FALL 2015 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE FALL 2015 421 Mondale Hall PAID 229 19th Avenue South TWIN CITIES, MN Minneapolis, MN 55455 PERMIT NO. 90155 Perspectives THE MAGAZINE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL PERSPECTIVES THE MAGAZINE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL
IN THIS ISSUE
A New Approach APRIL 15–16, 2016 to the 3L Year
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE LAW SCHOOL AND ITS ALUMNI DURING Minnesota Law A WEEKEND OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE ENTIRE LAW SCHOOL COMMUNITY. Review Celebrates 100 Volumes FRIDAY, APRIL 15: STUDENT AND ALUMNI NETWORKING EVENT AND ALL-ALUMNI COCKTAIL RECEPTION Theory at Work: SATURDAY, APRIL 16: CLE PROGRAM, ALUMNI & FACULTY LUNCHEON, AND INDIVIDUAL CLASS REUNIONS Prentiss Cox (’90) SPECIAL REUNION EVENTS WILL BE HELD FOR THE CLASSES OF: Faculty Profi le: 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, AND 2011 SUITE June Carbone FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PLANNING OF YOUR CLASS REUNION, PLEASE CONTACT DINAH ZEBOT, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & ANNUAL GIVING: SPOT 612.626.8671 OR [email protected] LAWYERS AS
Spring Alumni Weekend is about returning to remember your years at the Law School and the friendships CORPORATE LEADERS you built here. We hope you will be able to attend to celebrate and to reconnect with the Law School. We look forward to seeing you in April!
WWW.COMMUNITY.LAW.UMN.EDU/SAW law.umn.edu THANK YOU, PARTNERS AT WORK
DEAN BOARD OF ADVISORS Perspectives is a general interest magazine published David Wippman Sitso W. Bediako (’08) in the fall and spring of the academic year for the Thank you to all volunteers, organizations, Amy L. Bergquist (’07) University of Minnesota Law School community of alumni, and fi rms that participated in the 8th GROUP 1 (UP TO 9 ALUMNI) ASSISTANT DEAN AND CHIEF OF STAFF Karin J. Birkeland (’87) friends, and supporters. Letters to the editor or any other annual Partners at Work challenge, which Nora Klaphake James L. Chosy (’89) communication regarding content should be sent to Jennifer Ciresi (’07) ended on June 30, 2015. Overall, 62% of Gaskins Bennett Birrell Schupp 100% Cynthia Huff ([email protected]), Director of Communications, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS William E. Drake (’66) alumni at 36 organizations made a gift to University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Avenue South, Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan 100% Cynthia Huff John F. Hartmann (’87) 421 Mondale Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455. the Law School. This year, 7 participants Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben 100% Gary J. Haugen (’74) achieved 100% alumni giving. EDITOR AND WRITER Cathy Haukedahl (’79) Zimmerman Reed 100% Jeff Johnson Rachel C. Hughey (’03) The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to The Partners at Work challenge is a Monroe Moxness Berg 88% E. Michael Johnson (’91) and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment friendly competition to increase alumni COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Jay L. Kim (’88) (Chair Elect) without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, giving participation at organizations that Valerie Mason Jeannine L. Lee (’81) gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance employ University of Minnesota Law (10-24 ALUMNI) Marshall S. Lichty (’02) status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, GROUP 2 School alumni. DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Daniel W. McDonald (’85) or gender expression. AND ANNUAL GIVING Christine L. Meuers (’83) Bassford Remele 100% Dinah C. Zebot Rebecca Egge Moos (’77) (Past Chair) A special thank you to ©2015 by University of Minnesota Law School Cyrus A. Morton (’98) those organizations that Lind, Jensen, Sullivan & Peterson 100% CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael T. Nilan (’79) Fish & Richardson 94% Kathy Graves David B. Potter (’80) (Chair) fi nished at the top of each Nilan Johnson Lewis 93% Ryan Greenwood Roshan N. Rajkumar (’00) respective group! Cathy Madison Mary S. Ranum (’83) Henson & Efron 88% Todd Melby The Honorable James M. Rajin Olson (’16) Rosenbaum (’69) Lisa A. Rotenberg (’85) COVER ILLUSTRATION Stephen P. Safranski (’97) GROUP 3 (25+ ALUMNI) Stephen Webster Amy C. Seidel (’98) Joseph P. Sullivan (’67) Maslon 100% PHOTOGRAPHERS The Honorable John R. Tunheim (’80) Charlotte Brooks Kevin Warren Winthrop & Weinstine 92% Jayme Halbritter Stinson Leonard Street 74% Humphrey School of Public Affairs Dorsey & Whitney 66% Library of Congress Tony Nelson Faegre Baker Daniels 65% Tim Rummelhoff University of Minnesota Law Library Archives Michael Vosburg
DESIGNER Launch Lab Creative For the full results of the Partners at Work challenge, go to www.law.umn.edu/generations/partners-at-work.html. FROM THE DEAN
WHY MINNESOTA LAW?
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO ATTEND THE Lubanga) decided by the court. She led a team of interna- University of Minnesota Law School, but the biggest is tional experts over the past six months to complete the the caliber of the faculty. Within these pages you will fi nd study. She also serves as advisory board chair of the Women’s many examples of their scholarly and community work. Rights Program of the Open Society Foundations. I’d like to highlight just a few. In October, Professor Robert A. Stein (’61) brought This fall, Regents Professor David Weissbrodt was hon- Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia to the Law School ored with a CLE panel and dinner at which guests from for a day of activities, including meetings with student across the globe celebrated his extraordinary career in leaders, faculty, and the Federalist Society. Justice Scalia also international human rights. Professor Weissbrodt has inspired taught a class and addressed a packed Northrop Auditorium thousands of students, published dozens of infl uential for a lecture and conversation with Professor Stein. Past articles, co-founded multiple human rights organizations, speakers in the Stein Lecture series include Justice Ruth and served as a member and chair of the United Nations Bader Ginsburg and Vice President Mondale. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of As important as their research and outreach efforts are, Human Rights. our faculty ultimately have their greatest impact in the Professor Mark Kappelhoff recently received the U.S. classroom. Sometimes that impact manifests itself in unex- Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service—the pected ways. Professor Judith T. Younger recently received highest honor the Department of Justice gives—for work an email from a former student, Jonathon Cody (’11), now he did as a deputy assistant attorney general while on serving as the chief of administrative law for U.S. forces in loan to the DOJ last year. Professor Kappelhoff oversaw Afghanistan. He wrote: investigations of police misconduct in Ferguson, Mo., and other cities. “You will be happy to know that the knowledge you conveyed Professor Richard Frase gave the keynote address at the to me of varying property interests, laws, and even rules against U.S. Sentencing Commission’s recent roundtable on state perpetuity has been put to good use on a daily basis. For example, when recently confronted with the question of what sentencing guidelines. Together with Professor Kevin Reitz, ownership right, if any, a bona fi de purchaser had to a previously Frase co-directs the Robina Institute on Criminal Law stolen object, I was immediately—and miraculously, I thought— and Criminal Justice, which partners with local and state able to cite to the basic facts and results of O’Keeffe v. Snyder. jurisdictions around the country to provide recommenda- An answer that seemed to satisfy all parties. It was a moment tions on sentencing and other aspects of the criminal akin to the day that algebra or geometry really does save justice system. someone’s life. There are hundreds of similar examples I could Professor Myron Orfi eld’s brief on the history of housing provide you from our attempts to return possession of an entire country to the rightful owners….” segregation was cited in a major U. S. Supreme Court fair housing ruling in June. Last month, he was a panelist with These are just a few examples of our faculty’s dedication Andrew Young, Josie R. Johnson, and Taylor Branch in and expertise. Their work provides the best answer to the Washington, D.C., at a forum honoring Vice President question, Why Minnesota Law? Walter F. Mondale (’56). Professor Dale Carpenter co-authored “The People’s Brief” for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization. The brief was signed by more than 200,000 people and fi led with the Supreme Court in the case that legalized same-sex marriage this year. Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin was appointed by the International Criminal Court to provide an expert report to guide the Trust Fund for Victims in determining David Wippman reparations in the fi rst criminal case (Prosecutor v. Thomas Dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 1 CONTENTS
SUITE SPOT LAWYERS AS CORPORATE LEADERS 20
By Cathy Madison Illustrations by Stephen Webster
26 THEORY AT WORK
PRENTISS COX (’90)
2 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu 9 1 DEAN’S PERSPECTIVE Why Minnesota Law?
4 AT THE LAW SCHOOL 4 A New Approach to the 3L Year: The Saeks Public Interest Fellows Program 5 Law School Institutes S.J.D. Program 6 2015 Commencement Exercises: Embracing the Future 8 Orientation 2015: Getting Off to a Strong Start 9 Energy Transition Lab Hosts Energy Storage Summit • Recent Clinic Successes 11 Partners in Excellence Annual Fund 12 Minnesota Law Review Celebrates 100 Volumes with “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” 16 14 A Celebration of Philanthropy and William B. Lockhart Club Dinner 16 The Originalist: Justice Antonin Scalia at the Law School • Fall 2015 Legal History Workshops 17 Employee and Faculty Milestones 18 New Digital Exhibit to Celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta 19 A Heartfelt Salute to Professor Suzanne Thorpe (’89)
28 FACULTY PERSPECTIVE 28 Faculty Awards, Grants and News 31 Professor Nancy Cook Retires • Professor Laura Thomas Named Director of Law Clinics 32 Faculty Books • A Salute to Professor David Weissbrodt • Faculty Works in Progress 32 33 Faculty Profile: June Carbone
34 STUDENT PERSPECTIVE 34 Student Profiles 38 Student News and Awards • Save the Date: TORT 39 Student Organizations • Save the Dates
40 ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE 40 Alumni Profiles 43 Upcoming Alumni Events 44 Alumni News and Awards 47 Alumni Weekend • Alumni Webinar Series 48 Class Notes 50 Duluth-Area Alumni and Student Breakfast 34 51 Recent Graduate and Student Networking Reception 53 Online Alumni and Student Networking Community 54 Recent Twin Cities Events: Day of Service, Welcome to the Bar Breakfast 55 Tributes 56 In Memoriam
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 3 47 AT THE
1 LAW SCHOOL
A NEW APPROACH TO THE 3L YEAR: THE SAEKS PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM
THIS FALL, THE LAW SCHOOL IS launching the Allen (’56) and Linda Saeks Public Interest Fellows Program, an innovative—perhaps transformative—initiative made possible by the Saeks’ generous contribution to the GENERATIONS campaign. The competitive program supports students who are committed to working in public interest law. In their third year of law school, students will work full-time with top non- profi t organizations and government Allen (’56) and Linda Saeks agencies, while participating in a complementary classroom compo- nent with other Saeks Scholars. After program, who believes the Saeks top-fl ight law students to help meet graduating and taking the bar exam, fellowships have the potential to their legal needs. And the Law School the scholars will return to their transform legal education while is on the cutting edge of legal partner organizations as full-time, expanding employment opportunities education in this country.” paid fellows for one full year. for students. “Students get excellent This winter, interested second-year “It’s a win-win-win,” says Professor legal training from top-fl ight organi- law students will apply to the Saeks Mark Kappelhoff, director of the zations. The organizations get Public Interest Fellows Program
4 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu 2 On October 15, Minnesota Court of Appeals Judges Stauber, 3 David Jensen and Paul 4 Prof. David Weissbrodt 1 Prof. Bill McGeveran Connolly, and Smith held Ogren talk to Jessica and Kristi Rudelius- welcomes new students proceedings at the Law Johnson (’07) at the Law Palmer at Weissbrodt's at orientation. School Review celebration celebration
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through a rigorous process that as a deputy assistant attorney general Law School Institutes includes a faculty approval board for the Civil Rights Division at the S.J.D. Program and agency interviews. Scholars will United States Department of Justice For individuals who wish to pursue be selected by early spring to start (DOJ). During his sabbatical, he advanced legal study and original next fall. prosecuted some of the country’s research under faculty supervision, Allen Saeks was a founder of the highest-profi le hate crimes. He the Law School has created a curricu- Minnesota Public Interest Research previously had served as the chief of lum leading to the S.J.D. (Scientiae Group (MPIRG), and he has a long the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Juridicae Doctor) degree. Each student history of commitment to the Fund Section and founded the DOJ’s enrolled will, in consultation with the for the Legal Aid Society and other Human Traffi cking Prosecution Unit. director of graduate studies and the public interest concerns. In planning In Minnesota, he has worked as a faculty advisor, pursue a course of their gift to the Law School, he and special assistant United States attor- study that will typically include 24 his wife wanted to do something that ney, investigating and prosecuting credits of course work/seminars, the would have new and considerable human traffi cking cases. Kappelhoff advanced legal research course offered impact. “I’ve learned a good deal also directs the Criminal Justice by the Law Library, the writing of a about public interest over the years, Clinic at the Law School. dissertation, and an oral examination, and one thing is clear: alleviating “We are pleased to have Mark among other elements. The disserta- student debt through a job is key to lead this program,” says Saeks. tion must embody research that makes success in public interest work,” says “His distinguished service at the a signifi cant, original contribution of Saeks. “We wanted to do something Department of Justice made him a long-term value to legal scholarship. unique with our contribution, and top prospect for the Law School and It must be of publishable quality and this fellowship program is it.” an excellent choice for the director provide lawyers, scholars, or govern- For Kappelhoff, the Saeks Public of a public interest program of this ment offi cials with a useful understand- Interest Fellows Program is a wel- caliber.” ■ ing, not previously available, of a come challenge as he returns to the particular area of the law. Further Law School after taking a one-year By Kathy Graves, a writer based in details are available at www.law.umn. leave to serve in a temporary position Minneapolis edu/academics. ■
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 5 AT THE LAW SCHOOL
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2015 COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES: EMBRACING THE FUTURE
THE LAW SCHOOL HELD ITS 127TH member of the Law School faculty for participation in journals, moot commencement ceremony May 16 at for 40 years. The honorees were Ann courts, and other activities at a special Northrop Memorial Auditorium. M. Burkhart, Overall Teacher of the ceremony and reception on May 15. Dean David Wippman welcomed the Year; Prentiss Cox (’90), Clinical Warfi eld announced that the class Class of 2015, their families and Teacher of the Year; and JaneAnne of 2015 would continue the 3L friends, and several special guests: Murray, Adjunct Teacher of the Year. Pledge Drive established fi ve years University Regent Darrin Rosha Three special student awards were ago by making annual fi nancial (’96), general manager and corporate presented. Jennifer Warfi eld, chair of contributions to the Law School for counsel for Crutchfi eld Dermatology the Student Commencement the next three years. This gift means in Eagan, Minn.; Allen Levine, vice Committee, presented two of the that one person from the class of provost for faculty and academic awards, whose recipients were 2015 will receive a $5,000 fellowship affairs; and the keynote speaker, selected by their classmates. Lauren to engage in public interest work. In retiring Minnesota Supreme Court Roso was honored with the honor of the class’s generosity, the Justice Alan C. Page (’78). Outstanding Contribution Award, Law School will fund the installation In his introduction, Dean Wippman and Evan Gelles with the Excellence of a whiteboard wall in a student area offered humor and wisdom from in Public Service Award. Dean of the subplaza in Mondale Hall. such diverse fi gures as Eric Idle of Wippman presented the William B. This year’s LL.M. class of 53 Monty Python fame, federal prosecu- Lockhart Award for Excellence in students from 18 countries selected tor Preet Bharara, and educator/ Scholarship, Leadership, and Service, Sanaa Assa, of the Netherlands, to entrepreneur Salman Khan. He then whose recipient is selected by a deliver a graduation address. Assa spoke presented the annual Stanley V. faculty committee. This award, which warmly of her time at the Law School Kinyon Teaching Awards for honors the Law School’s fi fth dean and of her surprise at how much time Excellence in Education, established and 28-year faculty member, was law students spend volunteering. by family and friends in honor of the given to Caitlinrose Fisher. The dean “This is something I hope to bring late Professor Kinyon (’33), a recog- also called attention to numerous back home so that our society may nized commercial law scholar and other students who were recognized learn from yours,” she said.
