A MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO COLLEGE OF LAW
I
Winter 2015
IDAHOLAW
Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center Opens Doors in Boise [pg. 4]
2015
NEW BEGINNINGS
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A MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO COLLEGE OF LAW WINTER 2015 PRESIDENT Chuck Staben DEAN Mark L. Adams ASSOCIATE DEANS Lee Dillion Jeffrey A. Dodge Richard Seamon EDITORS Terri L. Muse Neil Luther MAGAZINE DESIGN Beth A. Case WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS Cynthia Hollenbeck Stacie Jones Terri L. Muse PHOTOGRAPHS Brian Brown Preservation Idaho Doug Clark Melissa Hartley Joe Pallen WEBSITE www.uidaho.edu/law The University of Idaho is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and educational institution. Š2015, University of Idaho College of Law
IDAHO
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Idaho Law Magazine c/o Terri Muse P.O. Box 83720-0051 Boise, ID 83720-0051 (208) 364-4044 tmuse@uidaho.edu 2 LAW
IDAHOLAW DEAN’S MESSAGE......................................................................... 2 NEW BEGINNINGS..................................................................................4 Idaho’s Law and Justice Learning Center Opens Doors in Boise
DONOR PROFILE — ED AHRENS................................................ 12 BELLWOOD — JUAN GUZMÁN................................................... 14 DONOR PROFILE — FORD ELSAESSER..................................... 16 COMMENCEMENT....................................................................... 18 HONORS AND RECOGNITION..................................................... 20 LAW ADVISORY COUNCIL........................................................... 22 NEW FACULTY/FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS....................................... 24 IDAHO LAW: News & Notes.................................................................26
ON THE COVER:
2015
IDAHO LAW AND JUSTICE LEARNING CENTER
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Dean’s Message
One College — T his has been a historic year for the
Idaho Law and
University of Idaho College of Law. This
Justice Learning
fall we began holding classes at the Idaho
Center. As her
Law and Justice Learning Center in Boise.
story describes,
After several years of renovations, the historic
this building has
Ada County Courthouse has become home to the
been successfully
College of Law. Our “One College – Two Locations”
renovated for the
model offers our students the opportunity to study
21st century while
law in Moscow for one, two or all three years, or to
maintaining many
complete their second and third year of legal studies
of the building’s
in Boise. Our students can now take advantage of the
historic, unique
interdisciplinary programs offered in Moscow and
features. I invite
Boise’s business and governmental opportunities.
you to visit the Idaho Law and Justice Learning
IDAHO
The cover story in this issue of Idaho Law provides
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Center.
a brief overview of the historic Ada County Court-
In 2014, we completed a very successful, seven-year,
house since its beginnings in the 1930s. Author,
university-wide capital campaign. The University of
Stacie Jones, does a wonderful job of presenting the
Idaho collectively raised over $260 million dollars
background of the building and of the efforts by
and the College of Law over $6 million dollars. On
the state of Idaho, the University of Idaho College
behalf of our students, faculty and staff, thank you to
of Law and the Idaho Supreme Court to create the
the hundreds of alumni and friends who helped us
Two Locations with their personal gifts during the campaign. Two very special alumni, Ed Ahrens of Boise and Ford Elsaesser of Sandpoint, are profiled in the magazine this issue. Both have made great contributions to the
the topic of another story featured in this issue. The primary mission of the College of Law is to provide quality, affordable, public legal education for the state of Idaho, its citizens and our students.
College of Law through their service on our Law
We do this by continuing to offer innovative and
Advisory Council, the sharing of their professional
challenging curriculum, recruiting talented faculty
talents to benefit our students, and through their
and staff, and opening the doors of legal education
financial support.
to a diverse pool of students who will represent the
The 2015 Sherman J. Bellwood Memorial Lecture featured Juan Guzmán, former Chilean Judge and Justice, who spoke on the topic of “Truth, Justice and Democracy: Post Dictatorship.” I had the pleasure of meeting Judge Guzmán several years ago when I was
future of the legal profession. I am proud to be the dean of this great institution, and I hope you enjoy this issue of the Idaho Law magazine and a glimpse of the people and events that are part of the College of Law.
in Chile on an international educational program for my former institution. Judge Guzmán is internationally recognized as the first Chilean judge to indict General Augusto Pinochet on human rights charges
Mark L. Adams
related to events that occurred in the aftermath of
Dean, College of Law
the 1973 military coup in Chile. More information
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about Judge Guzmán and the Bellwood events are
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FEATURE
NEW BE “This space is nationally distinctive and an asset to the College of Law,
and general community, as well as to the legal profession, and it will serve IDAHO
as a location for collaboration among the branches of government and for
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public educational outreach on the Rule of Law in a democratic society.” — Don Burnett
GINNINGS Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center Opens Doors in Boise
2015
— By Stacie Jones
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Monday, August 24, 2015, is a day for Idaho’s history books.
O
n that day, the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center (ILJLC) in Boise opened its doors for the first time to welcome 105 second- and third-year
University of Idaho law students for a new semester of classes.
The opening of the ILJLC — the outcome of a major transformation of the historic Ada County Courthouse into a state-of-the-art center for legal education — was a momentous event, and one that had been in the making for nearly a decade. “The first day of classes was a result of years of strategic planning, hard work, vision and collaboration,” said Mark L. Adams, dean of the
A RICH HISTORY The story of the ILJLC begins in 1939, when the historic Ada County Courthouse — situated on Front Street in downtown Boise, between the domed state capitol, the Idaho State Bar and the Idaho Supreme Court — was erected by the Public Works Administration as a Depression-era New Deal project. The Art-Deco style building was used for more than 60 years as a courthouse, jail and county offices. Acquired in 1999 by the state of Idaho, the building provided office space for state legislators while they were in session, until the building was officially vacated in 2002. Lawmakers debated whether to restore the historic landmark, which had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, or to raze the building and replace it with new construction.
College of Law. “Yet, it’s also just the beginning;
For many, demolition was not an option.
it’s symbolic of the great things that are
“A vigilant and vocal citizenry under the leadership of Preservation Idaho, and the cooperation of preservationists and business-minded groups, helped to save this building until an alternative could be developed,” states the Idaho Historic Preservation Council on its website.
happening and will continue to happen at the college. The future is full of possibilities.”
AN AUDACIOUS IDEA As state leaders discussed the fate of the Ada County Courthouse, administrators in the UI College of Law faced another pressing issue in the Idaho legal community.
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“It was clear for several decades that legal education was coming to Boise, but the big question was whether or not UI would be the institution to provide it,” said Professor Don Burnett, former dean of the College of Law and former UI interim president.
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CREATING
tribal law. Boise, however, the state’s economic center, would be a better place to learn busiTWO POINTS OF DELIVERY ness law, entrepreneurship, FOR LEGAL EDUCATION JUST technology and intellectual property. Due to its proximMADE SENSE FOR IDAHO. ity to state, federal and local governments, Boise was also a prime location to teach regulatory law.
