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Wake Forest Law’s Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) Clinic, under the leadership of Associate Dean Allyson Gold, recently worked with a local family to obtain adequate, affordable housing and restore their security deposit.

The MLP Clinic works in collaboration with healthcare providers and Legal Aid of North Carolina to identify legal issues that negatively contribute to the health of low-income patient-clients and develop a comprehensive, interprofessional strategy to overcome barriers to health justice.The Clinic provides experiential learning opportunities for students while also providing legal assistance to people in need.

When the MLP Clinic began representing Mrs. M and her family in Spring 2022, the family was struggling to pay rent. Clinic students helped the family apply for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funds under the American Rescue Plan Act and, while the ERA funds were pending, negotiated with the landlord to avoid the filing of an eviction action.

Clinic students were hyper-aware that an eviction filing on the family’s record would jeopardize their ability to find rental housing in the future and that the ERA funds were a temporary solution to their long-term housing need. As such, Clinic students helped the family apply for government subsidized housing as well.

In January 2023, the family moved into new market-rate rental housing. However, the family, which now included a six-month-old baby, discovered that there was no functioning electricity or heat due to an improper meter.

Clinic students sent notice to the landlord and property manager informing them that the failure to provide essential services terminated the rental agreement, and that the family was reconveying possession of the property. The Clinic also demanded the immediate return of the family’s security deposit. During this time, Clinic students discovered that the family had moved up the waitlist for subsidized housing and had a safe and affordable apartment waiting for them.

As the landlord had not yet returned the security deposit, Clinic students worked with a local service organization to secure funds for the deposit on the subsidized home, which allowed the family to move into the new unit.

At a small claims court hearing on April 27, 2023, Hannah Norem (’23) and Amanda Spriggs Reid (’23) argued that the constructive eviction entitled the family to a return of the full amount of the security deposit and moved for a default judgment after the defendant failed to appear. The judgment for the entire security deposit, including attorney fees, entered in favor of the family.

“I am so proud of the work the students did in this case,” says Professor Gold, who serves as the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and the Director of the MLP Clinic. “Not only did they meticulously and persuasively argue the law and facts to the judge, but they provided holistic representation to help the family achieve stability.”

It is impossible to capture in a few pages the impact that Professor Wendy Parker has had on Wake Forest Law. In fact, when collecting quotes for this article from faculty, students, and alumni, there was a common refrain: “You should also ask [so-and-so]. Wendy has had a significant effect on them too.”

From teaching civil procedure, torts, and employment discrimination law to countless students, to leading the Pro Bono Project and being a champion for the Public Interest Law Organization (PILO), to volunteering in the Winston-Salem community, Professor Parker’s commitment to her students and colleagues—and to social justice—has never wavered. After 20 years of service to Wake Forest Law, Professor Parker is retiring. Although she has been appointed a research professor of law and will continue to be a part of the community (especially through her efforts with PILO), the effects of her taking a step back will be felt deeply among the community.

“Wendy exemplified everything that is best about Wake Forest Law,” says Professor John Knox. “She combined a clear-eyed intelligence with a full-hearted concern for everyone else in the community, from students to staff and faculty. We will miss her enormously, but her legacy will remain part of the Wake DNA.”

Professor Parker attended the University of Texas Law School with the idea that she “wanted to go save the world. I knew I wanted to do civil rights. I went to law school with the idea that I could help make Texas or our country a better place, and I thought the law would be an effective way to do that.” After graduating from law school, she served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Jerre S. Williams of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Later, she litigated school desegregation cases as a Skadden Arps Fellow and staff attorney for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Eventually, Professor Parker embarked on a career in legal education. She came to Wake Forest Law in 2003 from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where she won the Goldman Prize for Excellence in Teaching twice. Her commitment to teaching was recognized by everyone who had the pleasure of engaging with her. In 2006, she received the Joseph Branch Excellence in Teaching Award and went on to become the James A. Webster Professor of Public Law in 2012.

“Professor Parker was one of my favorite professors during my time at Wake Law. I had the pleasure of having her for three classes,” says Sarahan Moser (JD ’22). “She is incredibly bright and bubbly, and she plans everything out to a T to make sure her students are engaged and able to comprehend dense topics (she impersonated a railway worker when we studied the Erie Doctrine). I love how she explained the law—she made learning civil procedure fun, which is a tough task to accomplish!”

Professor Parker’s mentorship and guidance were also key hallmarks of her ability to connect with students. “Wendy Parker is one of the most influential mentors that I have been lucky enough to have as both a professor and the Pro Bono and PILO Faculty Director,” says Amanda Spriggs Reid (JD ’23). “She has taught me how to be a more thoughtful leader and passionate advocate for change.”

