WMU-Cooley Law School Benchmark Magazine 50th Anniversary Special Edition

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2022

A RETROSPECTIVE INTO THE FUTURE 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

A

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI MAGAZINE | 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | SUMMER 2022

Letter from the

President and Dean Benchmark EDITOR Terry Carella CO-EDITOR Sharon Matchette ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS William Arnold Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Terry Carella, Sharon Matchette SeyferthPR DESIGN Image Creative Group PHOTOGRAPHY Terry Carella, Tom Gennara Photography SUBMISSIONS Benchmark seeks story ideas from graduates on a variety of subjects such as graduate achievements, international experiences, cultural diversity, legal information helpful to practitioners, unique law practices, advice to prospective law students, and special events. If you would like to share a story idea, please write, call, or e-mail: Communications Office WMU-Cooley Law School 300 S. Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 371-5140 ext. 2916 communications@cooley.edu Benchmark is published twice a year by the Communications Office of Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

ALUMNI DIRECTORY The alumni directory is located in the WMU-Cooley portal. You will need an individual user name and password to access the database. https://portal.cooley.edu/ Please call the Alumni Office at (800) 243-2586, or e-mail alumni@ cooley.edu with questions.

What an amazing milestone for our great school, to celebrate half a century of Judge Brennan’s dream of making a legal education more accessible. From its inception, Cooley challenged the status quo in legal education, “standing firm in its belief that the study of law should not be an esoteric pursuit and that the practice of law should not be an elitist profession.” With over 21,000 alumni advancing justice, we look forward to continuing to lead changes in legal education for the next 50 years.

Having been at WMU-Cooley only three years, my view of its foundational years is not as personal as many of those featured in this special edition of The Benchmark.

From my perspective, it is clear that by meeting students where they were, offering flexible scheduling, and providing a practice-ready legal education, Cooley made a legal education possible for many potential lawyers for whom a traditional law school would not be feasible. Many of our graduates took advantage of our student-focused scheduling and curriculum to be able to start a second career. Traditional law students and other future lawyers with significant familial responsibilities all benefited from our program which prepared them to hit the ground running upon graduation.

Enjoy this exciting issue that explores our early years through the eyes of many of our alumni, including our longest serving board member and former chair, Larry Nolan (Cooley Class, 1976). Our hard-working staff has assembled a great selection of photos to chronicle and celebrate this formative period in our history.

As we look back on the last 50 years, we also see the building of the foundation for the future of our school. Cooley has always placed great emphasis on excellence in teaching and that tradition lives on as our faculty continue to adopt teaching methods empirically proven to improve student performance. As always, we adapt to the latest trends in practicing law to prepare each new generation of Cooley lawyers to be truly practice-ready.

Celebrate this first half century with us and stay involved as we continue to innovate and lead the legal academe to shape our great profession for the future.

Proud leader of our great school, James McGrath Professor, President and Dean WMU-COOLEY BOARD OF DIRECTORS THOMAS W. CRANMER HON. LOUISE ALDERSON Miller Canfield Chair, Board of Directors Troy, Michigan 54-A District Court Lansing, Michigan JOHN M. DUNN MUSTAFA AMEEN President Emeritus of Law Office of Ameen & Shafii Western Michigan University Tampa, Florida Kalamazoo, Michigan AARON V. BURRELL HON. MICHAEL P. HATTY Dickinson Wright PLLC Chief Judge, 44th Circuit Detroit, Michigan Court, 53rd District Court CHRISTINA L. CORL Livingston County Plunkett Cooney Columbus, Ohio

HON. JANE E. MARKEY Michigan Court of Appeals Grand Rapids, Michigan KENNETH V. MILLER Millennium Restaurant Group, LLC Kalamazoo, Michigan LAWRENCE P. NOLAN Nolan, Thomsen & Villas P.C. Eaton Rapids, Michigan

HON. BART STUPAK Venable, LLP Washington, D.C. JORDAN V. SUTTON Sutton Advisors PLC Lansing, Michigan MITCHELL S. ZAJAC Butzel Long Detroit, Michigan

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

Features Summer 2022

2. POLLY BRENNAN, widow of Cooley Law School founder Thomas Brennan Sr., reflects on the vision her husband had for a new kind of law school that would provide all qualified applicants an opportunity for a career in law.

14. THE SUTTON FAMILY Members prove that the family that attends law school together thrives together.

22. TAKURA NYAMFUKUDZA 5. LARRY NOLAN, former chairman of the Cooley Board of Directors and a member of the school’s first class, shares decades of memories.

brings style and passion for protecting the rights of the accused.

25. ELIZABETH DEVOLDER 12. PATRICIA MORRIS and her late mother, Donna Morris, both graduates of Cooley and both judges, shared a bond and law experience that enriched both of them.

Superstar law graduate pivots law practice to combine passions for law and art.

1

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

Polly Brennan

“

BY TERRY CARELLA

THERE’S NO POINT IN HAVING DREAMS IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO FULFILL THEM.” Pauline (Polly) Brennan was used to her husband, Tom — the late Michigan Supreme Court Justice Thomas E. Brennan Sr. — coming up with ideas — and plenty of them.

Some were good, some not so good. “But some of his ideas were visionary,” she says, “And Cooley Law School was one of those.”

“He was always a dreamer. But he would also say that there’s no point in having dreams if you’re not going to fulfill them. And the school was a dream.”

Some might say that Cooley Law School may never have been more than a dream had it not been for the woman Judge Brennan referred to as his “sainted wife, Polly.”

Polly describes the time when the idea of starting a law school

2

first began percolating in the judge’s head. “During the 1970s, competition for law school admission was fierce, a privilege for only the highest achieving, most elite students. I believe there were typically a dozen or more applicants clamoring for each law school seat,” Polly recalls.

As a member of the Michigan Supreme Court, Polly says her husband received multiple calls and letters every week from people

asking if he could help them gain admission to law school.

“People would tell my husband all they wanted was a chance.

But the door to the legal profession was closed to so many people.”

“Tom believed anyone who was willing to put in the work should at least have a chance to study the law,” Polly recalls.

“He felt strongly that a legal education was something that should not be an exclusive opportunity for a select few.

And he wanted to open the doors of the legal profession to non-traditional students and to people who otherwise didn’t have the opportunity to attend law school.”

In addition, all four of the state’s law schools were in southeast Michigan — three in Detroit, and one in Ann Arbor. Judge Brennan thought the state capital, in the heart of state government, was the ideal place for a law school.

Once he realized how important it was to expand the opportunity to study the law, Polly says he made a commitment to himself to make it happen. He filed articles of incorporation for a non-profit school, assembled a board of directors, and began recruiting the school’s first faculty, all while holding down his position as a member of the state’s highest court.

MAKING A DREAM A REALITY Judge Brennan’s commitment still seemed like a pipe dream from the perspective of his wife, who was mostly worried about how the couple would provide for their six children.

Shaking her head and smiling, Polly vividly remembers the car ride when her husband announced that he intended to make the law school his number one priority. “I was in the back seat of the car; our son John was driving, when Tom turned around and said, ‘You know what, Polly? I think I’m going to quit the court.’”

Polly was certain he was kidding. “I said, ‘Oh, right.’

But he said, ‘No, I’m serious.

If I don’t go and work at this thing full-time, it’s not going to happen. We won’t get accredited. We’ve got 75 people who have made a commitment to Cooley and I owe it to them to make the school a success.’”

That night, after dropping their son off at school, the two stayed up until the wee hours in their hotel room working out how they could make Tom’s commitment to the fledgling law school a viable option for the couple and their family.

“It was around 4 o’clock in the morning,” Polly says, “we were sitting on the floor of our room at a Howard Johnson’s motel, when finally, I looked Tom in the eyes and we agreed, yes, we could do this.”

From then on, Polly was just as committed to Cooley Law School as her husband.

On returning to Michigan, Judge Brennan scheduled a press conference to announce that he planned to resign from the Michigan Supreme Court at the end of 1973 to become the first full-time dean and president of Cooley Law School.

LEAP OF FAITH Polly is the first to praise her husband for his total commitment to the law school, its students, and its graduates, but she also recognizes the dedication of everyone who took that leap of faith to bring the dream to fruition.

“Tom’s commitment was amazing, and not just his commitment, but the commitment of the students who signed up for the first class and the professors who signed on with him. They were all willing to take the chance.”

She recalled an interview she and Judge Brennan had with one of the school’s first professors, Professor Ronald (continued)

3

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022 POLLY BRENNAN

Trosty, and his wife, Fran, in New York City. Polly was amazed that Professor Trosty was willing to pull up stakes and move to Lansing, all on Tom’s word that the school would succeed.

If you ask Polly what it was about her husband that gave others the confidence to follow his dream, she states with certainty that it was the strength of his professional achievements, certainly, but even more so, his character.

“He had served on several courts at that point,” explained Polly, “even as Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Leaving the court to devote himself to the school demonstrated that he was serious. I think his actions impressed people and enabled people to believe in him.”

That faith and trust in Judge Brennan and the law school was rewarded at the first swearing in ceremony of the Cooley Class in 1976. Polly recalled the heartfelt pride of everyone involved that day.

“I was there to watch Tom and Bob Krinock, at the time the assistant dean, at the ceremony,” said Polly. “They

were genuinely pleased, and certainly proud. That Cooley Class was incredible. They went into it with a ‘we’ll show you’ vengeance, and they did.

That class had the highest bar pass rate in the state; they even beat U of M. What a great group of men and women.”

ONE INSPIRATION SPAWNS ANOTHER The law school’s modest start blossomed into more successes, and many ideas.

Polly laughed as she recalled the time her husband came home and declared that the law school needed some more pomp and circumstance at its commencement ceremonies.

“Polly, what we need for the graduation is marshals.

They’re like ushers, but they’re called marshals. They should be dressed in attire that makes them stand out; with tails and striped pants for the men, and formals for the women — all gussied up!”

So, Polly took on the task of organizing the marshals program, a Cooley tradition that continues after 50 years.

FINDING AND RECRUITING TALENT One of the first hires at Cooley started as Polly Brennan’s secretary, but that was only the beginning of Cherie Beck’s journey with Cooley Law School.

“I hired Cherie to be my secretary when I was working at the law school,” smiled Polly, “She had just graduated from Davenport College, and

I didn’t know what to do with her. I never had a secretary before. But it didn’t take long to work into it. But when Tom’s secretary announced she was leaving, I knew how I could help him out.

“I went to his office and said, ‘You know what? I’m going to give you the best present I have ever given you, probably in our whole life, other than the children. I’m going to give you my secretary, Cherie Hadden. You won’t be unhappy. She is magnificent, and very organized.’ ” Cherie Hadden Beck not only was a gift of support for Judge Brennan in the President’s Office since the beginning, but she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree, then, with some encouragement from her boss, a J.D. from Cooley Law School. Today, Cherie Beck (Flannigan Class, 1999) is the Executive Assistant to the President, Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary.

LEAVING A LEGACY AROUND THE WORLD When asked what her hope is for the law school today, Polly says she hopes that the sense of community and warmth that started the law school would always be a part of what has made it so special. “I hope those good feelings where everybody’s pulling for each other, like family, never get lost.”

“Recently, I saw an article in the paper about the school and President McGrath’s

leadership, and I’m so pleased to see that he is leading in the right direction,” she says. “It’s a comfort to know that Tom’s legacy is in such good hands.”

There’s one story that stands out to Polly as she considers her husband’s legacy and the impact he had on the lives of its graduates and the legal community.

“We were in an airport when a young couple approached my husband. They had a little boy, maybe two or three years old.

The young man walked up to Tom and said, ‘Judge Brennan, I am a graduate of Cooley Law School and I want you to meet my wife.’ They talked for a while and exchanged many pleasantries, then the man leaned down and said to his little boy, ‘This is Judge Brennan; he’s the one who made it possible for daddy to go to law school. And that’s how all of this happened.’

“Tom had a sweet exchange with the youngster, just typical talk, then as we were getting ready to head to our gate, the little fella tapped Tom on the knee, looked up at him, and said in earnest, ‘I love you, Judge Brennan!’ I thought Tom would fall over. It was so endearing.”

Over 21,000 graduates later, the idea that Judge Brennan launched in 1972 still inspires people across the nation and around the world to pursue and fulfill their own dreams.

“Knowing people are able to pursue their love of the law is the greatest legacy of all.” POLLY BRENNAN 4

Larry Nolan When it comes to being dedicated to WMU-Cooley Law School, Larry Nolan (Cooley Class, 1976), a member of the law school’s inaugural class, stands out among the over 21,000 graduates. Serving 39 years on the board, eight as chair, Nolan’s accomplishments are numerous, as are his memories of WMU-Cooley.

He was honored in 2013 with the law school’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award, he served several roles with the State Bar of Michigan including president in 2017 and was inducted into the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame in 2019.

Nolan is the founder and president of Nolan, Thomsen & Villas, where he continues to practice his skill, focusing on personal injury, wrongful death, criminal, probate, domestic relations, estate planning and real estate law. Nolan earned his undergraduate degree in English with a minor in business administration at Western Michigan University, where he was a member of the Broncos’ hockey team.

As a son of an Irish Immigrant, he always wanted to attend law school but was unsure of his opportunities following his time at WMU. “I applied at Notre Dame, University of Michigan and North Carolina. I was waitlisted at Michigan. At the time there was something like 4,500 to 5,000 applicants for 185 total seats at Notre Dame, Michigan, and North Carolina.”

LAW SCHOOL DREAM COMES TRUE Nolan recalls learning about a new law school that was about to open in Lansing. At the time he was working in Flint at a YMCA residential treatment center for children (continued)

5

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022 LARRY NOLAN

who were taken out of abusive situations.

“My brother-in-law called me and said that there’s a new law school opening in Lansing, started by a Michigan Supreme Court Justice, Judge Thomas E. Brennan. Would you be interested in going?’”

Nolan didn’t care where he went to law school, but didn’t want to move from Michigan.

“This law school’s going to make it… we’ve just had a miracle. I think Jesus Christ has just enrolled as one of our first students.” POLLY BRENNAN

“I got an application, mailed it back in and was admitted to the first class,” said Nolan. “Because I was so happy to get the chance to go to law school, one of the first things I did after getting the letter saying I was accepted was to go to the Supreme Court. I went up to the second floor where the chambers were and I peeked into the door of Justice Brennan’s chambers. I saw his administrator Marianne Farhat and announced who I was and asked if I could see Justice Brennan. She took me to his chambers and I said I just want to introduce myself.

My name is Larry Nolan and I want to thank you for the opportunity of being able to go to law school and for you starting a law school because that is what I have wanted to do all my life.

“I wanted to make sure I did that personally and not just send a letter because he was fulfilling an opportunity for me. I told him, I hope I never let you down. We became very close friends.

When registering to attend Cooley, the first students had to make a deposit

6

by stopping by the temporary office, or mailing it in. Nolan didn’t want to miss his chance, so he personally stopped by to pay the deposit as to not take any chances on it getting lost in the mail.

“I had hair down past my shoulders and a dark beard,” remembered Nolan. “I later learned that after Polly, Justice Brennan’s wife, registered me, she told the law school’s founder, ‘this law school’s going to make it.’ He asked her how she knew and in return she said, ‘because we’ve just had a miracle. I think Jesus Christ has just enrolled as one of our first students.’”

Nolan soon moved from Flint to begin his dream of earning a law degree.

“In that first class I was one of the younger members. I moved to Lansing and moved into the basement of my sister and brother-in-law’s home.”

