Social Justice
At Detroit Mercy Law, you will join a community committed to social justice.
Detroit Mercy Law, inspired by the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, educates lawyers who are committed to the pursuit of justice, service to others, and the highest standards of the legal profession.
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Mini-Clinics for First-Year Students
As part of our commitment to providing service learning experiences for students from day one, we offer mini-clinics for first-year students. Our mini-clinics, rooted in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions of caring for those with the least resources and greatest need, help our students develop legal, leadership, and community service skills. In mini-clinics, first-year students are trained and supervised by attorneys in the legal community and help clients with a variety of matters.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MINI-CLINICS
“We helped Detroit residents who were struggling to navigate the judicial system. It was rewarding to use what we learned in the classroom and help people in the community.”
Bridget Underhill '20
“Helping people is really what practicing law is all about, and the mini-clinics helped me understand how important pro bono work is for the community.”
Sydney Fontanilla '22
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Community Outreach
The Detroit Mercy Law community comes together and gives back through service opportunities. We assist with criminal expungements, build community gardens, organize beautification projects, distribute blankets to homeless veterans, help during crisis, and partner with the Pope Francis Center adjacent to the law school.
“Detroit Mercy Law offers endless opportunities that remind me of why I want to be an attorney. When I reach out a helping hand to my community, it reminds me that the core of my passion is to help others regain their strength.”
Randa Asfar '20
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Clinics for Upper-Level Students
At Detroit Mercy Law, all students are guaranteed a clinical experience. Our clinical program, founded in 1965, it is among the first clinical programs in the nation. We offer twelve clinics for our upper-level students to gain hands-on lawyering skills while advocating for real clients who otherwise may not have access to legal services. While we are proud that our clinical program is recognized nationally, we are even prouder of the important work our students do through the clinics.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CLINICAL PROGRAMS
"My clinical experience was the perfect reminder of why I wanted to go to law school in the first place, to help others in need."
Najah Allaham '20
"Participating in a clinic is life changing. You get the opportunity to make a real difference."
Lorena Vicky '19
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Social Justice in the Classroom
Detroit Mercy Law is dedicated to providing every student with the support needed to be successful. Our accessible faculty members provide an intellectually-demanding course of study and are readily available to answer questions and serve as mentors.
“I get to bring a different type of real-world experience. A lot of [other adjuncts] are in firms, but there are so many lawyers who work in public service, so, as an adjunct, I get to bring that additional perspective to the classroom.”
Charity Dean '15, Director, Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity, City of Detroit
Beyond her practice, Jennifer Dukarski brings her background as an engineer directly to students in the classroom as an adjunct professor, teaching Emerging Mobility Technology. “I’ve been impressed by the passion for the topic and the thoughtfulness of the students in the concepts of integrating mobility into our communities without abandoning the most vulnerable stakeholders,” she commented. “Serving as an adjunct has inspired me and challenged me to make sure I’m keeping social justice on my radar in my practice.”
Jennifer Dukarski '10, Adjunct Professor, Detroit Mercy Law
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Student Organizations for Social Justice
Student organizations at Detroit Mercy Law provide students with the opportunity to work together to advance social justice and give back to the community.
- American Constitution Society (ACS)
- Arab American Law Student Association (AALSA)
- Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
- Environmental Law Society
- Hispanic & Latino/a Law Students Association (HiLLSA)
- Immigration Law Association (ILA)
- Lawyers Lending Hands
- OutLaws (serves the LGBTQIA+ community)
- South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA)
- Chaldean American Law Student Association (CALSA)
- Muslim Law Student Association (MLSA)
- Women’s Law Caucus (WLC)
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Externships
Detroit Mercy Law supports students who want to work for public interest groups through the externship program. Students receive support securing placements and earn academic credit for their work. Students may also be eligible to receive financial support for completing a public service externship through the work-study program.
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Voice for Justice Fellowships
Detroit Mercy Law supports students making a difference through the Voice for Justice Fellowship, which had funded more than 100 law students to serve locally and throughout the world.
