MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—WVU Law has nominated 3L Amanda Demmerle for the prestigious Burton Distinguished Legal Writing Award for Law Schools.
Demmerle was chosen for her Note, “Pain in the Ash: How Coal-Fired Power Plants are Polluting Our Nation’s Waters Without Consequences,” which was published in the December 2019 West Virginia Law Review (122 W. Va. L. Rev. 289).
A Note is a student-authored academic article that discusses and analyzes a legal issue.
In her Note, Demmerle argues that the Clean Water Act is currently the best way to regulate water pollution caused by coal ash impoundments in the United States. She discusses options within the Clean Water Act, and each option's likelihood of success, to hold coal ash impoundment operators liable and reduce water pollution.
“Each year, a committee at WVU Law selects the student Note that most persuasively explains why an issue is of national importance, provides clear explanation and analysis of the law, and proposes practical solutions,” said Melanie Stimeling, director of the Writing Center. “Amanda’s Note was strong in all areas, and she excelled in presenting extremely complex issues, regulations and judicial holdings in an understandable way.”
The Burton Distinguished Legal Writing Awards are given to recipients who write law articles that demonstrate “creativity, knowledge, and know-how.” Winners display exemplary writing skills and a mastery of the law and their chosen subject matter. The 2019 winners will be announced in February.
Two years ago, WVULaw 3L Jaden Rhea '18 was one of just 15 law students from across the country to win the Burton Distinguished Legal Writing Award.
The Burton Awards is a national program of the Burton Foundation, a nonprofit academic and educational organization focused on major legal accomplishments. It was established to reward effective legal writing and encourage excellence in the legal profession.
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CB/12/10/19
