Prof. Shen’s Study Provides New Insight Toward Reducing Racial Bias in Courtroom

The American criminal justice system relies on jurors to regularly decode the mental states of criminal defendants. When those defendants are people of color, decoding minority mental states is a centerpiece of the justice process.

A new study released by Law School Professor Francis Shen finds that it may be possible to make these “minority mens rea” determinations (mens rea is a legal term referring to criminal intent) without significant racial bias.

Francis Shen

Patent Trial and Appeal Board

September 27, 2017, 12:30 to 5:00 pm

Live Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) trial proceedings and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) appeal and opposition proceedings under the America Invents Act (AIA) will take place at the Law School on Wednesday, September 27.

After the trial proceedings, judges will hold educational sessions with tips for successful advocacy and experienced Board practitioners will discuss strategies for winning before the TTAB and PTAB. 

4 Standard CLE credits have been approved; Event Code #247835

Perspectives on Taxation Series

October 6, 2017, 12:15 to 1:15 pm

Vexing questions arise when Congress directs the Treasury & IRS to issue regulations, but they fail to do so. A curious body of case law has emerged over the resulting “phantom regulations,” with the multiple opinions issued in a recent Tax Court case—15 West 17th Street LLC v. Comm’r—revealing the divergent judicial attitudes. Prof. Grewal will examine recent developments in the area and argue that the courts have incorrectly handled the problems issued by phantom tax regulations.

1 Standard CLE credit has been approved; Event Code #247450

University of Minnesota Day of Service

October 14, 2017, 9:00 am

Day of Service strives to engage U of M alumni and friends in service to their community through one big day of service and gratitude. More than 477,000 alumni from across the world, students and others have the opportunity to serve their communities at various volunteer sites and display their school pride.

The Law School is hosting two specific sites including:

U OF M DAY OF SERVICE

Inequality and the Future of Family Law

April 28, 2018, 8:00 am

Friday, April 27, 2018 12:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 28, 2018 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

23 Standard CLE credits have been requested; Event Code #256082
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Prof. Shen Named McKnight Presidential Fellow

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost has announced that Professor Francis X. Shen has been named a 2017-19 McKnight Presidential Fellow. This fellowship program is targeted at the University’s most promising faculty who have been newly granted tenure and promotion to associate professor; it recognizes their scholarly accomplishments and supports their ongoing research and scholarship with supplemental funding for a three-year period. Shen is one of just five faculty members University-wide to be so honored this year.

Francis Shen

A Prescription for Pharmaceutical's Future: Balancing Industry & Consumer Concerns for Pharmaceutical Drug Development

October 27, 2017, 8:15 am to 4:00 pm

The explosion of criticism following the heightened costs of Daraprim and EpiPen revitalized the coversation surrounding pharmaceutical drug pricing. The dynamic, and oftentimes conflicting, forces at play in the healthcare market make the task of finding solutions daunting. Today, pharmaceutical drug development and sales is big business, and at the same time, these pharmaceutical products shape the day-to-day routines of many Americans. 

6.5 Standard CLE credits have been approved; Event Code #248122

Professor Francis Shen was quoted in an article in the Hastings Star Gazette reporting on disparities in police calls to Walmart and to Target. The newspaper’s report found a nearly 4-1 ratio of police calls to Walmart as compared to Target. 

University holiday

September 4, 2017, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

The Law School at Walter F. Mondale Hall will be closed for a Twin Cities campus University holiday on Monday, September 4, 2017.

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