“We faced two inconvenient truths: the law school could not fail to have a presence in Boise, and the law school could not leave Moscow,” Burnett explained. “But gradually, people began to realize that it was a false dichotomy; we didn’t have to choose one over the other. The truth was it could be Moscow plus Boise.” It became clear that offering the law program in the two locations would provide the college with a unique comparative advantage, Burnett said. Moscow was an ideal place to study natural resources and environmental law and Native American and
“Creating two points of delivery for legal education just made sense for Idaho,” Burnett said. Initially reluctant to the idea of dual locations, the State Board of Education declined UI’s proposal to operate a full three-year program in Boise, and instead authorized an expansion of the third-year law program only. Around the same time, the Idaho Supreme Court began looking for additional office space and a new home for the Idaho State Law Library. “All the planets lined up, so to speak,” Burnett said. “UI needed a place for legal education in
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The idea of extending the law program to Boise spurred controversy across the state. Some supporters proposed moving the law school entirely to Boise, while others struggled with what that would mean for the 106-year-old college, and argued to keep all aspects of the program in Moscow.
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Boise. The Idaho Supreme Court needed a permanent home for the State Law Library. Plus, there was a desire by both UI and the Supreme Court to expand opportunities for judicial education and lawrelated civic education for the public. “We realized we should have a place for all of those things to take place in one synergistic center,” Burnett said. The abandoned Ada County Courthouse fit the bill, and the idea for a legal education center began to take shape. “The sheer power of the courthouse’s location on the Capitol Mall was attractive,” Burnett said. “People realized that this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and that this location simply must be utilized.”
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In October 2010, the Idaho Department of Administration designated the courthouse as the future home for the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center, a collaborative effort between the University of Idaho and the Idaho State Supreme Court.
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“This partnership is really unique in the United States and has enabled our public law school and state’s judiciary to achieve things that neither could have fully achieved on their own,” Burnett said.
TRANSFORMING A LANDMARK Remodeling began in 2010. It was agreed that the courthouse, still owned by the state, would undergo renovations planned by the Division of Public Works in the State Department of Administration. The legislature appropriated an initial $500,000 to the Permanent Building Fund to begin the renovations. In January 2014, after Public Works completed $7.1 million in general infrastructure upgrades, the University of Idaho got its turn to make the changes necessary to allow the 75-year-old facility to function as a modern-day law school. During the final phase of construction, the College of Law made approximately $2 million in tenant improvements, which included the addition of interior walls, technology, furniture, fixtures and other finishes. The improvements were funded mostly through private donations, anchored by a $1 million gift from the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation. Renovations were completed in June 2015, right on schedule. Over the summer, the law school moved to its new space from the Idaho Water Center, the temporary home of the law school’s programs since 2011.
The renovated building now has four classrooms with high-definition video communication equipment and displays, a clinic, student study areas and offices for faculty and staff. The building also houses the Idaho State Law Library and office and training space for the Idaho Supreme Court.
“THIS
PARTNERSHIP IS REALLY UNIQUE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAS ENABLED OUR PUBLIC LAW SCHOOL AND STATE’S JUDICIARY TO ACHIEVE THINGS THAT NEITHER COULD HAVE FULLY ACHIEVED ON THEIR OWN.” - DON BURNETT
“Everyone’s really amazed how this old building, which didn’t even have air conditioning, has been transformed,” Dillion said. “Now, it’s basically a historic building on the outside, but a modern education facility on the inside. I think that has surprised a lot of people.”
Classes for second- and third-year law students are in full swing at the ILJLC. The Center’s proximity to the Capitol Building is already proving to offer several advantages. In fact, in early September, Gov. “Butch” Otter made an unexpected visit to view the new building and chat with students in class. “How many law schools are able to have their governor just stop by to say hello?” Dillion asked. Dillion said the students have also enjoyed daily interaction with justices, judges, attorneys and legislators.
“With the ILJLC being located in the heart of Boise’s metropolitan area on the Idaho Capitol Mall, adjacent to the Idaho Supreme Court, Idaho State Bar and the Capitol Building, the College of Law can build collaborations like never before,” said Dean Adams. “Our students gain access to a state-of-the-art facility and can network with experienced professionals.”
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“It took a lot of people working a lot of hours to get everything done on time, but we did it,” said Lee Dillion, associate dean for Boise programs, who helped supervise the remodel. “I think everybody really took pride in what they were doing. This really is a feather in the cap for everyone involved.”
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Left to right: Attorney General Lawrence G. Wasden, Donald Burnett, Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, SBA President Linda Wells, UI President Chuck Staben, Dean Mark L. Adams, Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Jones, Laura Bettis - Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Law Advisory Council Chair Chuck Homer, former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald Schroeder
“THIS IS A PLACE
FOR ALL IDAHO CITIZENS TO SEE AS THEIRS.”
IDAHO
- LEE DILLION
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A COMMUNITY ASSET The law school is proud of its new Boise location, but the ILJLC is a boon for the entire community. “This is a place for all Idaho citizens to see as theirs,” Dillion said. He points to the Idaho State Law Library, managed by the College of Law on the third floor of the ILJLC. “It’s a public library; anyone can use it,” he said. “It’s a tremendous resource for not only students and practicing attorneys, but also for those in the general public who are interested in learning about a particular legal matter. And now that it’s back on the Capitol Mall, we are seeing quite a bit more use.” Idaho Supreme Court Justice Roger Burdick, who was instrumental in helping the ILJLC become a reality, emphasized that the ILJLC will also play an important role in educating the general public about the judicial system. “It is vitally important that we do not lose sight of the fact that the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center is a place for all of the citizens of Idaho to come and learn about the role of the judicial system in our form of government, both state and federal,” he said. Burnett agrees and said that as a statewide public law school, it is the College of Law’s responsibility to lead this effort in collaboration with the Idaho Supreme Court and other key partners.
“The ILJLC gives UI a place to provide valuable civic education programs with experts in the law, including judges and government officials,” Adams said. “We are all excited about the possibilities afforded by the new ILJLC.”
LOOKING FORWARD Currently, all UI law students attend their first year of law school in Moscow, and second- and third-year students have the option of completing their educations in Moscow or Boise. But that could change in 2017 — the year the college hopes to add first-year classes in Boise and make a Juris Doctor degree fully available at either location. “We are thrilled to offer what we believe is a worldclass legal education at the ILJLC,” Dean Adams said. “The first-year option in Boise has been part of our strategic vision all along.” Adams said the expansion into a full, three-year law program in Boise is pending approval by the Idaho State Board of Education and the American Bar Association, but it’s the logical next step for the future of legal education in Idaho. “It is important to give our students a choice,” Adams said. “We have one outstanding law program, and with two locations, students have more opportunities than at a traditional law school. Providing options for students with different needs and wants sets the UI College of Law apart.”
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“There is a civic education deficit in this country. People don’t have a firm grasp on how our democratic system works or how the judiciary operates, and we as a law school need to actively reach beyond the walls of our institution to help change that,” Burnett said. “There is an opportunity for the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center to become a beacon of information and illumination on the Rule of Law and the role of the judicial branch in our nation.”
Public outreach will include educating the educator workshops, like the session held this summer for Idaho’s secondary school teachers. The workshop, “The Rule of Law and the Role of an Independent, Impartial Judiciary,” aimed to teach teachers strategies to increase students’ understanding of the judiciary in America’s constitutional system. More programs like these are in development.
Architectural rendering of main reception area.