Local
- ACLU, Detroit
- Chaldean Federation of America, West Bloomfield
- Detroit Center for Family Advocacy, Detroit
- Freedom House, Detroit
- Michigan Children’s Law Center, Southgate
- Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Lansing
- Michigan Poverty Law Program & Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Ypsilanti
- Misdemeanor Defenders Office, Detroit
- Salvation Army William J. Booth Legal Clinic, Detroit
- State Appellate Defender Office, Detroit
- Sugar Law Center, Detroit
"I am committed to a career in Public Interest Law because it is still necessary. It is necessary for people to help those that are suffering and to challenge the unjust laws and policies that discriminate against and jeopardize the future of vulnerable groups. I will always fight for and protect those subjected to unequal treatment."
Abrial Neely '23, Neighborhood Defender Service, Detroit
Around the World
- African Women’s Lawyer’s Association, Ghana
- American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence, Washington, D.C.
- Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Washington, D.C.
- Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, Immigration and Refugee Division, Toronto Ontario
- International Justice Mission, Bangalore, India
- Public Defender Service, Washington, D.C.
- Unitarian Universalist Office, United Nations
- International Refugee Assistance Program, Amman, Jordan
"As a Voice for Justice Fellow, I interned with Women’s Legal Aid Clinic in Kigali, Rwanda, called Haguruka-NGO. I am proud of my school and our commitment 'to the pursuit of justice, service to others, and the highest standards of the legal profession'. Fully embracing the cliché of making a difference, I wanted to do just that on behalf of my school."
Katya Rowley '22 Dual JD, Haguruka-NGO, Rwanda
Statements from members of our community about our commitment to fighting for social justice
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Former Dean Phyllis L. Crocker joins Law Deans in joint statement on 2020 Election and Events at the Capitol
January 12, 2021
Law Deans Joint Statement on the 2020 Election and Events at the Capitol
We are deans of a diverse range of law schools across the country. We do not use our positions to advance our individual views. But we do have an obligation to support the rule of law and preserve the integrity of the legal profession. On rare occasions, despite our differing situations and views, that obligation requires us to speak as one to defend the fundamental commitments of our profession. This is such a moment.The violent attack on the Capitol was an assault on our democracy and the rule of law. The effort to disrupt the certification of a free and fair election was a betrayal of the core values that undergird our Constitution. Lives were lost, the seat of our democracy was desecrated, and our country was shamed.
Many lawyers and judges worked honestly and in good faith, often in the face of considerable political pressure, to ensure the 2020 election was free and fair. However, we recognize with dismay and sorrow that some lawyers challenged the outcome of the election with claims that they did not support with facts or evidence. This betrayed the values of our profession. Our profession demands that when lawyers pursue legal action, they must bring claims in good faith, grounded in facts and evidence, and demonstrate respect for the legal system. Only then can lawyers fulfill their responsibilities as lawyers and public citizens to promote public confidence in the rule of law and the justice system — duties that extend to all professional activities, whether lawyers are representing a client or not. The rule of law is as much a touchstone of our profession as it is of our Constitution.
As law deans, our mission is to train the next generation of leaders to uphold the core values of our profession and sustain the rule of law. This should be a moment of reflection for legal educators and members of the legal profession. A sustained effort will be necessary to repair and preserve our precious democratic institutions. As legal educators and lawyers ourselves, we must redouble our efforts to restore faith in the rule of law and the ideals of the legal profession. We have enormous faith in the law’s enduring values and in our students, who will soon lead this profession. We call upon all members of the legal profession to join us in the vital work ahead.
