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Artist and Gonzaga alum, Ben Joyce (’00, ’01) is well known in the Inland Northwest as the “Painter of Place.” His abstract, bird’s-eye landscapes force viewers to connect with the subject matter on a whole new level. Joyce’s dynamic work is found throughout the greater Spokane area, around the world, and now at Gonzaga Law School.
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DEAN’S NOTE
NEWS & EVENTS
2020 GRADUATES
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GO FORTH
FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CREATING A HOME
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CLASS ACTION
ALUMNI PROFILES
HONOR ROLL
2020 | Gonzaga Law Magazine |
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President Thayne M. McCulloh
A Welcome from
Dean Jacob H. Rooksby
Dean Rooksby
Editor-in-Chief Chantell Cosner
“GO FORTH”
Faculty Advisor Jessica Kiser Senior Writers Anna Creed Contributing Writers Sarah Guzmán Bryn Boorman Annie Yeend Photography Zack Berlat Graphic Designers Henry Ortega Tracy Martin Contributors Kate Vanskike Kim Hai Pearson Kurt Heimbigner Project Manager Dale Goodwin
Gonzaga Law is published annually for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Gonzaga University School of Law. If you have comments or suggestions, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement and Strategic Initiatives at guzmans@gonzaga.edu Visit us online at gonzaga.edu/law
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In October 2019, Gonzaga Law School unveiled Go Forth, a ten-panel art installation over thirty feet high and visible from all four floors in our atrium. This permanent piece, depicted on the cover of this issue of our magazine, is a striking original painting by Gonzaga University alumnus Ben Joyce. Entirely donor and artist funded, the specially commissioned work adds vibrant color to what otherwise was a large blank wall. The installation depicts an intricate root structure illustrating the journey of what happens within and outside the building. Symbolic of the connection to place that Gonzaga Law School students form in their time with us, the array of colors represents the diversity of backgrounds and beliefs that add to the richness and complexity of our institutional identity. The piece is often the first thing visitors see in the entranceway, drawing their eyes upward and sparking imaginations to dream about what happens when that which is rooted here grows and goes forth in incredible and aweinspiring ways. The name Go Forth harkens to our institutional roots, as we seek to live the words of the founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola, who encouraged students to “Go forth and set the world on fire.” But the piece and its name go far beyond brightening the building and reminding us of our Jesuit, humanistic identity. As the global health pandemic brought on by COVID-19 required us to cease in-person instruction in March 2020, we were reminded of the importance that beauty and humanity hold in the everyday, as well as the irreplaceable community we
are so fortunate to have on the banks of the Spokane River. Despite the unforeseen public health crisis, innovation in our programming and integration with the broader university and region continue unabated. This year, we were proud to be the first Catholic law school in the country to champion the rights of gay and lesbian community members, having opened the Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic as part of our renowned Center for Civil & Human Rights. The advancement of our Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce continued with the hiring of a new director, Professor Agnieszka McPeak, whose expertise in law, ethics, technology, and social media adds depth to our business law offerings. Two additional new professors joined us—Luis Inaraja Vera and Danielle Wingfield-Smith—adding to our expertise in environmental law and education law. And the Gonzaga University Wine Institute, a hybrid online/in-person certificate program that focuses on the business and legal aspects of wine, launches this Fall. Building for the future involves taking stock of our needs in the present. Our magnificent law school building, designed in large measure by beloved Emeritus Professor John Maurice during John Clute’s historic deanship, turned 20-years old on April 15th. While we celebrated that milestone, we continue to invest in strategic building improvements to ensure our structure attracts attention for years to come. The computer lab was converted to a beautiful new event space, named in honor of our distinguished alumna,
“Now, more than ever, Go Forth is a mandate to continue believing in the power of Gonzaga Law School and its graduates to change the world amidst so many unprecedented challenges.�
- Joyce and Rooksby
retired Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst. Underutilized stack space in the Chastek Law Library gave way to appealing new instructional and study areas devoted to student academic success and support. And throughout the building, new carpeting enhanced the visual appeal of common areas. We also hosted an ABA site team for a regular, once-a-decade reaccreditation visit in February, allowing us to reflect on opportunities for change. As part of that effort, we reformulated our accelerated J.D. program into the
Executive Two-Year J.D. program, offering select students a curriculum that is expedited and distinct. And we also formalized a new financial relationship with the University, one that reflects a new era marked by heightened collaboration and trust. Go Forth embodies this moment in time in many ways. It reflects our individuality, our ambitions, and the chances that lie ahead. It stands as a striking symbol to everyone who enters our doors of the powerful connection that we form to this law school through our work together as students, faculty,
and staff. And now, more than ever, Go Forth is a mandate to continue believing in the power of Gonzaga Law School and its graduates to change the world amidst so many unprecedented challenges.
Jacob H. Rooksby, J.D., Ph.D. Dean and Professor, School of Law Professor, School of Leadership Studies
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“Go Forth is the visual symbol for what we are doing here at Gonzaga Law School. It is showing us that we have a connection to place. It shows us that we can aspire to something wonderful, as yet unseen and unimagined.� - Kim Hai Pearson Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Program Innovation
2020 | Gonzaga Law Magazine |
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IN THE NEWS CARE AND SUPPORT AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC The world changed abruptly in March as COVID-19 spread in Washington state, resulting in the crucial yet challenging decision to close the Gonzaga University campus. Suddenly courses were prepared for an online delivery, events were cancelled, and above all, students needed support.
Bob Kayser (‘79 J.D.) models his Gonzaga University-themed mask made by Renee, his wife of 40 years.
Within a week, Gonzaga Law School’s faculty, led by Associate Dean Kim Pearson and with the assistance of university staff, moved more than 60 courses to an online format. Event and alumni teams also put beloved programs like the Clarke CLE online for the community to enjoy and delivered a completely virtual Admitted Students Day and Orientation. Amid these changes, Gonzaga Law wanted to ensure current students had the necessary resources to be successful. Assistant Dean of Students Camesha Little with the Law School’s CEAL Division and Sarah Guzmán, director of Alumni Engagement & Strategic Initiatives, established the Zag Law emergency fund to assist students in need of financial support. They secured a $25,000 in grant funds along with numerous generous gifts from Zag Law alumni around the country. The Chastek Library staff, led by Director Patrick Charles, crafted a rolling list of free resources for online learners. Dalean Neiner worked with faculty and students to troubleshoot
and assist with tech needs from webcams, to laptops, to software. To stay connected through the remainder of the semester, Dean Jacob Rooksby hosted weekly drop-in sessions with an open invitation for students to ask questions and receive ongoing curriculum, testing, and event updates. Professor Ann Murphy facilitated weekly Friday virtual happy hours for fun discussion and students from the Latina/o Law Student Association kept Dean Rooksby active on Instagram with questions such as, “What is your favorite cocktail?” Well wishes from our alumni poured in from around the country as members of the Zag Law community shared their memories, their stay-at-home efforts, and their advice to the class of 2020. No matter the challenge, members of the Gonzaga Law community both near and far came together to develop creative and flexible solutions. We are immensely grateful to each and every person who supported these efforts.
ANNOUNCING THE LINCOLN LGBTQ+ RIGHTS CLINIC In February, Gonzaga Law unveiled its new Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic in partnership with the school’s Center for Civil & Human Rights and supported by a significant donation from Joe Lincoln (’88), Gonzaga University Regent. The Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic aims to advance the equal rights and dignity of individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ through education, programming, advocacy, research, and legal representation. Jason Gillmer, professor and director of the Center for Civil & Human Rights, said, “The clinic will also provide students and faculty with opportunities to engage in broader policy discussions about LGBTQ+ rights as we continue to strive for equality.”
cards, family law issues, domestic violence concerns, and discrimination suits in housing, employment, and public services. Students will have the opportunity to handle all phases of representation, including interviewing and counseling clients, fact-finding, brief writing, and appearing in court hearings on behalf of clients.
The clinic will offer legal services to members of the public with the help of second-and third-year law students, under the direction of a full-time faculty member. Potential services include assistance with updating government identification
“We are excited to launch this new clinic, which is informed by Gonzaga’s Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic mission of promoting and respecting individual dignity,” Dean Jacob Rooksby said.
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IN THE NEWS
The partnership provides new methods of achieving a professional degree; it encourages students to plan for a professional career in an era of financial uncertainties. It helps families, first-generation students, veterans, and other underrepresented, excellent students to make decisions about their futures in law.”
GONZAGA & EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 3+3 CREATES SHORTER PATHWAY TO J.D.
Leaders from both institutions said they believe the program will increase the accessibility of a law degree and offer a unique alternative to the traditional path.
Last spring, leaders from Eastern Washington University and Gonzaga University School of Law signed a joint agreement that creates a pathway for students to earn their bachelor’s degree along with their Juris Doctor in six years, one year less than the traditional track.
“The EWU and Gonzaga collaboration derives from an interest in advancing an innovative education of the highest caliber for a group of motivated, academically prepared students,” Gonzaga University Provost Deena Gonzáles said. “The partnership provides new methods of achieving a professional degree; it encourages students to plan for a professional career in an era of financial uncertainties. It helps families, firstgeneration students, veterans, and other underrepresented, excellent students to make decisions about their futures in law.”
The program permits concurrent enrollment at both institutions, allowing students to apply to Gonzaga Law during their junior year after completing most of the requirements for their undergraduate program at EWU. Those accepted will use the first year of courses at GU to complete their bachelor’s degree at Eastern. The 3+3 program is open to students of all majors.
GONZAGA LAW IN ACTION: SEATTLE During spring break, five Gonzaga Law students advocated for one of the most marginalized populations in society – incarcerated individuals – through Gonzaga Law in Action (GLA), the Center for Civil & Human Rights’ alternative spring break program. Shelbi Eller (3L), Hisrael Carranza (2L), Kathryn Lucido (2L), Bailey Pahang (2L), and Nick Cortes (1L), worked with advocacy agency Columbia Legal Services (CLS) in Seattle to support the fight against mass incarceration. They researched the harm that communicable diseases may cause in jails, and prisons’ compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. They also received training in the areas of mass incarceration and immigration. “It was so wonderful to play a role, even a small one, in the incredible work CLS does for those who are incarcerated. I’m very thankful to work with and learn from such an important advocacy group; and I am especially thankful that Gonzaga Law in Action opened the door for this incredible opportunity,” Lucido said.
Left to right: Shelbi Eller (3L), Hisrael Carranza (2L), Kathryn Lucido (2L), Bailey Pahang (2L), and Nick Cortes (1L)
The Center for Civil & Human Rights created the GLA program to support law students who are dedicated to advocating for civil and human rights. Housing and travel expenses were provided, and students may use their hours toward pro bono or public service requirements. 2020 | Gonzaga Law Magazine |
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IN THE NEWS
SAUL
Back: J. Christopher Lynch (coach), Front: Josiah Alter, Mary Cullen, Joe Huston, Holli L. Higgins, Brendan Quilici, Johanna Fuhr, Yanni Tsangeos, Emmaline (Emma) Young
NTT
Back: Ryne Shaw, Linnea Hunsaker, Andrew L. Helmstadter, Trevor Shearer Middle: Chelsea Norman, Kayleigh TenBarge Front: Pansy Watson
MOOT COURT: THE ULTIMATE ORAL ARGUMENT EXTRACURRICULAR Over the 2019-20 academic year, Gonzaga Law students ventured around the country to compete in a variety of rigorous moot court competitions. After a truly impressive amount of preparation over many months, teams set out for regional rounds with the hope of reaching nationals to compete against the best teams in the country. The team of Mary Calderon (3L), Taylor Schaefer (3L), and Chris Ryder (2L) advanced to the national rounds of the National Moot Court Competition after finishing first and winning best brief at regionals. Although Gonzaga did not advance beyond the preliminary rounds at Nationals, the team scored very well in oral argument, including a near-perfect (99/100) score. The National Trial Team also traveled to a regional competition and advanced as the Number 2 seed in the tournament before ultimately falling in the semifinals. In Minnesota, two teams of hardworking students represented the Center for Civil and Human Rights at the Annual National McGee Moot Court Competition. The 3L team of Nicole Anderson, Francis dela Cruz, and Jessica Trujillo made it to the semi-finals and placed fourth overall. For the second year in a row, a Gonzaga Law team qualified for the National Finals of the Saul Lefkowitz National Trademark Moot Court Competition. “Team Punctual,” captained by 3L Johanna Fuhr, placed second in the Western Region competition. Along with Fuhr, Team Punctual’s roster included 2Ls Brendan Quilici, Emma Young, and Yanni Tsangeos. Gonzaga Law also fielded “Team Practical,” captained by 3L Holli Higgins, in the competition. Students also represented Gonzaga Law in New Orleans for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and in Philadelphia for the National Appellate Advocate Competition. Unfortunately, many national competitions were canceled due to the coronavirus, but nevertheless, the Zag Law students devoted months to preparation, research, and practice and are commended for their efforts and achievements.
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IN THE NEWS
HIRES & PROMOTIONS LeAnn Blair Elder Law Paralegal, Law Clinic Chantell Cosner Marketing & Brand Manager
NMC
Coach Timothy J. Nault (’10 J.D.), Coach Steve Roberts (cardboard head), Chris Ryder, Taylor Schaefer, Mary M. Calderon
Inga Laurent Professor of Law Kimberly Martin Catalog Librarian Agnieszka McPeak Associate Professor of Law; Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship; Director of the Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce Sandra Simpson Professor of Law Luis Inaraja Vera Assistant Professor of Law Danielle C. Wingfield-Smith Visiting Professor, Center for Civil & Human Rights
CIVIL RIGHTS
Back: Francis dela Cruz, Nichole Anderson, Jessica Trujillo, Brielle L. Rumsey, Russell Lytle Front: Noelle A. Green, Natasha L. Hill (coach)
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IN THE NEWS ASCA GRADUATE STUDENT OF THE YEAR: EZEKIEL DENISON Every year, Gonzaga Law students find new honors and awards to win. Ezekiel “Zeke” Denison (3L) is no different. The Association for Student Conduct Administration has named him the 2020 ASCA Graduate Student of the Year.
