The College of Law is proud to offer an unusually rich set of course offerings taught by adjunct professors. These instructors, though not on the regular faculty of the law school, bring a variety of experiences and talents to the school and a very high degree of professional accomplishment and expertise.
Fall 2025
The Honorable Stephen T. Brown, a 1968 graduate of FSU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, is a retired federal judge teaching Jury Selection this semester. He retired after serving for twenty-one years as a United States magistrate judge for the Southern District of Florida, the last three as the chief United States magistrate judge. Prior to that, he was a partner in a Miami law firm where he was a civil trial lawyer for nineteen years. He has taught a Trial Advocacy Program at the UM Law School and CLE Courses and has spoken before bar associations throughout the United States and overseas.
Georgia Cappleman taught Florida Criminal Procedure this semester. She is a 2001 graduate of Florida State University College of Law and has been an assistant state attorney for over 17 years. Currently, she serves as chief of Felony Division D. From November 2009 to January 2017, she served under Hon. Willie Meggs as chief assistant state attorney. She has handled over 150 jury trials including death penalty cases and many cases involving violence against women and children. She has lectured on multiple topics, including the death penalty, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Refuge House, which is an organization that provides emergency shelter, counseling, and other resources to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the Big Bend Area. She chairs the local Regional Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Group. She has also coached the FSU College of Law trial teams for several years and was proud of her team for bringing home the CAJC National Championship in 2015.
Thomas Cloud is teaching Florida Local Government Law this semester. He is a shareholder in GrayRobinson’s Orlando law firm office, and he has also joined The Florida Bar’s Governmental and Public Policy Advocacy Committee. He is also a member of the Environmental and Land Use section.
Ralph Demeo teaches Animal Law Litigation, Legislation, & Policy. He is a shareholder at Guilday Law in Tallahassee, where he practices primarily in the areas of environmental, land use, administrative, and animal law. He is one of the state’s leading environmental and animal law attorneys. In addition, he serves as chief executive officer of Pets Ad Litem, Inc. (PAL), a charity dedicated to humane education and advocacy. His experience includes environmental, land use, administrative, occupational health and safety, toxic torts, brownfields, construction defect, transportation and aviation, energy, local government, aquaculture and pesticides, and animal law, with emphasis in civil and administrative litigation. He represents industry, businesses, landowners, corporate and individual clients, as well as local governments, throughout Florida and the southeastern United States. He also represents clients in state and federal courts, and before agencies and the legislature. Demeo has served as environmental and land use counsel on more than $3 billion in projects and transactions in his career, including some of Florida's most significant projects. He has also served as counsel in several high-profile cases in Florida, including the leading case on primary administrative jurisdiction and the leading case on the right to privacy.
David Dewhirst is co-teaching Executive Power this semester. He is a senior advisor to Governor Ron DeSantis. Dewhirst began his legal career at the Freedom Foundation, which he co-founded, where he defended clients in legal proceedings before federal, state, and administrative tribunals involving the constitution, labor, and campaign finance. Prior to his current position, he served as Idaho's chief deputy attorney general and Montana's solicitor general. In 2018, Dewhirst joined the U.S. Department of Commerce as senior counsel before becoming the principal deputy general counsel. Dewhirst has also served as the chief environmental review permitting officer for commerce, the regulatory reform officer for the Department of Justice, and supervised the department's sizable litigation portfolio. He clerked for Judge Lawrence VanDyke on the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals. He had co-taught Executive Power: The President & The Governor.