While attending classes during Cooley’s first term ever, Nolan worked for the Law Firm of Dunnings and Gibson and then as a court officer at the Michigan Court of Appeals. Most students at that time had other careers, or obstacles that kept them from a traditional law school setting.

“The first set of classes were at night. I would get off work at five and walk down the street a few blocks to Grand Avenue and start my classes at 6 o’clock,” said Nolan. “Tom’s (Justice Brennan) dream was to give an opportunity to more individuals. Cooley provided access to those individuals who might not be able to go to law school because they had families or children and couldn’t abandon everything and go to Ann Arbor, Detroit, or another state. It was really a novel, unorthodox way of going to law school

Study Abroad in Law School

“Cooley provided access to those individuals who might not be able to go to law school because they had families or children and couldn’t abandon everything and go to Ann Arbor, Detroit, or another state. It was really a novel, unorthodox way of going to law school in the eyes of the purists.” LARRY NOLAN in the eyes of the purists.”

After taking the bar exam, Nolan and his law school friend and office mate Jerry Sutton, waited patiently to hear their results.

“One morning, Jerry handed me a letter that he had received, which said to call a number to find out if he had passed the exam. I said you have to be kidding me, did you call this number? He said ‘yes’ and I asked if he passed and he said, ‘yes.’ I said oh my God, so I picked up the phone, dialed the number, gave my number for the exam and they told me that I passed.

“We each paid $50 a month for rent to lease out the office that we shared. We kind of went out and celebrated and blew

the rent money at Art’s Bar that night.”

WHAT COOLEY MEANS TO LARRY NOLAN When talking about law school, Nolan isn’t afraid to share what he paid for his legal education and in return what the investment earned him and his need to give back to the law school.

“I’m thankful and appreciate what Cooley gave me an opportunity to succeed at,” said Nolan. “There were no guarantees, but I knew what I wanted to do. When I started I was paying $50 per credit hour.

I almost feel guilty in some respects.

When I got out of law school I had no debt, didn’t have any great savings, I drove an old used car, but I’m forever thankful to Tom and Polly Brennan. I’m forever thankful for those who took the time to teach those first classes. I can never give back what I took out of Cooley and the opportunity I had trying cases and becoming president of the State Bar of Michigan.

I always felt a compelling need to give back financially and any other way I could to Cooley.”

Nolan explains his future as a practicing attorney through an experience he had while fishing in Sascatchewan Canada. “I had the opportunity to speak with an 85-year-old man who told me he was a farmer. I said, ‘you used to be a farmer; when did

you retire?’ He looked at me and said ‘I haven’t retired’ and I said you haven’t retired, why not? He said, ‘when I get up in the morning I’ve got a hot cup of coffee and a place to go.’ I thought about that. He’s done that his entire life and he enjoys it, so I have somewhere to go and a hot cup of coffee waiting for me.”

Larry has been married to his wife, Laurel, for 42 years. His daughter, Bridget, is a psychologist, and his son, Patrick, is a physican. They have two grandchildren, Nolan (5) and Emmersyn (3).

7

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

5

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH FIVE

Retired Faculty Members Faculty are essential to the academic success of students. In a law school, what they teach must translate into passing the bar exam and years of practice afterward. At Cooley Law School, there have been many faculty over the years who have left a lasting impression on both students and the law school community.

Many have passed away including Bob Krinock, Roger Needham, Gerald Boston, Peter Kempel, Judy Frank, and Pete Jason. Fortunately, we have a significant number of emeritus faculty (and deans) and their answers to five questions follow.

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS:

Q1. WHAT WAS THE MOST COMPELLING

DEAN AND PROFESSOR MIKE COX

REASON(S) FOR YOUR DECISION TO JOIN COOLEY LAW SCHOOL AS A PROFESSOR?

Q2. WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST MEMORY AS A PROFESSOR AT COOLEY LAW SCHOOL?

Q3. WHAT MAKES YOU MOST PROUD

ABOUT BEING A PART OF THE HISTORY OF COOLEY LAW SCHOOL?

Q4. WHAT COURSE DID YOU ENJOY

TEACHING THE MOST AND WHY?

Q5. WHAT IS ONE FUNNY EVENT OR

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT HAPPENED ALONG THE WAY?

Q1. My years at Thomas

Cooley can be divided into two parts: the decanal years (1988-1996) and the full-time teaching years (1996-2013).

Each was distinctive in its own way. I should say, however, I’ve always considered being a faculty member the more important and satisfying of the two. In my opinion, a dean (for however long (s)he serves) is merely first among equals — always a member of that collegial body called “the faculty.”

Q2. For me personally, I saw my personal growth from simply being a teacher and colleague to that of being a mentor of younger colleagues as they grew into effective teachers. This was very satisfying.

It was gratifying how the faculty met, discussed, and grew after its coming together at a weekend retreat at Whitmore Lake.

8

Q3.

During my first visit to Thomas Cooley (at that time, the entire school was located in the Temple), I noticed several things which needed fixing: There was no air conditioning in the Temple (large “propeller” fans attempted to move air in the classrooms and made hearing difficult), the basement library was small and dark, and there was rust on the revolving door at the front of the Temple — all three of which were eventually corrected: The Temple was renovated (with A/C and made fully handicap accessible); the Brennan Library was opened with the latest technology; and the Cooley Center (with expanded classroom and office space and a bookstore) became a reality.”

Q4.

After leaving the deanship in 1996, I resumed full-time teaching (Contracts, Federal Administrative Law, and Conflict of Laws) which is, in my opinion, the best part of being in education. I was appointed chair of the

Contracts Department; its members worked well together and were a strong, competent group of educators who taught well and communicated.

PRESIDENT, DEAN AND PROFESSOR DON LEDUC

Q5.

All of this (and more) was accomplished while the school remained true to Thomas Cooley’s underlying philosophy: Make basic, legal education accessible to as many people as possible. While maintaining its founding, admissions criteria — an average LSAT score and a college degree — enrollment stabilized at between 1,600 -1,800 full-time and part-time J.D. students.

Bar passage rates remained competitive as a result of Thomas Cooley students working hard as they worked their way through a required curriculum which included every area tested on the Michigan bar exam. These subjects were taught by a dedicated faculty who, unlike colleagues at many other law schools, were persons who had actually practiced law. It gave them an advantage and credibility. However, none of these decanal and teaching experiences would have been possible without the support of Tom Brennan and his management team (Ray Brennan, Bill Robinson, and Jim Hicks). Needless to say, I have very fond memories of my 25 years at Thomas Cooley.

Q1.

As administrator of the Michigan Office of Criminal Justice Programs under Governor William Milliken, I had worked with then-Chief Justice Tom Brennan on Supreme Court initiatives. I also worked with his administrative assistant, Bob Krinock, on those projects and with him later with criminal justice projects for Wayne County after Bob became the county’s federal grant coordinator. I was aware of the founding of the law school by Justice Brennan and of Bob Krinock’s role at the school.

As I looked for a new position, law professor was an obvious alternative and I had great confidence in the school’s founders. Along with Jack Rooney and Bill Weiner, I joined the full-time faculty on January 1, 1975, before it won the hard-fought battle for provisional accreditation.

Q2. Restricting this

question to the early years of the law school, it was the school’s response to the ABA’s attempt to take away its accreditation only a year after that accreditation was granted, based on 10 alleged grounds for removal. The ABA rules of procedure at the time provided for a hearing before an (almost) independent hearing panel or commission. The panel found in favor of the law school on each of the 10 items. Quoting from then-Dean Brennan’s summary of the event from his memoir Starting a Law School: “on point after point, the Commission concluded that it was unable to find support for the ABA’s allegations, that it found no evidence to support the allegations, or that the evidence was insufficient to justify the ABA’s conclusions.”

Tom Brennan’s 80-essay memoir summarizes the events well; the document should be required reading for employees and students alike.

Q3.

Cooley has openly offered nearly everyone who dreamed of becoming a lawyer the opportunity to realize their dream. We made clear that the opportunity should be broadly provided to all, but that the outcome had to be earned. That philosophy remains anathema with legal education in general (continued)

9

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

and with the Council of the Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar in particular. We have spent these 50 years fighting the efforts of the council to impose its elitist views on our School.

Q4.

Ironically, after law school graduation I was employed in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, followed by employment in the Michigan Office of Criminal Justice Programs. Naturally, I thought I would be teaching Criminal Law and maybe Constitutional Law. That was not to be–Dean Krinock informed me shortly before the semester started that Bill Weiner would get those courses, while I would be teaching Torts and Administrative Law, and after classes began he added Advocacy. Administrative Law became my favorite: how could it not? As Dean Krinock said “you already know all that government stuff.” I never did teach either of my early choices.

Q5.

One night in my Torts class, a student came to me with what was then an unprecedented request: his wife who usually

10

had the kids while he was in class could not perform the task that night, so could they sit with him. I said yes, if they were quiet. As class unfolded, I presented a question to a different class member who was reciting. He was stumped, as were his peers as I pressed the class for an answer. The situation grew a little awkward. Then, I could see that one of the kids was engaged. I looked at her and her hand went up. I called on her. She answered the question correctly. I praised her, but left the lesson she had just taught the class unspoken.

I cannot resist offering another less profound story involving a different Torts class about a year later on Halloween night. Nearing the end of the first hour, I heard bells tinkling down the hallway, getting closer to the open door. A face appeared; I beckoned enter.

A woman came in – dressed as a belly dancer and carrying a couple of pizzas. She said this is from the members of the class who were not present. Right away, I surmised that this gift is from the bar across the street, a favored hangout of students and faculty. At the time, the lower level of the Temple building was still a cafeteria. I declared our usual break, and we adjourned to the cafeteria, where the class and I shared the pizzas. The belly dancer declined to join us.

PROFESSOR CHARLIE SENGER

Q1. Why did I give up being

Chair-elect of the Detroit Young Lawyers and the chance to pursue an LL.M. in tax at NYU? Simple.

At that time, everyone working at Cooley seemed united in a determination to change and improve legal education. That was an exciting goal, and I joined the effort to bring it about.

account. On the administrative and faculty side, this same computer processing produced item analysis feedback that both allowed improvement of student grading but also better guidance on how the information could be used in decision making generally.

Further examples would include the first use of a personal computer, a Radio Shack TRS80 Model 1 (that I still have), for classroom and other faculty work, and the introduction of classroom “clickers” which allowed real-time student feedback to be displayed on the classroom screen.

Q2. The power transformers

for the Temple Building sometimes blew out leaving the building without power. One day, while teaching in a second floor Inn of Court, the room suddenly went completely dark. A blind student, hearing the commotion, calmly stood up, took hold of her guide dog, turned to face the class, and asked: “Does anyone need my assistance in guiding you out?” As often happened, I was filled with pride at the spirit and talents of our wonderful students.

Q4.

During a difficult time for Cooley, Thaddeus Cook came to my office with the idea of starting another law review.

Since I had been a Managing Editor at University of Detroit, I was able to help with the logistics, including obtaining faculty approval for credit, etc.

I am most proud of how Thad put together a great team my prior computer employment of students, whose names are allowed me to bring more printed in the early issues for technology to Cooley. For example, all to read and know, and Dean I saved staff time by converting LeDuc soon offered more space both student evaluations and and funding. The Thomas M. multiple choice exams from hand Cooley Journal of Practical scoring by staff to computer and Clinical Law, grew from readable forms that I processed those roots. for years on my personal MSU

Q3.

Q5. CLANK! Clank? Heads Q3. I am most proud that our ASSOCIATE DEAN AND all turned toward the Inn of Court door. First, the door swung open.

Then a mop head appeared, followed by a mop handle, followed by a loping Earl Dayton crossing the front of the classroom and exiting out the far door.

The professor just smiled. Before its very eyes, the class was seeing an enactment, of sorts, of the Pierson versus Post fox hunt, a case they would not soon forget.

Educational research indicates that a janitor vitally affects educational outcomes of a school. On that day, Earl clearly did his part.

full-time professors teach classes PROFESSOR BILL WEINER year-round, mornings, evenings, and weekends. This offers students the most flexible scheduling anywhere, while providing them with top-flight teachers. Very few law schools offer weekend classes, and evening classes at most schools are taught by part-timers.

PROFESSOR OTTO STOCKMEYER

Q4. I enjoyed teaching

Q1. The most compelling

Equity and Remedies the most.

It’s a wide-ranging course.(“For every wrong there is a remedy,” and often more than one—which is where the fun really begins.)

Particularly when taught by the “problem method,” it’s as close to actual law practice as almost anything short of working in a clinic.

remain a constant validation of our educational efforts.

Q4.

Q1. I was working at the

Without a doubt, my International Law class was my favorite. Because it was an elective, most everyone who took it wanted to be there.

As a small class, we all could contribute without the pressure of reciting. And the subject matter broadened student perspectives immediately and easily.

Q2. So many great

President Brennan saw me in the parking lot and waved at me to stop. He had heard I was engaged (to Paula Latovick) and offered congratulations and a handshake. Then he stepped back and quizzically asked “What took you so long?” I answered, “It took me a while to find someone named Polly.”

He was temporarily stunned, which in my experience was quite unusual. Then we both laughed.”

Prosecuting Attorneys Appellate Service in 1974 and my boss was teaching Cooley’s first-year course in Criminal Law. He had some work conflicts and I covered the class for him a time or two. Those early students were both engaged and engaging. So when President Brennan offered me a faculty position (there was no hiring committee process then) I jumped at the chance. I had no idea that this would turn out to be both my best and last job!

memories...it’s hard to choose.

Overall, building our foreign reasons for my decision to join programs had to be a continuing Cooley Law School were: highlight. In retrospect, our Once a student visited (1) The school had just received celebration in Toronto of the 20th my office for help after flunking full ABA approval, (2) Don LeDuc, Contracts I. She refused my advice year for that foreign study program and (3) Bill Weiner. I knew these was probably my single best to retake it from someone else, two, who were already on the memory. We had current students, declaring that I was “the god of faculty, and they were straight program alums, and international Contracts.” Most unfortunately, shooters. So I felt confident that faculty present and past, all she flunked it again. On her third the school was on the up and up. try she received a B from Maurice attending a wonderful evening Munroe, who thus became the new event.

One certainly was when “god of Contracts.” But realizing the Torres brothers, law students The pride for me is in that she needed to defuse the F’s from Saipan, roasted a whole pig, the end product. Our thousands on her transcript, she asked me to Pacific Island-style, at an annual of productive graduates, making write a letter of recommendation.

APALSA picnic at our place on Lake valuable contributions to their It began: “I am the S.O.B. who Lansing. It was a very festive affair. communities and constituencies, gave this student eight credits of F.” She landed a federal clerkship.

Q5. Sometime in 1984

Q5.

Q2.

Q3.

11

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022 SPECIAL STRATEGIC PLAN EDITION | WINTER 2021

Patricia Morris The late Hon. Donna T. Morris (Graves Class, 1977) was adamant that her daughter, the Hon. Patricia T. Morris (Turner Class, 1991), would enjoy law school just as she had. Thirty-one years later, Patricia is glad she followed her mother’s advice – despite initially resisting the notion.

“As wise as she was, she probably knew I was going to like it and thought if I could just get her in there for a semester, I’ll have her hooked,” Patricia said of her mother. “And she did – well, WMU-Cooley did. She was right – I loved it.”

From that moment on, Patricia and Donna’s bond matured beyond their mother-daughter relationship, sharing each other’s thoughts and ideas about law school, federal and state statutes, and the judicial system. While in law school and later on as judge, Patricia would call her mom daily, asking her for advice on how to bring up difficult topics without sounding harsh or critical.

