MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Moak, Alday, Aldridge, Anderson, Arnold, Bailey, Bain, Baker, Banks, Baria, Barker, Barton, Beckett, Bell, Bennett, Blackmon, Bounds, Boyd, Brown (20th), Burnett, Busby, Byrd, Calhoun, Campbell, Carpenter, Chism, Clark, Clarke, Cockerham, Coleman (29th), Coleman (65th), Crawford, Currie, DeBar, DeLano, Denny, Denton, Dickson, Dixon, Eaton, Ellis, Espy, Eure, Evans (43rd), Evans (70th), Evans (91st), Faulkner, Formby, Frierson, Gibbs, Gipson, Guice, Gunn, Hamilton, Haney, Harrison, Hines, Holland, Holloway, Hood, Horan, Horne, Howell, Huddleston (15th), Huddleston (30th), Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Kinkade, Ladner, Lamar, Lane, Lott, Malone, Martinson, Massengill, Mayo, McLeod, Mettetal, Middleton, Miles, Mims, Monsour, Moore, Morgan, Myers, Nelson, Oberhousen, Patterson, Perkins, Pigott, Powell, Read, Reynolds, Rogers (14th), Rogers (61st), Rushing, Scott, Shirley, Shows, Smith (27th), Smith (39th), Snowden, Staples, Steverson, Straughter, Stringer, Sullivan, Taylor, Thomas, Turner, Warren, Watson, Weathersby, White, Whittington, Williams-Barnes, Willis, Wooten, Young, Zuber
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW DEAN JIM ROSENBLATT ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, the Honorable Jim Rosenblatt, well-known and highly respected Dean of Mississippi College School of Law, has announced his intention to retire from his position as dean in August 2014 after more than a decade of superior leadership and exceptional service to the acclaimed educational institution and the entire legal profession; and
WHEREAS, born in Natchez, Mississippi, Dean Rosenblatt was raised on a family farm near the Mississippi River in rural Wilkinson County and learned from his parents at an early age in life the invaluable lesson that hard work and education are the keys to success; and
WHEREAS, after excelling through high school, Dean Rosenblatt attended and graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Vanderbilt University, where he was selected for membership in Omicron Delta Kappa and served as president of his senior class; and
WHEREAS, Dean Rosenblatt then continued his formal education and training at Cornell Law School, during which time he was active on moot court and served as a research assistant while completing the ROTC program as he worked toward obtaining his juris doctorate degree; and
WHEREAS, following his admission to the New York Bar, Dean Rosenblatt launched a 30-year military career with his entry into The Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG), graduating with honors from both the JAG Basic Course and subsequently, the JAG Advanced Course in Charlottesville, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, during his military career, Dean Rosenblatt, who holds the Distinguished Service Medal and three awards of the Legion of Merit, taught in the Contract Law Division of The JAG School and served in various leadership positions at the Pentagon and military posts throughout the world before retiring at the rank of Colonel in 2003; and
WHEREAS, with more than 30 years' experience dedicated to perfecting his natural talents as a teacher, leader and mentor in the United States Army, a passionate and energetic Jim Rosenblatt returned to his home state in August of 2003 with extraordinary vision and boundless enthusiasm to assume the position of Dean of Mississippi College School of Law; and
WHEREAS, Dean Rosenblatt, extremely visible among students on the downtown Jackson campus that has enjoyed a total makeover during his tenure, has used his unparalleled ability to build personal relationships with students, faculty, alumni and the entire legal community to grow support for the school that now boasts a reputation throughout the country for outstanding academic instruction, as evidenced by the school's nationally recognized moot court teams, coupled with unlimited opportunities for valuable, hands-on training through the school's ever-expanding externship program; and
WHEREAS, while over the last 11 years MC Law has experienced phenomenal growth in its standing as a highly competitive school offering a legal education second to none, Dean Rosenblatt has worked tirelessly to develop the school's campus into a welcoming legal center offering the latest in classroom and courtroom technology and to attract a diverse student population comprised of the highest caliber of well-rounded students with a drive to succeed from over 25 states; and
WHEREAS, recognized by Mississippi College President Lee Royce as having played a pivotal role in "moving the program forward in so many impressive ways," Dean Rosenblatt will be remembered for years to come for successfully leading the law school's transformation from a high quality regional institution to a premier legal center for the South; and
WHEREAS, throughout his distinguished career at Mississippi College, Dean Rosenblatt has been an invaluable source of wisdom to all who have sought his advice, and his role, ranging from trusted visionary and leader of an institution on the rise to motivator, mentor and overall chief-of-encouragement to many a terrified One-L preparing for his first law school exams, has immeasurably influenced the lives of untold Mississippians; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his immense contributions to Mississippi College School of Law, Dean Rosenblatt has worked to better legal education and the legal profession in general by volunteering countless hours of service as a leader in various state and national organizations and associations, including his service as: a member of the Professionalism Committee of The Mississippi Bar; a member of The Mississippi Bar's Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program Strategic Planning Group; an Honorary Member of the Fellows of the Young Lawyers of The Mississippi Bar; a member of the Diversity Committee and Program Chair of the Capital Area Bar Association; a member of the Mississippi Legal Services Foundation; an ex officio member of the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission; an ex officio member of the Mississippi Supreme Court Commission on Impaired Lawyers; a member of the American Bar Association's Section on Legal Education and Committee on Government Relations; Secretary and President of the Charles Clark Inn of Court; Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and President of the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association; a member of the Law Student Division Task Force of the Federal Bar Association; a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation; and as a member of the American Bar Association's site teams for numerous law schools, including Ohio Northern University Law School, Santa Clara Law School, Phoenix Law School and William Mitchell School of Law; and
WHEREAS, throughout his years at the helm of MC Law, Dean Rosenblatt, a talented researcher and writer who is admitted to practice in the state courts of New York and Missouri as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals in the Fifth, Seventh and Ninth Circuits, the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, has authored numerous scholarly articles that have been published in well-known legal journals; and
WHEREAS, the family of Mississippi College and the entire Mississippi legal community are fortunate in that although Dean Rosenblatt will be retiring from his current position, his profound impact on the lives of aspiring law students and the overall legal profession will continue when he assumes a full-time faculty position teaching at MC School of Law upon his retirement; and
WHEREAS, while looking forward to carrying on his mission to "Let Justice Roll" through his new role as a teacher, Dean Rosenblatt and his faithful wife, Lauren VanBuskirk Rosenblatt, the First Lady of MC Law who has steadfastly supported her husband throughout his career, eagerly anticipate enjoying a somewhat more relaxed pace and in particular, having more time to spend with their four sons, Frank, John, Drew and Paul, and their families, especially the grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, as Jim Rosenblatt prepares to retire from his position as Dean of Mississippi College School of Law this year, it is most appropriate that this Legislature respectfully acknowledge his immeasurable contributions to MC Law and the entire legal profession which, by positively influencing the education and training of tomorrow's bench and bar while working to create increased access to necessary legal services for all, have greatly benefited not only the individual lives of many, but the entire State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Dean Jim Rosenblatt on the occasion of his retirement as Dean of Mississippi College School of Law and extend to him our heartiest wishes for a long and healthy retirement marked by continued success in all of his future personal and professional endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dean Jim Rosenblatt, Mississippi College School of Law, the Board of Trustees of Mississippi College and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.