6 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu AT THE LAW SCHOOL
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Sushmitha Rajeevan was chosen by destiny is inextricably linked with her classmates to give the J.D. address. your willingness to give of yourselves. She urged her fellow graduates to do Regent Rosha conferred degrees work that matters, to be a force for on the J.D., LL.M., and Masters of 5 good, and to take time every day to Science in Patent Law graduates. The “show your gratitude for the bounty J.D. class had selected Professors Laura in your life.” In conclusion, she said, Thomas and Brad Clary (’75) to 1 Graduates prepare to sing “Hail, Minnesota!” “Nothing we do will have meaning if present their diplomas; the LL.M. 2 Shishira Kothur ('15) with her father, we forget that we can see farther today class chose Director of International Venkat Kothur because we stand on the shoulders of and Graduate Programs Khary 3 Assembling for the J.D. class photo giants who came before us.” Hornsby (’05); and the M.S.P.L. class 4 Bottom row left to right: Lauren Roso, In his commencement address, chose Program Director Chris Frank. Sushmitha Rajeevan, Jennifer Warfield, Justice Page combined reminiscences Dean Wippman invited graduates and Sanaa Assa; Top row: Evan Gelles, of his own time as a law student, guests to a reception on the Northrop Caitlinrose Fisher hard-earned advice from his distin- Mall and Plaza, and the ceremonies 5 Dean David Wippman, Regent Darrin guished career, and incisive commen- concluded with the singing of “Hail, Rosha (’96), Professor Ann Burkhart, tary on the racial issues and politics Minnesota!” led by singers from Justice Alan Page (’78) that had dominated the headlines of Theatre of the Relatively Talentless late. He also set forth a plan of action (TORT): Jake Dona (’16), Andrew for the graduates: “Whether it’s Glasnovich (’16), Tracy Ann Hoyos- providing pro bono legal services for Lopez (’15), Tim Joyce (’17), Robin those in need, and for which there is Lehninger (’15), Jennifer Mayu a great need, or spending time Warfi eld (’15), and Andrea Miller working with children in schools, as I (’15). The St. Anthony Brass Quintet do—whatever it may be, you have the provided accompaniment and power to change the future. Our departing procession music. ■
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 7 AT THE LAW SCHOOL
ORIENTATION 2015: GETTING OFF TO A STRONG START
CLASS OF 2018 *
Applied 1978 164 3.79 25% 158 | 75% 166 Enrolled 174 25% 3.48 | 75% 3.90 Median LSAT Median GPA
1Ls Young Choo, Eric Ryu, and Alanna Pawlowski *LSAT/UGPA percentiles were calculated by the University of Minnesota Law School and will be certified by the Law School Admissions Council.
THE 174 MEMBERS OF THE J.D. class those coveted A’s,” he said. “Not men, 6 women) come from 11 of 2018—a diverse group hailing everyone will get that internship, not countries—Burma (Myanmar), Egypt, from 35 U.S. states and 8 foreign everyone will make law review.” What Haiti, Lebanon, Maldives, Nigeria, countries—gathered in Mondale Hall to do when setbacks and disappoint- Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, at 8 a.m. on Sept. 1 for the start of ments arrive? Don’t believe that intel- Trinidad and Tobago, and Yemen. their Law School orientation. The ligence and talent are zero-sum In their home countries, they work in next three days would be a whirlwind games; instead, cultivate the belief that government, academia, law enforce- of introductions, briefi ngs, and these qualities can be improved ment, the judiciary, and nongovern- overviews interwoven with legal through determination and practice. mental organizations. Each of the writing sessions, faculty visits, “Do not let the law school process Humphrey Fellows took part in a technology training, a class photo, an trap you in a fi xed mindset,” he three-week course—either Introduc- ice cream social, and, of course, the concluded. “Stay healthy, stay positive, tion to American Law or Human Great Law School Scavenger Hunt and always continue to learn! If I Rights in Minnesota. Their orienta- (a great way to begin learning to fi nd can do it, so can you!” tion included visits to Vice President one’s way around). Hubert H. Humphrey’s grave at In her opening remarks, Nubia Humphrey Fellows and Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Esparza, coordinator of student LL.M. students the offi ces of The Advocates for programs and diversity initiatives, The 2015-16 Humphrey Fellows Human Rights, and the Walker told the students that they were and LL.M. students arrived and began Sculpture Garden. The orientation embarking on an “incredible journey,” their orientation processes in early ended with a three-day team-build- one that would test them academi- August. ing retreat in Lanesboro, Minn. cally and in many other ways. She This year’s LL.M. enrollment totals characterized the Law School as a 73 students—38 women, 35 men. Master of Science in Patent welcoming place where “you can be They come from 17 countries, with Law students part of helping a real client in our the largest contingent (34 students) The Law School’s Master of Science clinics,” where “you can help plan from China. All LL.M. students have in Patent Law program began its incredible volunteer trips to various completed a law degree in their second year with a class of three parts of the country with the Asylum home country and come to the Law full-time students, three part-time Law Project,” and where “you can School to further their legal educa- students, and one engineering student participate in amazing scholarship tion and broaden their experience. who is taking M.S.P.L. classes as with professors.” Their backgrounds include politics part of a graduate minor. M.S.P.L. Law Council President Chris and government, business, banking students began their academic year Ortega (’16) urged the fi rst-year and fi nance, entertainment, science with a two-week course introducing students to get involved with the and engineering, arts and literature, them to the American legal system council or with one of the many law enforcement, education, and and the law school environment. other student organizations at the human rights. Their orientation Their subsequent coursework will Law School. He also offered hard- included an intensive three-week focus on patent law, patent prosecu- won advice from his own time at the Introduction to American Law course. tion, patent portfolio management, Law School. “Not everyone will earn The 11 Humphrey Law Fellows (5 and persuasive writing. ■
8 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu AT THE LAW SCHOOL
ENERGY TRANSITION LAB HOSTS ENERGY STORAGE SUMMIT
THE UNIVERSITY’S INTER- disciplinary Energy Transition Lab (ETL), based at the Law School, held a summit on July 15 at which national and local experts examined the policy, technology, regulatory, and market drivers that affect energy storage in Minnesota. Of the more than 200 participants, roughly half were from the private sector, with the rest representing govern- ment, academia, and nonprofi t Attendees at the Summit organizations. Highlights included: review energy projects Keynote speaker Janice Lin • Keynote speaker Janice Lin, founder/managing partner of clean-energy fi rm Stratagen members was Professor Hari is growing fast, and Minnesota Consulting, discussed how Osofsky, the ETL’s faculty director— should be in the forefront,” said California created and has begun to that provided an overview of the Ellen Anderson (’86), executive implement its ambitious energy legal, regulatory, and market director of the ETL. “At the storage mandate of 1.325 gigawatts structures governing energy summit, the ETL served as a by 2020. She pointed out that storage. One takeaway: energy catalyst, bringing University experts storage can greatly improve grid storage doesn’t fi t neatly into most in technology, law, policy, and quality and reliability and make existing legal frameworks. electricity markets together with renewable energy more valuable. • State utilities Xcel Energy, individuals of similar ability and • A panel of University scientists Minnesota Power, and Great River vision from the private, public, and brought attendees up to speed on Energy, along with the Wright- nonprofi t sectors. The result was a the latest innovations in batteries, Hennepin Cooperative Energy fascinating and inspiring exchange fl ywheels, pumped hydro, and other Association, shared lessons learned of ideas that will help drive progress storage technologies, while James from their energy storage projects in this crucial area.” Tong of Clean Power Finance to date, while Minnesota Public The ETL is jointly supported by described what our future energy Utilities Commissioner John the University’s Offi ce of the Vice grid will look like. Tuma (’88) spoke on related state President for Research, the Institute • Professor Alexandra Klass regulatory issues. on the Environment, and the moderated a panel—one of whose “The energy storage market Law School. ■
RECENT CLINICAL SUCCESS STORIES
Immigration and Human she found threatening. As a result, she offi ce were broken into. When she Rights Clinic Obtains Asylum attempted suicide. Eventually, the arrived at the airport to board a fl ight for Four Clients client became involved with a to the U.S., uniformed agents SINCE APRIL 2015, THE IMMIGRA- political opposition group in Sudan. interrogated her in a tiny, windowless tion and Human Rights Clinic has During and after college, she worked room. The clinic prepared the client’s obtained asylum for three clients. for several human rights organiza- asylum application in November Most recently, U.S. Citizenship and tions. After aiding in a successful 2013, and USCIS granted the request Immigration Services (USCIS) negotiation with the South Sudanese on October 7, 2015. granted asylum to a Sudanese woman government for the release of her Student attorneys included: Jaclyn who had been forced to undergo relatives, individuals whom the client Campoli (’14); Anu Jaswal and Tenzin female genital mutilation as a young believed were National Intelligence Pelkyi (’15); Tracey Alexander (’16). girl. As she got older, her relatives and Security Service offi cers began On July 2, the Fort Snelling attempted to force her to marry a man following her. The client’s home and Immigration Court granted asylum CONT >
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 9 AT THE LAW SCHOOL to a client from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The client became involved in political opposi- tion groups in the 1990s. After he criticized the government for using schoolgirls as concubines in 2004, police detained him in a small cell, interrogated him, and attempted to sodomize him. They then performed a false execution on him. A few years later, the client helped a friend who ran as an opposition candidate in the presidential election. As a result, Moones Mellouli Nelson Kargbo soldiers beat and raped the client’s wife in front of his young children. His wife died from these injuries. In Mellouli, a pro bono client repre- Former Child Soldier 2008, the government issued a sented jointly by the Law School’s Nelson Kargbo Released warrant for him. During its search for Center for New Americans, Faegre from Detention him, soldiers beat and raped his Baker Daniels, and the Immigrant ON OCT. 8, NELSON KARGBO, second wife. The client applied for Law Center of Minnesota. The court a refugee from Sierra Leone, was asylum in June 2009, and the clinic ruled 7-2 that a lawful permanent released after more than two years prepared for and represented the resident cannot be deported for of detention by U.S. Immigration client at his individual hearing in possession of drug paraphernalia and Customs Enforcement (ICE) June 2014. where the conviction does not relate in Minnesota. The Center for Student attorneys included: Jordan to a substance listed in the Federal New Americans, working with Sundell and Matthew Webster (’11); Controlled Substance Act. In 2010, Dorsey & Whitney and the American Lindsey Greising, George (Willy) Mellouli was convicted on a misde- Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, Madeira, and Phoebe Taurick (’12); meanor charge of possessing para- was instrumental in securing his Justin Erickson (’13); Jaclyn Campoli, phernalia in the form of a sock. He release. Eleanor Lewis, and Julia Decker (’14); was subsequently deported without Kargbo was victimized as a Courtney Baker, Anu Jaswal, Leah the federal government showing that child soldier in Sierra Leone before Leyendecker, and Maya Tao (’15); the sock contained a controlled coming to the United States as a Tracey Alexander (’16). substance on either the state or refugee. ICE took him into custody On April 13, the Fort Snelling federal controlled substance schedules. in 2013, and moved to deport him Immigration Court granted asylum The court rejected the Justice based on convictions for three to a young man from Honduras. After Department’s broad reading of the misdemeanors that dated back seven a coup in Honduras in June 2009, the federal deportation statute, holding to nine years. Kargbo had served client became involved with the Libre that it stretched the statute’s text “to a total of 14 days in jail for these Party. As a result, the National Party the breaking point” and led to offenses, but immigration offi cials tried to persuade him to support it consequences Congress could not had held him in different county jails instead. Men from the National Party have intended. The decision is likely for two years while he fought and beat up the client and threatened to to preclude deportation of thousands won his immigration case. kill him. He fl ed Honduras in of legal residents with low-level drug On July 31, the immigration court December 2012 and arrived in the convictions. granted Kargbo protection under U.S. a few months later. The In an unexpected postscript to the the United Nations Convention Department of Homeland Security Supreme Court win, the 8th Circuit Against Torture, meaning he could commenced removal proceedings in July suggested Mellouli might yet not be deported back to Sierra Leone, against him. The Clinic prepared and be subject to further deportation where he could face torture. fi led his defensive asylum application proceedings. Mellouli challenged this However, ICE continued to hold him in February 2014. in a second appeal. The solicitor while looking for another country to Student attorneys included: Matthew general’s offi ce has since informed deport him to. Then, on Oct. 2, U.S. Lemke and Eleanor Lewis (’14); the Supreme Court it agrees that Magistrate Judge Leo Brisbois Courtney Baker and Anu Jaswal (’15). Mellouli’s deportation cannot be ordered him released, citing a lack of revived, a concession that affi rms his evidence that he should be sent to SCOTUS Victory in Center victory and will bring fi nal closure another country and saying ICE had for New Americans Case to the case. exceeded the amount of time it could ON JUNE 1, THE U.S. SUPREME Student attorneys included: Julia lawfully keep him in custody. Court issued its opinion in Mellouli v. Decker (’14); Caitlinrose Fisher and Student attorneys included: Becky Holder, handing a victory to Moones Anna Finstrom (’15). Cassler and Nicholas Hittler (’16). ■
10 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu AT THE LAW SCHOOL
PARTNERS IN EXCELLENCE YOUR GIFT MATTERS!