Left to right. Resolution Center for Student Conduct and Conflict staff and administrators Cortney Brewer, Ezekiel Denison (3L), Paula Smith, and Matthew Johann-Baker
Denison isn’t just an ace in the classroom. He also works as a graduate assistant for the University’s Resolution Center for Student Conduct and Conflict staff. He has trained in restorative justice practices through Skidmore College’s Project on Restorative Justice and works hard to develop ties and trust with Gonzaga students, faculty, and staff members across the campus so that the Center’s practices are effective and strengthen the community.
He has taken part in student conduct investigations and trained new hearing panel members and other conduct officers. In serving Gonzaga, he has developed effective working relationships with University corporate counsel, campus security officials, assistant vice presidents, residence life professionals, Clery compliance officers and others. Through the Center, he also leads educational workshops and works directly with students who are interested in using the Center’s services. As an active member of Gonzaga Law’s Environmental and Land Use Clinic, Denison has researched variance for water quality standards for PCB level in the Spokane River. He is helping to coordinate a grant focused on EPA regulations and standards and has presented his findings in whitepapers, forums, proposals, and as a member of a panel discussion that was live-streamed.
RED MASS 2020 HONORED DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS DON AND VA LENA CURRAN Don (’60 J.D.) and Va Lena (’58 J.D.) Curran were honored during the 2019 Red Mass for the Legal Profession as the year’s Distinguished Legal Service Award recipients. The Currans are excellent examples of the Zag Law spirit and are longtime pillars of the school. Don and Va Lena meet in law class and 1953 and never looked back. They were married in 1961 and have three sons, one of whom is a Gonzaga Law grad himself. Don is a former president of the Spokane County Bar Association and a well-respected speaker on ethics, professionalism, and discipline. Va Lena has served on Gonzaga Law’s Board of Advisors for more than 30 years and was a Gonzaga University Regent for close to 20 years. Don and Va Lena are the epitome of a true Zag Law power couple. We thank them for their many years of dedicated service to both our community and the law at large.
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Don and Va Lena Curran are the epitome of the true Zag Law attorneys with mission and service at the forefront of their being.
IN THE NEWS
RICKY KIDD & THE INNOCENCE PROJECT The Zag Law community showed up in force in February to engage in “A Conversation with Ricky Kidd,” sponsored by the newly formed Gonzaga Law Innocence Club. Kidd spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit and was eventually freed, thanks to work by the Innocence Project. He now travels the country to spread his message of resiliency.
CLARKE FAMILY PRIZE GOES VIRTUAL
Congrats to the student writing competition winners who shared a total of
$7,500
in prize money:
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WINNER: Macy Disney (2L)
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SECOND PLACE: Bethany Johnson (2L)
While the Clarke Family Prize in Legal Ethics CLE has been live-streamed in prior years along with the in-person program, this year’s event was hosted entirely online, with more than 150 participants tuning in from around the region. This year’s theme, Ethics, Risk, and Compliance in Business, was addressed by panelists Deborah L. Rhode, Ernest W. McFarland Professor of Law and the director of the Center on the Legal Profession at Stanford Law School; Benjamin P. Cooper, senior associate dean for Academic Affairs and the Frank Montague, Jr. Professor of Legal Studies and Professionalism at the University of Mississippi School of Law; W. Bradley Wendel, associate dean for Academic Affairs and professor of law at Cornell University; and Maureen Weston, professor of law at Pepperdine University School of Law and director of the Entertainment, Media & Sports Law Program.
THIRD PLACE: Bailey Pahang (2L)
LISTEN IN This year’s Clarke keynote Deborah L. Rhode and Dean Jacob H. Rooksby discuss law and leadership in a time of global crisis during season two of the All Rise Podcast.
Dean Jacob Rooksby practices social distancing during this year’s virtual Clarke Family Prize in Legal Ethics CLE.
gonzaga.edu/law/podcast
2020 | Gonzaga Law Magazine |
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EVENTS
GONZAGA WELCOMES BLACK LIVES MATTER CO-FOUNDER PATRISSE CULLORS Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, presented at the Center for Civil and Human Rights’ annual lecture in February. Cullors shared her personal story and connection to community organizing and highlighted the value and impact it can have on local and regional policy. While the Black Lives Matter movement grew beyond Cullors’ imagination, becoming an international presence, her roots are in local efforts within the San Fernando Valley. When she was in high school, Cullors’ 19-year-old brother was taken into custody and brutally beaten by the sheriff’s department. In 2011, when he was released from prison, she discovered an 86-page complaint filed with the American Civil Liberties Union that contained 70 sworn statements from people who had been tortured or had witnessed torture by the sheriff’s department in Los Angeles. “It was the first time that I felt like this secret that my family had was opened up,” she said. Inspired by the need to organize the families who were impacted, Cullors left the organization she had been working at for 11 years and started the Coalition to End Sheriff Violence in L.A. Jails. “We made a decision that we were not going to be silent,” Cullors said. The organization, now called Justice L.A., is still active within the Los Angeles community. In 2013, Cullors, along with co-founders Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, launched Black Lives Matter following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager. With inspiration drawn from the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, as well as her own experiences in community organizing around state violence, Black Lives Matter built awareness and power through demonstrations, media appearances, and social media engagement. “There was a culmination, I think, of not just me, but many folks in my generation who said we were tired of this,” said Cullors. “We had seen this happen in our neighborhoods, in our communities for too many years.” During the Q&A after her lecture, Cullors encouraged students and community leaders alike to create change locally through organizing opportunities for conversation and deeply listening to one another. “As much as what is happening on the national level, we can’t always control that but, we can control what is in our backyard,” she said. “If we build a strong city, a strong county, a strong state, we will build a strong nation.”
“If we build a strong city, a strong county, a strong state, we will build a strong nation.”
EVENTS
BLACK LIVES MATTER AT GONZAGA LAW SCHOOL A STATEMENT OF AFFIRMATION AND COMMITMENT TO ACTION The realities of racial violence and systematic oppression as manifested by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis this past spring have become a pivotal turning point in our nation’s collective consciousness. Mr. Floyd’s tragic death – compounded by the deaths of so many other innocent people of color around our country – has rightfully sparked widespread anger, sadness, and frustration. As members of a Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic community, we are called to stand in solidarity with the marginalized and the vulnerable – which includes our students and colleagues of color as we engage in long-overdue national and local dialogues about the perpetuation of oppression through societal power systems. As a learning community committed to justice, we must seize this historical moment to work together in finding solutions that will foster a
more equitable society for all. This obligation includes a commitment to action through which we will work to dismantle structures that perpetuate racism and oppression, inequity and bias, particularly as they relate to law, legal education, and the legal profession. Gonzaga University School of Law faculty and staff stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and affirm the voices of Black people, indigenous people, and the historically marginalized. We commit to listening and learning from these communities as we collectively work to dismantle systemic racism and seek to become a better, more equitable, and more inclusive institution in the process. This important endeavor is a collective one, and one that requires urgent attention and thoughtful action. I look forward to updating the Zag Law community of our progress, and I invite your feedback and support as we strive to make good on the American ideals of peace, prosperity, and justice for all. Dean Rooksby On Behalf of Gonzaga Law Faculty & Staff
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EVENTS
MARY FAIRHURST ROOM DEDICATION A cold winter night didn’t stop the Spokane legal community from showing up in force on Dec. 10, to honor Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst (’79, ’84 J.D.) as she retired from the Washington State Supreme Court. More than 70 Gonzaga Law alumni gathered in a space most of them remembered as a computer lab; the room had been renovated as the Law School’s new event space. There was standing room only by the time President McCulloh and Dean Rooksby dedicated the room as the Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst Bench-Bar Room – a name suited to space that has quickly become a hub in the law school. During his remarks, Dean Rooksby stated, “The Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst Bench-Bar Room will serve as a constant reminder of the incredible, joyful person who has a way of bringing out the best in others. In her own distinct ways, she has encouraged everyone in this room to be a better person and to live without fear of failure. She has exemplified professionalism, collegiality, and grace and set a high standard in how we treat each other—not only as professionals, but as people.”
GONZAGA LAW CO-HOSTS WOMEN IN WINE CONFERENCE The Women Lead Napa Valley Conference 2020 brought participants into the heart of beautiful Napa Valley and featured women prominent in the local wine industry. Presented in partnership with the School of Law and Gonzaga School of Leadership Studies, the conference’s law track focused on trademark law and starting a wine law practice.
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“The Law and Leadership conference in Napa was an amazing opportunity - to learn, drink wine, and network with wonderful alumni and new friends of Gonzaga University,” Gonzaga Wine Institute Director Jessica Kiser said. “Between the inspiring speakers on developing leadership skills and starting a wine law practice, and the dedication of the wineries that offered us tours and insights about their businesses, attendees left with a wealth of information and a lot of beautiful memories.”
This event was one in a series of Women Lead conferences presented by Gonzaga University to foster empowerment and collaboration among women. Bonding over a shared love and interest in wine, participants heard from influential speakers who shared their research on topics such as confidence and branding. “I hope this event, and the partnership between the School of Law and the School of Leadership Studies, continues to grow each year,” Kiser concluded.
2020 GRADUATES
INNOVATE 2020 GRADUATES & INTEGRATE
Grace MALDONADO IMMIGRATION LAW A MEANINGFUL FIT Grace Maldonado is a double Zag. She earned her undergraduate degree at Gonzaga and decided that this would be the best place to study law. As she says, “It’s hard to leave a school whose motto is Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, and I try to encompass it daily.” You might say that Maldonado’s matriculation was inevitable. She grew up in a household with parents who understood how education would give their children the power to change their lives and change the lives of others. The only time Maldonado had ever visited the Gonzaga campus, before receiving her letter of acceptance, was when she was in third grade. She came for a visit because two of her brothers were graduating from the University. “I remember how proud my father and mother were that their children were graduating from a Jesuit institution,” she says, “an institution that held our Catholic beliefs at its core. At that moment I decided I would go to Gonzaga.” For Maldonado, Gonzaga was the best place for her to “grow her knowledge” and go forth into a meaningful legal career.
“No ma er how hard life gets, someone else probably has it harder than me. Why? Because at least my entire family is here with me in the United States.” This story may make Maldonado’s path sound clear and free of obstacles. But law school is never an easy path, no matter how clear the calling. Maldonado recalls that during her first year, “I was genuinely lost and very confused as to what the heck I was doing.” But then one day, one of her professors, Ann Murphy, “asked me how I was, not how school was going or how I was doing in classes, but how I was. Then she hugged me.” This small gesture helped Maldonado get out of her “1L funk.” After that moment, Maldonado became a leader in her class. She was selected to be a Smitty Myers Fellow, led the Hispanic Law Caucus, and was president of the Student Bar Association. Her service extended to her work choices while a law student. Columbia Legal Services selected her as the 2018 Laurel Ruben Farm Worker Justice Fellow, and Maldonado conducted outreach for farmworkers in labor camps in Washington state to educate them on their legal rights. Additionally, the Washington State Bar Association selected Maldonado for Justice’s Past President’s Fellow, which included internships with two Spokane law firms, Armitage & Thompson, PLLC and Campbell & Bissell, PLLC. She also was one of the first student interns with Gonzaga Law’s new Immigration Law Clinic, which is a joint effort with Catholic Charities. Her interest in immigration law is a tribute to her immigrant parents and their experiences before they became U.S. citizens. “No matter how hard life gets, someone else probably has it harder than me. Why? Because at least my entire family is here with me in the United States,” she says, “I never have to worry about my husband, sisters, brothers, or parents being ripped away from me. I have been blessed with an intact family, but unfortunately, that is not the reality for many people.” “So,” Maldonado says, “if I can help people like them, why not?” Her goal is to join a law firm and perform the work, not because it is easy, but because it is meaningful. “I want to ensure that my employer never regrets hiring me and that I can excel in whatever it is that I choose to do.”
INNOVATE 2020 & GRADUATES INTEGRATE
Mason MAXEY CARVING OUT A PATH OF HIS OWN Being the grandson of a legend whose New York Times obituary called a “Type-A Gandhi” is tough. But Mason Maxey, grandson of Carl Maxey (’51) and son of Bevan Maxey (‘83), has found a way to both honor ancestry and carve his own path. Maxey chose to go to law school despite majoring in physiology at the University of Washington as an undergraduate. During his junior year, Maxey did some soul-searching—and jobshadowing—and decided that medicine was not for him, which led him to consider and evaluate a variety of other careers. But not the law. “Honestly, at this point, I had never considered the law as I didn’t want to simply follow in the footsteps of my family,” he says. It was after speaking with his mother, who suggested that he might have a good mind for the law, that he began to think that maybe law school and lawyering were a viable path. As with medicine, Maxey did his research and after careful consideration, decided to sit for the LSAT. The next decision, where to go to law school, was far simpler. “When it came to Gonzaga that was an easier choice for me,” he recalls. “I was ready to come back to Spokane after four and a half years in Seattle, and I had had some positive experience with faculty members at GU.” Being the third generation to go to law school does not insulate anyone from the trials of the 1L year. For Maxey, as for many new law students, the first semester of law school was “eye opening.” But it was out of his first semester that some of his favorite memories have grown. Maxey enjoyed the experience of meeting new friends, faculty, and supervisors in his chosen field. “Within the first few weeks, a couple of new students and I organized a 1L fantasy football league that survives to this day,” Maxey says, which just goes to show that law students can turn any fun game into homework. When it came to his courses, Maxey was excited to “navigate the new type of learning, learning how to brief cases, take legal exams.” He knew that “given my family history, that there were certain expectations thrust upon me, as well as the fact that other students and faculty might feel I am riding the coattails of my family legacy, so to speak.” Because Maxey wanted “an objective assessment of my own ability and character,” he tried to downplay his name. Maxey understands and accepts that his family’s legacy “will follow me wherever I go, so it is up to me to uphold it
accordingly.” Now, instead of feeling embarrassed when his connection to Carl Maxey is pointed out, he addresses what he can control, how he navigates the practice of law, and how he treats people as human beings. And it seems that Maxey’s choice to join the practice of law was a good one. As an intern with Maxey Law Office, he remembers when a jury entered a not guilty verdict for a client whose case he had worked on. “We are generally so removed in law school from the actual emotion of a case that the impact overwhelmed me in the moment,” he says, “That moment really made me realize the implications of what we do as lawyers, as well as providing a visceral example of what is at stake often times in criminal litigation.” Mason Maxey plans on joining the family firm, Maxey Law Office, after he passes the bar.