“I used her a lot for that kind of advice – not necessarily legal advice – but rather how to address issues,” said Patricia. “I tend to be a little too candid, and she would soften me, which was good, I needed that.”

FAMILY OF LAWYERS

Donna Morris

12

The youngest of five siblings, Patricia was the only one to follow their parents’ and relatives’ footsteps in law. In addition to Donna, the Morris side of the family has a long history of lawyers: father, John C. Morris, was a district court judge in Midland; grandfather, Chester Earl Morris, was a lawyer and city attorney in Midland; and aunt, Mary Jane Morris, and uncle, Robert Thomas Morris, were also lawyers.

Patricia and her brother, John, were the last siblings who were still at home when their mother decided to enroll in law school. As a widow, Donna found that WMU-Cooley was the only option at the time that offered a flexible schedule, which allowed her to attend class and raise her children. In the event where Donna couldn’t get a babysitter, she would tote a young Patricia with her to WMU-Cooley’s campus in Lansing where Patricia would sit quietly in class with her mom.

“It was a challenging situation of course,” she said, noting some of those same professors she saw in her mom’s classes as a child, also taught her more than a decade later.

LAW SCHOOL LEGACY Patricia, who graduated from the University of Michigan with a classical studies degree, worked as a governess for a family in Manhattan during and after college. However, being a governess wasn’t the long-term career path she envisioned, and her degree was not useful in terms of job opportunities.

“I was not a person who said, ‘I want to be a lawyer,’” said Patricia, who considered enrolling in various graduate school programs that would better help her in the job arena. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”

Still, her mother was persistent in urging her to try law school.

in between hearings in her mother’s courthouse office.

“That was always my hangout. It was nice to be in the same building as my mom, and have a place to rest and wait,” said Patricia. “We weren’t working together or driving each other crazy – and I didn’t practice before her.”

In 2014, Patricia was named Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, where she continues to serve today.

“I’m so glad she was still alive and able to come to the investiture,” Patricia said of her mom, who died at 84 in 2016. “I feel very blessed to be where I am. I work hard and try to do a good job. I’m grateful.”

“She always got me by saying, ‘You say you’re open minded, but if you’re really open minded then you should try this.

I’ll pay for the first semester to see what you think,’” Patricia remembers her mom saying to her. “When it came time for me to attend law school, I didn’t even apply anywhere else. We were WMU-Cooley fans, and had a loyalty to Cooley. It was a good fit for my mom and a good fit for me.”

Before attending WMU-Cooley, Patricia admits she was a slacker in school and was not a good student. But wise words from her mother helped prepare her for what was to come in her law school journey.

“She said to me, ‘You haven’t really been challenged. This will be good for you because you really will be challenged and it’s an intensive study,” recalled Patricia.

“Her advice to me was ‘this is going to be different, so you’ll need to treat things differently.’”

And she did. Fourteen years after her mother graduated from WMU-Cooley, Patricia graduated cum laude in two years.

“It was a very happy day with my family there,” she said. “She had that ‘I was right, I told you so’ glow about her – but in a good and nice way. She was thrilled.”

LEGACY ON THE BENCH Patricia and Donna’s legacy in the legal profession continued beyond their years at WMU-Cooley.

Donna was elected Probate Court judge in Midland, serving 22 years, and was appointed to sit on the first Judicial Council of Michigan. But her most cherished work was serving as chair of the Probate Judge’s mental health committee, where she worked for six years to enact a new mental health code for Michigan, her daughter said.

“My mom’s choice in career was perfect for her, but not for me,” Patricia said. “She did a good job, she was popular and always won her elections handily. But we’re different, and I could see the differences. Why the job fit her showed me why it wouldn’t fit me.”

Patricia began her career in the judicial system serving as a clerk for Midland County’s 42nd Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Clulo and U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland. She also worked for the Michigan Court of Appeals, was a solo practitioner in Midland, and served as clerk for former U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles E. Binder in Bay City.

During those years where they both worked in Midland, Patricia found respite

LASTING LEGACY One of her mother’s aspirations that Patricia continues to live up to was the way she approached people – regardless of the circumstances.

“She was always polite and treated people with dignity. She always put a smile on, and dealt with people the same every day,” said Patricia. “One of her lines was, ‘there’s never an excuse for rudeness,’ and she’s right, there isn’t. No matter what’s going on in your life on that day, you still have to treat people fairly and not get short with them, which goes with judicial demeanor – you just have to maintain that, no matter what happened five minutes before you took the bench. I have tried to live up to that.”

Donna was also a person who found excitement in nature’s simple beauty that’s been around for hundreds of years. She would “ooh” and “ahh” over Michigan’s bright red, orange and yellow leaves, as if she had never seen them year after year.

“I loved that about her, and I have that now and hope I keep that forever,” Patricia said.

“I love that passion of hers to appreciate beauty – and she kept it fresh until the end and I hope I do too.”

13

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

FAMILY TIES RUN DEEP

at Cooley with the Suttons

JORDAN, JERRY AND LINDA SUTTON

JORDAN WITH HER HUSBAND, DEYEYA, AND FOUR CHILDREN: JOSEPHINE (8), CHARLOTTE (7), GENEVIEVE (5), AND CECILY (3).

When talking about a family whose roots are deep into WMU-Cooley Law School, the Suttons — Jerry (Cooley Class, 1976) and Linda (Dethmers Class 1981), and their daughter Jordan (W. Johnson Class, 2013 and LL.M., 2015) — are a flourishing example.

Though Jerry was part of the law school’s very first class, his wife Linda was not far behind in earning her J.D. Linda was even pregnant while she attended WMU-Cooley, which very much could have been the seed that eventually brought Jordan into the ranks of being a two-time graduate of the law school.

Jerry, who earned a degree in education at Michigan State University, decided to work in the real estate industry instead of a classroom. He is quick to point out that law school was never in his plans.

14

“My brother went to Detroit College of Law. He was a litigator and tried convincing me that real estate and law together would be a good idea for a practice,” said Jerry. “He called me one day and said I didn’t have to go to Detroit because he got word from somebody that they were going to start a law school in Lansing, so that started the ball rolling on law school.”

“I thought I would finish law school and help him a little bit and I would find out what is this combination of law degree and real estate that he was talking about,” said Jerry. “I no more than joined him and he had enough of this litigation. He took a job with the Attorney General’s Office, but I could have the practice. And I quickly found out why he left.”

Continuing to work in real estate while attending WMU-Cooley, Jerry planned on joining his brother after earning his J.D.

LINDA’S STORY While Jerry was practicing law, Linda continued working at the real estate firm where the couple met before eventually marrying.

the couple to realize that Linda too decided that she wanted to attend law school and there had to be another route that they could dovetail their eventually practice family law. careers. Jerry explained that “I chose Cooley because it was while on a hunting trip he left just a block from my office,” Linda to take care of business. said Linda. “I had already When he returned Linda said, married Jerry and he had “I don’t want to do family law.” finished school and I wanted She realized that trying to help him to put me through school. I couples going through divorce was not going to commute when was not as appealing as she Cooley was just right down the once thought. street. It was very convenient to Jerry decided that life was too have a position in business as well as having the opportunity to short to be doing something he didn’t have his heart in. attend law school.”

Linda remembers that during the early years of the law school there weren’t a lot of activities for the students to participate.

“Many of the students in our classes worked full time while attending law school,” said Linda. “You went to class, went to work and that was it.”

connect it all. It doesn’t work to separate it out in our view.”

AND ALONG CAME JORDAN Not unlike her mother, Jordan also attended law school while being pregnant. But the difference is Jordan was pregnant during both her J.D. and LL.M. (tax) graduations.

Choosing WMU-Cooley for law school was a natural decision and for many of the same reasons as her parents.

“I made a commitment to live in downtown Lansing so I “Litigation takes its toll on could be walking distance to people,” said Jerry. “I was doing classes. The flexibile schedule things for people that I wouldn’t was important,” said Jordan. “I do for myself or my family, so I worked all through law school for quickly got the message that this my parents. Being able to take wasn’t how I wanted to spend classes at different times, nights the rest of my life, so that was and weekends, was an important the birth of Sutton Advisors. The element for me.” best thing we can do is to keep people from getting involved in THE FAMILY the legal system.”

To say the Suttons are a

But while attending law school, Linda became pregnant with the By putting together the parts Suttons’ daughter Jordan. of working with individuals that “I would sit in class with my feet the Suttons enjoyed in their law practice, Jerry and Linda created up. I would sit sideways in the a unique life stage process classroom’s old church pews. I ended up having to skip a term to help clients visualize and achieve their unique business, to deliver Jordan.” family, and personal goals. Their After graduation, Linda joined practice puts together wealth Jerry at his firm. But knowing and risk management, tax and that family law and litigation estate planning, insurance, elder wasn’t in her or Jerry’s longcare and institutional consulting, term plans, she continued on and more. to earn a license for selling life “Traditionally, things have been insurance to help with estate done in segments. People have planning. done insurance and other people “There are lots of ways to have done taxes. Attorneys help people through having have done estate planning and appropriate life insurance documents,” said Jerry. “We policies,” said Linda. have taken peoples’ lives and separated them, when the reality THE BIRTH OF SUTTON is everything is connected. When ADVISORS you make movements in one Even before officially joining area it has effects on another Jerry at the firm, Linda’s experience helping Jerry allowed area. What we try to do is

close-knit family might be an understatement, or some might say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Jerry was an All-American baseball player at Michigan State University where he played first base. Jerry signed with the Chicago White Sox and played two seasons in the team’s minor league farm system. He was inducted into the Lansing Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. Jordan, while attending Center College was a threesport athlete, where she played volleyball, basketball, and golf.

Jordan feels that being involved in her community is important. She accepted a mayoral appointment to the Lansing Economic Development Corporation Board and serves on the WMU-Cooley Law School Board of Directors. Jordan is a member of the Michigan State

University Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Board, an active member of the Rotary Club of Lansing, the Michigan State University Child Development Lab Parent Council, Sparrow Women’s Guild, and Post Oak Academy School Improvement Task Force. Jordan previously served on boards for the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing, Kresge Art Museum, MidMichigan Planned Giving Council, and was a member of the State Bar of Michigan Public Outreach and Education Committee.

Jordan’s husband DeYeya Jones is also employed at the family run business where he holds licenses in life, accident and health insurance. He too is well established with many boards in the Lansing area.

Together Jordan and DeYeya have four children, Josephine (8), Charlotte (7), Genevieve (5), and Cecily (3).

As Jerry and Linda begin to trim back their time in the office they refuse to cut the time the family spends together. They often take care of their grandchildren while Jordan and DeYeya are working or participating in community activities. And they have all made a commitment to hone in on their gardening skills together. Though they all laughed when talking about never having gardened a day in their lives, Jerry’s dad was known to many in Lansing as the capitol’s gardener. It’s probably a pretty good guess that this family will have success with whatever sprouts from their garden.

15

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

Strategic Mission TENETS PROVIDE FOR A STRONG LEGAL EDUCATION Equal Access Equal access to a legal education is a cornerstone of WMU-Cooley’s commitment to the law profession. As set forth in WMU-Cooley’s Strategic Plan 2020, the law school has a vision to advance justice and equity by providing broad access to a legal education to diverse individuals who meet that opportunity with a commitment to achieving high standards of professional competency.

Flexible Scheduling Equal Access at WMU-Cooley means not discriminating for any reason at all, including age or a less than prestigious undergraduate experience.

Commented graduate Anne Konold (Moody Jr. Class, 1996), “Cooley gave me a chance when my local schools said they didn’t want me because I was too old - I was 50 years old. Cooley accepted me and I believe I was the first Cooley Law School student to earn a law degree in two years. It was a wonderful experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Christopher Moll (Champlin Class, 1987), said, “I didn’t have the best undergraduate GPA. But back in the day, Cooley was willing to give you a chance. I always believed you got what you put in. Cooley and the Lansing legal community had the professors, resources and the opportunities to make it all work.”

“Everyone seemed to have time to help you if you asked. For that, I will be forever grateful.”

16

A second tenet that the law school lives by is the commitment to making it practical and possible for people to study the law by thinking beyond the traditional academic calendar.

Flexible scheduling at WMU-Cooley means entering three classes each year, offering day, evening and weekend classes, and arranging the curriculum so that students can finish their degree anywhere from two to five years.

Amanda Burch (Field Class, 2020) said in an interview that she “chose WMU-Cooley because the weekend classes and part-time schedule meshed well with the reality that I needed to continue working while in school.”

Ydelmis Cutino (Woods Class, 2020) said that the flexible schedule meant she could get a jump start on her legal career – an important consideration in her busy life. “I learned about the option where I could apply before I had my bachelor’s degree. I was only a semester away from getting my undergrad degree, but I already met the qualifications in terms of my GPA and LSAT scores. I thought, ‘Why wait another semester to start anywhere else when I can start a semester earlier at WMU-Cooley? I thought, “Why not?!”

Practical Experience Practical experience is a third maxim that WMU-Cooley lives by. WMU-Cooley was one of the first law schools in the nation to require practical experience before graduation.

WMU-Cooley’s brand is that its graduates are “practice-ready” and that they “hit the ground running.”

Practical experience is obtained through internships and externships at Cooley. WMUCooley’s externship program furthers the school’s mission of practical legal scholarship by placing students with practicing lawyers throughout the United States and in various countries around the globe. Externships are learning opportunities for students placed with nearly 3,000 lawyers and judges who have agreed to provide a mentored learning environment. Student externs receive classroom training from faculty members in addition to supervision and evaluation by their attorney mentors.

Students can choose from a list of established externships or set up a location. Jason Gower (Starr Class, 2005) knew he wanted to practice criminal law. He set up a new externship in his hometown of Bay City, with the Bay City, Michigan, Public Defender Office and liked it so well that he actually did two back-to-back externships there. He has now been a criminal defense attorney for 16 years.

“I was really excited about my externship in Denmark. I always knew that I wanted to practice overseas, and even looked into a number of other possibilities, but I was most interested in the position with the Danish Institute of Human Rights.”

“I got to do research and end-of-policy business with other state actors and international corporations. I also got to advise them on corporate social responsibility and other aspects, such as business human rights, and making sure they followed United Nations guiding principles of business human rights. I was absolutely thrilled with this opportunity.”

Sometimes the experience is earned farther away. Shekina Apedo (Swayne Class, 2019), said

17

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

1972

1975

1976

1991

1997

2002

1972 – Thomas M. Cooley Law School is incorporated on June 19, 1972.

1975 – Cooley opens the Temple Building at 201 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing, for classes.

1975 – ABA provisional approval is granted on Feb. 25, 1975.

1991 – The Thomas M. Cooley Law Library, later named the Brennan Law Library, opens in the former Penney’s building on Washington Ave. Lansing.

1997 – The Summer Study Abroad program approved on Jan. 27, 1997.

1973 – Cooley launches first class Jan. 12, 1973 at 507 S. Grand Ave., Lansing.

1976 – First commencement exercises were held Jan. 18, 1976 for 67 students.

2002 – Cooley gains a presence in southeast Michigan with classes held at Oakland University.

1978 – ABA grants full approval on Feb. 14, 1978.

1978 – Sixty Plus, Inc., Elderlaw Clinic begins.

18

1994 – Cooley purchases former Commerce Building for classrooms and offices.

1999 – Cooley Center (former Commerce Building) opens.

2001 – Cooley Innocence Project is begun.

2003 – Grand Rapids campus opens.

2003 – Cooley launches its Master of Laws LL.M. program.

A RETROSPECT TO THE FUTURE

2004

2009

2012

2017

2019

2022

2004 – Grand Rapids campus is launched at 111 Commerce Ave., SW.

