The Faculty Lounge

Got My Mojo Working

"Got My Mojo Working" is closely identified with Muddy Waters, but it was actually written for Ann Cole by Preston "Red" Foster in 1956.  Cole was a moderately successful R&B artist who recorded for Sol Rabinowitz's Baton label. She opened for Muddy on a national tour in 1957 and made the mistake of including "Mo-Jo" (as she called it) in her set. Muddy heard it, loved it, and decided to record it for Chess Records when he got back to Chicago. Cole's recording and Waters's ended up being released in the same week, and of course his was by far more famous. He also claimed the copyright, though his changes were minimal; litigation followed, with royalties eventually being paid to Foster and his family.

Muddy Waters's mainstream breakthrough was a Newport in 1960. The harp player is James Cotton, with Otis Spann on piano, both of whom also led their own important bands. 

I have no idea why her backups were called The Suburbans.

Hiring Announcement: University of San Francisco School of Law

From a recent email message:

The School of Law at the University of San Francisco is seeking a full-time non-tenure track Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis Professor for the upcoming academic year. The position is eligible for renewable terms based on the School of Law's promotion policy. The faculty member guides first year law students through their first foray into legal writing and research so they are best equipped to analyze and write and research about complex legal issues. The faculty member will teach two sections each semester comprised of approximately 20 students per class. During the fall semester, the professor will teach predictive writing and legal analysis. The spring semester will focus on persuasive writing, legal research, and oral advocacy. The spring semester culminates in a moot court event where alumni attorneys act as judges during oral arguments. The small class size fosters collaboration and allows faculty to adapt instruction to particular classroom needs and provide individualized feedback. This feedback is core to the school’s legal writing program. In addition, the professor may teach an additional class semester as negotiated with the Associate Dean or Dean. Housing assistance for a visiting professor may be available.

Additional Details & Application

Detroit Mercy School Law Seeks Tenure-Track Faculty for Writing, Civ Pro and Crim

This just in:

UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY SCHOOL OF LAW is seeking candidates for tenure- track positions on the faculty, beginning in the Fall of 2025. We are interested in candidates who can teach legal writing in our Applied Legal Theory and Analysis (ALTA) curriculum, as well as Civil Procedure or Criminal Law. Because of our unique Dual Juris Doctor Degree program with the University of Windsor in Canada, we also have a special interest in candidates who can teach ALTA from both the American and Canadian perspectives.

Candidates should have a Juris Doctor degree and should send a current CV or resume, along with a cover letter expressing their interest and qualifications, to Professor Richard Broughton, Chair of the Faculty Recruiting Committee, at [email protected]. Candidates may also submit additional materials such as research statements, prior publications, and teaching evaluations. Applications will be reviewed immediately. We welcome and encourage applications from women, from members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and from any other candidates who will further enhance the diversity of our faculty.

 

Harvard Announces Law School Dean Search Advisory Committee

Harvard University has announced a 13-member faculty advisory committee to provide input on the dean search.  The commitee includes law professors Sabrineh Ardalan, Christopher T. Bavitz, Jared A. Ellias, Richard H. Fallon Jr., Jeannie Suk Gersen, Annette Gordon-Reed, Elizabeth Papp Kamali, Stephen E. Sachs, Laura M. Weinrib, and Crystal S. Yang.  There are three non-law school professors on the committee, including Harvard Business School Dean Srikant M. Datar,  Graduate School of Design Dean Sarah M. Whiting and  Kennedy School professor Meghan L. O’Sullivan. 

Cleveland State Law Seeks Faculty

This just in:

The Cleveland State University College of Law invites applications for two (2) full-time Assistant Professors of Law beginning August 11, 2025. CSU is committed to academic excellence and diversity within the faculty, staff, and student body in all of its dimensions. CSU is striving to be a nationally recognized and student focused public research institution that provides accessible, affordable, and Engaged Learning opportunities for all.

The Law School is open to candidates with expertise in any area of the law, and especially those with an interest in teaching torts, corporation, or evidence, with additional interest in contracts, criminal law, legislation and regulation, or property.