Signed,
Alicia Ouellette, President and Dean, Albany Law School
Robert Dinerstein, Acting Dean and Professor of Law, American University, Washington College of Law
Jace C. Gatewood, Dean and CEO, Atlanta's John Marshall Law School
Melanie Leslie, Dean and Samuel Belkin Professor of Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University
Vincent Rougeau, Dean and Professor, Boston College Law School
Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Dean and Professor of Law, Boston University School of Law
Michael T. Cahill, President, Joseph Crea Dean & Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Sean M. Scott, President and Dean, California Western School of Law
J. Rich Leonard, Dean, Campbell Law School
Reynaldo Anaya Valencia, Dean and Professor of Law, Capital University Law School
Matt Parlow, Dean and Donald P. Kennedy Chair in Law, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law
Anita K. Krug, Dean and Professor, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Charles H. Rose III, Dean and Professor of Law, Claude W. Pettit College of Law, Ohio Northern University
Lee Fisher, Dean and Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University
Gillian Lester, Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law, Columbia Law School
Jens David Ohlin, Interim Dean & Professor of Law, Cornell Law School
Joshua P. Fershée, Dean and Professor of Law, Creighton University School of Law
Henry C. Strickland, Dean, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University
Mary Lu Bilek, Dean and Professor of Law, CUNY School of Law
Rodney A. Smolla, Dean & Professor of Law, Delaware Law School, Widener University
Jennifer Rosato Perea, Dean and Professor, DePaul University College of Law
Jerry L. Anderson, Dean and Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law, Drake University Law School
Kerry Abrams, James B. Duke and Benjamin N. Duke Dean and Professor of Law, Duke University School of Law
April M. Barton, Dean and Professor of Law, Duquesne University School of Law
Leticia M. Diaz, Dean and Professor of Law, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Barry University
Horace Anderson, Dean and Professor of Law, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University
Luke Bierman, Dean and Professor of Law, Elon University School of Law
Mary Anne Bobinski, Dean and Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law
Deidré A. Keller, Dean and Professor of Law, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law
C. Peter Goplerud, Dean and Professor of Law, Florida Coastal School of Law
Antony Page, Dean & FIU Foundation Professor of Law, Florida International University College of Law
Erin O’Hara O'Connor, Dean and McKenzie Professor of Law, Florida State University College of Law
Matthew Diller, Dean and Paul Fuller Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law
William M. Treanor, Dean & Executive Vice President, Georgetown Law
Leslie E. Wolf, Interim Dean and Distinguished University Professor, Georgia State University College of Law
Eric C. Christiansen, Dean of the Law School (Interim, 2020-21), Professor of Law, Golden Gate University, School of Law
Jacob Rooksby, Dean and Professor of Law, Gonzaga University School of Law
John F. Manning, Morgan and Helen Chu Dean and Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
Danielle Holley-Walker, Dean and Professor of Law, Howard University School of Law
Austen Parrish, Dean and James H. Rudy Professor of Law, Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Karen E. Bravo, Dean and Professor of Law, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Gordon Smith, Dean and Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University
Jennifer J. Johnson, Dean and Erskine Wood Sr. Professor of Law, Lewis and Clark Law School
Matthew R. Lyon, Vice President & Dean, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law
Colin Crawford, Dean and Professor of Law, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville
Lee Ann Wheelis Lockridge, Interim Dean and Professor of Law, Louisiana State University Law Center
Michael Waterstone, Dean and Professor of Law, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Michael J. Kaufman, Dean and Professor of Law, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Madeleine M. Landrieu, Dean and Judge Adrian G. Duplantier Distinguished Professor of Law, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Gail Prudenti, Dean, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University
Cathy Cox, Dean and Professor of Law, Mercer University School of Law
Lincoln L. Davies, Dean & Frank R. Strong Chair in Law, Michael E. Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University
Melanie B. Jacobs, Interim Dean & Professor of Law, Michigan State University College of Law
Patricia Bennett, Dean & Professor of Law, Mississippi College School of Law
Anthony Niedwiecki, President and Dean, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Scott P. Brown, President and Dean, New England Law/Boston
Anthony W. Crowell, Dean and President, New York Law School
Trevor Morrison, Dean and Eric M. and Laurie B. Roth Professor of Law, New York University School of Law
James Hackney, Dean and Professor of Law, Northeastern University School of Law
Cassandra L. Hill, Dean and Professor of Law, Northern Illinois University College of Law
James Speta, Interim Dean, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
José Roberto (Beto) Juárez, Jr., Dean and Professor of Law, Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law
