2023
Health & Wellness
SUNNY NOVEMBER Oil on canvas By Victoria Brace
ABOUT THE ARTIST Spokane artist Victoria Brace served as the Law School’s artist-in-residence last academic year and her art was displayed throughout the Law School building. You will also find it throughout this magazine. Born and trained in Russia, where she graduated from the Moscow College of Art, she taught and sold her work at an art club in Moscow. Her work is showcased in private collections across Russia, Western Europe and the United States. As a child, she kept busy with a sketchbook and a pencil. Her paintings are highlighted by their rich colors. Her subjects are ageless and wise, with a story of those portrayed.
ON THE COVER SOMEWHERE NEAR AMSTERDAM Oil on canvas By Victoria Brace
“As I paint, I find that colors carry emotions and tell stories. The brush strokes build up textures, conceal or enhance the previous layers, and things start happening under the surface as the painting takes on a life of its own,” she says. Her paintings of downtown Spokane and the surrounding areas bring alive the shapes and textures of the place. In 1999, Victoria moved from Moscow to Spokane and worked in the computer graphics industry, creating graphics for games. In 2008, she transitioned to full-time painter. View more: www.theartspiritgallery.com/artist/Victoria_Brace/works.
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Dean’s Message
4
Community Agreements
6
Year in Review
8
2023 Graduates
16
Student Accomplishments
18
AI & Civil Discourse
20
Health & Wellness
24
Pro-Dignity for All
26
Faculty Excellence
34
Alumni Excellence
38
Class Action
42
Honor Roll
48
Tending Our Soul
President Thayne M. McCulloh Dean, School of Law Jacob H. Rooksby Editors Dale Goodwin Jordyn Linnell Kate Vanskike Contributing Writers Sarah Guzmán Carolyn Lamberson Agnieszka McPeak Tom Miller Photographer Zack Berlat Designer Henry Ortega Contributors Rajah Bose Chiana Mclnelly Jessie Mead Dodi Stilkey Aleksandra Was Photography
Gonzaga Law is published annually for alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Gonzaga University School of Law to stay connected to one another and the mission of Gonzaga University. The opinions expressed do not always represent the view of the administration but are intended to foster open dialogue and lifelong learning in the Jesuit tradition. If you have comments or suggestions, please email the Law School Foundation and External Relations office: lawalumni@gonzaga.edu. Visit online: gonzaga.edu/law
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“ For us, law does not have to be a dehumanizing experience – to the contrary, law is a lens into understanding our shared humanity.”
or numbers, or cups to be filled. At 1L Orientation, we tell students that we will walk with them on their journey in legal education, and we mean it. Our care extends beyond the classroom, and even beyond their time with us as students. As these pages describe, we support our students’ minds, bodies and spirits through a multitude of ways, including such offerings as animal therapy in our library around exam time; a food pantry in the Law School for those facing food insecurity; and weekly Mass open to students of all (or no) religious denominations. Our community is grounded in fellowship. Learning law is not easy, but our supportive, accessible and congenial environment lowers the stress. Gone are the stereotypical days of cutthroat competition and win-at-all-costs attitudes. Our faculty and staff embody professional values that often shed light on personal values. For us, law does not have to be a dehumanizing experience – to the contrary, law is a lens into understanding our shared humanity.
A Welcome from
Dean Jacob H. Rooksby Coming out of the global pandemic, people the world over have learned many things. The value of our agency and our freedoms. The importance of self-care and time with family. The fact that no moment or experience is guaranteed except the present. And perhaps more than anything, the stark realization – brought home most acutely when we could not leave our homes – that how we spend our days is how we spend our lives. Here at Gonzaga Law School, we have a proud history of caring for the whole person, rooted in our Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, which has worn well through changing times and circumstances. Whole-person care means that our students are first and foremost treated as individual people, not customers,
That is why underscoring the importance of health and wellness is not a fad for us at Gonzaga Law School, but rather part and parcel of who we are as a community of scholars, teachers and learners. How to live through law a centered, strong and purposeful life is at the heart of what we seek to model and inspire in our students. After all, care for the self – in mind, body and spirit – is a precondition to successfully and zealously caring for others as their advocates, counselors and defenders. We are proud of our collective commitment to graduating students whose work changes the world. We are proud of how we help them put their passion into practice. We are even prouder of who they are as people and whatever small role we are fortunate to play in shaping them as men and women for others.
Jacob H. Rooksby, J.D., Ph.D. Smithmoore P. Myers Dean, School of Law Professor of Law & Leadership Studies
VISION
A Growing Community Where Faculty, Staff and Students Thrive New Vision for Leadership In 2023, Dean Jacob Rooksby created a new role – the assistant dean of Administration – to streamline processes and free up his time for strategic initiatives. Since joining the Law School in this role, I have received support from amazing people who enabled me to modify positions quickly, fill vacancies and create new roles to resource the School of Law even more fully. In addition, I was introduced to the Community Agreements project and able to guide this work to the finish line. In doing so, we continue to foster the Law School as a place where work needs and personal needs are balanced for us all. The Community Agreements frame how we want to treat each other as professionals and human beings to create a quality, healthy and encouraging environment where students, employees and administration flourish. While a task team made up of faculty and staff took the lead on drafting the Agreements, the entire Gonzaga Law community contributed to this project. And Rebecca Hoyt, Human Resources’ Organizational Development partner at Gonzaga University, put her heart and soul, advanced expertise and acumen into the work. Teamwork, Trust, Constructive Communication, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Growth and Respect are not just buzzwords. We introduce concepts, we train and we share techniques we can all practice to enjoy becoming more present and more mindful in our daily lives. It begins with each of us through our words, choices, actions, inclusiveness and willingness to be open to new and potentially conflicting ideas and ideologies.
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We here at the Gonzaga School of Law work to enable all of this to happen within our walls, in our communities and through the practices of our students and lawyer advocates of the future. This is truly what it means to bring Passion into Practice. Warmly,
Dodi Stilkey Assistant Dean of Administration
Community Agreements Gonzaga School of Law is proud to share its new Community Agreements. Two years in the making, these were created by the faculty and staff to support community, create healthy practices, and positively impact students, which is the heart of the Law School’s focus. Rebecca Hoyt accompanied Law School staff and faculty to strengthen the school’s culture and operations. “Increasingly, it’s a place where employees want to be and can thrive,” she says. “I am proud of where they are and impressed by their deep care for and commitment to the school, students and each other. I look forward to seeing the school’s students, faculty and staff walk with one another as each person strives to embody these Community Agreements and, in doing so, support an environment that fosters the thriving of all.”
Community Agreements RESPECT We Agree to Be
TEAMWORK We Agree to Be
CONSIDERATE + APPRECIATIVE We agree to actively listen to people’s contributions, engage with their ideas, and let them know they are valued.
SUPPORTIVE We agree to provide encouragement to our colleagues, assist them when necessary, and recognize their unique skills and contributions.
CIVIL + PROFESSIONAL We agree to listen with empathy, accept that viewpoints may differ, and honor each person’s contributions. RELIABLE We agree to follow through consistently, meet our responsibilities, and ensure work is completed on time and with excellence.
CONSTRUCTIVE COMMUNICATION We Agree to Be CLEAR + RESPONSIVE We agree to engage in timely exchanges to provide or seek necessary information, including context, expectations, timeframes, and desired outcomes.
COLLABORATIVE We agree to listen, empathize, and contribute so we can work together effectively, build healthy relationships, and promote a positive working environment. ACCOUNTABLE We agree to set and seek clarification of expectations, fulfill the obligations of our roles, follow through on our word, and take responsibility for our actions.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION We Agree to Be COMPASSIONATE We agree to treat others with understanding, care, and concern.
DISCREET We agree to recognize and protect sensitive information, understand the impact of improper disclosures, and strive to build and maintain trust.
OPEN-MINDED We agree to exercise genuine curiosity and consider new ideas or information, while suspending preconceived notions, assumptions, and biases.
CONSCIENTIOUS We agree to assume positive intent, be mindful of our words and actions, and be thoughtful when listening and speaking.
WELCOMING We agree to recognize different lived experiences, accept others without judgment, and create a supportive environment for all.
TRUST We Agree to Be INTENTIONAL We agree to engage with purpose, professionalism, and thoughtfulness. HONEST We agree to speak and act with authenticity and sincerity, own our words and actions, and consider their impact. TRUSTWORTHY We agree to hold our communications and work product to a standard that is reliable, transparent, and supportive.
GROWTH We Agree to Be OPEN TO LEARNING + IMPROVING We agree to seek to develop as individuals, pursue opportunities for growth, listen to others, and work to embrace change. REFLECTIVE + FEEDBACK-MINDED We agree to use self-assessment and input from others to develop our senses of self, our understanding of others, and our impact on the community. ADAPTABLE + RESILIENT We agree to remain flexible and strive to grow cores of calm, strength, and self-efficacy. 2023 | Gonzaga Law Magazine | 5
YEAR IN REVIEW
Commencement 2023 On May 13, Gonzaga Law conferred the Juris Doctor to the Class of 2023. Keynote speaker Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr., imparted these three affirmations: 1. Your dream job is always within reach. 2. No one does this alone. 3. Remember WHY you are here and what motivates you.
Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr. keynote speaker
Growing up as a migrant farmworker, Judge Mendoza did not know that his life would lead him to be nominated for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by the president of the United States. However, he credits the culmination of his experiences for allowing him to overcome challenges and pursue this opportunity. Judge Mendoza advised the graduates: “Where you are now is nowhere near where you will end up. Embrace the journey. Find yourself in the often-crazy twists and turns of your career. And realize that your dream job is always within your reach, and just around the corner.”
President Thayne McCulloh introduced the Law Medal recipient, the Honorable Kathleen O’Connor (’75 J.D.), and noted that Title IX had just passed before she started law school. She was a pioneer not only in the classroom but also in the legal field. Judge O’Connor began her career in an all-female law firm. She was the first woman to be appointed as a court commissioner in Spokane County’s Superior Court and the first woman to be elected to the Superior Court.
Kacy Tellessen, student speaker
After 34 years of service, Judge O’Connor has left behind a sterling legacy. She closed her remarks at the ceremony with the following sentiment: “I am proud of the changes made over the years to improve justice in Spokane County trial courts and the part I played in encouraging women to join me on the bench. Thank you to Gonzaga University School of Law for the award of the Gonzaga Law Medal.” A lengthy standing ovation recognized her passion for justice.
Jewel Christensen, recipient of the Dean’s Pro Bono Award & Distinction
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Judge Kathleen O’Connor, Gonzaga Law Medal recipient
Creative Connections Savoring GU’s Wine Institute in Italy Gonzaga University Wine Institute’s (GUWI) Italian experience took Dean Rooksby and 30 wine enthusiasts consisting of alumni, friends of the school, and a GUWI certificate participant to Montepulciano in May. Their experience of a lifetime lasted five days while staying in the countryside at the Borgo Tre Rose. Day trips to Cortona and Montepulciano included private wine tasting, city tours and a chance to explore the cobblestoned cities. For those who attended and obtained the eight CLE credits, they heard from Italian lawyers Marco Giuri, Andrea Bencini, Paola Stefanelli, all from Studio Giuri Avvocati Associati, and Stefano Leone with the Marchesi Antinori. Additional activities included private yoga lessons, private tennis, electric bike tour, plus a traditional Italian pasta cooking lesson. See page 40 for Caitlin Larsen’s article on her experience and the back page on how to be added to the informational list for next year’s trip.
Students Make Their Case in Closing Argument Contest The year 2023 provided the sixth version of the Sweetser Closing Argument Competition, featuring Zag Law students making their case in this competitive endeavor.
The competition is sponsored by the Sweetser Law Office. Jim Sweetser (’84 J.D.) and his son, Marcus, designed the competition to allow students to argue for civil justice and monetary damages on a personal injury or civil rights case, testing their oral advocacy skills, and receiving feedback from experienced trial attorneys and judges.
Webster schoolhouse to the current Law building abounded. It was clear their connection to each other and their experience during law school has stood the test of time.