GIFTS TO THE PARTNERS IN EXCELLENCE ANNUAL FUND MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL AND OUR STUDENTS. YOUR UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION IS USED WHERE IT’S MOST NEEDED WHILE PROVIDING THE FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY ARISE. “WE REMAIN DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE WHY GIVE? LAW SCHOOL AND ASK YOU • Your successes are our successes: The Law School continues TO JOIN US IN SUPPORTING to bolster the legal profession with truly excellent lawyers. THE ANNUAL FUND THIS YEAR.” In addition to learning the law, our students gain the skills to be leaders in our communities. Rachel Brass (’01) and • Maintain the value of your University of Minnesota law George J. Tichy II (’67), 2015-2016 degree: Your gifts help to ensure that the Law School Partners in Excellence national chairs. continues to be respected and renowned for excellence. • Every gift counts: Together, gifts of all sizes make a signifi cant collective impact on the Law School!
To give, please use the enclosed envelope, visit give.umn.edu/ giveto/perspectives16, or contact the O ce of Advancement at 612-626-8671.
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 11 AT THE LAW SCHOOL
MINNESOTA LAW REVIEW CELEBRATES 100 VOLUMES WITH “STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS” 1
HUNDREDS OF MINNESOTA LAW products liability cases as the last Review alumni, other lawyers, and Representatives holdout to Prosser’s concept of strict current students gathered at Mondale liability. Fred Pritzker (’76), a food Hall on Oct. 2 for the journal’s from more than safety and personal injury litigator annual symposium. This year’s event, 60 volumes at PritzkerOlsen in Minneapolis, “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: of the Law Review described the modern-day use of Celebrating 100 Volumes of the strict liability in practice and the Minnesota Law Review,” examined attended the principles that remain unfulfi lled four of the most impactful pieces in celebration. from Prosser’s vision. The subsequent the journal’s distinguished history. discussion was moderated by Speakers and panelists included Professor Alexandra Klass. former Vice President Walter Clarence Earl Gideon’s constitutional The third panel focused on a Mondale, former Law School faculty right to a criminal defense attorney. 1974 article memorializing lectures member Daniel Farber, leading Professor Eve Brensike Primus of on the Fourth Amendment by members of the bar, and prominent the University of Michigan Law Professor Anthony Amsterdam. law professors. School discussed the cultural problem Professor Donald Dripps of the The symposium kicked off with a surrounding indigent defense systems. University of San Diego Law School, keynote speech by Farber, now a Professor Paul Marcus of the William another former Minnesota Law professor of law at UC-Berkeley. & Mary Law School examined the professor, began by looking at the Farber’s speech on legal scholarship standards for evaluating ineffective Supreme Court’s habitual failure analyzed the Law Review’s inaugural assistance of law. Professor Mark to resolve Professor Amsterdam’s issue, published in January 1917, Kappelhoff moderated a discussion questions. Professor Tracey Maclin providing insight into what has between Mondale, Primus, and of the Boston University School of changed since then and what remains Marcus. Law highlighted Amsterdam’s true to legal scholarship today. The second panel, based on a concerns with discretionary police The fi rst panel, based on a 1961 1966 piece by Professor William power and their relevance in light of symposium issue of the Law Review Prosser, explored the development recent Supreme Court cases. Professor with a foreword by Justice William of strict liability. Professor Kenneth Andrew Crespo of Harvard Law O. Douglas, considered the right Abraham of the University of Virginia School explained the viability of to counsel established in Gideon v. School of Law considered the broader public and democratic forces as Wainwright in 1963. Former Vice impact of the article and Prosser’s workable means to police reform. President Mondale (’56, Minnesota apparent failure to defi ne what makes Professor Richard Frase moderated Law Review Volume 39) opened the a product “defective.” Professor the ensuing conversation. panel by discussing his involvement, Catherine Sharkey of the New York The fi nal panel recalled a 1978 as Minnesota’s attorney general, in University School of Law explained article by Professor Alan David initiating an amicus brief supporting the role of the economic loss rule in Freeman on the Supreme Court’s
12 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu AT THE LAW SCHOOL
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antidiscrimination decisions and their Following the symposium, 1 Law Review alumni and current students toast counterintuitive role in passively attendees adjourned to the nearby 100 volumes of scholarship and success. enabling discrimination. Professor Courtyard Marriott hotel for a 2 Professor Daniel Farber explains the Law Mario Barnes of the UC-Irvine celebratory reception featuring Review’s historical context. School of Law examined ways in reminiscences and toasts by Dean 3 Professor Catherine Sharkey describes the role which society has sought to declare David Wippman; Professor Farber; of the economic loss rule in products liability. itself a post-racial world and courts Judge John Tunheim (’80, Volume 64); 4 Dan Herber (’04, Vol. 88, Celebration Planning have avoided the challenge of lasting the fi rst female president of the Law Committee Chair) and Judge Myron Bright (’47, institutional reform. Professor Robert Review, Madge Thorsen (’77, Volume Vol. 31) lean in for a quick mid-celebration shot. Chang of the Seattle University 61); and Judge Myron Bright (’47, 5 Former Vice President Walter Mondale (’56, School of Law examined recent Volume 31), the longest-serving Vol. 39) discusses Gideon v. Wainwright. LGBT antidiscrimination jurispru- United States Court of Appeals judge 6 Professor Donald Dripps shares his thoughts dence in light of past racial antidis- still on the bench. Representatives on the Fourth Amendment. crimination jurisprudence. Professor from more than 60 volumes of the Nancy Leong of the University of Law Review attended the celebration. Denver Sturm College of Law Video from the symposium is considered antidiscrimination law’s available at www.minnesotalaw failure to reach private actors, honing review.org. Panelists’ articles will be in on newer service-sharing compa- published in Issue 5 of Volume 100. ■ nies like Uber and Airbnb. Professor Perry Moriearty led the panel By Rajin Olson (’16), symposium discussion. articles editor
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 13 AT THE LAW SCHOOL
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A CELEBRATION OF PHILANTHROPY (JUNE 4, 2015) AND WILLIAM B. LOCKHART CLUB DINNER (SEPTEMBER 9, 2015)
Events honoring the Law School’s leadership donors provide our alumni, faculty, and friends with a chance to reconnect with each other and with the Law School. At A CELEBRATION OF PHILANTHROPY in June, guests heard remarks from Professor Paul Vaaler, who introduced the crowd to his innovative work in the intersection of business and the law. In September, our leadership donors gathered at the Campus Club at Coffman Memorial Union for the 2015 WILLIAM B. LOCKHART CLUB DINNER. The University of Minnesota Law School’s Center for New Americans teaching fellow Kate Evans and Minnesota Law graduate Anna Finstrom (’15) discussed their work in the recent Supreme Court winning case, Mellouli v. Holder.