CSU Law is ranked as the top public law school in northern Ohio and the top part-time program in Ohio. Additionally, it has been nationally recognized for the specialty areas of Health Care Law, International Law, Intellectual Property, Legal Writing, and Criminal Law. CSU|Law continuously strives to be a nationally recognized and student focused public research institution that provides accessible, affordable, and Engaged Learning opportunities for all.

Duties will include teaching, scholarly research and writing, working with academic centers, and ordinary committee service.

Applications will only be accepted online at https://hrjobs.csuohio.edu/postings/23204. Mailed or emailed application materials will not be accepted. Preference will be given to applications received by 1/6/25. All inquiries about the position should be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Professor Heidi Gorovitz Robertson at [email protected].

List of documents applicant is required to submit:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research Plan
• Evidence of Teaching Experience (e.g. Course Evals, etc.)
• Teaching Statement
• Contact information for three references – references will be contacted via email and asked to upload a letter of support on your behalf
• Note: The successful candidate must submit an official transcript before their contract can be prepared

CSU is an urban university with more than 14,000 students located in the heart of Cleveland, OH. According to the Brookings Institution, CSU is No. 18 in the U.S. among public universities that fulfill a critical dual mission: providing upward mobility and conducting impactful research. CSU is the only Ohio university in the top tier of the Brookings list. For additional information about the city of Cleveland, see https://www.thisiscleveland.com/.

Hire is contingent upon the maintenance of existing levels of funding from the State of Ohio. Offer of employment is contingent on satisfactory completion of the University’s verification of credentials (including evidence of a Ph.D.) and other information required by law and/or University policies or practices, including but not limited to a criminal background check.

It is the policy of Cleveland State University to provide equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran, or genetic information.

George Mason Law Invites Applications for Law Prof Economics Institute

This just in:

The Law & Economics Center at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, invites applications for the Thirty-Fifth Economics Institute for Law Professors and the Seventeenth Law Institute for Economics Professors.

The programs will run concurrently from Sunday, June 1 to Friday, June 13, 2025. They will be held at the Grand Summit Hotel in Park City, Utah.

Upon successful completion of either institute, attendees will receive a $3,000 honorarium.

LAW PROFESSORS:

Thirty-Fifth Economics Institute for Law Professors

The goal of the Economics Institute for Law Professors is to help participants enhance their understanding of economics and broaden their analytical tools in order to introduce greater economic sophistication and policy relevance to their professional work. The time-tested program that launched the LEC in 1974 counts many of today’s leading scholars in law and economics among its five decades of alumni. More than 830 law professors worldwide have attended the LEC’s Economics Institutes. Alumni routinely credit the Institute with providing creative insights into research and teaching, and with facilitating collegial associations.

 

Todd Pettys Named Interim Dean of Iowa Law

Professor Todd Pettys has been named interim dean of Iowa College of Law effective January 1.  Pettys joined the law school in 1999 and holds a JD from The University of North Carolina School of Law.

I Am a Pilgrim

"I Am a Pilgrim" is an American hymn dating to the middle of the nineteenth century. It was first recorded in 1924 by the Norfolk Jubilee Quartet, a prominent African American gospel group (don't miss their clip at the bottom of the post). I first heard it by Doc Watson, and then by the Byrds. I can't explain it, but I just love Doc's four note base run between "not" and "made by hand." Many of the other artists have picked it up, but not all -- which is too bad in my book.

I couldn't find an earlier video of Doc playing this song, but there is an audio clip of Doc and Merle toward the bottom of the post.

The Byrds play the bass run (Chris Hillman and Marty Stuart on guitar)

Col. James H. Kennedy III Named Dean of New England Law/Boston

New England Law/Boston has announced that Colonel James H. Kennedy III will be its next dean.  He is currently Commandant of The Judge Advocate General’s School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.  Kennedy, who holds a JD from Syracuse University College of Law, will take over at the start of spring semester, 2025.

 

New England Law/Boston has announced that Colonel James H. Kennedy III will be its next dean.  He is currently Commandant of The Judge Advocate General’s School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.  Kennedy, who holds a JD from Syracuse University College of Law, will take over at the start of spring semester, 2025.

New England Law/Boston has announced that Colonel James H. Kennedy III will be its next dean.  He is currently Commandant of The Judge Advocate General’s School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.  Kennedy, who holds a JD from Syracuse University College of Law, will take over at the start of spring semester, 2025.