The competition gives participants a fact pattern and jury instructions one hour before their closing argument. Competitors are allotted a maximum 15 minutes for closing argument. Arguments are video-recorded and reviewed by an experienced judges panel. Participants receive a copy of their recorded argument and judges’ written feedback. This competition is open to all Gonzaga Law students, many of whom have competed multiple times for the experience and valuable feedback. This year’s winners were: Jewel Christensen, $2,500; Jennifer Scanlon, $1,000; and Koran Brooks, $500.
The Class of 1980 An impromptu gathering of the class of 1980 led to a two-hour Law building tour and retelling of past adventures. Travelers came from Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii and New Jersey. Stories about the Pit, Bulldog tavern and comparing of the old
FRONT ROW: Gale Ching (’80 J.D.), Marc Danon (’80 J.D.), Katrina Juntilla Danon, Charles Langfitt (’80 J.D.), Theresa Langfitt BACK ROW: Faye Tetsutani Ching, Vickie Bletso (’80 J.D.), Michael Chiorazzi (’80 J.D.), Scott Leong (’80 J.D.), the Honorable Vincent Leblon (’80 J.D.), Deirdre Hetherington Leblon, Rob Crary (’80 J.D.). Those who attended but not pictured: Steve Reich (’80 J.D.), Jerome Blake (’80 J.D.), Linda Wilson, Rick Wilson (’80 J.D.), Mark Choury (’80 J.D.) and Paul Alvestad (’80 J.D.)
Gonzaga Dean Earns Kaplan Award, High Praise As the economy, political polarization, community health and student enrollment test today’s higher education leaders, the skill to problem-solve, teach and lead in this unstable environment is paramount. In March, the Smithmoore P. Myers Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law Jacob Rooksby received national recognition for his accomplishments in
this challenging work, via the William A. Kaplan Award for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy Scholarship. The award from the Center of Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy at Stetson University College of Law recognizes scholars who have published works on education law that embrace the intersection of law and policy.
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Coming to Terms with Business
2023 | Graduates
Kelsey Kamitomo By Carolyn Lamberson Kelsey Kamitomo (’23 J.D.) may have spent much of her childhood in Spokane, but her life took a circuitous route before she returned to earn her degree from Gonzaga Law. Originally from Lethbridge, Alberta, Kamitomo moved to Spokane when her father enrolled in law school. She then studied philosophy at the University of Washington and earned a master’s degree in human rights, with an emphasis on truth and reconciliation commissions, from the London School of Economics. After completing her studies, she worked for the school’s Centre for Women, Peace and Security for a couple of years, spent some time in Cambodia and came home. She understood that a law degree would have helped in her human rights and reconciliation work, so when she enrolled at Gonzaga Law, she intended to pursue studies in that vein. After her first year, she said, she pivoted to business law. “I was encouraged to apply for the LEAD Washington Diversity Fellowship Program, so I did. The way that works is they match you with an employer, and T-Mobile ended up selecting me,” Kamitomo said. “I worked with T-Mobile’s in-house counsel my first year, and in my second year was accepted as Perkins Coie Diversity Fellow, as well, so I will be going to Perkins Coie. A lot of my work and specialization now has been around start-ups and transactional law, businessrelated law and also securities.” Before entering law school, she viewed the law as adversarial, an idea crystalized by its depiction in mass media and from her family’s experience. Kamitomo is of Japanese descent. During World War II, her grandfather was sent to an internment camp by the Canadian government, a result of Canada’s imposition of the War Measures Act. Her father in his own practice experienced discrimination, she said, even losing cases because of his race.
“ For me, going to law school, I fully expected to be in this adversarial position,” she said. “With the business innovation clinic, in particular, I really enjoyed talking with people about their ideas and helping them take those to fruition.”
With business law, she is drawn to the generative nature of the practice. “For me, going to law school, I fully expected to be in this adversarial position,” she said. “With the business innovation clinic, in particular, I really enjoyed talking with people about their ideas and helping them take those to fruition. Hear their stories, hear their ideas, get to know them and help put them in a position to succeed.”
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2023 | Graduates
Gaby Marquez By Carolyn Lamberson Originally from Rock Hill, South Carolina, outside of Charlotte, Gaby Marquez (’23 J.D.) moved as a teenager to Washington with her dad, who was hired by the Spokane Police Department.
She earned an associate’s degree at Eastern Washington University and remained there to complete her bachelor’s in political science.
“It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said. In figuring out how to transfer her school credits from South Carolina to Spokane, a guidance counselor helped get her into the Running Start program, which allows high school students to earn college credit for doing college-level work. As the child of a single parent and someone whose grades were good, but not stellar, she knew she was going to need help to make it to college.
“I was so happy to be there, and so thankful for the opportunity to go to college,” Marquez said. “But I wanted to figure out what I was going to do.”
“I grew up working in a close-knit community, knowing everybody, having that ability to lend a helping hand. … I don’t think that you can find another law school where you can have both the ability to do what you love every day and have the ability to work with my community. I’m encouraged to do it, I’m given ample resources to do it and I’m actually provided with supportive faculty.”
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A political science class turned her eyes to the law. A conversation with her “beat cop” dad sealed it. He suggested she talk to one of the attorneys in the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office. “Within the first 10 minutes I was like a kid salivating at ice cream,” she said. “I want to be an attorney! Once again, no one is going to stop me here.” She begged that attorney – Deputy Prosecutor Gayle Earvin – for the chance to do any kind of work in the office, from licking envelopes and mailing letters to carrying books and documents. “It was a really cool experience,” she said of the two years she worked in the office. “I fell in love with the law.” Gonzaga Law was the only school she applied to, and Marquez would go on to win one of the school’s Thomas More Scholarships. “Going to law school has been the best thing. It’s changed my life,” Marquez said. “I’m so thankful for it.” It’s easy to see that Marquez would gravitate toward criminal law. She was hired as a deputy prosecutor for Kootenai County, just across the state line in Idaho. For her, the work is all about serving her community. “The law school’s mission centers on public service,” she said. “I grew up working in a close-knit community, knowing everybody, having that ability to lend a helping hand. … I don’t think that you can find another law school where you can have both the ability to do what you love every day and have the ability to work with my community. I’m encouraged to do it, I’m given ample resources to do it and I’m actually provided with supportive faculty.”
Finding herPath
Focusing on What
You Care About
2023 | Graduates
Whitney Wakefield By Carolyn Lamberson Whitney Wakefield (’23 J.D.) took a nontraditional path to law school. She studied in her home state of Utah and developed an interest in helping children. After graduating from college in 2018, she moved to Houston and became a foster parent for toddlers and infants. That work opened her eyes to the systemic issues facing parents and children, and sparked a new career goal: law. “I had not yet chosen my career path until I became a foster parent,” she said in an email interview. “While seeing how the system often operated contrary to its intent and wondering what career may allow for the most beneficial and impactful changes, I decided to pursue a law degree.” Gonzaga Law’s commitment to social justice and its partnership with Eastern Washington University in a dual J.D./M.S.W. degree initially drew her attention to the region. Although Wakefield ultimately decided not to pursue the master’s in social work to focus on law, she said “it was very important to me that I attend a school that prioritized the work being done rather than the personal benefits we could obtain.” During her time at Gonzaga, she kept doing the work, taking leadership roles in organizations such as the Washington Supreme Court’s Minority and Justice as Commission and the Moderate Means Program. She also was active in several student groups, including the Black Law Students Association, PrideLaw and the Women’s Law Caucus. In 2022, she received Gonzaga Law’s Justice CZ Smith Award, named in honor of Washington’s first Supreme Court justice of color. As she has followed her passions, she has continued to learn from those varied experiences and seen the impact. “My biggest takeaway has likely been that focusing on your passions can make the biggest impact,” she said. “Although sometimes it seems as though focusing on what you care about
might not make that much of a difference, I have seen the great impact that we can have on an individual’s life by taking one small step on our end.” Wakefield intends to continue following her passion as she works as a patent attorney for the Seattle firm Lee & Hayes. “I hope to continue finding ways to uplift my community, especially families and young children, through similar organizations and projects,” she said. “Each experience I have had has taught me so much, and hopefully made me a better person and professional. I truly hope that I will continue to engage with people, organizations and experiences that will show me more about myself and the people that surround me, and encourage me to continue growing.”
“I had not yet chosen my career path until I became a foster parent. While seeing how the system often operated contrary to its intent and wondering what career may allow for the most beneficial and impactful changes, I decided to pursue a law degree.”
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2023 | Graduates
Mariah Welch By Kate Vanskike As social justice chair for the Student Bar Association at Gonzaga Law, Mariah Welch (’23 J.D.) naturally had an eye for populations with special needs. One of those groups was her own peer set, especially fellow law students who struggled with food insecurity. She set out to resolve that with a food pantry in the Law School building. (Read more in our wellness feature, ahead.) But foremost for Welch, an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, is addressing the needs of Indigenous communities. “I definitely always have my tribe in mind when I do things,” Welch says.
“ I would just like to say how thankful I am to my family and my partner for being so incredibly supportive in the law school process. It’s hard to get through law school without a network of support – and I have the best network of all.”
While at Gonzaga Law, she worked for the ACLU of Montana, where she directly represented her tribe in a lawsuit against the State of Montana, and for the Native American Rights Funds in Washington, D.C., defending tribal sovereignty all the way to the United States Supreme Court. During her 1L year, Welch and a couple of students partnered with Gonzaga’s Office of Tribal Relations to offer a monthlong series of events focusing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (commonly referenced as MMIW), children and 2-Spirit people (Natives who identify as LGBTQ). She is quick to recognize Wendy Thompson, director of Tribal Relations at GU, for “keeping me connected with the greater Gonzaga Native community.” After passing the bar exam, Welch plans to work for the Washington attorney general as an assistant attorney general in Spokane’s tort division. “I would just like to say how thankful I am to my family and my partner for being so incredibly supportive in the law school process,” says Welch. “It’s hard to get through law school without a network of support – and I have the best network of all.”
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Keeping
the Tribe in Mind
Moot Court
Winning it all Gender & Sexuality National Moot Court Competition In March 2023, Gonzaga Law School’s Civil Rights & Liberties Moot Court Team took firstplace at Michigan State College of Law’s Gender & Sexuality National Moot Court Competition. Meghan Conlin and Anne Mari Petrino made for an unstoppable pair, winning all six oral advocacy competition rounds, including three consecutive elimination rounds, to win it all. Gonzaga entered three teams of two in the competition, addressing timely and challenging legal issues. This year’s themes related to judicial recusal and competing interests under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and State’s Rights to ensure access to reproductive health care. The competition had 19 teams, with 38 law students from schools across the nation, including Notre Dame, Villanova, Seton Hall, Minnesota and Michigan State, among others. With early appearances (5:30 a.m. PST) and three preliminary rounds on day one, all three teams represented Gonzaga School of Law well and each team received quality feedback and compliments from their panels of judges during each round. Anne Mari Petrino and Meghan Conlin
“ They both demonstrated thorough knowledge of the facts, legal issues and case law and handled challenging questions from the panel of judges confidently. Despite tough opposition, their persuasive, passionate advocacy secured them first place in the competition.”
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Petrino and Conlin advanced to the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds on day two. The final round consisted of an esteemed panel of guest judges, highlighted by Judge Elizabeth L. Gleicher, chief judge of the Michigan Second District Court of Appeals; Professor Joan W. Howarth of Michigan State University College of Law; and Jay Kaplan, an LGBTQ+ Rights Project staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan. “Ms. Conlin and Ms. Petrino were exceptional in the final round,” said Sarah Harmon (’13 J.D.), director of the Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic at Gonzaga Law. “They both demonstrated thorough knowledge of the facts, legal issues and case law and handled challenging questions from the panel of judges confidently. Despite tough opposition, their persuasive, passionate advocacy secured them first place in the competition.” Alongside Harmon, local practitioner and adjunct professor Natasha Hill assists in coaching the teams, which included the following students for the 2022-23 academic year: Petrino and Conlin; Madisan Bryant and Courtney Bryson; and Amanda Lopez and Beth Phillips. The Civil Rights & Liberties Moot Court Team returns three students for next year’s competition as they look to defend their title.
