The magazine of the first law school in the Pacific Northwest | Fall 2024
Lawyer WILLAMETTE
16 Cover Story
50 YEARS IN THE CONFLICTS VINEYARD
SYMposium in honor of Professor and Dean Emeritus Symeonides: 25 years at Willamette Law and a lifetime of dedication to the legal community.
Departments
2 Dean’s Message
Interim Dean Jeffrey Dobbins reflects on the past year and the support of the Willamette Law community.
4 New & Noteworthy
Read about memorable points from the past year: achievements, news and student programs.
EMBRACING A NEW PATHWAY TO ATTORNEY LICENSURE
The first Willamette Law graduates prepare to participate in a new pathway to licensure.
18 PROFESSORS RETIRE AFTER DECADES AT WILLAMETTE LAW
Professors Susan Smith and Yvonne Tamayo reflect on their years of service to Willamette Law.
24 Staff & Faculty Focus
See what our faculty and staff have been up to with successes, scholarly work and administrative news.
30 Class Action
Catch up with the professional lives of Willamette Law alumni and faculty.
32 In Memoriam
Willamette Law mourns the loss of these alumni.
Interim Dean
Jeffrey Dobbins
Editor
Sarah Bello
Graphic Designer
Susan Blettel
Photographers
Mario Gallucci MFA’14
KJ Johnson
Frank Miller
Geoff Parks
Contributors
Sarah Bello
Jessica Rotter
Leadership Cabinet
Nancy Schierhorn JD’86, Chair
Robert Saalfeld JD’74, Vice Chair
Linda Clapham JD’86
Marie Colmey JD’89
Naomi Haslitt JD’07
Lucy Jensen JD/MBA’13
Cecilia Lee JD’86
Douglas Luetjen JD’85
Josh Lute JD’07
Elise McClure JD’84
Reid Okimoto JD’03
Peter Sheridan JD’88
Martin Wolf ‘57, LLB’60
Willamette Lawyer is published by Willamette University College of Law. Send comments to: jrotter@willamette.edu
Willamette Lawyer
Willamette University College of Law 245 Winter Street SE Salem, OR 97301
Dean’s Message
As many of you know, I will be serving as the College of Law’s interim dean while the school undergoes a search for a new permanent dean. This is, quite remarkably, my 18th year with the law school, and I have been honored to serve as the associate dean for academic affairs for the past four years. Throughout my time here, I have continually been impressed by our committed and dedicated community. This year has been filled with great successes and changes, both at Willamette Law and in the larger Oregon legal community. I am humbled to be able to help guide this community through what is certain to be another year of great accomplishments.
To begin, let me extend my sincerest gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support and commitment that you have given to the College of Law. From serving as attorney mentors, providing externship placements, and participating in Career Conversations at orientation, the work of educating practice-ready lawyers would not be possible without each of you. I am confident that with your support and dedication
throughout the upcoming year, we will be able to execute our mission of educating the next generation of problem-solving lawyers and leaders.
As I reflect on the past year, it cannot be understated how many significant accomplishments our community has achieved. With that in mind, we are pleased to include in the Lawyer magazine all new stories that have not previously been published. The work of our community has been so remarkable that we had more than enough news to share.
I hope you will enjoy hearing about the success of our students, in particular. We have had students publish articles, overcome significant obstacles to achieve their goals, and secure federal clerkships. Our faculty have also had a busy and successful year of publishing scholarly research. They continue to be thinking innovatively about legal education and remain at the forefront of local, national and international legal conversations.
Notably, at the beginning of the academic year, the Oregon State Supreme Court unanimously voted to approve Oregon’s first-ever new pathway to attorney licensure — the Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination. Our 2024 College of Law graduates are eager to pursue this new licensure pathway and begin to immediately make a difference in the community.
The cover story features our “50 Years in the Conflicts Vineyard” Symposium in honor of Dean Emeritus and Alex L. Parks Distinguished Professor of Law Symeon Symeonides. We had the pleasure of welcoming legal scholars from around the world to celebrate the impressive and impactful career of Professor Symeonides in May.
I am appreciative of your continued engagement with the law school, and I hope to be able to see you at an upcoming event. In the interim, I hope you know that my door is always open during this time of transition. Please feel free to schedule some time to connect with me or send me an email. I welcome your questions and comments and look forward to working together to support the law school.
Welcome, Class of 2027!
Since Willamette Law was established more than 140 years ago, it has been a privilege to watch each new class begin their law school journeys.
The top undergraduate schools for this year’s 1Ls included Willamette University (10), University of Oregon (9), Oregon State University (7), Portland State University (6) and Western Oregon University (5).
Class Size
Students
Majors Represented
Becoming a voice for others: Leo Ortega JD’24
The path Leo Ortega JD’24 took to law school was marked with challenges and opportunities.
He saw the profound impact lawyers can have on people’s lives and was struck by how they carried themselves, the articulation of their thoughts, and their professionalism. More importantly, perhaps, he saw lawyers giving a voice to those who needed it most — something he needed throughout his childhood.
These experiences inspired Ortega to pursue a career as an attorney.
“It was all uncharted territory. But I was determined to figure it out,” he shares. “I grew up in Section 8 housing in [Los Angeles]. College and law school were my way out.”
Without much guidance, Ortega attended college, where he embraced every opportunity available to him. When it was time to apply to law schools, he faced a number of rejections and setbacks. Finally, Willamette Law “took a chance” on him and accepted his application, he says.
Despite a first year that tested his abilities, he recalled his family’s journey to the U.S. from Mexico and their courage to start a new life.
Knowing they were able to push past adversity is what motivated him to continue through his 1L year, even when it was difficult.
Of all his experiences in law school, one that sticks out the most for Ortega was the opportunity to have a sit-down conversation with then-Dean Brian Gallini.
“It was all uncharted territory. But I was determined to figure it out. I grew up in Section 8 housing in [Los Angeles]. College and law school were my way out.”
Leo Ortega JD’24
“He reminded me to always be where my two feet are, to focus on what I could control and how to be present,” Ortega says.
As he looks to his future after graduation, his advice for people considering law school is to remember their “why”. He hopes prospective law students find a “why” with deep meaning, something they can hold onto when times are difficult.
Overcoming the challenges he faced both in childhood and in law school, Ortega is ready to take on the role he has been working toward for years. He plans to work for the prosecutor’s office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, knowing his family, friends and the mentors he met along the way have helped him accomplish his dream.
Student helps pass a bill unanimously in Oregon
Emily Grimmius JD’24 helps pass Restraining Orders Without Borders’ Survivor Protection Act
When Emily Grimmius JD’24 was in the fourth grade, she knew one day she would go to law school. A voracious reader, she found herself reading stories about presidents and being in awe of their importance and impact. To her knowledge, many of them had one thing in common — they went to law school. If Grimmius wanted to one day become an elected official and fight injustice, then first she would need to go to law school.
After earning her undergraduate degree, Grimmius started a career and then enrolled at Willamette Law because it was directly across the street from the Oregon State Capitol.
“I wanted to be where laws are made,” she says.
When she heard about the work being done by Restraining Orders Without Borders, she felt called to get involved and sent a message to offer help. A year later, the organization’s founder called her directly, asking her to lead their advocacy efforts. At the time, the organization was working to pass the Restraining Orders Without Borders’ Survivor Protection Act, and Grimmius’ legal knowledge made her the perfect choice to be the Oregon policy director.
The legislation expands the opportunities for victims to obtain restraining orders in the county in which the abuse occurred, working to ensure that all abuse victims are protected.
The path to change Grimmius spent time visiting offices and scheduling meetings with legislators to garner support. While the bill initially did not have bipartisan support, Grimmius focused her efforts on drafting the arguments for the bill in order to earn it. Her efforts paid off.
“It is almost unheard of in Oregon, and many other states, for a bill to receive unanimous, bipartisan support,” Grimmius shares.
Throughout the process, Willamette Law faculty supported Grimmius and her dedication. When Grimmius first heard the bill passed unanimously, she was in disbelief.
“There aren’t any words for how exactly I feel and what this accomplishment means for both me personally,” she reflects, “but more importantly, for the many victims this will help.”
Grimmius spent her final semester of law school participating in an immersion externship with Senator Lisa Murkowski JD’85. The time spent working with the U.S. Congress allowed her to expand upon her knowledge of federal law. After finishing her final year of law school, she says that these experiences have “made me realize that I am capable of even more than I thought.”
She plans to continue working directly with victims and people who are in need, hoping to make change both for individuals and for the country at large.
“There aren’t any words for how exactly I feel and what this accomplishment means for both me personally, but more importantly, for the many victims this will help.”
Emily Grimmius JD’24
Emily Grimmius JD’24 (left) with Senator Lisa Murkowski JD’85.
A student’s reflection on the international law trip to Vanuatu
By Emily Almeida BA’23, JD’26
WhenI started my time at Willamette Law, I thought my experience would be defined by the typical law school structure. I assumed I would attend bar courses, including Contracts, Civil Procedure, Torts, etc.
I planned to succeed by taking notes, doing the readings, writing outlines and taking finals. I imagined and hoped the foundation of information would stick with me long enough to help me prepare for the bar exam.
I certainly never expected to fly halfway around the world to an island in the South Pacific, where I would study Vanuatu’s fascinating plural legal system accompanied by six of my peers and Professor Sheri Buske. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would learn about women’s and children’s rights through an international perspective by actually traveling internationally.
Our group of travelers gathered for the first time over dinner after our finals and for the second time at the gate for our flight on December 28, just over a week later. Some of us had long-standing friendships, and some
were practically strangers. Still, we set forth together for what would quickly become the learning opportunity of a lifetime.
Roughly 30 hours after our trip began, we touched down at the Port Vila Airport. We were jetlagged and tired but fueled by the curiosity of arriving somewhere new.
Our first few days were motivated by those first-day feelings. We spent our days exploring downtown, reading about local laws and culture, and getting used to the time difference that was 18 hours ahead of Oregon.
