washington University school of law

A $10 million commitment has been made to Washington University by alumnus and philanthropist Harry Seigle, and his wife, Susan, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. It is the lead gift for the building currently under construction on the western end of the Danforth Campus that will serve academic functions for the three social science departments in Arts & Sciences and for the School of Law. When it opens for the fall 2008 semester, it will be known as Harry and Susan Seigle Hall. The name is significant, for it represents the first academic building on the Danforth Campus to be named for an alumnus living outside of St. Louis.

The Law School’s Public Interest Law and Policy Speakers Series, in conjunction with the Federalist Society and the Assembly Series, will present Richard Epstein at 3 p.m. Tuesday, October 31, in the Anheuser Busch Moot Courtroom (Room 310). The lecture is free and open to the public. The well-known libertarian and influential legal scholar will discuss the question, “Has Modern Complex Litigation Outgrown the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures? The Case of Antitrust.”

Richard Epstein and bell hooks will speak Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, respectively.

She has argued that the institution of marriage has always been dynamic, shifting to fulfill economic needs in societies or kin groups.

Family historian Stephanie Coontz will debunk popular myths about marriage and the family in her Assembly Series/School of Law lecture, “Courting Disaster? The World Historical Transformation of Marriage.” The talk, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 11 a.m.Wednesday, February 1 in Graham Chapel.

Nationally recognized attorney and human rights advocate Stephen Bright will discuss his views on the death penalty and the current state of the U.S. prison system in a talk entitled, “Crime, Prison, and the Death Penalty: The Influence of Race and Poverty.” The talk, part of Washington University’s Assembly Series and the School of Law’s “Access to Justice” series, will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2 in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom, Anheuser-Busch Hall.

SyverudKent D. Syverud, dean of the Vanderbilt University Law School, has been named dean of the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis, effective Jan. 1, 2006, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. He also will become the Ethan A. H. Shepley University Professor. Joel Seligman, who came to Washington University in 1999 to serve as law dean, will become president of the University of Rochester on July 1, 2005. Prior to Syverud’s arrival, Daniel L. Keating, associate dean for academic affairs and the Tyrrell Williams Professor of Law, will serve as dean until Dec. 31, 2005.