2009 - Ann Arbor campus opens in September.

2012 - Tampa campus opens in May.

2008 – Cooley moves from OU to open its own campus in Auburn Hills.

2010 – Cooley received naming rights for the Lugnuts minor league baseball team on Feb. 1, 2010 for 10 years.

2017 – Cooley begins offering classes at Western Michigan University.

2019 – WMU-Cooley named a Top 10 law school for racial and ethnic minority enrollment.

2021 – 20th anniversary of the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project, celebrating eight exonerations.

2020 – Brennan Law Library moves to the Cooley Center.

2022 – WMU-Cooley Law School celebrates 50 years and 22,000-plus graduates.

2008 – Cooley marks 35 years and 13,000 graduates.

2013 – Cooley celebrates 40 years with 18,249 graduates.

2014 – Cooley enters into an affiliation with Western Michigan University.

2018 – The Kimble Center for Legal Drafting is created.

19

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

THE STANLEY E.

Beattie Award EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING The WMU-Cooley Stanley E. Beattie Award has been awarded for excellence in teaching since 1979. Each semester the graduating class votes this award to the law professor whom they believe made the greatest contribution to the students’ legal education.

STANLEY E. BEATTIE

20

FACULTY NAME

CLASS

YEAR

John P. Rooney N.O. Stockmeyer

Wiest Clark

1979 1979

Robert A. Fisher Philip J. Prygoski Peter D. Jason Frederick M. Baker Jr.

Potter Potter Bushnell North

1980 1980 1980 1980

Ronald J. Trosty Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski

Dethmers Kavanagh Long

1981 1981 1981

Lawrence W. Morgan N.O. Stockmeyer Ronald J. Trosty

Wing Goodwin Brooke

1982 1982 1982

Charles D. Clausen Philip J. Prygoski Ronald J. Trosty

O’Hara Chandler Blair

1983 1983 1983

Philip J. Prygoski Peter D. Jason Philip J. Prygoski

McAlvay Carr Manning

1984 1984 1984

Lawrence W. Morgan Lawrence W. Morgan Philip J. Prygoski

T. Smith Morell Whipple

1985 1985 1985

David G. Cotter Robert E. Krinock David G. Cotter Dan L. McNeal

Mundy Miles Sherwood Sherwood

1986 1986 1986 1986

Robert A. Fisher David G. Cotter Lawrence W. Morgan

Champlin Morse Grant

1987 1987 1987

Philip J. Prygoski Peter D. Jason John R. Nussbaumer

Green Pratt Martin

1988 1988 1988

Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski

Copeland Douglas Johnson

1989 1989 1989

Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski John P. Rooney N.O. Stockmeyer Ronald J. Trosty Philip J. Prygoski

Bacon Wilson Wilson Wilson Wilson Witherell

1990 1990 1990 1990 1990 1990

Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski Gerald Boston

Turner Lawrence Krinock

1991 1991 1991

Sharon C. Nantell John P. Rooney Maurice E. R. Munroe Philip J. Prygoski

McGrath Montgomery Montgomery Durand

1992 1992 1992 1992

John R. Nussbaumer Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski

Hooker Moore Carpenter

1993 1993 1993

Philip J. Prygoski Charles A. Palmer Philip J. Prygoski

Ostrander Williams Person

1994 1994 1994

Ronald Bretz Richard Henke

Riley Souris

2009 2009

Anthony A. Derezinski Sharon Nantell Amy Timmer

Bird Steere Kuhn

1995 1995 1995

Devin Schindler Richard Henke William Wagner

Woodward Witherell Woodbridge

2010 2010 2010

Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski

Stone Moody Jr. Black

1996 1996 1996

Mable Martin-Scott Ronald Bretz Mable Martin-Scott

Sibley Chipman Wilkins

2011 2011 2011

Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski

Adams Voelker Fellows

1997 1997 1997

Ronald Bretz Mable Martin-Scott Richard Henke

Hilligan Ellsworth Washington

2012 2012 2012

Dennis Cichon William Weiner Justin Brooks

Sharpe McDonald Snow

1998 1998 1998

Richard Henke Philip J. Prygoski Paul Sorensen Richard Henke

Moore Moore Marshall Johnson

2013 2013 2013 2013

Ronald Bretz Philip J. Prygoski Charles Cercone

Flannigan Fead Weadock

1999 1999 1999

Dan Sheaffer Richard Henke Ronald Bretz

Livingston Todd Duvall

2014 2014 2014

Ronald Bretz Gerald Boston Richard Henke

Jay Rutledge Cushing

2000 2000 2000

Erika Breitfeld Ronald Sutton Erika Breitfeld

Story Trimble McLean

2015 2015 2015

Richard Henke Richard Henke Richard Henke

Wilson Blair Jr. Iredell

2001 2001 2001

Stevie Swanson Erika Breitfeld Brendan Beery

Taft Hughes Stone

2016 2016 2016

Richard Henke Richard Henke Richard Henke

Johnson Paterson Chase

2002 2002 2002

Philip J. Prygoski Philip J. Prygoski Richard Henke Judith Frank

Swainson O. Smith Toy Toy

2003 2003 2003 2003

Devin Schindler Stevie Swanson Devin Schindler Daniel Matthews Brendan Beery Richard Henke

Vinson Vinson Warren Burger Burger Burger

2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017

Michael P. Cox Terry Cavanaugh Philip J. Prygoski Maurice E.R. Munroe Philip J. Prygoski

Cross Needham Needham Swift Swift

2004 2004 2004 2004 2004

Daniel Matthews Brendan Beery Richard Henke

Boyle Nelson Woodbury

2018 2018 2018

Brendan Beery Tonya Krause-Phelan Renalia DuBose

Curtis Swayne Miller

2019 2019 2019

Mable Martin-Scott Michael P. Cox Philip J. Prygoski

McAllister Boyles Starr

2005 2005 2005

Mable Martin-Scott Mable Martin-Scott Mable Martin-Scott

Reid Edwards Fitzgerald

2006 2006 2006

Paul Carrier Paul Sorensen Erika Breitfeld Nelson Miller

Davis Davis Field Strong

2020 2020 2020 2020

Mable Martin-Scott Mable Martin-Scott Richard Henke

Fisher Boston Brickley

2007 2007 2007

Brendan Beery Erika Breitfeld Daniel Matthews Erika Breitfeld

Hunt Hunt Woods Matthews

2021 2021 2021 2021

Mable Martin-Scott Philip J. Prygoski Richard Henke

Sharpe CJ Adams Kavanagh

2008 2008 2008

Richard Henke Tammy Asher Amanda Fisher

Gray Blatchford Blatchford

2022 2022 2022

Mable Martin-Scott Richard Henke Richard Henke

Coleman Coleman Riley

2009 2009 2009

STANLEY E. BEATTIE AWARD

21

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

BY SHARON MATCHETTE

Growing up in Zimbabwe, Takura Nyamfukudza’s career path was set. When he was 12, Takura’s mom, a nurse; and his sister, a dentist, decided that young Takura would be a doctor. That determination continued unchallenged through the family’s immigration to the United States when Takura was 16, through his time in boarding school … and right up until his first biology class in his freshman year of college.

Takura Nyamfukudza

BY SHARON MATCHETTE

It quickly became clear to Takura (Moore Class, 2013) that his academic passion resided somewhere other than with Biology 101. “I passed,” he reported, “but I had zero interest.” In his second semester at Indiana University-Purdue University, he switched his major to political science. Takura’s interest in a legal career was sparked when he sat in on some law-related classes at his undergraduate school. Upon the recommendation of a friend, Takura checked out WMU-Cooley and soon enrolled.

A calling to the law and service is a bit of a family tradition. In addition to his mom and sister serving in the health fields, Takura has an aunt who is a solicitor and barrister in England. His maternal grandfather in Zimbabwe served as an interpreter in pre-independence court, imbuing Takura with the importance of “always doing the right thing.”

22

FLEXIBILTY AND PERSISTANCE Takura’s choice in law schools turned out to be a perfect fit as WMU-Cooley was willing to work with Takura’s 12year career in the U.S. Army. With six years as an enlisted infantryman, six as a commissioned officer, and two deployments, Takura found himself balancing the demands on his time. The U.S. Army, of course, doesn’t coordinate its deployments to work neatly with a law school calendar, and Takura sometimes

found himself making up classwork, catching up on his law school path, and overall just persevering to get the missions accomplished.

Upon graduation, Takura set about finding a job in personal injury law, a field he’d considered based on his law school experiences. Not finding this a particularly receptive field, Takura shared his frustrations with WMU-Cooley Associate Dean and Professor Amy Timmer with whom he’d kept in touch during deployments with the Army and after graduation.

SETTING A NEW COURSE Timmer arranged a meeting with fellow graduate, Mary Chartier (Johnson Class, 2002), and the direction of Takura’s law career immediately changed. Takura said that Timmer, who also knew Chartier, played legal “matchmaker,” setting the two up for a meet-and-greet to see where it would go.

Where it went, laughed Takura, was a fourround intensive interview process like no other. Takura said the process started out with a “Do we like this dude?” interview,

followed by a “This is what we do” session, then a third meeting with a timed review of facts where he had to write a motion on the spot, and finally, a fourth session where he had to argue the motion.

Finally, Takura revealed, referencing a popular reality TV series, it was “Here’s the rose; do you accept?”

He did indeed.

A CAREER IS LAUNCHED Takura, fresh out of law school, was still convinced at that point that he wanted a career as a personal injury plaintiff’s attorney. Chartier, however, could see something in Takura that she knew would be perfect for her team, and a career in criminal law was born.

In July 2013, Takura joined the criminal law department of what was then Alane and Chartier, a combination family law-criminal law firm, as a litigator.

“Immediately, I fell in love” with criminal law, he recalled. “Even for more money, I wouldn’t want to do anything else.” In July 2017, Chartier decided to transplant the criminal law department into its own firm to continue focusing solely on criminal law, and Takura became a partner and litigator with Chartier and Nyamfukudza, located in Okemos and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The path to a law degree around military deployments might seem like a long one to some, but the timing was completely on target, Takura recalled. If he’d graduated on a traditional schedule, the job that he now finds perfect wouldn’t even have existed. Because of the extra time Takura took in school to accommodate his Army career, however, he landed in the job market at exactly the same time that Chartier was looking to add on.

Takura calls their firm a unicorn because what they’ve put together is so unusual.

The firm is small, but they do mighty work, traveling throughout the state to wherever their clients need them. It takes just the right mix of personalities to produce a team that works as well together as Takura, Chartier and the firm’s other staff do, he said. It’s such a unique legal ecosystem that each person in the firm has to fit just right – with the same dedication to righting wrongs, as well as the ability to project a calmness and strength to help clients through a tough time.

“We take a team approach,” he explained.

“We all roll our sleeves up.”

One of the advantages of being part of a small team is the swiftness of being able to make a difference. Bigger firms can afford to park a new associate at a desk and it can be a long time before they see the inside of a courtroom, Takura said.

As soon as he teamed up with Chartier in 2013, however, Takura immediately had “boots on the ground” and was practicing before judges and juries.

Criminal law is an often high-stakes battle with tension and pressure in abundance.

Takura takes it all in stride, however, and credits his 12 years in the military with conditioning him for the environment.

“It’s just like the Army, he explained. “It’s not the absence of fear; it’s carrying on in spite of it.”

And carry on, they do. While Takura and his colleagues take their responsibilities very seriously, they know they have to strike a balance for the clients who come to them in what’s likely the worst time in their lives.

“They come to us to help them,” Takura said. “We are positive without giving false hope. We provide peace of mind,” he added, explaining that they work at easing the stress so that everyone involved can better proceed. (continued)

23

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

While many in the legal field are happy to keep alive a “new normal” of pandemic-inspired online proceedings, Takura instead is glad to be back in the courtroom.

“With anything involving witness testimony, I don’t want to do Zoom,” he said. “Zoom court is mentally exhausting in a way that being in court is not. I’m an extrovert,” he explained, given to gestures that don’t translate well on screen. And, he added, “there is so much you can’t pick up on if not in court.”

SARTORICAL SPLENDOR Takura is known for three things – his skill in the courtroom, his passion for fighting for his clients … and his ever-present bow tie. How did it all get started?

“I was going to this annual event – One Hundred Black Men of Indianapolis,” he recalled. He wanted to make a good impression and latched on to the idea of a bow tie.

“It’s impossible to get food on a bow tie,” he reasoned with a chuckle. “So I got on YouTube and I spent HOURS learning how to tie it.”

In a persistence synonymous with his work in court, Takura recalled, “I was not going to let this piece of cloth defeat me.” Takura won the battle, and the bow tie became his trademark. It’s so much a part of him that people he encounters in such places as the grocery store and the gym

24

say they hardly recognize him without the tie!

“There are much worse things to be known for,” he said with his ready laugh.

AWARDS COME EARLY Takura, now 40, has already racked up a few awards in his career. He was named the State Bar of Michigan’s Regeana Myrick Outstanding Young Lawyer Award in 2015, an Up and Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, was given the Rising Star Award and the President’s Award from the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association, and the Top 5 Under 35 Award given annually by the Ingham County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section. He was also named a Super Lawyer five years in a row.

Accolades from clients are even more numerous than the awards, and from the testimonials on the firm’s website, it’s clear that the clients aren’t just grateful for Takura’s and the firm’s hard work and achieving the best possible outcomes, but for the support, straight-forward approach, caring and even some levity to ease the burden.

Friendships are often forged and Takura frequently hears from clients who keep him updated on their progress in life.

He has frequently served as a guest speaker and a presenter multiple times, and even served as a lecturer on

Criminal Law and Procedure for the People’s Law School.

A WORD (OR TWO) TO THE WISE …

Takura is a natural and generous mentor.

He tells WMU-Cooley students, “Go see lawyers do what they do – in district, circuit, upper courts. There’s what the books say, and then there’s real life.”

He also tells them that classroom learning is good, but classroom learning from faculty Chartier & Nyamfukudza, P.L.C. team who’ve been actual practitioners like they are at WMU-Cooley is so much better. “It’s impossible to overstate the importance of that,” he said.

He also explains the importance in a law setting of being able to think and adapt quickly.

“You need to be able to think in real time in court; able to think on your feet.” And, he assures students, they’re in the right place to do this. “Cooley focuses on that.”

Elizabeth Devolder

BY TERRY CARELLA

CONNECTING LOVE OF ART AND LAW Elizabeth Devolder (Hughes Class, 2016) was nothing short of a superstar in law school.

She excelled in classes and student competitions, even winning a national championship in the American Bar Association’s 2015 Client Counseling Competition. On top of that, she was selected as one of National Jurist’s 25 future lawyers honored in the national publication’s inaugural “Law Student of the Year” feature in 2016.

With a nearly perfect GPA of 3.95, she earned the highest grade recipient award – the Certificate of Merit – in 16 classes, while serving as a teaching assistant and as editor-in-chief of the WMUCooley Law Review.

Succeeding in law school came after re-imagining her future at 40, despite living comfortably, being a mom, and

enjoying a successful career in sales, sales management and operations.

Devolder knew she wanted to be a lawyer.

As a newly minted attorney, Devolder started focusing on estate planning and probate in a general practice with her then husband, Bryan.

The bustling business found an immediate following and

thrived for its first five years, when the couple decided to separate their lives and law practice.

She reimagined her life again – opening the Law Office of Elizabeth Devolder in 2021, specializing her solo practice in estate planning and probate work.