Things really picked up after New Year’s. We gathered daily for class discussions and family-style meals, where we discussed the culture, how that impacted women’s and children’s rights, and how that compared to the readings that had been assigned for the trip. We went on multiple outings, including visiting the prison and Family Protection Unit of the local law enforcement agency.
We also spoke with locals (Ni-Vanuatu, or ‘Ni-Vans’) as much as possible. These conversations were sometimes formal, like when we met with representatives of the Vanuatu Women’s Centre. We also had informal conversations around town. Those conversations, at times, built strong enough relationships that the Ni-Vans felt comfortable discussing the extent of domestic violence against women and children on the islands.
I’m incredibly grateful to Willamette Law and Professor Buske for providing such a vibrant and impactful international law experiential program. It went beyond teaching us black-letter law for the bar exam. Vanuatu taught all of us valuable skills that we’ll keep with us throughout the remainder of our law school experience and beyond. Those lessons will help us be better lawyers for our clients and better global citizens.
If you would like to read more about our trip to Vanuatu, specifically more about the legal, political and social culture on the islands, the students who traveled kept a travel blog at willamettelawtravels.blogspot.com.
A genuine desire to help others leads to law school: Faith O’Malley JD’24
Growing up in Indiana, Faith O’Malley JD’24 never saw herself as an attorney. She didn’t think she had the typical ‘lawyer personality’ portrayed on television, but she always had a deep desire to help others and fight for justice.
A year after earning her bachelor’s degree, O’Malley moved to Portland to work toward a master’s in public administration. Days before her first semester, she withdrew from the program — a choice that set her on a path to find her true purpose.
O’Malley eventually began working in fundraising.
Volunteering for Catholic Charities’ refugee resettlement division sparked the idea of becoming an attorney. She watched as attorneys guided refugees through difficult situations, and she realized that being one involved more than just arguing in court.
Having witnessed the impacts of immigration firsthand after her parents’ move to the U.S. from England, she was immediately drawn to the idea of working in immigration law. But pursuing her new dream didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it took four more years for her to apply to law school.
“When you are out of school and working full time, it is hard to take such a big leap,” O’Malley shares. “But I couldn’t get the idea out of my head, and eventually I just dove in headfirst and applied.”
A student and an advocate Growing as both a student and an advocate for others, O’Malley’s time in law school showed her dedication to fighting for justice. One experience she is particularly proud of is co-founding the Immigration Law Association during her 1L year alongside classmate Emma Gill JD’24 The student organization helped raise visibility for immigration law through a series of successful speaker and pro bono events.
Involvement in the Willamette University Public Interest Law Project (WUPILP) also combined a few of O’Malley’s skills and interests — public service, law and fundraising. During her 2L and 3L years, O’Malley prioritized finding opportunities for legal volunteer work, but she quickly saw numerous roadblocks.
She knew that she had the ability to make change happen. By joining the Pro
Bono Honors Program and later advocating for and serving in the role of Pro Bono Chair of WUPILP, O’Malley created volunteer opportunities for students and local organizations.
Just a week after Associate Dean for Career Planning & Development Tomas Hernandez started at Willamette Law, he had a knock on his door from O’Malley, who wanted to talk about the Pro Bono Honors Program. He saw that not only was she deeply passionate about serving others, but she also was willing to roll up her sleeves and get things done.
Looking ahead
O’Malley’s time in law school is now complete, but her advocacy for more pro bono opportunities, new courses around serving vulnerable populations, and building sustainable systems for student organizations will leave a legacy.
“Faith exemplifies a commitment to public service,” Hernandez says, “paving the way for future students to benefit from her leadership. She is destined to be a great attorney.”
Following law school, O’Malley started a new position as a Civil Rights Fellow for LeDuc Montgomery LLC. She will be pursuing her licensure through the new Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination. Alongside this new role, she intends to continue advocating for others and volunteering when possible.
Student publishes two ABA articles on psilocybin
Genna Walsh JD’24 shares her passion for wellness and educating others on “magic mushrooms”
“I
used to let fear get in the way. In law school, I have continually faced things that I was afraid of, and it’s made me stronger, just like conditioning for the gym.”
Genna Walsh JD’24
Genna Walsh JD’24 never imagined her path would lead to law school, let alone educating others on psilocybin (also known as “magic mushrooms”).
After a number of years working in real estate, the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic provided the perfect opportunity for her to take a leap she never quite had the guts for before — going to law school.
Walsh applied to Willamette Law because it was one of the few schools with an extended admissions deadline. Initially, she was rejected. Not one to give up easily, she appealed. Despite initial concerns about making it to the mandatory orientation, she was admitted and arrived only a week later.
Adjusting to law school and life in Oregon, after living in California, was a significant challenge. But, she looked at it as an adventure.
“In the first year, law school is survival, you figure it out,” Walsh recalls. “It’s sink or swim.”
Walsh blossomed, seizing every opportunity in her studies and gaining a
newfound appreciation for the focus and skillbuilding that law school offered.
Walsh went on the student trip to Tanzania with Professors Sheri Buske and Susan Cook, which allowed her to see how legal concepts could be applied in international settings. It solidified her understanding that once a person understands the law, they can’t help but see it all around them. She participated in the Trial Practice course taught by Judge Norman Hill JD’94 and Judge Rafael Caso. Both experiences pushed her beyond her comfort zone and broadened her perspective on the impact of the law.
In the Trusts & Estates Clinic with Professor Cook, Walsh also enjoyed learning the hands-on skills of being an attorney and helping those who may not have been able to access affordable legal representation otherwise.
“I used to let fear get in the way,” she reflects. “In law school, I have continually faced things that I was afraid of, and it’s made me stronger, just like conditioning for the gym.”
Educating others
While her time at Willamette both challenged and surprised her, it also opened her eyes to how she could educate others on psilocybin. Walsh has long been interested in physical and mental wellness, and in her free time, she researches holistic health. She has watched the evolution of the national and local conversations around psychedelic drug reform, specifically psilocybin, and heard firsthand stories about how the drug has changed people’s lives.
When it came time to fulfill her Graduation Writing Requirement, the choice was clear — she wanted to write about psilocybin. Her passion led her to publish two articles for the ABA.
The two articles, “Access to Oregon’s Psilocybin Services” and “Rescheduling Psilocybin,” aim to educate others and destigmatize the use of psilocybin. Professor Bruce Howell’s guidance to focus on the science behind its use resonated, as she believes that understanding can alleviate unfounded fears.
While psilocybin-assisted therapy is gaining momentum
across the country, she was not surprised to see Oregon as the first state to legalize services. She knows other states will be watching to see how things progress. Walsh hopes her writing makes the topic more approachable for everyone, encouraging other states to follow.
Writing and publishing was scary, she says, but working with the publishers was rewarding as it forced her to think critically about what was included in both articles.
“I am surprised I did a second article, because the first was so hard and time consuming,” she explains. “But, as an advocate, I feel it’s my job to educate others.”
Walsh has made it a point to connect with those who are interested in and working in psychedelic law. She worked as a law clerk at Emerge Law Group in Portland, in the Psychedelic Practice Group. That position helped her make connections and see the work that could be available after graduation. She is also a member of the Psychedelic Bar Association, attending monthly committee meetings.
“Everyone is a trailblazer in this area, so reaching out to every attorney and every law firm that is working in and around psilocybin has been imperative,” she says.
Walsh remains committed to her passion for psilocybin education. Looking ahead, she plans to take the bar exam in Oregon and California, with long-term aspirations of a career that allows her to continue advocacy in the field of psychedelic law.
Regardless of where the journey takes her, she is determined to continue writing about new legal issues and information related to psilocybin, ensuring that her voice remains a powerful force in the ongoing conversation about the topic.
Alumni on the move: Hear from alumni who recently joined Miller Nash
Withthe closure of Bullard Law in the fall of 2023 after 45 years in business, a number of its attorneys and staff, including several Willamette Law alumni, chose to join Miller Nash. Willamette alumni making the move cited similarities between Bullard Law and Miller Nash, including its family-like atmosphere and client-centered approach.
Miller Nash is a 150-year-old law firm with locations in Anchorage, Boise, Long Beach (California), Portland, Seattle and Vancouver (Washington).
More than 150 attorneys and legal professionals work in industries ranging from admiralty and maritime law, to financial services, to sports, media and entertainment law, to tribal law, among others.
Meet a few of our alumni who recently joined the Miller Nash team.
Heather Van Meter JD’98 Partner, Vancouver Office
Heather Van Meter JD’98 practices primarily in employment law and general litigation, representing private companies, public entities and nonprofit organizations throughout Oregon and Washington. She joined Miller Nash because of its respectable reputation and thoughtfulness for its clients and employees.
“The bonus was how kind and friendly all the Miller Nash people are to work with,” she says. “Many Bullard Law staff joined Miller Nash, as well, and they are thriving here. Seeing how caring Miller Nash is toward its associates and staff, as well as clients, is a true blessing.”
Van Meter says the organization has been supportive of her growing practice with nonprofits, as well as public and rural employers in Oregon and Washington.
“Larger firms do not typically focus efforts in these areas, but Miller Nash has welcomed it,” she explains, “recognizing the value we can provide to the nonprofit, public and rural business sectors in the Northwest.”
Liani J. Reeves BA’98, JD’01 Partner, Portland Office
Liani J. Reeves BA’98, JD’01 practices employment law, with a focus on working with public sector clients and conducting workplace investigations. She was president and partner at Bullard Law prior to its closure and also served a term as president of the Oregon State Bar in 2020.
She says the group from Bullard saw Miller Nash as a great fit for their labor and employment practice and clients. She is particularly grateful for the opportunity the firm provided in keeping her previous team together as a group, including eight lawyers and five staff members.
“I had the occasion to work with many of the attorneys on the Miller Nash labor and employment team over the years in various capacities, and I have always found them to be a great group of lawyers and staff,” Reeves says. “We were also excited that coming to a full-service firm would allow us to offer our clients a complete suite of services that we could not previously provide as a boutique labor and employment firm.”
“Miller Nash has an active Pro Bono Committee which has given me the opportunity to work on a variety of pro bono matters across different areas of law. Being able to collaborate with colleagues across practice areas has been an invaluable experience to gain exposure to a wide spectrum of legal issues.”