Admiration for Professor Parker has been a constant at the Law School. In a 2013 “Conversation With” series discussion, a group of her first-year law students wore matching “Wendy Parker Fan Club” shirts. “The thing I’ll remember Professor Parker for the most is her selflessness in her support for student initiatives at Wake Law, and how far she was willing to go to ensure that students have as many opportunities as possible to support our community,” says current Wake Forest Law student Daniel Wilkes. “Whether it was the Pro Bono Project or PILO, Professor Parker was always an active and reassuring presence, who gave students like myself the confidence we needed to help contribute to public service.”

Not only is Professor Parker beloved by her students, but highly respected (and beloved) by her colleagues. Says Professor Ron Wright of her: “Wendy found a way to connect our students to the world, in ways that allowed them to do work they care about. In the classroom, she made legal analysis come to life. In her scholarship, she showed us all how to spot patterns in litigation related to discrimination in education and employment. And as a community member, Wendy created for her students (and for her colleagues!) many ways to meet local community needs, both in the public schools and elsewhere.”

“Among her many stellar qualities as Associate Dean, one that stood out, especially during COVID, was Wendy’s mastery of writing thoughtful, engaging, clear, amusing, and compassionate emails to the law school community,” says her colleague Professor Mark Hall. “Despite the unwelcome news they sometimes contained, I read every one with admiration, and often with delight. And, in talking to my students about effective communication with clients, I would regularly point to Wendy’s latest missive as an exemplar.”

Professor Parker expressed similar feelings about her colleagues: “When I started at Wake Forest, I felt like everyone had my back,” she has said. “Everyone wanted me to succeed and it felt like a really special place to be.”

In addition to discovering and exploring the complexities of legal norms with her students and engaging in meaningful ways with her colleagues, Professor Parker has a strong desire to employ the law for social change. This desire has manifested in many ways, including through her leadership of PILO and the Pro Bono Project. “Professor Parker has been a steadfast voice for social justice at Wake Forest Law,” says Lindsey Arneson Fields, a current law student and executive director of the Pro Bono Project. “Her work ensuring that students, faculty, and staff remember that public service is vital in the legal profession has not gone unnoticed.”

When asked in a recent article what she loves most about her job, Professor Parker responded, “Law school is known for being a pressure cooker. Thankfully, pro bono is the opposite in many ways. With pro bono, students choose how to use their legal talents in ways that align with their values and provide much-needed help to the community. I would not argue with someone who claims pro bono is the best part of a law school community—a place where legal education aligns with helping others.”

In addition to her teaching and pro bono work, Professor Parker is a nationally recognized scholar. Her research focuses on identifying solutions for how the law has created—intentionally and unintentionally—inequalities in employment and education. Her work has been published by the Northwestern University Law Review, Texas Law Review, Notre Dame Law Review, North Carolina Law Review, Washington University Law Review, William & Mary Law Review, and Hastings Law Journal, among others. She has been quoted by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press.

Even though she is on the precipice of retirement, she has remained as active and engaged as ever in the Law School community. Her most recent email to the faculty listserv was to encourage her colleagues to take action on an important civil rights issue. As is her modus operandi, Professor Parker credited two of her former students with driving the advocacy efforts.

Professor Parker’s legacy will continue long after her formal departure from Wake Forest Law. Those who have had the opportunity to learn from her, work with her, and fight for change alongside her are the better for it.

Her dear friend Professor Margaret Taylor sums it up perfectly: “Wendy Parker’s impact on Wake Law is immeasurable. First and foremost, she is a beloved teacher who taught her students to think critically, to argue creatively, and to employ the law for social change—with warmth, good humor, and a Texas twang. Wendy is also a skilled administrator who shepherded the Law School through a global pandemic, and then created enthusiasm and stability for our public interest programs. And Wendy is a treasured colleague and friend. We will miss her wit and wisdom, and are grateful for the 20 years that Wendy inspired us to be better lawyers and better humans.”

On May 30, Ellie Morales (JD ’10), Assistant Professor and Director of the Veterans Legal Clinic at Wake Forest Law, received the Kirk Warner Award for Distinguished Service to the Military and Veterans. The North Carolina Bar Association’s (NCBA) Military and Veterans Law Section recognized Professor Morales with the award for dedicating her time in service to the United States and to military members and veterans.

“I am thankful to my Wake Law family, DOJ family, and Army family, and of course, my wonderful husband and children,” said Professor Morales as she accepted the award.

The Kirk Warner Award is named in recognition of Colonel Kirk Warner for his continued history of providing support and care to active and retired military personnel. Colonel Warner was present at the event and spoke about the importance of “acting greatly.” “That’s how we move forward,” he said.

Professor Morales joined the Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps in 2010, upon graduation from Wake Forest School of Law. During her time on active duty, she served as a legal assistance attorney, criminal prosecutor, and administrative law attorney. Professor Morales also deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, where she served as an operational law attorney in support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and US forces.