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INNOVATE 2020 GRADUATES & INTEGRATE
Erik BIRNEL AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
“My professors at Gonzaga Law encouraged me to push myself to my full potential, even when I wanted to give up,” he says, “My externship and clinic co-workers showed me how to get things done. My law school friends demonstrated that, with good company, even the most difficult tasks can be fun.”
Erik Birnel views the practice of law as a way to bring peace to feuding parties. His parents raised him to be thankful and it is this gratitude that motivates Birnel to dedicate his life to service, to solve problems and help other people achieve the blessings of a balanced life that he enjoys. He chose Gonzaga Law because he knew that “my core values of integrity and selfless service would align with Gonzaga Law’s humanist and Jesuit vision.” Gonzaga’s wider name recognition, thanks to basketball, didn’t hurt either. It is that mindset that motivated Birnel to serve as president of the Gonzaga Public Interest Law Project, intern for the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho, work in the Gonzaga Business Law Clinic, volunteer for the Moderate Means and Street Law programs, and clerk with Spokane’s City Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. Army. Birnel also participated in student government, Law Review, and National Moot Court. This list of responsibilities shows his work ethic, willingness to undertake new challenges and demonstrates his dedication to serving others and his community, as a whole. When he arrived as a first-year student, he shared the typical 1L stresses with his classmates; but he credits his Legal Research and Writing professor, Kevin Shelley, with helping him find a balance. Calling Shelley a “calming and clarifying presence during class,” Birnel says Shelley demanded discipline from his students but also “encouraged us to go outside, get fresh air, and live a well-rounded life. The class was so refreshing, and in that class, more than any other, I learned how to think with a law-trained mind.” Along with things like the Rules of Civil Procedure, the Rule in Shelley’s Case, and the Rule Against Perpetuities, Birnel easily recalls what else he learned from his experience here. “My professors at Gonzaga Law encouraged me to push myself to my full potential, even when I wanted to give up,” he says, “My externship and clinic co-workers showed me how to get things done. My law school friends demonstrated that, with good company, even the most difficult tasks can be fun.” Birnel will join the Judge Advocate General Corps in the U.S. Army. He will take the lessons learned at Gonzaga Law with him. “My law school experience at Gonzaga taught me that excellence can be achieved without sacrificing relationship,” he says, “In fact, strong relationships are a necessary condition to excellence. I would not have succeeded in law school without my professors, my co-workers, my friends, and — above all — my wife.”
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INNOVATE 2020 & GRADUATES INTEGRATE
Gurpreet DHATT LITIGATION NO LONGER A DAUNTING TASK Although she never paid much attention to American author Chuck Palahniuk, Gurpreet Dhatt embodies part of his ethos: Find out what you’re afraid of and go live there. For this recent graduate, her fear was The Law. “My parents are immigrants and small-business owners,” she says, “and in the past, whenever they needed an attorney, it was when things were going wrong.” As her parents’ translator and interpreter from Hindi and Punjabi to English, Dhatt found the legal process both confusing and scary. So, of course, she decided to go to law school. She wanted “to understand the law and learn how it could be a helpful tool – not just something to be afraid of,” she said. Growing up, Dhatt recalls that she “didn’t know or see any attorneys that looked like me or came from the same cultural community as me.” This lack of representation further propelled her along her path to law school. After her experience during the school’s Admitted Students Day, Dhatt chose Gonzaga Law. “On that day, I felt that Gonzaga really welcomed me and showed me a sense of community that I had not expected,” she recalls. A tangible expression of this community occurred during Dhatt’s first year when a second-year student, Victoria Elleby, “simply handed me her study materials from her 1L year,” says Dhatt, “It was a simple and kind gesture, but it had an impact on me because I was just learning that law school can be a very competitive environment.” So Dhatt paid it forward by sharing her materials with new students and encourages other students to share, as well. “It was a small gesture but helped me realize we should be helping raise each other up on our path through law school,” she says. As a first-year student, Dhatt took an active role in the Gonzaga Law community to better acquaint herself with fellow students. After running, unsuccessfully, for the 1L representative and diversity representative positions in the Student Bar Association, she persisted and won the SBA’s election for ABA liaison. She also restarted Gonzaga Law’s Multicultural Law Caucus and joined the Asian Bar Association of Washington. “Diversity, inclusion, and support for minority groups is something I am very passionate about,” she says, “It was important to me to be involved in groups that support those goals.” The first event that Dhatt and her fellow students of the MLC put together was a panel on cultural competency. She was heartened not only by the response from local attorneys to serve as panel members and discuss their experiences as attorneys of color
but by the number of attendees—even though the Bulldogs were playing in the Sweet Sixteen. Along with her studies and leadership roles, Dhatt found time to intern with such disparate entities as International Criminal Court in the Hague, the Kootenai District Court in Idaho, Gonzaga Law’s Business Law Clinic, and Piskel, Yahne, Kovarik, PLLC, a Spokane litigation firm. All these internships underscore Dhatt’s understanding that effective communication is key to the just administration of the law. It should come as no surprise that Dhatt, who started law school to overcome her fear of the law, will practice with a litigation firm after graduation, even though she never wanted to become a litigator. But it was her internship with Piskel, Yahne, Kovaik, PLLC in Spokane that changed her mind. While working for the firm as a law student, she was able to go to court and see how attorneys can effect change in court. “Once I was actually exposed to litigation – it was not as daunting as it had seemed,” she says. Upon passing the bar, Dhatt has an associate’s position awaiting her with PYK.
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“Go Forth is a gift from our donors, a gift from renowned artist Ben Joyce, and a gift to the Zag Law community. It’s simultaneously a call to action, a source of hope and inspiration, and an attachment to place.
Go Forth is our calling. It’s also our roots.” - Dean Jacob Rooksby, J.D., Ph.D.
STORIES Going Forth to Nogales: Broadening Access to Justice at the Border Law Students Provide Legal Advice in Partnership with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians Health, Technology, and the Law: A Timely Synergy Emerging Technologies and the Future of Lawyering Professor Lynn Daggett Examining the Myth of Student Medical Privacy
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A NOTE FROM THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Sarah Guzmán, Director (’18 M.A.) “I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived. It became clear that my mission was to be of service, to be helpful whenever or however I could.” These were words that I wrote shortly after I returned from serving families in Nogales, Mexico, with Gonzaga Law faculty, students, and alumni. They ring even more true now. Our academic year was moving forward with great success and momentum when everything turned on its end. The
COVID-19 pandemic brought many of our travels and traditions to a halt. Yet, in true Gonzaga fashion, our community didn’t miss a beat. We turned out en masse to wrap our arms around those who needed it most and supported each other during this incredible and challenging time. We have proven that we can all still “go forth” and have an impact no matter the circumstances.
The request for Gonzaga Law in Action: Nogales 2020 read, “The Immigration Clinic is seeking Spanish-speaking law students to provide legal advice to asylum seekers in Nogales, Mexico, over spring break.” It was no small ask, but in the end, five Gonzaga Law School students, three staff, and two alumni committed to spending their time assisting asylum seekers, many of whom had recently entered the United States without visas, were temporarily detained in Tucson, Arizona, and then sent to Nogales, Mexico. “It was an unforgettable experience for us all,” said Megan Ballard, professor of law and co-organizer of the program. “A small but representative slice of the Gonzaga Law community worked together to embody the Jesuit ethos of | Gonzaga Law Magazine | 2020
Again, thank you for a memorable year. I look forward to many more.
The story that follows is another demonstration of the resiliency, creativity, and dedication of our students, alumni, and faculty to underserved communities in need. The passion that drives Gonzaga students to seek futures practicing law is stronger than ever, and it is inspiring those of us
Going Forth to Nogales: Broadening Access to Justice at the Border
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who work in service of them toward another Jesuit tenet: Magis — serving others for the greater glory of God.
accompaniment by offering respect, compassion, and aid to families seeking safety.” The Nogales project was a collaboration between the Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic at Gonzaga School of Law, the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona (The Florence Project), whose mission is to provide free legal services to adults and unaccompanied minors in immigration custody, and the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), a Jesuit organization committed to humanitarian assistance, education, research, and advocacy. Although visiting Mexico seems a conventional way to spend spring break, Gonzaga Law students understood the importance of the work they were doing and the meaningful impact it would have on the lives of those they were serving. David Salgado, a 1L student, recounted that while the conditions for outdoors legal advocacy were not ideal – windy, rainy, and cold – pressing forward was critical. “We were perhaps the only people who were going to take the time and effort to prove to these asylum seekers that their lives and their stories matter,” he said. “I will not soon forget the
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experiences that we were privileged enough to encounter ourselves.” Many thanks go to two alumni, Emmanuel Elizondo Leon (’16) and Jessica Lewis (’13), who rearranged their busy immigration law practice schedules to travel from Phoenix to help asylum seekers and mentor students.
SEEKING ASYLUM Two recent changes in asylum policy adversely affect asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, and Nogales is the largest port of entry in the state of Arizona, where vast numbers of immigrants gather to present their claims to immigration officials. Together, these policies have caused tens of thousands of people seeking protection to be stranded in Mexico with no legal help to pursue their asylum claims. Most are from Central America, Cuba, and Venezuela, countries where migrants are fleeing violence and unbearable conditions. First, U.S. immigration officials limit the number of people who can request asylum at a border entry point each day. This metering policy means that people attempting to seek safety legally by requesting asylum at a port of entry must wait up to six months to even begin the process. In the interim, asylum seekers try to keep themselves and their families safe in a country where they are easily victimized. But some give up on waiting and resort to crossing the border illegally, between the official ports of entry.
Back, left to right: Emmanuel Elizondo Leon, (’16, J.D.); Alexandra Miller, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project; Megan Case; Andy Havens; Amanda Breck; Anna Wall; Sarah Guzmán; Jessica Lewis, (’13, J.D.) Front, left to right: Marthy Hernandez; David Salgado; Megan Ballard.
“A small but representative slice of the Gonzaga Law community worked together to embody the Jesuit ethos of accompaniment by offering respect, compassion, and aid to families seeking safety.”
Under the second new policy, U.S. immigration officials require individuals and families fearful of persecution to return to Mexico to wait for court hearings. At the time of the Gonzaga Law in Action: Nogales 2020 project, about 60,000 asylum seekers had been sent back to Mexico since the policy’s implementation in early 2019. In Mexico, they wait for their United States asylum court proceedings, most with no legal counsel. Very few of these asylum seekers are represented by a lawyer, significantly reducing their chances of a successful claim. “We rely on student groups to expand the impact of our work and to bear witness to the reality we are facing in the borderlands and to spread the word about what is happening on the border back in their own communities,” said Alexandra Miller, manager with the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. “We are so thrilled that the Gonzaga School of Law came to Nogales to join us in solidarity. This was much more than just a learning opportunity for the students.” Continued on page 25...
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A JOINT MISSION FOR CHANGE
“We rely on student groups to expand the impact of our work and to bear witness to the reality we are facing in the borderlands and to spread the word about what is happening on the border back in their own communities.”
In August 2019, the Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic at Gonzaga Law School officially launched with the dual purpose of supporting low-income individuals in need of immigration legal assistance while providing training to the next generation of immigration lawyers. The clinic is housed within University Legal Assistance (ULA), Gonzaga’s public-serving law clinic, with second- and thirdyear law students advocating for clients under the direction of a supervising attorney. Students began serving eligible clients in fall 2019 with pro bono representation primarily in the areas of family reunification, humanitarian-based visas, and naturalization assistance. “I’m thrilled to join Gonzaga in finding creative, new ways to serve our immigrant neighbors. This is a unique collaboration between a Catholic Charities organization and a Catholic university in the area of immigration legal services in the United States,” said Rob McCann, Gonzaga alum and president and CEO of Catholic Charities Eastern Washington. “God calls us to go to the margins to serve the vulnerable, and our partnership means we can bring more resources and providers to this underserved group.”
GOING FORWARD True to the missions of both Gonzaga University and Catholic Charities in demonstrating Jesuit, humanistic values, the Nogales project provided students the opportunity to gain a unique, authentic experience while working with asylum seekers at the southern border. The group ultimately completed 32 Applications for Asylum and Withholding of Removal for migrants to present when their time came to appear before an immigration judge.
Students, staff, and alumni provide legal assistance to asylum seekers, Kino Border Initiative, Nogales, MX
As Sarah Guzmán, director of Alumni Engagement & Strategic Initiatives, shared in a recent reflection, “We will never know the outcome of the 32 applications, the students, staff, and alumni took. We will never see their faces again…We can carry on their stories in our hearts, and more importantly, we can share them. We share them with those who need to understand that our laws need to change. We need to open our borders. We need to open our hearts.”