Jim Roth, Dean and Professor of Law, Oklahoma City University School of Law
Danielle M. Conway, Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law, Penn State Dickinson Law
Hari M. Osofsky, Dean, Penn State Law and Penn State School of International Affairs Distinguished Professor of Law, Professor of International Affairs, and Professor of Geography
Paul L. Caron, Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean and Professor of Law, Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law
Fernando Moreno Orama, Dean, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Jennifer Gerarda Brown, Dean and Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University School of Law
Gregory W. Bowman, Dean & Professor of Law, Roger Williams University School of Law
David Lopez, Co-Dean & Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School
Kimberly M. Mutcherson, Co-Dean & Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School
Elizabeth Kronk Warner, Dean, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah
William P. Johnson, Dean and Professor of Law, Saint Louis University School of Law
Judith Daar, Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold Dean and Professor of Law, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University
Douglas J. Sylvester, Dean and Professor of Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
Anna M. Han, Interim Dean, Santa Clara University School of Law
Camille M. Davidson, Dean and Professor of Law, School of Law, Southern Illinois University
Martin H. Brinkley, Dean and Arch T. Allen Distinguished Professor, School of Law, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Annette E. Clark, Dean and Professor of Law, Seattle University School of Law
Kathleen M. Boozang, Dean and Professor of Law, Seton Hall University School of Law
Jennifer M. Collins, Judge James Noel Dean and Professor of Law, SMU Dedman School of Law
John Pierre, Chancellor, Southern University Law Center
Susan Westerberg Prager, President and Dean, Southwestern Law School
Michael A. Simons, Dean and John V. Brennan Professor of Law, St. John’s University School of Law
Jenny S. Martinez, Richard E. Lang Professor of Law & Dean, Stanford Law School
Michèle Alexandre, Dean and Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law
Andrew Perlman, Dean & Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School
Craig M. Boise, Dean and Professor of Law, Syracuse University College of Law
Gregory N. Mandel, Dean & Peter J. Liacouras Professor of Law, Temple University, Beasley School of Law
Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School
Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters, Dean and C. Blake McDowell, Jr. Professor of Law, The University of Akron School of Law
Mark E. Brandon, Dean and Thomas E. McMillan Professor of Law, The University of Alabama School of Law
Katharine Traylor Schaffzin, Dean & Professor of Law, The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
Sergio Pareja, Dean, The University of New Mexico School of Law
Benjamin Barros, Dean and Professor of Law, The University of Toledo College of Law
Lyn Suzanne Entzeroth, Dean and Dean John Rogers Endowed Chair, The University of Tulsa College of Law
Daniel M. Filler, Dean and Professor of Law, Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Drexel University
Elena B. Langan, Dean and Professor of Law, Touro Law Center
David D. Meyer, Dean and Mitchell Franklin Professor of Law, Tulane University Law School
Theresa Beiner, Dean & Nadine Baum Distinguished Professor of Law, UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law
Kevin R. Johnson, Dean, UC Davis School of Law
Jennifer L. Mnookin, Dean and Ralph and Shirley Shapiro Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law
Darby Dickerson, Dean and Professor of Law, UIC John Marshall Law School, The University of Illinois at Chicago
Barbara Glesner Fines, Dean & Rubey M. Hulen Professor of Law, UMKC School of Law
Aviva Abramovsky, Dean and Professor of Law, University at Buffalo School of Law, The State University of New York
Marc L. Miller, Dean & Ralph W. Bilby Professor of Law, University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Margaret Sova McCabe, Dean & Professor of Law, University of Arkansas School of Law
Ronald Weich, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Baltimore School of Law
David L. Faigman, Chancellor & Dean and John F. Digardi Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California Hastings College of the Law
Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law
L. Song Richardson, Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law, University of California, Irivine School of Law
Thomas J. Miles, Dean and Clifton R. Musser Professor of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Law School
Verna L. Williams, Dean and Nippert Professor of Law, University of Cincinnati College of Law
S. James Anaya, Dean and University Distinguished Professor, University of Colorado Law School
Eboni S. Nelson, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law
Andrew Strauss, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Dayton School of Law
Bruce P. Smith, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Phyllis L. Crocker, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Laura Ann Rosenbury, Dean and Levin, Mabie & Levin Professor of Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law
Peter B. Rutledge, Dean, University of Georgia School of Law