In 2015, Professor Morales transitioned to the Army Reserves where she currently serves as an Army JAG in the rank of Major.

In addition to the Kirk Warner Award, Professor Morales is a recipient of the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, an honor that is presented to fewer than 30 Army junior officers each year, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in 2019.

Since joining Wake Forest Law as a professor and the director of the Veterans Legal Clinic, Professor Morales has helped change the outcomes of a number of cases for military personnel and veterans, including a recent case in which Korean War veteran James Brown was able to have his military records corrected. Mr. Brown was on watch with an inexperienced Korean soldier who did not speak English. Instead of switching positions so Mr. Brown could sleep, the Korean soldier would sleep. Fearing danger, Mr. Brown repeatedly requested a new bunkmate from his superior officer but was met with resistance, ultimately resulting in a dishonorable discharge. To learn more about Mr. Brown’s story and how the Veterans Legal Clinic worked to correct his military record, watch this video.

The award was presented by Chris Stevens, chair of the Military and Veterans Law Section of the NCBA, and was met with a standing ovation.

“Ellie Morales’s work as the director of the Veterans Legal Clinic has been instrumental in getting justice for veterans,” said Interim Dean Nell J. Newton. “We are very proud of her work on behalf of veterans and her inspirational teaching of the students in the clinic.” The Veterans Legal Clinic, which trains law students on legal theory and practice by assisting low-income former service members in need of representation and advocacy to correct injustices in their military records, serves 15-20 veterans each academic year.

To learn more about Professor Morales and Mr. Brown’s case, read The Redemption of Private Brown: Two converging paths united in a singular mission for justice.

The NCBA Military and Veterans Law Section is proud to announce it has awarded the 2022-2023 Kirk Warner Award for Distinguished Service to the Military and Veterans to Assistant Clinical Professor Ellie Morales.

The Kirk Warner Award seeks to recognize special individuals who have dedicated their own time both in service to the United States, and also in service to others who have served.  Ellie is a more than deserving recipient of this award. Following law school, Ellie served as an active duty service member in the Army Judge Advocate General Corps, which included a 2013 deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan, where she earned the Bronze Star. She continues to serve today as an Army Judge Advocate in the rank of Major in the Army Reserves. In 2018, she was awarded the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, an honor that is presented to fewer than 30 Army junior officers each year.

Aside from her own outstanding military service, Ellie also serves as the Director of the Veterans Legal Clinic at Wake Forest Law School. The Veterans Legal Clinic trains law students on legal theory and practice by providing critical assistance to low-income former service members who need representation and advocacy to correct injustices in their military records. With Ellie as Director, the clinic has seen numerous successes, including a recent noteworthy case where the clinic represented a Korean War soldier in not only restoring his veteran status through a discharge upgrade from Dishonorable to Honorable, but also in obtaining the Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge he earned on the battlefield in Korea over 70 years ago.

It is incredible work and service like this that make it hard to envision a more fitting recipient, as it is clear that Ellie’s life and career are the embodiment of what this award is about. Congratulations to Ellie on this well-earned award.

There will be a ceremony to honor Ellie on Tuesday, May 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Wake Forest School of Law. RSVP for the event here.

On Wednesday, May 24, recent Wake Forest Law graduate Kaeli Czosek (’23) presented an oral argument in Raleigh to a panel of three North Carolina Court of Appeals judges—Judge John Tyson, Judge Valerie Zachary, and Judge Michael Stading—in the case of State v. Minyard. Kaeli argued as part of Wake Forest Law’s Appellate Advocacy Clinic, under the supervision of Professor John Korzen (’91), who argued the rebuttal.

The defendant in the case was charged with multiple felonies. During the original trial in 2012, the defendant, who pleaded innocent, passed out while the jury was deliberating and was sent to the hospital. Rather than pausing the trial to ensure a Due Process fair trial, the jury continued their deliberation, ultimately finding the defendant guilty.

Three North Carolina Supreme Court cases decided since then have considered the issue of how trial courts should address competency issues arising during trial.

The defendant  appealed from the denial of his motion for appropriate relief. The Office of the North Carolina Appellate Defender appointed Professor Korzen as his representation. Professor Korzen is the Director of Wake Forest Law’s Appellate Advocacy Clinic, which represents indigents and non-profits in various appellate courts. The Appellate Advocacy Clinic, which appears in more appellate courts than any other appellate clinic in the country, enables law students like Kaeli Czosek to gain experience by working on real cases.

“I am extremely proud of Kaeli. She did a great job making her points and answering at least 25 questions,” said Professor Korzen. “It was a very ‘hot bench,’” he added, “especially Judge Tyson and Judge Zachary.” An opinion is expected in the next 2-3 months.

Also attending to support the two were Wake Forest Law Appellate Advocacy Clinic members Shelby Gilmer (’23), Claire Thompson (’23), Tyler Fuller (’23), and Savannah Corbin (’24).