14 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu AT THE LAW SCHOOL
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1 Dr. Paul Vaaler 6 Jane Tilka, Andrew Dawkins, 2 Bill Drake (’66), Bill Lindberg (’73) Ellen Anderson (’86), Sylvia Kaplan, 3 Greer Lockhart (’53), Dean David Wippman Samuel Kaplan (’60) 4 Tim Grimsrud (’04), Dan Sherburne, 7 Judge Donald Alsop (’52), Walter Mondale (’56) Kate Sherburne (’03), Joshua Colburn (’07), Heidi Golliet 5 Judge Donald Alsop (’52), Judge David Doty (’61), Ronald Hunter (’78), Gary Haugen (’74)
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 15 AT THE LAW SCHOOL
THE ORIGINALIST: JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA AT THE LAW SCHOOL
Oct. 20. “Are you going to let this issues, the Supreme Court shouldn’t group of people determine what be making defi nitive judgments the Constitution is? It’s so unrepre- about them. “I’m not complaining sentative of this country. It’s so about the result,” Scalia said. “I’m undemocratic.” complaining about the manner in While many legal scholars and which it was achieved.” a majority of the current Supreme After all, Scalia noted, the Supreme Court justices believe in a “living Court is an unelected body of mostly Justice Antonin Scalia constitution” open to interpretation, East Coast lawyers, all of whom Scalia does not. During his visit to attended one of two prestigious law the University for the 2015 Stein schools—Harvard or Yale. “Its biggest U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE Lecture, sponsored by the Law problem is legitimacy,” he said. Antonin Scalia’s argument against School, the longest-serving associate “There’s nothing in the Constitution judicial activism is straightforward. As justice engaged in a passionate that says we are the last word.” an unelected judge, he—and his eight defense of “originalism,” a legal Instead, Scalia argues, policy colleagues on the nation’s highest philosophy dedicated to a literal decisions should be left to those court—shouldn’t be making laws. reading of the U.S. Constitution. elected to local, state, and federal “What are you, crazy?” he asked In other words, if there’s nothing offi ces—or the Constitution should a capacity crowd of about 2,600 in the Constitution about gay be amended. It’s a point he returned people at Northrop Auditorium on marriage, abortion, or other social to again and again during a question-
FALL 2015 LEGAL HISTORY WORKSHOPS NOVEMBER 5 Daniel J. Sharfstein Vanderbilt Law School Workshops are held on Thursdays 8 Catherine Fisk “Chief Joseph’s Struggle: Law, from 4:05-6 p.m. in Room 471 University of California, Lawlessness, and Administration of Mondale Hall and are open to Irvine School of Law in Nez Perce Country, 1872-1877” the public. To receive the paper Selections from Authors at Work: 12 Christopher N.J. Roberts in advance of the lecture, email Writing for Hire in Twentieth University of Minnesota Law Angela Tanner at [email protected]. Century Film, Television, and School Advertising (forthcoming, “The Origins of Human Rights Harvard University Press) and the Ghost of Senator Bricker:
15 Michael Zakim Uncovering a Lost History” SEPTEMBER Tel Aviv University and Harvard 19 Jeffrey Sklansky 24 Matthew H. Sommer University University of Illinois at Chicago Stanford University Selections from Accounting for “The Value of Trust: Monetary Selections from Polyandry Capitalism: The World the Clerk Reform and the Ethic of Investment And Wife-Selling In Qing Dynasty Made (forthcoming, University in the Progressive Era”
China: Survival Strategies And of Chicago Press) Judicial Interventions (University 22 Stuart Banner DECEMBER of California Press, 2015) UCLA School of Law 3 Malick W. Ghachem “Betting on Prices: Gambling Massachusetts Institute OCTOBER and Investing in the 19th-Century of Technology 1 Mitra Sharafi United States” “The Revolt Against the Indies University of Wisconsin Law School Company: Money, Women, “Blood Testing and Fear of the and Slavery in Saint-Domingue, False in British India” 1722-1724”
16 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu AT THE LAW SCHOOL and-answer session. “The way to Stein Lecture. “I try to make them during his spare time: “I go to law bring about your ideals is to persuade memorable. This generation is gone.” schools to make trouble.” your fellow citizens,” he said. “It’s When asked by a Law School Scalia also offered a glimpse into hard work.” student about writing in “legal style,” a possible future ruling. In recent When Scalia was appointed by the justice was dismissive. “There’s no years, the court has limited the ability President Ronald Reagan in 1986, such thing as writing in ‘legal style,’” of governments to enact the death some court observers predicted his he said. “Most bad writers are bad penalty. Currently, Ohio, Oklahoma, “likeable personality” would make because they are writing in ‘legal style.’” and other states are delaying execu- him a swing justice. But due to his Scalia encouraged students to read tions for a number of reasons. Soon, unyielding judicial philosophy, that the Atlantic Monthly instead of USA Scalia hinted, the practice may be didn’t happen. “The originalist has Today and pore over the words of abolished. If the court were to take nothing to trade,” he said, adding, 19th-century novelists Charles that step, Scalia said, “It wouldn’t “I have no aspiration to be a swing Dickens and William Makepeace surprise me.” justice. I want to be right.” Thackeray. “As you read, so will you Created by Professor Robert So he’s often resorted to crisply write,” he said. Stein (’61), the Stein Lecture series written dissents that crackle with On other topics, Scalia offered features talks by prominent judges, indignation. Articles and books these pithy comments. lawyers, and government offi cials on have chronicled Scalia’s quotable • On one person’s complaint a topic of national or international minority opinions, including this about the court’s decision in Burwell interest. Past speakers include U.S. excerpt from his dissent in Atkins v. v. Hobby Lobby Stores, a religious Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Virginia (2002), a death-penalty case: freedom case: “Oh, God, get over it.” Ginsburg and Vice President Walter “Seldom has an opinion of this Court • On whether he believes in F. Mondale (’56). ■ rested so obviously upon nothing but stare decisis, the legal principle of the personal views of its members.” precedent: “I’m a textualist. I’m an By Todd Melby, a freelance writer “I write my dissents for law originalist. I’m not a nut.” and radio producer based in students,” Scalia said during the • On why he lectures at colleges Minneapolis
EMPLOYEE AND FACULTY MILESTONES
Thirty-two members of the Law Professor Dale Carpenter 5 YEARS School community reached a years- Professor Brett McDonnell Professor Sandra Marshall, Research of-service milestone during the year Eric Myott, Research Fellow, Institute Scholar ending Oct. 15, 2015. We extend our on Metropolitan Opportunity Valerie Mason, Communications Specialist sincere thanks to all of the following Dorothy Schlesselman, Program Claudia Melo, Director, Career Center employees for their commitment and Coordinator, International and Vicky Nguyen, Offi ce Administrator, contributions to the Law School. Graduate Programs Human Rights Center 10 YEARS Professor Hari Osofsky 45 YEARS Professor Prentiss Cox (’90) Jill Seguin, Donor and Volunteer Relations LaVonne Molde, Membership Professor Allan Erbsen Associate, Advancement Services Director, CALI Michael Galegher, Registrar Dale Trexel, Web Manager, 40 YEARS Laurie Gray, Data Manager, Admissions Technology Professor Laura Cooper Michael Hannon (’98), Associate Dinah Zebot, Director of Alumni Relations Claire Stuckey, Head of Cataloging, Director for Access Services and and Annual Giving, Advancement Law Library Digital Initiatives, Law Library Professor David Weissbrodt Professor Jill Hasday 30 YEARS Erin Keyes (’00), Assistant Dean Mary Suek, Circulation, Law Library of Students Khary Hornsby (’05), 25 YEARS Dawn Kildow, Administrative Director, director of interna- Carol Bruner, Administrative Law Library tional and graduate Assistant, Law Clinics Professor Richard Painter programs, has been Professor Michael Tonry Professor Kevin Reitz honored with a 2015 Professor Carl Warren (’75) Nick Wallace (’05), Director Award for Global Engagement by the 15 YEARS of Admissions University’s Global Programs and Sue Bartolutti, Human Resources Strategy Alliance offi ce. Director
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 17 AT THE LAW SCHOOL
NEW DIGITAL EXHIBIT TO CELEBRATE THE 800TH ANNIVERSARY OF MAGNA CARTA
extends to the modern period, University of Minnesota law librarian, exploring American documents and each Magna Carta in the collection is cases on due process, individual rights unique, complete with early auto- and the rule of law, and the impact of graphs, annotations, and even doodles. the Great Charter on recent human For students and scholars, the books rights documents. The digital exhibit reveal intriguing editorial and includes more than 60 images of rare printing choices, and not only books and archival items related to underscore the importance of the Magna Carta and its Anglo-American Great Charter but also refl ect the reception, drawn from the Law reading practices of law students and Library’s outstanding Arthur C. lawyers in Renaissance England. IN CELEBRATION OF THE 800TH Pulling Rare Books Collection and To enhance the site, there is a anniversary of Magna Carta, and preeminent Clarence Darrow detailed timeline covering the to mark Constitution Day on Collection. medieval context from which Magna September 17, the Law Library In addition to the exhibit, the Web Carta arose, and its early history to released a digital version of its site offers a visual showcase for each 1300. With the new digital site, yearlong exhibit in the Riesenfeld volume of the library’s collection of visitors are encouraged to discover Rare Books Research Center, early printed Magna Cartas. The the signifi cance and legacy of Magna “Magna Carta, 800 Years: Rights and Library holds 14 of the 18 editions of Carta in its fi rst 800 years. the Rule of Law.” Through this Web Magna Carta printed before 1600, an The site can be found at digitalspe- site, the legacy of Magna Carta is almost unrivalled collection in North cialcollections.law.umn.edu/mag- traced from its medieval origins and America and the centerpiece of the nacarta/index.php ■ early modern renaissance to its library’s rich English law collection. infl uence in colonial America and on Acquired largely in the 1930s by By Ryan Greenwood, curator of the U.S. Constitution. The exhibit Arthur C. Pulling, then the rare books and special collections
18 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu AT THE LAW SCHOOL
A HEARTFELT SALUTE TO PROFESSOR SUZANNE THORPE (’89)
ON SEPTEMBER 30, THE LAW School community gathered to honor and celebrate the distinguished career of Suzanne Thorpe (’89), associate director for faculty research and instructional services and professor of legal research instruction, upon her retirement. At this celebration a portrait of Professor Thorpe was unveiled which will be hung in the Law Library to recognize her 28 years of exemplary service to the Law School and the University. Thorpe began her career in the Law Library in 1987, while a sec- 1 ond-year law student, as a part-time reference librarian and Scandinavian law bibliographer. Upon her gradua- tion from the Law School and admission to the Minnesota bar in 1989, Thorpe became a full-time member of the library staff and her duties expanded to include signifi cant administrative responsibilities. Over the next 26 years, Suzanne embraced 2 and became central to the Law School’s intellectual life. 1 Prof. Suzanne Thorpe (’89) Setting the highest standards of 2 Dean Howland, Thorpe and excellence, Thorpe provided faculty Dean Wippman at the farewell reception and students with knowledgeable, 3 Wippman and Howland unveil the portrait skilled, and exceptional reference sup- of Thorpe that will be hung in the library. port, anticipating, rather than merely 4 Thorpe circa 2001 responding to, research needs and 4 consistently “going the extra mile.” Always cognizant of technological 3 innovations and the fl uidity of the legal environment, Thorpe custom- ized the library’s reference, document Generous in sharing her University community that has delivery, collection management, and knowledge and a dedicated scholar, “gone well beyond the regular circulation services to meet the Thorpe has authored numerous duties of a faculty or staff member.” evolving needs of all its patrons, articles and books, including In refl ecting upon Thorpe’s extraor- including lawyers, judges, and Minnesota Legal Research (Carolina dinary career, Joan S. Howland, members of the public. An expert in Academic Press, 2010). Committed Roger F. Noreen Professor of Law Anglo-American law, as well as to professional service nationally and and director of the Law Library, foreign, comparative, and interna- institutionally, she recently completed stated, “Suzanne has served and led tional law, Thorpe taught a wide a four-year term on the executive with dedication, self-motivation, variety of courses focusing on board of the American Association vision, and integrity. She has been research methodologies, and she of Law Libraries. Last spring, she a wise counselor, mentor, and role worked especially closely with those was named a recipient of the model for generations of students. students involved with the Law University of Minnesota President’s Her career exemplifi es ‘service School’s moot courts and fi ve law Award for Outstanding Service, beyond self’ and a true commitment journals. which recognizes service to the to excellence.” ■
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 19 SUITE
20 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu By Cathy Madison
Chances are that few law students wander the halls with C’s in their heads—certainly not as course grades, and not as career goals, either. Yet often a legal education builds a solid foundation for the demanding roles of CEO, COO, and CFO, as the alumni we spoke with will attest. Whether they face leadership challenges in SPOT the railroad or hospitality industry, or obstacles inherent in commercial LAWYERS real estate development or life science AS CORPORATE technology start-ups, they rely on certain key skills. The ability to LEADERS analyze complex situations, read people, assess risk, and translate technical details into practical appli- cations has served them all well, no matter how long or circuitous their
business paths have been. CONT > Photo Illustration: Stephen Webster Stephen Illustration: Photo
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 21 SUITE SPOT
“When you look at the C-suite from afar, you think, ‘Ooh, ah, these people must be super smart.’ As you get closer, you fi nd that they all have talents, but so do you.”
— Mark Gergen (’88)
Mark Gergen (’88)
< CONT THE C-SUITE: they have any interest in law, they will be 100 times better INTIMIDATING FROM AFAR off entering a corporation as a junior lawyer than on a management track. The day you come in, you’re interfacing “I KNEW I WANTED TO BE IN THE CORPORATE with the C-suite. Even at lower levels, if you’re smart, world, not in a law fi rm, and not a litigator,” says Mark talented, and motivated, doors will open and create oppor- Gergen (’88), who became executive vice president and tunities to make an impact.” chief operations offi cer of Mirati Therapeutics, San Diego, A legal background is especially valuable in public in 2013. “I had my eyes set on being a corporate lawyer, but companies that deal with global commerce and increasingly my career has undergone an evolution.” complex compliance issues. “You don’t just need domain For Gergen, both role and industry evolved. He worked industry expertise. You have to understand the regulatory at a law fi rm and tried litigation, too, before becoming environment, and I don’t see that changing,” says Gergen, in-house counsel at Jostens, the Minnesota fi rm best known who helped reinvent a Canadian company by reincorporat- for class rings and yearbooks. Gergen was working in the ing it in the U.S., physically moving it to California, and educational software division when an opportunity listing it on the U.S. stock exchange while delisting it on emerged at Medtronic. the Canadian exchange—simultaneously. “I shudder to “I was completely unqualifi ed—no health care or FDA think how I would have handled that without a legal experience—but I got hired anyway,” he says. His transac- background.” tional work as a corporate lawyer stood him well, as did his Still an avid student who bores easily, Gergen enjoys his education. “Many skills you learn in law school are benefi - current job. “Every day is new and interesting,” he says, “and cial in a corporate environment—being objective, analyzing developing novel treatments for cancer is cool.” pros and cons, narrowing in to identify critical issues. In the business world, ultimately everything is driven by some kind of contract, whether written or not.” The chance to become more than a lawyer pulled him THE COO: into management. “I wanted to be more broadly involved CONNECTING PEOPLE in the business,” he says. “I have a high level of innate curiosity and am always willing to learn new things. The FOR ANNE BEHRENDT (’04), THE ROAD TO THE legal skills are transferable across industries, and I found C-suite was a natural path through a good neighborhood. health care interesting.” Now ensconced at Doran Companies in Bloomington, So interesting, in fact, he got hooked. A Medtronic Minn., as chief operating offi cer—a title she says she is still transfer to California introduced him to temperate winters, getting used to—Behrendt had real estate in her sights long and when Medtronic left, he stayed, thriving in San Diego’s before management. Entertained by her attorney father’s life science startup mecca. He served in key roles with colorful landlord-tenant stories gleaned from student legal several companies before essentially co-founding Mirati, aid service, and mentored by her real estate attorney which develops genetically targeted drugs to fi ght cancer. stepfather, she took several real estate classes in law school. “If someone had told me previously that I’d be involved in Professor Ann Burkhart’s reminder that real estate deals end a high-science, genetically driven company, I would have with happy people shaking hands stuck with her. laughed,” he says. “I like land, property development, and property law. After wearing an executive hat for more than a decade, Every piece of real estate is different. I fi nd the historical he has come to identify more with business than law. aspects fascinating, and reviewing the title and survey is like “When you look at the C-suite from afar, you think, reading a story. I was drawn to litigation in law school but ‘Ooh, ah, these people must be super smart.’ As you get didn’t see myself as a long-term litigator. I was afraid I closer, you fi nd that they all have talents, but so do you. I would burn out,” she says. Behrendt practiced real estate have advised others that if their ultimate goal is business and law with her stepfather at fi rst, but in-house counsel posts
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“The CEO is the visionary, the idea person who steers the overall direction of the com- pany. My role is to make sure we execute that vision and do it well. I’m the glue that bridges the gap between the CEO and everyone else.”