LISTEN IN Professor Megan Ballard shares her experience in Nogales in Episode 6 of the All-Rise Podcast. gonzaga.edu/law/podcast
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The traditional homeland of the Kalispel encompasses the land surrounding the Pend Oreille River and stretches between North Idaho into Montana and across northeastern Washington.
Law Students Provide Legal Advice in Partnership with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians Each semester, students in the Gonzaga Law Indian Law General Practice Clinic dedicate their time and experience to assisting Tribal Members on and around the Kalispel Indian Reservation. Unique to this clinic, students must be admitted by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians to practice law in Tribal Court. After a rigorous study of the Kalispel Law and Order Code, students are sworn in by a presiding Tribal judge and receive an official Kalispel Tribal Court Bar number. Participants in the Indian Law General Practice Clinic receive the exceptional opportunity to practice realworld law while pursuing their legal education. “As interns work on their cases, different parts of the Kalispel Law and Order Code will come into play,” Clinic
Director Fr. Bryan Pham, S.J., said. “Most of our interns have studied Washington state or federal law before they intern with the clinic, so weekly seminars provide a good opportunity to see how different legal systems complement or potentially conflict with each other.”
“One of the most interesting things I’ve learned is how much the tribal culture influences tribal law,” 2L student Spencer Calveard said. “The courts are very community-centered and really try to enhance the life of the tribal members as much as possible.”
Studying the Kalispel Law and Order Code is no small feat. Students review the 500-page document, with their advisors, placing significant emphasis on the Kalispel Constitutions. This unique hands-on experience allows students to be assigned to both criminal and civil cases. The Indian Law General Practice Clinic often has more than 90 open cases at any time, and participating students represent their clients in tribal court.
The clinic offers essential free legal advice for Tribal members on and around the Kalispel Reservation. Potential clients come to Gonzaga students for legal advice on a wide variety of issues, including family law and wills. This diverse clinical experience is a powerful tool in the Indian law education of Gonzaga Law students and serves as an important connector for Gonzaga and the Tribes of Northeast Washington.
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For Mason Marks, the ‘Go Forth’ theme perfectly embodies the work that he does, and nothing encapsulates that better than his timely research focus: technology, privacy, and health. “Health information is something that for thousands of years, we have thought of as special, something that is private,” said Marks. “It’s rooted in the Hippocratic Oath, which says that whatever my patients share with me, it would be shameful to share with others.” But the technology and the internet have rapidly changed how we view data and who has access to it, shedding new light on historical practice. Marks, with both an M.D. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from Tufts University, believes it is critical that we are thoughtful and proactive about how we manage our health information.
MASON MARKS
This spring, Marks convened stakeholders from multiple disciplines including patent law, private business, and healthcare to talk about Gonzaga Law’s latest endeavor, the Health & Technology Policy Project (HTPP). The mission of the project is to research, develop, and promote technology policies that improve public health on the local, state, and national levels. “We are living in a completely unprecedented time,” Marks said. “We’ve only had these technologies for a matter of years and things are shifting very rapidly.” However, Marks notes that bringing a diverse group together in a collaborative environment enables them to better educate policymakers about these technologies and their impact on society.
Health, Technology, and the Law: A Timely Synergy
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“We are trying to shape health tech policy based on evidence,” Marks said. “It is important that we look at what the science says first, and then use that to inform the policies that we will promote.” In addition to the HTPP, Marks is the 2020-21 Edmond J. Safra/Petrie-Flom Joint Fellow-in-Residence at Harvard University and Harvard Law School. At Harvard, Marks will research the legal and ethical implications of adopting Artificial Intelligence in healthcare and public health. “It is an exciting time to be researching law and biomedical innovation,” said Marks. “Technologies such as AI hold great promise for improving human health. However, the risks are not fully understood, and the law is not prepared to protect people from them.”
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Emerging Technologies and the Future of Lawyering Tunji Williams is focused. He is reviewing a non-disclosure agreement, looking for issues and errors. The lawyer from University of Virginia School of Law looks nervous – he is pitted against artificial intelligence software that is doing the same thing, checking for accuracy. Williams completes his review of both contracts in an hour with better than 80-percent accuracy. Meanwhile, the software beats him handily, completing the task in around 20 minutes with 95 percent accuracy. This scenario was presented in a recent Vice News documentary on the future of work and the implications of artificial intelligence. It showcases the interplay between the traditional legal world and emerging technologies and shines a spotlight on what the future might look like for lawyers in just a few years. Technologies like this fascinate faculty-member Drew Simshaw. In a recent article published in Hastings Law Journal titled “Ethical Issues in Robo-Lawyering: The Need for Guidance on Developing and Using Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law.” Simshaw argues that while, “AI has the potential to increase access to justice in the self-help, individual, and corporate law firm markets by lowering costs and expanding services to untapped markets...there is currently no comprehensive guidance for attorneys on how AI should be developed, adopted, and used in ways that conform to a lawyer’s ethical obligations.” Undoubtedly, Gonzaga students benefit from Simshaw’s mantra (with all due credit to Spiderman), “With great power comes great responsibility.” It is with this view that Simshaw approaches his courses, aiming to educate students on how to think critically and adapt to changes and challenges, critical skills in our ever-changing environment. “I think in the coming years, a lot of ways that the profession is changing are going to present some fundamental moral and ethical challenges. It is important to prepare the next generation of attorneys to navigate those challenges with a strong ethical compass.”
DREW SIMSHAW
Simshaw joined the law school’s faculty as an assistant professor in August 2019. A Pacific Northwesterner, he earned his B.A. from the University of Washington before earning his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and his LL.M. in Advocacy with distinction from Georgetown Law. Along with technology and the ethics of AI lawyering, Simshaw focuses on access to justice for historically underrepresented populations, including those with disabilities. No matter where the future takes us, Simshaw believes that lawyers will play a central role in protecting individuals and will need to work across disciplines to help society navigate the ethical and moral dilemmas faced both now and in the future. “So many of the biggest legal challenges we face as a society have interdisciplinary solutions,” he said. “Lawyers can’t go at it alone.”
LISTEN IN Hear more about Drew Simshaw’s research in communications and technology, as well as his thoughts on the future of lawyering in Episode 4 of the All Rise Podcast. gonzaga.edu/law/podcast
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Professor Lynn Daggett Examining the Myth of Student Medical Privacy
school for sexual assault, and failed to monitor him after his enrollment. To defend Jane Doe’s lawsuit, the school’s attorney seized, and allegedly reviewed, her psychotherapy notes and other records from the campus counseling center. Jane Doe claimed tortious invasion of privacy and sought damages for the mental trauma she experienced after learning that her school had accessed her private counseling records, while she was still in counseling, in order to defend her lawsuit. The school argued that her campus counseling records were in fact “the school’s records,” which the school had the legal right to access. As a student privacy scholar, Daggett contributed expert commentary to some of the press coverage of the case. She worked pro bono with Congressional staff, and with student and victim advocates. Daggett also consulted pro bono with John Clune, a distinguished GU Law alum (1996) and nationally prominent advocate for sexual assault victims, who was one of Jane Doe’s attorneys. Finally, Daggett submitted extensive comments on proposed Title IX regulations which would have removed even the current existing student privacy protections from Title IX. This work convinced Daggett that federal law must be changed to meaningfully protect student medical privacy. Daggett’s work on student medical privacy includes her article “The Myth of Student Medical Privacy,” forthcoming from the Harvard Law and Policy Review. Her second piece, “Female Student Patient ‘Privacy’ at Campus Health Clinics: Realities and Consequences,” will be presented at the annual conference of the Center for Applied Feminism at the University of Baltimore Law School and published in the conference’s law review symposium issue. Daggett’s third article will focus on student medical privacy in the context of sexual assault and harassment complaints under Title IX and the Clery Act.
EXCERPTS LYNN DAGGETT
Drawing on her background as a former educator and school attorney, Smithmoore P. Myers Chair and Professor of Law Lynn Daggett has written and spoken extensively about student privacy. Daggett’s recent work on student medical privacy was inspired by the Jane Doe case. Jane Doe, a university freshman who was sexually assaulted off-campus by several student athletes, turned to her school’s campus counseling center for assistance. Jane Doe then sued her school under Title IX (the federal gender discrimination statute), claiming that her school had accepted one of her assaulters as a transfer student despite discipline by his prior
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Since the early 21st century, HIPAA’s Privacy Rule has protected patient privacy. HIPAA singles out only the records of student patients for full exclusion. Student patient records are left to FERPA, the 1970’s federal student education records statute. HIPAA’s exclusion of student patient records is contrary to the judgment of the enforcing agency that there should be a uniform system of privacy and access for all medical records. FERPA’s protection of student medical privacy has been aptly characterized by one commentator as “cheesecloth” coverage. FERPA has a long list of provisions allowing schools in their discretion to non-consensually disclose student medical and other information. These provisions govern student information generally; there are no different rules for student
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patient or other student medical information. And this is FERPA’s approach despite the modern reality that schools create and maintain extensive medical information about their students. Most significantly, many K-12 schools, and most colleges, choose to take on a health care provider role and operate campus health clinics offering mental and physical health care to all of their students. FERPA offers no greater privacy for Jane Doe’s campus therapy notes than her class attendance records. FERPA allows schools to unilaterally access and disclose student medical records in many circumstances, likely including the school’s seizure of Jane Doe’s campus therapy records. Thus, school attorneys could review Jane Doe’s medical records, despite their intimate content, despite no advance notice to Jane Doe, despite no court involvement or oversight, and despite the significant litigation advantage conferred on her school. In fact, FERPA’s single provision on student medical records denies adult students the right to directly access many of their own medical records. Using this provision, Jane Doe’s school seized and reviewed the medical records of another sexually assaulted student before that victim was allowed to access them herself. In fact, FERPA also authorizes non-consensual disclosure of student medical records in many other circumstances, for example to a new school if Jane Doe sought to enroll as a transfer or to pursue advanced studies, or to her parents if she is their financial dependent. While Washington and a few other states have enacted laws to protect student medical privacy, state law protection of student medical records is neither consistent, comprehensive, nor robust. For example, the state health care privacy statute that applied in Jane Doe’s case was modeled on HIPAA and explicitly excluded FERPA records. Similarly, state law tort claims such as invasion of privacy for unauthorized access of “confidential” medical information tend to define “confidential” by reference to FERPA or other law, and thus often are not viable in the student medical records context. Conflation of schools’ education and health care provider roles is the underlying source of these problems. Although schools commonly offer health care to their students, regulation of student medical privacy is left to an education statute. Jane Doe’s lawsuit illustrates this conflation of roles: Jane Doe’s school was able to use an education statute to unilaterally seize student medical records created in its health care provider role to defend an education law claim. For Jane Doe and other students, these problems can be addressed by teasing out these roles and amending FERPA to provide real student medical privacy. Jane Doe’s campus health clinic records exist only because her school chose to assume a health care role, and there is no good reason to exclude them from HIPAA privacy coverage. Doing so would
give Jane Doe and other student patients a right to access their own records, and also would appropriately protect their confidentiality. On the other hand, schools deal with many student medical records that serve educational purposes, such as doctors’ notes excusing student absence, and records of physical therapy and other services provided to some students pursuant to special education law. It is neither feasible nor desirable to extend HIPAA privacy coverage to these more “educational” student medical records because educators need to access and use them to fulfill educational responsibilities. Access to these “educational” student medical records should continue to be governed by FERPA. However, recognizing the sensitive nature of these records, their disclosure outside the school should be limited by HIPAA’s “minimum necessary” standard. These proposed changes would be informed by and improve upon Jane Doe’s and her school’s experience. ***** While FERPA’s cheesecloth protection of student medical privacy is unfair to all students, it uniquely burdens female student patients at campus health clinics. Jane Doe and other female students disproportionately use school health clinics, and disproportionately seek intimate and sensitive care such as counseling, gynecological care, pregnancy testing, and prescription contraception. Accessing health care at FERPAregulated campus health clinics thus has unique consequences for female students. This includes the potential to limit decisional autonomy regarding reproductive decisions; one court has held that if a school is aware a student is pregnant, her parents have a right to know under FERPA. Jane Doe and the mostly female victims of the national epidemic of higher education campus sexual assault also seek care at campus health clinics. In fact, Title IX requires schools to make free counseling and other services available to victims of campus sexual misconduct. Newly amended Title IX regulations provide limited student privacy, including prohibiting schools from nonconsensual access to medical records of the parties (both student victims and accused students) to Title IX complaints. However, these new regulations also exclude from Title IX most off-campus sexual misconduct such as Jane Doe’s sexual assault, and thus offer students like Jane Doe no new privacy for their medical records. It appears that both the former and the new regulations may contribute to the reluctance of victims of campus sexual assault to make a complaint, and enable the campus sexual assault epidemic to continue. Students and their advocates need to be informed about the extent of privacy protection so that they can make informed decisions, and work with schools and legislatures to enhance student medical privacy through enactment of school policies and state statutes, and amendments to FERPA.
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Read between the vines. Introducing the
Gonzaga University Wine Insititute Featuring a suite of academic programming related to the business, management, and legal aspects of the wine industry. — Certificate Program and online courses offering advancement and client development opportunities to business professionals, lawyers, and others seeking expertise in the wine industry — On-location, immersion experiences at wineries in the United States and abroad — Enrollment begins September 2020
www.gonzaga.edu/wineinstitute
WELCOMING NEW FACULTY Agnieszka McPeak
Luis Inaraja Vera
Agnieszka McPeak, associate professor, associate dean for Faculty Scholarship and the new director of the Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce, joins Gonzaga this fall from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh.
Luis Inaraja Vera was a practicing attorney in his native Spain before he came to the United States, bringing his expertise in environmental law with him.