To prepare for the argument, Kaeli worked with classmates Walker Abbott (’23) and Lane Burbrink (’23) to research and write two briefs. She also scheduled four practices in advance of the 26-minute argument and was mooted by her professors and classmates, including Walker Abbott (’23), Malcolm Boyd (Director of Field Placements and Student Competitions), Laura Merriman (’23), Tanner Henson (’23), Professor John Korzen (’91), Shelby Gilmer (’23), Professor Eileen Prescott, Professor Allyson Gold, Sophia Sulzer (’23), Claire Thompson (’23), and Kyle Brantley (’23).

Kaeli is a recipient of the 2023 Dean’s Award and is a 2023 graduate of Wake Forest Law. She will be clerking for Judge Richard Dietz (’01) at the North Carolina Supreme Court starting this fall.

Kaeli was the fifty-second Wake Forest law student to argue under Professor Korzen’s supervision since 2007, in a variety of appellate courts. This was only the fourth time that a law student has argued in the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and all four have been Wake Forest students.

Professor Emeritus Ralph Peeples passed away on Friday May 12th from complications associated with late stage lung cancer. He was 71 years old.

Professor Peeples joined the Wake Forest Law faculty in 1979. He was an expert in business law, dispute resolution, and torts, among other subjects. He also served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 1995 to 2000.

A distinguished and beloved teacher and scholar, Professor Peeples was a four-time winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award at the Law School. When he retired in 2018, alumni “returned in droves” to honor and recognize his decades of service to Wake Forest Law. He was known for his excellent rapport with students, close camaraderie with his fellow faculty members, and of being a part of the “Fab 5”—five revered professors who all retired in the same year (Professors Miles Foy, Charley Rose, George Walker, and Dean Emeritus Bob Walsh).

Beyond his contributions to the Law School, he had many interests. According to a 1979 Jurist article, “The professor’s personal interests include woodworking, music (from Willie Nelson and Jackson Brown to Louis Armstrong), and a newfound affection for racquetball.” His love of the Cleveland Indians was known far and wide. But his greatest passion was his family: his wife Faith Crosby and their four children, and his many relatives.

Professor Peeples was chosen by the Class of 2018 as the faculty speaker for that year’s Hooding and Commencement Ceremony. In his address to the students, he remarked, “The one thing I have known over the years at Wake Forest, for a law school full of bright and ambitious young people, the one thing that doesn’t change is that lifelong friendships are made here. I am confident these students will remain friends after Wake Forest and I am confident because I have seen it again and again. It will happen and I think it’s great. I think that’s what makes Wake Forest different.”

But it was not only friendships among the students that made Wake Forest Law a special place for Professor Peeples—it was the friendships that he himself made with his peers. And who better to honor Professor Peeples than his friends and colleagues, those he had such a deep and lasting impact on. Professor Peeples will be deeply missed, but always remembered as a cherished part of the Wake Forest Law community.

***

Honoring Ralph Peeples

“I’ve always looked up to Ralph Peeples as a teacher, scholar, and friend. I was fortunate enough to have him as a professor back in my own days as a Wake law student. We often laughed about his reaction after I went to his office and asked him the exact question on the exam. Ralph continued to provide support and a listening ear, along with appropriate sarcasm, when I was a practicing attorney, and welcomed me on the faculty when he served as Associate Dean, again along with his characteristic sarcasm that always made me laugh. As a fellow Clevelander, also living in Greensboro and commuting to Winston-Salem, we were able to engage in many meaningful conversations about Wake law, our students, and why Cleveland Indians’ Stadium Mustard is greater than Dijon. Even this past semester, he continued to be involved in the lives of Wake Law students and spoke with one of my students about food insecurity in Winston-Salem, and his work with Harvest Market, which is making a difference in the lives of many in our community. Most of all, I recall our conversations about the importance of family, a topic we spoke about frequently. Our world is a bit dimmer with Ralph’s passing. His impact was profound.”

– Professor Christine Coughlin

*

“Ralph was my friend for over 40 years. He loved and loved to talk about music, literature, politics, sports (with special emphasis on the Cleveland Indians), Davidson, his students and the law school. He was brilliant; he knew and saw things that most of us missed and his sense of humor, quick, subtle, often understated was there in every conversation. He wrote with the same intelligence and humor as he spoke and his articles are a pleasure to read. He  adored his family, his wife, Faith, and his four children, Kate, Sam, Michael and Emma. He was the oldest of six children and was close to his siblings throughout his life. Ralph was the strongest and best person I have ever known. His strength was apparent over the years when he and his family dealt with some serious health challenges. He never complained, never descended into self pity but faced each issue with a calm strength and remarkable courage. His great character and goodness were shown over and again by his selflessness. Never one to blow his own horn he worked tirelessly on behalf of others because he believed that to be the right thing to do. It was hard to pay Ralph a compliment; he was far too willing to avoid the recognition that he deserved. After he retired he volunteered to serve as general counsel of a group trying to bring a food cooperative to an area of Winston described as a food desert. He worked tirelessly and successfully to make the co-op a reality and it is operating successfully today. In all the publicity surrounding its opening and operation his name was never mentioned. I told him this was an injustice. He disagreed. It was enough that the effort succeeded. That was Ralph Peeples.”