— Anne Behrendt (’04)
THE TRAIN BUFF: CONDUCTING BUSINESS
PETER GILBERTSON (’79) WAS ALWAYS HOOKED ON trains. Public transportation and transit piqued his curiosity early on, and he wrote an honors thesis about railroads while attending the University of Denver. In law school, however, he had no particular railroad or management aspirations. He went into practice, handling administrative Anne Behrendt (’04) law for a Washington, D.C. fi rm that happened to represent small railroads. He wasn’t that fond of practicing law, but he was fond of his clients—and he began to notice entrepreneurial opportunities. While at the fi rm, he collaborated with intrigued her. When the opportunity arose, she joined R. Lawrence McCaffrey on a book, Starting A Short Line: Doran, a family-owned, family-run company that owns, A Review of the Fundamentals of Starting a Short Line Railroad. develops, and constructs commercial properties such as the Gilbertson calls writing the book, which was published Mill & Main apartments in Minneapolis and numerous in 1983, an “act of naiveté and hubris. It was defi nitive student housing projects in the Dinkytown area. only because no one else had written anything on that “Initially my role was strictly legal, but over time I topic. But it helped me learn the business and become became more involved in strategic decisions and prob- part of it.” lem-solving meetings that encompassed all aspects of the He went to work for a client who was starting a company. I enjoy that, so the transition to COO was very railroad. Although that venture didn’t go well (the company natural,” says Behrendt. Good attorneys have many skills went bankrupt and Gilbertson became a frivolous-lawsuit applicable to corporate environments: strategic thinking, target), the experience launched him as a consultant. maneuvering vast amounts of data to focus on relevant He moved from Washington to Chicago and, in 1990, pieces, tailoring messages to a particular person or audience. joined others in the purchase of a railroad that was in Business management skills, however, must be learned bankruptcy—much to the dismay of friends and family elsewhere. who saw trains as obsolete. As COO, Behrendt sees herself as a people connector and “There was a lot of acquisition activity because of works hard to be fair and decisive while remaining accessi- weakness in the railroad industry. Lines were being aban- ble and responsive. “One challenge is remembering that I doned, service was declining, and the industry had been was put in this position because of my decision-making contracting for many years,” he explains. “But the seeds of ability and not my ability to create consensus. I can never turnaround were there. Action by Congress to partially be 100 percent certain I’m making the right call,” she says. deregulate the industry in the ’80s permitted an injection “The CEO is the visionary, the idea person who steers the of entrepreneurialism it hadn’t had for decades. My timing overall direction of the company. My role is to make sure was good.” we execute that vision and do it well. I’m the glue that Gilbertson was instrumental in a series of acquisitions and bridges the gap between the CEO and everyone else.” turnarounds that landed him in his current role as founder Her support system at home and at the offi ce is critical to and CEO of Anacostia Rail Holdings, which owns and her success, she adds. She is excited about her latest hire: manages six U.S. railroads operating in seven states. He is another attorney to take on the heavy lifting while she also past chairman of the Regional Railroads of America focuses on management. “I’m so fulfi lled by my role in this and an alternating board member of the Association of company,” she says. “It’s a great fi t for me. American Railroads. CONT >
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 23 SUITE SPOT
“To be successful, you can’t ever lose sight of business objectives.”
Adam Simpson (’99) — Adam Simpson (’99)
THE DEAL-MAKER: FORESEEING CHANGE
ADAM SIMPSON (’99) LEARNED HIS BEST BUSINESS lesson from the head of the corporate department at the global law fi rm Latham & Watkins: Don’t let legal battles Peter Gilbertson (’79) trump business drivers. His mentor was “wonderful at with Lt. Col. C.M. Pfaff of framing legal skirmishes in the context of bigger issues, and the Indiana National Guard at getting the deal done. That has been incredibly useful,” says Simpson, who was named president of Cypher Genomics, a San Diego genome informatics company, in “The entrepreneurial experience is an 2014. “To be successful, you can’t ever lose sight of business interesting one... [that] requires requires you to objectives.” make decisions without full knowledge or full Deal-making is Simpson’s métier and life science his information. That’s very frustrating sometimes, passion. The son of an engineer father and math teacher but it’s also very satisfying.” mother, he has always had an affi nity for science, the analytical nature of which served him well in law school. His plan was to use his biochemistry background and legal — Peter Gilbertson (’79) skills to pursue his life science business dream when the time was right. Although he is a deal-maker at heart, Simpson liked the < CONT His legal background has proved valuable. “Just the ability cadence and camaraderie at Latham & Watkins. “At a fi rm, a to read legal documents is an important, useful skill,” he whole bunch of people are going through what you’re says. “When you employ a lot of lawyers, which we must going through, so you have a great support network. At a do in this heavily regulated business fi lled with property, company, you can take more time on decisions, but you environmental, and liability issues, it gives you a good sense don’t have that same natural peer network for support. And of what they do and do effectively.” what you know as a management team member, you can’t At heart, though, he is an entrepreneur who has more in talk about broadly.” common with C-suite executives. “The entrepreneurial After helping a startup client secure an industry-record experience is an interesting one. Of course there is a $100 million Series A round of venture capital, Simpson measure of risk, which is attention-focusing, and it also made the leap from law to industry in 2005. He had requires you to make decisions without full knowledge or learned about business transactions from a legal perspective; full information. That’s very frustrating sometimes, but it’s it was time to learn about operating a business, including also very satisfying.” sourcing deals, building a national sales force, and creating Gilbertson treasures his colleagues and “fascinating” long-term value. “Companies don’t last very long in San customers, who represent industries as diverse as agricul- Diego because they get sold. You have to know how to tural commodities and Toyota automobiles. His love for the build out an opportunity from an intellectual property industry has only grown in recent times. “One of the great perspective and understand licensing technology. It’s a very validators of the railroad business, the seal of approval for its transactional thing that I do,” Simpson says. A good grasp of reclaimed acceptability, was Warren Buffett’s purchase [in science is also essential. “It takes a lot of time to demon- 2009] of BNSF Railway. We would never get calls from strate the science and commercial viability of the product, private equity people or banks before that. Now they think which will help you get fi nanced or sold.” something is going on,” he says. “It’s good to have the The industry is anything but static. Traditional life science macro trends on your side.” is increasingly data-driven, making intellectual property and
24 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu SUITE SPOT
“Having great lawyers on the other side trying to make you look wrong helps you develop a tough skin and maybe a calmness that is helpful in any senior executive role. I suspect that I still have a lot of what I learned as a lawyer built into my muscle memory.”
— Arne Sorenson (’83)
privacy concerns issues more predominant. Market changes also affect career opportunities. “Today, with more money available through the capital markets, generally management teams have more people, each with a specialized skill set,” says Simpson. “But when money is tight, management Arne Sorenson (’83) teams are smaller, so you need generalists with broader skills. So how you position yourself is important, based on the economy.” Having founded and sold several companies, Simpson different careers,” he says. “I did have in mind an idea of moves fl uidly between executive and legal roles and remains doing more than just one profession.” committed to life science. “I could make more money But as it turned out, he loved practicing law, both serving developing an app,” he says, “but I like to work on things clients and trying cases, at the Washington, D.C. offi ce of that have a profound effect on the lives of human beings, to Latham & Watkins. He began representing Marriott in radically change the ability to diagnose disease and direct 1992, helping the company through an SEC investigation, a the right drugs to the right people who will benefi t.” federal jury trial for securities fraud, and other litigation matters. In 1996, he was invited to join the in-house legal team. He declined. “I was happy to consider joining them, but not as their THE CEO: lawyer. I loved my fi rm; if they needed a lawyer, they could SPEAKING OUT hire me. I fi gured that was probably a better perch than in-house counsel.” WHEN INDIANA ENACTED ITS CONTROVERSIAL Instead, he joined Marriott’s business team and embraced “religious objections” bill last March, Arne Sorenson (’83) the steep learning curve that move entailed. Asked to took to the podium. The president and chief executive become CFO just two years later, he was “blown away. I offi cer of Marriott International was one of many top was reasonably familiar with the transactional side but not executives across the country who spoke on behalf of the accounting and control side of the job. Fortunately, I lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights. had great experts on my team, and it was surprising how “I don’t look for the opportunity to speak on topics of well my legal training prepared me,” he says, noting that the day, not because I don’t have opinions but because I dispute resolution often involves litigating complicated don’t think my opinions are relevant. But when it comes to technical matters. “I could never be the expert, but I could LGBT issues or marriage equality, they are very germane to make sure the experts were understood in common our business. Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of LGBT language.” people and their associates are staying with us every day. Named CEO in 2012, Sorenson now focuses more on Hospitality is about welcoming people,” he says. team-building and strategy but still relies on his legal training After nearly 20 years with Marriott, which has more than to synthesize conversations and infl uence team decision- 4,000 properties in 79 countries, Sorenson says he loves the making. His litigation experience has been especially hotel business because it is so intensely focused on people helpful. “Having great lawyers on the other side trying to and service. But in college days, executive management make you look wrong helps you develop a tough skin and never crossed his mind. maybe a calmness that is helpful in any senior executive “I went to law school without really knowing much role,” he says. “I suspect that I still have a lot of what I about the practice of law. The available jobs [after college] learned as a lawyer built into my muscle memory.” ■ didn’t really turn me on, so some form of graduate school made sense. I thought law school would provide training Cathy Madison is a Twin Cities writer and the author of fi lled with rigor but also be good grounding for a few The War Came Home With Him: A Daughter’s Memoir.
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 25 THEORY AT WORK
This article is part of an ongoing series highlighting professors’ community work at state, national, and international levels. For all the differences in the issues they tackle, the citizens profi led in this series have much in common. They trace the roots of their current service to early educational and professional experiences. They thrive on putting expertise and passion to work on causes in which they believe. They bring fresh perspectives back to students in hopes of inspiring them to put their own scholarship into practice.
