Dean Scott H. Bice - USC Gould School of Law - University of ...

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BOARD OF COUNCILORS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERSThe USC Board of Councilors, which has served forthe past three decades in an unparalleled advisorycapacity to the president of the University, is anintegral component of the on-going success of the LawSchool. In contrast to other USC support groups, whichdraw their membership from the ranks of USC graduatesonly, the board has always consisted of both graduates ofthe University, as well as those who obtained theirdegrees from other prominent institutions.The Board of Councilors formally meets two timesannually, but considers various aspects of the LawSchool's operations throughout the year, to offer suggestionson issues ranging from endowments to continuingeducation efforts. The Board of Councilors continues tobe an important, vital body dedicated to the continuedsuccess of the Law School as it celebrates its centennial.The Board of Councilors is proud to announce theappointment this year of four new members, all ofwhom are Law School graduates: Jean Murrell Adams,Hodge L. Dolle, Stephen P. Rader, and Robert L. Skinner.Jean Murrell Adams '86, heads the litigation departmentat DreamWorks SKG. In that capacity, she oversees allpre-litigation and litigation matters relating to Dream-Works' theatrical, television, and home video divisionsworldwide. An active member of numerous bar associations,she is a former officer of the Black WomenLawyers of Los Angeles and the Black Women LawyersFoundation. She has also served on the Los AngelesCounty Bar Association Commercial Law and BankruptcyCommittee and the State Bar of California EthnicMinority Relations Committee.Hodge L. Dolle '61, has served as chief counsel innumerous eminent domain and inverse condemnationjury trials in California, Nevada, and Texas, representingboth property owners and government bodies. Hisnumerous professional and civic affiliations include hisposition as vice chair of the Los Angeles City Board ofZoning Appeals; his appointment by Los Angeles MayorRiordan to the Mulholland Scenic Parkway DesignReview Board; his membership as a fellow of the AmericanCollege of Trial Lawyers; and numerous AmericanBar Association committees.Stephen P. Rader '81, is the co-founder of Rader ReinfrankInvestors, which manages a private equity fundproviding long term capital, management support andfinancial expertise to emerging growth companies in thecommunications, telecommunications, media and electroniccommerce industries. Prior to his founding of thecompany, he was the managing director of ChartwellPartners, a private investment firm controlled by A. JerroldPerenchio. He also currently serves as director ofOneSoft, TelePacific, and eMind.com.Robert L. Skinner '90, is executive vice president of theTowbes Group, Inc., where he concentrates his practicein complex business litigation, and construction andreal estate law. He also serves on the board of directorsof Montecito Bank & Trust and was named as its GeneralCounsel in 1998. Among his many charitableendeavors is his service on the boards of directors ofCamerata Pacifica, the Boys and Girls Club, and thedevelopment committee of the Santa Barbara Zoo.Jean Murrell Adams '86Hodge L. Dolle '61Stephen P. Rader ‘81Robert L. Skinner '90"I believe that I bring to the Board aunique perspective, which has beenenhanced by my role as a mentor andemployer of USC Law School students,particularly minority and women. I amvery proud of the part I have played intheir lives. This appointment is a greathonor for me and I am looking forward tomaking a significant contribution both tothe Board and the University at large.”“I believe the simplest way to expressmy philosophy of giving to the Universityis to say I'm in good company. TheUniversity of Southern California hasalways depended heavily on loyalalumni for funding. Judging from ourgrowth and ever-increasing reputationfor excellence, it is clear that ourcontributions are in good hands."“My personal debt to USC LawSchool is considerable. Although Ino longer practice law, my legaleducation is an integral part of mysuccess as a venture capitalist. I amhonored to be on the Board of Councilorsand look forward to theopportunity to participate in thelife of the Law School.”"My legal education has served me well,proving invaluable in my present endeavorsas Executive Vice President of The TowbesGroup, Inc., a real estate development companyin Santa Barbara, and as a member ofthe Board of Directors and General Counselof Montecito Bank & Trust. I feel both privilegedand honored to be a part of the Boardof Councilors and look forward to servingthe University in that role."20 USC LAW • SPRING 2000USC LAW • SPRING 200021