With a research and writing focus on the intersection of law and technology, particularly as it relates to social media, ethics, and tort liability in the sharing economy, McPeak will take the helm of Gonzaga Law’s Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce as it enters a new phase of programmatic expansion, drawing on the talents of existing faculty. “I’m looking forward to building on the already impressive foundation of ethics and public service at Gonzaga Law,” McPeak said. Prior to her time at Duquesne Law, McPeak taught at the University of Toledo College of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. She holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from Tulane University and a B.A., with honors, from University of California at Santa Cruz. McPeak’s scholarship has been published in Wisconsin Law Review, Wake Forest Law Review, Connecticut Law Review, and Arizona State Law Journal, among other leading journals. Additionally, her work has been cited in several legal opinions, including a recent decision by the highest court of New York, redefining the scope of civil discovery of social media content. As a political refugee from Poland who came to the United States as a child, McPeak grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and is excited to return to the West.
LISTEN IN In Episode 7 of All-Rise, Agnieszka McPeak shares her personal story as a first-generation college student and as an immigrant as well her research interests with our listeners. You can listen in by visiting gonzaga.edu/law/podcast.
Vera earned his LL.B. from the University of Barcelona in 2007 and his Master’s of Environmental Law from the University of the Basque Country in 2012. Working at a law firm litigating cases in Barcelona for five years, he felt the pull to transition to work that addressed the public policy aspects of land use, conservation, development, and housing. After arriving in the U.S. in 2012, Vera began his studies at the Vermont Law School, earning an LL.M., before heading to New York University to earn his J.D. As a student, his internships took him to Earthjustice in Anchorage, Alaska, and the Utah State Attorney General’s Office in the Natural Resources Division. He served as a research scholar/fellow with the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at NYU, teaching environmental law, as well. Most recently, Vera was a Conservation Law Fellow in the Environmental Resilience Institute at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. His interdisciplinary scholarship has been published in the Harvard Journal on Legislation, Georgetown Environmental Law Review, Utah Law Review, and Tulsa Law Review. “I am thrilled to be joining Gonzaga Law, and I look forward to collaborating with others in the broader Gonzaga University community so we can use our research to help address the pressing environmental issues of our time,” Vera said. Vera joins Gonzaga’s faculty as an assistant professor, teaching courses on environmental and water law this fall.
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FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Upendra D. Acharya Publications • A Crisis in Crisis: Natural Disaster and Human Rights Violation, BEIJING NORMAL UNIVERSITY PUBLICATION, Beijing, China (forthcoming 2020-2021).
Presentations
• Director of Studies and Founding Member, Global Policy Forum for Nepal (a diaspora organization to help Nepal in its constitutional transition and other important national and international issues), London, United Kingdom • Human Rights Committee and International Law Teaching Committee, American Branch of International Law Association (ABILA), USA
• Lawyering Skills in the 21st Century Law Practice: A Global Perspective, Tamil Nadu High Court Bar Association, Madurai, India, December 2019.
Megan Ballard
• The Exchange of Learning Law and its Methods: Legal Education in Developed and Developing Nations, Government Law College, Tirunelveli, India, December 2019.
• Cultivating Civic Belonging for Resettled Refugees, 34 GEO. IMMIGR. L.J. __ (forthcoming 2020).
• Keynote Presentation: Journey of Human Rights Movements from 20th to 21st Century: Progress and Challenges, Human Rights Day International Conference at Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai, India, December 2019. • Natural Disaster and Human Rights Violations: A Crisis Plus, Strategies Regarding Disaster and Emergency Response: Perspective of Human Rights Conference, Beijing Normal University, Beijing China, Dec. 1, 2019 (featured speaker). • Concluding Plenary Session Commonalities and Divergences – International Law in Asia and its Contestable Future/s?, Asian Society of International Law 7th Biennial Conference, Manila, Philippines, August 2019 (chair and speaker). • Nepal-China and Nepal-India Relations: Issues and Possibilities for Regional Peace and Development in Asia, at a Conference coorganized by Global Policy Forum for Nep al and Nepalese Society of International Law, Kathmandu, Nepal, June 2019. • U.S.-China Trade Conflict: Legal Solutions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China, March 2019.
Professional Leadership/Association • Senior Research Fellow, Center for Natural Disaster and Human Rights, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Publications
Presentations • Planned Giving and Other Estate Planning Approaches, Coeur D’Alene Rotary Club, Nov. 22, 2019. • Cultivating Legal Culture and Civic Belonging for Resettled Refugees, Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., May 31, 2019.
Lisa Bradley Professional Leadership/Association • Teaching Legal Writing Beyond the First Year, LWI One-Day Workshop, Co-coordinator Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, Dec. 7, 2019 • Legal Writing Institute Global Legal Writing Skills Committee • Washington Pattern Jury Instruction Committee • Judge, International Law Briefs, Moscow, Russia, 2019 • Judge, NALSA Briefs, Spring 2020
Patrick Charles Publications
• Senior Fellow, Center for Teaching and Research of WTO Dispute, School of International Law, Southwest University School of Political Science and Law, Chongqing, China
• Keeping Up With New Legal Titles (Book Review): Craft Weed: Family Farming and the Future of the Marijuana Industry, 111 LAW LIBRARY JOURNAL 453 (2019).
• Organizer, Asian Society of International Law Regional Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal, June 5-6, 2020 (Now postponed to June 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic)
Presentations
• Co-Chair, Planning Committee of the 7th Biennial Conference August 2019 of the Asian Society of International Law in Philippines
• So You Want to Teach an Online Legal Skills Class?, Western Pacific Chapter of American Association of Law Libraries Annual Conference, Spokane, October 2019.
Professional Leadership/Association
• Vice-President (re-elected), Asian Society of International law, Singapore
• Executive Committee, AALS Section on Law Libraries and Legal Information
• President (elected), Nepalese Society of International Law, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Committee Member, Spokane Community College Paralegal Advisory Committee
• Chair, Human Rights Special Interest Group of the Asian Society of International Law, Singapore
• Committee Member, AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Committee 2020-2021
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FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Lynn Dagge
Brooks Holland
Publications
Publications
• The Myth of Student Medical Privacy, 14 HARV. L. & POL’Y REV. __ (forthcoming 2020).
• Confronting the Bias Dichotomy in Jury Selection, 81 LA. L. REV. __ (forthcoming 2020).
• Female Student Patient Privacy at Campus Health Clinics: Realities and Consequences, __ U. BALT. L. REV. __ (forthcoming).
• A Bronx Tale: Using Doctrine, Theory, and Music to Introduce FirstYear Law Students to Race and the Criminal Law, in Dyszlewski, Gabriel, Harrington-Steppen, Russell, and Tung, INTEGRATING DOCTRINE AND DIVERSITY: INCLUSION & EQUITY IN THE LAW SCHOOL CLASSROOM (Carolina Academic Press 2021) (forthcoming).
• Torts, Yearbook of Education Law 2020 (Charles J. Russo, ed., forthcoming). • Torts, Yearbook of Education Law 2019 (Charles J. Russo, ed., 2020).
Presentations • Free Speech in Education, Gonzaga School of Law, Oct. 7, 2019. • Effective Use of the School Attorney; Current Issues in School Law, Gonzaga School of Education, Oct. 25, 2019.
Professional Leadership/Association • Bar Exam Expert Reviewer, National Conference of Bar Examiners
Jason Gillmer Presentations • Litigating Freedom in the Far West, Gonzaga School of Law Faculty Speaker Series, Spokane, April 9, 2019. • So You Want to Publish a Book, Annual Meeting, AALS, Washington D.C., Jan. 3, 2019. • New Voices in Civil Rights, Annual Meeting, AALS, Washington D.C., Jan. 3, 2019 (panel organizer and moderator).
Professional Leadership/Association • Director, Center for Civil and Human Rights • Executive Committee, AALS Section on Civil Rights • Commission Member, Washington State Minority and Justice Commission • Council Member, Washington State Bar Association Council on Public Defense • Conference Organizer, Medicine, Music, and Mascots: Further Social Justice in the Age of Intellectual Property, Sept. 2019.
Gail Hammer Presentations • Fierce Joy: the Music of Resistance, Gonzaga University School of Law Faculty Speaker Series, Spokane, Jan. 16, 2019. • Joy as an Act of Resistance: Recapturing Our Narrative, Northwest Clinical Law Conference, Sleeping Lady, Leavenworth, Wash., Nov. 9-10, 2019 (co-presenter).
• The Ethics of Criminal Practice, WASHINGTON LEGAL ETHICS DESKBOOK (2nd ed. WSBA 2020) (forthcoming). • Do The Police Seize a Person under the Fourth Amendment by Using Deadly Force if That Person Gets Away?, 47 A.B.A. PREVIEW 30 (2020). • Federalism and Criminal Procedure Symmetry: Does the Sixth Amendment Require Unanimous Jury Verdicts in Both State and Federal Courts?, 47 A.B.A. PREVIEW 15 (2019). • Filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, coauthored with Professor Benjamin Levin and drafted in collaboration with a Washington, D.C. law firm, MOLOLAMKEN. See Morgan v. Washington, No. 19-494.
Presentations • Moderator, Ethics, Risk, and Compliance in Business, Clarke Prize in Legal Ethics Conference, Spokane, April 2020. • Ethics and Cannabis Practice, 11th Annual Spokane County Bar Association Indian Law Conference, Spokane, March 2020. • Confronting the Bias Dichotomy in Jury Selection, We the Jury: Conversations on the American Jury’s Past, Present, and Future, Louisiana Law Review Symposium, Baton Rouge, La., January 2020. • Ethics Panel, WSBA Ethical Dilemmas Seminar, Seattle, November 2019. • Legal Ethics Mash-Up, New York County Defender Services Ethics Seminar, New York, N.Y., October 2019. • Supreme Court Year in Review: Criminal Law, Center for Civil and Human Rights at Gonzaga Law, Spokane, October 2019. • Faculty: Cross-Examination: Criminal Defense Training Academy, Washington Office of Public Defense, Spokane, September 2019. • Ethics in Landlord-Tenant Law, What’s the Scoop? Updates in Landlord-Tenant Law, Spokane, August 2019. • English for Law & International Transactions, Lago d’Iseo, Italy, June 2019.
Professional Leadership/Association • Editorial Board Member, WASHINGTON LEGAL ETHICS DESKBOOK (WSBA 2nd ed. 2020) • Peer Reviewer, New Criminal Law Review (University of California Press)
Professional Leadership/Association • Commission Member, Washington State Supreme Court Gender & Justice Commission
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FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Society of American Law Teachers, Board of Governors, Legal Education Committee and Teaching Conference Planning Committee
Genevieve Mann
• Washington State Bar Association, Committee on Professional Ethics
• Ethical Issues in Vulnerable Client Representation, WASHINGTON LEGAL ETHICS DESKBOOK (forthcoming 2020).
• American Bar Association, Screening Committee, Documentary Films, Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts
Presentations
• Board of Advisors, Center for Civil and Human Rights at Gonzaga Law • Appointed to represent client convicted of federal drug crimes on direct appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jessica Kiser Presentations • Using Trademark and Copyright Law to Build a Strong Wine Brand, Gonzaga University’s Women Lead – Napa Valley Conference, St. Helena, Calif., Feb. 22, 2020. • Trademarks, Expressive Speech and Social Justice, Music, Medicine, and Mascots: Furthering Social Justice in the Age of Intellectual Property Conference, Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, Sept. 20, 2019 (panel moderator).
Professional Leadership/Association • Director, Gonzaga University Wine Institute
Jane Korn Publications • Review: Teaching Controversial Topics, INSTITUTE FOR LAW TEACHING AND LEARNING, http://lawteaching.org/2019/10/02/being-humanto-my-students-and-letting-them-know-i-care-2. Blog (last visited April 21, 2020). • Being Human to My Students and Letting Them Know I Care, Institute for Law Teaching and Learning, http://lawteaching. org/2018/10/21/being-human-to-my-students-and-letting-themknow-i-care/ (last visited April 21, 2020).
Publications
• Joy as an Act of Resistance: Recapturing Our Narrative, Northwest Clinical Law Conference, Sleeping Lady, Leavenworth, Wash., Nov. 9-10, 2019 (co-presenter). • Community Lawyering: A Holistic Journey Through the Legal System, Access to Justice Conference, Spokane, June 15, 2019 (panelist).
Professional Leadership/Association • Board Member, Transitions • Board of Advisors, Center for Civil and Human Rights at Gonzaga Law
Mason Marks Publications • Emergent Medical Data: Health Information Inferred by Artificial Intelligence, U.C. IRVINE L. REV. (forthcoming 2021). • Artificial Intelligence-Based Suicide Prediction, 21 YALE JOURNAL OF LAW AND TECHNOLOGY 98 (2019) & 18 YALE JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY, LAW, AND ETHICS 98 (2019). • Algorithmic Disability Discrimination, IN DISABILITY, HEALTH, LAW, AND BIOETHICS (Cambridge University Press, 2020). • A Right to Digital Self-Defense Will Help Prevent Abuse of COVID-19 Surveillance Apps, THE HILL (April 19, 2020). • You Shouldn’t Have to Give Google Your Data to Access a COVID-19 Test, SLATE (March 17, 2020). • The Right Questions to Ask About Google’s Project Nightingale, SLATE (Nov. 20, 2019). • Tech companies’ dangerous practice: using AI to mine hidden health data, STAT FIRST OPINION (Sept. 17, 2019).
Inga Laurent
• DEA’s Restrictive Cannabis Proposal Will Hinder Research and Favor Corporate Interests, SEATTLE TIMES (Sept. 13, 2019).
Presentations
• At Cannabis Shops, Face Recognition is Already a Thing, MOTHERBOARD (Aug.2, 2019).
• Joy as an Act of Resistance: Recapturing Our Narrative, Northwest Clinical Law Conference, Sleeping Lady, Leavenworth, Wash., Nov. 9-10, 2019 (co-presenter).