 – Professor Emeritus Butch Covington

*

“Ralph will be remembered by many as a colleague, friend, and community servant. Following his retirement, Ralph endured the rigorous training of Read Winston-Salem so that he could serve as a reading tutor. He was also instrumental in the development of a food co-op that serves residents of a food-desert area in southeast Winston-Salem. He will be missed.”

– Professor Tim Davis

*

“Ralph Peeples embodied all of the good things that really matter in the life of a law school. He cared deeply about his students and his colleagues. He was honest and kind. He valued justice almost to a fault. He was intolerant of hypocrisy and cant. He labored through the heat of the day to make Wake Forest a better place. And beyond his purely professional virtues, he was, for me, the dearest of friends. I met him when I joined the faculty in 1984. His delightful wit, his personal warmth, his love of lively conversation, his divergent interests, all of these things made it a pleasure simply to be in his company. His friendship over these last 39 years was one of the treasures of my life.”

– Professor Emeritus Miles Foy

*

“I first met him as a student in his bankruptcy class in Fall 1993. He was a great teacher, and later, I enjoyed hearing my 1Ls tell stories about his Torts class. He was a real legend.”

– Professor Laura Graham

*

[Ralph] was always a joy to work with. I was always glad to see him walk into a meeting I was in, and even gladder when I got to sit next to him. His side commentary was worth sitting through pretty much any meeting. I’ve often wondered in the last few years ‘What would Ralph say?’ and I’m sure I’ll keep wondering & missing his wisdom & wit.

– Kate Irwin-Smiler, Reference Librarian

*

“Ralph was on the Appointments Committee when I was hired. He asked me one question in my DC screening interview—would I be able to leave the Big Ten for the ACC? And then, as always, he laughed. When I arrived at Wake in 2010, I was lucky enough to get an office a few doors down from Ralph. That meant I got nearly daily conversations with him. Ralph was an outstanding teacher and innovative scholar. He mentored junior faculty the way I’m sure he mentored students. He was wise, he was good, he was kind, and he was funny.  He left Wake Forest and the world a better place.”

– Professor Tanya Marsh, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

*

“I was lucky enough to teach with Ralph in Venice, in the summer of 2012. The students were expected to arrive in Venice on a Sunday, and classes started Monday morning. We knew they would be jet-lagged, tired, hungry, and disoriented, so we had pizza ready for them when they arrived. Pizza was an inspired choice because, for law students, pizza is not only the perfect main meal, it is also the perfect breakfast.

         One of the perks of teaching in Venice was the Student Assistant-—typically a student at the local university. She knew Venice, she knew Italian, and she was fluent in English.  Sometimes, those skill sets could come in handy.

Our Assistant popped in unexpectedly, while we were having pizza. She was taken aback, and a little defensive. She said, ‘How was I to know there was a party going on?’

         Naturally, Ralph and I broke into song. Here’s what we sang:

         ‘Splish splash, I was taking a bath, all upon a Saturday night

         Rub dub, I was relaxing in the tub, thinking everything was all right.

         Well I got out of the tub, put my feet on the floor

         Wrapped a towel around me, and opened the door, and well

         Splish splash, I jumped back in the bath

         […and here’s the crucial lyric..]

         How was I to know there was a party going on?’

‘Splish splash’ had been a hit more than fifty years before, and that was all I remembered of it. But not Ralph. He knew the whole thing. He knew what dance they were doing at the party:

         ‘Flip flop, they was doing the Bop.’

He knew the entire guest list:

  ‘Bing bang, I saw the whole gang…

There was Lollipop, Peggy Sue

Good Golly Miss Molly was even there too.’

         That’s the thing about Ralph. He was a terrific human being. We will all miss him dearly. And, he had this unique attribute: Ralph knew stuff. Lots of stuff. Stuff that you might have thought was unimportant, even silly. But then, the day would come when you really, really needed to know that stuff, and nobody knew it.

         Except Ralph. You’d go to him and say, ‘I know it’s a long shot, but do you happen to know…’

         Ralph would smile quietly, say ‘Sure,’ and save the day. Again.

         In this respect, Ralph was kind of a Renaissance Man. And where better to be a Renaissance Man than Venice?

         And, you may ask, what of the Student Assistant? She stood there, quietly listening. Then she said, ‘You know, you two are a little bit different from the other Wake Forest Professors I’ve met.’”

