Judd Treeman, JD-MTS, 2009

Judd Treeman came to the CSLR after graduating from the University of Tulsa, where he studied political science and encountered the work of John Witte, Jr.  He arrived with an understanding of the broad scope of the interdependence of law and religion, but “the CSLR's publications and lectures have shown me how this interdependency extends beyond abstract notions and enters daily life---not only of peoples living in societies long ago, but also of our own.”

Treeman found a knack for lawyering during his time at Emory.  He participated in the Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques both as a participant and as a facilitator. As a participant, he won a mock civil trial and mock criminal trial with a partner before a simulated judge and jury. He served as a staff member and an Executive Managing Editor of the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal.

A member of the American Bar Association and the Atlanta Bar Association, Treeman will be an associate in the commercial litigation group Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Houston, Texas, in January. Although not directly applying the M.T.S. portion of his degree explicitly at work, Treeman nonetheless touts its value. “My MTS was more for my own personal joy, fulfillment, and edification than for any professional gain. Not only did the MTS broaden my perspective of other religions and variants of Christian belief, but it deepened my own relationship to God, his Church, and its members.”

Treeman says one of the most important roles of the CSLR is bringing  fact and reason to contentious public debates. “The CSLR provides a helpful and necessary buffer against the rashness and provincialism that ideology invites by investigating how fundamental ideas of law, religion, morality, and human rights bear upon the issues concerning ideologies of the day.  By digesting these issues in deliberate and cerebral scholarly dialogue, the CSLR fleshes out truth from untruth and errors from advances,” he says.  

“Most importantly,” he adds, “is that the CSLR takes its scholarship to the doorstep of the public, continually offering not only public lectures, but also op-eds and full volumes designed to include and familiarize interested lay persons.  Although many academic centers focus on important scholarship, few match CSLR's commitment to making its scholarly findings available to non-scholars.”  The CSLR honored his commitment to the program with the Savage-Lebey Scholarship in Law and Religion and the Herman Dooyeweerd Prize for Excellence in Law and Religion.

Danielle Goldstone, JD-MTS, 2009

After working in Washington, D.C. with international non-profit agencies, Danielle Goldstone came to the CSLR interested in the nexus of law and religion. “Religion seems to be playing a more visible role in politics and global affairs, and yet, simultaneously, there seems to be a decreased willingness to talk about religion in public life,” Goldstone says.  “I wanted the opportunity to inform my legal studies with theology and to explore issues at the nexus of law and religion.”

The Chicago native does not want to work as a lawyer or a theologian, however. “Ideally, I hope to do work at some point that facilitates global conversation about religion and rule of law, human rights, and social change,” she says. Goldstone is looking at federal government and non-profit work in international law and policy. While searching for permanent employment, Goldstone is doing contract work with a non-profit organization.

During her time at the CSLR, Goldstone says she felt academically nurtured in an environment that allowed her to learn from a wide array of Emory faculty, guest scholars, and practitioners, and also encouraged by a community so openly informed by its faith and beliefs. Goldstone indeed flourished. She was selected editor-in-chief of the Emory International Law Review and co-chaired “Advancing the Consensus: 60 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” the highly successful 2008 conference featuring Nobel Peace Prize recipients former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Shirin Ebadi, founder of the Association for Human Rights Advocates. Goldstone also founded the Public International Law Working Group as part of the International Law Society from 2007-2008.  She volunteered more than 75 hours of her time in pro bono legal work, provided legal assistance for Guantánamo detainee cases, and won many awards for her public service.

When thinking about the work of the CSLR, she expresses astonishment at how unique it is. “I am always a little surprised that there aren’t many more CSLRs out there,” she says. “I think that the work of the CSLR is highly significant for a number of reasons, but particularly for those that brought me to the program. I believe that scholarship and public discussion regarding the mutual influence of law and religion is essential to advancing justice and peace around the world.” Goldstone won the inaugural Eliza Ellison Award, named for long-time CSLR staff member Eliza Ellison.  Read more about the award here.