On October 16th, members of the College of Law community attended My Faith in Practice: The Rule of Law Inside and Out, a CLE/CJE seminar held at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Coral Gables.
The program featured a keynote address by The Honorable John D. Couriel, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, and brought together judges, attorneys, law students, and members of the legal community to explore the intersection of faith, the rule of law, and professional responsibility.
Representing the College of Law were Dean Tarlika Nuñez-Navarro, Professor William Castro and students from his Professional Responsibility class, Professor David DeWolf, Assistant Dean for Career Development Jennifer Ley-Soto, and members of the College of Law’s Board of Advisors, including alumnus Jude M. Faccidomo (’04).
Also in attendance were several alumni, including Yara Lorenzo Klukas (’09), First Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, alongside Jason A. Reding Quiñones, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
The seminar provided a meaningful opportunity for students to engage with members of the judiciary and legal profession while reflecting on the role of faith, ethics, and service in the practice of law.
#STUMiami // #STULaw // #FaithAndLaw // #LegalEthics // #STUAlumni
STU College of Law proudly supported the Miami Lakes Bar Association’s “AI on the Record” CLE seminar, featuring Professor Michael Hasday and STU Law alumna Ana De La Rosa Quesada. ⚖️💻
The program brought together students, attorneys, and members of the Miami Lakes legal community for an engaging discussion on the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession and how attorneys can navigate its evolving role in legal practice.
Also in attendance were Assistant Dean for Career Development Jennifer Ley-Soto, Director of Alumni Relations Nicole Reinoso, and several STU Law alumni.
The event provided a valuable opportunity for our students to connect with practicing attorneys, expand their professional networks, and gain insight into the evolving legal landscape.
#STUMiami // #STULaw // #STUAlumni // #ArtificialIntelligence // #LegalEducation
The College of Law proudly hosted the 7th Annual Florida Jurist: Recognizing Hispanic Excellence, bringing together judges, attorneys, bar leaders, students, and members of the legal community to celebrate distinguished Hispanic jurists from across Florida.
The evening honored six members of the judiciary: The Honorable Nancy Perez (15th Judicial Circuit), The Honorable Betty Capote Erben (11th Judicial Circuit), The Honorable Virginia Hernandez Covington (U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida), The Honorable Miguel M. de la O (11th Judicial Circuit), Judge-Elect Ginger Miranda (9th Judicial Circuit), and The Honorable Olga Levine (17th Judicial Circuit).
Dean Tarlika Nuñez-Navarro delivered welcoming remarks, reflecting on the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage, recognizing judicial excellence, and inspiring future generations of legal professionals. Drawing on her own judicial experience, she emphasized the role of judges in upholding the rule of law and serving their communities.
The program also featured participation from Hispanic bar associations and legal leaders across Florida, with The Honorable Gisela Laurent delivering the invocation, The Honorable Ori Silver leading the Pledge of Allegiance, and Braulio Rosa and alumnus Aron J. Gibson (`11) serving as co-hosts.
Held in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Florida Jurist continues to recognize outstanding judicial achievement while strengthening connections throughout Florida’s legal community.
#STUMiami // #STULaw // #FloridaJurist // #HispanicHeritageMonth // #HispanicExcellence // #JudicialExcellence // #LegalCommunity
STU College of Law Appeals Clinic students gained firsthand insight into appellate advocacy during a visit to Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal in Miami! ⚖️
On October 13, students accompanied by Professor Leticia Mora observed civil and criminal oral arguments before Chief Judge Edwin A. Scales III, Judge Thomas Logue, and Judge Alexander S. Bokor.
Following the proceedings, students had the opportunity to meet with the judges and discuss appellate advocacy, effective oral argument preparation, and the intricacies of appellate practice.
Through experiences like these, our Appeals Clinic students continue to strengthen their legal skills while gaining valuable exposure to the judicial process and preparing to serve clients through meaningful pro bono work.
A special thank you to Chief Judge Scales, Judge Logue, and Judge Bokor for generously sharing their time, knowledge, and insight with our future legal professionals!
#STUMiami // #STULaw // #AppellateAdvocacy // #ExperientialLearning // #LegalEducation
STU College of Law’s Faculty Colloquium Series continued on October 13 with Professor Colleen O’Toole, who presented her article, “Charging Decisions as Criminal Justice Infrastructure: Prosecutorial Discretion, Systemic Distortion, and the Challenge of Algorithmic Governance and AI.”
Accepted for publication in the Ohio State Technology Law Journal, Volume 23 (2027), the article reconceptualizes prosecutorial discretion as infrastructure rather than isolated decision-making, addressing the increasing use of artificial intelligence in criminal justice.
Professor O’Toole’s research proposes practical, system-oriented guardrails, including statistical accountability frameworks, structured charging standards, collateral consequence mapping, and limited judicial and legislative oversight.
Her work explores how these reforms can preserve prosecutorial flexibility while promoting greater transparency, consistency, and institutional efficiency in charging decisions.
#STUMiami // #STULaw // #FacultyScholarship // #CriminalJustice // #ArtificialIntelligence
Networking gets easier with practice! ⚖️💼
The more you connect with employers, the more confident you become. Yesterday’s Fall Career & Informational Fair gave our STU Law students the opportunity to build connections, explore internship and career opportunities, and take the next step toward their professional goals.
A special thank you to all the employers who joined us and took the time to connect with our future legal professionals!
#STUMiami // #STULaw // #CareerDevelopment // #HireABobcat
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