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Dear Friends,
Welcome to the January edition of the Dean’s List! I’m happy to report that Scalia Law is off to a roaring start this semester!
I just returned from The Law & Economics Center’s Judicial Education Program in Florida, where we had the privilege of hosting 62 federal judges for one week of courses
taught by Scalia Law faculty. We experienced a dynamic week with these esteemed judges and some of the finest law and economics professors in the academy.
Recently, our National Security Institute (NSI) joined Stanford’s Hoover Institution and the Federalist Society to discuss the future of national security and cybersecurity
with corporate leaders from the tech community. We are thrilled NSI is leading this critical conversation on national security and cybersecurity; exploring solutions to some of the most vexing problems of our time.
Congratulations to the Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) for winning a case on behalf of a veteran and his family. Kudos to student advisers Casey
Hunt and Michael Vlcek who won the case! I’m proud of the work the M-VETS clinic does to support our military and veterans.
Scalia Law has much to be proud of this month. Our Global Antitrust Institute obtained eight nominations for the Concurrences Antitrust Writing Awards (2019). Please
keep reading; you’ll have the chance to read and vote for these articles.
Thanks, as ever, for your participation in the life of Scalia Law, as students, faculty, alumni, friends, and supporters. Scalia Law is a great school because of you!
Onward & Upward!

Henry N. Butler
Dean and Professor of Law
Antonin Scalia Law School
George Mason University
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THE LAW & ECONOMICS CENTER HOSTED 62 PROMINENT JUDGES FOR JUDICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
The
Law & Economics Center’s Judicial Education Program hosted 62 state and federal judges in Islamorada, Florida, for a two-part program series, January 23-31.
The participants included one judge from the US Court of Federal Claims, one judge from the US Court of Appeals, four judges from US District Courts, and ten state
Supreme Court Justices.
Dean Henry N. Butler taught The Short Course on Economics for Judges, with Professors D. Bruce Johnsen, Joshua Wright, and Murat Mungan.
Dean Butler also led the Case Analysis Seminar with Professors Todd Zywicki and Nuno Garoupa. Professors Joshua Wright and John Yun (pictured) taught the Workshop
on Antitrust Economics.
The Judicial Education Program, started over four decades ago, offers intellectually rigorous, balanced, and timely instruction in the belief that the fundamental principles
of a free and just society depend on a knowledgeable and well-educated judiciary.
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NATIONAL SECURITY INSTITUTE, STANFORD'S HOOVER INSTITUTION, AND THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY HOST "TECH TITANS & NATIONAL SECURITY" EVENT
The
National Security Institute (NSI), the Hoover Institution, and the Federalist Society’s International and National Security Law Group hosted "Tech Titans & National Security: West Coast Edition" at Stanford University. The hosts welcomed experts from Uber,
Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and other companies to discuss their vital role in cybersecurity and national security. Panelists and moderators included NSI Founder Jamil Jaffer, NSI Senior Fellow Matthew Heiman, and Advisory Board member Matt Olsen.
READ
MORE
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CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SCHOLARS JOIN AMICUS BRIEF: RETURN MAIL v. UNITED STATES POSTAL
SERVICE
Center
for the Protection of Intellectual Property (CPIP) Executive Director Adam Mossoff and CPIP Senior Scholar Kristen Osenga joined an amicus brief, written on behalf of seven law professors by Adam MacLeod, a CPIP Thomas Edison Innovation Fellow for 2017 and
2018, and a member of CPIP’s growing community of scholars.
The brief, which was filed in Return Mail v. United States Postal Service, asks the Supreme Court to reverse the Federal Circuit’s determination that the federal government can challenge the validity of an issued patent in a covered business method
review before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
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MORE
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M-VETS PREVAILS IN SECURING JUDGMENT FOR VETERAN’S SECURITY DEPOSIT
The
Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) represented a veteran and his wife at trial in General District Court to recover their $2,000 security deposit held by their former landlords. In a nearly five-hour-long trial, M-VETS student advisors
Casey Hunt (left) and Michael Vlcek (below) conducted an opening statement, direct and cross examinations, and a closing argument, culminating in judgment for the full amount sought by the clinic’s clients.