Prentiss Cox (’90): Powerful Advocate for Consumers’ Rights
WHEN PRENTISS COX WAS IN LAW SCHOOL AT THE companies and giant fi nancial institutions. University of Minnesota, he found himself drawn in two His efforts paid off: The Federal Trade Commission directions that seemingly had little overlap: representing the adopted a rule to restrict the sale of special access to powerless and delving into the economics of business. That consumer accounts in telemarketing. Cox was invited to unusual combination of interests fi rst led him to work on testify before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on fi nancial regulation representing the Commerce the issue in 2009, and in 2010 he published an article, “The Department in the Minnesota attorney general’s offi ce. Invisible Hand of Preacquired Account Marketing,” in the There, he learned that the most wide-ranging authority the Harvard Journal on Legislation. That Senate appearance attorney general had for addressing market misconduct was helped lead to the passage of the Restore Online Shoppers consumer protection law, but his then-boss cautioned him Confi dence Act (ROSCA) of 2010, which restricts a that consumer protection was a “dead end”—a warning company from passing along a consumer’s billing informa- Cox says he is glad he ignored. tion to a third-party seller in Internet transactions. Thousands of consumers can also be glad. Over the past two decades, Cox has been at the forefront of some of the country’s thorniest consumer protection issues. Today, he is “Preacquired account marketing connects my deep one of the nation’s leading voices on such consumer issues interest in fi nancial institutions with garden-variety as preacquired account marketing, payday lending practices, consumer fraud problems, like telemarketing and and subprime mortgages. such,” says Cox. “It’s consumer fi nance crossed “He is the dean of consumer lawyers in the state of with street cop work.” Minnesota, no question about it,” says Ron Elwood, supervising attorney at Legal Services Advocacy Project, a division of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. “Prentiss is the go-to For Cox, the preacquired account marketing issue person for all of us consumer protection folks, both in and brought together all aspects of his career. “I came to the outside the legal community.” University of Minnesota Law School in 2005 with this background, and here I was able to combine my litigation Leading the charge against preacquired experience with legislative rulemaking, advocacy, and schol- account marketing arship,” he says. Elwood and Cox’s connection dates to 1999, when Cox Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director and senior brought the fi rst important case related to preacquired fellow for U.S. PIRG, puts it more succinctly. “This was a account marketing. “This was an issue I had worked on for clear case of companies selling you stuff you didn’t want to almost a decade at the attorney general’s offi ce,” says Cox. buy. Prentiss’s work resulted in lawsuits that recovered “It had grown from an odd, single consumer complaint into money for bank customers in Minnesota and nationally, an understanding of how an entire industry works. In sum, people who had been tricked into signing up for junky banks were selling access to consumer accounts to marketing products. He became the leading fi gure in establishing companies.” The practices particularly preyed upon vulnera- privacy rights for bank customers. He had a formidable task ble populations, such as elderly and non-English-speaking to explain and win these cases, and he did.” In the four people, Cox says. His work eventually led to a series of cases years since ROSCA was passed, the Consumer Protection regarding privacy and the relationship between marketing Bureau has recovered nearly $11 billion for consumers.
26 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu THEORY AT WORK
“Prentiss doesn’t toil away in the proverbial ivory tower,” Mierzwinski says. “He is able to teach students how they can use the law to protect the public from powerful and predatory special interests. He has real-world experience in taking on crimes against your pocketbook.” Cox says this issue ties back to his forked path in law school. “Preacquired account marketing connects my deep interest in fi nancial institutions with garden-variety consumer fraud problems, like telemarketing and such. It’s consumer fi nance crossed with street cop work.” Over the years, Cox’s work has earned widespread respect in the legal community and in Congress. In the wake of the country’s fi nancial crisis, he published several articles in 2009 in support of creating a new agency to oversee federal fi nancial laws that specifi cally protect consumers. He sible to make payments. “They preyed upon people’s subsequently was asked to testify before the U.S. House of vulnerability, people who were desperate to keep their Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on homes.” Still, knowing that the deals were not illegal but the subject, and in 2010, the Consumer Financial Protection rather unethical, Cox conceived of a plan to build con- Bureau (CFPB) was formed as a central part of the Obama sumer protections into regulations. Administration’s Wall Street reforms. Cox was appointed to “He brilliantly structured a statute so that it would allow the inaugural advisory board of the CFPB in 2012. ostensibly legitimate transactions while creating barriers to the unethical,” says Elwood. “It covered every base and Taking on payday lending effectively shut down this despicable cottage industry.” The On another thorny front, Cox is helping with efforts in Minnesota bill became a national model and has been Minnesota and nationally on the so-called “payday lending” adopted in most states. Cox also served as a consultant issue. The Law School’s Consumer Protection Clinic, which when the Federal Trade Commission promulgated a rule Cox supervises, drafted a bill for the Minnesota Legislature on the subject. to reform the state’s payday lending law. These types of loans typically carry annual percentage rates of 300 to 500 Expanding experiential education percent and are due in a lump sum on the borrower’s next In the past few years, Cox has turned his attention to payday, usually about two weeks later. The loans have been another topic entirely: the creation of the cutting-edge touted as an easy way to deal with unexpected expenses, Law in Practice course, which has proven to be one of the but repaying them often consumes more than a third of an Law School’s most signifi cant curricular innovations. As average borrower’s paycheck, leading to repeated borrowing co-creator and co-director—with Professor Laura at the same high rates. With his students, Cox testifi ed in Thomas—Cox has developed this required course for support of the bill, and while it didn’t pass, another bill that fi rst-year students to help them apply their growing Cox helped draft was enacted in 2009. knowledge of legal doctrine to the practice of law. As chair of the Consumer Lending Committee of the “Several years ago we agreed that there was a great need CFPB, now the federal agency with authority over payday to improve how we educate law students to practice law,” loans, Cox also led production of a report on the topic that says Cox. “Law in Practice is an immersive simulation that informed the CFPB’s recent proposal for a new framework teaches students how the use of law actually occurs in to regulate these troublesome loans. practice.” While the topic appears quite different from consumer protection, Cox sees similarities. “Providing the Protecting subprime mortgage victims best legal education we can is a consumer protection issue. Cox is perhaps best known for his work in the subprime I believe educating practice-ready graduates is an achievable mortgage arena. “Prentiss was way ahead of that curve, goal that we faculty can hold ourselves accountable to shouting from the rooftops about the subprime problem,” through better and expanded experiential learning.” says Elwood. “The subprime lending debacle had many He also is working on a fi rst-ever broad empirical study tentacles, and Prentiss saw that very early on.” documenting the work of consumer fraud enforcement Elwood is referring to the early- to mid-2000s, when agencies. “My hope is that this work helps us fi gure out housing values were rising dramatically and many people how public enforcement could be more effective,” he says. had tremendous equity in their property. “There was high Elwood notes that despite Cox’s ever-expanding work, equity, yes, but in an economic lull people were having he continues to give generously of his time with consumer trouble paying their mortgages,” Elwood says. “The situa- advocates. “Prentiss has a tremendous demand on his time tion was ripe for speculator scams, and Prentiss was the and attention, but he remains head and shoulders above canary in the coal mine.” anybody else in this fi eld in fi guring out legal responses to Cox watched as homeowners in tough situations were consumer fraud.” ■ approached by people with “foreclosure equity plans.” These plans, says Cox, were basically structured to make it impos- By Kathy Graves, a writer based in Minneapolis
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 27 FACULTY
1 PERSPECTIVE
FACULTY AWARDS, GRANTS AND NEWS
June Carbone Thomas Cotter to a Solly Robins was appointed was listed as a top Distinguished associate dean for 250 legal author Research research and by the database Fellowship, both planning, HeinOnline, effective July 1. effective July 1. based on an The U.S. Court analysis of all its of Appeals for the articles. Cotter (ranked 209th) was one 5th Circuit cited Erbsen’s article Jessica Clarke of nine professors listed whose fi eld is “Constitutional Spaces” in the case of was appointed the primarily intellectual property law. An Thomas v. Lynch, which considered Vance Opperman opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals whether birthright citizenship extends Research Scholar, for the 9th Circuit, Minden Pictures v. to a person born on a U.S. military effective July 1. John Wiley & Sons, cited a paper Cotter base in Europe. The cited portion of Her article coauthored with Roger Blair entitled Erbsen’s article discussed the multiple “Inferring “The Elusive Logic of Standing meanings of “United States” in Desire” was selected by the Williams Doctrine in Intellectual Property different parts of the Constitution. Institute at the UCLA School of Law Law” as support for the rationale for to receive a Dukeminier Award and denying nonexclusive licensees Richard Frase was listed as a top the Michael Cunningham Prize. The standing to sue for infringement. 250 legal author (ranked 235th) by Dukeminier Awards recognize each the database HeinOnline, based on year’s best sexual orientation and Allan Erbsen was appointed an analysis of all its articles. At an gender identity law review articles. associate dean for academic affairs and Oct. 15 meeting of the United States
28 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu 3 Josie R. Johnson, Professor Myron Orfield and Vice President 1 Professors Walter F. Mondale Christopher Soper 2 Professors Barbara (’56) at a symposium and Daniel Schwarcz Welke (left) and Bert in Washington, D.C., 4 Dean Sharon compare tips for 1Ls Kritzer with Suzanne commemorating Reich Paulsen and at the orientation Thorpe (’89) at her Mr. Mondale’s contribu- Dan Farber at the reception. farewell reception tions to public life Law Review celebration
3
2 4
Sentencing Neha Jain was periodical of Commission, appointed to the the Association Frase delivered Lampert Fesler of College the keynote Fellowship, and Research address—an effective July 1. Libraries. The overview of state book received systems, drawing Choice’s top rating on his 30-plus years of study— of “essential” and was called “a and participated in a discussion Mark must-read by anyone interested in of differences between sentencing Kappelhoff presidential power, secrecy, and law.” guidelines in 17 states and the system received the used in the federal courts. Frase prestigious U.S. Herbert Kritzer also provided an up-to-date multi- Attorney was awarded the jurisdictional perspective on guide- General’s Award Law and Society lines reforms, based on the research for Exceptional Association’s and materials collected as part of Service from Attorney General (LSA) Ronald the Robina Institute’s Sentencing Loretta Lynch. The award—the Pipkin Service Guidelines Resource Center. Justice Department’s highest accolade Award for for employee performance—honors sustained and extraordinary service Barbara Frey Kappelhoff for his instrumental role to LSA for more than 35 years. While received the in the civil rights investigation of the serving on dozens of committees, Center for police department in Ferguson, Mo., the board of trustees, and as editor Victims of following the fatal shooting of of the Law & Society Review, he has Torture annual Michael Brown. been an advocate for LSA’s work, Eclipse Award in recruiting new members and recognition of Heidi Kitrosser’s book, Reclaiming mentoring his students in socio-legal her role in founding and supporting Accountability, was reviewed for scholarship even when not serving
Photo 3 Credit: Humphrey School of Public Affairs Humphrey 3 Credit: Photo the organization 30 years ago. the September issue of Choice, a in an offi cial capacity. CONT >
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 29 FACULTY PERSPECTIVE
< CONT Brett the 15th anniver- and the Women’s Center. The award McDonnell sary of the recognizes women faculty at the was appointed landmark University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to the Dorsey resolution 1325 who have achieved signifi cant & Whitney on Women, Peace national and international accom- Professorship and Security, plishments and honors and who in Law, effective explicitly contribute as leaders on campus. July 1. recognizes some of the roadblocks that have stymied the women, peace, Christopher William and security agenda. It acknowledges N.J. Roberts McGeveran that these roadblocks can only be was awarded the was appointed “dismantled through dedicated 2015 Gordon to a Solly Robins commitment to women’s participa- Hirabayashi Distinguished tion and human rights, and through Human Rights Research concerted leadership, consistent Book Award Fellowship, information and action, and support, by the American Sociological effective July 1. He was one of the to build women’s engagement in all Association for his book, The organizers and coauthors of a privacy levels of decision-making[.]” Contentious History of the International scholars’ amicus brief submitted to Bill of Human Rights. The award is the Supreme Court in Spokeo v. Myron Orfi eld given annually by the ASA Section Robins, which concerns lawsuits was part of a on Human Rights to the author under the Fair Credit Reporting Act group of housing whose book “demonstrates the most (FCRA) over inaccuracies in the scholars who thoughtful, competent, or innovative profi les that employers use when wrote a brief analysis of a theoretical or empirical screening applicants. The defendant, cited by U.S. issue” in the fi eld of human rights. a company that prepares profi les, Supreme Court Roberts received the award at the argued that a plaintiff needs to show Justice Anthony Kennedy in his ASA’s annual meeting in August. direct fi nancial injury in order to sue. majority opinion in the case of Texas The brief argues that such a cramped Department of Housing & Community Daniel view of standing to sue would Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Schwarcz was unravel the careful balance struck by Project. The court’s decision, handed appointed to the Congress in drafting the FCRA, and down in June, affi rmed the availability Julius E. Davis could undermine the right to sue for of a “disparate impact” cause of action Chair in Law, privacy-related harms under numer- arising under the Fair Housing Act effective July 1. ous other statutes as well. (FHA). The brief coauthored by In April, he Orfi eld described the history of testifi ed at a hearing on “Examining Perry housing segregation in the United Insurance Capital Rules and FSOC Moriearty States, which led to the passage of the Process” before the U.S. Senate was reappointed FHA in 1968. Orfi eld and the Law Subcommittee on Securities, to the Vaughan School’s Institute on Metropolitan Insurance, and Investments. In his G. Papke Clinical Opportunity, of which he is the testimony, Schwarcz emphasized that Professorship director, were involved in the case the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform in Law, effective from its inception, preparing and and Consumer Protection Act created July 1. analyzing data and doing legal a fl exible and adaptive process for research for the plaintiff, the non- identifying systemically risky non- Fionnuala Ní Aoláin was appointed profi t Inclusive Communities Project bank fi nancial institutions. Although to the Robina Chair in Law, Public of Texas. this design choice inevitably reduces Policy, and Society, effective July 1. Ní transparency, Schwarcz suggested that Aoláin attended the launch of the Hari Osofsky the Financial Stability Oversight Global Study on Women, Peace and received the Council had done a reasonably good Security, where her work was University of job of addressing this concern. extensively cited and relied upon. The Minnesota’s 2015 Additionally, he testifi ed that the United Nations Security Council Sara Evans design of regulatory capital rules may unanimously adopted a new resolu- Faculty Woman vary depending on whether the tion to improve the U.N.’s agenda for Scholar/Leader underlying regulatory goal is protect- issues relating to women, peace and Award, which is sponsored by the ing a fi nancial institution’s customers security. This new resolution, marking Offi ce for Faculty & Academic Affairs or preventing systemic risk.