• Online Content Moderation as Public Health Regulation, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL BILL OF HEALTH (June 22, 2019).
Presentations • Digital Phenotyping, Presenter, Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Deep Phenotyping Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., May 8, 2020. • Privacy after the Pandemic, The Post-Pandemic World, Institute for the Future, Palo Alto, Calif., May 4, 2020. • Pandemic Privacy: A Conversation About Digital Surveillance, Social Justice Fridays at the Center for Civil & Human Rights, Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, April 17, 2020.
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FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Introducing the Health & Technology Policy Project, Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce, Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, April 7, 2020.
Jeffrey Omari
• Emergent Medical Data, Yale Law School, New Haven, Conn., March 26, 2020.
• Is Facebook the Internet? Ethnographic Perspectives on Open Internet Governance in Brazil, LAW & SOCIAL INQUIRY (forthcoming).
• Emergent Medical Data, Faculty Scholarship Series, University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, March 5, 2020.
Presentations
• Emergent Medical Data, Law and the Biosciences Workshop, Stanford Law School, Stanford, Calf., Feb. 18, 2020. • Emergent Medical Data, Faculty Scholarship Series, Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, Jan. 28, 2020. • The Great Patent Eligibility Debate of 2019, Second Annual Social Justice Conference: Medicine, Music, and Mascots, Gonzaga University School of Law, Sept. 20, 2019.
Publications
• The Values of Internet Governance: Lessons from Brazil, Faculty Colloquia Series, Seattle University School of Law, September 2019.
Kim Hai Pearson Publications • Children are Human, 8 TEX. A&M L. REV. __ (forthcoming 2021).
Daniel J. Morrissey
• Domesticating Children’s Rights in the United States, MsT, Oxford University (2019).
Publications
Professional Leadership/Association
• The Promise of Stakeholder Advisory Councils, __ U. OF PENNSYLVANIA BUS. LAW JOURNAL __ (forthcoming).
• Chair-elect, AALS Family & Juvenile Law Section
• The EU’s Struggles with Collective Action for Securities Fraud: An American Perspective, 7 TEXAS A & M LAW REVIEW 125 (2019). • Mutual Funds Keep Winning at the Expense of their Investors, 47 SECURITIES REGULATION LAW JOURNAL 1 (2019).
• Program Organizer and Moderator, The Erosion of Civil Rights and its Impact on U.S. Families & Children, AALS Annual Meeting 2020, Washington, D.C., January 2020
Jacob H. Rooksby
Presentations
Publications
• The EU’s Struggles with Collections Actions in Securities Litigation, Annual Securities Litigation Conference, Boston University School of Law, Boston, Mass., Sept. 27, 2019.
• RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (Jacob H. Rooksby ed., Edward Elgar, 2020).
Ann Murphy Publications • Evidence Privileges, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, Volumes 23 – 26A, (with Wright & Graham). • FEDERAL TAX PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, Release No. 22, April 2020 (Rev. Ed.).
Professional Leadership/Association • Secretary, Executive Board Member, and Listserv Director, Evidence Section of the Association of American Law Schools • Signatory, An Open Letter from Legal Scholars on Trump Impeachment Inquiry, October 2019
• Policy Advocacy and Organizational Change at the Association of University Technology Managers, in RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER 131-142 (Jacob H. Rooksby ed. 2020)(Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar, with Christopher S. Hayter). • THE LAW OF HIGHER EDUCATION, STUDENT VERSION (6th ed. 2020) (with William A. Kaplin, Barbara A. Lee, and Neal H. Hutchens). • Consider Impact of Institution’s Tracking Apps on Privacy, Best Interests of Students, 20(6) CAMPUS LEGAL ADVISOR, February 2020. • Consider Role of Contractual Obligations in Decision-Making During Times of Crisis, 20(8) CAMPUS LEGAL ADVISOR, April 2020. • Review Legal Analysis of President Trump’s Executive Order on Free Speech, 19(10) CAMPUS LEGAL ADVISOR, June 2019. • Look Ahead When Setting, Reviewing, Adjusting Compensation Packages for Top Execs, 19(12) CAMPUS LEGAL ADVISOR, August 2019. • Prepare for Increased Attention to Language in Course Syllabi by Lawmakers, Others, 20(2) CAMPUS LEGAL ADVISOR, October 2019. • Understand Pros, Cons of Telling Student Groups to Stop Using Institution’s Name, Marks, 20(4) CAMPUS LEGAL ADVISOR, December 2019.
Presentations • Basic Trademark Law for Business Attorneys, First District Bar Association, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Dec. 16, 2019.
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FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Patents, Public Health, and Social Justice, Music, Medicine, and Mascots: Furthering Social Justice in the Age of Intellectual Property Conference, Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, Sept. 20, 2019 (co-organizer and moderator).
Professional Leadership/Association
• Intellectual Property – University Choices (Private Rights, Public Policy), Law and Technology Summit, State Bar of Montana, Missoula, Mont., June 13, 2019.
Sandra Simpson
• Wine, Ethics, and Professional Responsibility, Legal and Business Aspects of Wine, Gonzaga University School of Law, Giaole in Chianti, Italy, June 6, 2019.
• FROM THE ASSOCIATE DEAN’S DESK: A RESOURCE MANUAL FOR LAW SCHOOL ASSOCIATE DEANS (West Academic, September 2019).
Professional Leadership/Association • Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE), Cambridge, Mass., June 16-28, 2019
Stephen L. Sepinuck Publications • SALES AND LEASES: A PROBLEM SOLVING APPROACH (3d ed. West Academic 2020). • Uniform Commercial Code Survey: Personal Property Secured Transactions, 75 BUS. LAW. __ (Fall 2020). • Uniform Commercial Code Survey: Personal Property Secured Transactions, 74 BUS. LAW. 1292 (Fall 2019). • Spotlight, COMMERCIAL LAW NEWSLETTER 11 (March 2020) (co-author). • Court Rules that Explicitness Rule Is Fundamental Policy, 10 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 1 (April 2020). • Transactional Lawyers Can Have RICO Liability for Abetting Fraudulent Transfers, 10 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 2 (April 2020). • Perfect Tender in Time, Redemption, and Their Impact on Prepayment Premiums, 10 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 1 (February 2020). • Revisiting Clauses that Purport to Bind Successors and Assigns, 10 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 5 (February 2020). • Circuits Disagree about Financing Statements that Indicate the Collateral Solely by Reference to Unfiled Documents, 9 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 1 (December 2019) (co-author). • Too Clever by Half: The Validity of Choice-of-Forum Clauses, 9 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 3 (December 2019). • Guaranties of Unenforceable Obligations, 9 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 6 (December 2019). • When Is a Bailment Really a Sale, 9 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 1 (October 2019). • Spotlight, COMMERCIAL LAW NEWSLETTER 8 (August 2019) (co-author). • A “Sale” of Future Receivables: Criminal Usury in Another Form, 9 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 1 (August 2019) (co-author). • Non-Uniform UCC Text Jeopardizes All Secured Transactions Governed by Mississippi Law, 9 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 8 (August 2019). • The Best Defense: Buy the Offense,9 THE TRANSACTIONAL LAWYER 1 (June 2019).
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• Grant Gilmore Award (2020), American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers
Publications
• THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO ASSESSMENT IN LAW SCHOOLS (Carolina Academic Press expected 2020; co-authored with Emily Grant, Kelly Terry, and Gerry Hess).
Presentations: • Coordinating Assessment Across the Curriculum: A View from the Associate Dean’s Desk, American Association of Law Schools Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., January 2020 (invited speaker). • How Interaction and Exposure to Technology Effects Gen Z’s Self and Personal Identities, Western Regional Legal Writing Institute Conference, University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, Calif., September 2019 (co-presented with Drew Simshaw). • Formative Feedback in Many Forms, Institute for Law Teaching and Learning Teaching Blog, October 2019 (Re-blogged on Best Practices in Legal Education Blog). • Teaching and Assessment Workshop for Chilean Law Professors, University of Santiago, Santiago, Chile, August 2019 (workshop organizer and invited speaker for one-day faculty workshop). • Kids These Days: Learning to Work and Thrive in a Multi-Generational Workplace, Institute for Law Teaching and Learning Summer Conference, Washburn University, Topeka, Kan., June 2019.
Professional Leadership/Association • Association of Legal Writing Directors (“ALWD”), appointed to the Biennial Conference Site Committee • Legal Writing Institute (“LWI”), Co-Organizer of LWI One-Day Conference at Gonzaga Law School • Communications Director, Institute for Law Teaching and Learning • Institute for Law Teaching and Learning, Editor of bi-weekly teaching blog located at Lawteaching.org • Institute for Law Teaching and Learning, Annual Conference Organizer
FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Drew Simshaw
Mary Pat Treuthart
Presentations
Publications
• Regulating Online Legal Self-Help Services, Gonzaga University School of Law Speaker Series, Spokane, Feb. 13, 2020.
• Connectivity: The Global Gender Digital Divide and Its Implications for Women’s Human Rights and Equality, 23 GONZ. J. INT’L L. 1 (2019).
• American Bar Association Artificial Intelligence and Robotics National Institute, Santa Clara, Calf., Jan. 9, 2020 (invited panelist).
Presentations
• The Multi-Generational Teaching of Legal Writing, 2020 AALS Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., Jan. 3, 2020 (discussion group speaker). • Ethical Implications Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence, The American Employment Law Council 27th Annual Conference, Ojai, Calif., Oct. 25, 2019 (invited plenary speaker, with Sandra McCandless). • Recognizing Generational and Cultural Perspectives on Technology as Drivers in the Development of Professional Identity, Cultural Competence, and Ethical Proficiency, Western Regional Legal Writing Conference, Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, Calif., Sept. 21, 2019 (with Sandra Simpson). • Preparing the Law Students of Today for the Legal Tech of Tomorrow, Institute for Law Teaching and Learning, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kan., June 3, 2019.
• The Impact of the Global Digital Divide on Women and the Family, International Society of Family Law – North American Regional Conference, Chicago, Ill., July 2019. • Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers, 10th International Global Alliance for Social Justice Conference, Bandung, Indonesia, December 2019. • The Birth, Growth, and Nurturing of a Clinical Education Program in Myanmar, 10th International Global Alliance for Social Justice Conference, Bandung, Indonesia, December 2019.
Professional Leadership/Association • Chair, Board of Directors, Disability Rights Washington. • Volunteer, American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project, San Diego, Calif. • Member, American Bar Association Silver Gavel Awards Screening Committee.
Professional Leadership/Association • Member, Washington State Supreme Court Practice of Law Board • Member, American Bar Association, Artificial Intelligence & Legal Ethics Working Group
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Creating a Home, Going Forth As we celebrate 20 years in our building, we look back on the many iterations of our home over the years. 1881
1897
Father Joseph Cataldo, working with other Jesuit leaders, purchased 320 acres of riverfront land by the Spokane River as the future site of a Catholic, Jesuit college.
Gonzaga College announces that it has outgrown its original building and presents a grand plan for a huge new college building, four stories tall and, according to the Morning Review, the largest building in the city. New Gonzaga, as the building was called to distinguish it from the older college building, was completed in 1899.
1886 Father Cataldo’s future college acquires an official name: Gonzaga College, named after St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the patron saint of youth.
1887 Gonzaga University founded and opens officially on September 17, 1887. “The building is unquestionably the most commanding and imposing one in the Northwest,” wrote Spokane’s Morning Review newspaper on New Year’s Day, 1887. Cost of the building: $30,000. Gonzaga College starts the year with seven students but increases its student body to 18 by the end of the school year. There are 17 faculty members.
1889 Washington admitted to the United States as the 42nd State of the Union.
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1912 Gonzaga College becomes Gonzaga University when it opens its doors to the new Law School. The Law School occupies two classrooms on the third floor of what is now College Hall, formerly known as “New Gonzaga.” The Law School’s founding motto: “A first class school, or none at all.” Gonzaga Law begins as a night school to accommodate its students, many of whom worked during the day, and its faculty, who practiced law in the city by day.
1913 By September 1913, enrollment in Gonzaga Law is up to 43.
1915
2000
Gonzaga University School of Law graduates its first class of 13 students.
The new Gonzaga University School of Law, on the banks of the Spokane River, opens its doors in May. The new building is 104,000 square feet and was completed at a cost of $18.5 million. The high-tech, four-floor facility includes a two-story courtroom, a three-story library, lounges, clinics, and a suite of interactive classrooms with fiber-optic connected network access at every seat.
1962 Gonzaga University purchases the old Webster School to house the Law School.
1969 Enrollment in the Law School is 159.
1970 Gonzaga Law becomes a full-time, day program.
1973 Enrollment in the Law School is 809.
1974 Gonzaga Law opens one of the country’s first legal clinics in a law school.
1990s
2012 The Law school celebrates its centennial.
2018 The National Jurist’s Prelaw magazine gives Gonzaga Law’s building an “A” for its facilities. Sunset Magazine rates Spokane as one of the best places to live in 2018.
2019 Ben Joyce is selected as Gonzaga Law’s first Artist-inResidence and installs a multi-piece work that spans the height of the school’s four-story atrium with open staircase.
The Law School occupies not only the Webster School but also several adjacent buildings. In the late 1990’s, the Law School kicked off its first major, and very successful, fundraising campaign to build a new law school.
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CLASS ACTION
2019 Branden D. Landon was hired as an associate attorney at Clearwater Law Group. After working with the Spokane County Public Defenders’ Office for a year, and a brief role in employment law and civil litigation, he now works with family law, wills, and private criminal defense.