Students Demonstrate Trademark Law Acumen in National Lefkowitz Competition In March, Team Practical (Emily Martin, Whitney Wakefield, Meghan Hoerger and Kathryn Handick) spent their spring break competing in the final rounds of the 2023 Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. Their first day in the Capitol was spent planning; some of the students took a tour of the Supreme Court. The second day included a grueling cram session at the D.C. offices of our gracious host, Polsinelli, PC. The students were surprised by a visit from Phil Hampton III, a current Polsinelli practitioner and the former assistant commissioner of trademarks at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, appointed by President Bill Clinton. On the final day, Team Practical competed against students from the United States’ top trademark programs, including Yale, Emory, Notre Dame and UCLA. “I’m pleased to report that Wakefield, arguing without notes, was praised for her quick ability to handle all questions with case law,” said coach Ethan Vodde (’16 J.D.). “Hoerger received admiration for her deft command of the summary judgment standard. Handick’s knowledge of the relevant record was described as masterful. And Martin delivered a rebuttal that was so precise and timely it could only have been achieved through diligent study and psychic powers. Though Gonzaga did not win any prizes, the students can hold their heads high as competing at a phenomenal level.” Gonzaga Law Adjunct Professor Vodde applauded his students for their unrivaled dedication. They relentlessly practiced and studied the tenets of trademark law, and it paid dividends. “These students are truly rising stars of the profession,” Vodde said. “One day I will proudly point to some news article and say, ‘I knew her when she was in law school.’ ”
WAITING FOR THE BUS Oil on canvas
Ethan Vodde (’16 J.D.), Emily Martin, Whitney Wakefield, Kathryn Handick and Meghan Hoerger
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STAYING RELEVANT AI and Beyond
“The Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology will bring the benefits of recent and extraordinary developments in computing to the Inland Northwest,” says Paul DePalma, chair and professor of Computer Science, one of the proponents for this new undertaking. “These include data science, cognitive science, machine learning, human language processing, health and bioinformatics, and advanced manufacturing.” It is part of Gonzaga’s commitment to academic excellence and its objective to foster a community of critical and reflective inquiry for the betterment of the world, reflecting on the issues of our times.
Informatics refers generally to what we know as computer science. The institute’s interest lies
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Informatics and Dialogue as Rising Priorities
less in devices and their software and more in the interaction between natural and engineered systems computation. The institute will develop over time, but with particular emphasis in advanced manufacturing, agent-based modeling, bioinformatics, business informatics, cognitive science, health and medical informatics, spatial informatics and philosophy of technology. The initiative also calls for the development of bachelor and master of science degrees in cybersecurity, and the same degrees in data science. Cybersecurity plays a key role in future national security efforts. The data science program allows Gonzaga to train a new generation of skilled workers while developing original and applied research. Gonzaga employs several faculty members already engaged in the primary focus of the Institute: informatics, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing. The Institute will also provide expertise in areas previously unexplored to any significant extent.
The Gonzaga Board of Trustees approved two new academic enterprises at its July meeting: the Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology and the Center for Ignatian Dialogue and Discernment. Both enterprises meet needs in today’s world and well beyond, and fulfill priorities within the University’s revised strategic plan.
Fostering Civil Discourse
“These two new initiatives hold great promise for putting Gonzaga at the forefront of higher education in the West,” says Law School Dean Jacob Rooksby. “We at the Law School are excited to contribute to these efforts, which have natural tie-ins with law, and will allow us to draw on talented faculty while also recruiting new ones.”
The Center for Ignatian Dialogue and Discernment is an interdisciplinary academic center that initiates and models civil public dialogue across campus on the most pressing topics of our time, from politics to social issues, and theological and philosophical questions that span generations. The center advances Gonzaga’s Catholic, Jesuit mission through pursuing truth oriented toward the common good.
It animates the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits): accompanying people as they discern complex issues; strengthening political democracy by imparting good civic formation; fostering in students a
sense of responsibility toward justice, reconciliation and peace; and linking ecological and human concerns into an integral ecology. The Gonzaga campus community will benefit from a concentrated effort to engage perspectives across schools and disciplines. Multiple disciplines can aid our understanding of the climate crisis, the occurrences of Jan. 6, 2021, and recent Supreme Court rulings. In the Spokane community, homelessness, poverty, drug abuse and enforcement require attention of many perspectives to find common understanding. The Center will facilitate dialogue that is “directed to the common good and not to the protection of veiled or particular interests,” organizers say. Phase one is selecting a tenured faculty member to lead the center, and a fellow from each of the schools and the College, and several cocurricular units on campus, as well as
representation from the student body. Proposed programming includes two academic events per year centered on longstanding divisive topics of pressing importance to society, one pop-up academic event per year on a topic of immediate concern, and one internal summit, organized by the director and attended by the fellows, concerning pedagogical and mentoring techniques to further dialogue and discernment in the Ignatian tradition. “The activities of the Center support the vision of a university as a reconciling presence in the world, which is a defining characteristic of our Jesuit commitments,” organizers say. “The Center will be both educational and formational, animated by a desire to tirelessly seek the truth and to form each student into a whole person of solidarity who will take responsibility for the real world.”
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Health & Wellness
AFFIRMING STUDENTS’ GOODNESS By Carolyn Lamberson
Since the pandemic, discussions about mental health, especially among the nation’s young people, have taken on greater urgency. A November 2022 article in Psychology Today pointed out that half of all young adults ages 18-24 reported experiencing moderate to severe depression. It’s an alarming figure that has educators, policymakers and health care professionals talking about how to best handle the crisis. At the Gonzaga University School of Law, there’s an old philosophy, rooted in the school’s Jesuit tradition, serving as a framework: cura personalis, or “care for the whole person.” Cura personalis shows up in several ways on campus, from the launch of a student-run food pantry and visits from a therapy pig to making sure students are equipped with the tools that will help them manage the stressors in their academic and professional lives. It also shows up in the growing number of programs and resources aimed at helping students not only survive but thrive in their law school years, and in helping them stay healthy in mind, body and spirit.
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Mind
In spring 2020, with the pandemic creating much uncertainty in the world, Susan Lee took on the newly created full-time role of dean of students of Gonzaga Law; for many years, the role had been only part time.
had some kind of accommodation, or might need one, so I help them establish a relationship with our Disability Access Office. Or they might need counseling. Oftentimes we sit in my office and I make the phone call and have the student with me.”
“I think the Dean (Jacob Rooksby) saw that as a real need; we need a person who can really care for our students in more of a holistic way,” she said. “I view my role as the facilitator to get them what they need, to help them succeed while they’re going to school.”
Her work also involves helping students make connections and cut loose occasionally to relieve stress. Activities include movie night at the Garland Theater (where the bar next door serves a “Subpoena Colada”), monthly visits with therapy dogs and a pig, monthly socials, and a yearly petting zoo.
In practice, that means working with students directly, finding out what help they need and how to best get it for them. It also means having the resources readily available. “Say we have a student who is having a really hard time,” Lee said. “They might need some spiritual guidance, so I might say Fr. (Bryan) Pham is a great person to talk to. We might find out they have
“It’s important to feel part of a community,” Lee said. “That’s the biggest piece I hear from our students is they’re so grateful for these small touches. Not any one thing is huge, but I do think they do add up.” Laurie Powers, GU Law assistant dean for professional development, said part of her work is helping students figure out their own professional identity. In the school’s externship program, students take a reflexive seminar in which each class begins with a short mindfulness exercise. “It’s part of us teaching you things to have in your tool kit, because whether it’s finals, the bar exam or a tough case you get, there are going to be times when you need to center yourself,” Powers said.
Piggy Banks, “Banks” for short, is a therapy animal who provides stress relief for students.
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Body Students have access to an on-campus gym as well as an off-campus site for physical exercise. What was missing was easy access to fuel for students who needed it. So in April 2022, the law Student Bar Association opened a food pantry in a small space in their office, using money from the SBA budget. In February 2023, the pantry moved to a permanent larger space on the third floor with the support of the Law School’s administration and generous donors. The larger space allows for perishable and nonperishable items thanks to a new industrial grade refrigerator. The food pantry became an obvious need when students shared about financial stressors. Lee said, “A big part of it might be that they don’t have breakfast for themself or a snack for their kiddo, and trying to meet those basic needs.”
Mariah Welch in the Gonzaga Law food pantry
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Mariah Welch (’23 J.D.) had experience in starting a food pantry while in student government at the University of Montana during her undergraduate years. When the Student Bar Association did a student survey during the 2021-22 school year to determine if there was a need, “We got a resounding ‘Yes’ that students would want this or need this,” Welch said. “A lot of students at the Law School were going without nutritious meals because they couldn’t afford to have them.” They also teamed with Second Harvest, the Spokane regional food bank, to bring a mobile market to Gonzaga once a month to feed students; any leftover food would go in the pantry, Welch said.
The pantry stocks canned goods, snacks, lentil and rice packets, eggs, butter, yogurts, cheese sticks as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. In the 2022-23 academic year, students checked into the food pantry more than 6,000 times, noted Welch. “We hear students say they maybe haven’t had fresh fruits or veggies all semester because they couldn’t afford it, except for the food pantry,” she said. “We’ve heard a lot of students say this is the best thing Gonzaga has ever done to show support for students.” Welch added, “It’s humbling and makes me really proud that students are willing to accept that help and that we’re able to give it to them.”
Spirit It’s about making sure that Gonzaga Law fits the student’s goals and expectations. It’s about making sure they’re going to find community on campus. It’s about affirming their humanity. Fr. Bryan Pham, S.J., J.D., Law School chaplain, undergrad professor and pre-law adviser, said the school strives to begin “caring for the person” even before a student applies. “Our commitment to cura personalis doesn’t begin when they first step on campus. It starts when they are calling our admissions office, looking at our website to see if this is what they want to do,” he said. “How we respond should be a way that affirms them in their goodness.”
“It’s how do we honor you as a person,” he said. Father Pham is among those involved in screening applications. He doesn’t think of it as administration. It’s ministry. “When I look at the application … I’m reading a journey, I’m reading a story, I’m reading a history of someone. And yeah, it’s statistics. It’s their grades, GPA, the LSAT scores, but I’m also reading the personal statement, the letters of recommendation,” he said. Once those students are on campus, “Our job is to help them grow. Yes, it’s
about becoming the most competent, moral, ethical attorney possible,” Pham said, “but they also grow as people. … It’s letting them know there are spaces here on campus where they can be themselves, where they can share the deepest joy but also the deepest anxiety. We do that from a faith perspective, we do that from an emotional perspective, we do that from a professional perspective.”
“How we respond should be a way that affirms them in their goodness.”
HEALING THE HUNGER An alum stopped through Spokane on a summer trip in 2022 and toured the Law School. It left a positive impression – especially when the family learned of the student-led food pantry and the alum recalled having experienced food insecurities as a law student. The family created the GU Law Food Pantry endowment – an act of generosity that will touch many students during their time at law school.
You can join the effort to keep that healing going well into the future. www.gonzaga.edu/lawgive/foodpantry
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beyond “anti-hate,” to
PRO-DIGNITY Gonzaga School of Law students, alumni and faculty have long been part of the work of hate studies, formally through the Center for the Study of Hate (known for its international conferences and scholarly journal) as well as through legal scholarship. But that’s just the beginning. Today, Gonzaga Law is proud to offer academic programming, clinical experience and personal support for students that is rooted in principles of dignity, equity and inclusion – especially those who have traditionally been at the margins of society and opportunity. Here are but a few examples.