Paige Alli JD’21, Associate, Portland Office
Jess Osborne JD’12 Partner, Portland Office
Jess Osborne JD’12 practices management-side traditional labor and employment law, representing public, private and nonprofit employers in a variety of employment and labor relations matters.
She says she looks forward to enjoying the collegiality and culture of Miller Nash, which she says was the ideal firm to join, with an excellent education, employment and labor group that represents clients throughout the region.
“As a labor practice, specifically, we doubled the size of the Miller Nash team and have a deep bench of public and private sector management-side labor practitioners, which is a unique and exciting practice area,” she says.
She counts Reeves as a mentor, leader, colleague and friend, who has had a positive impact on her career and the transition to Miller Nash.
“I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside great colleagues, including my fantastic fellow Bearcats,” Osborne says. “Throughout my career, a constant has been excellent mentorship and development opportunities from attorneys and staff, including all of my colleagues who transitioned with me from Bullard to Miller Nash.”
Richard Alli, Jr. JD’80 Partner, Portland Office
Paige Alli JD’21
Associate, Portland Office
Paige Alli JD’21 focuses her practice on labor relations matters, including complex arbitrations, administrative proceedings and litigation.
“I began practicing law in 2022 while COVID was still affecting workplaces, so I was looking for an opportunity to practice at a larger firm and learn the trade,” Alli shares. “I wanted to join Miller Nash to continue to develop my growth as a new lawyer.”
While at Willamette Law, she was a founding officer of student group, the Labor and Employment Law Association. She is enjoying learning how labor and employment law intersects with different industries and areas of the law that she would not have thought of otherwise.
“Miller Nash has an active Pro Bono Committee which has given me the opportunity to work on a variety of pro bono matters across different areas of law,” Alli says. “Being able to collaborate with colleagues across practice areas has been an invaluable experience to gain exposure to a wide spectrum of legal issues.”
Ric Alli JD’80 is a sought-after counsel across the U.S. for his expertise in private and public sector collective bargaining and employment law planning and strategy. He spent 44 years with Bullard Law before moving to Miller Nash to expand his practice to a greater variety of clients.
“I was admitted to a large number of law schools across the country but chose Willamette University College of Law because it had renowned professors who were involved with traditional labor law subjects, which was not available at other law schools. Willamette was unique in that way,” Alli says.
“Now, I’ve been practicing for 45 years. I appreciate the opportunity to continue to practice my specialty at a large, well-respected firm and the exposure it brings to expand my practice to large regional clients.”
Embracing a new pathway to attorney licensure
Following the recent approval of the Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination, the first Willamette Law graduates prepare to participate in a new pathway to licensure.
By Jessica Rotter
OnNovember 7, 2023, the Oregon State Supreme Court voted to unanimously approve Oregon’s first ever new pathway to attorney licensure, in addition to the traditional bar exam. The new Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination (SPPE) now enables the Oregon State Bar to admit law school graduates following an assessment of their demonstrated ability to practice law.
Upon successful completion of 675 hours of practice under the supervision of an experienced attorney – the time most people spend studying for the bar exam – candidates for licensure will submit a portfolio of work to the Board of Bar Examiners for an independent evaluation of their proficiency. Law students can earn up to 100 of these hours during law school through their participation in a clinic or externship.
As the first group of law school graduates prepare to participate in the SPPE, the impact on both the legal profession and legal education cannot be overstated.
Associate Dean and Professor of Law David Friedman has been an instrumental part of Willamette Law’s advocacy for attorney licensure reform. He views the approval of the SPPE as a step in the right direction.
“For the legal profession, this is a significant advancement in that it aligns licensure criteria with teaching and measuring the skills that established lawyers tell us new lawyers need,” he says. “The bar exam became a convenient way to test and evaluate aspiring lawyers en masse, but over time, the exam began to really depart from testing the knowledge and skills that new lawyers need.”
The addition of this new pathway to licensure reaffirms what Friedman has long believed — “skills matter.” This step will further motivate law schools to teach the skills students need to effectively serve clients. Friedman sees potential for the SPPE to encourage more aspiring lawyers to seek admission to Oregon’s law schools because the Oregon State Bar is demonstrating that they want new lawyers who are ready to practice, and practice quickly.
INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY
When news broke that the SPPE had been approved, Willamette Law set to work getting the community of local attorneys on board with this new pathway. While preparing students to pursue SPPE is an integral part of the process, the licensure pathway relies on attorneys stepping up to serve as supervising attorneys for recent law school graduates.
One organization, in particular, jumped at the opportunity to serve as supervising attorneys. Innovation Law Lab (ILL) saw this pathway to attorney licensure aligning with the goals of their organization - fighting for immigrant and refugee justice with Oregonians in Equity Corps of Oregon (“ECO”), Oregon’s universal representation program. ECO is a collaborative of community-based organizations, nonprofits and private attorneys who provide free legal services to immigrant Oregonians. The program’s objective is to end unjust and unfair deportations and any civic exclusion by providing access to legal services, community navigators and support services.
ILL recognized early on that by participating in the SPPE as supervising
attorneys, the organization could help to increase legal access for members of Oregon immigrant communities while also increasing the equity and diversification of the Oregon State Bar. These potential benefits of the SPPE are congruent with ILL’s mission of “advancing justice and building permanent pathways to immigrant inclusion.”
Stephen Manning, executive director of the ILL, shared that “this new pathway is a long-needed reform in lawyer licensure and finally gives the profession a chance to tackle universal representation in immigration across urban and rural Oregon. This reform goes hand in hand with Equity Corps of Oregon’s broad approach to access to justice for immigrants and refugees.”
By providing more hands-on experience, particularly in the immigration law field, community members can benefit from working with experienced attorneys to advocate for and represent them. SPPE participants can benefit from the mentorship and guidance of their supervising attorneys while making an impact on the community immediately.
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
In addition to providing immediate legal assistance to the community, the SPPE will also help to open the door to attorney licensure for students that historically may have struggled with the traditional bar exam, in spite of being competent students and attorneys. Alison Coutifaris, Supervising Senior Attorney for ILL, sees the opportunities for the SPPE will open doors for law school students to gain experience and learn in a way that is more equitable.
“Unlike a timed bar exam, the SPPE removes obstacles that have disproportionately impacted candidates with limited means, students with cognitive differences, and non-native English speakers,” she says.
She sees this new licensure pathway as an opportunity to create a more inclusive and diverse Oregon Bar, while also directly benefiting clients and immigrant communities in Oregon.
“For the legal profession, this is a significant advancement in that it aligns licensure criteria with teaching and measuring the skills that established lawyers tell us new lawyers need.”
Associate Dean and Professor of Law
David Friedman
Willamette Law remains committed to educating practice-ready lawyers and leaders who will go on to serve their communities and the legal profession. Already a frontrunner in the learn-bydoing space, the law school is continuing to think about how to expand opportunities for experiential learning to current and future law students interested in pursuing the SPPE.
50years
in the conflicts vineyard: SYMposium in honor of Professor and Dean Emeritus Symeonides
25 years at Willamette Law and a lifetime of dedication to the legal community
By Sarah Bello
The affectionate phrase, “If you know Symeon…,” echoed throughout the day during a special SYMposium in honor of Professor and Dean Emeritus Symeon Symeonides held this spring.
Appreciative murmurs of agreement, laughter and shared memorable moments punctuated the event as fellow professors, alumni, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate the man who has been called “the conflicts giant,” “the world’s leading expert on U.S. and comparative conflicts law,” and “the father of choice of law in the 21st century.”
“While so many of his efforts have had broad reaching impact locally, nationally, and internationally, Symeon’s impact can also be felt on a personal level by students, faculty, staff and myself,” said former Willamette Law Dean Brian Gallini at the symposium. “He is rightfully known for the individual care and concern he offers to students, making himself available to answer questions both small and large.”
After 50 years laboring in the “conflicts vineyard,” Symeonides will hang up his hat — though he doesn’t plan to give up his pen — when he retires from teaching in 2025.
With all the praise and accolades, one might presume Symeonides to be lofty or unreachable. But the long list of admirers taking part in the symposium said otherwise.
“He’s humble, he’s self-possessed, he’s kind, he’s gentle,” said Judge John DeGravelles, U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana.
“In meetings, he never took over the room, but patiently listened to every voice,” said David Kenagy, former Willamette Law associate dean. “In the strict linguistic sense, he was both leader and servant.”
“If you know Symeon, you know it is his custom in life to stop whatever he is doing and to take the time to see others … and try to find a way to serve and uplift them,” said Warren Binford, former Willamette Law professor. “Students first, faculty second, himself last.”
It felt as though the symposium participants could have continued their monologues much longer than the time provided, which seemed an appropriate, and yet likely still inadequate, way to show their esteem for the man who has written over 100 articles, including 30 years of annual surveys on conflicts law, and more than 30 books.
Professors from around the world and from prominent U.S. universities, such as Harvard, Yale, Pennsylvania, NYU and Michigan, lauded Symeonides’ contributions to the field as invaluable. Their papers will be published in a special issue of the Willamette Law Review, together with 30 other papers from foreign professors who could not be present at the event.
One of the speakers, Professor Kermit Roosevelt III, who is the chief reporter of the Restatement (Third) of Conflict of Laws, acknowledged that the rules Symeonides distilled from thousands of judicial decisions “are essentially what the [Third] Restatement adopted,” concluding: “I thank Symeon for teaching them to me.”
When asked if he is proud of the accolades, Symeonides responds: “I am gratified in realizing that I have earned the genuine affection of my peers, which, in the academic world, cannot be taken for granted. It is nice to be respected for your scholarship, but even nicer to be both respected and loved. At least, that’s how I felt during the symposium.”