2019
2018
2013
2007
Dalton J. Reynolds
Benjamin P. Melnick
Stefanie Ellis was
was hired as an associate attorney by Winston & Cashatt in Spokane. Reynolds practice focuses on civil litigation, including real estate litigation, commercial and business litigation, and bankruptcy.
was made partner at Schauermann Thayer Jacobs Staples & Edwards, P.S. He practices in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, auto, motorcycle, trucking, bicycle, and pedestrian collisions, as well as insurance disputes.
appointed a Superior Court commissioner to the Clark County Superior Court. Ellis has served as assistant city attorney for the city of Vancouver, judge pro tem for Clark County District Court and most recently as owner/ partner for Priest and Ellis, PLLC.
2009
2006
Adam R. Baird was elected a partner at Kutak Rock LLP. He is a member of the firm’s National Public Finance Tax Department and focuses his practice on tax law, public finance, and the financial transactions permitted by Sections 103 and 141-150 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Jesse S. Keene
2017
Thomas J. Burford was
Taylie Riddle joined
hired by Lukins & Annis P.S., Spokane, as a member of the transactional team.
Helsell Fetterman, a Seattlebased law firm. Riddle is working in the firm’s estate planning, taxation, and business practice groups.
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joined Cozen O’Connor in Washington, D.C., as a member of the firm’s construction practice.
CLASS ACTION
2006
2004
2003
2001
Joel W. Locke, a partner at Allison MacKenzie Law Firm in Carson City, Nevada, was elected to the Nevada State Bar Board of Governors. He was sworn in on June 27, 2019 at the State Bar of Nevada Annual Meeting in Vail, Colorado.
Geana Van Dessel was elected partner at Kutak Rock LLP. Her litigation experience includes trademark, contract, securities, trade secret, banking, employment, and consumer protection litigation, both in federal and state court
Karlin Itchoak has
Nathan Alford was
joined The Wilderness Society as the Alaska state director and spokesperson for the organization. Itchoak serves on the boards of the Alaska Center and Alaska Institute for Justice. He teaches a segment of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to federal, state, and Tribal employees.
appointed to the board of directors of the American Red Cross of Greater Idaho. Alford has led the Moscow-Pullman Daily News business and news operations for 12 years and is an active member of the Idaho State Bar.
2005
2004
2002
1999
Erin J. Wynne recently
Adolf Zeman was
joined Brian Webb Legal. Wynne has more than 15 years of experience practicing law in the areas of real estate, contracts, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy relief, family law, and criminal defense.
appointed to the Anchorage Superior Court by Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy. He was selected to fill the seat of retiring Judge Michael L. Wolverton. Zeman has been an Alaska resident for 42 years and has practiced law for more than 15 years.
Daniel D. Clark was elected to serve as treasurer of the Washington State Bar Association’s Board of Governors in August 2019. He is working with members of the WSBA Budget and Audit Committee on setting forth the FY 2021 WSBA Budget. Clark is the first governmental attorney to serve in this position. He is a senior deputy prosecuting attorney with the Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Corporate Counsel Division.
Christopher Varallo was elected president of Witherspoon Kelley, where he has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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CLASS ACTION
1998
1992
Heather C. Yakely has been named managing partner of Kutak Rock Spokane office. For 20 years, she has practiced in the areas of employment and constitutional law issues, municipal law, and tort defense.
Paul J. Kardish was appointed the chief legal officer of The Azek Company, parent corporation to leading manufacturing companies. Kardish provides counsel to the board of directors and executive team on corporate governance and other legal matters.
1995
1986
1984
1981
Cindi Port was appointed to the King County Superior Court bench by Gov. Jay Inslee. Prior to her judicial appointment, Port was a senior deputy prosecutor with the King County Prosecutor’s Office in both the Criminal and Civil Divisions.
David A. Torres was
Tom Axtell, general
appointed a justice on the California Courts-Martial Appellate Panel. Torres has been a criminal defense attorney in private practice since 1988 and was recently selected as a 2020 Southern California Super Lawyer.
manager of Vegas PBS, received the America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) Pillar of Public Service Award at the APTS Public Media Summit in Washington, D.C. This award recognizes Axtell’s contribution and innovation in all three of public television’s essential public service missions: education, public safety, and civic leadership.
Jim Fausone of Fausone Bohn, LLP in Northville, was awarded the University of Michigan Hermelin Award for Fundraising Volunteer Leadership for 2019 for his work on behalf of its College of Engineering.
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1985
1983
Demetrius Bereolos
Michael Lambo retired after serving 14 years as Kirkland Municipal Court judge, capping a career that included stints as an officer, lawyer, and finally, judge in Kirkland.
received an Adjunct Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence from Tulsa Community College (TCC). In addition to teaching political science and American history at TCC for 32 years, Bereolos is a sole practitioner focusing on probate and copyright law and a member of the Oklahoma Democratic Party State Central Committee.
CLASS ACTION
CLASS ACTION
WSBA ‘Local Heroes’ 1980 Houston Putnam Lowry was appointed chair by the Connecticut Bar Association of its reestablished Section of International Law.
The Washington State Bar Association presents its Local Hero Awards to individuals who have made noteworthy and lasting impacts in their communities. Three Gonzaga Law alumni were selected to receive this honor.
Asa LaMusga (’13 J.D.), a partner at Gravis Law, received the award for his work mentoring new and young lawyers. LaMusga is a driving force in a program at Gravis Law that fosters mentoring and networking opportunities for lawyers who are just beginning their professional legal careers. He also practices in a variety of disciplines including Social Security disability and family law with a focus on assisting clients through difficult personal situations.
Leland B. Kerr (’74 J.D.) was also recognized
1979 Gary W.B. Chang, First Circuit Court judge, was presented the 2019 Jurist of the Year Award at the Hawaii State Judiciary’s Statewide Incentive Awards Ceremony.
as a Local Hero for lending his expertise and counsel to numerous charitable organizations throughout his 45 years of active practice. In his own business, Kerr has worked with everything from international corporate startups to agri-business. Beyond practicing law, Kerr volunteers as a scout leader, a diving coach, and an assistant in a fencing club.
Patricia Chvatal (’76 J.D.) has practiced law for more than four decades and has dedicated much of that time to serving her community. One of the first women to practice law in the Tri-Cities, Chvatal was selected as a Local Hero for her proven dedication to advocacy and volunteer work throughout her storied career in family law. Along with her legal expertise, Chvatal also served on the board of directors for Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin counties.
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ALUMNI PROFILES
member of the school’s National Moot Court team, which made it to the national finals at the 43rd Annual National Moot Court Competition in New York. Stephens received the “Best Oralist” and “Best Brief” awards. After graduating, she served as staff attorney for the Honorable Fred Van Sickle of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington for two years. While in private practice from 1995 to 2007, Stephens helped to coordinate the Amicus Curiae Program of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association Foundation. She also returned to teaching, this time at Gonzaga Law. Her appellate practice brought her before the Washington State Supreme Court more than 125 times as well the Washington Court of Appeals, Idaho Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and before the United States Supreme Court as counsel of record.
CHIEF JUSTICE
Debra STEPHENS The Honorable Debra Stephens, 57th Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court, is a double Zag who represents the best of Gonzaga Law’s ethos and mission. Stephens (’87, ’93 J.D.) has served as a jurist, teacher, advocate, and coach while serving her community and the greater good. Throughout life, Stephens has relied on lessons she learned from her parents: From her father, to “jump in with both feet and give more than you take”; from her late mother, to trust in the goodness of the universe and live in hope. So, it’s no surprise that Stephens has had a career marked by service and leadership. A Spokane native and West Valley High School grad, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga, then taught speech communication at Spokane Community College and coached the school’s debate team before returning to GU to begin law school. As a Thomas More Scholar, Stephens received a fulltuition scholarship which requires significant public service commitments during and after law school. She also served as president of the Gonzaga Public Interest Law Project and a
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In 2007, Governor Christine Gregoire (’77 J.D.) appointed Stephens to the bench as a judge for Division Three of the Washington Court of Appeals. Gregoire said, “Judge Stephens is a legal scholar who understands the importance of making the law relevant and meaningful to real people with real problems,” and praised Stephens’ experience, temperament and commitment. Stephens was re-elected in the November 2008 and 2014 elections. She was the first woman from Eastern Washington to serve on the Supreme Court and the first judge from Division Three to move to the Temple of Justice. On Nov. 6, 2019, Stephens was selected unanimously to be the next Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court, following the retirement of Mary Fairhurst, another beloved Zag Law alumna. Stephens called the selection, “the greatest privilege I can imagine.” Stephens has made efforts to improve the administration of justice in many ways, including service on the boards of the Washington Council on Public Legal Education and the Board for Judicial Administration, the Executive Committee of the National Courts and Sciences Institute (NCSI), National Association of Women Judges; and Washington Council on Public Legal Education. She frequently speaks at civic engagement conferences, and has authored many major opinions, including the 2012 McCleary decision, which ruled the state had not provided adequate money to meet basic education of students in public schools. St. Ignatius signed off on his letters to Jesuits with “ite, inflammate omnia,” or “go forth, and set the world on fire.” In the spirit of St. Ignatius, Chief Justice Stephens serves as a wonderful example of the very best of Jesuit education in action. Her willingness to apply her skills to fixing what is broken in this world, to live an intentional life that focuses on family and community, illustrate the impact of a meaningful and fulfilling life.
ALUMNI PROFILES
Charnelle BJELKENGREN When Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Charnelle Bjelkengren (’00 J.D.) to serve as one of 12 judges for the Spokane County Superior Court in April 2019, she immediately made history by becoming the first female judge of African-American descent in Eastern Washington.
In a news release from the Washington State Governor’s Office, Inslee said, “Charnelle has a strong reputation as a fair, impartial and well-informed jurist who has earned the respect of those who appear before her. She will be a great addition to the Spokane County Superior Court.” Raised in Menahga, Minnesota, Bjelkengren attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she studied political science before traveling west to study law at Gonzaga University. After graduation, she quickly found herself at home in Spokane and decided to stay, working for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Bjelkengren credits her father as having an instrumental role in her career path. “My dad was a state trooper, and he would suggest various careers in the law for me to consider,” she said. Growing up in a majority white community, Bjelkengren noted that both her and her family’s experiences contributed to her desire for fairness, equality, and social justice. At Gonzaga, Bjelkengren felt at home, supported by the community to pursue her interest in the law and how it intersected with her personal identity. “Gonzaga sent a group of black law students to Seattle to attend an event sponsored by the Loren Miller Bar Association,” Bjelkengren said. The association is the oldest minority bar and the largest organization of African-American attorneys in the United States. “That was another experience that impacted me, to mingle with and see attorneys that I wanted to be like someday.” Bjelkengren said experiences like that makes her grateful for her time at Gonzaga School of Law. “It was probably the first time in my life that I felt like my differences were valued,” she said. As the legal community around the nation continues to struggle with a lack of diversity within the profession, Bjelkengren has become an advocate and mentor for young students of color pursuing law careers. She hopes that “Parties
in the legal system will see attorneys and judges who reflect their own perspectives and life experiences.” Now, more than a year after her appointment, Bjelkengren says the transition has been intense but rewarding. “I am so thankful for the people who urged me to pursue that path,” she said. “I loved my job as an administrative law judge prior to being a superior court judge, but I needed that urging and nudge to consider doing what I love on a larger scale … and it has been one of the best decisions of my life.” Having taken on a wide variety of cases from criminal law, civil motions, and family law trials, Bjelkengren finds constantly learning new areas of the law in her pursuit to become a better decision-maker is both challenging and fascinating. “It’s one of the things that makes a career in the law so amazing. There is always something new to learn.”
LISTEN IN Charnelle Bjelkengren shares her story in Episode 9 of the All-Rise Podcast. gonzaga.edu/law/podcast
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GOLD CLUB Gonzaga Law Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Class of 1970
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Patrick R. Acres †
Robert Henderson
William F. Sims
Rod Barnett †
Bart Irwin
James Sloane
Richard Brothers
Alan Lamia
Thomas Smith
John Carter
Richard Langabeer
Sam Spina
Curtis Coyne
Vincent Laubach
Hugh W. Stroh †
Gary M. Cuillier
Richard J. Mackey
The Hon. Richard A. Strophy
Thomas Dietzen
Edwin McCullough, Jr.
Mrs. Daniel Sho Ukishima
Joseph J. Ganz
William E. Morgan
John Urquhart, Jr. †
Gary Gasaway
James R. Pair
Donald Westerman
Ernie Greco
Byron George Powell
Larry D. Winner
Richard Hayes †
Edward Schaller, Jr.
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† Honors those who have passed away.
2020 Honor Roll
LIFETIME CONTRIBUTORS With sincere thanks to our donors, the Gonzaga Law School Foundation proudly recognizes those whose support through May 31, 2020 ensures the school’s continued success.