“Michael and Casey did an excellent job through full trial preparations and ultimately securing a favorable judgment for our clients,” said M-VETS Assistant Director
Leigh Winstead. “Like many of our civil matters, this is a case where the attorneys’ fees required to litigate would have outweighed the potential recovery; M-VETS’s representation allowed this veteran and his family to pursue their legal remedies with the
assistance of counsel and recover what was rightfully theirs.”
READ MORE
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Annual Antitrust Symposium
The 22nd Annual Antitrust Symposium will be held Friday, February 15, at Scalia Law. "Antitrust at the Crossroads?" is
organized by the George Mason Law Review and the Law & Economics Center’s Henry
G. Manne Program in Law and Economics Studies. Click
here for more information and to register.
Global Antitrust Institute Invitational Moot Court Competition
The fifth annual Global Antitrust Institute (GAI) Invitational will be held February 16 and 17 at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The
GAI Invitational is the only moot court competition in the United States devoted exclusively to antitrust law. The event is hosted by the Scalia Law Moot Court Board in conjunction with the GAI and Judge Douglas Ginsburg. For more information, click
here.
WIPO-CPIP Summer School on Intellectual Property
The Center for the Protection of Intellectual Property (CPIP) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is hosting the second iteration of the WIPO-CPIP
Summer School on Intellectual Property, June 3-14 at Scalia Law. Registration is now open for this exclusive, two-week summer course. The course provides a unique opportunity for students, professionals, and government officials to gain a deeper knowledge
of IP to advance their careers. Click here to
learn more and to register.
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FACULTY, STUDENT, & ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS
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Scalia Law’s new Financial Services Regulation Law Concentration is offering a new class for the Spring 2019 semester – the FinTech & Cybersecurity Law seminar. The
class will explore a wide range of legal, policy, and business issues presented by the development of FinTech – including Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, Blockchain, and the global cybersecurity threats and challenges that face the financial services
sector. Professor Robert
Ledig (pictured) will teach the class, along with National Security Institute Fellow Adam Golodner.
READ
MORE
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The
National Security Institute (NSI) published its first podcast in December, featuring a panel of experts analyzing cyber deterrence. Moderated by NSI Senior Fellow Lester Munson, the wide-ranging conversation addressed topics such as the National Cyber Strategy,
the role of the private sector in cyber deterrence, and the evolution of norms in cyberspace.
To hear further podcasts, follow NSI on SoundCloud.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
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Center
for the Protection of Intellectual Property (CPIP) Executive Director Adam Mossoff and CPIP Senior Scholars Jonathan Barnett, Chris Holman, Erika Lietzan, Sean O’Connor, and Kristen Osenga joined a comment letter that was filed with the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) as part of its ongoing hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century. Legal academics, economists, and former government officials—including former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director David Kappos and former Federal Circuit
Chief Judge Paul Michel—joined the comment letter supporting an evidence-based approach to policymaking.
Professors Mossoff and Osenga also joined former Federal Circuit Chief Judge Randall Rader in a comment letter explaining how the FTC is harming health science innovation
by meddling in patent disputes between branded and generic drug companies.
READ
THE LETTER ON POLICY APPROACH
READ
THE LETTER ON INNOVATION IN HEALTH
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A new Law and Policy Paper from the National Security Institute (NSI) argues that the U.S. should seek additional restrictions on Huawei and ZTE products and services
in the U.S., while working with allies and partners to limit Chinese telecommunications expansion. The paper, "Chinese Telecommunications Companies Huawei and ZTE: Countering a Hostile Foreign Threat," describes the foundations of Huawei and ZTE, the concerning
actions taken by these companies, and the responses taken by the United States and allied governments.
READ MORE
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Dean
Butler Joins the Virginia Bar Association’s Board of Governors.
The Virginia Bar Association’s Board of Governors appointed Dean Henry
N. Butler to advise it on law schools and government attorney interests. This is a one-year term that can be extended for up to three years.