Mark Ellis is teaching International Human Rights this semester. Ellis is executive director of the International Bar Association (IBA), where he leads the world’s foremost international organization of bar associations, law firms, and individual lawyers. Prior to leading the IBA, Ellis served as the founding executive director of the American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (CEELI), providing technical legal assistance to more than 28 countries across Central Europe, the Balkans, and the former Soviet Union after the fall of the Berlin Wall. CEELI remains one of the most extensive international pro bono legal assistance projects ever undertaken by the U.S. legal community. Currently, Ellis is leading the IBA’s extensive assistance program in Ukraine. Ellis has published extensively on international humanitarian law, war crimes tribunals, and the development of the rule of law, and his op-eds have appeared in The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Huffington Post, and The London Times. Ellis is a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Review of Books. He chairs and serves on numerous international boards. Ellis is in his nineteenth year of service on the law school’s Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Manny Farach is teaching Real Estate Law Foundations this semester. Farach is a shareholder at Mrachek P.A., where he practices real estate, business, appellate law, and alternative dispute resolution. Farach is triple board-certified by The Florida Bar in Real Estate Law, Business Litigation, and Appellate Law. Farach has served as HUD Foreclosure Commissioner and Chair of both the Fourth District and Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commissions and as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association since 1990, and a Florida Supreme Court Circuit Civil mediator since 1991.
Judge Martin Fitzpatrick is teaching Florida Civil Practice this semester. He was previously a judge for the Second Circuit Court of Florida. In April of 2020, he became a U.S. magistrate judge in the Northern District of Florida. He received his undergraduate degree from Stetson University and his J.D. from Florida State University.
Tor Friedman is teaching Trial Practice this semester. Friedman has served as the co-director of the FSU Trial Team and as a coach of the Trial Team since 2007. He is the managing partner of Friedman & Abrahamsen Law Firm in Tallahassee, which specializes in DUI and criminal defense, personal injury and wrongful death litigation, and employment discrimination and sexual harassment cases. He is a former felony prosecutor at the Leon County State Attorney’s Office and has handled over 100 trials. He has been named to Florida Trend's Legal Elite in the categories of Criminal Defense and Government Attorneys from his time at the State Attorney’s Office. He has been quoted in the New York Times and The Washington Post for his legal expertise.
Jonathan Grossman is teaching Bar Review: MBE. He is an alumnus of NSU Shepard Broad College of Law and is a bar prep instructor at multiple FL law schools. He has provided individual and group classes for students preparing for the bar exam since 2003 through his firm Whatstheissue.org.
Dr. Randall Hanna is co-teaching Education Law this semester with Professor Mears. He has served as the dean and chief executive officer of Florida State University, Panama City, since 2016. He previously served as chancellor of the Florida College System and a member of the board of trustees of Florida A&M University, the University of West Florida, and Tallahassee Community College. He also served as a member and chairman of the Florida State Board of Community Colleges. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his doctorate in education, Hanna earned a juris doctorate with high honors from Florida State University. He received an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida. He was recognized for his outstanding service with the receipt of the Grad Made Good Award from FSU in 2014. In addition to serving as dean of FSUPC, Hanna serves as the dean of the College of Applied Studies for FSU.
Joe Jacquot is co-teaching Executive Power this semester. Jacquot is a business litigation shareholder at Gunster, who focuses his practice on representing clients in complex state matters involving litigation and appellate work, as well as counseling companies on various regulatory issues. Previously, Jacquot served as the general counsel to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis from the governor’s inauguration in January 2019 through October 2020. In this capacity, Jacquot was responsible for all litigation and legal matters of the governor and state executive agencies. He handled cases on behalf of the governor and his administration before federal and state courts, including five matters before the Florida Supreme Court on matters of statewide significance. Jacquot was a litigation partner at a national law firm, leading the firm’s national State Attorneys General practice. His work consisted of complex federal and state issues, including litigation and regulatory matters. Prior to that, he was a senior executive and legal counsel for a publicly traded mortgage company in Jacksonville, Florida.
Khari James is teaching Juvenile Justice this semester. She is an assistant state attorney at the State Attorney’s Office, Second Judicial Circuit. She prosecutes a variety of felonies, including those involving drug use, homicide, sexual assault, and human trafficking. She is also sworn in under cross-examination as a special assistant U.S. attorney. James supports the prosecution of federal charges involving human trafficking in this capacity. James is a fervent supporter of the vulnerable and underprivileged communities in our community and is now a member of Leadership Tallahassee: Class 40. She held positions at the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the White House, and a Chicago-based federal court as a clerk.
