Res Judicata Provides Legal Insight

Res Judicata, newly formed club on campus, looks to give students a deeper understanding of the way law influences our society today.

"RJ means to provide for our campus some helpful discussion about how people working domestically and internationally can apply law in positive ways. From juvenile justice in the Valley to human rights work overseas, many professions call upon the writing of legislation, the safeguards of courts, and the clarity of constitutions to help build better societies," states advisor Dan Wessner.

As President Liza Heavener explained, "It is open to all students interested in the political process or planning on continuing on to law or graduate school. We will help supply students with general information about law/grad school. Another purpose is to assist students in studying for the LSAT and GRE exams and the process of law/grad school applications. Throughout the year we plan on bringing a variety of speakers to the campus and community."

An upcoming Res Judicata event is "Crossing Borders with the Vocation of Law." This occasion will include speakers Mr. Bernd Janzen who is counsel for the prestigious DC firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Ms. Ruth Stoltzfus Jost who is General Counsel for Fairfield Language Technology, a co-founder of Blue Ridge Legal Services, advocates for Kurdish immigrants in our valley and reconciles Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank. Both speakers will be addressing immigration and cross-boundary issues. The event is homecoming weekend, Saturday October 21. Lunch is also provided consisting of Thai, Hispanic, and Kurdish food. Menno Folk performer Chuck Neufeld will also be performing.

Res Judicata is active in the community. The Kurdish trials that happened over the summer have been discussed around campus and in the club's meetings. The last sentencing trial was on Tuesday September 26. Many of the Res Judicata members attended the hearing of Fadhil that morning. Fadhil, along with three other men, had been accused of sending money back to their home to family in Iraq. This action was made illegal under the Patriot Act. Liza explains the experience.

"While sitting in the courtroom listening to the judge and the plaintiff explain all the documentation Fadhil would have needed to make his transactions legal, I found myself getting more and more confused. If I, as an American, an English speaking citizen, was struggling to understand all the documents and legal procedures needed to legally bypass the Patriot Act, I cannot blame Fadhil for unknowingly breaking the law. It was heartbreaking to witness. A man, who was simply trying to send money back home to his family, will now suffer consequences of one year probation, a fine, and probably struggle to gain a US citizenship."

Also, so far this year, the club has participated and hosted in a couple of other events. Dan and two other students traveled to Washington & Lee University to hear the Dean of Princeton University Dr. Anne Marie Slaughter speak on "American Justice in a Globalized World" and to tour the law school. Member Rebeca Barge remembers, "We had a second year law student give us a tour of the law school and positively recommend the school's (W&L) law program because of its small campus and personal interaction with professors."

The club has also hosted Linda English from Ohio Northern University. She came to speak to the club about the law school at Ohio Northern during a luncheon. She explained the application process of law school and what law schools look for in an application.