leading the way - St. Thomas University

Center for Earth Jurisprudence
Thanks to a $1 million grant from
the estate of Marie V. Gendron to
the Sisters of St. Dominic of
Adrian, Michigan, St. Thomas
University School of Law and
Barry University Law School have
jointly created the nation’s first
Center for Earth Jurisprudence.
Based out of St. Thomas
University’s Miami Gardens
campus, the center will look at law
and governance from an earthcentered—rather
than a humancentered—perspective.
“This landmark collaboration
will enable both of our law
schools to uniquely prepare their
students for the unprecedented
ecological legal challenges they
will face in the coming years,” said
Msgr. Casale. Earth jurisprudence
is premised on the concept that
law and governance is meant to
protect the well-being and integral
functioning of the planet so that
all components of the earth
community live in healthy
ecosystems and maintain sustained
diversity of the natural world.
Using an interdisciplinary
approach, part of the mission of
the center, therefore, will be
research into developing a
philosophy and practice of law
that is responsive to ecological
and ethical imperatives related to a
deteriorating state of planetary
systems in the 21st century.
The new center is directed by
Sister Patricia Siemen, OP, JD, and
opened its doors in Fall 2006, on
the campus of St. Thomas
University School of Law.
“The work of this center will be
unique within legal education in
the United States,” Siemen stated.
“From a sacramental perspective
of the natural world and Catholic
social teaching on ecology and
care for the ‘commons,’ the center
will further the 2004 Adrian
Dominican Congregational Vision
to ‘seek truth, make peace,
reverence life,’ and discover what
it means to ‘live right relationships
with earth community.’
The Center hosted its first
international conference April 12-
14, 2007 at the law school, and
plans are already in motion for the
2nd annual conference to be held
in 2008 at Barry University’s law
school in Orlando.
Law School
Mourns Passing of
Prof. Ken Feldman
Professor Feldman will be
remembered as a man who
embodied the mission of the law
school and who was loved by the
students, faculty, and staff. He was
profoundly committed to the spirit
of service and dedication to others.
As Director of Pro Bono Services,
he helped students respond to the
needs of underprivileged persons.
He lived his convictions, building
homes with Habitat for Humanity
and assisting shelters such as
Women in Distress- eventually
being honored with the Miami-
Dade County Pro Bono Award.
He was a respected criminal
litigator and an adjunct professor
here for over a decade.
He never said “no” when it came
to assisting others in need- and he
will be remembered warmly for his
great enthusiasm and compassion.
The Law School will hold a
memorial service June 11th and will
dedicate an orchid garden in his
memory.
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St. Thomas University School of Law Magazine