Todd. G. Kocourek teaches Introduction to American Law. He is a practicing attorney in Florida and a Florida civil law notary. Kocourek focuses his practice on international commercial law and Florida governmental relations. He also serves as CEO of Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, the SBA statewide Certified Development Corporation for the State of Florida, and is of counsel to Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. in Miami, Customs and International Trade Law counselors. He served as committee counsel to the Commerce Committee of the Florida House of Representatives, where he oversaw commercial legislative projects, including the revision of Florida's domestic and international banking codes and the revision of Florida’s Limited Liability Company statute. He also served in the Office of the Governor as general counsel for the Florida International Affairs Commission, which set international policy for the State of Florida. Kocourek has studied EC law in Brussels and public international law at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, and he serves as consular correspondent for the Consulate General of Italy in Miami. He is a past chair of the International Law Section of The Florida Bar, the Florida International Volunteer Corps, and the Florida Export Finance Corporation, for which he currently serves as vice chairman. He speaks Spanish and Italian and has basic knowledge of Japanese and Arabic.
Alyssa Lathrop teaches the Judicial Externship Perspectives Seminar. Lathrop graduated with the highest honors from the Florida State University College of Law in 2009, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Florida State University Law Review. After graduation, she worked as a staff attorney for Justice Barbara Pariente at the Florida Supreme Court and then joined the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation as an assistant general counsel. She is currently a hearing officer at the Public Employees Relations Commission.
Michael Markham is running the new Bankruptcy Law Clinic this semester. He’s worked at Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP since 1988, focused on bankruptcy and insolvency-related litigation. He is an FSU double alumnus, getting his J.D. with honors in 1988.
Susan Marvin is teaching Mediation this semester. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Hope College in Michigan and earned her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law. She has served in many different roles throughout her career, including as the chief of alternative dispute resolution at the Florida Dispute Resolution Center, a senior attorney at the Florida Dispute Resolution Center, a legal editor for The Florida Bar, and as the director of the Family Visitation Program. Marvin’s course focuses on an understanding of mediation, primarily through the lens of the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators, the Florida Rules of Procedure, and Chapter 44, Florida Statutes, with a discussion of the Uniform Mediation Act.
Preston McLane is teaching Florida Environmental Law. McLane has taught as an adjunct professor at FSU Law since 2014. He is an attorney advisor and visiting professor at FSU Law, teaching in the environmental law program. He is also currently a program administrator with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Resource Management. His responsibilities there range over many key programs under the Clean Air Act, including managing the State Implementation Plan development and revision process, rulemaking, regulatory planning, budget development, grant program development, and coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on matters relating to Florida’s attainment and maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Matthew Mears is co-teaching Education Law with Dean Randy Hanna. He is an attorney specializing in education law, and the former Chancellor of Early Learning in the Florida Department of Education.
Justice Carlos Muñiz is teaching Statutory Interpretation in the Courts this semester. Justice Muñiz was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Governor Ron DeSantis on January 22, 2019, becoming the 89th justice since statehood was granted in 1845. Prior to joining the court, he served on the staff of Secretary Betsy DeVos as the presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed general counsel of the United States Department of Education. In addition to working as an attorney in the federal Government and in private practice, Justice Muñiz had an extensive career in the Florida state government. He served as the deputy attorney general and chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, as deputy chief of staff and counsel in the Office of the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, as general counsel of the Department of Financial Services, and as deputy general counsel to Governor Jeb Bush.
R. Scott Palmer is teaching Antitrust this semester. An employee of the Florida Department of Legal Affairs, Palmer holds board certifications in antitrust and trade regulation law. From 1997-2007, he headed the Antitrust Practice at Berman DeValerio; from 1988-1997, he served in the Economic Crimes Division of the Attorney General’s Office, where he oversaw its complex litigation; and from 1982-1986, he was the chief prosecutor of the Statewide Grand Jury, responsible for the prosecution of multi-circuit organized crime cases. Palmer earned his J.D. with honors from the University of Miami and his B.A. from the University of Michigan. For more information, contact him at scott.palmer@myfloridalegal.com.