As an accomplished business woman and marketing expert, (continued)

25

50TH JON KOHLERANNIVERSARY | SERVICE AND INTEGRITY EDITION | 1972-2022

“I had always had an interest in art,” stated Devolder. “My aunt, Barbara Gallagher, was a fairly well-known artist in Alabama. In 1984, she took me to the Kimball Museum of Art in Fort Worth and talked to me about the different types of art, the different art movements. I remember her showing me the brush strokes on a 16th century portrait of Hendrick III by Mabuse - that’s when I was hooked.

From that time, I have always gravitated towards artists.”

Devolder put on her strategist hat and started brainstorming new areas of law where she could innovate, improve, and expand her legal services.

BUSINESS QUESTIONS Devolder first reflected upon her passions and strengths to better understand areas she would find joy, not only in her career, but in her life.

What do I want to do that is new and different?

How am I going to be different from other firms in estate planning and probate?

Where do I want to spend my time and who do I want to be around?

It didn’t take long for Devolder to see that her love for the arts could enhance and expand her business.

26

That includes Kevin Townsend, a high school boyfriend who is now a professional artist (www. kevin-townsend.com); college friend Inness Hancock, a contemporary watercolorist in New York (innesshancock.com); John Donahue, a Charleston sculptor (ideasinmetal. net); and Mishou Sanchez, an artist and architect who is the past president of the Gasparilla Art Festival (studiomishou.com). Devolder insists that artists bring an interesting perspective to any conversation, as well as a certain depth of culture to a relationship.

“I love being around creative people and have tried my hand at creative pursuits, but that is not my true strength; I am much better at legal analysis and drafting. I do find it exciting to apply my creative side to the law and to help people who are creative.”

But it was her Aunt Barbara’s influence and experiences again that were the guiding light in figuring out how to connect these two passions.

“I grew up hearing about the problems my aunt or her artist friends were facing: a sale gone wrong, an unfulfilled contract.

I tuned into the legal problems faced by artists and collectors: a gallery’s creditors claiming ownership of displayed art, damages incurred in shipping, art lost by a gallery, heirs who were misled about value, or trying to figure out whether the surviving spouse or the decedent’s trust actually owns an art collection.”

ART + LAW = ART LAWYER Everything fascinated Devolder about being an advocate for artists and collectors: making sure their life’s creations or art collection would be handled with professionalism, expertise, and care.

She started by learning what she needed to know about Art Law, building a library of Art Law books and resources at her fingertips. Then she started networking with galleries and artists to make sure she fully understood their legal needs.

Her earnest desire is to protect artists’ legacies so that the value of their artwork can be maximized during their life and beyond. It is in that relationship where she feels she can help heirs manage their collections. And there’s much to consider.

“How do we ensure who holds the title of artwork and how do we help preserve the value of a collection for a person that has been collecting it over time?

I find, time and again, that many estate planning clients haven’t put a lot of thought into inventorying their art collection and things inevitably get lost,” explains Devolder.

“Many times, it is a parent who is the only person who knows where these valuable items came from, their value, and how to sell them.”

Devolder explains how things from a parent’s collection, including visual artworks, Persian rugs, antique furniture, or that rare baseball card collection that gets forgotten, creates a challenge for an inheriting child, who might lack the information to establish provenance, or ends up calling someone unqualified to see ‘what’s this worth?’ She says these challenges can be avoided or at least minimized if the original owner has a completely cataloged, inventoried, and documented his or her valuables.

LAWYERS ARE LIFE-LONG LEARNERS For Devolder, it wasn’t until after law school that she truly appreciated the body of knowledge she had to learn, and how invaluable that is to her now.

“I think one of the biggest surprises for me after law school was how much I really used every single class to be a good attorney,” declared Devolder. “In art law, I use the skills and knowledge needed to do this kind of work from lessons learned in lots of law school classes – Contracts, Wills and Estates, Business Organizations, Equity and Remedies, and Property Law. There are a variety of classes that you need to be an effective attorney.

“When you have a complete legal education that gives you a really solid foundation in those subjects, then you are truly prepared to practice and grow in your legal career. And if you couple some extra-curricular activities, like Law Review and Client Counseling, with that learning you have gained an even more valuable education.”

FINDING THE JOY Devolder finds happiness in her goals and aspirations.

Looking ahead, she hopes to create a firm that can comprehensively answer the needs of Floridians in estate planning, probate, taxation, land issues, and valuable personal property, like artwork, throughout central Florida.

That’s where she says she would like to take her career.

She finds joy every day in her children: her daughter, Sophie, 11, and son, Anthony, 7, both busy in school and doing great academically - even after surviving the pandemic and being homeschooled for over a year.

The most recent joy ride was a three-day Paris 20-year reunion trip with two of her college roommates! The friends enjoyed everything about Paris, and loved recreating 2002 photos during a 2022 photo shoot at the Louvre! #collegeroomates #parisisalwaysagoodidea

27

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

BY SHARON MATCHETTE

Back in 2006, when Jason Gower needed a file, he didn’t have far to look. Would it be in the front seat, or the back?

Jason Gower Those relationships gave him a good foundation when he began practice as a lawyer, as did his habit of handing out business cards everywhere he went – even at the mall. To this day, Gower still gets clients off those original business cards. Innately Sixteen years later, Gower (Starr Class, 2005) conversational, Gower would be shopping in looks back on that humble beginning a store, get into a conversation with a clerk or with pride. two, and leave a stack of business cards on the way out.

From his mobile law office, which he combined with a room in his house, a partWhat he would soon learn is that the people time secretary, and borrowed conference who he gave his card to would often find room space, Gower built his dream into a themselves in conversations with other two-office, two-city empire with six attorneys, people – friends, customers, etc. – who including himself, and full-time staff. Gower were in need of an attorney. Out came the is a study in success. cards. The person giving out the card felt good because they had a line on someone The 47-year-old Bay City, Michigan lawyer who could help their friend. They felt good was a businessman before he entered because they were helpful. Everyone wants to law school. Life was going well, but he be able to say “I know a guy” and be able to remembers he felt a calling to the law. help, Gower explained.

When he found out he didn’t need an The answer depended on where he’d plunked his banker’s box of case files that day, for Jason Gower was operating his law practice out of his car. “I was literally a street lawyer,” he chuckled.

“Our mantra is: “Call us first. If we can’t help you, we’ll find someone who can,” Gower said.

And help them, he can. Part of Gower’s approachability is the reassurance he gives clients that he’s here to lighten their load.

“We navigate the process for them. I say ‘Let me see if I can work this out.’ They love you for this,” he explained.

From the beginning, Gower understood that volume was going to be a key factor to success in growing a business from the ground up. He remembers thinking he could “keep the lights on” if he could just get a couple cases a week.

He didn’t have to be concerned. With his networking and approachability, he was never lacking for work.

Volume and lower costs were the ticket to success in getting the law firm off to a fast start. One of his very first cases that he tried to verdict was a one-day misdemeanor undergraduate degree in pre-law to pursue The key to success, Gower said, is to remain that netted him exactly $500. Successful his legal studies, he enrolled at WMU-Cooley approachable. When people come to Gower outcomes have also been an important factor. and dove into his new adventure. With his with their troubles, he makes it clear to them Gower’s very first appearance was a juvenile business background and legal degree, he that they can lean on him and his firm to help case for which he won a Not Guilty verdict. dubbed himself a “lawpreneur.” them. He takes a “Let’s talk and see what we The business grew quickly and within a year Drawn to criminal law, Gower sought out and can do” approach and lets people know they he was able to bring on a Cooley student to completed two externships at the Bay County can count on him. If his firm can’t help them, help part-time. he will find them someone who can. Referrals Public Defender’s Office. While there, he Gower’s public service – a part of his life even began his lifelong commitment of getting to work both ways, of course, and Gower’s firm before law school – also helped, not only for also gets clients referred to them by other know people, making contacts, and making the contacts he made, but for his reputation himself available to people who needed help. attorneys. of approachability and for being able to get 28

things done. Gower has been a Williams Charter Township trustee since 2000, taking time off from that elected post only during law school. Once he finished law school, he ran again and has held the post ever since.

license appeals. In recent years, the firm has branched out to assist people in additional areas, such as personal injury, divorce and bankruptcy, but Gower’s personal practice is still about 60 percent criminal law.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Success can be judged in a number of ways.

Not only was Gower’s firm a million-dollar practice and the biggest law firm in Bay City within seven years, but the success rate is solid also. Out of 44 cases tried to verdict, only five were convicted on their original charge.

A career as an attorney is rarely a 9-5 job and Gower is no exception. He knows that crises don’t limit themselves timewise and when people need help, they need it right away.

To help with both availability and the need for a healthy home life, Gower works with an organization called LEX Reception that answers the phone for them, giving clients 24/7 access.

The true measure of success for Gower, however, seems to be the faith and trust that the community places in him. “It’s not That’s not to say that the law isn’t a visible just dollars and cents,” he said, explaining presence in the Gower home, however. Gower, that when you are the person people trust to 47, and a single dad, has three daughters – rescue them, it’s one of the best feelings in Justice, 17, Liberty, 13, and America, 12. the world. “People come to you for help.

Even the Gower canine is part of the legal They trust you.” theme, a 10-year-old brown Shih Tzu, named GOWER’S ADVICE – of course – Mr. Judge.

Be approachable. Make sure people feel As thoroughly immersed in the law as comfortable in talking to you. You want to be Gower is, however, he’s careful not to push the one they turn to for help. his career on his daughters. Currently, one Be available. When you’re starting out, daughter of the three has expressed an availability can be challenging. If you don’t interest in following in her dad’s footsteps have a bricks-and-mortar location to meet, and Gower is quick to counsel her “only do it there are still plenty of options. Gower if it’s a calling.” explained that courthouses often have It’s not just home and the law that keeps conference rooms for attorneys to meet with Gower busy. He also owns and operates the their clients – take advantage of that, he restaurant/bar across from his law office. counseled. In addition, more than one Taking approachability to new horizons, client has met with his or her attorney in the Gower can frequently be found catching up local Starbucks. on his networking while working at Network. Get out there and be part of the the restaurant. community. Whether you’re practicing in your hometown, like Gower, or embracing a new town as your own, get involved and stay in touch. When Gower first began his practice, he even chatted with former customers on the paper route he had as a boy to let them know he was an attorney now and was available to help them.

FOCUS AND SUCCESS Gower’s calling is to focus on criminal defense and administrative matters such as driver’s

Get involved in professional organizations.

Gower joined the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) early on and found it to be a great organization for connections and advice.

Get and carry business cards. In this digital age, it’s easy for many to overlook the importance of getting quality business cards in peoples’ hands. People keep these and when they find themselves in difficulty, you want to be “top of mind” and the one they call.

Don’t overlook billboards. Gower not only gets some clients via roadside advertising, but at least one of his attorneys connected with him that way also.

Be genuine and respectful with court staff.

Not only do secretaries and law clerks know more than most attorneys about the working processes of their court, but they have lives and families also – and you want them to think of you when they need their own attorney.

Be knowledgeable and respectful. Judges’ and attorneys’ time is valuable. Make them copies of everything they might need. Bonus points if the paperwork is all in the proper order.

Sure, paper and toner is expensive, but the rewards of your legal colleagues remembering how well you treated them are great.

Get a mentor. Not only are they a good sounding board and full of advice, but they may be willing to loan you some meeting space also.

Be willing to give some advice away for free.

Sometimes a person just needs a little “word to the wise.” It takes no effort and little time, and the grateful person will remember you when they need full-fledged legal work done.

Gower has dubbed his law practice as The People’s Firm, with just the word “People” underlined to emphasize what they’re all about. Making that happen with him is an all-WMU-Cooley cast of graduates. He quipped that he wouldn’t discriminate against graduates from other law schools; but he appreciates the practice-ready attorneys from WMU-Cooley Law School. Gower’s firm is a single-owner PLC. Working for the firm with him in Bay City are Kimberly King (Ellsworth Class, 2012), Guy Cotter (Davis Class, 2020) and Benjamin Bragiel (Wilkins Class, 2011), while Jared Shouey (Hilligan Class, 2012) and Megan Bos (Davis Class, 2020) work in the Grand Rapids office.

29

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022 THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL DEANS THROUGH HISTORY

30

1972

1974

1978

1980

1982

Thomas E. Brennan Acting Dean July 1972 - August 28, 1973

Thomas E. Brennan, Dean April 5, 1974 - May 13, 1978

Robert E. Krinock, Dean May 13, 1978 - July 1980

Keith J. Hey, Dean July 1980 - May 15, 1982

Don LeDuc, Dean May 15, 1982 September 19, 1987

A RETROSPECT TO THE FUTURE

1987

1988

1996

2018

Peter M. Kempel Acting Dean September 19, 1987-July 1988

Michael P. Cox, Dean May 14, 1988 - May 18, 1996

Don LeDuc, Dean May 18, 1996 - August 31, 2018

Amy Timmer, Interim Dean October 20, 2018 June 30, 2019

2019 James McGrath, Dean July 1, 2019 - Present

31

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL

Presidents THOMAS E. BRENNAN July 1972 - January 1975 JOHN L. COTÉ January 1975 - May 1976 LOUIS A. SMITH May 1976 - May 1978 J. BRUCE DONALDSON May 1978 - January 1979 THOMAS E. BRENNAN January 1979 January 2002 DON LEDUC January 2002 – August 31, 2018 JEFFREY L. MARTLEW (INTERIM) September 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019 JAMES MCGRATH July 1, 2019 - Present

Justice Thomas E. Brennan Sr., was the founder and original president of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He served in the top spot twice, originally for two-anda-half years when the law school first started, and then for 23 years ending in January 2002.

THOMAS E. BRENNAN, JULY 1972-JANUARY 1975 AND JANUARY 1979-JANUARY 2002 Justice Brennan’s adventures in starting and growing the law school are well chronicled in Starting a Law School, authored by Brennan.

He was born May 27, 1929, the son of Joseph T. and Jeannette Brennan. He graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School, attended the University of Detroit for pre-law studies 1947-1949, and earned his LL.B. from the University of Detroit Law School in 1952.

He began his law career in 1953 with the law firm of Waldron, Brennan, Brennan, and Maher. In 1961, he was elected to a seat on the Common Pleas Court. Two years later, he was appointed by Michigan Gov. George Romney to the Wayne County Circuit Court, and in 1954 he was elected to that same seat. His career on the Michigan Supreme Court began in 1966 when he was elected as an associate justice on the court. In 1969-1970, he served as the court’s Chief Justice, the youngest justice to hold that position.

While serving on the court, Brennan frequently received requests for assistance from individuals trying to get into law school. Noting that many qualified students were refused law school admission, he was determined to eradicate academic elitism and make legal education accessible to all capable students.

Brennan incorporated the law school in 1972, and he resigned from the court on Dec. 6, 1973 to dedicate his time to getting the school up and running. He was known for his innovations,

32

1976 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Seated, left to right: Thomas E. Brennan, John L. Cote, Phillip Marco, Louis A. Smith, James L. Ryan; Standing, left to right: Jack W. Warren, John W. Fitzgerald, J. Bruce Donaldson, Forest Evashevski, Robert E. Krinock, John R. Des Jardins, Robert A. Fisher; Not Pictured, James H. Brickley

including a year-around academic calendar that entered three freshman classes each year, and founded the school’s Legal Authors Society, Student Bar Association, Scholastic Review Board and the Law Review. He also composed the school’s alma mater. In addition to writing Starting a Law School, Brennan also authored a novel, The Bench, about eight justices of the Michigan Supreme Court. In his official role on the actual court, Brennan authored 83 Opinions of the Court, joined in 16 concurrences, and wrote an additional 71 dissents. Thomas E. Brennan, Sr. died Sept. 29, 2018.