30 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu FACULTY PERSPECTIVE
Francis Shen’s associated with the conduct and David research on law implications of neuroscience research. Weissbrodt and neuroscience received the was cited in Robert Stein Center for “Gray Matters: (’61) received Victims of Integrative the Center for Torture annual Approaches for Victims of Eclipse Award Neuroscience, Ethics, and Society,” a Torture annual in recognition of his role in founding set of recommendations published by Eclipse Award in and supporting the organization the Presidential Bioethics Commission recognition of his 30 years ago. ■ in response to a request from President role in founding and supporting the Obama to review the ethical issues organization 30 years ago.
“IT’S INSPIRING”: PROFESSOR LAURA CLINICAL PROFESSOR NANCY THOMAS ON HER NEW POST AS DIRECTOR COOK RETIRES OF LAW CLINICS
Professor Nancy Cook, Professor Laura Thomas, whom Dean David who joined the Law School Wippman describes faculty in 2007, became as “a national leader in director of the clinical clinical legal education, program on July 1. Her an expert on legal career as an attorney has pedagogy, and a included practice in the strong social justice areas of general civil advocate,” retired litigation, insurance and from the Law School on Aug. 15. Among Cook’s many products liability defense, and family law. Thomas part- accomplishments during her seven years on the faculty nered with Professor Prentiss Cox (’90) in designing the was the creation of a new course called Practice and Law School’s innovative experiential learning course Law Professionalism, which introduced fi rst-year students in Practice, which is required for all fi rst-year J.D. students. to concepts and skills associated with the practice of Thomas speaks eloquently about what the Law law. It was the precursor to the Law in Practice course School’s 23 clinics offer, not only to students but to the that is now a required part of the 1L curriculum. legal profession and to society at large. Learning the law Before coming to the Law School, Cook was a in a clinical setting, she says, “is incredibly rich because tenured professor at Roger Williams University School it’s intimate.” Feedback occurs in groups of two or three, of Law, director of the clinical program at Cornell Law she points out, which means the depth of professors’ School, and co-director of the Institute for Access to critiques—on writing, client counseling and advising, Justice at the University of New Mexico, among other and oral advocacy—is unparalleled because of the teacher/ posts. She has lectured around the country on such student ratio. “Every single clinical instructor diverse topics as community-based lawyering, thera- at the Law School is committed to developing lawyers peutic jurisprudence, and racial justice. In addition to that we want to see across the table in our own cases. her J.D., Cook holds an M.F.A. degree; she has taught This means lawyers who understand their tremendous creative writing at correctional facilities and undergrad- power bounded by their ethical obligations. It also uate colleges, and her fi ction has appeared in a number means we stress law and procedure because we want of law and literary journals. ■ detail-oriented practitioners well versed in the law and procedure,” Thomas says. “What’s really cool,” she continues, “is that we are able to offer a broad range of legal services to Minnesota’s indigent and working poor. We are essentially a full-service law fi rm for our clients, able to represent them in asylum, bankruptcy, tax, family, criminal, juvenile justice, and detention hearings. It’s inspiring to direct To see more faculty news, go to our Web site, the law clinics because the primary motivation is www.law.umn.edu/our-faculty/faculty-news. helping people.” ■
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 31 FACULTY PERSPECTIVE
1 2 3 Left to right: Connie de la Vega, Hurst Hannum, Patricia Schaffer, Sir Nigel Rodley, Professor David Weissbrodt, Kathy Burke, Deepika Udagama, Sandra Coliver, Julianne Cartwright Traylor, Rita Maran, Stephen Marks FACULTY BOOKS 1 LAURA J. COOPER, MARIO F. A SALUTE TO PROF. DAVID WEISSBRODT, HUMAN BOGNANO, STEPHEN F. BEFORT (’74) RIGHTS DYNAMO More Than We Have Ever Known On Oct. 8, colleagues and admirers from around the globe gathered at About Discipline and Discharge in the Law School to honor Regents Professor David Weissbrodt for more Labor Arbitration: An Empirical than 40 years of groundbreaking, tireless, and deeply infl uential work in Study (Vandeplas Publishing, 2015) international human rights. Following a pair of CLE panels—Human Rights 2 CLAIRE A. HILL AND in Business and Human Rights Practice—attendees gathered at the Campus RICHARD W. PAINTER Club for a celebratory dinner. Better Bankers, Better Banks: Keynote speaker Sir Nigel Rodley, a longtime colleague of Weissbrodt’s Promoting Good Business Through on Amnesty International and United Nations projects, praised his friend Contractual Commitment “David the Dynamo” for his scholarship, his mentorship of some 500 (University of Chicago Press, 2015) fellows at the Law School’s Human Rights Center, and his advocacy and 3 HERBERT M. KRITZER leadership in such areas as fair trials and due process, immigration law, Justices on the Ballot: Continuity aliens’ rights, and contemporary forms of slavery, among many others. and Change in State Supreme Weissbrodt, he concluded, “has made a remarkable contribution to interna- Court Elections (Cambridge tional human rights law, to the evolution of the machinery aimed at secur- University Press, 2015) ing its implementation, and to the protection of victims of human rights violations, through NGOs, through the U.N., as a legal professional repre- Other faculty publications can be found at: law.umn.edu/our-faculty/ senting victims, and by educating and inspiring a new generation of human recent-publications rights lawyers.” ■
FALL 2015 FACULTY WORKS IN PROGRESS
Lectures on works in progress at the OCTOBER 29 Ganesh Sitaraman Law School and other institutions are 1 Nancy Leong Vanderbilt Law School held on Thursdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m. University of Denver Sturm The Crisis of the Middle Class in Room 385. For more information, College of Law Constitution contact Bria Goldman at 612-626-5048 Identity Entrepreneurs or [email protected]. 8 Hurst Hannum NOVEMBER The Fletcher School of Law and 5 Deborah L. Brake Diplomacy, Tufts University University of Pittsburgh School SEPTEMBER The Lasting Utopia: of Law 10 Joshua A.T. Fairfi eld Human Rights Strategies for 12 Jennifer H. Arlen Washington and Lee University the 21st Century New York University School School of Law 15 Michael Zakim of Law [ESC]ape Tel Aviv University 19 Erik P.M. Vermeulen 17 Herbert M. Kritzer Accounting for Capitalism: Tilburg University Law School University of Minnesota Law School The World the Clerk Made When the Lawyer Screws Up: Access 22 Aaron Sojourner DECEMBER to Justice for Victims of Legal Carlson School of Management, 3 Christopher N.J. Roberts Malpractice University of Minnesota University of Minnesota 24 Eric Bylander, Visiting Professor Effects of Unionization on Law School Uppsala University Workplace Safety Enforcement: 10 Alex Stein Leave to Appeal in the Supreme Regression Discontinuity Benjamin N. Cardozo School Courts: A Study in Jurisprudence Evidence of Law
32 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu FACULTY PERSPECTIVE
FACULTY PROFILE: JUNE CARBONE Robina Chair in Law, Science and Technology Associate Dean for Research & Planning
June Carbone joined the Law Department of Justice as a trial become riskier,” she explains— School faculty in 2013 from the attorney, then into academia as an particularly as it applies to fi nancial University of Missouri at Kansas assistant professor at George Mason responsibility and custodial rights. City, where she was the Edward A. University School of Law. “The legal system created marriage Smith/Missouri Chair of Law, the “I hated being a litigator—putting and non-marriage as different. The Constitution and Society. An expert out fi res instead of preventing them in split between who marries and who in family law, assisted reproduction, the fi rst place. I dealt with my doesn’t is increasingly economic.” property, and law, medicine and frustrations by writing about them,” Carbone spent two decades bioethics, she was named the fi rst she says. “When I started teaching, I teaching at Santa Clara University Robina Chair in Law, Science and was familiar with civil procedure and School of Law, where she delved into Technology in 2014. administrative law but knew nothing patent law critiques and bioethics. of contracts. I decided that doing a During six years at the University of When she’s not training her rowing contract analysis of divorce was a nice Missouri, Kansas City, she added team, June Carbone is busy writing way to learn contracts. In the ’80s, health law, which she fi nds intriguing books. Or exploring the legal and there were three main articles on the in this era of individualized medicine. intellectual aspects of landmark topic, so it was great fun writing about “Assisted reproduction sits at the Supreme Court decisions and an undeveloped fi eld. I got hooked. intersection of family law and technological advances with the I’ve been writing about it ever since.” bioethics. Who are the parents? Where potential to dramatically change Carbone writes about the intersec- is the genomic revolution going to society. Or polishing her techniques tions of law and economics, law and be implemented? In fertility clinics.” for challenging students to clear her science, or law and society. Early on, Persuaded in 2013 to join the Law high bar and learn what they must. she found a soulmate in co-author School, home to faculty she admires Chances are, she’s doing all these Naomi Cahn. “We were both curious (some of whom she’d previously tried things simultaneously, and with gusto. about evolutionary biology—‘my to recruit), she is thrilled to fi nd both Which is not surprising for someone genes made me do it’—and decided a teaching culture that makes her feel who grew up in a large Italian, to teach each other the fi eld by relevant and students who appreciate Catholic, working-class family in writing something together,” she says. her efforts. “I love teaching. I think Rochester, New York. The two remain close collaborators. it’s the most important thing I do,” “My parents married in their 30s Their books, unlike textbooks, aim to she says. and were utterly devoted to us,” shape sociological literature. Which is not to say that students Carbone explains. “I was a nerd. My “Classic legal analysis is narrow and don’t grumble. “I like to throw out mother thought I should read fewer deep. Authors take an idea, apply it lots of information and shoot above books and pay more attention to rigorously down to the minutiae, and their comfort level. I push them. I’m boys.” By age 10 she had fallen in focus on application. As a scholar, I go a Socratic teacher who doesn’t like to love with politics and relished reading broad and synthesize. I look at tie everything together in a nice little about the Kennedys. In high school, different bodies of literature and bow,” Carbone admits. “Sometimes she joined the debate team. But integrate them into a single story,” I lose them, sometimes deliberately. eventually the intellectual challenge Carbone says. Her most recent work My classes are hard but the grades of law lured her away from a future in with Cahn, Marriage Markets: How are proportional to the amount of politics, although advocating for Inequality is Remaking the American time students spend. They can’t social justice remained her mission. Family (Oxford University Press, 2014) slough it off. But if they work hard, An A.B. from Princeton’s Woodrow uses socioeconomic structure as a way they learn a lot.” ■ Wilson School of Public and to understand changes in the family. International Affairs (’75) and a J.D. “Now that the marriage institution By Cathy Madison, a freelance writer from Yale (’78) led her to the U.S. is premised on equality, marriage has and editor based in the Twin Cities
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 33 STUDENT
1 PERSPECTIVE
STUDENT PROFILES
uprising against the country’s military Kachin region is the reason for dictatorship had shuttered colleges; Aung’s secret border crossings. unable to attend classes, Aung While studying law at Myitkyina volunteered to teach at a remote University, Aung became involved in village instead. The only way to get the pro-democracy All Kachin there was via a two-day hike through Students and Youth Union, of which leech-infested jungle. There were she is now the chair. Since most other obstacles, too. Some members Kachins practice Christianity, of her party carried swords to ward churches became places to strategize off attacks from tigers and wolves. against the Burmese-led government. In the end, she arrived safely and Soon, she was learning English, spent a year teaching children math serving as a youth librarian, and JA AUNG AUNG LULU and writing. grappling with ways to challenge 2015-2016 HUMPHREY “It changed my life,” she says. “I authority. FELLOW always want to do something good In 2004, Aung earned a bachelor of for the people who live in the law degree and slipped across the SNEAKING ACROSS NATIONAL jungle.” Thai border for human rights borders makes Ja Aung Lu nervous, Aung—and the people who live in training. Three years later, with the but it doesn’t scare her as much the cities and villages of northern start of the Saffron Revolution—so as leeches. Myanmar—are Kachin, one of seven named because it was led by Buddhist Aung, a human rights activist from ethnic minorities in the country. The monks—Aung swung into action, Myanmar, encountered the nasty largest, most powerful group are the leading protests in the Kachin region bloodsuckers in 1999. A student Burmese. Their desire to control the against a government-proposed dam.
