News

On May 28, 2020, President Trump signed an executive order calling for new regulations for social media platforms. Erin Kelley, who teaches Social Media and the Law, offers her perspective.

President Trump’s Executive Order “Preventing Online Censorship” has more political implications than legal ones. It does nothing to change current application of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, but starts building a record that could push Congress to amend the law in the future.

Section 230 is one of the most influential laws shaping the modern internet. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter have billions of users creating rich sites of user-generated content. The law’s protections allow for the fullest freedom of expression possible on these private platforms, as the providers are both protected from publisher liability arising from user-generated content, and also protected from civil lawsuits over wrongfully taking down content.

That second part is particularly explored in the Executive Order. 47 U.S. Code § 230(c)(2)(A) permits interactive computer services the ability to in “good faith” remove or restrict access to “material that the provider or user considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected.”

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — COVID-19 canceled WVU Law’s commencement ceremony on May 15, but it did not cancel celebrating the Class of 2020.  

Instead of walking across the stage in the WVU Creative Arts Center’s Lyell B. Clay Concert Theater, each member of the Class of 2020 is being honored on the law school’s website.

This virtual celebration includes photos of the graduates and recognition of their accomplishments. Students also submitted personal photos, favorite law school memories, their inspiration for becoming a lawyer and messages of thanks to those who helped them along the way.

William Rhee, who was selected Professor of the Year by the Class of 2020, delivered the traditional commencement address in a self-recorded video that is posted online.

PHILADELPHIA — Jeremy Gunn, a 2014 WVU Law graduate, has been selected a Top "40 Under 40" Black Lawyer in Pennsylvania by the National Black Lawyers. 

NBL gives the honor to a select group of attorneys who demonstrate "superior qualifications in leadership skills and performance in their area of legal practice." 

Gunn is an associate at Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Philadelphia, where he focuses on complex commercial litigation for a variety of industries in health, science and technology sectors. 

"I'm thrilled to be selected for this honor," said Gunn. "Shook gives me a platform to help find creative solutions for our clients and provides me with the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced trial attorneys in the country."

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Class of 2020 of the West Virginia University College of Law has selected William Rhee as Professor of the Year and Jennifer Powell as Staff Person of the Year.

It is WVU Law tradition for the Professor of the Year to give the commencement keynote speech. Rhee addressed the Class of 2020 in a video released on May 15.

Rhee has been a member of the faculty since 2008, and Powell has worked in the College’s administration since 2004.

“Professor Rhee is a role model,” said Kiana Bracciodieta, president of the Class of 2020. “He is trustworthy, kind-hearted and supportive. He does just about anything for anyone.”

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A member of the West Virginia University College of Law Class of 2020 is a runner-up for National Jurist Law School Student of the Year.

The magazine selected Hannah Steketee for its annual recognition of exceptional law students because of the range of her accomplishments in and out of school. Just three runners-up—and one winner—are selected nationally.

A recipient of WVU Law’s top academic scholarship, Steketee graduates on May 16 with a J.D./International Law Concentration. This summer, she will make a 4,000-mile journey from West Virginia to clerk for the Honorable Jonathan Woodman of the Palmer Superior Court in Alaska’s Third District.

Steketee is president of the International Law Students Association and captain of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Team. She is a member of the Immigration Law Clinic and the in-house Lugar Trial Association. She is also executive research editor for Volume 122 of the West Virginia Law Review, and a teaching assistant for Legal Analysis, Research and Writing. She has been a Dean’s Fellow peer tutor in criminal law, and she has earned a CALI award for the highest grade in Evidence class.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Professor Valarie Blake has won this year’s Significant Scholarship Award at the West Virginia University College of Law for an article about insurance discrimination.

Blake won for “Ensuring an Underclass: Stigma in Insurance,” which will be published in the Cardozo Law Review this year.

In her article, Blake points out that the cost and coverage of insurance—whether it be car, life, housing, health, or disability insurance—varies by social factors like sexual orientation, age or gender, even though such discrimination is not allowed in other settings. Insurers defend this practice on the basis that some social groups are costlier to insure than others. 

Using social science research, Blake argues that insurers are prone to the same biases as everyone else and are relying on stereotypes, rather than objective math, to decide insurance rates and coverage. The result is that the same social groups who suffer discrimination elsewhere in life also suffer insurance discrimination. Laws and regulations are needed to address and minimize this harm, she asserts.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—Nick Gutmann, a rising third-year student at the West Virginia University College of Law, has been elected by his peers to serve as the next editor-in-chief of the  West Virginia Law Review.

The West Virginia Law Review is a professional legal journal that publishes articles of practical and theoretical value to legal scholars, students, legislators and lawyers. Founded in 1894, it is the fourth oldest student-governed law review in the country. 

As editor-in-chief of volume 123 of the West Virginia Law Review, Gutmann will lead a team of fellow students to review articles and publish three issues during the 2020-21 academic year. He will also take the lead in organizing a symposium and overseeing the law review’s website and online edition.

“It is my hope, as editor-in-chief, to continue the law review’s tradition of publishing exceptional legal scholarship,” Gutmann said. “I also want to dedicate a significant part of my time to implementing a strategic plan, which was developed over the past year with the goal of improving the publication as well as the experience of our members.”

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—The West Virginia University College of Law has earned top national recognition in two areas that prepare students for their careers.

PreLaw Magazine has given WVU Law a grade of A in practical training and environmental law.

For practical training, the magazine looked at WVU Law’s opportunities in clinics, externships, simulation courses, moot court participation and pro bono hours.

WVU Law’s environmental law grade is based on the college’s energy and environmental law curriculum, the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic, the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development, externships and student groups.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—Three exceptional West Virginia University faculty members have been honored with the University’s 2020  Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. This year’s honorees are: 

Vincent Paul Cardi, Bowles Rice Professor of Law, College of Law.  

Dawn Hunter, Associate Professor of Pathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine.

Scott A. Myers, Professor and Peggy Rardin McConnell Endowed Teaching Chair of Communication Studies, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A First Amendment expert with extensive administrative experience at West Virginia University will guide the College of Law as interim dean, an appointment that will likely encompass the next academic year. 

Jackson Kelly Professor John E. Taylor will step into the role on July 1, upon the departure of Gregory Bowman who was recently named dean of the Roger Williams University School of Law. 

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed made the announcement Monday (April 13). 

“While we are sad to see Greg Bowman leave the University after his long tenure here, we wish him well in his new endeavor,” Reed said. “We are confident that that Professor Taylor, a well-respected faculty member and administrator, will bring a steady hand to his leadership role and help propel the law school the forward.”