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Chris Mercado, visiting assistant professor, is director of the Business Innovation Clinic. A judge pro tem at Snohomish County Superior Court and a commissioner pro tem at Spokane County Superior Court, Mercado champions student connections to AHANA – a multi-ethnic business association in Spokane centered on advocacy, economic development and health for communities of color. “The Business Innovation Clinic works with AHANA in fostering the growth and prosperity of minority-owned businesses every step of their journey,” Mercado says. “We provide comprehensive business counseling from business formation, contract review and drafting, to capital sourcing and taxation.” The clinic also hosts speaking engagements and business advice events, providing a platform for entrepreneurs to seek guidance and insights without financial barriers. “These serve as a valuable opportunity to address specific concerns, explore growth strategies, and tap into a wealth of knowledge from law professors, law students, attorneys, industry experts and experienced mentors,” Mercado adds. Sarah Harmon, (’13 J.D.) adjunct faculty and director of the Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic, led law students in 2023 to win the National Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition. Through the LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic, students learn how to navigate some of the issues of concern to members of the LGBTQ community, including government identification cards, family law, domestic violence and discrimination. The clinic began in 2020 to provide education, programming, advocacy, research and legal representation. Jason Gillmer, John J. Hemmingson Professor of Civil liberties and founding director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights at Gonzaga Law, seeks programming that enriches the educational experience of students, furthers the common good and contributes to the policy and practice of civil and human rights. A scholar of the Antebellum South and author of a book on that topic, Gillmer is often cited on related topics, including the prohibition of interracial marriage and the Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia, which has led to June 11 being named “Loving Day” in recognition of interracial marriage legalization.
Uplifting the Underrepresented through Scholarships Frank Burgess (’66 J.D.) died in 2010, but not before inspiring a generation of other Black students to be bold in their career aspirations, especially for the cause of justice. Burgess was a U.S. District Court Judge and a U.S. Magistrate. Today, a scholarship in his name provides financial support to a law student who is from a traditionally marginalized community. Carl Maxey’s (’51 J.D.) legacy continues to support new leaders working to lift the oppressed, through the Carl Maxey Social Justice Scholarship Program. He was the first African American man in Eastern Washington to pass the bar and become an attorney. Maxey earned a reputation as an exceptional trial lawyer and nationally recognized civil rights leader. Recipients of these awards hold leadership promise and bring diversity to the program.
Learn more: gonzaga.edu/lawalumni
Alumni of Color Community In 2022, GU’s Alumni Relations office launched the Gonzaga Alumni of Color Community to connect graduates and provide programming rooted in values of diversity, equity and inclusion. Today, there are affiliate chapters in three U.S. regions – West Coast, East Coast and Central.
Learn more: gonzaga.edu/alumni
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FACULTY PROFILES
Mary Pat Treuthart, J.D.
A WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT By Carolyn Lamberson
“I’ve taught all these amazing, amazing women students, and men students, who were interested in topics such as antiviolence, reproductive justice, things such as that,” she said. “It seemed the things came together in a nice package.”
In many ways it makes sense that the Spokane Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) would name Gonzaga Law Professor Mary Pat Treuthart as one of 2023’s Women of Achievement, honoring her as an educator. Their missions often align. The YWCA has a stated mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, standing up for social justice, helping families and strengthening communities. For Treuthart, throughout her career as both a lawyer and a law professor, these areas have been her focus. She’s been involved with the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane for years, she’s done anti-death penalty work, been a leader with Disability Rights Washington, worked with the Center for Women in Democracy, and volunteered with groups such as Amigas de Corazon. Then there’s the work she has done in the classroom. “I’ve taught all these amazing, amazing women students, and men students, who were interested in topics such as antiviolence, reproductive justice, things such as that,” she said. “It seemed the things came together in a nice package.” The YWCA’s Women of Achievement award celebrates women who excel in areas such as government and public service, the arts, business and social justice. In its award summary, the YWCA praised Treuthart as a teacher. “M.P. is one of those people who leaves a lifelong impression. She does not just lecture about the law from behind a lectern; she paces, gestures, and shows deep excitement about the law, which permeates everything she does.” the
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YWCA website says. “Through her, students learn of the complexities (and disparities) of issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, reproductive rights, and crosscultural issues that play out in each of those areas. Through a legal lens, Mary Pat makes solutions for these issues seem possible.” Treuthart appreciated the recognition, saying, “I’ve always admired the work the Y has done, and the commitment, so I was really quite thrilled to be a part of the celebration of the Y’s achievements.” Especially gratifying was that she received nominations from two people, a former student and one of her Law School colleagues. “And they did it independently, so neither of them knew the other was doing it, so that was fun,” she said. In 2023 Treuthart marked her 34th year at Gonzaga Law. In the years ahead, she is looking forward to continuing to engage the minds of her students and bringing currentday topics into focus. “When I teach family law, when I teach constitutional law, when I teach international human rights, and women’s rights and criminal procedures, I’m constantly bumping up against these controversial issues,” she said. “We were laughing in constitutional law because within 10 days you go from aid in dying to marriage equality to reproductive justice issues. It’s just boom, boom, boom. It’s like everything that’s controversial in society you cover in a two-week period.”
Angela Aneiros, J.D.
SYMPATHETIC TO STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE
“ But law school is difficult for people with different backgrounds. I didn’t know a single attorney when I enrolled in law school, so I didn’t have any connections or know what to do.”
By Carolyn Lamberson Angela Aneiros is a newcomer to the faculty of Gonzaga Law, but she’s had a wealth of experiences that shaped her life inside and outside the classroom.
“Traditionally, law students came from the background of other lawyers, with money,” Aneiros said. “That’s really changing, and I think that’s for the better.
Aneiros came to Gonzaga in 2022 as a visiting assistant professor and began as assistant professor in 2023.
“But law school is difficult for people with different backgrounds. I didn’t know a single attorney when I enrolled in law school, so I didn’t have any connections or know what to do.”
Her journey to Gonzaga Law has not been typical. Aneiros, who was raised in the Detroit area, not only is the first person in her immediate family to graduate from college, she is the first to finish high school. “For me it’s been a unique route,” Aneiros said. But it’s also been a nearly lifelong dream. “For some reason when I was 6 years old I had it in my mind that I had to become an attorney. … I just remember thinking, doctors and lawyers are the most successful, and I didn’t want to be a doctor because I was afraid of doctors then. “And I just stuck with it forever and became an attorney.” She entered the field in 2008, during the Great Recession, and as such she did a variety of legal work, including bankruptcy, civil litigation, insurance cases, real estate and general practice. During this time, she also took custody of one of her teenage brothers who was struggling at home and school. A few years later, she gained custody of her youngest brother, then a freshman in high school. Her family life and her success in the legal profession at one point would have made her an outlier in the field. Now there are more people with stories similar to hers who are becoming attorneys.
The idea of pursuing an academic career, however, never occurred to her, Aneiros said. “I was practicing law, and I was good at it, but it wasn’t very fulfilling,” she said. “I thought maybe that teaching law, where I could use the skills that I learned … so that it was more fulfilling for me.” So she went to work for a clinical program for law students at the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University and enjoyed the work. What she brings to the classroom is an awareness that her students may have home lives that are challenging. She also admits that she didn’t enjoy being a law student, so she is sympathetic to students who have similar struggles. And because her own law practice was so varied, she can offer “these crazy cases that I’ve worked on as examples, which is helpful for students to grasp how it really looks in the real world of practice.”
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FACULTY EXCELLENCE
Faculty Scholarship Highlights This past year has been one of the most productive for Law faculty, producing more than 25 substantial scholarly works. Below are some notable recent and forthcoming publications. RECENT PUBLICATIONS Healthcare, Quality Concerns and Competition Law
Takings Property and Appropriative Water Rights
A Systematic Approach
44 Cardozo Law Review 271 (2022)
Bloomsbury Publishing (2023)
by Luis Inaraja Vera, Assistant Professor of Law
by Theodosia Stavroulaki, Assistant Professor of Law
The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation.” While courts and academics have put considerable amounts of effort into discussing the meaning of “taken” or “public use,” they have given far less attention to the phrase “private property.” Notable scholars have provided a set of definitions and frameworks to determine when a particular right qualifies as takings property. However, courts and commentators have yet to define the types of rights that are entitled to constitutional protection with sufficient precision to avoid an inconsistent and inefficient application of the Takings Clause. This article argues that, while these definitions of takings property lead to sound and consistent outcomes when applied to traditional rights such as a fee simple absolute or an easement, they produce underwhelming results when tested against less conventional interests. The article assesses how these frameworks perform with a property interest as elusive as appropriative water rights, provides broader lessons about both takings property and water law, and proposes a solution that harmonizes some of the central components of existing takings property definitions.
Market-driven healthcare is massively divisive. Opponents argue that a competition approach to medical treatment negatively impacts on quality, while advocates point to increased efficiencies. This book casts a critical eye over both positions to show that the concerns over quality are in fact real. Taking a two-part approach, it unveils the fault lines along which healthcare provision and the pursuit of quality would in certain cases clash. It then shows how competition authorities can only effectively assess competition concerns when they ask the fundamental question of how the concept of healthcare quality should be defined and factored into their decisions. Drawing on UK, U.S. and EU examples, it explores antitrust and merger cases in hospital, medical and health insurance markets to give an accurate depiction of the reality and challenges of regulating competition in healthcare provision. Theodosia Stavroulaki’s teaching and research interests include antitrust, health law and law and inequality.
Luis Inaraja Vera’s work focuses on environmental and natural resources law. He teaches property, water law and environmental law courses.
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NEW & FORTHCOMING SCHOLARSHIP Upendra Acharya, Professor of Law and Director of Global Legal Education, writes about cutting-edge issues of international law including terrorism, U.S. Foreign Policy, globalization, international economic law, and human rights and human security. His book chapter, “Militarized Approach to Human Rights: An Epistemological Challenge” (2022), was published in Human Rights and International Criminal Law by Brill/Nijhoff. Professor Angela Aneiros, incoming Assistant Professor of Law, focuses her scholarship on the intersection of law and corporate governance. Her article, “The Unlikely Pressure for Accountability: The Insurance Industry’s Role in Social Change,” was recently published in the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights, and her co-authored article, “Caremark’s Butterfly Effect,” is forthcoming in American Law Review. Megan Ballard, Professor of Law, focuses her scholarship on legal protections for people forcibly displaced from their homes and countries. Her article, “New Community Sponsorships for Humanitarian Immigrants: Guidance on Washington’s Practice of Law and Immigration Services Fraud Prevention Rules,” co-authored by Zaida Rivera, was published by Seattle University Law Review’s companion online journal, SUpra. Dallan Flake, Associate Professor of Law, focuses his research on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with emphasis on religious accommodations in the workplace and the employment of formerly incarcerated persons. His article, “Lifesaving Discrimination,” was published in American University Law Review. He also co-authored the textbook Employment Law, 5th Ed., which was published by Aspen. Another article, “When ‘Close Enough’ is not Enough: Accommodating the Religiously Devout,” will appear in BYU Law Review. Jason Gillmer, Professor of Law, is a legal historian with a particular interest in the antebellum South, the conquest of the American West, and the Civil Rights era. His article, “Litigating Slavery’s Reach: A Story of Race, Rights, and the Law During the California Gold Rush,” was published in Loyola Los Angeles Law Review.
Jessica Kiser is an Associate Professor and Director of the Gonzaga University Wine Institute. She teaches various courses including Property, Business Associations, Agency and Noncorporate Entities, Advanced Trademarks and Unfair Competition Law, Intellectual Property, and International and Comparative Intellectual Property. She recently wrote a commentary in Feminist Judgments: Corporate Law Rewritten, which was published by Cambridge University Press. Her article, “Of Marks and Markets: An Empirical Study of Trademark Litigation” will be published in South Carolina Law Review. Inga Laurent, Professor of Law, focuses her work on analyzing and re-imagining our current criminal legal system. She will publish “Addressing the Toll of Truth Telling” in Brooklyn Law Review and “An Absence of Accountability” in Seton Hall Law Review. Genevieve Mann, Assistant Professor of Law, directs the Elder Law Clinic and offers a new framework to prevent elder exploitation in “It’s Not Ok, Boomer: Preventing Financial Power-of-Attorney Abuse of Elders,” which was published in Maryland Law Review. Her article, “A Good Death: End-of-Life Lawyering through a Relational Autonomy Lens,” will be published in Washington Law Review. Associate Dean Agnieszka McPeak’s research focuses on the intersection of law and technology, particularly as it relates to social media, ethics, privacy and the innovation and sharing economies. Her article, “The Gig is Rigged: How Gig Companies Exploit Private Law to Entrench Power,” will be published in UC Davis Law Review. Professor Daniel Morrissey, an expert in securities law, recently published “Special Purpose Acquisition Companies: Wall Street’s Latest Shell Game,” in Arkansas Law Review. His co-written casebook, Securities Litigation, 2nd ed. is forthcoming with Carolina Academic Press.
