Family Law Prof Blog

Stetson Family Law Professor Ruth Fleet Thurman Retires

On May 31, family law scholar Ruth Fleet Thurman will retire from her full-time position at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla., leaving behind a legacy that began almost five decades ago. As her son began kindergarten in 1960, Professor Thurman began her legal studies at Stetson Law, graduating three years later as the only female in her class.

“It was a lifelong dream to go to law school,” said Thurman, whose eyes still sparkle with enthusiasm. “We studied the Supreme Court when I was in the sixth grade, and that's when I decided that I'd like to be a lawyer.”

After graduation, she practiced law for nearly 13 years and was the first woman to serve as assistant state attorney in the 6th Judicial Circuit of Florida. In 1975, she was asked to join the Stetson faculty and has the distinction of being Stetson's first tenured female law professor.

In 2005, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Stetson University College of Law. In 2009, she was honored with a bronze relief of her likeness as a “Legal Pioneer” by Stetson Law Vice President and Dean Darby Dickerson.  Stetson University President H. Douglas Lee -- who will himself retire this month -- approved the faculty and Dean Darby Dickerson’s recommendation to name Thurman a Professor Emeritus.

You can read a complete story and Q&A, and download a great photo of Professor Thurman, by visiting http://www.law.stetson.edu/tmpl/news/article.aspx?id=6892

CDC Reports Increase in Unmarried Birth Rates

The Center for Disease Control has issued a new report tracking births to unmarried mothers and found:

Childbearing by unmarried women has resumed a steep climb since 2002.

Births to unmarried women totaled 1,714,643 in 2007, 26% more than in 2002. Nearly 4 in 10 U.S. births were to unmarried women in 2007.

Birth rates have risen considerably for unmarried women in their twenties and over, while declining or changing little for unmarried teenagers.

Nonmarital birth rates are highest for Hispanic women followed by black women. Rates for non-Hispanic white and Asian or Pacific Islander women are much lower.

Most births to teenagers (86% in 2007) are nonmarital, but 60% of births to women 20–24 and nearly one-third of births to women 25–29 were nonmarital in 2007.

Teenagers accounted for just 23% of nonmarital births in 2007, down steeply from 50% in 1970.

See the entire report at the CDC website. (bgf)

CFP: Children and the Law Junior Faculty Workshop Call for Papers

Children and the Law Junior Faculty Workshop

July 16 -17, 2009

The Frances Lewis Law Center at Washington & Lee University is sponsoring a workshop for junior scholars working on legal issues related to children. The workshop will be held this summer on the campus of Washington & Lee in Lexington, Virginia.
More info on Feminist Law Professors blog here.

RR