Third Annual Wells Conference on Adoption Law: No Parent Left Behind: Fathers' Rights in Adoption

• Pages: 206-206

THIRD ANNUAL WELLS CONFERENCE

ON ADOPTION LAW:

NO PARENT LEFT BEHIND: FATHERS’ RIGHTS IN

ADOPTION

On February 15, 2007 the Capital University Law Review, in

collaboration with the National Center for Adoption Law and Policy,1 held

the Third Annual Wells Conference on Adoption Law. This issue includes

several of the papers produced as a result of this conference, entitled “No

Parent Left Behind: Fathers’ Rights in Adoption,” held in Columbus, Ohio.

N. Douglas Wells was a beloved professor at Capital University Law

School from 1989 through 2004. He was a dedicated teacher and

cherished faculty member who gave his time freely. Students having

academic difficulty in his course or with law school in general could count

on him for counseling and assistance. He served as advisor to the Black

Law Students Association and Res Ipsa Loquitur, the student newspaper.

Family law was one of a number of his areas of research and teaching,

and when the opportunity to establish a Center at Capital focused on child

welfare and adoption emerged, Professor Wells immediately took a

leadership role in helping turn that idea into a reality. Professor Wells

helped develop Capital’s nationally unique adoption law course and was an

enthusiastic supporter and champion of the Center’s early efforts.

But, second only to his family, Professor Wells loved the law. He

loved to talk, muse, ponder, and chew on the law. He also loved to listen

to others talk about the law. So, when Professor Wells left us too soon in

2004, the students of the Capital University Law Review decided that they

wanted to dedicate an annual conference and edition of the Law Review to

his memory. From this point forward, as scholars from across the country

gather at Capital each year to discuss and debate cutting-edge adoption and

child welfare issues, we are sure that Professor Wells is listening from

above, waiting patiently for his turn to add a few thoughts of his own. This

issue of the Law Review is dedicated to the fond memory of Professor N.

Douglas Wells.

CAPITAL UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW

1 See Maestro Notes, March 2007, The National Center for Adoption Law &

Policy, http://www.law.capital.edu/adoption/newsletter/March_2007.htm.