![Tess Chaffee and Patrick Maney in UC Law court room](https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2024/04/n21241441/jcr:content/image.img.cq5dam.thumbnail.500.500.jpg/1712255695667.jpg)
Third-year law students win pro bono victory with Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Congratulations to University of Cincinnati third-year law students Patrick Maney and Tess Chaffee who recently won an important pro bono victory in United States v. Alvarado after arguing the appeal before a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. “It was a difficult case, as criminal appeals usually are, with complicated Second Amendment and gun-related sentencing issues,” said Colter Paulson, Of Counsel at Squire Patton Boggs. “The panel was aggressive, but Tess and Pat did an excellent job of thinking on their feet and answering tough questions.” Chaffee and Maney participated in the colleges’ Sixth Circuit Clinic, through which this case was litigated. Paulson is one of the directors of the clinic.
"It feels so rewarding to know that we are making a real difference in our client's life. And it was such a great experience to start my career in litigation,” said Chaffee. Upon graduation, Chaffee plans to work in litigation at the Squire Patton Boggs office in Phoenix, Arizona. Her partner, Maney, agreed. "I’m very excited for our client, and extremely proud of the hard work our classmates and faculty put in. It was a team effort and win!" Maney plans to work in transactional law in the Cincinnati office of Squire Patton Boggs upon graduation.
Elements about the case: United States v. Alvarado
Though skeptical about the gun-related issues during the oral argument, Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton was very complementary about their argument afterwards. Even better, he ultimately signed on to a unanimous published decision reversing a four-point “reckless endangerment” enhancement on the client’s sentence. The panel held that reckless endangerment requires the government to introduce evidence that someone was actually endangered by a firearm, not just that people were scared from hearing the gunshots. This result could take years off the client’s sentence, potentially getting the client out of prison later this year.
How the Sixth Circuit Clinic works
Cincinnati Law’s Sixth Circuit Clinic introduces students to the basics of appellate advocacy. Through the clinic, students learn to navigate the federal appellate process in both civil and criminal appeals. They work on appeals from beginning to end, conferring with clients, reviewing records, figuring out issues to raise, drafting and filing the appellate brief, and participating in mock arguments. Some students, like Chaffee and Maney, get the opportunity to argue a case before the court.
"I applied for the Sixth Circuit Clinic for the opportunity to learn about appellate practice from skilled attorneys while gaining hands on experience,” said Chaffee. “The clinic allows you to see an appeal through as a law student, from reviewing the record, conducting legal research, formulating arguments, and drafting and editing the briefs, to preparing and arguing a case in front of a panel of judges of the Sixth Circuit."
"I joined the Sixth Circuit Clinic to work on hard cases,” said Maney. “The clinic allowed me to collaborate with my peers on complex legal matters and to learn from experts in the field while gaining real life experience.”
The Sixth Circuit Clinic is taught by Paulson and Nathan Colvin, Vice President and Associate General Counsel (Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement) at Fifth Third Bank.
Lead photo: Joey Yerace
Related Stories
UC’s Ohio Innocence Project helps earn freedom for Cleveland man after more than 14 years in prison
May 4, 2021
UC's Ohio Innocence Project helped earn the freedom of Michael Sutton, one of two Cleveland men convicted in 2006 of the shooting of two people and the attempted shooting of a Cleveland police officer when both suspects were 17 years old.
Three Cincinnati Law faculty honored with University awards
April 16, 2021
Three University of Cincinnati College of Law faculty members are being honored with university awards.
UC Day of Giving a success
April 28, 2021
University of Cincinnati Day of Giving’s 24-hour challenge was a tremendous success this year, raising $2,219,197 with 3,232 gifts. The fourth annual UC Day of Giving raised its most money to date with alumni, donors, students, faculty and staff joining together to support UC and UC Health.
Cincinnati task force calls on expertise of UC Law faculty, student
April 26, 2021
A. Christopher Bryant, the Rufus King Professor of Constitutional Law, and third-year law student Evan Gildenblatt presented to the Economic Development Reform Panel (EDRP) on topics related to the First Amendment in US election law and rebuilding public trust.
Cincinnati Law welcomes the world
May 17, 2019
The University of Cincinnati College of Law has fewer than 400 students, but some travel thousands of miles around the globe to enroll.
U.S. News top grad school rankings include several UC programs
March 30, 2021
Several graduate school programs at UC improve in latest U.S. News and World Report rankings, including from nursing, medicine, engineering, criminal justice, law and business.
UC remembers corporate leader Charles A. Corry
March 31, 2021
The University of Cincinnati and the College of Law community are remembering attorney Charles A. “Chuck” Corry, A&S ‘55, Law, ’59, a well-respected steel and energy executive who led USX Corporation.
The making of a successful Faculty & Staff Campaign
May 25, 2021
More than one-third of UC’s nearly 7,000 faculty and staff have already contributed to the 2020-21 Faculty & Staff Campaign, putting the goal of 45% within reach.
WCPO-TV/Channel 9: Ohio Innocence Project at UC takes on possible wrongful conviction case
May 10, 2021
UC's Ohio Innocence Project helped earn freedom for a Cleveland man after more than 14 years in prison. Michael Sutton was one of two men convicted in 2006 as a teenager for the shooting of two people and the attemped shooting of a police officer. He and Kenny Phillips were freed on bond on May 3, 2021.
Three additional days off for UC employees
July 14, 2021
President Neville G. Pinto announced that UC employees will receive three additional days off in 2021 for going 'above and beyond' during the pandemic. The time away will take place during Winter Season Days.