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FACULTY EXCELLENCE
Ann Murphy, Professor of Law and expert in tax law and evidence, will publish her article, “The Chamber of Secrets: The Death of Judicial Review of State Secrets” in Columbia Human Rights Law Review. She is also an author of several volumes on evidentiary privilege in Federal Practice and Procedure (commonly known as Wright & Miller), published by Thomson Reuters. Jeffrey Omari, Assistant Professor of Law, is a legal anthropologist whose research lies at the intersection of law, technology, and social science. His work merges ethnographic fieldwork and anthropological theory with doctrinal analysis. He recently published “Civil Rights in Times of Uncertainty (The Anthropocene),” in Michigan Law Review and “Taking Aim at ‘Fake News’: Brazil’s Legislative Agenda for Online Democracy,” in Saint Louis University Law Journal. Kim Pearson, Professor of Law, published a book chapter, “Commentary on State v. Williams,” in Feminist Judgments: Rewritten Criminal Law Opinions by Cambridge University Press.
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Jacob Rooksby, Professor of Law and the Smithmoore P. Myers Dean of Gonzaga Law, recently published “Academic Leadership is a Full-Contact Sport: Reflections from a Law School Dean” in Santa Clara Law Review. Drew Simshaw, Assistant Professor of Law, who teaches criminal law, legal research & writing, and professional responsibility, recently published “Access to A.I. Justice: Avoiding an Inequitable TwoTiered System of Legal Services,” in Yale Journal of Law & Technology. His latest article, “Toward National Regulation of Legal Technology: A Path Forward for Access to Justice,” will be published in Fordham Law Review. Sandra Simpson, Professor of Law, teaches civil procedure, real estate transactions and legal research & writing, and is an expert in pedagogy and legal education reform. Her article, “Law Students Left Behind: Remedying the Devastating Effects of Federal Education Policy,” is forthcoming in Minnesota Law Review. Another article, “The Ultimate Logic Question: Why Continue to Use the LSAT when the Test Harms Diversity?” will be published in Tennessee Law Review.
SOPHIA Oil on canvas
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WELCOME
Law, Ethics & Commerce Visiting Scholars The Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce (CLEC) has launched a new visiting scholar program, which provides scholarship support and mentorship for aspiring law professors at Gonzaga Law. CLEC visiting scholars are visiting assistant professors who are pursuing research agendas that align with CLEC’s vision and mission. Beginning in fall 2023, three professors will join Gonzaga Law as CLEC visiting scholars.
Maria Veronica Saladino M. Veronica Saladino joins Gonzaga Law from Georgetown Law Center, where she was a fellow with the Center for Transnational Business and the Law. Her scholarly work focuses on business and international and comparative law. She teaches Contracts and other businessrelated courses.
Michael Shin Cecil
Olawale Ogunmodimu
Michael Cecil joins Gonzaga Law after working as legislative counsel at the New York State Senate. His scholarly interests focus on the nature of U.S. economic, political and legal structures – both public and private – and the underlying institutional arrangements that facilitate them. He will teach First Amendment, Property and other courses.
Wale Ogunmodimu joins Gonzaga Law from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, where he taught Legal Research & Writing and Legal Communication. His scholarly interests span comparative law, constitutional law, human rights, international law and socio-economic rights. He teaches Constitutional Law and Legal Research & Writing courses.
Bobby Olsen Bobby Olsen joins Gonzaga Law as a visiting assistant professor from clerking for the Honorable Joseph F. Bataillon of the Federal District Court for the District of Nebraska. His scholarship interests lie at the intersection of history and constitutional law, and he will teach Civil Rights, Advanced Civil Procedure and related courses.
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Investing in Ourselves Wellness and well-being are necessary, but too seldom honored. The pandemic certainly reminded us of the importance of our physical and mental health. So this year I jumped right back into life and didn’t look back. I was all in – on travel, events and overall: Doing more. I yearned for a “normal” year. I couldn’t wait to have my schedule back and to recapture the rhythm of my pre-pandemic life. I counted down the days until the next big thing, all the while reassuring myself, “I can do this.” I knew I could get through anything – I just needed to hustle more. A few more minutes at my desk. A last-minute trip planned. I worked through lunch or ate at my desk. Then, there was the thought that “I’ll start going to the gym tomorrow.” All the lessons learned about cherishing time with family and the importance of self-care vanished. I was back to my old ways of not sleeping and realizing at 3 p.m. that I hadn’t eaten anything yet that day. I was depleting my tank, and nothing could fill it up fast enough. But I wasn’t alone. I discovered that some of you were feeling the same way I was. Your investment in yourselves had been lost as you returned to the daily grind. But as I traveled and met with so many Gonzaga Law alumni, you honored me with your stories and journeys back to finding wellness and well-being. Some of you changed firms, finding employers who offered mental health services or encouraged and expected vacations to be used. Some of you started your own practices on your own terms. Some of you were able to cut back on your hours. And some of you left the practice altogether and found your joy elsewhere. Priorities shifted left and right. I was reminded by my daughter, the law school community, and you that if we are going to invest, we must see returns that include caring for ourselves first. When we do that, we can then continue the Jesuit tradition of being a person for others. It’s one of the instructions we hear before the plane takes off every time we fly, “Secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” And it’s time we apply it to the rest of our lives. Respectfully,
Sarah Guzmán (’18 M.A.) Executive Director, GU Law Foundation
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David Torres (’86 J.D.), a California attorney who has tried more than 150 criminal defense cases in both federal and state courts, receives an award of distinction from Dean Jacob Rooksby during from the Red Mass.
EXEMPLIFYING THE MISSION Red Mass in September 2022 recognized David Torres, 1986 Gonzaga Law School alumnus, as the recipient of the Distinguished Legal Service award. This award is one of Gonzaga Law’s most prestigious. Dean Jacob Rooksby outlines the qualities of an honoree as someone who “exemplifies the mission of Gonzaga University School of Law, which is to provide an excellent legal education informed by our humanistic, Jesuit and Catholic traditions and values; takes an active role in public service; and has longevity of service, leadership and commitment to social justice.” During his lifetime commitment to law, Torres has embodied these qualities and demonstrated them through his work.
Torres served in the U.S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s Corps and is a colonel in the California State National Guard. Throughout his 30 years in the field, Torres has received many honors including the Meritorious Service Award, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Parachutist Badge. In 2016, Lt. Col. Torres was Veteran of the Year for the 32nd State Assembly District. And in 2015, the governor appointed Torres to the Fair Board for the 15th Agricultural District where he still serves. Now he can add the Distinguished Legal Service award to his long list of achievements.
ALUMNI EXCELLENCE Stories by Carolyn Lamberson
Justice Barbara Madsen (’77 J.D.) For Washington Supreme Court Justice Barbara A. Madsen, it was a full-circle moment. She was the first recipient of Gonzaga Law School’s Myra Bradwell Award in 1993, and 30 years later, she announced the creation of a new endowed fund for the Myra Bradwell Scholarship. The award is given annually by the Gonzaga Women’s Law Caucus to an influential woman in the Gonzaga Law community. It honors Myra Bradwell, the first woman admitted to the Illinois bar in 1890, after being denied for 20 years because of her gender. The new scholarship supports a law student “who has shown a demonstrated commitment to issues that affect women and children,” Madsen said, adding it will be open to students in any specialty. “Every facet of law can affect women and
FOR GENDER AND JUSTICE
children,” she said, “so I didn’t want to be too prescriptive.” The new scholarship fund arose out of work Madsen was undertaking as head of the Washington Supreme Court’s Gender and Justice Commission. “I’d been interested in scholarships for students who were promoting law that would enhance and empower women,” Madsen said. “I like the idea of scholarships for women who are in the law. I like the idea of promoting women in the law, and of course the Myra Bradwell Award … being the first recipient it all just seemed like the right thing.” While women have outpaced men in law school admissions in recent years, that is a new phenomenon, Madsen said, recalling that in her first week in law
school she was asked more than once why she was taking a seat that belonged to a man. “It really affected me,” she said. “Then of course after being chair of the Gender and Justice Commission for so many years, I saw the continued inequities for women. Even today, we’re getting closer, perhaps, but we certainly have not achieved equality in the law or in society. So, it continues to be important to promote women who also then will promote other women through the law.” She anticipates the first recipient of the new scholarship will be announced at the Myra Bradwell event in spring 2024. “Gonzaga has been there for me so many times,” she said. “When it comes down to my own pocketbook, that’s where I want to invest, it’s in Gonzaga.”
Fonda Jovick (’04 J.D.)
FIELDING FOOD AND MORE
At Lake City Law in Coeur d’Alene, there’s always something to eat, beyond the bite-size candy bars that are so popular in offices.
insecurity. The office started using its rebate from Costco orders to stock the food pantry, she said.
where she was a partner. She and two other Lake City partners also own River’s Edge Mediation.
“Then it grew more into always making sure there’s something in there in case somebody needs lunch or dinner.”
In her practice, she has been known as the firm’s “utility infielder,” she said, doing a little bit of everything, although she has always done estate planning, probate and trust work. She also represents governmental agencies, including cities, water districts and fire districts.
In the breakroom there are cans of soup, protein bars and other lunch options. The freezer is stocked with microwaveable meals. It’s all part of an effort to make sure the firm’s employees always can get something to eat, for whatever reason. Gonzaga Law alumna Fonda Jovick, managing partner at Lake City Law, was inspired to start the firm’s food pantry after taking a tour of the student-run pantry on campus. “I loved the tour that we received of the student pantry and the idea and mission behind it,” she said, “so we borrowed it.” She became aware that some of the firm’s employees were struggling financially, or experiencing food
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The pantry is restocked monthly, and it’s become something the employees appreciate, she said. “There’s not always time to leave and get something for lunch, or they’re tired, or they’re having financial difficulties,” Jovick said. “There’s no strings attached to it whatsoever. If you need a meal, there’s a meal. It’s simple things like cans of soup, Top Ramen, some freezer foods.” Jovick, who serves on the Gonzaga University School of Law Board of Advisors, has been with Lake City Law since 2015, when it spun off from the Coeur d’Alene office of Paine-Hamblen,
One area she’s never worked in is criminal law – and that’s by agreement with her husband, a detective sergeant with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. “We made a deal when I went to law school that him putting people in jail and me getting them out was not going to work well for our marriage,” she said with a laugh. “So I don’t do criminal defense.”
Jaime Cuevas Jr. (’16 J.D)
INDIGENOUS PURSUITS
Jaime Cuevas Jr. tries to lead by example. His work with companies of the Yakama Nation emphasizes Indigenous rights litigation, regulatory compliance and business development in Indian Country. He works to mentor and guide Hispanic and Indigenous students toward law careers. Before becoming a lawyer, he was a teacher working with English language learners. He does this work, he said, because he feels called to do it, and because he had firsthand experience as the child of Mexican immigrants. A joint project between Heritage University in Toppenish and Washington’s three law schools fosters a pathway to law school for Latino, Latina, Latinx and Indigenous students. It’s a natural fit for Heritage, a private university within the Yakama Nation with a student body that is 11% percent Indigenous and 73% Hispanic; 85% of students are the first in their families to attend college and very few students saw law school as a viable option after college. Cuevas, who has volunteered as a mentor and participated in panel discussions on campus, says the program highlighted a gap in access to legal services in the Yakima Valley and other rural communities. “This pipeline focused on increasing the access and readiness for students from diverse backgrounds to be ready for law school.” Cuevas’ story is a familiar one to many of the Heritage students. He was raised by his grandmother in California’s Central Valley, experienced housing and food insecurity, yet still became the first in his family to graduate from college.
