ACLU of New Mexico Awards Scholarships to Three Law Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 10, 1999

ALBUQUERQUE--Three University of New Mexico law students have each been awarded a $1,500 scholarship by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, Keith Elston, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Mexico, announced today.

The three students -- Michael Doyle, Hope Eckert, and Marc Lowry -- received the awards in recognition of their dedication to using the legal profession to preserve and protect the principles embodied in the Bill of Rights.

Michael Doyle, a second-year law student, is currently the President of the ACLU of New Mexico's law school chapter and has served as a representative to the Board of Directors of the ACLU of New Mexico in 1997-98.

"My hopes for the chapter are that it continues to grow and teach future lawyers that there is still a place in the law for an attorney who is interested in protecting the Bill of Rights and the rights of the unpopular individual," Doyle said.

Hope Eckert, a second-year law student, is a member of the ACLU of New Mexico's law school chapter and the Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty. She has externed with the Public Defender Capital Crimes Division, founded the Law School ACLU Newsletter and served as its first editor during the 1997-98 school year.

"I am certain that I will continue the fight against the death penalty in America," said Eckert, "and I believe that I will see it abolished in my lifetime."

Marc Lowry, a third-year student, is a founder of the ACLU of New Mexico's law school chapter and served as its first treasurer. He acted as an impartial observer for student demonstrations, organized meetings and secured funding for the chapter. Lowry also helped to enforce First Amendment free speech guarantees when the Student Bar Association made a unilateral decision to petition advertisers to pull out of the Daily Lobo in response to a political cartoon.

"Attending law school reflects my desire to help those who are the victims of discrimination and harassment, whether at the hands of our government or the private sector," said Lowry. "My legal interests are in using the Constitution as a tool to protect the rights of people against governmental harassment, either in the context of criminal defense or civil rights."

Rob Schwartz, president of the ACLU of New Mexico, praised the scholars. "These three students truly epitomize the best tradition of the legal profession and the defense of the Bill of Rights," said Schwartz. "The ACLU is enriched by their association with us and we want to recognize the significance of their contributions in a way which also furthers their professional goals."