Catholic law school to open in A2 next year

The University's Law School may have a new neighbor next year as another institution of legal education plans to open in Ann Arbor.

Founder and former Chair of Domino's Pizza Thomas Monaghan, who is now chair of the Ave Maria Foundation, announced Wednesday the new law institution, known as the Ave Maria School of Law, will bring a Catholic perspective to legal education.

University Law Dean Jeffrey Lehman said Monaghan's plans for Ave Maria will not affect the University's Law School.

"There are180 law schools around the country and five in the state," Lehman said. "I don't expect to see an impact on us."

Lehman said he did not expect a mass exodos of faculty from the University to the new school.

"Anything can happen but it would surprise me," Lehman said.

University President Lee Bollinger echoed Lehman's thoughts on Ave Maria, saying the school's opening won't be a major source of competition, adding the school's success depends on the intellectual community it attracts.

Ave Maria planners said they hope to have the school up and running by the fall of 2000. Although plans for the campus are still in their initial stages, a 150,000 square foot building, student housing, recreational facilities, classrooms, courtrooms and conference space are planned.

The school has already signed up its first faculty member - former U.S. Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork.

Bork said Monaghan approached him a few months ago about coming to teach at Ave Maria.

The concept of the school "sounded very conventional," Bork said yesterday from his Washington, D.C. home.

Laura Hirschfeld, an Ave Maria public affairs official, said Monaghan has promised to contribute $50 million to the start-up costs, but that is only an approximate figure, she said.

The start-up costs will be primarily used for the construction of the facility, Hirschfeld said, including a comprehensive law library.

Ave Maria organizers hope to bring the traditions of Catholic teachings to the school.

"Many schools require their students to take a course in professional responsibility, but it is too often just a two or three credit course," Hirschfeld said.

Professional ethics are planned to be brought into the school's curriculum, Hirschfeld said, adding that Catholic teachings place "value on the human person."

Ave Maria's Law Board of Governors include many notable names from the Catholic Church, political sphere and the legal profession including U.S. Rep Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), California Supreme Court Justice and former Secretary of the Interior William Clark and Archbishop of New York John Cardinal O'Connor.

Hirschfeld said many people are attracted to Ave Maria because it provides a "blank page" for legal education.

Bork hoped the names attached to Ave Maria "will act favorably in attracting faculty," adding that while he serves as an Ave Maria professor, he will continue to reside in Washington, D.C.

The establishment of Ave Maria is Monaghan's latest expansion of Catholic educational institutions in southeast Michigan.

Hirschfeld said Monaghan is very committed to Catholic education and said he has helped in the founding of Catholic daycare services, primary and secondary schools.

- Daily Staff Reporter Jaimie Winkler contributed to this report.

04-09-99