Justice Barbara Madsen
Fonda Jovick
“I think all of that background is relatable to students who come from similar backgrounds of being the first from their communities, from their families to embark on that journey,” he said. “I try to be a spotlight so their path is easier. It should be more accessible.” He came to Washington after high school to rejoin his mother in the Tri-Cities and earned a teaching degree from Washington State University. After school, he went to work in a third-grade classroom teaching English language learners. His teaching work put him in contact with King County Superior Court Judge LeRoy McCullough, who helped point Cuevas toward law school. “He walked me through the process of believing in myself that I could do it,” Cuevas said. Among the schools he was accepted to, he selected Gonzaga as part of the inaugural class of the executive two-year J.D. program. Now as general counsel and chief business development officer for the Indigenous-owned Ramsey Companies Inc., Cuevas spends his off time coaching his sons in youth sports. But his expansive legal work is a passion. “One of the primary things for me is to utilize this legal training, this legal degree, as a method to serve,” he said. “I know there is a significant need, and there is a shortage of attorneys in those fields. For me it is an absolute passion to encourage others and to promote the diversity of the legal profession.”
Jaime Cuevas Jr.
2023 | Gonzaga Law Magazine | 37
CLASS ACTION
1978
2009
2016
Jim Woods has his photo hanging in the Gonzaga Law School student lounge. The photo was identified by his son Jackson Woods, a current 2L student.
Adam Baird is managing partner at Kutak Rock LLP in Spokane. Baird specializes in tax law, public finance and tax-exempt transactions for local and tribal governments and educational institutions.
John Malek is a military defense attorney who founded the John Malek Law Group. JMLG represents all those who serve, in all branches of the military, in all duty statuses, at any location.
1979
Jefferson Boswell joined Forté
1991
Specialty Contracts as Corporate Counsel in Las Vegas. Forté provides complete construction services for projects ranging from luxury residential construction, renovation and development, high-end restaurants and nightclubs, museum exhibits and themed venues.
Cat Clark joined the 1861 NIL
Joe Kuhlman received the 2022
Ed Zielinski holds the position of country attorney in Cooke County, Texas. He served in the JAG Corps in the Army only a few years prior to taking this position.
Foundation as executive director in Seattle. This foundation was created by UW athletes to help navigate the landscaping surrounding “name, image, and likeness.” Clark herself was a UW swimmer from 1981 – 1985 prior to law school.
1995 Jennifer Sehlin joined Helsell
Fetterman’s Real Estate and Land Use group. Helsell Fetterman serves Northwest businesses in civil matters such as litigation, estate, planning, business law and real estate
2004 David Higer joined Winstead PC,
located in Dallas, as a shareholder in the firm’s business litigation group and will continue his work with semiconductor manufacturing clients, medical imaging device manufacturers and other clients who work with patented technologies.
Sally A. Winn joined the YWCA
Spokane as director of Legal Services.
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President’s Award from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. This competitive award recognizes the highest traditions of the criminal defense bar.
2013 Jessica Anleu formed Zava Immigration Law Group after decades of immigration experience in Phoenix. She specializes in removal defense, including bonds, and innovative forms of relief for detained and non-detained clients.
2015 Sarah Molleck joined Lemons,
Grundy & Eisenberg in Reno, Nevada. Sarah is licensed to practice law before all state and federal courts in Nevada. She is a member of several professional associations, including American Inns of Court, Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association, Washoe County Bar Association and American Bar Association.
2018 Ben Asare has been promoted to the rank of Major in the U.S. Army.
Danielle Shyne founded Shyne
Law Group, PLLC in Bozeman, Montana. Prior to that, Danielle worked for Montana Elder Law and clerked for the Honorable Chief Justice Mike McGrath and the Honorable Michael Wheat of the Montana Supreme Court.
2019 Aaron Swensen joined Bradley Johnson Lawyers as a criminal defense attorney in their Seattle office.
We would love to celebrate you. Let us know what you are up to – email lawalumni@gonzaga.edu.
yes
Steppingstones to a By Cindy Runger (’91, ’94 J.D.)
My gut still lurches when I recall the intense organic odor emanating from the sugar beet factory. The smell drifted across my small Idaho town and lingered by the mall. The factory was an important business to the local economy. For some, it was the smell of money. For me, it presented one more reason to leave and pursue opportunities beyond my farming community. I delightedly joined the 3,500 other students and 50 Jesuits at Gonzaga University. As a firstgen student, I fed voraciously on opportunities to debate and explore ideas with my classmates. Some of my fondest memories at GU were when my friends and I would spend endless hours contemplating big thoughts about the world beyond Catherine-Monica Residence Hall, beyond the rugby players bone-crunching it up on Mulligan Field. Why were we here? How can we matter? How can we serve and make a difference? These interests led me to serve in the Student Senate and eventually as GSBA president. These roles helped me grow to understand the mightiness of listening, the power of representation, and the strength of advocacy. At one point, we had challenged the University’s investments with companies doing business with South Africa’s apartheid regime. Not dissimilar to the questions raised today by the students concerning our fossil fuel ties. We got the attention of Fr. Coughlin and his administration. The interaction was thrilling for a political science major like me. During this time, many of my political science and philosophy professors took a special interest in supporting my growth. They gave me space and encouragement to find my voice, explore my values and discover my passions. I continued my education at Gonzaga Law School. As I neared graduation and received my J.D., I had reached a point where I wanted to be surrounded by more diversity.
the Washington State Senate. Being part of the legislative experience, surrounded by elected officials, lobbyists and staffers, was particularly remarkable for me – an immigrant who left wartorn South Vietnam just before it fell to communist control where pervasive censorship and cultural purification became the norm. During my six years in politics, I became convinced that corporations were capable of benefiting society through their leadership in job creation, products and services, and community engagement. With this belief, I set out to Seattle to do good in the corporate world. I spent the next 15 years growing my clientele, managing investment portfolios and working my way up the ranks in companies like Piper Jaffray and JP Morgan. Discovering investments that provided positive social outcomes while improving shareholder value fulfilled my desire to do good. Nowadays, I am privileged to be in the joyful position of making a difference through philanthropy and board service. As vice-chair of the Gonzaga University Board of Regents, I am grateful to be able to give back to the institution that strongly influenced my transition into adulthood. I am also a board member of Bishop Blanchet High School. And I serve as an independent board director for First Financial Northwest Bank, playing a key role in the success of these organizations. By many measures, I have been very successful in life. Rejections and failures knocked me down a few times, but I viewed every “no” as a steppingstone to a “yes.” I used failure as an opportunity for growth and a way to improve my skills.
I couldn’t believe my fortunate circumstance when I launched my career as an attorney for
2023 | Gonzaga Law Magazine | 39
You’re the Wine That I Want By Caitlin Larsen Last spring my family and I set out on our Spokane adventure for my cousin’s wedding. After a long travel day, our first thought was to unwind over a glass of wine local to the Pacific Northwest. In true elder millennial fashion, I googled wineries to see what tasting rooms were nearby and was immediately drawn to Barrister Winery. The owner, Greg Lipsker (’72), was kind enough to give my family a private tour and peek inside winery operations with a visit to the barrel room and a chance to watch the team bottle that year’s vintage. When I mentioned that I was an attorney, the owner asked me if I knew of the Gonzaga Wine Law Institute. My interest immediately peaked at the opportunity to learn more about how the business, management and legal aspects of the wine industry intersect by enrolling in the Gonzaga Wine Law and Business Certificate. The certificate is offered through the Gonzaga University Wine Institute, a partnership among the School of Law, School of Business and School of Leadership Studies. The program consists of 20 modules covering a variety of topics relevant to wine production and distribution and winery operations. It is evident from the first class that all the speakers are incredibly knowledgeable in their fields and excited to share that information with participants. Over the next year, I learned about the mandatory disclosures required to comply with federal regulations, the need to protect brand identity and how crucial state variances in water law are for the wine industry.
Caitlin Larsen receives the GUWI certificate from Dean Jocob Rooksby.
Did you know that in Oregon you cannot irrigate grapes? It is the only U.S. state with this regulation, following the traditional Italian model for grape growing. I appreciated that Gonzaga’s program goes beyond the winecentric education classes or viticulture-based courses to include relevant legal and business topics and present them in an informative and approachable manner. The final component of the certificate is an immersion program designed to demonstrate real-life application of concepts. Gonzaga coordinated a four-day immersion experience in the Montepulciano region of Italy with the Marchesi Antinori Family, one of the oldest and most prominent winemaking families in Italy. I put my newfound knowledge to use as I attended CLE courses each morning consisting of lectures from Italian winemakers and attorneys specializing in wine law and participated in a roundtable ethics discussion related to
40 | Gonzaga Law Magazine | 2023
Tuscan Countryside surrounding Borgo Tre Rose
issues faced by a hypothetical wine law firm. We spent each afternoon wandering around Etruscan villages perched on the Italian hillsides taking in the ornate, medieval architecture and dodging the rain by slipping into a local boutique or wine shop. The regional delicacies paired beautifully with the wine from historic local vineyards, although, I have to say the Borgo Pianoro Trebbiano was my personal favorite! As we drove between towns, you could not help but recognize the beauty and uniqueness of this region of Italy as you were immersed in the local culture! Conversation comes easily in Italy and the slower lifestyle provides ample opportunity to enjoy a glass of Salterio with the Gonzaga group who shared my passion and love for wine. I genuinely enjoyed meeting each person on the trip and learning more about their interest in wine and law and perspectives about the world. The last night of the immersion experience, Dean Rooksby presented my Wine Law and
Business Certificate to me as I stood proudly overlooking the neat rows of Sangiovese grapes and breathtaking vineyards lit by a stunning Italian sunset, I knew this was just the beginning of my journey into wine law! Participating in the Wine Law and Business Certificate program inspired me to share my passion for wine by incorporating what I learned into my everyday transactional construction law practice. Austin is located just east of the burgeoning Texas Hill Country where wine production, particularly of bold red wines, has taken root. There are now 443 wine producers, 1,474 acres of vineyards, and 8 AVAs in Texas. As the winery industry expands in Texas, I plan to leverage my specialized knowledge of construction and wine law and business to advance the local wine industry. About the Author Caitlin Larsen completed the Wine Law and Business Certificate from Gonzaga Wine Institute in 2023. She holds a J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston and resides in Texas Hill Country. She has worked as an in-house corporate attorney for a jeweler and within construction law. Larsen is actively involved in the Food and Wine Foundation and plans to sit for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 1 and 2 exams. She and her mother and sister are members of several wineries on the 290 Wine Trail. “We love meeting up on Sunday afternoons for wine and live music,” she says. “I am collaborating with the Gonzaga team to bring an immersion event to Texas and I hope to share some of my favorite wineries with my fellow wine lovers.”
2023 | Gonzaga Law Magazine | 41
2023 Honor Roll
LIFETIME CONTRIBUTORS $1,000,000 and above - Louis † and Kathryn Barbieri †, ’40 - Chester † and Catherine Chastek †, ’40 - Fred † and Barbara Curley † - J. Donald ’60 and Va Lena Scarpelli Curran, ’58 - John J. Hemmingson - Paul ’59 and Lita (Barnett) Luvera, ’77 - Smithmoore Myers † and Sandy SanduloMyers †, ’39
$500,000 - $999,999 - Gonzaga University Law Adjunct Faculty - John and Deborah Holleran, ’79 - Norm † and Rita Roberts, ’59 - Katharine Witter Brindley and Ralph Brindley, ’84
$250,000 - $499,999 - John † ’63 and Nancy Clute - Kevin Curran and Jean-Carlo Rivera, ’88 - Joseph † and Helen Delay † , ’52 - Dr. Nicholas and Katherine Lovrich - Dean Lewis H. † and Mrs. Jackie Orland † - Renee R. Reuther, ’90 - Jim † and Beverly Rogers - Edmund and Beatriz Schweitzer - Sunbelt Communications Company
$100,000 - $249,999 - Matt and Eleanor Andersen, ’76 - Holly Louise Caudill †, ’93 - Ben B. Cheney Foundation - Harry and Dorothy Dano †, ’41 - William Eddleman †, ’39 - Jerry † and Helen Greenan, ’57 - Mark and Mary Griffin, ’86 - The Honorable and Mrs. Richard P. Guy, ’59 - Daniel P. Harbaugh, ’74 - Jerome and Vicki Jager, ’57 - George † and Shari Kain, ’58 - Bob and Ginny Kane, ’77 - William V. Kelley † - Joseph A. Lincoln, Jr. - Joseph † and Muriel Murphy † - The Honorable and Mrs. Philip M. Raekes, ’59 - Bill Roach † - Patrick † and Diane Sullivan, ’59 - James and Dee Sweetser, ’84 - Sweetser Law Office - Washington Trust Bank - Carrie Welch Trust Estate
$50,000 - $99,999 - Charles Brink, ’78 - The Brink Foundation - Janice Brown, ’83 - Loren † and Janell Burke, ’83 - John R. Clark † ’80 and The Honorable Ellen K. Clark, ’82
42 | Gonzaga Law Magazine | 2023
With sincere thanks to our donors, the Gonzaga Law School Foundation proudly recognizes those whose support through May 31, 2023, ensures the school’s continued success.