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IDAHO
DONOR PROFILE
Ed Ahrens
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In his 44-year career, Ahrens has built a reputation as one of the top estate planning attorneys in the nation. He and the attorneys in his firm, Ahrens DeAngeli Law Group in Boise, serve individuals and families, from the Pacific Northwest to the Silicon Valley and across the country, with a net worth ranging from $5 million to $100 million and into the billions. Ahrens, who spent part of his career as a partner at Arthur Anderson, represents executives from companies like Google, United Airlines and Weyerhaeuser, to name just a few. An accomplished author and speaker, Ahrens is widely recognized in his field. He has been honored repeatedly among the “Best Lawyers in America” in his area of practice; selected by “Super Lawyers” as a toprated estate planning attorney in both Washington and the western mountain states region; and elected as a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. The list of accolades goes on. But for Ahrens, his most proud achievements are best reflected in the satisfaction and successes of his clients.
“I have a really enjoyable clientele who have done all kinds of different, interesting things in their careers,” he said. “In estate planning, I get to build long-term relationships with the whole family, not just one person. There’s a high degree of satisfaction in helping these people — these families — achieve what they want to achieve and make a positive difference with their wealth.” Whether he’s advising clients on charitable giving and tax laws, or trust planning and estate decisions, Ahrens strives for relationships built on comfort and confidence. “My clients trust that I will do the same for them as I would do for my own family,” he said. Ahrens has served on numerous foundation and nonprofit boards, including the University of Idaho College of Law Advisory Board. He also gave back to his alma mater through a recent $125,000 pledge to support the College of Law’s second and third year option in Boise. “UI law school is a really fine quality law school that prepares its graduates to do a lot of positive things in our society,” Ahrens said. “When I look around various communities, from Boise to Seattle and many other places, there are many UI law school grads doing some really great things. It’s nice to be able to support that.”
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fter speaking with Ed Ahrens (’68, ’71) for not quite an hour, it’s already easy to see why some of America’s wealthiest people trust him with their multi-million dollar estates. The attorney is clearly an expert in the field of wealth planning and estate law, but he is also a genuinely nice guy and the kind of attorney who is just as much a family friend as a legal advisor.
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BELLWOOD LECTURE
2015 SHERMAN J. BELLWOOD LECTURE
Juan Guzmán By Cynthia Hollenbeck
T
he 2015 Sherman J. Bellwood Lecture brought an international hero to the University of Idaho, although the very humble speaker would never call himself a hero. The Honorable Juan Guzmán, former judge and justice who famously took down Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet during the 1980s, was this year’s guest lecturer.
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Juan Guzmán was born in El Salvador in 1939 and is a Chilean citizen and lawyer who studied at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago. He was a member of the Chilean judiciary for 36 years and acted as a judge in Panguipulli, Valdivia, Santa Cruz and Santiago. Guzmán’s work in the field of human rights has been internationally and nationally recognized. He has received the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights award from the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Policy Studies and the Tribute to Justice Award from the Charles Horman Truth Foundation.
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Guzmán was a justice at Talca’s Court of Appeal for five years and justice at Santiago’s Court of Appeal for 16 years. He retired from the judiciary in 2005 and is the dean of the School of Law of Arcis University in Santiago, where he teaches professional ethics and
human rights. He delivers speeches nationwide to raise awareness of the need for a democratic Constitution by means of a Constituent Assembly, because the 1980 Constitution enacted under the dictatorship of Gen. Pinochet is still enforced. Guzmán has honorary degrees from the Catholic University of Louvain at Belgium; Oberlin College, Ohio; the Monterey Institute of International Studies; and from Haverford College at Pennsylvania. A few moments before Juan Guzmán shared his story with the audience of faculty, staff and students, he told all of us that he was just doing his job as a judge and that any of us would have done the same. It was a moment of genuine humility. And then, he apologized because he was about to read from transcribed notes. I found Juan Guzmán to be what you call a “gentleman.” Gen. Augusto Pinochet oversaw the infamous military death squad known as the Caravan of Death that executed people in the aftermath of the 1973 military coup in Chile. Guzmán not only took down Pinochet, but ordered the arrest of retired military officers for their involvement in the executions. In addition, he prosecuted and convicted military personnel for their actions in Operation Pluto, which was the secret heli-
Pinochet sent the Caravan of Death, a group of military men, to Chile’s provincial towns under the provision that there be “no mercy for extremists,” and he was reportedly annoyed by news that some commanders in the towns had been “soft” on political opponents. He dispatched an army unit under the command of Gen. Sergio Arellano Stark to impose “uniform criteria in the administration of justice to prisoners.” The Caravan of Death traveled by Puma helicopter and was armed with grenades, machine guns and knives. They landed in 16 towns in the north and south of Chile, killing opponents of the coup. According to official figures, 40,018 people were victims of human rights’ abuses under the Pinochet dictatorship, and 3,065 were killed or vanished from existence. Also in 1973, two Americans, Charles Horman, a journalist and filmmaker, and Frank Teruggi, a student, were killed by Pinochet’s forces. Later, Guzmán started an investigation into those murders because he believed they were suspicious, and he discovered that they were the result of a “secret investigation” into Americans’ political activities in Chile by the United States Military Group in Santiago. Horman’s and Teruggi’s work had both been labeled “subversive” and their apartments and belongings were searched before their deaths. Pedro Espinoza and Rafael González, two former Chilean intelligence officials, were sentenced to prison for the murders of Teruggi and Horman. Espinoza had already been serving a life-term in prison for associated crimes and was sentenced to seven additional years. González was found to be complicit in Horman’s murder and sentenced to two years of police supervision. The Academy award-winning film “Missing,” directed by Costa Gravas and starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, tells the story of Horman’s father Ed and the search for his son in the aftermath of the coup. In 2000, the Horman family filed a wrongful death suit against Pinochet. In January of 2015, Chilean Judge Jorge Zepeda formally closed the investigation into the murders of Horman and Teruggi when he issued the final verdict that the killings were part of a secret U.S. informationgathering operation carried out by the U.S. Military Group in Chile. “We’ve waited many years for this decision of the Chilean court. We are grateful for the ruling that the murders of Charles Horman and Frank Teruggi constitute international human rights crimes.” On Sept. 21, 1976, Pinochet agents detonated a car bomb in Washington, D.C., that killed Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) colleagues Orlando Letelier, a
former Chilean diplomat and director of the Transnational Institute, and Ronni Karpen Moffitt, an IPS development associate. Letelier had been one of the most outspoken critics of Pinochet, and Moffitt had run a “Music Carryout” program that promoted the accessibility of musical instruments. Her fundraising efforts showed that democracy only worked when the United States stood with people who fought global injustice. Following those assassinations, IPS established the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award to honor the fallen colleagues and to recognize individuals or groups in the United States and elsewhere who had dedicated their lives to the struggle for human rights. Guzmán won the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award in 2005. In 1998, Gen. Pinochet was arrested for human rights’ crimes in London. The Law Lords ruled that torture did not fall under sovereign immunity protection, and the Spanish extradition request for Pinochet was not honored. Pinochet was returned to Chile for health reasons in 2000. In 2008, Gen. Arellano was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the Caravan of Death, but he was spared because he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Pinochet’s dictatorship lasted 17 years. If you’d like to know more about this story, check out the documentary film, “The Judge and the General,” which tells the story of Guzmán’s attempts to bring Pinochet to justice.
“
THANKS TO TRUTH and to transitional justice, the world acknowledges today that the people
imprisoned during the dictatorship, those who were assassinated and those who remain missing were not outlaws, traitors or terrorists.”
