He recently sat down with The State News to talk about some of these experiences.

The State News: What made you decide to go into teaching?
George T. Roumell Jr.: Well, the judge I was working for was a University of Detroit alumnus, and there was some problems at the (school), so they asked me to go talk to them. I was asked to teach a course in legal research, and I ended up teaching a civil procedures (course) over at the University of Detroit, and when the dean at the Michigan State University law school asked me to come over to teach, I jumped at the chance.

TSN: What do you enjoy about teaching?
GR: I enjoy meeting students, I enjoy meeting future lawyers and I enjoy seeing their progress once they graduate. It’s an exciting challenge.

TSN: What are some things that have changed about MSU since you started?
GR: Well, when I started teaching, I was teaching at the Detroit College of Law, which was in Detroit. They had a night program, and students would come from the Detroit area; it was basically a local law school. When the law school moved to MSU, the student body expanded. Now it’s a national student body coming from all over the country, which is somewhat exciting. I just had a student who was from Alaska who thought winters here in Michigan were warm. I met a student who immigrated from Haiti who has gone on to a marvelous career. I’ve had students from California, Virginia, New York, all across the country. This wasn’t true in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It’s a lot of excitement (and) lots of diversity.

TSN: More specifically, how has the MSU College of Law changed?
GR: It has become a national law school. We’re attracting students from all over the country. I had a student from Africa last year — we had some very interesting discussions. It’s becoming a major law school in this country. It’s a fine group of people, and the faculty is publishing more, and it has become a top-notch law school.

TSN: Can you describe some of the big moments for you in terms of your career?
GR: When I argued in the U.S. Supreme Court, when I argued at the (Milliken vs. Bradley) Detroit segregation case … in (terms of) my legal career. Now the other big thing is that in the same case, we maneuvered a legal procedure where we were able to get the federal government to build vocational high schools. That was kind of like playing in the Rose Bowl — you’re at the top of the professions. You have to be sharp, on your toes and know your case. In a way, it’s kind of like being a law student with a professor asking you questions. Out of nine justices, eight of them asked me questions about my case. That was fun.