READ
MORE
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Professor Todd
Zywicki is the new Chairman of the American Association of Law Schools' (AALS) Law & Economics Division. The AALS Section on Law and Economics promotes economic
analysis of law and legal institutions, encourages its proper use in legal education, facilitates exchange of ideas, discussion, and activities among members, and makes recommendations on teaching and improvement of the law.
READ MORE
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Nghia
“Neo” Tran (JD ’09) was named a partner at Kutak Rock’s DC office.
Tran focuses his practice on government contracts and finance transactions. He works with public and private sector clients on a variety of regulatory, corporate, transactional,
and litigation matters.
READ MORE
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Adam
Aft (JD '10) has been elected to partnership at Baker McKenzie as of January 1.
He is based in Chicago and is a member of the firm's Intellectual Property and Technology Transactions
Practice.
READ
MORE
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Zohra
Anwari (JD ’16) has joined the D.C. office of the health-care law firm Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman. Anwari comes to Hall Render from the Advanced Medical Technology Association, where she served as Associate General Counsel.
READ MORE
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Professor David
Bernstein
- The Controversy Over Laws Punishing Israel Boycotts, Explained: Vox
- Presentation, "Are you Eligible for Racial/Ethnic Preferences? How the Government Determines Whether you are African American, Hispanic or Asian": Students
for Liberty
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Professor Michael
Krauss
- SCOTUS to Examine a Common Legal Strategy Drugmakers Use to Sidestep Patient Lawsuits: STAT
Plus
- Supreme Court Seems Unlikely to Overhaul Popular Drug Industry Legal Standard: STAT
Plus
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Professor Ilya
Somin
- Author, Op-Ed, "Using Emergency Powers to Seize Property and Build the Wall Would Set a Horrible Precedent": New
York Daily News
- Author, Op-Ed, "Donald Trump Can Call a 'National Emergency,' But That Doesn't Mean He Can Build The Wall": USA
Today
- The Senator Who is Betraying the Senate: The
Atlantic
- Interview with Furland author Tullio Avoledo: Tiscali
Specattoli
- Why the Supreme Court May be Taking a 'Go Slow' Approach: Christian
Science Monitor
- President Trump Bets Big on Supreme Court to Uphold Controversial Policies After Lower Court Losses: USA
Today
- Trump Eyes Untested Emergency Power to Fund Wall, Skirt Congress: Bloomberg
- The Worst Case Scenario for Conservatives if Trump Invokes Emergency Powers to Build a Border Wall: Washington
Examiner
- Kavanaugh is True to Form in His First Supreme Court Opinion: Law360
- The US Government Shutdown: i24 News (Israel) - Take
:30 with Shayna Estulin
- National Emergency Would be Rife with Legal Challenges: Law360
- Here's How the Shutdown Could Jeopardize Obamacare Benefits: Washington
Post
- Eminent Domain and the Border Wall: Sirius XM - Knowledge@Wharton
- President Trump Threatened to Declare a National Emergency to Get His Wall, Can He Do That?: Washington
Post, MSN
- Trump's Border Wall Land Grab Makes No Sense For Conservatives Who Hate Eminent Domain: Mother
Jones
- Democracy is Sick, Here is a Cure to Avoid the Authoritarian Drift: Econopoly (Italy)
- Trump's False Claims: The
Star (Toronto)
- The Technology That Can Make The Next Generation Healthier, Happier, and Smarter: Epocha (Brazil)
- Teleforum, "Sanctuary City & State Legislation Update - What Happens When Federal and Local Enforcement Policies Conflict: Federalist
Society
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Founder of the National Security Institute and Adjunct Professor Jamil
Jaffer
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GIVING TO MASON'S SCALIA LAW
Thanks to all of you who made contributions in fiscal year 2018 – you are helping us provide an outstanding legal education to our students! If you are interested in
making a contribution, online donations are quick and easy.
Click Here:
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Antonin Scalia Law School, George
Mason University
3301 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
703.993.8085
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© 2019 ANTONIN SCALIA LAW SCHOOL, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
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