JOHN COTÉ JANUARY 1975-MAY 1976

LOUIS A. SMITH MAY 1976-MAY 1978

John L. “Jack” Coté was a member of the original cadre of attorneys who organized and found support for the fledgling law school. He was one of the first members of the Thomas M. Cooley Board of Directors and served as a member of the board for 24 years.

Louis A. Smith is one of the three incorporators of the school with Brennan and John Gibbons, Brennan’s law clerk. In the publication, Starting a Law School, Brennan reported that Smith donated a working oil well near Traverse City, Michigan.

He was a founding member of the law firm of Willingham & Coté P.C., in East Lansing, Michigan. In addition, Coté served as president of the Ingham County Bar Association in 1974 and was also a past president of the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan.

In addition to serving Cooley Law School for a term as its third president, Smith was also a member of the school’s board of directors from 1972-1994, and served as the board’s chairman.

At his law firm, Coté served as head of the litigation department and specialized in admiralty and maritime law. In this area, he helped solve the mysterious disappearance of boats on Lake Michigan and in the Atlantic Ocean, and appeared on national television as an expert witness in solving maritime cases. He was also a retired member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

He retired as shareholder of Smith & Johnson Attorneys, P.C., in Traverse City, Michigan. He served on several boards and commissions, including the State Tenure Commission, the State Board of Law Examiners, and the Grand Traverse County Hearing Panel #2 for the Attorney Discipline Board. He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve 1957-1965. (continued)

He also represented hundreds of attorneys, including judges. He was a military veteran, having served in the Korean War where he was attached to the 3rd Armored Division. He died Dec. 6, 2015.

33

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

J. BRUCE DONALDSON MAY 1978-JANUARY 1979 In addition to a term as president of Cooley Law School, J. Bruce Donaldson served on the school’s board of directors. He was a tax attorney from Detroit. In his book, Starting a Law School, Brennan told the story of how Donaldson connected him with one of the relatives of the school’s namesake. Donaldson had been talking to a lawyer from Toledo about his association with Cooley Law School.

The lawyer told Donaldson about an adjunct professor whose last name was Cooley and the two wondered if there was a connection.

Brennan found the man at the University of Pittsburgh and brought him to Lansing to meet with others while they worked on accreditation as the law school got started.

DON LEDUC JANUARY 2002-AUGUST 2018 Don LeDuc joined WMU-Cooley Law School in 1975 as a professor of law. He served as Dean from 1982 to 1987 and then again from 1996 to 2018. He was named president of the law school in 2002 and served in both capacities until August 31, 2018 when he retired from those offices. He remains with the school as a tenured professor and Dean Emeritus.

LeDuc served as vice chair and chair of the Faculty Conference and as the chair of the Curriculum, Readmissions, and SelfStudy Committees, where he authored the first Cooley Self-Study. He also served on the Committee on Committees and on the Academic Policy, Admissions, Budget, Client

34

Committee on Appropriations and as a member of the Fund Flow Study Group, the Grant Management Information Systems Committee, and the Legislative Committee.

From 1967 to 1969, he served as a Special Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. As a member of the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section, he was assigned to the Detroit Organized Crime Strike Force in 1968 and 1969, which was the first full-time deployment made by the Justice Department.

Counseling, and Promotion and Tenure committees, as well as on the Dean’s Special Committee on Affiliation.

Before joining the law school, he served as administrator for the Office of Criminal Justice Programs for the Michigan Department of Management and Budget from 1972-1975, having previously served there as Deputy Administrator in 1971 and as Director for Program Planning during 1970 and 1971. In 1969 and 1970, he served in the Executive Office of Governor William G. Milliken as the Law Studies Coordinator for the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.

While working in the governor’s office and the Department of Management and Budget, he was a member of the National Conference of State Criminal Justice Planning Agencies, where he served as chairman of the Ad Hoc

LeDuc has been a member of several boards of directors and commissions, both with Cooley and outside of the school.

He was a Hearing Officer for the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Training Council (19952002), the Michigan Department of Treasury Bureau of State Lottery (1991), the Michigan Department of Public Health (1976-1984), and at various times for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulation.

From 1987 to 2002, he also served as an administrative law judge for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

His text, Michigan Administrative Law, is published annually by the West Group. He is a member of Scribes, the American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects.

He was honored by the Legal Writing Institute with the Golden Pen Award and by the Grand Rapids Bar Association with the President’s

Award. He received awards from the Michigan Capitol Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration for Public Service in Academia and from the Michigan Business Monthly for support of entrepreneurialism.

He was an adjunct professor at Cooley from 2005-2007, then as a visiting professor until his appointment to the full-time faculty.

He has also served as a member of the WMU-Cooley Law School Board of Directors.

JEFFREY L. MARTLEW (INTERIM) SEPTEMBER 2018 – JUNE 2019

He began his legal career in private practice, first as an associate in the Law Office of David C. Newland, P.C., in Mt. Morris, Michigan 1976-1978, then in his own practice, Matson & Martlew in DeWitt, Michigan 1979-1984.

Jeffrey L. Martlew served as Interim President of WMU-Cooley Law School from Sept. 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. He joined the fulltime faculty of WMU-Cooley after 14 years on the bench at the 29th Circuit Court in Michigan. He was first elected to the circuit court in 1993. He was named Chief Judge in 1994 and served in that capacity until he retired in May 2007. Previously he served for eight years as judge of the 65th District Court in Clinton County, Michigan.

President Martlew has served as a faculty member of the Michigan Judicial Institute, as presiding judge for a multi-county citizens grand jury that was part of a nationwide drug trafficking investigation, and as a member of the executive board for the Michigan Judges Association.

JAMES MCGRATH JULY 2019 - PRESENT James McGrath, President, Dean and Professor of Law at WMU-Cooley Law School, joined the school in July 2019 after a nationwide search for a new president and dean. He most recently served as the Associate Dean of Academic Support and Bar Services, as well as professor, at Texas A&M School of Law. He was associated with Texas A&M Law School (formerly known as Texas Wesleyan University School of Law) since 2005, first as a visiting associate professor, then an associate professor, and professor.

August 2011 to July 2012. He also served as a visiting professor at the University of San Francisco, the University of Texas at Arlington, Appalachian School of Law, the University of San Diego, and Temple University Beasley School of Law. He has specialized in legal pedagogy and empirically based approaches to teaching and learning. His focus was on public health and the law issues, particularly the law’s effect on the health of populations with little or no political power, including lesbian and gay, transgender, and intersexual legal issues.

McGrath was a Fulbright Scholar at Beijing University of Chemical Technology from

35

50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | 1972-2022

3

THREE

Anniversaries IN ONE

The year 2022 is a banner year for WMU-Cooley Law School. Not only is it the 50th anniversary of the founding of the school, but it’s the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project, and the 10th anniversary of the school’s Tampa Bay, Florida campus.

50 YEARS OF LEGAL EDUCATION Cooley Law School started in rented space on Grand Avenue in Lansing, Michigan. The school would grow to include numerous buildings and now resides in two sizeable locations — the 10-story red brick building in the downtown area of state capitol, and the 130,000-square-foot structure in Riverview, Florida, near Tampa.

From 76 students who began their studies in January 1973, to the present day, WMU-Cooley has graduated more than 21,000 people who have made – and continue to make – their mark on the world. Over the years, WMU-Cooley became known for a number of innovations, including evening classes, weekend classes, year-around education, and required practical experience through clinics and externships where students hone their craft in the real world under the mentorship of practicing lawyers. The school also instituted the Sixty Plus, Elderlaw Clinic, which services the needs of seniors throughout a large tri-county area; and the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project, which provides practical experience for selected students and a life-changing service for the wrongfully convicted.

As WMU-Cooley looks back over 50 years and celebrates its decades of success, it also looks forward to the future and the innovations it will bring in the years to come.

36

TAMPA BAY CAMPUS

Celebrates 10 Years In 2012, Cooley Law School opened its campus in Riverview, Florida, just minutes from downtown Tampa. Cooley became Florida’s 12th law school.

At the time, Cooley already reached 900 graduates throughout Florida.

Renovations to turn the former Progressive Insurance building into a state-ofthe-art law school began in September 2011, and the inaugural class began its studies on May 7, 2012. A formal dedication ceremony to open the new campus was held Oct. 31, 2012.

The 132,000-square-foot building includes a 25,000-squarefoot law library, 336-seat auditorium and 24 classrooms. The 13.3-acre property also contains on-site parking.

WMU-COOLEY

Innocence Project

TWO DECADES OF RIGHTING SERIOUS WRONGS

In May 2001, the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project began as a fullfledged clinic five months after Michigan enacted its DNA Testing Statute. Celebration of the project’s anniversary would have been held in 2021, but was delayed due to pandemic restrictions still in place.

The project got underway full-steam in November 2002 when they filed their first motion for DNA testing under Michigan’s recently enacted Post conviction DNA Testing Law. A month later, that motion bore fruit when the Michigan State Police Crime Lab was directed to conduct DNA testing on all evidence in the case of Kenneth Wyniemko, who’d been falsely convicted of 15 counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct almost a decade previously. Six months later, on June 17, 2003, Wyniemko walked out of prison a free man.

The Cooley Innocence Project was on its way to becoming a force in identifying, providing legal assistance to, and securing the release of individuals who were wrongly imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

Each term, the project accepts a few WMU-Cooley students who work with faculty experienced in criminal and post-conviction law.

They screen cases for strong evidence of factual innocence and prepare the appropriate cases for court action.

Now, in 2022, the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project has helped overturn the convictions and secure the release of eight individuals.

2022 - GEORGE DEJESUS 2021 - COREY QUENTIN MCCALL 2021 - GILBERT POOLE 2021 - KENNETH NIXON 2017 - LEDURA WATKINS 2014 - DONYA DAVIS 2008 - NATHANIEL HATCHETT 2003 - KENNETH WYNIEMKO In May 2022, the law school was able to celebrate in style, holding a gala and fundraiser at the Country Club of Lansing.

At the gathering, the project had a new reason to celebrate, accepting a $250,000 donation from Novi, Michigan attorney Wolfgang Mueller.

37

Annual Giving For 50 years, our law school has been on the frontline of innovation and change in legal education.

From providing first of a kind, flexible, affordable programs to infusing technology to enrich student access to practical legal scholarship, WMU-Cooley Law School has, from its inception, pushed the Annual Giving boundaries to achieve its mission of providing transformational For nearlylegal 50 years, our law school has been on the frontline of innovation and change in legal practical education. education.

In the process, our law school has changed the face of the legal From providing first of a kind, flexible, affordable programs to infusing technology to enrich student profession and our graduates now lead in the legal profession and in access to practical legal scholarship, WMU-Cooley Law School has, from its inception, pushed the communities around the country. boundaries to achieve its mission of providing transformational practical legal education.

None this is without ongoing support generosity oflead In theof process, ourpossible law school has changed the the face of the legal professionand and our graduates now the legal profession and in communities around the country. ourin alumni and friends.

None of this is possible without the ongoing generosity of our alumni and Continue the tradition.

Please joinsupport fellowandalumni and friends byfriends. making your gift to WMU-Cooley.

Visit cooley.edu/giving to make your gift online.

Continue the tradition. Please join fellow alumni and friends by making your gift to WMU-Cooley today.

Visit cooley.edu/giving to make your gift online or return the enclosed Annual Fund reply envelope.

Three opportunities to make a difference Three opportunities to make a difference:

DEICHAMPIONS Champions DEI

MeritSCHOLARSHIP Scholarship Fund MERIT FUND

Cooley ANNUAL Annual Fund COOLEY FUND

support curricular Support curricular enhancements,recruitment recruitment enhancements, efforts,and andscholarships scholarships to efforts, secureaamore morediverse diverse to secure student student body body whilewhile promoting promoting a diversityand of a diversity of thinking thinking and ideas in the ideas in the classroom classroom and, ultimately in and, ultimately, in the legal the legal profession profession.

fuel thethe dreams of of those who Fuel dreams those wantwant to change the worldwho to change the students are just world — who students wholike want youyou. to be just like

help affordable Helpkeep keepCooley WMU-Cooley by providingby support for dayaffordable providing to-dayfor operations and support day-to-day immediate needs operations and immediate needs.

LEARNmore MOREatATcooley.edu/giving COOLEY.EDU Learn

38

SCHOOL NEWS

WMU-Cooley Hosts Virtual Event Series Since May 2020, WMU-Cooley has been proud to host the WMU-Cooley Community Conversations special virtual event series featuring many top professors and legal experts who speak on important topics impacting society and our legal system. Thank you to the following distinguished panels and experts who have presented January through June 14, 2022. We thank them for being part of the conversations and solutions we face today. If you missed any of the WMU-Cooley Community Conversations virtual events, you can find them under the Playlist for Community Conversations on the law school’s official YouTube page.

Voter Suppression & Voter Protections: January 18, 2022, Civil Rights attorneys Mark Brewer and Harold Pope were the keynote speakers for our Martin Luther King Jr. Day virtual event.

Race and Society: February 18, 2022, Yesterday and Today, WMU-Cooley Law School hosts a Black History Month WMU-Cooley Community Conversation with University of South Florida Professor David Ponton.

Gender Equality and Women’s Rights: March 3, 2022, WMU-Cooley Professor Amanda Fisher was the keynote speaker in honor of Women’s History Month.

Warrior Lawyers Defenders of Sacred Justice Native American Panel: May 17, 2022, The distinguished panel included the Hon. Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, John Morseau, Stacey Rock, and WMU-Cooley Professor Joan Vestrand.

Amanda Fisher

LGBTQ+ Law: Outrageous Laws & Everyday Rebellions: June 14, 2022, Attorney Christine A. Yared was the keynote speaker for our PRIDE Month virtual event.

Christine Yared

Mark Brewer David Ponton (Top, L to R) Hon. Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, John Morseau, Stacey Rock, and Joan Vestrand

Harold Pope

39

SCHOOL NEWS

WMU-Cooley School News Graduations return to in-person ceremonies DECEMBER 2021

(L to R) Hon. Richard Bernstein, James McGrath

Katrina Davis

Kimberly Lewis

GRAY CLASS COMMENCEMENT DECEMBER 2021 MICHIGAN

GRAY CLASS COMMENCEMENT – DECEMBER 2021 FLORIDA

Michigan campus graduates of WMU-Cooley Law School were honored during a graduation ceremony on Dec. 18. The commencement, which was held live at Michigan State University’s Wharton Center, allowed family and friends the opportunity to join the ceremony remotely through a YouTube livestream event.

Graduates of WMU-Cooley Law School’s Tampa Bay campus were honored during a graduation ceremony on Dec. 19. The commencement, held live at the University of South Florida Music Hall Center, allowed the opportunity for family and friends to join the ceremony remotely through a YouTube livestream event.

During the commencement, 56 juris doctor degrees were conferred. Chosen by her peers, Katrina Davis presented the valedictory remarks. The Hon. Richard H. Bernstein, Michigan Supreme Court Justice, gave the keynote address.

During the commencement, 51 juris doctor degrees were conferred. Chosen by her peers, Kimberly Lewis presented the valedictory remarks. Desmond Meade, executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, gave the keynote address.

Mina Woodard ranked first in her class with a perfect cumulative grade point average of 4.0 and was named summa cum laude.

Woodard is employed at the Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices PLLC as a law clerk, where she hopes to stay on as an associate attorney after passing the Michigan bar exam. Chalgian and Tripp practices elder law, estate planning, probate litigation, and special needs planning with various locations across Michigan.