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copter transport of prisoners from the Villa Grimaldi torture camp to their destination: prisoners’ bodies were weighted with steel rails and dropped into the ocean.
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DONOR PROFILE
The Extra Mile Alumnus goes above and beyond in support of UI
B
By Stacie Jones
y most standards, Ford Elsaesser ’78 is a loyal University of Idaho College of Law alumnus. He donates financially, serves on college advisory boards and search committees, and attends university events. He even passed on his love for the Vandals to his daughter, Katie, who attended UI as both an undergraduate and law student. When it comes to supporting his alma mater, Elsaesser clearly goes the extra mile. For the past 12 years, twice a week during the academic school year, the bankruptcy attorney has commuted the 260-mile round trip between his home in Priest River and the Moscow campus to teach an 8 a.m. bankruptcy course as a College of Law adjunct instructor. “It is a really good way to give back,” Elsaesser said. “I’m a big believer in public legal education and the state university… it’s rewarding to be able to support that through teaching. Moscow provides a great learning environment. I enjoy being part of the university community and the College of Law family.”
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In addition to teaching in the classroom, Elsaesser is the faculty advisor for the college’s Hon. Conrad B. Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition. He not only accompanies the team on his own dime to national competitions, he also provides personal financial support to help cover students’ travel costs.
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“The competitions are a great experience for students,” said Elsaesser, who coached the team to a national championship in 2001.
Elsaesser is a senior partner in the law firm of Elsaesser Jarzabek Anderson Elliott & Macdonald, CHTD. in Sandpoint, Idaho. A renowned bankruptcy attorney, he has served as president and board chairman of the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is also an adjunct instructor in the bankruptcy LL.M. program at St. John’s University in New York. He said he benefits just as much from his time in the college classroom as his students do. “I’ve found that teaching bankruptcy law forces you to stay fresh in the field and tuned in to developments in the law,” he said. Elsaesser has built a national practice and has been involved in many high-profile bankruptcy cases. In the mid-1980s, he represented Riley Creek Lumber Company in its reorganization, the first successful reorganization of a lumber company. Riley Creek is now Idaho Forest Group, the largest lumber producer in the Inland Northwest. More recently, he represented many of the creditor parties in the U.S. District Court case in Oregon involving Sunwest Management, which had 150 assisted living facilities nationwide. He said the case was “arguably the most complex case on the West Coast in recent years.” Elsaesser also acts as a trustee for consumer bankruptcies, with as many as 100 cases each month. In 2011, the College of Law recognized Elsaesser for his professional achievements and devotion to the college with the annual Award of Legal Merit. “The College of Law provided me with a great education,” Elsaesser said. “I love the institution and hope to continue to be able to contribute through teaching for at least another few years or more.”
“I’M A BIG
BELIEVER IN PUBLIC LEGAL EDUCATION AND THE STATE UNIVERSITY… IT’S REWARDING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT
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THROUGH TEACHING.”
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Commencement “If you have entered and graduated law school hoping to change the world, to advance justice and to leave things just a bit better for future generations — the law and public service provide you with the tools and pathway to do just that.” — Attorney General Lawrence G. Wasden
The Honorable Lawrence G. Wasden ’85, the Idaho state attorney general, delivered the commencement address in Moscow at the ASU Kibbie Dome. Attorney General Wasden shared some valuable lessons he learned during law school that have proven helpful to him throughout his career. The first lesson was concerned with the “Rule of Law” as in, “No matter where the career path begins, there is only one constant I encourage you to carry with you at all times: the believe in and dedication to the Rule of Law.” He continued, “The Rule of Law binds us together as a nation. It’s the source of our freedom as individuals and society. It’s at the heart of our security.”
Another lesson involved the lawyers’ calling to maintain a high level of professionalism and ethics throughout one’s career. “This means that the best of us is also judged according to the least of us. The profession is a reflection of both the very best and the very worst,” said Attorney General Wasden. He described how each lawyer will face obstacles and ethical dilemmas in their career. “How we as attorneys navigate choppy ethical waters matters. Your reputation is at stake. The reputation of the profession is on the line each time.” Attorney General Wasden reminded law graduates that “few professions offer such clear power and muscle to change the world.” But that this power also brings great responsibility. He encouraged them to consider a career in public service and that he has found great personal satisfaction in this career path. “I submit to you that public service is a virtue of a well ordered republic,” and that a career in public service provides one with “the knowledge that your work is making a difference in the lives of others.”
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he College of Law held 2015 commencement ceremonies on May 16 in Moscow and on May 6 in Boise. This special occasion was celebrated by our graduates, their family and friends, and law faculty and staff members.
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Honors and Recognition ALUMNI AWARDS FACULTY AWARD OF LEGAL MERIT
past chairman of the Government and Public Lawyers Section of the Idaho State Bar. He also serves on UI’s College of Law Advisory Board. Lawrence and Tracey Wasden were married in 1980 and live in Nampa, Idaho. They are proud parents of four children and eight grandchildren.
SHELDON A. VINCENTI AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE LAWRENCE G. WASDEN ‘85 ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF IDAHO The Honorable Lawrence G. Wasden ’85 is Idaho’s 32nd and longest serving attorney general in state history. First elected to the position in 2002, he was elected to his fourth term in 2014. He has dedicated most of his professional career to public service and has been recognized by many organizations for his leadership in the legal profession, public health, protecting children of all ages, prosecuting public corruption cases and promoting open and transparent government. He was awarded the Idaho Newspaper Foundation’s The People First Award in 2007 for his work to promote and educate government officials, media, and citizens about Idaho’s open meeting and public records laws. He has also received the Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance Leadership Award (2009) for his support of victims’ rights and efforts to reduce domestic violence; the Conference of Western Attorneys General Courage in Public Service Award (2010) for acting with courage and integrity in fulfilling the duties of office; and the Lifetime Achievement Award (2014) as part of the Idaho Business Review’s Leaders in Law program. He was named the Children’s Champion in 2011 by the Idaho Voices for Children.
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In 2014, Attorney General Wasden stepped down as chairman of the board of directors of the American Legacy Foundation after serving for over a decade. The nonprofit was created in the wake of the national tobacco settlement to educate the public about the dangers of smoking. Recognizing Attorney General Wasden’s service, the foundation donated $350,000 to the College of Law to create the Lawrence G. Wasden Scholars Program.
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He is currently the chairman of the Conference of Western Attorneys General, a past president of the National Association of Attorneys General and a founding member and
KAREN GOWLAND ‘81 ‘84 Karen Gowland spent a thirty-year career as legal counsel for Boise Cascade and its affiliated companies. She retired in 2014 as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Boise Inc. Ms. Gowland graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Idaho in 1981, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1984. She is currently chair-elect of the University of Idaho Foundation Board of Directors and serves as a director of Boise Cascade Company. For the last fifteen years, she has chaired the Idaho State Bar Professional Conduct Board. During her career, Ms. Gowland has chaired the College of Law Advisory Council, the General Counsel Committee of the American Forest Products Association, and was president of the Family and Workplace Consortium, an organization dedicated to encouraging family-friendly work environments. Ms. Gowland is a recipient of the Idaho State Bar Professionalism Award, the Idaho State Bar Outstanding Service Award, the Association of Corporate Counsel Pro Bono and Community Service Award, the Girl Scouts Women of Today and Tomorrow Award, and the YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry Award. Ms. Gowland resides in Boise with her husband (and favorite lawyer), Kimbal. Karen and Kimbal have two grown sons, enjoy travelling and spending time at their cabin in McCall, Idaho.
