Founding director of the Justice Center, John Havelock, authors articles about feasibility of a law school in Alaska

John Havelock, founding director of the UAA Justice Center and former Alaska Attorney General, recently authored a series of articles looking at lawyers in Alaska and the feasibility of establishing a law school in the state. The series appeared in The Alaska Bar Rag, the official publication of the Alaska Bar Association.

The series included:

• Part 1 — "Legal community should explore feasibility of a law school," July–Sep 2014;
• Part 2 — "Should Alaska have a law school? What part does sexual misconduct play," Oct—Dec 2014; and
• Part 3 — "Should a graduate school of legal studies be established in Alaska?" Jan—Mar 2015 (pp. 14–15).

Copies are available from the Alaska Bar office: 907-272-7469.

Alaska Law Review article by Prof. Brandeis noted in Anchorage Daily News Compass piece by former Justice Center director John Havelock

The December 2012 Alaska Law Review article on marijuana law in Alaska by Prof. Jason Brandeis, J.D., Justice faculty, was noted in part 2 of an Anchorage Daily News Compass piece on marijuana law by former Justice Center director John Havelock.

Mr. Havelock noted, "Alaska policy has wobbled, as indicated in UAA Professor Brandeis's recent article in the Alaska Law Review."

Here is the link to Prof. Brandeis' article, "The Continuing Vitality of Ravin v. State: Alaskans Still Have a Constitutional Right to Possess Marijuana in the Privacy of Their Homes "

Prof. Brandeis teaches courses on American government, constitutional law and civil liberties, and is a frequent speaker on constitutional law and other legal issues. Prof. Brandeis also maintains a private law practice through which, subsequent to the date of this Anchorage Daily News article, he provided legal representation in administrative agency proceedings for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska.

Former Justice Center directors engage in publication and research projects

Founding Justice Center Director and former Alaska Attorney General John Havelock is the author of Let's Get It Right: Why We Need An Alaska Constitutional Convention which explores the issues related to the convening of a constitutional convention, and highlights the need for various constitutional revisions to meet changing circumstances.

In 1975, he established the UAA Criminal Justice Center (today called the Justice Center) and served as Director, as well as a professor. During this time,  he also served as Director of Legal Studies for the UA system and developed a statewide major in legal studies. Today the Justice Center offers 5 undergraduate program options in Legal Studies approved by the American Bar Association.

Former Director John Angell is involved in researching and writing a history of the UAA Justice Center. He served as Assistant Director of the Justice Center from 1975 to 1979, and in 1979 became Director. In 1988 Dr. Angell accepted an appointment as Executive Director of the Department of Justice Services for Multnomah County, Oregon. He returned to the position of Director of the Justice Center in 1990 and retired in 1997.  He currently serves as Justice emeritus faculty.

ACLU Liberty Awards dinner honors Justice Center faculty and former director

The ACLU of Alaska Liberty Awards Dinner on January 22, 2011 honored 40 Alaskan individuals and organizations as "Heroes of Constitutional Rights," including John Havelock, the first Justice Center Director, and John McKay, Justice Center Adjunct Professor.

The ACLU Liberty Awards honor those individuals and organizations who have led the way in creating a state that honors and protects personal freedom, individual liberty, and constitutional and civil rights.