-Professor Emeritus Joel S. Newman

*

“Ralph meant a lot to me. We were buddies—he had my back and I his. I liked so much when he called me by my last name. I carry many of our conversations in my heart. Toward the end of his stint as associate dean, he said to me, ‘The most important thing this job has taught me is that our students have lives—many of them difficult lives.’ Ralph’s compassion was hard-wired. So was his sense of humor.  Ralph’s humor was full-body humor, with grandiose gestures and laughter that came from the belly. It was a facet of his compassion.”

– Professor Alan Palmiter

*

“Ralph Peeples was a man of love and action. I had the privilege of ‘crashing’ his Last Class, and his students were just beaming with love for him. May his light be an inspiration for all of us.”

– Professor Wendy Parker

*

“The Cleveland Indians did not have a winning record from 1986 to 1994. At long last, headed to the playoffs in 1994, the season ended prematurely when contract negotiations broke down and the players went on strike. The Indians went on to win their division by 30 games in 1995, only to lose to the Atlanta Braves in 7 games in the World Series. They entered the 1997 World Series as prohibitive favorites, only to lose to the upstart Florida Marlins. Such is the life of an Indians fan—and there was none more loyal than Ralph.

He further engaged his penchant for masochism as he sat next to me at Wake Forest football games for lo these many years. As we watched opponent after opponent convert on 3rd and 25, Ralph’s wry sense of humor always made me glad I had spent the afternoon with him, regardless of the misery we had endured watching the “_emon Deacs” (no “D” for the non-football fans!).

Ralph’s ultimate agony occurred in 2010 when, as the mastermind who had constructed the mighty We The Peeps franchise in our baseball fantasy league, he lost in the playoffs due to falling .0001 points short in team batting average. Yet, he always came up smiling.

When Ralph confronted systemic problems (outside of sports!), whether at the Law School, in Winston-Salem, or in the world, he truly believed it was better to light a candle—no matter how small—than to curse the darkness. He brightened the lives of all he met. May we honor his memory by striving to do the same.”

-Professor Wilson Parker

*

“Ralph and I joined the Wake Forest Law faculty about the same time, but I always felt that he mastered teaching, scholarship, and being a helpful colleague far sooner and far better than I did. Mind you, I never told him that. No, our shtick—especially at faculty meetings—involved trading insults. Colleagues who didn’t know the routine were shocked, but the twinkle in Ralph’s eyes gave us away. Privately, I had nothing but admiration for my amazing friend. I know personally what a fabulous teacher Ralph was. While publishing empirical articles with him, Ralph taught me how to use statistical programs to analyze data. I learned that this man who routinely won Trivial Pursuit competitions, knew the relevant stats in every sports season, quoted Yeats, and conversed about any genre of music, crunched numbers with the best of them.  While he could talk knowledgeably on any subject, he was never more eloquent than on the topics of Faith, Kate, Sam, Emma, and Michael. In every setting, he gave freely of that prodigious mind, sharpest of wits, and generous spirit. And he had so much more to give.”

 – Dean Emerita Suzanne Reynolds

*

“The most honest tribute to Ralph is that he was a truly authentic human being! He was the same Ralph Peeples whether he was teaching a class, participating in a faculty discussion, traveling to Cleveland for a baseball game, or reminiscing about old times. His dry humor, his sharp intellect, and his keen sense of the moment was ever present. He was truly committed to his students as well as to his empirical research. It was my genuine pleasure to serve with Ralph for his years at Wake.”

– Professor Emeritus Charley Rose

*

“Ralph will be missed by many. He was kind, genuine, impactful, and reflected the best of Wake Law. He was a great colleague and an even better person. As a member of the Faculty Appointments Committee, he helped recruit me to Wake. Years later I occupied an office next to his. I recall wide-ranging conversations concerning alternative dispute resolution, predictions about Warren Buffet’s future success, and the status of Cleveland sports. I will fondly remember his enthusiasm, wit, and distinctive laugh that was full of life.”

– Professor Omari Scott Simmons

*

“Ralph Peeples was one of the all-time great Wake Forest faculty members. Ralph was an extremely bright, kind, and caring person. He was a faculty leader and beloved by his students and colleagues. His student faculty evaluations were at the highest level as was evidenced by his winning the teaching excellence award four times. He had a wonderful sense of humor that could often bring discussions back into focus. In his scholarship, Ralph was an early advocate of alternative dispute resolution and had a tremendous effect in bringing mediation to North Carolina earlier than other states. When he was Executive Academic Associate Dean, it was a pleasure to work with him every day. If the Cleveland Guardians win the World Series in the next few years, I know it will be because of Ralph’s advocacy in heaven. I know that all who knew him will miss him greatly.”