FACULTY AND STUDENT AWARDS PETER E. HEISER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DEAN, RICHARD SEAMON Professor Seamon was selected by students from the 2015 graduating class to receive this award. The award recognizes outstanding dedication to students at the University of Idaho College of Law. Since joining the College of Law faculty in 2004, Professor Seamon has been chosen by multiple graduating classes for this award.
FACULTY AWARD OF LEGAL ACHIEVEMENT KC HARDING Presented to the graduating law student with the highest cumulative grade point average, this award honors outstanding dedication and success in the pursuit of academic excellence during legal study at the College of Law.
EMPHASIS AREAS OF STUDY The following graduates have completed courses of study focusing on specific areas of law.
NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW Eric Alan Anderson Sean W. Bowen Hannah Marie Chessin Claire Marie Freund Spencer William Holm Brittney A. Stephens Craig J. Watt Ashley Cecilia Williams
Graduates who complete 80+ hours of pro bono service are recognized here and with a purple honor cord they wear with their commencement regalia. Pro Bono Service with Extraordinary Distinction
(120+ hours)
Michelle Lynn Agee Ashkon Charles Azar-Farr Uriel Hugo RenĂŠ-Salomon Benichou Blair J. Bennett Sarah Christine Boothman Sean W. Bowen Brett N. Goodman William C. Graham Debra Anne Groberg Jessica A. Harrison Spencer William Holm Ryan J. Jones Stephanie Suzanne Latimer Kenneth Robert McCabe
John Michael McCracken Nii-Amaa Ollennu Kevin B. Page H. Alayne Bean Randall Brittnie Elizabeth Roehm Randi LeAnn Schumacher Erin N. Simnitt Tyler Robert Stoddard Jordan Lee Stott Peter Eugene Thomas Alexandra Warner Logan Webb Ashley Cecilia Williams
Pro Bono Service with Distinction
(80+ hours)
John C. Brassell Hannah Marie Chessin Kenneth Matt Gerard Benjamin Jack Loewen Devin Lynn Munns Jack W. Relf
Travis Evan Rice Scott Russell Rowley Kayla Chappelle Spain Craig J. Watt Christopher Scott Williams
LITIGATION & ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION William C. Graham Andrew James McGinley Erin N. Simnitt BUSINESS LAW & ENTREPRENEURSHIP Kenneth Matt Gerard Richard Kevin Henry Benjamin Jack Loewen Yvonne Perez Randi LeAnn Schumacher Jordan Lee Stott Elizabeth Denise Warner Christopher Scott Williams
2015
NATIVE AMERICAN LAW Samantha Rae Hammond Rhylee N. Marchand
PRO BONO SERVICE RECOGNITION
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ADVISORY COUNCIL
Thanks for a Great Year! The Inspiring Futures campaign was completed in December 2014, and I am very proud to say that the College of Law reached over $6 million dollars in gifts during the course of the campaign! I am so very grateful to the hundreds of College of Law alumni, friends and supporters who helped us reach this goal. We have been able to accomplish much as a result of private giving. We have increased our student scholarship pool, made improvements to programs and facilities, and opened the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center in Boise. Again, all of this was made possible by your personal gifts to the College of Law. During the campaign, and now moving forward, our goal remains to keep our alumni engaged with their law school. During 2015, we continued our class reunion project by hosting three reunion events this fall — classes of 1965, 1971 and 1975. We also held several “meet the dean” alumni events around the Northwest, providing regional alumni groups the opportunity to gather and meet with Dean Mark Adams. In 2016 we will continue the reunions and hope to grow the number of classes we can include. Terri L. Muse Assistant Dean for External Relations (208) 364-4044 tmuse@uidaho.edu
One of the things I enjoy about my work with the College of Law is the opportunity to get to know our alumni through their service on the Law Advisory Council. I would never have gotten to know one in particular, Ted Creason of Lewiston, but for his service on the LAC. Ted passed away this year and we miss him. The Law Advisory Council, at their last meeting, established a scholarship fund in Ted’s memory. We are hoping to grow this fund into an endowed fund so that future generations of law students will learn about Ted. Please help us by making a contribution to the Theodore “Ted” O. Creason Law Student Scholarship. You can do so by contacting me at the College of Law.
Terri L. Muse Assistant Dean for External Relations
LAW ADVISORY COUNCIL The Law Advisory Council, which was established in 1996, consists of members who are graduates and friends of the University of Idaho College of Law. Council members assist and advise the dean regarding programs, student recruitment and career placement, and they play an important role in our development and outreach efforts.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
• Promote the college to various constituency groups; • Identify and acquire additional financial support and resources; • Serve as advocates for the College of Law, both within the university and in the outside community; • Provide advice on college programs; and • Assist with student recruitment and career placement.
MEMBERS
Dwight Baker ’71 of Baker & Harris, Blackfoot Tore Beal-Gwartney ’93 of Cosho Humphrey LLP Boise Hon. Larry Boyle ’72 of the U.S. District Court, Boise John Bush ’86 of Comstock & Bush, Boise Meghan Sullivan Conrad ’04 of Elam & Burke PA, Boise Dennis Davis ’77 of Witherspoon Kelley, Coeur d’Alene Margaret “Peg” Dougherty ’99 with the Office of the Idaho Attorney General, Boise Hon. Daniel T. Eismann ’76 of the Idaho Supreme Court, Boise Richard “Ritchie” Eppink ’06 of the American Civil Liberties Union, Boise
IDAHO
Jana Gómez ’09 of Lewiston City Attorney’s Office, Lewiston
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Thomas High ’79 of Benoit, Alexander, Harwood and High LLP, Twin Falls
Charles Allen Homer ’74 of Holden, Kidwell, Hahn and Crapo PLLC, Idaho Falls Megan Hofer ’11 of Beard, St. Clair, Gaffney, Idaho Falls Danielle J. Hunsaker ’04 of Larkins Vacura LLP, Portland, Oregon Hon. Juneal Kerrick ’81 of the District Court Third Judicial District, Caldwell Reed Larsen ’85 of Cooper Larsen, Pocatello David Leroy ’71 of Leroy Law Offices, Boise Lamont Loo ’95 of Davies Pearson LLC, Tacoma, Washington Representative Lynn Luker ’80 of the Idaho House of Representatives, Boise Nick Marshall ’95 Ahrens DeAngeli Law Group, LLP, Boise Kenneth McClure ’80 of Givens Pursley LLP, Boise Hon. Dayo Onanubosi ’93 of Idaho’s Third District Magistrate Court, Caldwell Pele Peacock ’07 of the Arizona State Legislature, Phoenix, Arizona Anthony “Tony” Riposta ’79 of Riposta Law LLC, North Arlington, New Jersey J. Walter Sinclair ’78 of Holland & Hart LLP, Boise Gary Slette ’84, Robertson & Slette, PLLC, Twin Falls Hon. Lawrence Wasden ’85 with the Office of the Idaho Attorney General, Boise William “Bud” Yost III ’69 of Yost Law, PLLC, Nampa
NEW ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS In 2015, six new members joined the Council; please join us in welcoming them.
