Viña was part of the teaching team for "Community Expectations in Natural Resource Development Projects," a pioneering one-week short course offered by the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy program at the College of Law.

Recently Dr. La Viña took a thoughtful look at his 20 year involvement in climate change issues. During this period he has served, among other things, as the chief negotiator for the Philippines for what eventually became the Kyoto Protocol.

For those interested in climate change the piece, which was published recently in The Manila Standard Today, is well worth reading. It can be accessed by clicking here.