– Dean Emeritus Bob Walsh

*

“I will miss Ralph. Like others, I appreciated his laugh. I also remember him as a great listener. That’s probably one reason why he was such a great mediator and a great teacher. He could listen intently and help you see something new about what you thought you wanted or what you thought you knew. And I remember Ralph as loyal. After three short years as a big firm associate in Cleveland, he developed a lifelong passion for the Cleveland Indians (later Cleveland Guardians) baseball team. Ralph and Charley Rose led more than a few faculty road trips to Cleveland to see a game at the Jake. His loyalty also shone whenever he reminded me of the duties of membership in the Ex-Academic-Associate-Deans Club. To my knowledge, Ralph never said ‘No’ to a request from an Academic Associate Dean. Ralph is gone too soon. He had a lot more good left to do.”

– Professor Ron Wright

*

Read Professor Ralph Peeples’ obituary here.

When you hear the name Butch Covington around the Law School, you can bet it will be followed by a superlative of the highest order. In 1979, just two years after he joined the faculty at Wake Forest Law to teach contracts, the Jurist wrote about him: “His exuberant style and fresh approach to his material have led him to be accused of having ‘an evangelical approach to the UCC.’” Professor Covington, who taught at Wake Forest Law for 25 years, was beloved by students and faculty alike, and developed close relationships with many people in the Law School community. Although he was not officially conferred the title of Professor Emeritus at the time of his retirement in 2003, thanks to Professors Steve Nickles and Ellen Murphy (JD ’02), and alumnus and Law Board of Visitors Member, Charlie Trefzger, this oversight was remedied this past March.

On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, Professor Covington and his wife Marie walked into the Forsyth Country Club for dinner. Little did Professor Covington know that he would be greeted by a room of people who were there to celebrate his legacy at Wake Forest Law and honor him with the title of Professor Emeritus. In attendance at the event were Professors Steve Nickles and Ellen Murphy (longtime friends of Professor Covington and Marie), Interim Dean Nell Newton, former Dean of the Law School Bob Walsh and his wife Kathy, Law Board of Visitors member and past chair Charlie Trefzger (JD ’84, P ’10, P ’12), Professor Eleanor Morales (JD ’10) and her husband Francisco Morales (JD ’11) and Associate Director of Development Web Alexander (’88) and his wife Beth Alexander. “He didn’t know he was being honored with emeritus status at that dinner,” said Charlie Trefzger. “He was completely surprised.”

During his tenure at Wake Forest Law, Professor Covington was voted teacher of the year six times by the third-year class (a record), he served as the faculty advisor to BLSA for 16 years, and he was known for his engaging, insightful classes. “Butch ascribed to the ‘three strikes and he’s out’ rule,” said Charlie. “If he called on three people and all three were unprepared for class, he would walk out. He expected a high level of commitment and performance from his students—which he reciprocated in spades.”

In fact, his dedication to his students was so inspiring that Charlie, Professor Covington’s former student and dear friend, even established the I. Boyce Covington Law Scholarship in 2006, to honor Butch and to provide financial assistance to law students based on merit and need. “I wanted to give back to the law school that helped me become what I am today,” said Charlie. “And Butch invested in me in such a significant way that it only felt fitting to name the scholarship in his honor.”

At the dinner, guests spent the evening reminiscing about Professor Covington’s time at Wake Forest Law, telling stories about his BarBri work, and catching up on his retirement. The night ended with Interim Dean Newton presenting Professor Covington with an official document from the Provost’s Office naming him Professor Emeritus, nunc pro tunc—indicating that the honor was always there, but now it was officially recognized. Indeed, Professor Covington’s legacy as a revered and cherished member of the faculty and of the community has persisted in the 20 years since he last stood at the front of a classroom at the Law School.

In a 2002 issue of the Jurist, Professor Emeritus Ralph Peeples wrote about Professor Covington and his teaching, “It was the fact that he cared about what he was doing, and that he cared about the students he was teaching. The students knew that. They could tell by the way he would call them each by first and last name, without the benefit of seating charts. They could tell by his smile, or by the tone of his voice. If they required further proof, they could learn that Butch Covington could go through their class roster and tell you something different and unique about each one of them. It’s hard to fake sincerity, and it’s hard to fake affection. Butch Covington has never needed to, in all his years of teaching. It has always come naturally.”

Without teachers like Butch Covington, who devoted so much of his time and energy to his students, Wake Forest Law would not be what it is today.

Donate to the I. Boyce Covington Law Scholarship via this form or by mail to Law School Development, Wake Forest University, P.O. Box 7227, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109.

Wake Forest Law Experts Weigh in on the Tyre Nichols Case 

At the end of January, Memphis authorities released footage of police officers severely beating Tyre Nichols, who was pulled over for alleged reckless driving. Nichols died in the hospital three days after the altercation. The public has quickly organized, protesting the killing of yet another unarmed Black man at the hands of the police.