Symeonides by the numbers
As a scholar:
• Law degrees with grades of 10/10 and 9/10
• 30 books, 135 articles (in seven languages), and 35 shorter articles
• Four doctoral degrees
• Two lifetime achievement awards
• One gold medal
• Four academic prizes and four resolutions of appreciation
• Member of four academies
• Ranked in the top 75 living legal authors and the top 250 legal authors of all time
PLANTING SEEDS
As dean: During Symeonides’ time as dean, the College of Law:
• Dramatically improved bar passage (from five points below the state average to six points above)
• More than doubled the student scholarship budget, strengthened the LSAT profile, and increased the number of minority students and faculty
• Ranked second in “best value” among the nation’s 199 public and private law schools
• Raised $25 million in endowment, compared to $5.4 million raised in the previous 125 years in the school’s history
• Renovated the school building, added “Rick’s Café,” and acquired and renovated the “Carnegie Building”
• Reduced the faculty/student ratio from 22.4/1 to 14/1, increased the number of endowed professorships from one to eight, and doubled the number of faculty publications
Symeonides was born and raised in Lythrodontas, Cyprus, which was then a British colony. He was the seventh child of a poor farmer who, as the head of a farmers’ union, spoke against the British and was imprisoned for three years when Symeonides was six years old.
“This adversity taught me early on that life is not about what you want to do,” Symeonides says, “but rather, what you must do.”
That lesson, along with a near-death experience when a mortar shell landed next to him as a young soldier defending Cyprus from the Turkish invasion, shaped Symeonides’ life and personality.
He says he was lucky to receive scholarships to study law in Greece and at Harvard — education he could not have otherwise afforded. His extensive legal studies and great mentors helped him become “legally bilingual,” able to explain American law to Europeans and European law to Americans.
After teaching at the University of Thessaloniki Law School, where he earned his first law degree, he spent two decades in Louisiana at the LSU Law Center, culminating in a seven-year service as vice chancellor. He attributes part of his success to “the immigrant syndrome, which forces you to work twice as hard to prove that you deserve to be included,” and partly, to luck.
“I was at the right place, at the right time, to be asked to codify the state’s conflicts law,” Symeonides says. “This was the first
codification ever attempted on American soil, and, more than three decades later, it is regarded as a model for a nationwide codification,” he says.
TENDING THE VINES AT WILLAMETTE LAW
In 1999, Symeonides joined Willamette Law as dean, serving in that capacity until 2011. In a world where the average tenure of a law school dean is a little more than three years, Dean Jeffrey Dobbins, interim dean, remarked during the symposium that “you can’t be dean for 12 years without being good at what you do.”
Throughout his deanship, Symeonides had an open door and time, it seemed, for everyone.
“He always made it a point to serve as a mentor to junior scholars,” Dobbins said. “Whether by pointing your brain in a different direction, helping brainstorm ideas, reading drafts or just offering his perspective, he has always made us feel when we knock that he’s been waiting for you.”
Yet, Symeonides had work to do. His annual surveys on conflicts law required the collection of up to 6,000 American conflicts-oflaw cases per year and 15-17 hours spent reading and summarizing each day for a couple of months. And then there were his regular tasks as dean — speaking with prospective students, teaching, fundraising, promoting camaraderie with the faculty — the list went on.
Former research assistant Olivia Courogen JD’22 said during the symposium that Symeonides played a significant role in her decision to attend Willamette. During a visit to the school, she met him, introduced herself and asked if he would eat lunch with her family.
“He sat with my parents and I for over an hour,” she said. “He talked about the school, his career and answered all of my questions about Willamette … That one conversation became a measuring stick for me [and what I compared every visit to]. ‘Is there an interaction I can have at another law school that’s going to be as valuable and exciting to me as that was?’”
Mike Bennett BA’70, former associate vice president for advancement, was the major gifts officer for Willamette Law when Symeonides was dean.
“He was a development officer’s dream,” Bennett said. “He’s unique and very special. His humility and drive for excellence paid real dividends for major gifts for the law school. He made me look good, but I knew the truth — it was Symeon.”
Although he stepped down as dean in 2011, Symeonides has remained at Willamette Law, continuing to teach and produce scholarly work.
A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST
At the symposium, Kenagy, the former associate dean for academic affairs, summed up Symeonides’ toil as a “vine tender” over the last 50 years, 25 of which were at Willamette Law. A vineyard has rows of perfectly organized grape plants, he said, with a structure and design that produces the prized wine.
“I assume no one here can miss the connection in this grand metaphor in a vineyard to that part of Symeon’s massive scholarly work that you all refer to as the survey,” Kenagy said. “For a few of the years he worked on the survey, I witnessed the light streaming under his doorway after a long day teaching.
“The ‘plant stock’ had to be chosen from thousands of cases. Only the most productive and useful had to be planted, organized,
trimmed, watered and tended, for all to see and use. That’s the vineyard I am picturing. The conflicts vineyard provides ready fruit for use … That visionary thinking in turn fills the bottle of wine of scholarly choice of law decisions.”
And Binford, the former professor, shared a similar sentiment:
“Some people assume his publications are the fruit of the vine. I have watched the countless students he has taught, the faculty he has cultivated, and the emerging scholars he has mentored,” she said. “As impressive as the body of work he has written, look at the lives he has cared for, strengthened, uplifted and helped to grow through 50 years of quiet mental deliberative interweaving, the bounty harvest that would make Dionysus drunk with envy.”
Courogen has kept in touch with Symeonides since her graduation, informing him when there is important news in her life.
“He would say, ‘Bravo, Olivia,’” she said at the symposium. “Now, it’s my turn. Bravo, Professor Symeonides.”
At the end of the symposium, amidst cheers and well wishes, glasses were raised as Bennett, and others, honored Symeonides.
“A toast to this fine man.”
“Professor Symeonides is obviously not an ordinary person. And it’s lucky for us that he has toiled these fields so diligently; we are all beneficiaries of his accurate, thoughtful — and tireless — annual conflicts surveys and his numerous other contributions to the field. What better way to say ‘thank you’ to our good friend than a symposium that adds a dozen or so additional articles to his reading assignment!”
Lea Brilmayer, Howard Holtzmann Professor Emeritus, Yale Law School, in “‘Policy Plus’ and the Legacy of Legislative Supremacy in American Choice of Law”
Mike Bennett BA’70, and others, honored Symeonides with “A toast to this fine man.”
Professors retire after decades at Willamette Law
Professors Susan Smith and Yvonne Tamayo reflect on their years of service to Willamette Law
After many years of dedicated service to Willamette Law, Professors Susan Smith and Yvonne Tamayo retired in 2024. Smith, an environmental and natural resources law scholar, and Tamayo, an expert on training students on essential skills for court proceedings and developing professionalism, as well as university counsel, taught for 35 and 26 years, respectively. Each had years of experience as practicing lawyers before seeking positions in academia.
“Professor Tamayo is a model of professionalism and dedication to her students,” says Professor Caroline Davidson. “Her door is always open, literally and figuratively. My walk back to my office from class will be much less fun without her. Professor Smith has been a staunch advocate for the environment. Moreover, at the law school, she has been a consistent, thoughtful presence at scholarly talks and faculty meetings.”
Smith and Tamayo shared some parting thoughts before entering retirement.
Professor Susan Smith
For the past 35 years, I have shared with my Willamette Law students my belief that they could choose not to be just competent or good lawyers, but great lawyers. I have always defined “great” by 20 characteristics I observed in my most cherished mentors. Apart from substantive knowledge and skills, my list included “learned and thoughtful; sincere, honest, candid; calm with an ability to be passionate; compassionate; sensible and centered in worldview; diligent and dedicated; persistent;” and above all else, “committed to the service of others.”
I have always told my students that ‘C’ grades in their substantive classes did not prevent them from, nor did ‘A’ grades assure them of, becoming great lawyers. The final exams in most classes test so few attributes of a great lawyer. Many of my students have become great lawyers. I am proud of every one of them.
Virtually all of my students try to make the world a better place, with many addressing the needs of ordinary people, not huge corporations or the wealthy. Even those who end up in large firms devote much of their time to pro bono work and service to the profession. That’s the Willamette motto translated into blood, sweat and tears.
“Since I specialized in teaching environmental and natural resources law, many of my students spend their careers trying to save people and the planet, doing far more than I could have in full-time practice.”
Professor Susan Smith
Since I specialized in teaching environmental and natural resources law, many of my students spend their careers trying to save people and the planet, doing far more than I could have in full-time practice. Thank you for your hard work and commitment!
I leave Willamette optimistic for our future, despite the climate crisis, ongoing destruction of God’s creation, persistence of insidious racism and bias, resurgence of petty tyrants throughout the world, and the ever-widening gulf of wealth between the 1% and the rest of us. I am optimistic, because I know the Willamette Law students I’ve taught are on the job.
Remember these words of wisdom paraphrased from Secondhand Lions: People are basically good; honor, courage and virtue mean everything; power and money, money and power mean nothing; good always triumphs over evil; and love — true love — never dies.
Thank you to everyone in the Willamette community. It has been an honor and privilege to have been part of your journey.
Professor Yvonne Tamayo
It was late July 1998 in Salem. I arrived from Florida with my two cats, Sticker and Lucky, to teach law at Willamette University College of Law.
Soon after my arrival, I visited Roth’s Fresh Market. At checkout, the cashier asked me what plans I had for the weekend. “Do I know you?” I wondered. No, I didn’t. “Mmmm, I’m not sure yet,” I hesitantly replied.
Next stop, the gas station. As was my custom, I exited my car to pump the gas when a man with weathered skin, a bright yellow gas station vest and a ready smile appeared. “Let me do that for you,” he blithely offered. “Well, this is weird,” I thought, but I relented. He filled the tank and bid me goodbye with a cheery, “Have a good day, sweetheart.”
The puzzling behavior continued. I quickly learned that in Salem, car horns are rarely deployed. Drivers graciously allow you to change lanes in front of them without fuss or tension. They
Professor Susan Smith
“I discovered exceptionally kind and supportive colleagues and staff with whom it was a pleasure to work. I also found interesting, hardworking and mostly delightful law students. Twenty six years later, this remains true today. And so, on my departure to sunnier climes, I write this love letter.“
Professor Yvonne Tamayo
consistently use their turn signals to communicate their intentions. And, most shocking, Salemites routinely acknowledge friends and strangers, alike, with a nod and smile. Religious misgivings aside, I wondered, “Am I in heaven?”