- Harriet Clarke † - Kelly and Sharon Cline, ’85 - Marvel Collins Estate - Reanette Cook Estate - Dan † and Susan Corkery, ’76 - Michael and Rebecca Costello, ’96 - Vern Davidson † - Delay, Curran, Thompson & Pontarolo, PS - John and Allison Durkin, ’80 - James and Frances Flanagan †, ’40 - Bart, Hilke and Bridget Gallant, The Horrigan Foundation - Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund - Harold and Mary Anne † Hartinger, ’54 - Stephen † and Martha Haskell, ’77 - Greg and Susan Huckabee, ’76 - Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, Inc. - Helen John Foundation - Frank and Maureen † Johnson, ’51 - George and Nancy Lobisser, ’78 - Lukins & Annis P. S. - Timothy J. Lynes ’84 and Joan C. Morningstar, ’83 - Justice Barbara and Donald † Madsen, ’77 - John E. Manders Foundation - Dick Manning and Jen Gouge, ’60 - Richard McWilliams Estate, ’58 - John and Guelda Messina, ’69 - Yale Metzger and Susan Richmond, ’95 - Wes and Mary Lee (Toepel) Nuxoll †, ’54 - Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP - John R. Quinlan †, ’60 - Irene Ringwood, ’84 - Elizabeth D. Rudolf - John Rudolf - Dick ’79 and Karen Sayre, ’85 - Chuck †and Rojean Siljeg, ’60 - Skip Smyser, ’77 - Philip and Margretta Stanton †, ’56 - Joseph and Parker Sullivan, ’85 - Washington Trust Bank Financial Corporation - The Honorable Bob †and Diane Waitt, ’57 - Washington State Bar Association - Jim †and Joyce Workland †, ’64
$25,000 - $49,999 - AccessLex Institute - American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - American College of Trial Lawyers - Gene † and Carol Annis, ’59 - Association of Corporate Counsel Washington State Chapter - Bank of America Foundation - David and Nancy Bayley, ’76 - The Blackbaud Giving Fund - Boise - David and Ellen Bolin, Jr., ’84 - John † and Kaye Condon, ’77 - Jack and Angela Connelly
- Patrick and Paula Costello - Paul and Joan Delay, ’86 - Ralph Dixon, ’77 - Gary and Claire Dmoch, ’76 - Gary J. Dmoch & Associates - Philip † and Mary Dolan †, ’47 - Mr. Phillip E. Egger, ’81 - Bill Etter, ’78 - Richard C. Eymann, ’76 - Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst †, ’84 - Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund - FIG.1 - Rick Flamm ’79 and Vesna Somers, ’81 - Michael A. Frost, ’73 - Joe † and Joan Gagliardi, ’59 - Jim † and Margel Gallagher - Stevan Hann - Jeffrey and Diana Hartnett, ’76 - Karen and Michael † Harwood, ’88 - Howard and Darlene Herman, ’62 - Lloyd and Linda Herman, ’66 - Dennis Hottell and Terese Colling, ’76 - Innovia Foundation - Robert Lawrence Ives and E. Marie Pintler - Steven Jager, ’80 - Jager Law Office, PLLC - Richard † and Janet Johnson, ’75 - Dan and Margaret † Keefe, ’74 - Chris and Nanette Kennelly, ’97 - King County Bar Foundation - Lee & Hayes, PLLC - Ellen (Kremer) Lenhart, ’87 - Bill and Suzanne Lindberg, ’73 - The Honorable John J. Madden, ’68 - Helen McDonald † - Alejandra Mireles, ’04 - Joe Nappi, Jr. and Mary Nappi, ’72 - Verne † and Mary Oliver † - Patton Boggs Foundation - Donald † and Christie Querna - Gary and Sharon Randall - Diehl † and Anne Rettig, ’69 - Kerm and Fran Rudolf †, ’51 - Rudolf Family Foundation - James and Marilyn Sachtjen - Kenneth A. Scaz, ’98 - The Honorable and Mrs. † Richard J. Schroeder, ’63 - John and Penny Schultz, ’63 - Roger † and Angelika Smith, ’58 - Jim and Margaret Solan †, ’49 - Lee M. Solomon Estate - David and Kay Syre, ’72 - Paul and Gail Taylor, ’84 - Phebe Thompson - Robert Thompson, Jr., ’73 - David and Angelica Torres, ’86 - The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust - Union Pacific Foundation - United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties
- United Way of King County - J. Prentice Warner Estate - Clifford and Karen Webster, ’77 - Dennis † and Jackie Wheeler - The Honorable Donna L. (Kamps) Wilson, ’80
$10,000 - $24,999 - Keller and Kathy Allen, ’89 - American Endowment Foundation - Phillip Armstrong, ’78 - Jim and Linda Baker, ’79 - BarBri Bar Review - The Honorable and Mrs. Paul Bastine, ’64 - Jim and Lynelle (Wahl) Beaulaurier, ’77 - Cristine Beckwith, ’04 - Mark Beggs and Florfina Cacanindin, ’80 - Benevity - Maureen (Greenan) Bergquist - James Berlin † - Jefferson W. Boswell, ’09 - Allen Brecke, ’77 - Roger G. Brown, ’80 - The Honorable Franklin D. † and Mrs. Treava Burgess, ‘66 - Paul Burglin and Ramona Sanderson-Burglin, ’84 - Bruce and Judy (Acher) Butler, ’80 - William and Judy Carlin, ’76 - Carney Badley Spellman - CEMEX Materials LLC - Thomas and Joan Chapman, ’66 - Paul Clausen Estate, ’40 - Mr. Charles A. Cleveland, ’78 and The Honorable Joyce J. McCown, ’80 - John and Mary Close † , ’38 - Thomas and Barbara Cochran, ’75 - Francis † and Audrey Conklin - James † and Marianne Connelly, ’53 - John and Barbara Cooper - John and Mary Jo Costello - The Honorable Kenneth L. Cowsert, ’73 - James and Carolyn Craven, ’75 - George and Diane Critchlow, ’77 - Mike and Alison Delay, ’88 - Fred O. Dennis Estate - John and Kristine Dippold, ’95 - Jeff Donahue and Theresa Rambosek, ’87 - Norb † and Ruby Donahue †, ’41 - Kevin and Jackie Driscoll - Leo † and Mary Driscoll †, ’51 - Paul † and Carol Eng, ’87 - Robert Evans and Lisa Fitzpatrick, ’78 - James Fausone, ’81 - Roger A. Felice, ’73 - Joe Fennessy, Jr. †, ’40 - James † and Mikell Fish, ’62 - Dan and Karen Flynn, ’83 - Professor and Mrs. Michael F. Flynn, ’77 - Benjamin and Kelly (Drew) Folger, ’07 - Francois and Debra Forgette, ’77 - Merrit and Yolanda Foubert †, ’51 - Andrew and Susan (Maloney) Friedman, ’93 - Gary Gayton, ’62 - Janice (Bennett) Geier, ’89 - Jim Giudici, ’79 - Phelps † and Mary Jean Gose, ’62 - William and Margaret Grant †, ’54
- Paul and Nancy Greeley, ’82 - Bill † and Norma Grismer, ’53 - Frederick † and Marie Halverson, ’61 - Hands Off Cain - European Parliament - Randy ‘78 and Bridget (McInerney) Harris, ’79 - Frank P. Hayes †, ’43 - Mary and Tom Herche - Prof. Gerald Hess and Dr. Layne Stromwall - Daniel and Jill Hulsizer, ’02 - E. J. Hunt, ’80 - IBM Corporation - Mark Iverson and Michaele Dietzel, ’88 - Thomas and Sandra Jarrard, ’07 - Mary Lou Johnson and Dr. Daniel Schaffer, ’92 - Johnson & Johnson Law Firm, PLLC - Robert Keefe, ’73 - Marcus † and Dorothy Kelly, ’57 - Daniel Keppler ’92 and Meagan Flynn, ’92 - Mike and Terri Killeen, ‘77 - James and Mary Anne (Metcalfe) King, ’78 - Thomas † ’76 and Cheryl (DeMers) Kingen, ’76 - The Honorable Frank L. Kurtz and Ms. Nanette Romney, ’74 - Alan Lamia, ’70 - Paul and Kristina Larson, ’75 - Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson - Alex and Karen Laughlin, ’85 - Legal Foundation of Washington - Tom Lewis - Tom Lucas, ’76 - Earl and Laura Martin - The Honorable Craig Matheson, ’76 - Prof. John Maurice - Lenora McBirney † - George † and Colleen McCabe, ’57 - Mr. Leo A. McGavick †, ’29 - The Honorable † and Mrs. J. Ben McInturff, ’52 - Robert † and Christina McKanna †, ’54 - Scott ’90 and Nicole (Annis) McKay, ’92 - Ryan † and Sarah McNeice, ‘05 - Johnston Mitchell ’92 and Christine CoersMitchell, ’92 - John Monahan, ’74 - Donald † and Mary Moore †, ’53 - Daniel and Mary Beth Morrissey - Ann Murphy - The Honorable and Mrs. James M. Murphy, ’73 - Jerry Neal, ’69 - The Honorable Jack F. Nevin, ’78 - Northern Trust Bank - Northwest Fund for the Environment - Donald and Christine O’Neill, ’78 - The Honorable Stephen and Karen Osborne, ’73 - Charles and Helen Palmerton † ’52 - PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company - Tony and Patty Philippsen, ’73 - Harry and Alethea Platis, ’69 - Estate of Louis Powell - Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, LLP - Joseph F. Quill and Dolores M. Quill Trust - Tim Quirk and Sally Bulger Quirk, ’73
- Les † and Clara Randall † - Timothy and Julie Reid, ’83 - Prof. Speedy Rice and Judy Clarke - John † and Joy Richards, ’87 - Sheila C. Ridgway, ’84 - Ridgway Law Group, P.S. - The Honorable Jack J. † and Patricia Ripple †, ’50 - Ronald and JoAnn (Salina) † Roberts, ’64 - The Honorable Michael P. Roewe †, ’74 - Dr. Jacob Rooksby - Sayre & Sayre, P.S. - Nicholas Scarpelli, ’74 - Albert † and Betty Schauble †, ’58 - Gerald and Rita Schears - John † and Catherine Schultheis, ’61 - Dennis and Marie Sheehan, ’76 - Shell Oil Company Foundation - Stokes Lawrence, P.S. - The Stoner Foundation - Irene Strachen Charitable Trust - Stritmatter, Kessler, Whelan, Withey, Coluccio - Robert Sullivan, ’86 - The Honorable Gregory Sypolt, ’76 - Gaetano and Melissa Testini, ‘00 - The Honorable and Mrs. † Joseph A. Thibodeau, ’66 - James and Carmelita † Thomas - Prof. Mary Pat Treuthart and Dan Webster, Jr. - James † and Marian Triesch, ’41 - Patrick and Kristina Trudell, ’80 - Joseph and Janna Uberuaga, ’77 - United Way of Spokane County - The Unova Foundation - Prof. James M. Vache - Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program - Donald Verfurth, ’85 - Verizon Foundation - Shannon M. Votava, ’85 - Marc and Nancy Wallace, ’75 - James and Kathleen Walsh, ’81 - Washington Judges Foundation - Martin and Jane Weber, ’64 - Stan and Gina Welsh - Western Atlas Foundation - The Honorable † and Mrs. John F. Wilson, ’56 - Mark E. Wilson † - Winston & Cashatt - James and Jackie Wolff, ’74 - Women’s Law Caucus - Michael and Anita Zdancewicz, ’88
Great care was taken to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Should there be any discrepancies, please email Sarah Guzmán, guzmans@gonzaga.edu.
