The robe was dedicated at the on Nov. 16 with university officials and Brandeis descendants taking part in the event.

“We have several artifacts of Justice Brandeis’s in our archive collection, but the robe he wore while serving as a justice personifies him in a way that no other item can,” said Brandeis School of Law Dean Melanie B. Jacobs. “Seeing the robe – and knowing its history – is thrilling and brings us closer to him as a person in a way no other artifact does.”

The robe was donated by Rick Raushenbush, Brandeis’s great-grandson, on behalf of the family of Walter Raushenbush. Rick Raushenbush and his brother, the Rev. Paul Raushenbush, took part in the dedication ceremony with UofL Provost Gerry Bradley and Jacobs.

The Brandeis School of Law Class of 2011, led by Dean’s Advisory Board Chair Gulam Zade of Nashville, provided funding for the protective case necessary for the robe’s permanent home in the law school’s Cox Faculty Lounge. Assisting Zade with raising funds were Class of 2011 alumni Chris Ballantine, Guion Johnstone and Sandra Moon.

A native of Louisville born in 1856, Brandeis did not attend college at the University of Louisville. However, he was a strong supporter of the university and its law school, which was named after him in 1997. He donated his personal papers, books, pamphlets and library, which includes rare texts on early civil and common law, to the school. 

The Brandeis School of Law lives up to Brandeis’s belief in a strong devotion to public service, an interdisciplinary approach to law and a commitment to liberty. Brandeis law students are required to complete 30 hours of public service at approved placements after the first semester of their first year of law school.

Brandeis was nominated for the court by President Woodrow Wilson in January 1916. Known as the “People’s Lawyer,” he was a prominent attorney of his time. He challenged monopolies, criticized investment banks, advocated for workers’ rights and called for the protection of civil liberties.

He also was the first Jewish jurist to be nominated to and sit on the Supreme Court. His nomination was grueling, with opponents accusing him of being radical and lacking judicial temperament. However, he became one of the most respected and influential members of the Supreme Court. He served on the court from June 1916 until his retirement in February 1939.

Brandeis died in 1941 and his cremated remains are interred at the Brandeis School of Law along with those of his wife, Alice Goldmark Brandeis (1866-1945). 

Now in her final year of study at the she is one of three students taking their passion for advocacy to a new level at UofL’s newly launched immigration law clinic. Housed in the Legal Aid Society building downtown, the clinic will serve clients who are authorized to be in the United States and the commonwealth of Kentucky but do not have the requisite documentation to prove it.

UofL law students, working under the supervision of former U.S. immigration judge and clinic director , will represent clients and assist them in completing the required paperwork to attain legal status and a path to citizenship.

Immigrants represent the fastest growing population in Louisville. Louisville Metro Government estimates the immigrant share of Jefferson County residents could exceed 18% by 2040. While this clinic will help immigrants from all countries, the more than 30,000 Cubans who call Louisville home have the potential to benefit most, as U.S. immigration laws expedite the process for Cuban immigrants.

According to Kozoll, much of the foreign-born population who are eligible to apply for work permits or permanent status lack access to legal representation. He said this makes it difficult for them to join the workforce and hampers employers’ attempts to fulfill their workforce needs.

Supported , and UofL received $1.5 million in funding during the 2024 legislative session for the new clinic to help eligible immigrants move through the process and transition into the workforce.

“This is the type of collaboration and synergy that has a long-lasting impact for the commonwealth. This funding represents a win-win for University of Louisville law students who will gain valuable experience as they develop into the next generation of immigration law attorneys, and for immigrants in the community to legally enter the workforce and become significant contributors to the local economy,” said Sen. Stivers.

The new clinic is the sixth offered at Brandeis School of Law, joining others in domestic violence, mediation, eviction defense, elder law and entrepreneurship. The clinics provide critical legal services to the Louisville community, teach law students necessary skills to successfully practice law, and develop a pipeline to train successive generations of attorneys. 

“Our clinics provide experiential learning opportunities that extend students’ understanding of the legal profession beyond the classroom,” said Brandeis School of Law Dean Melanie B. Jacobs. “These hands-on upper-level educational experiences give students the ability to engage with the community, widen their professional networks and practice essential legal skills in a supportive and collaborative environment, preparing them to be effective and engaged members of the legal community after graduation.”

In addition, UofL law students will reap benefits from Kozoll’s 20-plus years of experience.

“As an immigration judge, I have been able to see the practice from many different perspectives and witness law trends,” he said. “I’m eager to pass along my knowledge to students and bring others into what has been an incredible practice for me.”