Perkins Coie Presents to Sky Vista on Death Penalty

DENVER (December 7, 2007) - Perkins Coie attorney Michele Rowland, who will be promoted to partner on January 1, 2008, led a discussion about the constitutionality of the death penalty on December 4, 2007 with a group of middle school students in Centennial, Colo. In the presentation, "Death Penalty Review by the U.S. Supreme Court: Does Death by Lethal Injection Violate the Eighth Amendment?" Rowland covered a range of topics related to the death penalty with the group of eighth graders at Sky Vista Middle School.

The presentation was part of a social studies lesson in the middle schoolers' current events curriculum. Michael Siem of New York law firm Clifford Chance was also involved in the program.

"Michele did a wonderful job discussing various aspects of the death penalty. These kind of exchanges—between students and working professionals—allow for students to realize the relevancy of what they learn in class as well as engage in the kind of professional dialog that is typically found in law school," said Dan Buehler, Ph.D., who teaches the class.

The students questioned Rowland on a number of topics, such as the pending case before the U.S. Supreme Court, the future of the death penalty and what it is like to be an attorney.

"It is exciting to see young people interested in our legal system and engaged in the process and outcome of a topical and relevant issue. The depth and quality of the students' questions were remarkable," said Rowland.