January–February 2006

“Why Minnesota?”— February 23, 2006, La Prensa de Minnesota
Susana de Leon, 2001 graduate of William Mitchell and Minneapolis attorney and activist, discusses the immigration issues surrounding the Latino community in Minnesota. De Leon also notes that Minnesota is a great state for job opportunities in agriculture, as well as a place where families can reunite.

“Disorder in the Court”— February 20, 2006, Minnesota Public Radio, Minneapolis
William Mitchell Professor C. Peter Erlinder discussed the Iraqi Special Tribunal's case against Saddam Hussein on Minnesota Public Radio's Midmorning Show with Kerri Miller.

“Muslim Commentaries”— February 15, 2006, Minnesota Public Radio, Minneapolis
William Mitchell grad, Amani Jafar Mohammed '04, commented on the experiences of Muslims in Minnesota and the true meaning of Islam. She is working in Minneapolis as a Legal Aid lawyer.

“The Don Shelby Show”— February 7, 2006, WCCO-AM 830, Minneapolis
Peter Erlinder, professor at William Mitchell, speaks with Don Shelby regarding the NSA hearings and the role of the FISA court in the investigations.

“Trial begins for Moussaoui”— February 7, 2006, The Star Tribune
Afsheen John Radsan, professor at William Mitchell, comments on the start of the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, the confessed al Qaeda conspirator who was arrested in Minnesota prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“Fifth anniversary of the Ehime Maru”— February 7, 2006, Asahi Weekly, Japan
Peter Erlinder, professor at William Mitchell, comments on the Ehime Maru tragedy in various Japanese media.

“Re-authorization of Patriot Act”— February 2, 2006, KFPK Radio, Los Angeles
Peter Erlinder, professor at William Mitchell, comments on the                  re-authorization of the Patriot Act on KFPK Radio in Los Angeles.

“The ripple effect”— January 31, 2006, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Dan Kleinberger, professor of business law at William Mitchell, comments on the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Musicland Holding Corp. and the ripple effect it causes suppliers and vendors to that client. Excel Fixtures, a Minnetonka company, will not receive $800,000 from Musicland for construction work due to the company's bankruptcy.

“It takes two wheels and a will to commute”— January 30, 2006, The Star Tribune
Jim Stevens, the registrar at William Mitchell, comments on his decision to begin riding his bike to work and the dedication he holds for his new daily routine of leaving his car at home.

“Moussaoui defense to get pre-9/11 data”— January 26, 2006, The Star Tribune
Afsheen John Radsan, associate professor at William Mitchell, comments on the challenges the prosecutors now face in the government's case against 9/11 co-conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui because the U.S. District Judge has ordered the prosecution to share with the defense attorneys classified material about what the government knew of the Al-Qaida attack before 9/11.

“Comcast Names John Gibbs as Vice President of State Government Affairs”— January 24, 2006, Yahoo! Business News
John Gibbs, William Mitchell graduate, was named vice president of state government affairs and will be based in St. Paul. Gibbs will oversee Comcast's state-level government affairs activities, which includes policy initiatives and the formation of legislative strategies.

“Directors under the gun in Guidant duel”— January 19, 2006, The Star Tribune
Dan Kleinberger, William Mitchell professor of business law, comments on the bidding war between Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific for Guidant Corp., which employs 3,100 people in Minnesota.

“Kansas weighing harsher penalties”— January 18, 2006, The Kansas City Star
Eric Janus, vice dean for academic affairs and professor of law at William Mitchell, comments on proposals that are being discussed by Kansas legislators to punish sexual predators.

“Bush administration and the FISA court”— January 18, 2006, Oregon Progressive Radio
Afsheen John Radsan, associate professor at William Mitchell, did an hour-long live interview regarding the Bush administration and the FISA court.

“MLK events examined civil rights history, voting rights, war”— January 18, 2006, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Dr. Ronald Walters, professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland, delivered the keynote address which discussed the history of the Civil Rights Movement and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Walters was the main speaker at William Mitchell's Public Square event.

“Retired Chief Justice goes back to school”— January 14, 2006, Star Tribune
Allen Easley, president and dean of William Mitchell, welcomes retired Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz to the college, as she begins her retirement from the Minnesota Supreme Court. Blatz will be taking an office at William Mitchell as she decides her next career move and will occasionally lecture to law students.

“$50 million urged for sex felon lockups”— January 11, 2006, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Eric Janus, William Mitchell professor, comments on Gov. Pawlenty's proposal to construct and expand prisons and facilities to house sex offenders around the state of Minnesota.

“Is it a tobacco fee? Is it a tax? It's up to the judges to decide”— January 8, 2006, Minnesota Public Radio
Donna Byrne, William Mitchell tax law professor, comments on the issue surrounding the 75 cent per pack increase on cigarettes in Minnesota. Byrne says the fee could be seen as a tax or as a fee; it could be argued either way.

“South Florida Lawyers Astonished over a Government's Maneuver to Block Amicus Briefs”— January 5, 2006, South Florida Business Journal
C. Peter Erlinder, William Mitchell professor, commented on his frustrations over the effort the U.S. attorney's office has taken to block national legal groups from filing amicus briefs in support of the government's appeal of the reversal of the Cuban Five convictions in Miami. Erlinder is an author of one of the amicus briefs.