JUDGE ROSEMARY BARKETT EXPLORES “HOT TOPICS” OF JUDICIALACTIVISM AND JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IN 1999 ROTH LECTUREThe Honorable Rosemary Barkett,judge of the United States Court ofAppeals for the Eleventh Circuit,addressed what she deemed two of the“hottest topics of the legal moment,” as shedelivered the Lester Roth Lecture on Thursday,October 7, 1999 in Town and Gown.In her lecture, Judge Barkett explored thedual concepts of judicial independence andactivism, which tend to be treated “entirelyseparately - as though one concept hasnothing to do with the other.” According toJudge Barkett, current interest in judicialindependence, as evidenced through theabundance of symposia on the subjectincluding the most comprehensive one,USC Law School’s Judicial Independenceand Accountability Symposium on November20-21, 1999, is partially the result of theprior “hot topic of choice,” judicialactivism. Although Judge Barkett is quickto explain “concerns and complaints aboutjudicial independence or activism are notnew in our history,” she was nonethelesssurprised at their coverage in the media. Ina review of the popular press, Judge Barkettdiscovered that the two topics are rarelydiscussed together and that each of theareas was “value-laden” with judicial independencebeing perceived as “good,” andjudicial activism as “bad.” In her estimation,these labels can be partially attributedto the use of judicial activism as a “conclusionarycatch-all label for ‘bad’ judging,assuming a never stated preexisting definitionthat would somehow be commonlyunderstood.” Alluding to what she deems“the demonization of this phrase,” JudgeBarkett believes that the phrase judicialactivism has come to be accepted withoutquestion as “the equivalent of bad judicialaction when, in fact, every judicial actionoperates within a range of ‘activism.’”Judge Barkett encouraged the audience tochallenge and ultimately dispense withlabels, stating, We have for too long nowcheated ourselves of meaningful debate bypermitting facile but empty phrases to takethe place of sustentative conversations.”Currently presiding judge of the U.S.Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, JudgeBarkett was the state of Florida’s firstfemale chief justice. Born in Mexico, JudgeBarkett became a U.S. citizen beforeembarking on a career teachingelementary and juniorhigh, primarily as a member ofa religious teaching order. Shegraduated summa cum laudefrom Spring Hill College(1967) and received her J.D.from the University of FloridaLaw School, Gainesville(1970), where she was honoredas outstanding senior graduate.Following only eightyears of private civil and triallaw practice in Florida, shewas named to Florida’s fifteenthjudicial circuit in 1979.Three years later, she becamethe administrative judge of thecourt’s civil division, and oneyear later, the court’s chiefjudge. Her career as an appellatejudge began with herappointment in 1984 to the fourth districtcourt of appeal. After only one year, shebecame a justice of the Florida SupremeCourt and in 1992, became the state’s firstfemale chief justice, a position she helduntil her appointment by President Clintonto the United States Court of Appeals in1994. A highly respected jurist known forthe incisiveness of her questions at oralargument and the scholarly sophisticationof her judicial opinions, Judge Barkett hasreceived many distinctions, including sevenhonorary degrees and more than a dozenprestigious awards, which include the ABAMinority Justice Award, the Distinguishedjurist Award from Mississippi State University,and the Latin Business and ProfessionalWomen Lifetime Achievement Award.The annual Roth lecture is a tribute tothe life and career of The Honorable LesterW Roth, 1895-1992, former presiding justiceof the California Court of Appeal for theSecond Appellate District. The lecture isone of a series funded by the Louis and FlorenceCohen Philanthropic Fund of the JewishCommunity Foundation of Los Angeles.Judge Barkettbelieves that thephrase judicialactivism hascome to beaccepted withoutquestion as “theequivalent of badjudicial actionwhen, in fact,every judicialaction operateswithin a rangeof ‘activism.’”CHARTING THE COURSEA SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE ACADEMIC DEANBY SCOTT ALTMAN, FRED H. & VIRGINIA S. BICE PROFESSOR OF LAW AND ASSOCIATE DEAN“Many of us whowork at USCconsider Scottour teacherbecause he hashelped us to growand flourish inour own careers.”