Ritchie Eppink is the Legal Director of the ACLU of Idaho, where he practices litigation and policy advocacy exclusively in the areas of constitutional law, civil rights and civil liberties, and deterring government misconduct. He was previously the Justice Architect for Idaho Legal Aid Services, where he coordinated statewide community-based lawyering efforts and major impact litigation aimed at securing economic justice for poor and oppressed families in Idaho. Mr. Eppink has represented groups and classes including adults with developmental disabilities throughout the state of Idaho, entire housing communities threatened with eviction, Occupy Boise, and every prisoner at Idaho’s largest prison.
JANA GÓMEZ
Lewiston City Attorney – Lewiston, Idaho B.A., University of Idaho, ’04 J.D., University of Idaho, ’09 Jana Gómez is the City Attorney for the City of Lewiston. She earned her undergraduate degrees in International Studies and Spanish from the University of Idaho in 2004, graduating summa cum laude. In 2009, Ms. Gómez graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law, summa cum laude. That same year, she was honored by the Moscow community with the Rosa Parks Human Rights Junior Award. Upon graduating law school, Ms. Gómez clerked for U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for the Honorable Thomas G. Nelson. Following her clerkship, she was a Civil Deputy Prosecutor for Ada County and Latah County. In 2014, Ms. Gómez was honored as the Idaho State Bar’s Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year. Ms. Gómez was born and raised in Lewiston, Idaho. Her husband, Omar, was born and raised in Michoacán, Mexico, and together they have a five-year-old bilingual daughter, Mia. Ms. Gómez is former Chair of Love the Law!, a subcommittee of the Diversity Section that performs outreach to Idaho high school and college students of diverse backgrounds.
MEGAN HOPFER
Beard St. Clair Gaffney – Idaho Falls, Idaho B.A., Idaho State University ’06 J.D., University of Idaho, ’11 Megan joined Beard St. Clair Gaffney in 2015 as an associate. Megan earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in management from Idaho State University. She was active on the Student Activities Board and worked as a curator in the campus art galleries. Megan received her Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law. Megan served in leadership positions for the student group
of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association and the legal fraternity Phi Alpha Delta. She also was a member of the Women’s Law Caucus, Student Bar Association, and the Business Law Association. She was featured in a special student profile on the College of Law website. She is proud to have been in the inaugural class at the University of Idaho Boise location. Megan enjoys participating in the performing arts, traveling, and spending time with her family.
NICHOLAS S. MARSHALL
Ahrens DeAngeli Law Group – Boise, Idaho B.A., University of Puget Sound, ’92 J.D., University of Idaho, ’95 LL.M., New York University, ’96 For over 18 years, Nick’s practice has been focused in the areas of estate planning, complex trust and estate administration, and charitable planning. Nick routinely deals with complex estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax issues as well as income tax issues associated with trusts, estates, qualified retirement plans and IRAs. In his trust and estate administration practice, Nick represents trustees, executors, and beneficiaries in both contested and uncontested trust and estate matters, as well as the mediation and litigation of such matters. His charitable planning practice includes structured gifts and the formation of charitable trusts and private foundations. Nick is a fifth-generation Idahoan and lives in Boise with his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Emma and Zoë.
GARY SLETTE
Robertson & Slette, PLLC – Twin Falls, Idaho B.A., University of Minnesota, Duluth, ’77 J.D., University of Idaho, ’84 Gary D. Slette is a partner in the Twin Falls Law Firm of Robertson & Slette, PLLC. He graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1984. After graduation, he joined the law firm of Nelson, Rosholt, Robertson, Tolman and Tucker in Twin Falls. The membership of that firm has evolved and changed over the years, but all of the surviving partners remain lifelong friends. Mr. Slette and Evan Robertson have been law associates for more than 31 years. Mr. Slette’s childhood was spent on a farm in southern Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he graduated in 1977 with a degree in Urban Studies. Following graduation, he moved to Idaho, and served as the Blaine County Planning and Zoning Administrator in Hailey between 1977 and 1981. Mr. Slette is married to Kathleen Hathhorn Slette, and they have two children, Christopher and Caitlin. Christopher attends the University of Idaho and will graduate at the end of 2015.
2015
RICHARD EPPINK
American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho – Boise, Idaho B.S., University of Virginia, ’99 J.D., University of Idaho, ’06
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FACULTY
WELCOME
NEW FACULTY
Katherine Macfarlane Associate Professor of Law B.A., Northwestern University (magna cum laude) J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (cum laude) Preceding her appointment at the College of Law, Professor Katherine Macfarlane taught Civil Rights Litigation, Disability Rights and Legal Writing at LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Professor Macfarlane has also worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the New York City Law Department’s Special Federal Litigation Division, and as an associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. She clerked for the Honorable Frederick J. Martone, District of Arizona, and for the Honorable Arthur Alarcon, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Her scholarship focuses on federal civil procedure as well as civil rights litigation. Professor Macfarlane also volunteers as a patient advocate for the Global Health Living Foundation, and blogs for the website “Creaky Joints,” an online community supporting patients with joint-related autoimmune diseases. She testified in support of a patient safety bill related to biosimilar medication at the Louisiana Legislature, and participated in a Congressional Arthritis Caucus briefing in Washington, D.C. as the panel’s patient representative. Professor Macfarlane’s essays and creative writing have appeared in the Huffington Post, the New York Observer, Hairpin, Intima, Arthur’s Place and NolaVie.
David Pimentel Associate Professor of Law B.A., Brigham Young University (summa cum laude) M.A., University of California, Berkeley J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley Professor David Pimentel is from the San Francisco Bay area. Before beginning his academic career, he oversaw Court Management, Legal Aid and Detention at the United Nations at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and directed Rule of Law activity in South Sudan for the U.N. Mission there. He has also lived in Romania and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading USAID-funded court reform projects in each country. In 2010-11, he returned to Bosnia on a Fulbright, as Visiting Professor at the University of Sarajevo, to research the impact of post-conflict judicial reform in that country. After his Fulbright year, he moved to Ohio Northern University where he was the founding director of the Center for Democratic Governance and Rule of Law, and where he also directed their Rule of Law-focused LL.M. Program. He has taught and lectured, mostly on Rule of Law and post-conflict justice, at Université d’Auvergne (France), University of Hong Kong, Trier University (Germany), Tribhuvan University (Nepal), Amity University (India), Melikşah University and the University of Istanbul (Turkey), and a variety of universities scattered across the United States. He worked for 12 years in the federal judiciary, including one year as a Supreme Court Fellow in Washington, D.C., one year as a law clerk for the Honorable Martin Pence, in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu, and six years as Assistant Circuit Executive in Ninth Circuit Headquarters in San Francisco. Before that, he spent two years in private practice with the law firm Perkins Coie in Seattle.
IDAHO
He and his wife, Annette Bay (who writes juvenile nonfiction), have six beautiful and brilliant children, who also have the distinction of having been dragged through some of the more interesting and inhospitable places on Earth. He has a passion for longboard surfing, running, Pac-12 sports, old movies and cool jazz.
