Law School to Welcome New Class, Justice Maureen O’Connor to Speak at Convocation

August 18, 2008

Capital University Law School will welcome an incoming class of about 250 students at its opening Convocation ceremony, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, in Mees Hall on the main campus of Capital University (1 College and Main Bexley, OH 43209). Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen O’Connor is the featured speaker. Her talk will be “Thoughts upon Entering the Noble Profession.”

Justice O'Connor was elected in 2002 as the 148 th justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio. She is a former Summit County magistrate, common pleas court judge and county prosecutor. In 1998, the people of Ohio elected Justice O'Connor as their lieutenant governor — the second-highest official in the state. She quickly became the governor's chief advisor on criminal justice issues, serving as Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and as chair of Ohio's Security Task Force and the State Building Security Review Committee. Her experiences in law enforcement proved invaluable, particularly in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks when she led the state in its response to new threats of terrorism. Her leadership in this area garnered the attention and the praise of the country's first homeland security advisor, Tom Ridge. Since her election to the Supreme Court of Ohio, Justice O'Connor has continued to work for justice. In addition to her responsibilities hearing the array of cases presented to the Court, Justice O'Connor devotes herself to educational initiatives for Ohio's students and to matters of security, such as the Advisory Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness, which she chairs.

Capital University Law School ’s annual Convocation ceremony introduces faculty and administrators to the new incoming students and their families. Students are presented with a ceremonial gavel to reinforce the Law School’s ideals of professionalism, ethics and dignity. The ceremony continues the tradition of having new students take the Oath of Professionalism.

Additionally, Law School Dean Jack A. Guttenberg, Capital University President Denvy Bowman and Associate Dean Shirley Mays will address the students and their families concerning the seriousness and importance of undertaking a legal education. Jennifer Karr, Student Bar Association President, also will help welcome the new students during the program.

A reception will follow the event in the courtyard outside Mees Hall from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.