This Blog has a number of times mentioned Judah P. Benjamin, the great Lousiana lawyer who later became an English barrister. His training and experience made him familiar with Spanish law, which was why he was involved with John A. Rockwell in the famous New Almaden, California, quicksilver mine case in the Federal Courts of the USA. Rockwell himself is a fascinating figure who established a cross-border litigation practice specializing in claims involving Mexico. It is therefore good to see that the Law Library of Louisiana is sponsoring a lecture entitled "John A. Rockwell and the Origins of U.S.-Mexico litigation" on 7 January 2013. The notice is appended below.

 

John A. Rockwell and the Origins of U.S.-Mexico Litigation

A Law Library of Louisiana Free CLE

Sponsored by the Law Library of Louisiana

Monday, January 7, 2013

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Louisiana Supreme Court, 400 Royal Street, 4th Floor Courtroom

One hour CLE credit

On Monday, January 7th, 2013, the Law Library of Louisiana will sponsor a free CLE entitled "John A. Rockwell and the origins of U.S.-Mexico Litigation." An attorney and Whig congressman from Connecticut, John A. Rockwell (1803-1861) established an innovative cross-border law practice specializing in claims involving Mexico. Bringing lawsuits over harm to foreign nationals during the Mexican political unrest of the 1840s and 1850s,Rockwell became expert in arguing Hispanic legal doctrine before international tribunals, and was co-counsel with Louisiana lawyer Judah P. Benjamin in the New Almaden, California, quicksilver mine case in the U.S. federal courts. Based on his research for this litigation, Rockwell produced the first comprehensive English-language treatise on Spanish and Mexican mining and real estate law, which became widely used in the southwestern territories annexed afterthe Mexican War and is still cited in contemporary property disputes. While he shared the indecisiveness of many Whigs over the sectional divisions ultimately leading to the Civil War, Rockwell’s steps to create a language of international legal communication set a precedent for the globalized practice of today.

Speaker:

Peter L. Reich, J.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Law and Sumner Scholar at Whittier Law School, where he is Director of Whittier’s Environmental Law Concentration and Mexico City Program. His most recent publication is the scholarly introduction to John A. Rockwell’s A Compilation of Spanish and Mexican Law in Relation to Mines and Titles to Real Estate (1851), reissued by Lawbook Exchange.

For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Georgia Chadwick via email (gchadwick[at]lasc.org) or phone (504-310-2402).

Ample parking is available at the Jax Brewery Lot.