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FACULTY Highlights
Professor Stephen R. Miller will serve as a principal investigator on a $240,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service’s Landscape Scale Restoration Project and the Idaho Department of Lands to address an ever-growing hazard of wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface. Professor Richard Seamon has joined with College of Law alumnus and Law Advisory Council member John Bush ’88 to co-author a petition for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court, James v. City of Boise. Professor John Rumel was honored by the Idaho State Bar as one of the 2015 Distinguished Lawyers of the Year. Professor Rumel was recognized at the July ISB Annual Meeting held in Sun Valley July 14-16. Professor Angelique EagleWoman has been elected Deputy Chair of the Federal Bar Association’s Indian Law Section Executive Board. Professor EagleWoman previously served as the Secretary of the section. Professor Don Burnett was a coordinator and speaker of the Idaho Teachers’ Institute in June, co-sponsored by the Idaho Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for Idaho, and the College of Law. The Institute was titled “The Rule of Law and the Role of an Independent, Impartial Judiciary” and was designed for secondary school educators. Professor Wendy Gerwick Couture has been granted tenure at the University of Idaho College of Law. Professor Couture is known for her excellent teaching, scholarship and her service and outreach to the greater legal community. She was selected by the graduating class of 2014 to receive the Peter E. Heiser Award for Excellence in Teaching.
MBA/Juris Doctorate degree option is now available from the College of Law in partnership with Boise State University. Students can earn a law degree and master of business administration (MBA) simultaneously. Special thank you to the adjunct professors who served the College of Law in 2015: Nancy Baskin ’98 Law Clerk for Judge Edward J. Lodge, Trial Skills Charles Bauer ’79 of Bauer and Ryan PLLC, Family Law Jon Bauman ’82 of Elam & Burke, Legislative Law Allan Bosch of Capitol Law Group, Partnership Tax Ron Caron of RGC Tax & Estate Solutions PLLC, Wills, Trusts and Estates Matt Christensen of Angstman Johnson, Real Estate Law, International Business Transactions Merlyn Clark ’64 of Hawley Troxell, Negotiation and Appropriate Dispute Resolution Tecla Druffel ’11 of TED BK PLLC, Bankruptcy Hon. Andrew Ellis ’01 of the District Court, Fourth Judicial District, Children and the Law Ford Elsaesser ’78 of Elsaesser Jarzabek Anderson Elliott & Macdonald CHTD Kevin Griffiths ’09 of Duke Scanlan Hall PLLC, Insurance Law Edwin Litteneker ’78 private practice, Negotiation and Appropriate Dispute Resolution Hon. David Manweiler ’86 of the District Court, Fourth Judicial District, Juvenile Justice Joseph Meier of Cosho Humphrey LLP, Bankruptcy David Metcalf, Chambers of Judge B. Lynn Winmill, Complex Litigation Hon. Terry Myers ’80 Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho, Bankruptcy Stephen Nipper, Buchanan Nipper, Boise Duncan Palmatier, Moscow, Patents Hon. Jim Pappas ’77 Bankruptcy Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho, Bankruptcy Jeff Severson, Chambers of Judge B. Lynn Winmill, Complex Litigation Hon. B. Lynn Winmill of the U.S. District Court, District of Idaho, Complex Litigation George Wentz of Davillier Law Group LLC, International Business Transactions
2015
Professor Anastasia Telesetsky has been awarded the Ian Axford New Zealand Fellowship in Public Policy. Professor Telesetsky will focus her research on the topic of “Marine Food Security and Sustainable Fishing Practices: The Role of Law and Policy in Reducing Waste in the Fishing Sector.”
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IDAHOLAW
News & Notes IDAHO STATE BAR ANNUAL AWARDS RECOGNIZE COLLEGE OF LAW ALUMNI The Idaho State Bar annually honors those in the legal profession who have made significant contributions through their service to the profession, pro bono efforts or by a career of exemplary conduct and years of dedicated service to the profession. The College of Law is proud of our alumni and members of the College of Law community who are recognized by the Idaho State Bar in 2015.
ALUM REGINALD REEVES ’52 HONORED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Reginald Reeves was awarded the Outstanding Public Service Award from the U.S. Department of Defense in November 2014. The honor is awarded by the Secretary of Defense to civilians who render outstanding public service to the Department of Defense. Mr. Reeves was nominated by Brig. Gen. Timothy Lake of Washington, D.C., and supported by Congressman Mike Simpson and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was recognized for his lifelong dedication to public service and philanthropy. Mr. Reeves is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and has practiced law in eastern Idaho for many years. He is well-known in his community for his pro bono assistance to veterans and for efforts to assist local soup kitchens, homeless shelters and charities. He started a Military Medical Program to help veterans and their families who are geographically isolated or unable to travel to obtain their prescriptions from southern Idaho military hospitals.
IDAHO
Mr. Reeves is the recipient of many awards, including the Idaho State Bar Service Award, the University of Idaho Alumni Hall of Fame, and the Governor’s Brightest Star Award for Public Service.
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Distinguished Lawyer — Kenneth Pedersen ’72; John Rumel; and B. Newal Squyre Service Awards — Courtney Beebe ’03; Bruce Bistline ’76; Debrha Caranhan ’78; Amber Ellis ’07; Kimbell Gourley ’86; Lance Salladay ’76; Cpt. Stephen Stokes ’05; and Laird Stone ’79 Outstanding Young Lawyer — Joseph Pirtle ’04 Family Law Section Award of Distinction — Judge Russell Comstock ’84 Professionalism Award — (First District) Joel Hazel ’94; (Second District) Anthony Anegon ’82; (Fourth District) Jim Davis ’78; (Fifth District) Michael McCarthy ’85; and (Sixth District) Reed Larson ’85 Pro Bono — (Second District) Deborah McCormick ’05 and Scott Rose ’90; (Sixth District) Stratton Laggis ’13; (Sixth District) Bryce Lloyd ’03; and (Seventh District) Benjamin Ritchie ’05
FALL 2015 CLASS REUNIONS The classes of 1965, 1971, and 1975 celebrated reunions this fall in Boise. Very special thanks to the following alumni for their work as reunion planners. Class of 1965: Michael Felton, Sr., of Buhl, Idaho; Fred Gentry of Olympia, Washington; and Iver Longeteig of Boise, Idaho Class of 1971: Dave Leroy of Boise and Ron Schilling of Meridian, Idaho Class of 1975: Hank Boomer of McCall, Idaho, and Gary Cooper and Ron Kerl of Pocatello, Idaho. Reunions for fall 2016 are already in the planning process. If you are a member of the class of 1966, 1976 or 1986, watch for an announcement of the reunion dates later in the spring.
IDAHOLAW
News & Notes
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS We are very proud of the accomplishments of our alumni. Here are just a few highlights from the past year. Please keep us up to date by sending your information to Terri Muse, Assistant Dean for External Relations at tmuse@ uidaho.edu. James Dale ’82 — Elected a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Matthew Freeman ’95 — Selected as the Executive Director of the Idaho State Department of Education John McCreedy ’87 — Named CEO of Amalgamated Sugar Company — Boise Michelle Gustavson ’08 — Idaho Women Lawyers Rising Star Award 2015 Joe Borton ’97 — City of Meridian Idaho Man of the Year 2015 Caryn Beck-Dudley ’83 — Selected Dean at Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business Hon. Jesse Walters ’63 — Selected for the George G. Granata, Jr., Professionalism Award by the Idaho Supreme Court Vincent D. Humphrey II ’11 — Awarded the 2015 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year by the Washington State Bar Association
COLLEGE OF LAW TO ADD FIRST-YEAR IN BOISE BY FALL 2017 First-year classes are slated to begin in Boise in the fall of 2017 at the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center. As Dean Mark L. Adams announced in a press release in August, “The first-year option in Boise has been part of our strategic vision all along, and the planning process to make it a reality is officially beginning. It’s a lengthy process involving conversations and input from many important players, including our faculty, and the approvals of the Idaho State Board of Education and the American Bar Association.” All students currently complete their first year of study in Moscow and then have the option to finish their degree in Moscow or Boise. The addition of the first-year classes in Boise will give our students more opportunities and will set the University of Idaho College of Law apart from other law school programs.