$1,000,000 and Above -
Louis and Kathryn Barbieri † Chester and Catherine Chastek † Fred and Barbara Curley † J. Donald ’60 and Va Lena Scarpelli Curran, ’58 - John Hemmingson - Paul ’59 and Lita (Barnett) Luvera, ’77 - Smithmoore Myers †and Sandy SanduloMyers †, ’39
$500,000 - $999,999 - Gonzaga University Law Adjunct Faculty - Norm † ’59 and Rita Roberts
$250,000 - $499,999 -
John † and Nancy Clute, ’63 Joseph † and Helen Delay †, ’52 John and Deborah Holleran, ’79 Dean Lewis H. and Mrs. Jackie Orland † Jim † and Beverly Rogers Sunbelt Communications Company
$100,000 - $249,999 - - -
Matt and Eleanor Andersen, ’76 Holly Louise Caudill †, ’93 Ben B. Cheney Foundation Kevin Curran ’88 and Jean-Carlo Rivera Harry and Dorothy Dano †, ’41 William Eddleman †, ’39 Jerry † and Helen Greenan Mark and Mary Griffin, ’86 Jerome and Vicki Jager, ’57 George † and Shari Kain, ’58 Bob and Ginny Kane, ’77 William V. Kelley † Joseph and Muriel Murphy † The Honorable and Mrs. Philip M. Raekes, ’59 Renee R. Reuther, ’90 Bill Roach † Patrick and Diane Sullivan, ’59 James and Dee Sweetser, ’84 Sweetser Law Office Washington Trust Bank Carrie Welch Trust Estate Katharine Witter Brindley and Ralph Brindley, ’84
$50,000 - $99,999 - Charles Brink, ’78 - The Brink Foundation
- Loren and Janell Burke, ’83 - John R. Clark † ’80 and The Honorable Ellen K. Clark, ’82 - Harriet Clarke † - Kelly and Sharon Cline, ’85 - Marvel Collins Estate - Reanette Cook Estate - Daniel and Susan Corkery, ’76 - Michael and Rebecca Costello, ’96 - Vern Davidson † - Delay, Curran, Thompson & Pontarolo, PS - James and Frances Flanagan †, ’40 - Bart and Hilke Gallant - The Honorable and Mrs. Richard P. Guy, ’59 - Daniel P. Harbaugh, ’74 - Harold and Mary Anne † Hartinger, ’54 - Stephen Haskell, ’77 - Horrigan Foundation, Inc. - Greg and Susan Huckabee, ’76 - Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, Inc. - Helen John Foundation - Frank and Maureen † Johnson, ’51 - George and Nancy Lobisser, ’78 - Lukins & Annis P. S. - John E. Manders Foundation - Dick Manning and Jen Gouge, ’60 - Richard McWilliams Estate, ’58 - John and Guelda Messina, ’69 - Yale Metzger and Susan Richmond, ’95 - Irene Ringwood, ’84 - Elizabeth D. Rudolf - John and Nancy Rudolf - Dick ’79 and Karen Sayre, ’85 - Chuck † and Rojean Siljeg, ’60 - Philip † and Margretta Stanton, ’56 - Washington Trust Bank Financial Corporation - The Honorable Bob † and Diane Waitt, ’57 - Washington State Bar Association - Jim and Joyce Workland †, ’64
$25,000 - $49,999 -
AccessLex Institute American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers American College of Trial Lawyers Gene † and Carol Annis, ’59 Bank of America Foundation David and Nancy Bayley, ’76 Boise
- -
David and Ellen Bolin, Jr., ’85 Janice Brown, ’84 John † and Kaye Condon, ’77 Patrick and Paula Costello Ralph Dixon, ’77 Gary and Claire Dmoch, ’76 Gary J. Dmoch & Associates Philip and Mary Dolan † John and Allison Durkin, ’80 Mr. Phillip E. Egger, ’81 Bill Etter, ’78 Richard C. Eymann, ’76 Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst, ’84 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Rick Flamm ’79 and Vesna Somers, ’81 Michael A. Frost, ’73 Joe † and Joan Gagliardi Jim † and Margel Gallagher Stevan Hann Jeffrey and Diana Hartnett, ’76 Karen and Michael † Harwood, ’88 Dennis Hottell and Terese Colling, ’76 Innovia Foundation Steven Jager, ’80 Jager Law Office PLLC Mr. and Mrs. Richard R. Johnson, ’75 Dan and Margaret † Keefe, ’74 King County Bar Foundation Lee & Hayes, PLLC Ellen (Kremer) Lenhart, ’87 Bill and Suzanne Lindberg, ’73 Timothy J. Lynes ’84 and Joan C. Morningstar, ’83 The Honorable John J. Madden, ‘68 Helen McDonald † Alejandra Mireles, ’04 Joe Nappi, Jr. and Mary Nappi, ’72 Wes and Mary Lee (Toepel) Nuxoll † Verne and Mary Oliver † Patton Boggs Foundation Marie Pintler Donald and Christie Querna John R. Quinlan, ’60 Gary and Sharon Randall Diehl † and Anne Rettig, ’69 The Honorable and Mrs. J. Justin Ripley, ’64 Kerm and Fran Rudolf †, ’51 Rudolf Family Foundation James and Marilyn Sachtjen The Honorable and Mrs. † Richard J. Schroeder, ’63 2020 | Gonzaga Law Magazine |
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- -
John and Penny Schultz, ’63 Roger † and Angelika Smith, ’58 Skip Smyser, ’77 Jim and Margaret Solan †, ’49 Lee M. Solomon Estate Joseph and Parker Sullivan, ’85 David and Kay Syre, ’72 Paul and Gail Taylor, ’84 Phebe Thompson Robert Thompson, Jr., ’73 David and Angelica Torres, ’86 The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Union Pacific Foundation United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties United Way of King County J. Prentice Warner Estate Clifford and Karen Webster, ’77 Dennis † and Jackie Wheeler The Honorable Donna L. (Kamps) Wilson, ’80
$10,000 - $24,999 - -
Keller and Kathy Allen, ’89 American Endowment Foundation Phillip Armstrong, ’78 Association of Corporate Counsel Washington State Chapter Basil Badley and Mary Margaret Haugen, ’60 Jim and Linda Baker, ’79 BarBri Bar Review The Honorable and Mrs. Paul Bastine, ’64 Jim and Lynelle (Wahl) Beaulaurier, ’77 Mark Beggs and Florfina Cacanindin, ’80 James Berlin † Jefferson W. Boswell, ’09 Allen Brecke, ’77 Roger G. Brown, ’80 The Honorable Franklin D. † and Mrs. Treava Burgess Paul Burglin and Ramona Sanderson-Burglin, ’84 Bruce and Judy (Acher) Butler, ’80 William and Judy Carlin, ’76 Carney Badley Spellman CEMEX Materials LLC Thomas and Joan Chapman, ’66 Paul Clausen Estate, ’40 Mr. Charles A. Cleveland ‘78 and The Honorable Joyce J. McCown, ’80 John and Mary S. Close † Thomas and Barbara Cochran, ’75 Francis † and Audrey Conklin James P. † and Marianne Connelly John and Mary Jo Costello The Honorable Kenneth L. Cowsert, ’73 James and Carolyn Craven, ’75 George and Diane Critchlow, ’77 Michael and Teresa Crofts, ’80 Mike and Alison Delay, ’88 Paul and Joan Delay, ’86 Fred O. Dennis Estate John and Kristine Dippold, ’95 Norb and Ruby Donahue † Kevin and Jackie Driscoll Leo and Mary † Driscoll, ’51 Paul † and Carol Eng, ’87 Robert Evans and Lisa Fitzpatrick, ’78
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Roger A. Felice, ’73 Joe Fennessy, Jr. †, ’40 James † and Mikell Fish, ’62 Dan and Karen Flynn, ’83 Professor and Mrs. Michael F. Flynn, ’77 Francois X. and Debra J. Forgette, ’77 Merrit and Yolanda Foubert †, ’51 Gary Gayton, ’62 Janice (Bennett) Geier, ’89 Jim Giudici, ‘79 Phelps † and Mary Jean Gose, ’62 William and Margaret Grant †, ’54 Paul D. and Nancy Greeley, ’82 Bill † and Norma Grismer Geoffrey Grote, ’78 Frederick Halverson, ’61 Hands Off Cain - European Parliament Frank P. Hayes †, ’43 Mary and Tom Herche Howard and Darlene Herman, ’62 Lloyd and Linda Herman, ’66 Prof. Gerald Hess and Dr. Layne Stromwall Daniel and Jill Hulsizer, ’02 E. J. Hunt, ’80 IBM Corporation Mark R. Iverson and Michaele E. Dietzel, ’88 Thomas and Sandra Jarrard, ’07 Mary Lou Johnson and Dr. Daniel Schaffer, ’92 Johnson & Johnson Law Firm, PLLC Robert Keefe, ’73 Marcus † and Dorothy Kelly, ’57 Daniel L. Keppler ’92 and Meagan Flynn, ’92 Mike and Terri Killeen, ’77 James and Mary Anne (Metcalfe) King, ’78 Thomas † ’76 and Cheryl (DeMers) Kingen, ’76 Alan Lamia, ’70 Paul and Kristina Larson, ’75 Alex and Karen Laughlin, ’85 Tom Lewis Tom Lucas, ’76 Earl F. and Laura Martin The Honorable Craig Matheson, ’76 Prof. John Maurice Lenora McBirney † Mr. Leo A. McGavick †, ’29 The Honorable † and Mrs. J. Ben McInturff, ’52 Robert and Christina McKanna †, ’54 Scott ’90 and Nicole (Annis) McKay, ’92 Ryan R. and Sarah McNeice, ’05 John Monahan, ’74 Donald and Mary Moore †, ’53 Daniel and Mary Beth Morrissey Ann Murphy The Honorable and Mrs. James M. Murphy, ’73 Jerry Neal, ’69 Jack Nevin, ’78 Northern Trust Bank Northwest Fund for the Environment Donald and Christine O’Neill, ’78 Stephen and Karen Osborne, ’73 Charles and Helen Palmerton †, ’52 PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company
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Tony and Patty Philippsen, ’73 Harry and Alethea Platis, ’69 Estate of Louis Powell Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, LLP Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP Joseph F. Quill and Dolores M. Quill Trust Tim Quirk and Sally Bulger Quirk, ’73 Les and Clara Randall † Prof. Speedy Rice and Judy Clarke John † and Joy Richards, ’87 Sheila C. Ridgway, ’84 Ridgway Law Group, P.S. The Honorable Jack J. and Patricia Ripple †, ’50 Ronald and JoAnn (Salina) Roberts, ’64 The Honorable Michael P. Roewe, ’74 Dr. Jacob Rooksby Sayre & Sayre P.S. SBMC Nicholas Scarpelli, ’74 Kenneth A. Scaz, ’98 Albert † and Betty Schauble, ’58 Gerald and Rita Schears John † and Catherine Schultheis, ’61 Dennis and Marie Sheehan, ’76 Stokes Lawrence, P.S. Irene Strachen Charitable Trust Stritmatter, Kessler, Whelan, Withey, Coluccio Robert Sullivan, ’86 Gaetano and Melissa Testini, ’00 The Honorable and Mrs. † Joseph A. Thibodeau, ’66 James and Carmelita † Thomas Prof. Mary Pat Treuthart and Dan Webster, Jr. James † and Marian Triesch, ’41 Patrick and Kristina Trudell, ’80 Joseph and Janna Uberuaga, ’77 United Way of Spokane County The Unova Foundation Prof. James M. Vache Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Donald Verfurth, ’85 Verizon Foundation Marc and Nancy Wallace, ’75 James and Kathleen Walsh, ’81 Dr. Thomas Walsh and Bonnie Lupton, ’90 Washington Judges Foundation Martin and Jane Weber, ’64 Stan and Gina Welsh Western Atlas Foundation The Honorable † and Mrs. John F. Wilson, ’56 Mark E. Wilson Winston & Cashatt James and Jackie Wolff, ’74 Women’s Law Caucus
† Honors those who have passed away.
Great care was taken to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Should there be any discrepancies, please contact Sarah Guzmán at guzmans@gonzaga.edu.
In Memoriam The Gonzaga School of Law extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the following alumni and friends (†).
Eugene Annis / 1959
David Kraft / 1981
Joyce E.J. Smith / 1981
Gary Benjamin / 1983
Linda D. Linden / †
Larry Stephenson / 1975
Mary Ellen Combo / 1979
The Hon. Phillip Mendiguren / 1978
Kathleen Tanksley / †
Vincent Dressel / 1977 Max Etter, Jr. / 1966 David E. George / 1979 Charles H. Hammer / 1979 Donald Herron / 1954 Clairmont E. Hormel / 1960 Leigh Cornelius Ileson / 1990 Joseph V. Kaplan / 1978
The Hon. Peter L. Nault / 1980 Fay Oakes / 1972
Michael Toulouse / 1985 Fred Valdez / † Elvin Vandeberg / 1954
Mildred Pederson / † David Peterson / 1952 Michael E. Reagan / 1986 Robert L. Redmond / 2004 Scott A. Schillinger / 2002
Brian R. Watson / 1991 Blake E. Wilson / 2011 Donald Winters / 1976 Jim Workland / 1964 Joel Wright / 1978
Fr. Bernard Coughlin, S.J. Gonzaga University’s beloved longtime President and Chancellor, Father Bernard Coughlin, S.J., passed away Jan. 28, 2020. He was 97. Fr. Coughlin served as Gonzaga’s longest-tenured president, 1974-1996, and its fi rst and only chancellor, 1996-2016. In total, he served the University for 42 years. His many contributions to Gonzaga’s success included growing the University’s endowment fund from $1 million in 1974 to nearly $60 million in 1996, as well as overseeing a $72 million capital campaign resulting in construction of new buildings and renovations of others. During his leadership, enrollment grew more than 50 percent and his efforts resulted in an improved academic reputation for the institution. While Fr. Coughlin was a champion for all things Gonzaga, the School of Law is particularly indebted to him for his support of legal education. He believed that Jesuit
institutions should have a law school, as these academic units matched the Jesuit mission in the most tangible ways. During the mid-1970s, he is credited as the leader who helped the school maintain its accreditation. It was also under his leadership that plans for a new law school building began to take shape, a central component to maintaining accreditation, and where a new generation of students would go forth. He remained interested in the success of the law school well into his years as chancellor and continued to provide guidance and support for the students, faculty, and staff of Gonzaga Law. “Fr. Coughlin was a stalwart supporter and friend of the Law School over the years,” Dean Jacob Rooksby said. “His manifold contributions to the University are legendary. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.” You may visit gonzaga.edu/Coughlin to honor and remember the life of Fr. Coughlin. 2020 | Gonzaga Law Magazine |
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P.O. Box 3528, Spokane, WA 99220-3528
LISTEN IN Season 2 of the All Rise Podcast is available now! Hear from alumni and experts within the Gonzaga Law community and beyond. Subscribe via iTunes or visit gonzaga.edu/law/podcast
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