Minnesota juries in civil cases follow guidelines written by two William Mitchell professors, Michael Steenson and Peter Knapp. Their latest volume of Minnesota Practice Series’ Jury Instruction Guides – Civil: Volume 5 was published by Thomson-West.
The Guides clarify opinions and statutes, which are not written to instruct juries. The authors capture and distill the law so jurors can understand and apply it during civil proceedings, assuring the law is followed faithfully. “We examine every word to determine whether a substitute would be easier for the juror to understand,” said Steenson.
Professor Peter Knapp is the 2006-07 recipient of the Student Bar Association (SBA) Teacher Excellence Award. Last month, the SBA invited all students to select the professor of the year. Professor Knapp was also recently chosen to give the Charge to the Class at Spring Commencement for the third time in five years.
“Professor Knapp brings a different kind of energy and creative teaching techniques to the classroom. It is clear that he genuinely cares about his students.”–SBA President Njock Eyong
Professor Knapp joined the college in 1989 and is co-director of William Mitchell’s nationally-ranked clinic program. He is recognized in the legal community for his service and leadership, is chair of the Minnesota Supreme Court Legal Services Planning Committee, holds undergraduate and J.D. degrees from Harvard University, and recently co-wrote Minnesota Jury Instruction Guides: Civil with Professor Michael Steenson.
William Mitchell Professor Peter Erlinder has received national and international media attention for his defense of Sami Al-Arian, a former computer science professor at the University of Florida. He has talked about the case with Democracy Now, the New York Sun, and ABC News 7 in Virginia, has been quoted by Aljazeera, and appeared in a news conference photo in the National Law Journal.
