Fatma Marouf and Michael Kagan (Law School) have been named Bellow Scholars for 2013 by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in honor of empirical research projects that promise to improve access to justice for underserved communities. The awards were announced at the AALS annual conference in New Orleans in January. They were honored for a joint study they are conducting with Rebecca Gill (Political Science) on gaps in the way the federal appellate courts adjudicate immigration appeals. They are focusing on gaps that can put immigrants in danger of deportation when they have valid appeals still being considered in court. Their ultimate goal is to better protect immigrants with valid legal claims - especially those in danger of persecution and torture - from errant deportations.