Having spent 30 years on the East Coast, I was not prepared for what awaited me at Willamette University and the College of Law. No indifferent assistants? No hostile colleagues? No ever-present expectation that one action may set off a tension-filled exchange with a coworker?
Nope, not here. Instead, I discovered exceptionally kind and supportive colleagues and staff with whom it was a pleasure to work. I also found interesting, hardworking and mostly delightful law students. Twenty six years later, this remains true today. And so, on my departure to sunnier climes, I write this love letter.
To the many friends I’ve made, to Salem, and more specifically, the broader Willamette community, thank you. I love you.
PLANS FOR REST, RELAXATION AND CONTINUED GOOD WORK
Tamayo recently moved to Key Biscayne, an island 15 minutes east of Miami. She planned to give her rainy-day clothes away, stocking up on linen clothes, flip flops and a bathing suit or two.
“I will join a group that takes care of the feral cats on the island,” she says. “To this end, I will trade my Mercedes sedan for a Subaru station wagon, where I won’t care what cat rescue-related items I throw in the back. Best of all, I will rejoin three generations of my Miami family and enjoy their company.”
Smith continues to spend her time on water and climate justice by organizing and writing. She is serving as a commissioner with the World Council of Churches on its new Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, battling land, water and food injustice, which are intimately tied to climate disruption, she says.
“We help build awareness within faith communities of the climate link with droughts, lack of safe drinking water and water for family farms, floods, wildfires and heat waves,” Smith says.
“We empower faith communities to fight deforestation, continued use of coal, and development of new projects involving plastics, coal, oil and gas.”
Smith says the interfaith movement seeks to protect and restore the integrity of God’s creation.
“So you might simply say that retirement allows me to do God’s work for creation,” she explains. “I also spend time with friends and family, hiking and kayaking and otherwise enjoying the wonders of nature.”
At the College of Law’s 2024 Commencement ceremony, Professor Smith and Professor Tamayo were recognized as emeritus professors of law. This honor recognizes their years of service to the law school, alongside their larger impact on the legal community and legal education.
Alumni across the country
Willamette Law alumni have started or spent their careers working across the country and the globe. Hear from a few who work in various areas of law in states near and far from Oregon.
ROBIN LITTLEFIELD JD’08
Tennessee Constitutional Lawyer for the State of Tennessee
Robin Littlefield JD’08 works as a constitutional lawyer for the State of Tennessee, ensuring that the Constitutional rights of Tennesseans are respected. On the side, she owns her own firm, solving novel problems for select clients. As the daughter of a veteran and a proud daughter of Appalachia, she does a lot of pro bono work for veterans and for the Appalachian people. She splits her time between Nashville and her farm in the Great Smoky Mountains, where bears eat her grapes and grapevines.
CRAIG WAGNILD BS’89, JD’95
Hawaii Managing Partner, Lung Rose Voss & Wagnild
Craig Wagnild BS’89, JD’95 is the managing partner at the Honolulu, Hawaii, law firm of Lung Rose Voss & Wagnild, where he also serves as chair of the firm’s Transactional Law Department. Among other positions, Wagnild served as president of the Hawaii State Bar Association in 2013 and continues to be involved, serving on Bar committees and boards. He and his wife, Debbie, have two sons, Parker (20), and Zachary (16), and reside in Kaneohe.
22 | Willamette Lawyer
TREVOR FINDLEY BA’06, JD’13
Massachusetts
Clinical Instructor and Lecturer, Harvard Law School
Trevor Findley BA’06, JD’13 is a clinical instructor and lecturer on law at Harvard Law School. He came to HLS after six years of food and agricultural policy work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., and a brief stint doing advocacy work for organic farmers. On the clinical side of his work, he supervises students in HLS’s Food Law and Policy Clinic, where they provide legal and policy advice to clients working to improve the food system throughout the U.S. and across the globe. Findley also teaches a course on Food Law and Policy, where the class delves into everything from intellectual property in seeds and agriculture’s impact on the environment, to issues facing food system workers and important topics in food labeling, food safety and food security.
ADAM FROEHLICH JD’23
Minnesota
Associate Attorney, Gislason & Hunter LLP
Adam Froehlich JD’23 is an associate attorney at Gislason & Hunter LLP in Mankato, Minnesota, where he is one of 23 attorneys between two offices. He practices in a variety of areas, including agriculture law and agribusiness, business and corporate law, finance and banking, general civil litigation, and real estate. He focuses on providing a high level of detailoriented client service in seeking just outcomes, achieving c lient goals, and maximizing value, while embodying his firm’s core values.
Froehlich pursued a legal career because he is passionate about solving problems, resolving conflict, and contributing to the legal framework which holds our world together. In his spare time, he enjoys watching college sports (go Hawkeyes!) — particularly football and wrestling — spending time outdoors, being with family, and listening to podcasts.
JUSTICE FAITH IRELAND JD’69
Washington
Retired Washington State Supreme Court Justice
Justice Faith Ireland JD’69
practiced as trial lawyer for 13 years before becoming a King County Superior Court Judge. She was elected to the Washington Supreme Court in 1998 and retired in 2005 after more than 20 years in the judiciary. Her hobbies have included skiing and international powerlifting. She currently works for JAMS Mediation, Arbitration and ADR Services. She is also a Results Coach helping successful people who are hungry for more.
Nevada
Associate Director of Career Development, William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Trish Conlon JD’22 has been working as a judicial law clerk in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Hon. Jessica Peterson in Department Eight of the Eighth Judicial District Court since becoming a member of the Nevada State Bar in October 2022. Department Eight hears civil, criminal and probate matters, as well as being on the medical malpractice panel, so Conlon stays busy briefing and analyzing a wide variety of matters for Judge Peterson. As a former educator, Conlon always felt she would likely end up in legal education after law school. This goal will come to fruition in Fall 2024 when she assumes the role of associate director of career development at the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Conlon enjoys exploring the Southwest with her husband and three dogs, including camping and kayaking on the Colorado River. She also regularly takes advantage of the wide variety of entertainment opportunities in the Las Vegas Valley.
TRISH CONLON JD’22
Staff & Faculty Focus
Running a modern law library
Galin
Brown and Professor Stephanie Davidson discuss how law libraries have changed and how librarians have adapted to serve students
WhenGalin Brown, access services librarian, and Professor Stephanie Davidson, Law Library director, began their careers, print was the standard, and libraries were stereotypical, quiet places for studying with books and journals. Research was done primarily in print, and many librarians assumed this would always be the way of doing things.
Against a backdrop of technological advancements, changing educational philosophies, and the rapidly evolving needs of students and faculty, libraries are still a hub of information and resources.
At Willamette Law, Brown and Davidson are not only embracing technology but also
preparing the library to serve the community for decades to come.
With the World Wide Web just developing toward the beginning of Davidson’s career, many librarians questioned how electronic resources should be incorporated into a library’s collections.
“In many ways, it was a good time to start in libraries,” Davidson says. “I learned to embrace technology at the start, and it’s aided me in being more adaptable throughout my career.”
Now, the conversation has shifted to how artificial intelligence (AI) will influence legal research and physical library space.
For many years, the library housed deep collections of books, “just in case” a
researcher might need them. As technology developed and information brokers grew, researchers could find more information online, but libraries continued to buy and curate print collections. Davidson envisions a future where the library owns only limited physical books and focuses on licensing digital resources, reflecting the expanding capabilities of technology.
Though it can be hard to predict what students and faculty will need, the law library is poised to adapt.
“Librarians are leading many of the conversations around responsible use of AI in legal research education,” Davidson says. “There is a long way to go, but the fact that we are having conversations around incorporating new technologies into
research instruction is critical for our students and future graduates.”
Embracing new skills
While some technological advances have made research easier, they have also raised important considerations. Information literacy and critical thinking skills are even more important for students, and librarians must work harder to ensure students and faculty are taking advantage of the many resources available to them.
“It’s important for library users to know that a TikTok clip is not a substitute for research,” Brown jokes. “Though, on a more serious note, it is important that they are even more discerning in their research than ever before.”
Both Brown and Davidson are working to develop ways to teach students about information literacy both as needs arise and also in more formalized training and library programming. The more electronic resources available, the more training the librarians need to prepare for students. There is a common misconception that technology should make research simpler. Brown sees it differently and notes that the “human component” of research is more important than ever.
“Sometimes people want to take everything AI says at face value,” Brown shares. “I try to remind them to constantly doublecheck, do the research themselves, and ask the librarians questions when they aren’t certain.”
The law school’s librarians embrace technology because researchers embrace it. Librarians are knowledge experts, and their focus is adding value to library users’ research wherever possible. As a result, Brown and Davidson work to stay on the cutting edge of new technology so they can be flexible in meeting the needs of the community.
Rethinking space
As the library houses fewer books, the physical space is being reconsidered to serve more purposes.
“Students both want and need to be here in person, and they are looking for spaces to gather,” Davidson says. “The library is the heart of the school and a social hub for people to ask questions and make connections.”
The librarians’ vision positions the library as a “third space” — a place for students and faculty to gather when they aren’t in class or at home. Long-term, Davidson envisions a variety of comfortable seating options, meeting rooms, Zoom spaces, and a mix of quiet and communal study areas.
In the immediate future, the library will be adding a wellness space and a multi-faith prayer room. As technology has opened the doors to new opportunities, the law school’s librarians are still grappling with what that will mean for years to come.
“It’s planning for the now but also thinking about 20 to 30 years down the line and how today’s decisions about space, staffing and collections will impact the future users of the library,” Davidson says.
The Willamette Law Library remains a place of service with experts to support research. The librarians emphasize that while it may carry fewer books in the future, it will always be a place to gather, ask questions and build knowledge.
“Students both want and need to be here in person, and they are looking for spaces to gather. The library is the heart of the school and a social hub for people to ask questions and make connections.”
