Joseph Falvey, a co-founder and Professor at Ave Maria School of Law, resigned from the institution today. Falvey served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for AMSL before resigning from that position in April 2006. At that time, AMSL Dean Bernard Dobranski announced Falvey's step-down to the AMSL community in a terse 2 sentence message that did not bother to even thank Falvey for his service... a service that resulted in AMSL's quick and full accreditation. True to fashion, Dobranski announced today's resignation from the school in 3 sentences, again, without any thanks. Alumni and students are filling that void and expressing their admiration for co-founder Falvey (see Fumare: "It Was Our Honor, Colonel!" and the original announcement).

In October 2006, AMSL Chairman Tom Monaghan asked Falvey to submit, in 45 days, a detailed report on the financial future of the Law School in the events leading-up to the Board decision to move the School to Monaghan's Florida real estate development. That document - referred to as "The Falvey Report" - concluded that (1) Monaghan's financial management of AMSL was destabilizing the institution and (2) that it would be in AMSL's best interest to reduce, not increase, his financial involvement, particularly as it relates to American Bar Association accreditation. He was said to be concerned that AMSL was run de facto as a proprietary law school but that de jure it was not.

Colonel Falvey's brief profile, AMSL website (bio):
"Professor Falvey began his legal career as a Marine Corps judge advocate where he served as either a judge, prosecutor, or defense counsel in more than 280 criminal trials. He later served as Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Professor Falvey served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Ave Maria School of Law from its founding in 1999 to 2006. Professor Falvey is a recognized expert in international criminal law. He has drafted rules of evidence and procedure for the International War Crimes Tribunal for Yugoslavia and has written several articles pertaining to international criminal law. He teaches Criminal Law, Evidence, Trial Advocacy, and National Security Law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, a Juris Doctor with honors from Notre Dame Law School, and a Master of Laws with honors from the Judge Advocate General‘s School."

[Hat-tip: Fumare]

Tags: resignations