2023 | Gonzaga Law Magazine | 43
CLASS ACTION
GOLD CLUB
Gonzaga School of Law Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Class of 1973.
• Richard Barbieri
• Ronald Flansburg †
• Rosanne Hall Lobitz
• Charles Phillips
• John Bardelli
• Holland Ford
• Stephen Lovejoy
• Fiore Pignataro
• Lee M. Barns
• Simon Forgette
• Terry E. Lumsden
• Mike Pontarolo
• Jon Beal
• Stephen A. Foster
• James Manza †
• William Pope Jr.
• James Bell
• Michael Frost
• Terry Martin
• Timothy W. Quirk
• Stephen R. Blake †
• David Gagley
• Michael Martinson
• Patrick T. Roach
• Richard Brenneman
• Michael Geraghty
• Michael McGuigan †
• The Hon. Timothy Ryan
• Lt. Col. Patrick P. Brown
• Kristina K. (Sonderen)
• Michael McNerthney
• The Hon. Victor Sampson
• Gerald Moberg
• Richard Schmal
• Godwin Chiago
• Jim L. Sheehan
• Thomas H. Brown • Bill Burns • Timothy Clancy • J. Angus Coghill † • Edward Colleran † • Clark Colwel † • David Compton † • Stephen L. Conroy • Thomas Cowan Jr. • The Hon. Kenneth Cowsert • Lonnie Davis • Chris J. Dietzen • William Douglas • Judy A. Dugger • Samuel Durham † • Jerry Dyreson • Robert Eigell † • Roger A. Felice • Joseph E. Fischnaller † • Mike Fitzsimmons
Gibbs † • Lawrence Hall • Bryan P. Harnetiaux • Timothy J. Healy • James J. Helbling • David Henault † • Philip Hickey • Timothy M. Higgins • Thomas Hillier II • Patricia A. (Connors) Jalbert • David Johnson • Edward Joy • Donald S. Kagawa • James C. Kaiser • Robert Keefe • William Kenny • Dan Kuhn • Nick Lamanna Sr. † • The Hon. Thomas P. Larkin † • William Lindberg Jr.
By 1973, the law school’s enrollment had outgrown the Webster Elementary School building, necessitating an expansion creating additional classroom, seminar and library spaces.
Moemenam † • Dennis Morgan • J. Terrence Moynihan • The Hon. James M. Murphy • Earl Nakasato • Clarence Nees • Howard Neill • Commissioner Scott Neilson • The Hon. Patrick O’Malley • Daniel O’Rourke • Stephen Osborne • Fred Palmer • James Parkins • Lester L. Peetz † • Laurel James Peterson † • Tony Philippsen
• Mr. Peter V. Smilde † • Monty Smith • Robert Taylor • Robert Thompson Jr. • Arthur Toreson Jr. • Dale R. Ulin † • Russell Van Camp † • Donald J. Vaux † • Ronald Wheatley • Douglas Whitlock • Mr. Hank Widenmann • Stephen Wight • Rogers Wilson Jr. • Stanley Young † • Ronald Zirkle • Stefanie Zuchetto
Early stages of the expansion project adding on to the Webster school building.
Reintroducing ‘The Pit’ The number of law students quadrupled between 1968 and 1972, which required opening a new wing in the Webster building. The new wing was completed in 1973 and one of the more favorable additions was a student hangout area informally known as “The Pit.” The Webster Elementary School building housed Gonzaga Law School from 1962 until 2000 when our current building opened. Many tales of urban legends have been shared over the years. The Pit was clearly the social hub of the law school. It housed a pool table, donated couches and vending machines. All-night parties and other memorable activities were rumored to have occurred in The Pit over the years. We are excited to share that our current students are now enjoying their version of The Pit, the newly renovated Clute Lounge located on the second floor of the Law School. In fall 2022, Dean Rooksby and Sarah Guzmán held a reception to dedicate the new student space. Renovating the Clute Lounge honors our past while creating a vibrant new social space for current law students. Since its opening, students have used it for studying, Zoom meetings, playing games and taking an occasional much-deserved nap.
Have a memory of The Pit? Email us at guzmans@gonzaga.edu.
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END NOTES
In Memoriam The Gonzaga School of Law community extends its deepest condolences to the families of our beloved alumni and friends.
Rolando Adame / 1986
Salvatore Faggiano / 1985
Ryan R. McNeice / 2005
Richard C. Adamson / 1975
John Fattorini Jr. / 1968
John Murphy / 1975
Bob Allen / 1974
J. M. Haggarty / 1961
Kellie K. Nielsen / 2005
Alfred Bennett / 1975
John Henry / 1983
Steven Palmer / 1980
Myron Brixner / 1974
Bill Hyslop / 1980
Laurel James Peterson / 1973
Garry Bunke / 1975
Erwin Jones, Jr. / 1971
John Price / 1995
John T. Burke / 2006
John Kamb / 1956
David Schoengold / 1975
Brian Butler / 1985
Michael Anthony Kirk / 1981
Lynn Seelye / 1965
Kenneth Coleman / 1992
William Lambert / 1984
Melanie T. (Lowe) Stella / 1998
Dennis Corbin / 1976
Carolyn Gale Louthian / 1982
Teresa D. Thompson / 1984
Mary Anne Decaria / 1981
Eugene A. Marano / 1976
Larry Vance Jr. / 1976
Theresa C. DeFrancis / 1979
George N. McCabe / 1957
Dr. Thomas G. Walsh / 1990
Richard Dressel / 1983
Kevin Patrick McLean / 1986
Larry D. Winner / 1970
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Ryan McNeice Ryan McNeice (’04 M.B.A., ’05 J.D.) passed away in the presence of his family after a multiyear battle with lung cancer on April 20, 2023. Ryan had a true sense for entrepreneurship and a deep passion for the legal profession. In 2005, he founded the Law Office of Ryan McNeice, PLLC — now known as McNeice Wheeler. When McNeice and Becki Wheeler (’05 J.D.) founded McNeice Wheeler, PLLC, they knew it needed to be different. In an excerpt from their interview in the Gonzaga Magazine in 2016 Ryan shared: “What Becki and I tried to do at each level was consider what we would want if we were an employee/attorney at a larger firm,” McNeice said. “Becki has three kids, she’s very involved in their lives as young athletes, and she wants to be able to take it all in. I have two kids involved in sports, digital media and theater, and I want the same.” So McNeice Wheeler was formed, allowing attorneys the flexibility to set their own schedules, dictate their own office time, take the cases they want to work on with no billable-hour requirement, and be able to collaborate with other attorneys within the firm to allow more flex in their schedules, as well as better serve their clients.
Dean Jacob Rooksby, who considered Ryan a close friend, reflected, “Ryan was unlike anyone I have ever met. His kindness, curiosity, and love of life put him in a league of his own. I valued his wise counsel from the moment I started in the position as Dean in 2018. Through so many shared experiences together, I came to value his friendship even more. He left an indelible imprint on me and my family. Our hearts are with the McNeices as they grieve the loss of an extraordinary human.”
...Ryan’s “sense of humor was legendary and self-depreciating, and his laughter was infectious. Ryan could always be found in a crowded room by simply following the roar of laughter.” - Hunter Abell
“That doesn’t mean we don’t put in the hours,” McNeice said. “It’s not that we’re doing less work, but we’re doing it on our own schedules.” He was deeply committed to his community and held various voluntary positions. Throughout his legal career he was a past member of ValleyFest, HUB Sports complex, Idaho Chamber of Commerce (Priest Lake), Washington Chamber of Commerce (Spokane Valley), Central Valley School District Literacy Program, GleasonFest, Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ), and the Washington State Bar Licensure Task Force. Ryan supported and believed in the arts. He founded Spokane Talk Media (2017-2019), Fifty7 Media (2019–2023), and lent his voice to the Gonzaga Law School podcast, “All Rise,” for two seasons. Actively involved with the Law School, he joined the Board of Advisors in 2011. In 2021, Ryan was nominated and voted by his peers to serve as president. Board member Cat Clark (’91 J.D.) shared that upon hearing the news of Ryan’s passing the legal community “lost a lion in law.” Hunter Abell (’05 J.D.), classmate and longtime friend, wrote in an article in the NWSidebar that Ryan’s “sense of humor was legendary and self-depreciating, and his laughter was infectious. Ryan could always be found in a crowded room by simply following the roar of laughter.” McNeice in 2016. Photo by Rajah Bose
Tending to the Soul Father Bryan Pham, S.J. Tucked between two classrooms on the third floor, the Luvera Chapel of St. Ignatius of Loyola can be considered the heartbeat of the Law School. Adorned with a powerful crucifix and two beautiful stained-glass windows – one of St. Thomas More (the patron saint of lawyers) and one of St. Ignatius of Loyola (the founder of the Jesuits) – the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the chapel invites those weary and burdened with the various challenges faced by members of our community, particularly students facing the pressure of law school. The chapel is the one place where you do not have to have the correct answer; no preparation is required to enter. People are invited to come as they are, to come as they may. It is a place of refuge for those seeking solace, a quiet space to decompress and to encounter the Divine. The everlit sanctuary lamp serves as an unceasing reminder of the presence of Jesus Christ reserved in the Tabernacle. This is a privilege of being a Catholic chapel. Our chapel is a space where fellowship can be found and where our weary spirits can find sustenance. During the academic year, our law school community gathers each Tuesday morning to celebrate our Catholic liturgy. All are welcome – those who are Christians and non-Christians, those who are seekers, and those who are “just looking.” In gathering, we present to God the needs of our community: We pray for our current students and alums; we remember our faculty and staff, those who are currently here as well as those who are with us only in spirit. We pray for the intentions of those who asked us to pray for them during the week, including the sick who need healing in body and mind, expecting parents, those who are lonely or ostracized, or those who are weighted down by the everyday challenges of life. In our Book of Remembrance in the back of the chapel, we inscribe the names of our beloved deceased so we can remember and pray for them always. No prayer
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intentions are left out because we believe in a God who is inclined to hear the cry of His people. We gather to share the Eucharist because, while our minds may be enlightened by case analysis and jurisprudence in the classroom, our souls yearn for something more. Our chapel has also been a place for other life celebrations. Such celebrations include baptisms, confirmations, marriage vow renewals, and funeral and memorial services of loved ones who have died. Among the pews, both tears of sadness and tears of joy have been shed. While it may be small and hidden, the chapel is truly the heartbeat of our law school community. Gonzaga Law School is fortunate to have such a chapel built with such intentionality. Those who designed, supported and built the school over two decades ago had the wisdom to anticipate that we would need such a reflective space for us to animate and live our mission as a Catholic, Jesuit and humanistic institution. Recent graduates often shared how they miss having a chapel to go to in the middle of the day when they feel the need to center themselves and to find the Holy. Cura personalis (or care for the person) implies caring for the whole self. This means attending to our physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs. Among these needs, unfortunately, we often neglect our spiritual needs the most. It is like holding one’s breath and hoping that the moment will pass. But it never does. When this happens, we find ourselves running on empty, and the weariness we feel becomes our new normal. We need to resist this tendency. As we leave law school and go into the world, we must find a space where our spiritual needs can be nourished and sustained. It is only when our spirits are full that we can tackle the challenges of our times with courage, perseverance, and the audacity to make a difference.
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