Professor Stephanie Davidson
Professor Stephanie Davidson (left) and Galin Brown
Jeffrey Dobbins steps into the role of interim dean
Dobbins reflects on his career and discusses his top priorities as the law school’s interim leader
Interim
Dean and Professor Jeffrey Dobbins joined Willamette Law in 2006 after practicing law in public and private sectors. He spent the past four years in the role of associate dean for academic affairs.
Growing up in Oregon, Dobbins regularly attended speech and debate tournaments at Willamette University and long held an admiration for the school.
“Willamette’s strong foundation, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, has always stood out to me,” he says. “I appreciate the school’s deep connection to the Oregon State Capitol just across the road and its long history in the state.”
When the chance to join the faculty at Willamette Law arose, he seized the opportunity without hesitation and has never looked back.
Throughout his career, his admiration for the school has only grown stronger. He has enjoyed watching the university as a whole grow and change over the years to best meet the needs of students.
“The times I have most appreciated at the law school are those spent in meetings with faculty, talking with staff, or connecting with alumni, all with a focus on how to improve and advance our institution for the betterment of students,” Dobbins shares. “There is a strong commitment at Willamette to our students and a collective drive and creativity that I find motivating.”
As a professor, Dobbins thrives on encouraging students to think of the law in
new and innovative ways. He enjoys pushing students to take the knowledge they learn in class and turn it into practical tools for legal practice. He has taught an array of classes, including Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, and seminars in specialized areas of the appellate process. During each of these courses, he says the one constant is how rewarding it is to watch students grow and learn in their understanding of complex legal theories and how they think about being practicing attorneys.
In his role as associate dean, Dobbins looked beyond the classroom to delve into all the operational intricacies of the law school. He was “in the weeds as much as possible,” he describes — something he enjoys. His role primarily focused on the academic and fiscal realism of the law school’s operations. From scheduling courses to working with different departments to plan their budgets, Dobbins’ ultimate goal was to ensure the law school can offer the best possible educational experience.
Now, after four years, Dobbins is stepping into the role of interim dean following the departure of former Dean Brian Gallini. His primary goal during this time is to maintain the school’s positive momentum.
“We are going to keep doing what we do well,” he says. “The school is in a strong, positive position, and I look forward to maintaining that while also finding the places where I can add value.”
Looking ahead, Dobbins will do all he can to maintain and encourage a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.
“I want to keep thinking about how to make this place better, specifically when it comes to supporting our students,” he says. “We already have a strong foundation, and I hope to set us up to continue building on that.”
In particular, he is focusing on some of the ongoing projects and efforts of the law school, especially the new Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination (SPPE), increasing experiential learning offerings, and the new Criminal Defense Clinic offered this academic year.
In addition to his new administrative responsibilities and guiding the law school through this transition, Dobbins remains dedicated to teaching. It is important for him to teach because he sees it as an important connection point for students. He also says it keeps him grounded in what brought him to the law school in the first place.
“There is a long tradition of deans teaching here,” he shares, “which makes our law school unique.”
As his new role begins, Dobbins wants students, faculty, staff and alumni to know his door is always open.
When he is not at the law school, Dobbins is an avid cyclist. To prepare for this year’s commencement, he spent the day before graduation cycling 104 miles from Portland to Astoria, Oregon. He aims to make this journey each year, though he admits that sometimes the demands of his job can get in the way.
Thinking about immigration law today
By Professor Sarah Purce and Professor Beth Zilberman
Exciting
developments are happening in the Willamette Law Immigration Clinic!
The Immigration Clinic provides secondand third-year law students the ability to represent non-citizen clients who are facing removal. Students who are enrolled in the clinic gain important transferable lawyering skills such as client counseling, drafting pleadings, case management, legal research and analysis, and applying what they learn in the classroom to assist vulnerable community members.
Students act as the primary attorney, under
faculty supervision, in assisting clients with applications for humanitarian relief, including for individuals seeking asylum, domestic violence survivors, victims of crimes, and children who have been abused, abandoned or neglected.
Clinical education is incredibly sought after by law students. When Professor Beth Zilberman relaunched the Immigration Clinic in 2022, Willamette Law became the only law school in the state with an immigration clinic. This change marked the return of a critical program providing important training for students, as well as necessary legal services to underserved
populations. Since its relaunch, applications to enroll in the Immigration Clinic have increased each semester.
In 2023, Professor Sarah Purce joined the Immigration Clinic faculty to implement the Portland Immigration Initiative (PII) and increase capacity of the immigration curriculum. Purce is spearheading the expansion of Willamette Law’s Portland presence, including partnerships with the Immigration Bar.
As part of the PII, Purce recently launched the Immigrant Justice Scholars Program, which has already admitted its first cohort of scholars to begin in the fall of 2024.
Professors Beth Zilberman (left) and Sarah Purce
Innovative Immigrant Justice Scholars program launches
Willamette Law is proud to announce the launch of the Immigrant Justice Scholars (IJS) program. This groundbreaking initiative aims to support social justice-minded students in a specialized course of study and community participation, leading to post-graduate attorney positions in funded fellowships.
The program includes an immigration-specific curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and a final immersive semester of clinical work in Portland. Participants will be eligible for partial tuition scholarships and, after successful program completion, will be competitive for the Oregon Immigrant Justice Fellowship Program, sponsored by Oregon Worker Relief (OWR). Fellows would be employed for one year, with the potential to renew for a second year, providing direct legal services as part of the Equity Corps of Oregon (ECO) universal representation program.
In addition to the usual law school curriculum, scholars will benefit from a strong foundation in immigration law and hands-on experience with experts in the field under the umbrella of the Portland Immigration Initiative. Professor Sarah Purce views the program as an opportunity to redefine many aspects of legal education and immigration advocacy in Oregon.
In fact, the program’s launch could not come at a better time for both the state and Willamette Law.
“This program is going to be beneficial to its scholars by taking advantage of the confluence of three events,” Purce explains. “Willamette Law has the only immigration law clinic in the state; Oregon has the most expansive universal representation program for immigrants in the country; and the state recently adopted historic attorney licensure reform in the form of the Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination.”
The opportunity for scholars to turn their knowledge into action will help advance access to legal services for underserved immigrant communities in Oregon. The College of Law looks forward to welcoming its first cohort of students in the IJS program in the Fall 2024 semester.
These important changes demonstrate Willamette Law’s commitment to training the next generation of lawyers with the skills required to practice and provide representation to underserved populations in Oregon.
Willamette Law is also uniquely positioned to capitalize on significant new developments in Oregon in both access to justice for immigrants and attorney
licensure reform. Oregon has recently made great strides in expanding representation for immigrants through the creation of the most expansive universal representation program in the nation.
Simultaneously, Oregon implemented a more equitable and skills-focused approach to attorney licensure for students with the recent approval of the Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination (SPPE). With their
hands-on experience, clinic students are exceptionally well-positioned to take advantage of these new developments. Their significant training, coupled with Willamette’s strong alumni network, ensures that the students will be able to find SPPE supervisors and jump into practice equipped with the skills needed to be effective advocates for those most in need.
Class Action
Share Your Success
Editorial Goal The ultimate goal of our websites, e-newsletters and magazine is to share both general and specific information that supports and exemplifies the quality of legal education received at Willamette University College of Law.
More to the Story Editors of various college website newsfeeds and e-newsletters publish information at their discretion depending upon subject matter, space available and editorial goals for the given period of publication. There is no regular editorial schedule or calendar. The types of stories featured in publications may change from year to year based upon a balance of available information, trends or specific marketing/promotional goals of the law school and the university.
Sharing Your News We want to know about your professional
Lynette Hotchkiss JD’82 was named editor-in-chief of the ABA Business Law Section’s Business Law Today in December 2023. Hotchkiss has more than 30 years of experience in consumer financial services and banking law.
Shannon Johnson JD’85 retired in 2024 after working for the city of Keizer, Oregon, since the late 1990s and serving as their only city attorney for 15 years. His favorite municipal projects were helping create Keizer Station and open Volcanoes Stadium. In
Jonathan Mayes JD’87 receives Professional Achievement Alumni Award
Jonathan Mayes JD’87 stepped up to the podium at a speaking engagement and told a story he had never shared
“When I was in law school, I was told I couldn’t live in the place that was promised to me for no other reason except that I happened to be Black,” he
Recalling the story, “Even now as I’m talking about it, it brings up emotions,” he says.
Already a successful executive for Albertsons Companies, that speech changed Mayes’ career trajectory and caused him to think more about the best use of his time professionally. After getting counsel from friends and his wife, Varetta, he spoke to the company’s CEO and head of HR, raising his hand for a role that didn’t exist at the time — chief
Mayes had spent the last two-plus decades at Safeway and Albertsons, serving as a vice president since 1999. Before becoming chief of diversity, equity and inclusion, he was senior vice president for government relations, public affairs, philanthropy and sustainability in the nationwide company with more than 300,000 employees. When the company agreed he should lead DEI, they later became an award-winning organization for their work in the area.
retirement, he plans to travel with his wife, volunteer, spend time with family and cook.
Daniel Santos JD’86, associate dean emeritus for student affairs and administration at Willamette Law, was appointed by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to a second four-year term on Southern Oregon University’s Board of Trustees in October 2023. Santos received his bachelor’s degree in criminology at SOU in 1975 and has remained involved in education throughout his career.
Three times, Mayes was named a Top 100 Diversity and Inclusion Executive in the U.S. He helped create the training program shown to nearly all employees and new hires at Albertsons that tells the ‘what, why and how’ of DEI. After he retired in 2022, he launched Jonathan Mayes Consulting to lend his diversity knowledge to other companies as a speaker and consultant.
“I talk about what it feels like to be treated unfairly for no reason aside from your race, ethnicity, gender or other characteristics. That’s the ‘what,’” he says. “The ‘why’ is why bias in all sorts of ways lessens the ability of organizations to be the best they can be, and the benefits of having a diverse organization. The harder part is the ‘how.’ How do you do it? I spend a lot of time helping leaders learn how to be more inclusive.”