JOHN A. CHURCH John A. Church ’63, ’66 passed away on November 11, 2015, in Lewiston, Idaho. As a practicing attorney, he was committed to pro bono service and took many cases during his career. After he retired, he continued his commitment to pro bono by making a very generous gift to the College of Law in support of the newly established Pro Bono Program. The program requires all graduating students to complete 40 hours (now 50) of pro bono work prior to graduation. John was very proud of his part in creating this program. John was featured in the 2011 issue of the Idaho Law magazine in a story entitled, “John A. Church, Pro Bono Cowboy.” A quote from John that appeared in the magazine story sums up his philosophy of life and the practice of law. “I am a cowboy,” he said with a grin. “And I always championed the underdog. Our Constitution says we’re all created equal and we all have the same rights. But in practice that just isn’t true. You’ve got the Donald Trumps of the world and the people on skid row. The people on skid row should have the same rights as Trump does. And I believe you have to step in to help these people whether you get paid or not. If they had a really good case, I took it; and I don’t regret one pro bono case I’ve ever done. My pro bono clients were wonderful people.”
IN MEMORIAM The following members of our alumni and law school community passed away in the last year. We extend our condolences to their family and friends. Brian Ralph Goates ‘77 Clyde Alan Crider ‘87 Robert Brisco Hodge ‘51 Brett Ira Johnson ‘01 Reid Kay Larsen ‘74 Craig Steven Larson ‘76
Glenn Mcquiston Lee ‘75 John M. Lyden ‘74 Michael Keith Naethe ‘05 William Warren Nixon ‘56 Watt Edmund Prather ‘49 Wayne Martin Price ‘89
Mack A. Redford ‘67 Leon Richard Schou ‘50 Jay H. Stout ‘52 Larry F. Weeks ‘77
*We regret any omission to this list.
2015
Bret Charles Aitchison ‘87 Kenneth Larry Anderson ‘78 Reed J. Bowen ‘61 Chad Anthony Campos ‘00 John A. Church ’63, ‘66 Theodore “Ted” O. Creason ‘73
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IDAHOLAW COLLEGE OF LAW JOINS THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LAW SCHOOLS (IALS) The College of Law joined the International Association of Law Schools (IALS) in April. The IALS is a private, nonprofit volunteer organization that represents more than 160 law schools and over 5,000 law faculty members from over 55 countries. Becoming part of this organization will allow the College of Law to continue its efforts to prepare our students for global legal practice.
JUDGE DAYO ONANUBOSI APPOINTED TO STATE COMMISSION College of Law Advisory Council member, Canyon County Magistrate Judge Dayo Onanubosi ’93, has been appointed by Governor Otter to serve on the Idaho Juvenile Justice Commission. The Commission serves as an advisory board for the state on issues related to the Federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and advises the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections.
An LL.M. program for foreign law students is being planned for the College of Law. The program would offer a one-year curriculum on American law and jurisprudence to lawyers and judges from other countries who want to further their education. The program is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2017.
Judge Onanubosi currently is the juvenile judge in Canyon County. He was appointed to the College of Law Advisory Council in 2014. He earned both his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Idaho.
COLLEGE OF LAW ALUMNI SELECTED FOR JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS Congratulations to the College of Law Alumni who have been chosen for judicial appointments in Idaho and beyond over the past year. We have tried to gather all the appointment information we could, and apologize if we have missed anyone. All appointments listed were in Idaho unless otherwise noted. Changes to alumni contact information including changes in employment, can be made on the University of Idaho website at http://www.uidaho.edu/alumni/update. James Barrett ’01 — Custer County Magistrate Judge James Combo ’83 — Kootenai County Magistrate Judge Gregory Fitzmaurice ’78 — Idaho County District Judge Michael Patrick Gibbons ’80 — Court of Appeals Judge — Nevada Jennifer Haemmerle ’89 — Blaine County Magistrate Judge Samuel Hoagland ’82 — Ada County District Judge Molly Huskey ’93 — Idaho Court of Appeals Judge Douglas Payne ’93 — Benewah County Magistrate Judge Michael Reardon ’85 — Ada County District Judge
IDAHO
Timothy Van Valin ’88 — Kootenai County Magistrate Judge
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DENTON DARRINGTON LECTURE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT On February 5, 2015, the second annual Denton Darrington Annual Lecture on Law and Government was held in Boise and featured Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. He spoke on the topic of “The Constitution in the 21st Century.” Members of the bench, bar and the public attended the lecture and reception, which was held at the Idaho Supreme Court. The 2016 Darrington Lecture is scheduled for early February with keynote speaker the Honorable Rebecca Love Kourlis, former Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court and current Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver. The program will be held in Boise the first week of February and is free and open to the public. The Denton Darrington Annual Lecture on Law and Government started in 2013 to honor former Idaho State Senator Denton Darrington, who served as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee for 23 years. The lecture is sponsored by the College of Law, the Idaho Supreme Court, and the Idaho State Bar and Law Foundation.
IDAHOLAW
News & Notes
College of Law students Jeremy Tamsen ’16, Katy Jippen ’15, and Ammon Judy ’16 in front of the newly opened Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center in Boise.
PREPARING GLOBAL LEADERS IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW For more information on supporting the UI College of Law Scholarship Fund, contact: TERRI MUSE Assistant Dean for External Relations tmuse@uidaho.edu 208-364-4044 uidaho.edu/giving
2015
UI College of Law graduates are practicing around the globe in areas, including business, environmental and natural resources law; litigation; and Native American law. Thanks to the generous support of alumni and friends, the College of Law Scholarship Fund allows us to recruit the best and the brightest students to attend classes at our Moscow and Boise locations. Scholarships help students cover the cost of attending law school, which keeps student debt to a minimum.
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875 Perimeter Drive MS 2321 Moscow, ID 83844-2321
Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Permit 679 Boise, ID
UPCOMING EVENTS February 8, 2016 Boise Denton Darrington Annual Lecture on Law and Government Keynote Speaker will be the Hon. Rebecca Love Kourlis, former Justice for the Colorado Supreme Court and current Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System
April 19, 2016 – Boise Idaho Law Review Symposium “Equality in Employment” Keynote Speaker will be the Hon. Candy Dale, U.S. District Court District of Idaho. Panel topics include pregnancy discrimination, the Equal Pay Act, Exploitive Labor Practices, and LGBT Discrimination.
April 26, 2016 – Boise “Representing Justice – Invention, Controversy, and Right in City-States and Democratic Courtrooms”
IDAHO
Professors Judith Resnick and Dennis Curtis of Yale Law School
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