RESOLUTION

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
SECTION OF LEGAL EDUCATION AND ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR

APPALACHIAN SCHOOL OF LAW

The Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association mourns the tragedy that took the lives of Dean L. Anthony Sutin, Professor Thomas Blackwell, and law student Angela Dales on January 16, 2002 at Appalachian School of Law.

The Appalachian School of Law was organized in 1994. Its stated purpose is "to provide opportunity for people from Appalachia and beyond to realize their dreams or practicing law and bettering their communities." In February 2000 the school earned provisional approval from this Council. This approval recognized the substantial progress that the school had made towards achieving its goals. Subsequently, the school continues to move forward in building an institution that delivers a sound program of legal education to its students and serves its mission.

Dean Sutin and Professor Blackwell were valued and beloved members of the Appalachian Law School community. Their contributions to the success of the school were significant and recognized throughout the legal education community. First-year student Angela Dales worked in the admissions office at the school prior to beginning her law studies. She exemplified the kind of student the school endeavors to attract and to prepare for a career in the legal profession.

Dean Sutin became known to the Council through his appearances in connection with the schoolÕs application for provisional approval. He was an effective, prepared, and impressive representative for the school.

There can be no more fitting response to the tragedy of January 16th than continued efforts at Appalachian School of Law to build a program of legal education that promotes the rule of law, opportunity and justice. President Lucius Ellsworth, Interim Dean Paul Lund, and the Appalachian School of Law community are working together to fulfill that goal, and the Council wishes them well.

The Council extends condolences and sympathy to the families of Dean Sutin, Professor Blackwell, and Angela Dales.

This Resolution is adopted by unanimous vote of the Council at its meeting of February 2, 2002.

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Honorable Gerald W. VandeWalle, Chair
Council of the Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
American Bar Association