– Scott AltmanAs USC Law School celebrates ScottBice’s 20-year deanship, many willpay tribute to his accomplishmentsas a scholar, administrator, fund raiser,leader, teacher, and friend, and will highlightthe important role that Barbara playedin these endeavors. I want to add my ownvoice to those who thank Scott.USC Law School would not be the extraordinarycenter of learning and scholarshipthat we all know today without his long andeffective leadership. His contributions canbe seen in virtually every facet of the institution.I want to emphasize one contributionthat fortunately will continue for many years- Scott Bice’s accomplishments as a teacher.I regret never having been a student inone of Scott’s classes, which, by all accounts,are extraordinary. Although many USC Lawfaculty are popular and effective teachers,Scott Bice is praised more than any otherteacher here for his combination of clarityand creativity. Students respect Scott fordemanding that they work hard, whileinspiring them to accomplish their best. HisTorts class (which he has taught every yearof his deanship) has been described as an ideal way to learneffective legal argument and case analysis. Students leavehis class with a better understanding of professionalism,having seen its virtues so clearly manifest in their teacher.Those students lucky enough to be assigned to Scott’sTorts class are not the only ones who see his skills and commitmentas a teacher. All of us at USC - students, faculty,staff, administrators, and alumni - have benefited fromScott’s teaching. He has provided us with lessons in how tolive honorably, motivate others, think carefully, disagreeagreeably, and most importantly, how to teach well.This last lesson has become increasingly difficult.Good teaching has always required the skills Scott Biceexhibits - careful listening, organized presentation, imaginativeand lively questions, an intuitive feel for what othersunderstand, and demonstrations of respect for students.Lately, however, teachers must also struggle totreat students as students, rather than as consumers.Students often present themselves as consumers. Withtuition at many private law schools over $25,000 per yearand rising, students expect more than knowledge andskills for their money. They want services, ranging fromjob counseling and assistance in finding suitable positions(not just in California but nationwide), to excellent technology(such as fast computers with largemonitors, and well-designed web pageswhere they can find applications to theschool, class schedules and materials, andtheir grades), specialized courses, and individualizedadvice on studying and test-taking.Of course, providing these servicesrequires hiring more administrators, whichincreases tuition costs and heightens students’expectations even further. Part ofScott Bice’s success as a teacher and deanhas been his skill in treating students asconsumers when it is appropriate, insistingthat we give them effective and respectfullydelivered services. At the same time, hedoes not treat students as consumers in theclassroom. He neither presumes that studentsknow best what they need to learn,nor defers to student requests for convenientlypackaged and easily digested lectures.Scott Bice provides students withwhat, in his judgement, they need - challengesat every turn.We also face occasional pressure to treatstudents as reputational enhancements.With the various law school ratings fosteringcompetition for students with high LSAT scores, andmany schools directing their admissions and other policiestoward the ratings, one might lose sight of our dutiesto our students and to the profession. Scott Bice’sinstincts as an excellent teacher have made him a successfuladministrator for facing such challenges. BecauseScott never loses sight of our teaching mission, he recognizesthat selecting the best students and providing themthe best education could often be compromised by cateringto ratings. Although our national ratings have in factbeen quite good, Scott has not emphasized them. Rather,he has been a national leader in resisting this temptationand focusing on our academic goals.Finally, many of us who work at USC consider Scott ourteacher because he has helped us to grow and flourish in ourown careers. By giving us his trust and support, he hasallowed many of us to learn new skills and to pursue seeminglyimpossible goals. But for Scott’s kindness and encouragement,I would not have succeeded so well as a scholar,nor, more recently, have found a way to serve the school sohappily as associate dean. I know that I am hardly alone infeeling this way among those who work here.On behalf of all Scott Bice’s students - in the classroom,and elsewhere - thank you for all you have taught us.22 USC LAW • SPRING 2000USC LAW • SPRING 200023
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Page 5 and 6: Intellectual AdventuresA CENTURY OF
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Page 35 and 36: CLASS OF1974ReunionSam Paz, Cary Lo
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Page 39 and 40: CLASS OF1992WE WISH YOU WELL: As so
Page 41 and 42: years together, Adam Glickman andI
Page 43 and 44: THE GREATNESS OF A LAW SCHOOL IS IN

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