Camille A. Nelson, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law
Leonard M. Baynes, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center
Jerrold Long, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Idaho College of Law
Vikram David Amar, Dean and Iwan Foundation Professor of Law, University of Illinois College of Law
Stephen W. Mazza, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Kansas School of Law
Mary J. Davis, Dean and Ashland-Spears Distinguished Research Professor of Law, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law
Donald B. Tobin, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Eric J. Mitnick, Dean & Professor of Law, University of Massachusetts School of Law
Anthony E. Varona, Dean and M. Minnette Massey Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law
Mark D. West, Dean and Nippon Life Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School
Garry W. Jenkins, Dean & William S. Pattee Professor of Law, University of Minnesota Law School
Susan H. Duncan, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Mississippi
Lyrissa Lidsky, Dean & Judge C.A. Leedy Professor of Law, University of Missouri School of Law
Richard Moberly, Dean and Richard C. & Catherine S. Schmoker Professor of Law, University of Nebraska College of Law
Daniel W. Hamilton, Dean & Richard J. Morgan Professor of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law
Megan Carpenter, Dean and Professor of Law, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
Michael S. McGinniss, Dean and Professor of Law, University of North Dakota School of Law
Katheleen R. Guzman, Interim Dean and Professor, University of Oklahoma College of Law
Marcilynn A. Burke, Dean and Dave Frohnmayer Chair in Leadership and Law, University of Oregon School of Law
Theodore W. Ruger, Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Amy J. Wildermuth, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Vivian I. Neptune, Dean, University of Puerto Rico School of Law
Wendy C. Perdue, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Richmond School of Law
Robert Schapiro, Dean and Professor of Law, University of San Diego School of Law
Susan H. Freiwald, Dean and Professor of Law, University of San Francisco School of Law
William C. Hubbard, Dean and Professor of Law, University of South Carolina School of Law
Neil Fulton, Dean, University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law
Andrew T. Guzman, Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law, and Professor of Law and Political Science, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Robert K. Vischer, Dean and Mengler Chair in Law, University of St. Thomas School of Law
Douglas Blaze, Interim Dean and Art Stolnitz and E.O. Overton Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
Renée McDonald Hutchins, Dean & Rauh Chair of Public Interest Law, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
Michael Hunter Schwartz, Dean and Professor of Law, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Risa Goluboff, Dean and Arnold H. Leon Professor of Law and Professor of History, University of Virginia School of Law
Mario L. Barnes, Toni Rembe Dean and Professor of Law, University of Washington School of Law
Daniel P. Tokaji, Fred W. & Vi Miller Dean and Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin Law School
Klint Alexander, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Wyoming College of law
Chris Guthrie, Dean, Vanderbilt Law School
Thomas McHenry, President and Dean, Vermont Law School
Mark C. Alexander, Arthur J. Kania Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Jane H Aiken, Dean and Professor of Law, Wake Forest Law School
Carla D. Pratt, Dean and Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law
Brant J. Hellwig, Dean and Professor of Law, Washington and Lee University School of Law
Nancy Staudt, Dean and Howard & Caroline Cayne Distinguished Professor of Law, Washington University School of Law
Richard A. Bierschbach, Dean and Professor of Law, Wayne State University Law School
James McGrath, Dean and President, Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
Sudha Setty, Dean and Professor of Law, Western New England University School of Law
Allen K. Easley, Dean & Professor of Law, Western State College of Law at Westcliff University
Brian Gallini, Dean & Professor of Law, Willamette University College of Law
Benjamin Spencer, Dean & Chancellor Professor, William & Mary Law School
John E. Taylor, Interim Dean and Jackson Kelly Professor of Law, WVU College of Law
Heather K. Gerken, Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law, Yale Law School
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Fighting for Justice: A Statement from former Dean Phyllis L. Crocker
Ten days since George Floyd was killed and my heart continues to break for Mr. Floyd and for the devastation his death is causing his family, his community, our community, our nation, and our world. Our anger, fear, frustration, and outrage are both appropriate and inadequate. I join President’s Garibaldi’s call for us all to vote—vote to make a positive difference. I know voting is not enough but it is one action we can all take. The BLSA E-Board identified additional actions—please read their important letter.
As a community we stand for justice, for equality, and for peace. As lawyers and as students studying to become lawyers, we have a special obligation and privilege to use our skills to fight for justice. It is not always easy, but it is always worth it. You are needed now more than ever.
