During the 2014 spring quarter, Kate Falkenstien ’15, and Jordan Rice ’15, successfully mediated a religious accommodation case arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a state Religious Freedom Protection Act.

The case involved a public school employee’s right to wear an unshorn beard in accordance with his Muslim faith.  Partnering with lawyers from the Department of Justice, Kate and Jordan drafted and filed the complaint in federal court, coordinated discovery, wrote a mediation brief, and negotiated the settlement before a Magistrate Judge.  The judge praised the students for the quality of their work on behalf of their client. ◊