40

Desmond Meade speaks in a livestream event

SCHOOL NEWS

MAY 2022

(L to R), James McGrath, Karen Walksnice, Hon. Sara Schimke

Rosemary Armstrong (FL)

Karen Smithman (FL)

BLATCHFORD CLASS COMMENCEMENT MAY 2022 MICHIGAN

BLATCHFORD CLASS COMMENCEMENT MAY 2022 FLORIDA

Michigan campus graduates of WMU-Cooley Law School were honored during a graduation ceremony on May 12 at the Michigan State University Auditorium.

Graduates of the WMU-Cooley Tampa Bay campus were honored during a graduation ceremony on May 14 at the University of South Florida Oval Theater.

During the commencement, 60 juris doctor degrees and five master of laws degrees were conferred. Karen Walksnice was selected by her classmates to present the valedictory remarks, and the Hon. Sara Schimke, Macomb County Probate Court, gave the keynote address.

During the commencement, 33 juris doctor degrees were conferred. Chosen by her peers, Karen Smithman presented the valedictory remarks. Attorney Rosemary Armstrong of Crossroads for Florida Kids, Inc. gave the keynote address.

Scott Nowling was named summa cum laude of the Samuel Blatchford Class. He ranked first with a cumulative grade point average of 4.0. Nowling is one of 17 WMU-Cooley students who have graduated with a 4.0 GPA since the law school’s first graduating class in 1976.

Nowling, who has enjoyed a 27-year career in field management at Johnson & Johnson, joined McKeen & Associates in Detroit, in June – first as a law clerk and then as associate attorney.

41

SCHOOL NEWS

WMU-COOLEY INNOCENCE PROJECT CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SUCCESS Anniversary Honored, Donation Celebrated On Friday, May 6, the WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project celebrated 20 years of screening legal cases, which has led to the exoneration of eight individuals.

During a gala celebration and fundraiser at the Country Club of Lansing, the keynote speaker was Anthony Ray Hinton, who was wrongfully convicted of the 1985 murders of two restaurant managers in Birmingham, Alabama.

During the celebration, Novibased attorney Wolfgang Mueller donated $250,000 to the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project.

Hinton, who was the 152nd person exonerated from death row, spoke about injustices found in our criminal justice system. Hinton serves as community educator for the Equal Justice Initiative, where he is an advocate for abolition of the death penalty.

As one of the longest-serving death row prisoners in Alabama and the longest-serving condemned prisoner to be free, Hinton said, “I come here today to tell you that the system is broken. I come here to tell you that we all need to stand up. We must join hands and fight.”

In recognition of the WMUCooley Innocence Project’s 20th anniversary Mueller, founder of the Mueller Law Firm, presented a donation of $250,000. Mueller has been a speaker at seminars for the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ).

He is a past member of the MAJ’s executive board and is

a member of the Council for the State Bar of Michigan’s Negligence Section. Mueller often speaks at law schools on the issue of police misconduct.

The WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project is the only post-conviction DNA innocence organization in the state. Since its inception, the office has screened over 6,000 cases and is responsible for the

exoneration of eight individuals: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Kenneth Nixon (2021), Gilbert Poole (2021), Corey Quentin McCall (2021) and George DeJesus (2022). The project is staffed

by WMU-Cooley Law School students, who work under the supervision of WMU-Cooley Innocence Project attorneys.

WMU-Cooley and Barbri Bar Review Enter into Partnership Beginning with the WMU-Cooley Law School May 2022 incoming class, the BARBRI Guided Pass bar preparation course will be included and made available to all students following graduation. Additionally, any current student will be able to purchase the BARBRI Guided Pass bar preparation course at a reduced rate.

Through a recently announced partnership with BARBRI, the largest U.S. bar preparation and legal exam company, WMU-Cooley faculty and students will have access to many new

42

resources to enhance the study of topics covered on bar exams.

“We know that one of the best indicators of bar exam passage is meaningful completion of at least 80 percent of a quality post-graduate commercial bar prep course,” said WMUCooley President and Dean James McGrath.

“The partnership with BARBRI underscores WMU-Cooley’s commitment to continue supporting our law students even after graduation by helping them tackle the last obstacle of becoming a practicing lawyer.”

SCHOOL NEWS

WMU-Cooley Innocence Project Partners with Michigan Attorney General’s Office.

In 2018, the Department of the Michigan Attorney General received a Post-Conviction DNA Testing of Evidence grant from the Department of Justice to screen claims of innocence and conduct DNA testing in appropriate cases. In 2019 and 2021, the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project received an Upholding the Rule of Law grant from the Department of Justice to review cases in which unreliable forensics played a role in the conviction. Since 2018, the two offices have been partnering on DNA and other forensic casework.

In March 2022, Oakland County (Michigan) Circuit Court Judge Martha D. Anderson set aside the conviction of George and Melvin DeJesus, who were wrongfully convicted of murder and felony firearms in 1997.

At the request of the WMUCooley Innocence Project and the Michigan Innocence Clinic

the Attorney General’s CIU reinvestigated the DeJesus brothers’ cases.

Assistant Attorney General Robyn Frankel, director of the Michigan Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) moved to have the DeJesus brothers’ convictions vacated and requested dismissal of all charges. The statewide conviction integrity unit is one of the first of its kind, reviewing claims of innocence in all Michigan counties, except Wayne County, which has its own unit.

George DeJesus was represented by Jessica McLemore of the WMUCooley Law School Innocence Project. Melvin DeJesus is represented by David Moran of the Michigan Innocence Clinic.

The two innocence organizations worked collaboratively with Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office to achieve justice for these two men who served over two decades in prison for crimes they didn’t commit.

43

Faculty Briefs Amy Bandow, Assistant Professor Named, by the president-elect of the Florida Bar, to chair the bar’s Clients’ Security Fund Committee for the 2022-2023 bar year.

This is her second year chairing the committee.

Erika Breitfeld, Professor Volunteered, as an expungement attorney, spending numerous hours assisting pro se litigants with their applications and paperwork to expunge criminal convictions.

She volunteered at the Oakland County Racial Justice Advisory Expungement Clinic and with the WMU-Cooley Expungement Fair hosted with Safe and Just of Michigan.

Presented, to the Oakland County Inns of Court, about Professionalism and the Bounds of Zealous Advocacy, along with other Oakland County lawyers and judges.

Served, on the State Bar of Michigan Access to Justice Committee in her capacity as a member.

44

Mark Cooney, Professor Notified, that his article, “Make Your Case in a Minute (With Some Help from Aristotle),” reached #2 on the SSRN Legal Writing eJournal Top 10.

Notified, that his article, “Decluttering Sentences,” made the Top 10 SSRN downloads for four different eJournals.

Presented, “Article Selection: The Good, the Bad, and the Political,” for Scribes’ Second-Sunday National Webinar Series, in April 2022.

Presented, “The Extra-Stuff Rule” for the Legal Writing Institute’s One-Day Workshop at South Texas College of Law, in December 2021.

Presented, “Appellate Advocacy and Citing Authority in Briefs and at Oral Argument” for a Strafford National Webinar, in November 2021.

Presented, for the Michigan Appellate Bench-Bar Conference Foundation’s Moderator & Reporter Training, in April 2022.

Mary D’Isa, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Accepted, a part-time legal editor position with the Michigan Supreme Court Office of the Reporter of Decisions.

Served, on the 2022 ABA Silver Gavel Screening Committee for Silver Gavel Awards to select finalists, which were announced in March https://www.abajournal. com/news/article/aba-announces22-finalists-for-2021-silver-gavelawards.

Celebrated, her one-year anniversary with Quimbee.com serving as a contributing author.

Joined, Alllaw.com/Nolo.com as a contributing author.

Published, “Do You Have to Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Adjuster?” https://www.alllaw.com/ law-authors/mary-phelan-disa. html May 2022.

Mark Dotson, Professor

Completed, editing volume 20 of The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, his sixth volume as Editor in Chief.

Submitted, the spring case and practice update for: https://store. legal.thomsonreuters.com/law-products/Treatises/ Stein-on-Personal-Injury-Damages3d/p/100027595.

Invited, by the Center for Plain Language to serve as lead judge for the 2022 ClearMark Awards in the Legal Documents and Posters/ Charts/Fliers categories.

Submitted, the yearly update for: https://store.legal.thomsonreuters.com/law-products/Treatises/Emotional-Injuries-Law-andPractice/p/100029369

Katherine Gustafson, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Published, “Mentorship is not all about the Mentee” in the ABA Journal – Your Voices in March 2022. The article encourages lawyers to become mentors by focusing on the benefits to the mentor.

Joseph Kimble, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Named, by the Michigan Supreme Court as the style (drafting) consultant to a committee that will revise the Michigan Rules of Evidence to conform to the Federal Rules of Evidence. Professor Kimble was also the drafting consultant when those federal rules were completely rewritten, effective 2011.

Published, an article called “Nielsen v. Preap, the Futility of Strict Textualism, and the Case for Universalism in Judging” in volume 20 of The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing.

Published, an article called “More Examples from the Proposed New Federal Rules of Bankruptcy” in the Plain Language column of the Michigan Bar Journal. Professor Kimble is a drafting consultant on the current project to rewrite those rules for clarity and consistency.

Learned, that a draft version of his article “Dictionary Diving in the Courts: A Shaky Grab for Ordinary Meaning” was a top-ten download, multiple times, on SSRN for five different eJournals: the Legal Writing eJournal, the Law and Rhetoric eJournal, the Judicial Decisionmaking eJournal, the Legislation and Statutory Interpretation eJournal, and the Applied Linguistics eJournal. The article will appear in the Journal of Appellate Practice and Process.

Learned, that his article “Scouring Dictionaries: Their Use and Overuse in the Courts”—published in Dictionaries: Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America—was a top-ten download on SSRN for the Legal Writing eJournal.

Learned, in March that he was in the top 10% of all authors downloaded on SSRN in the previous 12 months. Many of his papers are collected at ssrn.com/author=624332.

Published, his latest “Redlines” column in Judicature, the scholarly journal for judges. The column was called “The Importance of Signposting—and Following Through.”

Interviewed, for the podcast “Science Diction,” a spinoff of the National Public Radio show “Science Friday.” https://www. npr.org/podcasts/813012842/ science-diction (Nov. 2, 2021).

And his children’s book, Mr. Mouthful Learns His Lesson, even got an honorable mention.

Presented, a session at the Central States Legal-Writing Conference. It was called “Better Legal Drafting: Tips, Examples, Exercises.”

Presented, a session at the Rocky Mountain Legal-Writing Conference.

It was called “What Our Students Need to Know About Textualism: Canons, Supreme Court Cases, and Classroom Exercises.”

Presented, a talk on textualism to the student chapter of the American Constitution Society at the Sandra Day O›Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

Recorded, a presentation for a virtual class visit to students in the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program at Austral University in Buenos Aires.

Attended, the virtual winter meeting of the Standing Committee on Federal Rules, which oversees all new and amended federal court rules. Professor Kimble has been a drafting consultant to the committee since 2000.

Linda Kisabeth, Professor Awarded, a Distinguished Alumni Service Award for 2021 by the WMUCooley Alumni Association.

Don LeDuc, Retired President, Dean Emeritus, and Professor Accepted, for publication, his fully revised edition of Michigan Administrative Law (Thomson Reuters).

Accepted, for publication, by the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, a second edition of Michigan Administrative Law Primer.

Matt Marin, Professor Obtained, Leaders of Learning certificate from HarvardX, Harvard University.

Presented, “EXCELerate: A Seamless Skills Curriculum From Pre-Orientation Through The First Term,” for The South Florida Regional ASP Conference, January 28, 2022.

Invited, to present, “The Power of Now: A Mindset for Teaching in Times of Uncertainty,” for AALS Annual Conference, January 5, 2022.

Published, “Be on your GAME: Etiquette tips for law students,” in the ABA Student Lawyer, December 13, 2021.

Published, “Two, Three, or Four Prongs? The Contractual Defense of Unilateral Mistake in Florida,” in The Florida Bar Journal, November/ December 2021, Vol. 95, No. 6 at 16.

Devin Schindler, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Argued, a case, before the Michigan Supreme Court, May 4, 2022.

Otto Stockmeyer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Presented, a paper, “Showcase Your Scholarship,” at the 2022 annual conference of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters, available at https://ssrn. com/abstract=4050947 Published, an article, “What Should Be Done About Michigan’s NoGood, Very Bad Way of Selecting Supreme Court Justices?,” on LinkedIn, available at https://www. linkedin.com/pulse/what-shoulddone-michigans-no-good-very-badway-court-otto-stockmeyer/

Michael Molitor, Professor Co-wrote, an amicus brief to the Michigan Supreme Court in the case of Murphy v. Inman.

The Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan was the overall entity that submitted the brief. In early April, the Michigan Supreme Court decided the case, ruling 7-0 in favor of the positions that Cooney and his co-writer advocated in the brief.

45

Class Notes 1977

Felch Class Bello, Mark, completed his eighth Zachary Blake legal thriller, titled “You Have the Right to Remain Silent.” He also completed his first installment of his social justice picture book series for children, titled “Happy Jack, Sad Jack, A Bullying Story.” He recorded his first Hole-inOne on Jan. 26, 2022 at Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach, Florida.

as well as probate and trust settlement services at offices in Northville and Brighton, Michigan.

Sherwood Class Zucker, Craig E., was appointed to the Executive Committee of Maddin Hauser Roth & Heller, P.C., in Southfield, Michigan.

He is a shareholder with the firm and co-chairs its Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Debtor-Creditor Rights group.

1987

1979

Wiest Class Nusholtz, Neal, had an article, “The Uneven Playing Field in Criminal Tax Cases,” published in the March 2022 issue of the Michigan Bar Journal.

He is a tax law specialist with Neal Nusholtz, PLLC, in Troy, Michigan.

1985

T. Smith Class Bailey, Mark R., of Bailey & Terranova, in Okemos, Michigan, was named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Class of 2022 Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame program recognizes Michigan’s legal leaders who are over the age of 60 or who have been in practice for 30 years for their successful careers and valuable contributions to the community.

1986

Miles Class Carolan, James A., returned to Michigan from North Carolina and joined EWM Legal Services as the senior estate planning attorney. Previously, he had a career in the wealth management/banking industry. He provides estate planning services, 46

Champlin Class Dietz, Michael, president and founder of Dietz Sports & Entertainment, just completed a five-year term on the board of directors at the Oakland Hills Country Club. He also served as the club’s president in 2021.

Mauro, James F., a member of Dickinson Wright PLLC in the firm’s Lansing, Michigan office, was selected by his peers for inclusion in the “Best Lawyers in America” 2022 edition for his work in corporate law and real estate law.

1988

Pratt Class Forbush, Audrey, a partner with Plunkett Cooney, was reelected to the firm’s board of directors. She serves as senior vice president of the board. Audrey is the managing partner of the firm’s Flint, Michigan office and is co-leader of the Governmental Law Practice Group. She focuses her practice primarily in the area of municipal liability

with particular expertise in police pursuits, alleged excessive force, civil rights cases, whistleblower claims, labor and employment issues, zoning disputes and personal injury litigation. In addition to her municipal practice, Forbush has extensive experience in the area of professional liability where she defends physicians and hospitals in malpractice claims.

1993

2002

Hooker Class

T. Johnson Class

Ruddock, Eldonna, joined Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss as Of Counsel in the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group in Southfield, Michigan.

She specializes in public and private financing and other legal and regulatory complexities that come with the multi-family housing projects.