While there have been countless think pieces written about the Nichols’ case already, Wake Forest Law faculty members, experts on criminal justice and the carceral system, share their perspectives.

Professor Alyse Bertenthal teaches criminal procedure, focusing especially on constitutional limitations on police investigations, including those involving the use of force. “But what happened to Tyre Nichols can’t be explained only as a failure of law,” Bertenthal says. Her research examines the cultural constructions of crime and crime control and, she explains, “We have to be attuned to the social, structural, and institutional dynamics that generate such tragic consequences for Tyre Nichols and too many others.”

Among those dynamics are the prevalence of racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Black adults are arrested at a rate 5 times higher than white adults. This disparity even holds true for youth. Professor Esther Hong’s work focuses on youth and emerging adults in the juvenile legal system and the criminal legal system, and the comparison between these two carceral systems. She says, “While total youth arrests have substantially decreased in recent years, there are still racial disparities in arrests. Black youth are more likely to be arrested than white youth. These disparities manifest in punishment too—the Black youth incarceration rate is approximately 4 times that of white youth.” Although Nichols was 29 at the time of his killing, it is important to understand the larger cultural context of the pervasiveness of arrests within the Black community.

Professor Ronald Wright, one of the nation’s best known criminal justice scholars whose research concentrates on the work of criminal prosecutors, discusses the response from legal institutions.

“When events like this happen, remedies might come from within the police department, from criminal charges against officers, civil torts suits against the officers and the city, or restructuring of the entire agency,” says Wright. “The comprehensive legal actions of this network of legal actors remind us that the answer to illegal use of force by the police is not the work of one person or one department, but rather that of the whole system.”

Over time, responses have become more reliable and robust. If you compare police brutality events from 5 years ago to the Memphis event, responses are now faster and more transparent. Memphis officials released the video within days, which gave people more confidence that legal actors would respond seriously and carefully. Officials from city governments across the country now proactively develop plans for the steps to take if police officers use unlawful force. Significant thought is being put into how to react to these situations.

Are these efforts actually effective deterrents to deadly police misconduct? It’s practically impossible to tell.

“With 17,000 different policing agencies in this country that have no infrastructure for centralized data collection, we have only a glimmer of how often the police kill someone, how often that victim is unarmed, the nature of the victim’s underlying conduct, and other factors,” says Wright. Wright is teaching a new seminar this spring semester on policing, developed in response to student interest in ways that the law can reduce police misconduct. “In any other country in the world, there is a national hierarchy of police and centralized data. Decisions around use of force are made at the top levels and then become the rule for all policing organizations within that hierarchy. But not in the United States.”

Policing in this country is so decentralized because we as a nation have always treated public safety and the police power as local matters—primarily because conditions and crime from city to city are so varied. This localized approach was once true of the courts and prosecution as well, but in the middle of the 20th century, control of the courts and prosecutors shifted from the local to the state level. Yet policing agencies remained under the purview of local governments and continue to do so today. Classic political theory says that local control is most effective at preventing abuses because people can monitor government activities more closely. But this results in a fragmented system where agencies are unable to share information. Thus their ability to fix systemic problems is limited. In the case of Tyre Nichols, local control of the police hasn’t actually been an effective way to stop misconduct.

“To be serious about stopping police brutality, we must keep closer track of what happened in a given situation and why,” says Wright. “The Memphis police department must share its data, which could then be added to a nationalized database that would allow for us to see patterns and intervene.”

Often, the debate around policing is framed in terms of law enforcement effectiveness standing in opposition to acting fairly, but according to Wright, “There doesn’t have to be this tradeoff.” When law enforcement breaks the trust of the community by not acting in a lawful and trustworthy manner, it can no longer rely on the community to help police solve crimes and keep people safe. Police brutality not only has an irrevocable and devastating impact on the lives of those directly touched by it, like the Nichols family, but also damages the relationship between law enforcement and the community, rendering the police ineffective, or even toxic.

While it will surely take a long time for the people of Memphis to regain trust in law enforcement, the rapid and thorough response can only help the process. “The legal system is in place to ensure that what happened to Tyre Nichols doesn’t go unanswered,” says Wright. “If the law is here for anything, it’s for this.”

Scott Schang, director of the Wake Forest Environmental Law Clinic, and Mona Lisa Wallace (JD ’79), partner at Wallace & Graham, P.A., sat down for an interview on August 9, 2022 to talk about Wallace’s own story and her experiences in environmental justice litigation. They discussed her current case interests as well as her high profile lawsuit against the pork industry in North Carolina that was chronicled in the book Wastelands by Corban Addison. Continue reading »

The Law School is pleased to announce that the Public Interest Law Organization (PILO) has received a generous anonymous gift, helping to fund its activities for the entire 2022-23 academic year. Continue reading »