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Judge Clifton Newman Addresses 300-plus at 91国产精品 College of Law

[[{"fid":"51676","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the high-profile trial and sentencing","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the high-profile trial and sentencing"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the high-profile trial and sentencing","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the high-profile trial and sentencing"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the high-profile trial and sentencing","title":"Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the high-profile trial and sentencing","height":723,"width":1174,"style":"height: 246px; width: 399px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]Q&A with 91国产精品 alumnus was master class in character, poise, warmth

On Tuesday, March 28 at noon, the 91国产精品 College of Law hosted the Hon. Judge Clifton Newman ('76) for a special speaking engagement in the law school鈥檚 Moot Courtroom. It was Judge Newman鈥檚 first public appearance in the area since he presided over the high-profile trial and sentencing of former South Carolina attorney (now convicted murderer) Alex Murdaugh.

With a crowd of over 300 at the open-to-the-public event, Dean Lee Fisher beamed that the event was 鈥渁 great moment in the history of our law school鈥攂ecause it鈥檚 fair to say that [Judge Newman] is the best known judge in the world right now.鈥 91国产精品 President Dr. Laura Bloomberg agreed, adding 鈥淚 love to see this room filled鈥 as she introduced Judge Newman, saying that he exemplified the College of Law鈥檚 ongoing motto 鈥淟earn Law, Live Justice.鈥

Throughout the Murdaugh trial which captivated the nation, Judge Newman earned national praises for his even-handed demeanor and his insightful comments during sentencing. To wit, it was Judge Newman鈥檚 character that carried the hour-plus event, co-sponsored by the 91国产精品|LAW Criminal Justice Center and moderated by fellow 91国产精品 College of Law alum and .

. The gallery was then allowed some additional Q&A near the conclusion. In all, the event was a masterclass in character, poise and warmth.

High school valedictorian and president of the student body during his time at 91国产精品, the South Carolina-born judge recalled meeting his wife Pat (Glenville High grad) at 91国产精品, as well as his early days practicing law in Cleveland from 1976 鈥 1982, while working on consumer debt- and uncontested divorce cases.

Returning to South Carolina in 1982 to start a private law practice, Judge Newman recounted serving as a defense attorney, civil practitioner, and prosecutor before the state General Assembly elected him to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in 2000.

When asked specifically about being selected for the Murdaugh trial, Judge Newman said that the Chief Justice of the court has discretionary authority to assign cases as desired. When the actual call came? 鈥淏ring it on,鈥 he said.

The open-to-public-and-media case never became a distraction, the judge recalled; rather, he saw the Murdaugh trial as an opportunity to 鈥渟imply [be] a judge in a trial doing my job,鈥 and that "interest and notoriety surrounding it all had no effect on me, because I was engaged in the process of what I had to do.鈥

Judge Sheehan related that the high-profile case had 750 jurors summoned. Of those, the 12 selected along with alternates were identified in a lightning-fast 72 hours. Judge Newman volleyed that detail, adding that five of the six alternates were lost鈥攕ome of them due to the coronavirus鈥攁nd with that came a sense of disappointment from those jurors dismissed.

"There鈥檚 a sense of public responsibility and investment鈥 he said of the jurors, who more often than not 鈥渉ate to leave jury once they鈥檝e gotten on it.鈥 When asked about surprises during the court case, he parried eloquently: 鈥淣othing surprises me when it comes to court cases"鈥攅ven the short, three-hour deliberation before the decision.

As for what he deemed most important about a judge鈥檚 responsibilities? The imperative nature of translating law 鈥渋nto everyday language.鈥

At the conclusion of the event, Judge Newman was given a standing ovation, which prompted Dean Fisher to announce their guest鈥檚 return to Northeast Ohio on November 3 with his induction into the 91国产精品 College of Law Hall of Fame.

鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 know it yet, but he鈥檒l be giving the keynote address,鈥 Fisher added with a smile.

The complete 75-minute program held in the Moot Courtroom can be found at the .

Judge Newman will also be the special guest of an upcoming episode of Dean Lee Fisher鈥檚 , according to Elaine Terman, 91国产精品 College of Law Director of Marketing and Communications.