Robert A. Pierce is teaching Trusts and Estates this semester. Pierce is a shareholder of the Ausley McMullen law firm in Tallahassee, where his practice areas include business, tax, estate, and probate law. He is a 1973 graduate of the Florida State Law School and a 1976 graduate of the graduate tax program at the University of Florida. He has previously served as general counsel of the Florida Department of Revenue. He has a broad practice that includes estate planning, wills and trusts, state and federal tax planning, business planning and transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.
Monica Armster Rainge is teaching Agricultural Law this semester. She is a globally recognized agricultural lawyer, mediator, and farm advocate. For more than 25 years, her passion has been fighting for justice in food, agriculture, land rights, and natural resources management. Attorney Rainge formerly served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Ms. Rainge holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and a juris doctor from the University of Florida. She earned a Master of Laws degree in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas. She will teach Agricultural Law.
Capt. Alan S. Richard teaches Admiralty Law. Richard is a captain with the Division of Law Enforcement for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and is a 1994 graduate with highest honors from Florida State Law. He taught Admiralty Law, a topic on which he has published extensively and taught previously at the law school. As a student, he was a member of the Florida State University Law Review and the Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law, and he graduated as a member of the Order of the Coif.
Phil Sandon is teaching Florida Bar Topics this semester. Sandon has taught courses at many law schools throughout the state of Florida. His academic focus is on developing and implementing law school curriculum to aid students in their preparation for professional licensing exams. Sandon was reared in Tallahassee. He graduated from Harvard University, where he studied classics. He then attended Florida State University College of Law, graduating in 1992.
Thomas Spulak is teaching Political Law this semester. As group leader of the King & Spalding Government Advocacy & Public Policy practice, he is actively involved in numerous lobbying efforts on the most pressing issues in Washington, involving tax, health, energy, defense, aerospace, and appropriations. Spulak counsels clients on the full suite of political law issues. He advises clients on complying with federal and state laws that regulate and require the reporting of lobbyist activities, and counsels clients on the ethical considerations involved when corporate representatives and government officials interact. He provides guidance on federal and state election laws and assists corporations with establishing and administering federal and state political action committees. Spulak assists foreign entities in complying with the Foreign Agent Registration Act.
Judge Adam S. Tanenbaum is teaching Courts and the Legislature this semester. Tanenbaum is currently serving as a judge on the First District Court of Appeal. Before his appointment, Judge Tanenbaum served as general counsel for the Florida House of Representatives (2016–2019). In that position, he provided legal advice and counsel to the Speaker of the House and to House members and staff regarding matters of legislative interest. He also advised House members and senior staff regarding ethics laws, public records requirements, House rules, and issues requiring constitutional or statutory interpretation. Previously, Judge Tanenbaum served as general counsel for the Florida Department of State (2015–2016) and chief deputy solicitor general at the Florida Department of Legal Affairs (2014–2015). Judge Tanenbaum earned his B.A. in political science from the University of Florida, where he was co-valedictorian. He graduated cum laude with a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Paul Welter is teaching AI & Legal Practice this semester. He is a lawyer and software developer with a focus on law and digitalization. As an independent consultant, he helps companies with two things: legal issues relating to digitalization ("Law of Tech") and the automation of legal tasks ("Tech of Law"). Previously, he was responsible for the automation of M&A processes in a major US law firm and developed the legal tech app evergreen:hub, which supports organizations in the assessment of software updates. As an affiliate at CodeX – The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics and founder of bayshore.ai, he researches AI that solves legal issues reliably and explainably. He is also involved in the German Society for Law and Informatics and recode.law, the leading young legal tech organization, which he co-founded. He will teach AI & Legal Practice.