Mayes has now spoken to over 50 organizations across the world to advance a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. He received the Professional Achievement Alumni Award from Willamette University earlier this year, which he says was humbling and unexpected.
“It causes me to be grateful and provides additional fuel to continue the work I’m doing,” he explains.
He credits his law school experience as the launchpad of his successful career.
“Attending Willamette Law was one of the best decisions of my life because of the stellar education I received and the strong relationships I established,” he says. “Some of my best friends to this day are people I met when I was at Willamette.”
John Mizuno JD’90 was named Hawaii Gov. Josh Green’s coordinator on homelessness in December 2023. Mizuno was a Hawaii state representative and former state house vice speaker. He has been in public service for more than 32 years.
Jim Brewer JD’93 retired in March 2024 after 31 years of legal work for the city of Philomath, Oregon. He spent his legal career consulting on issues from municipal court cases to major land-use decisions. He is looking forward to having adventures with his wife of 46 years in retirement.
Gregory Zerzan BA’93, JD’96 joined Fisher Phillips, an international labor and employment law firm representing employers, in May 2024 as of counsel. He splits his time between the firm’s Dallas and Washington, D.C., offices. Zerzan has more than 20 years of public and regulatory policy experience and also serves as the firm’s senior advisor of government relations and communications.
Brett C. Anderson JD’98 was named chief deputy prosecuting attorney for Bonneville County, Idaho, in September 2023. Anderson previously served as a prosecutor for five Utah communities. He has 25 years of experience in criminal and civil law.
Heather Van Meter JD/MBA’98 joined Miller Nash in Portland as a partner and member of its employment and litigation teams in September 2023. She has more than 25 years of experience representing private, public and not-for-profit entities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Non Nobis Solum Alumni Award goes to Jordan Jones JD’20
As Jordan Jones JD’20 sat in her cubicle working in finance in Florida in 2016, she considered what she had heard about the Pulse nightclub shooting just a few blocks away.
Jones is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and the horrific events at the gay club caused her to wonder what she was doing working in finance when she had always wanted to work in human rights. Ultimately, she decided she wanted to go to law school.
Jones began researching programs in international and comparative law and found Willamette.
“They have written the book on international and comparative law,” she says. “Professor [Caroline] Davidson was part of the former Yugoslavia war crimes trials. Professor [James] Nafziger is a source of incredible scholarly knowledge in international law. And Professor [Symeon] Symeonides has written the books on conflicts of laws. It’s literally tangible. The professors have lived it.”
During her time at Willamette, Jones received a Certificate in International and Comparative Law and studied abroad at German’s Justis Liebig University as part of a summer international human rights program.
Following her graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., to earn an LLM in international and comparative law from George Washington University Law School. She was having brunch with friends in August of 2021 when Kabul, Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban, and the world watched the situation devolve into chaos.
She immediately knew she wanted to do whatever she could to help. Through her network, she was referred to the case of a female Afghan law student who needed to get out of the country.
“That first case within a week became 30 cases, and then I was referred 60 cases,” Jones says. Through another contact, she was put in touch with a donor who paid for her to establish the Humanitarian Legal Assistance Project, giving her the ability to work as a full-time, pro bono attorney for a year, solely focused on the cases of refugees.
Jones has since traveled to the United Arab Emirates and Albania to help Afghans. She received the Willamette University Non Nobis Solum Alumni Award this year after helping more than 1500 find safety and resettlement.
“I didn’t even know I was nominated until they called me and said I won,” Jones says. “It feels great. Willamette gave me the foundation to do this work and help these people, and they still support what I do. The international and comparative law program at Willamette and the professors within it gave me the foundation to help thousands of people.”
Bradley J. Dixon JD’00 was appointed to the board of directors for Recharge Resources, a Canadian mineral exploration company, in November 2023. He serves as a non-executive, independent member of the board. He is an attorney based in Boise, Idaho, and a partner with Givens Pursley LLP, with a focus on a variety of complex commercial litigation matters.
Ryan Swinburnson JD’00 was appointed to the Blaine school board in Washington in March. He attended Blaine public schools from first grade through high school. He runs a law practice focused on criminal defense that is based in Bellingham.
Liani Reeves BA’98, JD’01 received the 2023 Oregon State Bar Award of Merit in October. She was also awarded the Professionalism Award from the Multnomah County Bar Association and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oregon Commission for Women in March 2024. She joined Miller Nash LLP in Portland as a partner in October after previously serving as president of Bullard Law. She has extensive litigation experience and serves on the education and employment team.
Mia Thibodeau JD’06 was elected president of Duluth, Minnesota, firm Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A., effective January 1, 2024. Thibodeau joined the office following her graduation from Willamette Law and has spent her entire 17-year career there. Her areas of practice include public finance and economic development, municipal law, real estate law and estate planning.
Daniel J. Rice JD’08 joined the Law Office of Julia C. Rice in Lake Oswego as an attorney specializing in estate planning, probate and trust administration, and real estate transactions. Rice previously worked in private practice and as an attorney with the Oregon Department of Justice.
Sarah Denner JD’09 was named to the 2023 Oregon Super Lawyers list. As a partner at Gearing Rackner & McGrath in Portland, Denner has had a distinguished career practicing in all areas of family law.
Keely Hopkins JD’10 joined the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action as state director of state and local affairs in March 2024. In the role, Hopkins oversees legislative and regulatory activities within the western states. She previously worked for the NRA through 2020 and most recently worked for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
Lauren Johnson JD’12 was promoted to partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in Portland in November 2023. Johnson helps companies with the acquisition and disposition of real estate, with a focus on agricultural properties, such as vineyards, orchards and citrus farms. She also assists restaurateurs with negotiating lease agreements.
Angela Wilhelms JD/MBA’13 was named a 2024 Portland Business Journal Executive of the Year. She has been the president and CEO of Oregon Business & Industry, a business advocacy group, since 2021.
Amanda Afshar JD’17 joined Schwabe in Salem as an estate planning attorney in May 2023.
She advises clients on a full range of issues related to estate planning, taxation and afterdeath administrations.
Kristi Skalman JD’20 received the Oregon State Bar’s ONLD Award of Excellence in March 2024. Skalman is a family law attorney and the owner of Vibrant Law in Portland, which is one of only a few Black-owned firms in the state.
Zack Schick JD/MBA’21 joined the Tonkon Torp LLP Business Department in Portland as an associate in March 2024. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, entrepreneurial services, not-for-profit management and employee benefits.
Olivia Courogen JD’22 joined Portland firm Buchalter as an associate attorney in December 2023. She is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Labor and Employment practice groups. Her practice is focused on complex business, commercial and employment litigation.
Julie Parrish JD’23 joined Portland law firm Kell, Alterman & Runstein in November 2023. Parrish served as the Oregon House District 37 representative from 2011-2019. She focuses her practice on health and government law and continues to work as a political consultant.
IN MEMORIAM
Leslie Hampton LLB’53 died February 21, 2024, at the age of 99. He grew up in the Tigard, Oregon, area, in a family with 12 children. He entered the U.S. Army in 1943, serving during World War II in the Western Pacific. After his discharge in 1946, he attended Willamette Law. He married Sarah Anderson in 1956 and spent his career
practicing law. He was a member of the Oregon State Bar Association for more than 50 years. Hampton and Sarah raised their two sons and enjoyed the outdoors together, making multiple trips across the U.S. and visiting 49 states. Hampton is survived by his wife and son, Kenneth, as well as multiple nieces and nephews.
Ralph Wendell Bolliger BA’53, JD’55 died October 25, 2023, at the age of 92. He was born and raised in Portland and attended Willamette for his bachelor’s and law degrees. Bolliger married his high school sweetheart, Sally Lichty, in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy beginning in 1955 and retiring as a captain in the Naval Reserve in 1977. He practiced law privately from 1959 to 1996. He was active in numerous volunteer positions with United Way, First United Methodist Church, Washington County (Oregon), Willamette University and other organizations. He enjoyed traveling, spending time with family, gardening and golfing. Bolliger is survived by his wife, Peggy, three daughters and many other family members.
Paul Osterlund BA’58, LLB’61 passed away March 16, 2024, at the age of 88. He was born in Astoria, Oregon, and was inspired by a high school teacher who told him since he liked to argue, he should consider a career as a lawyer. The idea appealed to him, and his life trajectory was set. He graduated from Willamette Law in 1961 and practiced law for more than 60 years. He was in active practice until his passing. Osterlund is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nancy, two adult children, seven grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
Simowitz stays busy with scholarly pursuits, ALI membership
As if he wasn’t busy enough, in September 2023, Professor Aaron Simowitz was elected to the American Law Institute (ALI).
The ALI is more than 100 years old and is the leading independent, nonprofit organization that focuses on improving American laws, Simowitz says. Members take part in the ALI to develop the law and give back to their profession.
As a member, he is a part of four “member consultative groups,” which are groups of members who volunteer to read drafts of projects, discuss them and provide comments.
Simowitz joined Willamette Law in 2016 and is an associate professor, teaching Civil Procedure, Bankruptcy, Negotiation and a seminar on negotiating and drafting a complex transaction. He is also the director of the Business Lawyering Institute (BLI) at the school.
In 2021, along with Professor John Coyle of UNC Law and Professor William Dodge of UC Davis Law, he took on the authorship of the “Annual Survey of Choice of Law in the American Courts” after Professor and Dean Emeritus Symeon Symeonides completed his 30th and final survey.
Research and scholarly work is part of his job, part of what he was hired to do. But the most important thing, he says, is that he enjoys it.
“I tell my students that my life is very full right now. I really only have time for family and work — but I love my family and my work. What more can you really ask for?” Simowitz shares.
“Working on the survey has been a gift. I get to work with two wonderful colleagues, Bill Dodge and John Coyle. All three of us get to step into this legacy that Symeon built up over 30 remarkable years. And (as Symeon promised), the practice of reading so many cases decided each year in my areas of study has already begun to affect my scholarship.
“Teaching is also a gift. Teaching is something that we get to do, not something we have to do. I do not necessarily enjoy every single moment — but stepping into the classroom is always a high point of any week for me.”
