In the Civil Procedure casebook I came across this 2003 case: Jin v. Ministry of State Security, 254 F. Supp. 2d 61. I am glad it came out the way it did.

A Michigan 1L, not in my section, died this morning. The rumor is that he committed suicide. The law school is getting psychological counsellors to come talk to students.

Very, very sad news.

One of the two dramas that unfolded in the past few days is an exchange of emails between a Michigan 1L and his Constitutional Law professor. Coincidentally, this student was the center of a hot debate in online law student forums last year due to some disputes on his self-selected minority status on his application.

Email from professor:

[Dear students,]
I am terribly sorry to say that, despite my best efforts, I find myself behind in my grading. I have almost completed grading the exams for Constitutional Law and hope to finish no later than the morning of Friday, 1/27.

I will post the grades with exam ID numbers on the ctools website as soon as I’ve finished grading — by Friday, at the latest. I know that prospective employers will want your first term grades asap, and I will make every effort to speed the grading along.
[Professor]

Student wrote back, cc;ing everyone in his section and the associate dean.

Professor,

The morning of Friday has now come and gone. A few questions and requests:

1. When did you begin grading our exams?

2. Was it not foreseeable that by giving a 20 page exam with a 6,000 word limit that you were thereby committing yourself to an extensive grading project that would require you to begin grading the exams before whatever your answer to #1 above is?

3. In our review session before the final you sermonized about the professional responsibilities of an attorney. Because we would hold such weighty responsibilities in our professional careers you said that you would impose similar responsibilities regarding the exam. In particular, you made it clear that you would brook no excuse regarding an exam turned in after the 8 hour time limit. You made it clear that we were responsible for planning ahead and ensuring that the 8 hour time limit would be honored. Do you feel no reciprocal responsibility toward us, your students? A responsibility that extends beyond ex post facto apologies?

4. Please stop saying “I’m so sorry”. A) The phrase has lost all meaning from constant repetition throughout the entire semester. B) Few students believe you. C) Fewer students care whether you subjectively impose upon yourself an appropriate level of guilt.

Sincerely,

Student

And in a public email directed at the entire section, the professor responded;

[…]
One final note on professional civility: Although I am sure that this admonition is entirely unnecessary for most of you, I remind you that the rules of professional conduct of every state bar as well as the model rules of the ABA require that “[a] lawyer shall treat with courtesy and respect all persons involved in the legal process.” (Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 6.5).

This general admonition is generally taken to require that attorneys “treat all other counsel, parties and witnesses in a civil and courteous manner, not only in court, but also in all other written and oral communications” and to “abstain from disparaging personal remarks or acrimony toward other counsel, parties, or witnesses.” (Local Rules of the U.S. district court for the Eastern District of Michigan).

I insist that law students follow these standards of courtesy, civility, and respect in and out of my class. In grading exams and, indeed, in teaching the course, I operated under the standing assumption that every student does their best to understand the material, attend class diligently, do the reading, and otherwise generally act in good faith. Therefore, throughout the term, I have endeavored to respond to student questions and requests with professional courtesy and civility, without invective, sarcasm, or imputations of bad faith. While perfection in class attendance, class preparation, exam-taking, etc., is not to be expected, civility and courtesy are always required.

I expect the same standard of professional conduct from you in discussing the examination procedure, grades, or any other topic. I am happy to listen to any disagreements that you might have with my grading procedures: I will not tolerate such disagreements registered with “disparaging personal remarks or acrimony” (to quote the local rules of this federal district).