1992

1993

McGrath Class

Moore Class

Hitchcock, Anita, an attorney with the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was named to the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s list of 50 Most Influential Women. Hitchcock and her team provide legal advice to the city commission, city manager, and other departments.

She recently was tasked with organizing a Police Policy and Procedure Task Force to come up with recommendations to improve police-community interaction.

Flores, Anthony, was appointed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, as judge, 54-A District Court, in Lansing, Michigan.

He has been a full-time professor at WMU-Cooley since 2005, teaching criminal procedure and evidence. He was previously an assistant prosecuting attorney in Mecosta County.

Mathes, Paula Baker took the bench on January 1, 2021 as judge, 60th District Court of Michigan.

Montgomery Class

1997

Giguere, The Hon. Gary C. Jr., was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court as Chief Judge of Michigan’s Ninth Circuit Court and the Kalamazoo County Probate Court. He was first appointed to the circuit bench in 2007.

P. Adams Class

Durand Class Gardella, Robert (Bob), is an appointed member of the Michigan Military Appeals Tribunal. He was first appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, and then was reappointed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

1996

Black Class Field-Foster, Monique, was named a partner with Warner Norcross + Judd.

She is a governmental affairs attorney.

Roragen, Kevin, joined Clark Hill, in Lansing, Michigan, as a member in the firm’s Real Estate practice. He represents clients in commercial and real estate transactional matters and litigation, primarily in the areas of affordable housing, tax credit finance, municipal land use regulation, oil and gas, and other commercial matters and business matters.

Ziegler, Stephen J., was the lead author of an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Ruan v. United States.

2005

Boyles Class Patel, Sima, was appointed

by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to a seat on the Michigan Court of Appeals.

She most recently has been an attorney with Fieger Law in Southfield, Michigan.

2006

Edwards Class Hall, Lisa, a partner with Plunkett Cooney in the firm’s Grand Rapids, Michigan, office, was selected a 2022 Top Lawyer in banking and finance litigation by Grand Rapids Magazine.

2007

Fisher Class Hudon, Kathleen “Katie,” was named a Pensacola Rising Star in 2020.

Boston Class Hubbard, Aaron, of Largo, Florida, was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve as judge on the Pinellas County Court. He previously served as an assistant state attorney in the 13th Judicial District since 2007 and as Felony Division Chief.

Brickley Class Mathews, Sara (Wilkinson), was appointed

by Chief Judge Susan L. Dobrich as the next Cass County (Michigan) Circuit/ Probate/Family Court Administrator and Friend of the Court Director.

2008

Sharpe Class Smith, Lori K., joined the O’Reilly Rancilio legal team in Sterling Heights, Michigan, as a shareholder in the firm’s Litigation and Disputes practice group.

She focuses her practice on Family Law. She is the president-elect of the Macomb County Bar Association and director of the Macomb County Bar Foundation. She also serves as the secretary for the Friends of the Macomb County Veterans’ Treatment Court, secretary of the Women Lawyers Association

of Michigan Macomb Chapter, on the Advisory Council for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen Jefferson House, and as an assistant coach for the Sterling Heights Adaptive Softball League.

CJ Adams Class Schimke, Sara A., was appointed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as Macomb County Probate Court Judge. She was most recently an attorney with Chalgian & Tripp, PLLC, where she specialized in probate law, estate planning, and advocacy.

2009

Comstock Riley Class Evans, Dana M. was named

by American Banker as one of the 15 up-andcoming women in banking and financial services who demonstrated strong leadership throughout the last year. The annual list of rising stars in banking and finance is called the “Most Powerful Women in Banking: Next 2022.”

Salavantis, Stefanie J., was elected judge in the Court of Common Pleas in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

2010

Woodward Class Morrison, William V., was named a partner with Goldberg Segalla, in the firm’s Albany, New York office. He focuses his practice on representing employers, insurers and carriers in workers’ compensation matters throughout New York.

Witherell Class

2012

Marshall Class

Morgan, Todd M., was appointed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to serve as judge for the Lenawee County District Court. He most recently served as an assistant public defender with the Lenawee County Public Defender’s Office, working primarily in the district court. Before joining the public defender’s office, Morgan had a general practice law firm.

Morgan is a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served as a nuclear machinist mate.

Washington Class

Gallagher, Steven P., joined Fox Rothschild LLP, in Los Angeles, California as an associate in the firm’s Corporate Department.

He is an experienced litigator who defends businesses against a broad range of high-stakes employment litigation, including complex class and collective actions and Private Attorney General’s Act (PAGA) actions, as well as single- and multipleplaintiff lawsuits in state and federal courts and in arbitration.

2011

Sibley Class McCarthy, Nicole, has joined the firm of Goodman Acker as an associate attorney.

Her practice focuses on personal injury.

2012

Hilligan Class Cunningham, the Hon. Jacob, Oakland County Circuit Court, was voted to Oakland County Executive’s Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Program that recognizes and spotlights dynamic leaders under the age of 40 who are making a difference in Oakland County, Michigan, and beyond.

Rios, Dominic, joined Clark Hill, in Lansing, Michigan as a member in the firm’s Real Estate practice. He represents syndicators, lenders, and developers in all aspects of affordable housing transactions utilizing low-income housing tax credits pursuant to Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Gardner, Jaebadiah S., announces that his firm, Gardner Global, is collaborating with the Washington State Department of Ecology with plans to develop a mixed-income urban infill project in King County, Washington, specifically designed to create mixedincome housing that will include affordable rentals and affordable for-purchase units with a vision to help build wealth for Black and under-considered communities.

MacKenzie, John A., a shareholder with Maddin Hauser, was selected to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Up & Coming Lawyers for 2022. He is a member of the firm’s Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory Group.

Mennie, John, was named an Illinois Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2022. He is an associate attorney at the Illinois Personal Injury law firm Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. He concentrates his practice on cases concerning serious personal injury, medical malpractice and products liability.

2013

Moore Class Milner, Nathan J., was named a partner with Goldberg Segalla, in the firm’s Syracuse, New York office. He focuses his practice on defending diverse workers’ compensation claims.

McGee, Alexander, a partner with Howard & Howard in Royal Oak, Michigan, was named to Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly’s “Up & Coming Lawyers” for 2022. McGee has been a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group for eight years.

2014

Livingston Class Ruffin, Trevis L. is an assistant chief counsel for the Department of Homeland Security.

Todd Class Karamouzis, Fotini, was named a partner with Goldberg Segalla, in the firm’s Garden City, Michigan office. She focuses her practice on workers’ compensation matters.

2015

Trimble Class Frieder, Lauren, has joined Adams and Reese as Special Counsel in the firm’s Tampa, Florida office.

She primarily focuses on real estate, insurance and commercial law.

47

Class Notes Israel, Farah R. was promoted in January 2022 to associate principal at the Detroit, Michigan offices of Kitch Attorneys & Counselors.

Sawyer, Scott, Saginaw ISD Deputy Superintendent, was elected to the board of directors for the Michigan Council of School Attorneys affiliated with the Michigan Association of School Boards.

2017

Warren Class Gorski, Sarah L. joined Buckfire Law in January 2022 as a trial attorney. She focuses primarily on first-party automobile claims, third-party auto negligence, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents. She previously served as an associate at a full-service litigation firm in metro Detroit.

Burger Class Zajac, Mitchell, was elected a shareholder of the Butzel law firm in Detroit, Michigan. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. His practice includes a focus on automotive, intellectual property, regulatory and emissions compliance, and sports and entertainment law. He is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Zajac has been named to DBusiness magazine’s 2022 Class of “30 in Their Thirties,” which profiles metro-Detroit business professionals who have achieved notable success in their respective fields. In addition, he was named to DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers of Metro Detroit, Intellectual Property and Patent Law, 2021 and 2022.

48

He is profiled in the May/June 2022 edition of DBusiness.

Zajac is also a member of the WMU-Cooley Board of Directors.

2018

Boyles Class Mendez, Daniela, received the Florida 13th Judicial Circuit Outstanding Pro Bono Service By a Young Lawyer Award.

2019

Lawler, Brittany E., was promoted in January 2022 to senior associate at the Mt. Clemens, Michigan, offices of Kitch Attorneys & Counselors.

Sayej, Lona H., joined Goldberg Segalla, in Chicago, Illinois, in the firm’s Workers’ Compensation group. She was previously with Strom Yen in Chicago. She concentrates her practice on counseling and defending employers, insurers, and thirdparty administrators in complex workers’ compensation claims throughout Illinois.

2021

Hunt Class Smith, Maya, joined the Detroit, Michiganbased Butzel law firm as an associate attorney.

Curtis Class Ayers, Troy Brandon, who is Regulatory and Corporate Counsel at Amerisure, recently received the Golden Gavel Award from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Association. The Golden Gavel Award is given to an individual who has practiced law for less than 10 years, and who is recognized for significant achievement within their area of practice, community and the advancement of young attorneys.

2020

Davis Class Banks, Amia, joined Clark Hill in Lansing, Michigan, as an associate in the firm’s Real Estate practice.

Field Class Grantham, Crystal, of Grantham Law PLLC, in Richland, Michigan, took her first case as an attorney following graduation to the Michigan Court of Appeals and won. The case is now on Westlaw.

Matthews Class Joslin, Arthur C., accepted a position as Director of Legal Citizens with the Armed Citizen’s Legal Defense Network in the state of Washington.

In Memoriam 1976

Cooley Class Schwedler, Carl Joseph (Joe), 73, of Crystal Falls, Michigan, died March 12, 2022, of kidney cancer.

He worked in private practice until 1990, when he was appointed to serve as district court judge for Dickinson and Iron counties. He then served as Iron County Probate Judge, becoming the county’s longest-serving probate judge.

Overall, he served nearly 30 years on the bench, includes tenure as the trial court judge handling probate, district and circuit court dockets. He retired in 2018.

Fletcher Class Kail, Stephen C., 75, of Ludington, Michigan, died April 6, 2021.

1977

Felch Class Nobile, Alexander, 69, of Jupiter, Florida, died Dec. 9, 2021. He worked as general counsel for Jewelcor Inc., for nearly 20 years, spent several years with Helvetia Time Inc. as the president, chief operating officer and general counsel, and most recently with Ambit Funding as executive vice president and general counsel.

Palmieri, Angela, 70, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, died Jan. 12, 2022.

1978

Kelly Class Gleeson, Kevin J., of Troy, Michigan, died Sept. 16, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. He was a senior partner, member of the executive committee, and a member of the board of directors of the law firm of Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty, P.C., in Southfield, Michigan.

1981

Dethmers Class Ryan, John P., 68, of Brighton, Michigan, died Oct. 19, 2021.

He was a senior partner and head of the Lansing, Michigan office of the Kitch Law Firm, specializing in medical malpractice defense litigation.

Long Class Henney, Douglas L., 68, of Olivet, Michigan, died March 9, 2021, following a long battle with cancer.

He was a stockbroker and financial planner in the Lansing, Michigan area at various institutions.

1982

Goodwin Class Blackhurst, Steven M., 64, of Midland, Michigan, died Oct. 6, 2020.

1983

O’Hara Class McNulty, Ronald E., 66, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, died Dec. 12, 2021.

1984

McAlvay Class Blais, Gary E., 66, of New Hampshire, died March 18, 2022, after a long illness. Formerly of Scituate, Rhode Island, Gary practiced law in that state since 1984, and served as district attorney and chief legal counsel for the Public Utilities Commission from 1988-1994. He opened his private practice in Providence in 1994, which he operated until 2019.

1987

Grant Class Flannery, James (Jim) F., 77, of Bay City, Michigan, died Nov. 19, 2021. He was a U.S. Navy officer and a Vietnam veteran. He spent

25 years as a Michigan State Police trooper, retiring from both the Navy and the State Police in 1991. He then worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Tuscola County for 10 years.

1988

Green Class Munk, Larae G., 70, of Garden City, Kansas, died May 15, 2021. She operated her own law practice in northern Michigan and was a pioneer in the charter school movement in the state.

1989

Copeland Class Graving, Richard J., 62, of Shelby Township, Michigan, died Nov. 23, 2021. He operated a law practice in Shelby Township.

1991

Lawrence Class Butler, Jeffrey J., 56, of Okemos, Michigan, died Jan. 14, 2022 after a battle with ocular melanoma.

His career included clerking for the Chief Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals. He spent nearly a decade with the Michigan Department of Attorney General before entering private practice, becoming the principal owner of LaPointe and Butler, P.C., then joined Clark Hill in 2017. He formed the Butler Law Group, P.C. in 2020, then joined Thrun Law Firm.

1992

Durand Class Bankert, Terry R., of Flint, Michigan, died Nov. 11, 2021. He was the clerk for the city of Flint, and then the city’s ombudsman, serving as the liaison between citizens and the city. He wrote and spoke extensively about the use and abuse of police

power. Following his time in public office, he opened a private practice specializing in family law for almost 30 years.

1994

Williams Class Kunasek, Anthony, 55, died April 30, 2022. He was an Assistant State Attorney in Fort Myers, Florida, serving most recently as Chief of Special Prosecutions for the 20th Circuit for State Attorney Amira D. Fox. He taught law enforcement recruits at the Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy in Fort Myers, and served as an adjunct professor of criminal law and procedure at Florida Golf Coast University.

1995

Bird Class Brower, John F. Sr., 73, of Brighton, Michigan, died July 27, 2021. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and served on the USS Forrestal in the Tonkin Gulf. He formed his own law firm, Michigan Educational Law Center, which specialized in advocacy for children with developmental and cognitive disabilities.

2008

Kavanagh Class Greene, Megan, 38, of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, died Jan. 6, 2022, after a long illness. She worked for many years for the Internal Revenue Service Office of Taxpayer Advocate.

2009 Sandoval, Caleb Andrés, 44, died March 13, 2022. He was a team member with the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities.

2011

Sibley Class Severe, Luc El Art, 35, died Nov. 14, 2021. He was the vice president of Small Business and Workforce Development with United Way of New York.

2014

Duvall Class Tangorra, Rossella De Astis, 33, died Feb. 25, 2022, in Bloomingdale, Illinois. Her funeral was held March 7, 2022 at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Itsaca, Illinois.

2015

1999

Flannigan Class

Story Class

Simpson, Everett F., 71, of Audubon, New Jersey, died Aug. 26, 2021.

Mashni, Boulos Naim, 58, of Northville, Michigan, and Ramallah, Palestine, died Sept. 15, 2021

2005

2016

Starr Class

Taft Class

Greenawalt, Fred Alan, 71, of Goshen, Indiana, died Aug. 10, 2021. He worked for Schult Homes, Middlebury, as vice president of finance for 26 years. During the pandemic, he spent many hours on the phone connecting with those who were isolated.

Rivera, Xiomara J., 48, of Ruskin, Florida, died Jan. 2, 2022. She was retired from the U.S. Air Force.

WMU-Cooley encourages all graduates to contribute information to Class Notes.

We want to learn about your law career and other accomplishments in the legal profession. E-mail communications@cooley.edu 49

300 S. Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48933 Change Service Requested

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Lansing, MI Permit No. 241

Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Join the ranks of WMU-Cooley’s top supporters with a membership in the Cooley Society.

Membership is extended to individuals or organizations whose lifetime giving to the law school reaches $2,500 or more.

Making a donation is easy. Start at cooley.edu/giving. Give or pledge your tax deductible contribution today! ho hom omas Cooley C l ociety

M. TM S the

Join the ranks of WMU-Cooley’s top supporters with a membership in the Cooley Society.

Membership is extended to individuals or organizations whose lifetime giving to the law school reaches $2,500 or more. Making a donation is easy. Start at cooley.edu/giving.

Give or pledge your tax deductible contribution today!