Jerome “Jerry” Noble JD’62 died October 4, 2023, at age 87, surrounded by his daughters. He grew up in Iowa and moved with his family to Independence, Oregon, at age 15. He received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University before attending Willamette Law. After
serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1958-1959, he married Synthia Peterson on June 19, 1959. They settled in Dallas, Oregon, where Noble was a partner with law firm Hayter, Shetterly, Noble and Weiser until 1979. He then began a career as a real estate broker,
Simowitz has a deep interest in experiential learning and simulation-based teaching, something that feeds into his work with the BLI. He has worked to bring experiential opportunities to the 1L classroom, as well as explore different approaches for other classes.
Each year, he tries to reimagine at least one.
“This year, in the business negotiations seminar, we were able to do a new business-focused simulation every other week, in contexts ranging from employment agreements to joint ventures to venture capital to fights for corporate control,” Simowitz explains. “As one of my students said in their review: ‘The better you understand a client’s business, the more effective you can be in negotiating for their interest.’”
Simowitz is taking his first sabbatical this year. One of his goals to work on is bringing the BLI back up to its pre-pandemic level of events, with a possible negotiations moot court, events for transactional lawyers and a symposium on simulation-based teaching for business law courses in the works.
though he continued practicing law. He retired in 1998. Noble was a volunteer and enjoyed creative pursuits such as clay sculpture, drawing, painting and landscaping. He and his wife traveled the U.S. and abroad together. He is warmly remembered for his sense of
humor, storytelling and love for his family and friends. Noble is survived by his daughters, grandchildren, a great-grandson and a brother.
Judge Mark Bliven LLB’61 passed away April 3, 2024, at age 90. He was a lifelong Oregonian, graduating from the University of
Sandrik’s scholarship looks at NIH-Moderna collaboration
In her most recent article, “The NIH-Moderna Public-Private Partnership: A New Contractual Model for Securing Innovation” (Texas A&M Law Review, forthcoming 2024-25), Professor Karen Sandrik examines the high-profile collaboration between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Moderna to develop the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. While initially praised as a groundbreaking partnership, cracks began to appear as disputes arose over patent rights and equitable global access to the largely taxpayer-funded vaccine.
Through an in-depth case study of the NIH-Moderna’s many contractual agreements, Sandrik argues that the parties’ use of boilerplate intellectual property clauses and lack of meaningful governance structures failed to address the unique challenges inherent in such a complex partnership. Drawing on relational contract theory, Sandrik proposes model contractual language designed to promote transparency, resolve disputes, align incentives, and foster resilient, cooperative relationships.
As public-private partnerships become an increasingly vital tool in addressing global health challenges, we must learn from the successes and failures of our past collaborations. By sharing her research with the legal community, Sandrik hopes to encourage dialogue about how we can structure these partnerships to better serve the public good while still rewarding private innovation. The NIH-Moderna story and global pandemic highlight the urgency of this task and the key role lawyers can play in shaping the future of biomedical research.
Sandrik received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for the 2024-2025 academic year. She will spend the 2025 spring semester in Bratislava, Slovakia, at Comenius University. She plans to continue researching public-private partnerships, yet this time with a focus on early-phase research and academic science technology transfer in Central Europe.
Want to connect with Sandrik about her research? Email her at ksandrik@willamette.edu and/or download her paper on SSRN.
Portland and then serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1955-58, honorably discharging as a captain. After attending Willamette Law, he started a law practice in Dallas, Oregon, in 1963. He was the municipal judge for the City of Dallas from 1970 until his retirement after 32 years in 2002. He also served the City of Monmouth for a decade as municipal judge. He married Nancy Povey in 1985 in Salem and was a member of St. Philip Catholic Church for 60 years. He was an avid fisherman and a dedicated judge, with a reputation for being levelheaded, firm and fair. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, devoted to his family and enjoying many family activities.
Allan de Schweinitz JD’67 passed away September 19, 2023, at age 80, surrounded by his family. He was born in Salem, Oregon, and graduated from the University of Oregon and Willamette Law. He married Leslie Starbuck in 1963 and practiced law in Medford, Oregon, for 35 years as a partner in several firms. De Schweinitz enjoyed playing golf, skiing, vacationing in Sunriver and Pacific City, and traveling with Leslie. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and a brother.
A. Paul Krampert JD’69 died April 12, 2024, in Tillamook, Oregon. He was born and raised in Wisconsin, then graduated from Walla Walla University in 1965 and Willamette Law in 1969. For a time, he lived on a small farm in Idaho, where he developed a passion for gardening. He returned to Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the 1980s, working for the parks department. He traveled to
Oregon to assist his aging parents and maintain their home. Along with gardening, Krampert enjoyed swimming and pursued lifelong interests in baseball, religion, literature, philosophy and history. He loved music and played the organ for Grace Lutheran Church in Kenosha and several churches in Tillamook. As a resident of both Wisconsin and Oregon, his ashes will be spread in places he loved in both states.
Hon. Charles Luukinen JD’75 died September 15, 2023, at the age of 75. He was born and raised in Astoria, Oregon. He worked his way through college and law school as a commercial fisherman. While fishing in Alaska, he met Valeria Tarabochia, whom he married in Astoria in 1970. He attended Oregon State, then Willamette Law. He began his judicial career in 1986 as a district court judge. He then went on to serve as a Polk County Circuit Court judge until he retired in 2010. He served as a trial judge for all types of cases, including one of the first DNA murder cases in Oregon. Luukinen’s mediation work was a passion of his, and he took great pride and satisfaction in it. He had a true impact on judicial work in Oregon over his more than 35 years of legal practice.
Outside of his professional career, he was a high school and college basketball referee for 35 years. He and his wife were very involved with the HOOPLA 3-on-3 basketball event. Luukinen was a lifelong fisherman, clam digger and outdoorsman, as well as a devoted husband and loving father. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and a sister.
Judge Joseph Michael Meier JD’84 passed away at age 64 on November 22, 2023, in Boise, Idaho, following a battle with bile duct cancer. He grew up in Maryland and Connecticut. He attended the University of Oregon after his family moved to the state, then earned his law degree at Willamette. While there, he met his wife, Brenda. Meier practiced law with Cosho Humphrey, LLP, in Boise for more than 30 years, specializing in bankruptcy, commercial and business law. He was appointed to the federal bench in 2018 as a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the District of Idaho and became chief bankruptcy judge in 2019. He was well-respected and liked by both the bench and the bar. He and Brenda had a wonderful life together and raised three children. Meier was devoted to his family and was an amazing father with sharp intelligence,
an inherent good nature and sense of humor. He is survived by his wife, three children and other family members.
John Edward Storkel JD’84, 69, died August 6, 2023, following a battle with esophageal cancer. He grew up in the Midwest and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17. He received several medals during his service from 1971 to 1974. Storkel married Patricia Mack in 1975. They moved to Salem, where he attended Western Baptist Bible College (later Corban University) and Willamette Law. After earning his JD, he began a solo law practice as a criminal defense lawyer, handling probation, habeas corpus and postconviction cases. He represented hundreds of clients as a court-appointed attorney. After qualifying to handle serious felony and homicide cases, he
Order in the Court
defended several high-profile clients and was a member of the select panel of federal defense attorneys for 25 years. Storkel enjoyed playing pinochle and poker, hunting, reading and listening to music. He also wrote poetry, sending thoughtful messages to friends. He is survived by his wife, Patty, brother, sister and nephew.
David Crow BA’61, LLB’64 passed away in Portland on March 28, 2024, at age 84. He was born in McMinnville, Oregon, and attended Oregon State University and Willamette University and College of Law. He worked for six summers at Crater Lake Lodge, in roles from bellhop to bartender. While in law school, he worked at U.S. National Bank, and he joined the Trust Department there after graduation. He stayed for 38 years, then retired and
worked at an investment firm, Thompson and Rubenstein. He was a member of the Portland City Club and served on several committees. For 64 years, he was an active professional trumpeter, retiring only last year. He performed with the Oregon Symphony, dance bands, circuses and ice shows in Portland. He was a wonderful husband and father, well-liked by everyone who knew him. He is survived by Vivian, his wife of 60 years, two sons, a granddaughter and sister-in-law.
This section includes some Willamette Law graduates recently appointed to, elected to or retired from judicial positions, although it is not a comprehensive list. Many Willamette Law alumni serve or have served in judicial positions across the country.
CALIFORNIA
Judge Marianne Gilbert JD’88 was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as a judge in the Kings County Superior Court in October 2023. Gilbert was previously a contract attorney for Kings County, working on court-appointed cases since 1988.
OREGON
Judge Joanna Marikos JD’97 was appointed by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to the position of circuit judge in Oregon’s Sixth Judicial District, which encompasses Umatilla and Morrow Counties. The appointment was effective in February 2024. She was previously a referee pro tem for the district’s civil department and a treatment court judge.
Judge Jessica Meyer JD’05 was hired as a municipal court judge for Albany’s city government in October 2023. Meyer joined Morley, Thomas & McHill (now Morley Thomas Law) in February 2006 and became a partner in the firm in January 2011. Her practice centers on estate planning, probate, trust administration and guardianships/ conservatorships.
WASHINGTON
Judge James Lawler JD’82 will retire from the Lewis County Superior Court at the end of his term in January 2025 after 17 years on the bench. “Over the years, I have presided over thousands of cases. It was always my goal to give each litigant an opportunity to be heard as they exercised their rights,” Lawler said in a written statement announcing his retirement. “I tried to ensure fairness and compassion in my decisions, knowing the profound impact they had on the lives of those who appeared before me.”
Judge Marianne Gilbert
College of Law
900 State Street Salem, OR 97301
Creating a will ensures you have a voice in how your life’s assets benefit others. Gifts left to a charitable organization like Willamette University will directly impact the student experience, often making the difference in a student’s ability to attend. Your will could be the way a student is able to make Willamette Law a launchpad for their legal career.
COLIN BENSON JD’98, pictured here with Lucy the photobomber, has generously included Willamette University’s College of Law in his will to support the greatest needs of the College.