Phyllis L Crocker
Dean and Professor of Law
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A letter in solidarity from the Detroit Mercy Law Diversity Committee on the attack in Georgia
The most recent acts of violence against the Asian American Community have forced us, yet again, to witness the impact of white supremacy and domestic terrorism on Communities of Color. The tragic hate crime in the Metro Atlanta area deprived us of the lives of Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, and Yong Ae Yue. The murders of eight people, most of whom were Asian women, reflect an increase in xenophobic and misogynistic violence against the Asian American Community in recent months. We acknowledge that although there has been a 150% uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans in the past year, the xenophobic, misogynistic, and perpetual foreigner ideologies that underlie this violence predate the pandemic and are emblematic of the larger structural inequities that have plagued this country for centuries. Unfortunately, law enforcement’s remarks that the suspect’s acts were potentially the result of a “really bad day,” as opposed to evidence of a hate crime, reflect deeply embedded institutional biases that serve to erase and devalue the lives of People of Color, result in the disparate treatment of persons by law enforcement in this country, and reverberate throughout our other institutions as well. We must make a concerted and intentional effort to identify and root out dangerous ideologies and systemic biases to progress as a unified nation.
Here, at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, we denounce all forms of discriminatory violence and stand in solidarity with the Asian American Community. We also reaffirm our commitment to working towards an America dedicated to justice, one in which people do not have to live in fear of violence or persecution.
During these tragic times, it is important for us to not only speak out against these acts of violence, but to uplift members of the Asian American Community. The plight of Asian Americans is intrinsically bound to that of other Communities of Color. Detroit’s own Grace Lee Boggs was the embodiment of intersectional allyship. It is through her activism that we saw significant gains in labor and civil rights for all Detroiters. We can all learn from her teaching and try to build upon her work.
We’ve attached resources to help guide us.
Learn:
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/12/covid-19-fueling-anti-asian-racism-and-xenophobia-worldwide
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/us/chinese-coronavirus-racist-attacks.html
- https://www.thecut.com/2021/02/the-us-is-seeing-a-massive-spike-in-anti-asian-hate-crimes.html
Donate:
- https://www.heartofdinner.org/
- https://secure.donationpay.org/aajc/
- https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate
- https://www.welcometochinatown.com/our-mission
Erin Archerd, Associate Professor of Law
Catherine Archibald, Associate Professor of Law
Julia Belian, Professor of Law
Richard Broughton, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Professor of Law
Fatmeh Cheaib, Student Member of the Diversity Committee
Phyllis L Crocker, Dean and Professor of Law
Cara Cunningham Warren, Associate Professor of Law
Melissa Eckhause, Visiting Assistant Professor
Jordan Hall, Director of Student Affairs, Campus Equity and Inclusion
Jacqueline Hand, Professor of Law
Troy Harris, Professor of Law
Grace Henning, Communications Specialist
Jelani Jefferson Exum, Philip J. McElroy Professor of Law
Megan Jennings, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Shamaila Khan, Assistant Dean and Registrar
Cristina Lockwood, Associate Professor of Law
Tanya Lundberg, Assistant Dean, Career Services & Outreach
Karen McDonald Henning, Associate Professor of Law
Patrick Meyer, Associate Professor of Law & Law Library Director
Alex Meyers, Assistant Director of Admissions & Diversity
Andrew Moore, Professor of Law
Deborah Paruch, Professor of Law
Michelle Richards, Associate Professor of Law
Daniel Rosenbaum, Visiting Assistant Professor
Jessica Rouser, Assistant Director of Law Financial Aid
Leslie Scott, Assistant Professor of Law
Connor Salanger, Assistant Director of Career Services
Elizabeth Sherowski, Visiting Assistant Professor
Nicholas J. Schroeck, Associate Dean of Experiential Education
Julie St John, Assistant Professor of Comparative Legal Writing and Research
Alexander Vernon, Professor of Law, Director of the Immigration Law Clinic
Stephen Wilks, Associate Professor of Law
Stephanie Winbigler, Director of Admissions
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Statement from Faculty, Administration, and Staff
Statement of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” — Desmond Tutu
We, as faculty, administrators, and staff of University of Detroit Mercy Law School, recognize that the brutal killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor that have recently come to light are a part of our painful history of racial oppression from the start of slavery 400 years ago through to the present day. Specifically, we recognize:
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That we all have a responsibility to address the intolerable institutional racism that infects our country;
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That the institutional racism infecting our society at every level must be addressed;
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That this institutional racism is rooted in the sin of slavery;
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That our legal system, including Jim Crow Laws, redlining, our criminal laws, and our justice system as a whole, has reinforced racism and oppressed Black individuals throughout our history;
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That the devastating impact of Covid-19 on our Black and Brown communities in Southeast Michigan is directly linked to this history of racism and oppression; and
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That silence and inaction in the face of this institutional racism and the brutalities inflicted on Black individuals in our country cannot be tolerated.
