Today is one of those “holidays” that not many people know about, but that we take pretty seriously here at Richmond Law. It’s Law Day, the day we celebrate the role of law in our society. And there’s no better way to celebrate the role that Richmond Law lawyers play in society than by taking a look back at a few stand-out members of the Richmond Law community. These women and men have made significant contributions: to their communities, to the legal profession, and even to legal education. To us, these are just a few examples of what we like to call hero-lawyers – and they make us pretty proud to be Spiders!
- Jacob Morewitz, L’1916, filed an emergency motion on behalf of Jewish refugees on board the S.S. Quanza, preventing their return to Nazi-occupied Europe.
- Jane Brown Ranson, L’23, was the first female to graduate from Richmond Law, forging new paths for women.
- Judge Robert R. Merhige, L’42, became a federal judge who was known for his desegregation rulings.
- Professor Bob Shepherd helped shape the field of juvenile justice in Virginia and beyond.
- Hyung Mo Lee, L’01, was the oldest law student to graduate from Richmond, showing that there’s no seniority when it comes to the pursuit of knowledge.
- Azizah al-Hibri helped journalists understand Islam in the wake of September 11.
As you can see, we have a lot to celebrate on Law Day – and this is just the tip of the iceberg! We’re grateful for – and proud of – the members of our Richmond Law community.