We recognize that the impact of this systemic racism and brutality is not only felt outside of our Law School but is a reality that our students bring into the classroom and our Law School every day. We are therefore committed to taking steps to ensure an inclusive learning experience for all our students that recognizes this reality. Specifically, we commit to:
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Finding ways to incorporate into our courses an understanding of racial justice and the role race has played in our legal system;
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Engaging in training about cultural competency so that we can effectively teach all of our students;
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Investigating all aspects of our program of legal education – including admissions, financial aid, bar success, career placement, curriculum, and alumni relations – to determine where institutional racism has an impact and to taking steps to eradicate that impact;
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Prioritizing the hiring of persons of color;
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Prioritizing the recruitment of students of color; and
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Providing space for students to share their experiences and concerns about our learning environment, and actively listening to those concerns.
As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” We all have a role to play in dismantling the system of racial oppression that has infected our society and we commit to taking affirmative steps towards its eradication both within our own walls and in the world beyond. By signing below, we pledge our support for these efforts.
Erin Archerd, Associate Professor of Law
Catherine Archibald, Associate Professor of Law
Julia Belian, Professor of Law
Richard Broughton, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Professor of Law
Fatmeh Cheaib, Student Member of the Diversity Committee
Margaret A. Costello, Associate Professor of Law and Director, Veterans Law Clinic
Phyllis L Crocker, Dean and Professor of Law
Cara Cunningham Warren, Associate Professor of Law
Lawrence A. Dubin, Emeritus Professor of Law
Melissa Eckhause, Visiting Assistant Professor
April L. Ellison, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund
Megan Featherstone, Associate Registrar
Sarah Garrison, Director of Bar Preparation
Jordan Hall, Director of Student Affairs, Campus Equity and Inclusion
Jacqueline Hand, Professor of Law
Troy Harris, Professor of Law
Kate Harrison, Director of Career Services and Outreach
Charisse L. Heath, Assistant Dean of Academic Success and Bar Preparation
Grace Henning, Communications Specialist
Jennifer Hostetler, Reference and Government Documents Librarian
Jelani Jefferson Exum, Philip J. McElroy Professor of Law
Megan Jennings, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Sunny Kerschenheiter, Events Coordinator
Shamaila Khan, Assistant Dean and Registrar
Kimberly Koscielniak Head of Public Services
Cristina Lockwood, Associate Professor of Law
Christina Loebach, Director of the Canadian & American Dual JD Program
Tanya Lundberg, Assistant Dean, Career Services & Outreach
Karen McDonald Henning, Associate Professor of Law
Gary Maveal, Emeritus Professor of Law
Patrick Meyer, Associate Professor of Law & Law Library Director
Alex Meyers, Assistant Director of Admissions & Diversity
Andrew Moore, Professor of Law
Deborah Paruch, Professor of Law
Michelle Richards, Associate Professor of Law
Daniel Rosenbaum, Visiting Assistant Professor
Jessica Rouser, Assistant Director of Law Financial Aid
Jennifer Rumschlag, Associate Dean, Enrollment Management
Leslie Scott, Assistant Professor of Law
Connor Salanger, Assistant Director of Career Services
Elizabeth Sherowski, Visiting Assistant Professor
Nicholas J. Schroeck, Associate Dean of Experiential Education
Rebecca Simkins Nowak, Director, Clinical Operations and Outreach
Julie St John, Assistant Professor of Comparative Legal Writing and Research
Barbara Stockwell-Buslepp, Admission Specialist
Alexander Vernon, Professor of Law, Director of the Immigration Law Clinic
Stephen Wilks, Associate Professor of Law
Stephanie Winbigler, Director of Admissions
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Statements issued by student groups
- A letter in solidarity from the Detroit Mercy Law chapter of the American Constitution Society
- An open letter from the 2020-2021 Arab American Law Student Association E-Board
- An open letter from the 2020-2021 Black Law Students Association E-Board
- A letter in solitary from the Detroit Mercy Law Immigration Law Association