34 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu 4 Students dress 2 Jennell Shannon (’16), up for the Halloween Joanna Dobson (’16), party; Back row: Cameron Cook (’16), 3 Tara Kennedy (’18), Zeeshan Ali (’18), Phillip Ian Jackson (’16), Catlynne Shadakofsky Guebert (’18) and Cayla 1 Student leaders and Carolyn Isaac (’16) (’17) and Maria Brekke Ebert (’18); Front row: meet with Justice Scalia at the Law Review (’18) on the first day Chris Ortega (’16) and in October celebration in October of orientation Rachel Leitschuck (’18)
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Soldiers jailed her for three days. which came to be known as the “It was a life-changing moment,” Sunfl ower Movement, many protest- she says. ers arrested by the government After her release, Aung fl ed to needed legal representation. Dozens Thailand. “I didn’t feel safe,” she says. of lawyers, including Chang, rose “Many people disappear and no one to the challenge. knows where they are.” Soon she was “We must protect democracy,” working for a Thai-based NGO and he says. “And we must protect the returning home under a pseudonym students.” to advocate for human rights. When Since its inception in 1949, her year as a Humphrey Fellow ends, following defeat by Mao Zedong’s she plans to return to her work, which communist forces on mainland is likely to include activities most placed 16th among 963 competitors. China, the island nation of Taiwan has people would consider dangerous. Chang landed a job at Di-Yang and been ruled by the Kuomintang party Says Aung, “I think I will be OK.” Partners, a Taipei fi rm that juggled (KMT) of Chiang Kai-Shek. But an array of cases among three student activists in the Sunfl ower partners. He liked the work, but Movement—and Chang—say the wanted to learn more. So he returned KMT is in need of reform. YEN-HSIANG CHANG to Soochow University, his alma That’s why Chang shares the views LL.M. CLASS OF 2016 mater, to study constitutional and of the opposition Democratic administrative law. By 2013, he’d Progressive Party (DPP), and why he YEN-HSIANG CHANG DIDN’T SET earned a master’s degree in law. co-founded the Taiwan Jury out to be an activist attorney. What happened next changed his life. Association, whose aim is to integrate At fi rst, all he wanted was to pass Outraged by a proposed trade an American-style jury system into the bar exam—no easy task in agreement with China, Taiwan’s Taiwan’s current legal structure, Taiwan, where the pass rate is 10%. longtime enemy, student demonstra- which Chang says is ruled by On his fi rst two attempts, Chang tors stormed the country’s parliament tyrannical judges. failed. But on his third try, in 2011, he building. During the occupation, “They are like dictators in the CONT >
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 35 STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
< CONT court,” he says. baking yeast. And baking yeast To further that effort, Chang is contains only about 2% chitosan. So learning about other nations’ judicial Olsen needed to fi gure out how to systems. At the Law School, he signed separate it from other cells. Doing up for a Transitional Justice seminar that was the focus of weeks of experi- taught by Professor Fionnuala Ní ments—which led to a possible Aoláin. He loved learning how breakthrough. fl edgling democracies were reforming In a paper titled “Generation of their practices. glucan-free chitosan from modifi ed After fi nishing his studies next yeast strands,” Olsen and his student spring, Chang plans to continue his colleagues detailed their fi ndings. U.S. legal education by studying for a Since a company suggested and paid J.D. or J.S.D. “I have friends who for the research, Olsen signed an musicals and won a scholarship to share the same ideals,” he says. “It’s intellectual property confi dentiality Stetson University in DeLand, our responsibility to get better.” agreement. Florida. That got Olsen thinking about a At Stetson, he shifted gears and new career path. What if he pursued majored in political science. Just an M.S.P.L. degree and specialized in before his graduation, in 2009, the writing patent applications to the U.S. American economy collapsed. Patent and Trademark Offi ce? “I want Governments had ceased hiring, so to use my expertise,” he says. “Patent Glasnovich grabbed an underwriting law seemed liked something I’d job at Brown & Brown Insurance. He naturally want to get into.” worked on complex business deals, At the Law School, Olsen has had but also spent lots of time reading to learn a new discipline peppered about regulations and court cases with words like jurisdiction and affecting the industry. malfeasance, not cryopreservation and A few years later, he asked himself, gel electrophoresis. In the beginning, “Do I want to do insurance the rest of that led to lots of time with a legal my life?” A month later, he took the JAMES OLSEN dictionary while reading about cases LSAT, scored high, and moved to M.S.P.L. CLASS OF 2016 and writing briefs. Minneapolis. Glasnovich believes his After graduation, Olsen hopes to parents’ occupation infl uenced his AT FIRST GLANCE, JAMES OLSEN get a job as a patent agent in his career choice. Both worked as juvenile looks like a lot of other students. He hometown of Milwaukee. In college, probation offi cers and sometimes wears jeans and a “Brew Crew” Olsen worked at his father’s dental chatted about the law at home. T-shirt in support of his beloved fi rm as an assistant, sterilizing At the Law School, Glasnovich Milwaukee Brewers. But to talk with equipment and decontaminating experimented with several career him about his undergraduate studies, operating rooms. Watching his father paths. In the summer after his fi rst you’d better understand the basics of work infl uenced him. year, he interned at a federal agency biotechnology and cell culture. Says Olsen, “I’m interested in and served as a judicial extern for In May, Olsen earned a bachelor’s helping people like he does.” U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge degree in biomolecular engineering Jeffrey J. Keyes. The latter experience from the Milwaukee School of inspired him to take more litiga- Engineering. For his senior design tion-focused classes, including an project, he focused on chitosan, a bio- DREW GLASNOVICH insurance law clinic. material found primarily in the shells CLASS OF 2016 That led to a 2015 summer of shrimp and other crustaceans. associate position at Stinson Leonard Humans have found many creative AS A BOY, DREW GLASNOVICH Street in Minneapolis. The fi rm ways to use chitosan, including didn’t always need an alarm clock. has since hired him. “I am excited,” weaving it into bandages to halt “When the Space Shuttle came in for he says. bleeding and blending it into pills to a landing, it woke me up in the Highlights of his fi nal year at the facilitate drug delivery. Currently, the morning,” he says. Law School include serving as only way to get chitosan is to extract Yes, he lived a short drive from editor-in-chief of Law and Inequality: it from dead shrimp. However, notes Kennedy Space Center on the A Journal of Theory and Practice and Olsen, “If you can grow your own Florida coast. As a teen, he attended organizing “Playing with Pride,” a cells, that’s a lot easier.” the local public school—Astronaut symposium on LGBT inclusion in In theory. In practice, the best way High—but the whole science thing sports. Glasnovich also plans on to acquire chitosan for commercial didn’t take. Choir and theater performing in the next Theatre of growing purposes is to extract it from captivated him. Glasnovich starred in the Relatively Talentless production.
36 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
His stage experience helps him in made the dean’s list, and tried out for up with Uncle Sam. the courtroom. “Acting is much more the cheerleading squad. Despite a lack “I’ll just go to the Army,” he than the words you say,” he says. “It’s of experience, he made the team. remembers thinking, “because that’s listening. I’m very aware of how “They only took me because I was where people like me went.” people are reacting to me. And that’s a boy,” he says. Within a year, the 19-year-old was an advantage.” That said, he had a blast. His most patrolling the streets of Baghdad as an memorable moment was waving the infantry scout. One day, an impro- purple-and-white Northwestern fl ag vised bomb planted in a building’s in front of 105,000 Ohio State fans in exterior wall exploded nearby, Columbus. “They were booing so blowing off part of his face. A medic loud, my bones were shaking,” he saved his life. At a military hospital in says. Germany, a surgeon reconstructed his After graduation, Manojlovic face, adding a metal plate near his joined Teach for America. He led right cheekbone. algebra and geometry classes for two After recovering, Mansker could years in Fall River, Mass., before have asked for a medical discharge, directing institute operations at the but he refused. “I was good to go,” he organization’s Boston offi ce for says. “I didn’t want one.” another year. He returned to Iraq twice more. By The Law School’s strong interna- his third deployment, he was a BOJAN MANOJLOVIC tional offerings attracted Manojlovic, battle-worn soldier taking orders CLASS OF 2017 but he also enjoyed his contracts and from an inexperienced offi cer whose civil procedure courses. That led him college degree earned him a higher THE SWING ON THE BIG WALNUT to apply for a summer associate rank. Mansker decided it was time to tree outside Bojan Manojlovic’s position at Sidley Austin, an interna- get schooled. “I’m not going to be a Serbian home attracted nearly every tional business law fi rm in Chicago. chump anymore,” he told himself. kid in the neighborhood, and he After the all-day interview, he had When his six-year Army commit- loved that. “I’ve always been very dinner with his mother, who still lives ment ended, Mansker enrolled at gregarious,” he says. in the city. Western Michigan University. He sat But the rural brick-and-mud “Wouldn’t it be a great present if in the front row, listened intently, and house, which was surrounded by you got a job offer?” she asked, as hit the books. Professors rewarded cherry and plum trees, roaming he’d recently celebrated a birthday. him with “A” grades, but the military chickens and cows, didn’t have a base- The next day, an offer arrived. Says came calling again. He’d joined the ment. So when the NATO bombing Manojlovic, “I’m ready to come back.” Michigan National Guard for extra of 1999 began—Bojan was 12 at the cash, and now the government time—his family slept on cots in the wanted his unit in Afghanistan. lower level of a relative’s house. Mansker could have been excused, Two years later, the Manojlovics but as a 26-year-old staff sergeant in moved to Chicago—Bojan’s mother charge of a platoon of mostly teens, was born in the U.S.—and the he felt a sense of responsibility. “I teenager began learning the idi- didn’t want them to go without me,” om-fi lled language spoken by he says. Americans. “It’s a piece of cake,” a Upon his return to the U.S., teacher told Manojlovic just before a Mansker transferred to the University math test. He remembers staring at of Michigan, earning bachelor’s the piece of paper, perplexed. degrees in political science and Manojlovic soon adapted to his sociology. His new goal: become an new surroundings, thanks in part to attorney. He hopes to focus on his outgoing nature. He wasn’t shy JONATHAN MANSKER international law and is aiming about joining others in the school CLASS OF 2018 toward working for an NGO, the cafeteria. “I wouldn’t take no for an United Nations, or the U.S. answer,” he says. “I was a gay, immi- JONATHAN MANSKER IS THE Department of State. grant kid who listened to Britney Texas-born son of a single mother “I want to try and help people,” he Spears and loved to read.” who spent his childhood bouncing says. “That goes back to when I fi rst A voracious appetite for learning around Army bases. As a teen, he got hurt.” ■ catapulted him from “immigrant kid” partied more than he studied, and got to the top 10% of his high school expelled from a Michigan high By Todd Melby, a freelance writer class and into Northwestern school. He eventually graduated from and radio producer based in University. He majored in economics, an alternative school before signing Minneapolis
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 37 STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
STUDENT NEWS AND AWARDS
THOMAS HALE-KUPIEC (’15) Kupiec received a Master of Public WINS LAW/TECHNOLOGY Health degree in 2013 from George WRITING AWARD Washington University in Thomas Hale-Kupiec, who is on Washington, D.C. While in the track to receive his J.D. in December nation’s capital, he worked as a with a dual concentration in health public health analyst at the Food law and intellectual property law, and Drug Administration. Since was awarded fi rst place in the coming to the Twin Cities, he has 2014-15 National Student Writing been a volunteer legal associate Competition hosted by the at the Children’s Law Center of Richmond Journal of Law and Minnesota, a summer associate at Technology. Hale-Kupiec received Alliant Techsystems, and student a prize of $1,500 for his paper, representative to the Hennepin “Differential Liability: How County Lavender Bar Association Neuromodulators and Emerging board of directors. He has also Thomas Hale-Kupiec (’15) Technologies Have Achieved worked as a law clerk at the intellec- Windfalls in Tort Liability Claims.” tual property fi rm Kinney & Lange The paper will be published in in Minneapolis. itself is poorly defi ned, which has the journal, which is based at the In his award-winning paper, led to the medical device industry University of Richmond (Va.) School Hale-Kupiec looks closely at the marketing a wide range of “neuro- of Law. legal ramifi cations of neuromodula- modulation” products that are After graduating from the tion, a term that refers to various diffi cult to categorize and thus University of Virginia in 2011 with means (electrical, chemical, biologi- diffi cult for the FDA to regulate. a double major in chemistry and cal) of treating the nervous system After reviewing the recent relevant cognitive neuroscience and a minor in order to improve function and case law, he recommends policy in environmental science, Hale- quality of life. He fi nds that the term changes that would better protect
SAVE THE DATE MINNESOTA JONES AND THE LAW SCHOOL OF DOOM APRIL 8 AND 9 PANTAGES THEATRE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS For more information go to: http://umntort.org/
38 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
public health and provide for more two years—with a major in English equitable handling of tort claims and a minor in Asian languages related to neuromodulation treat- and literature. At the Law School, ments and technologies. she has served on the staff of the Minnesota Journal of International SUKANYA MOMSEN (’16) Law and as president of the South WINS ABA AND MSBA Asian Law Student Association, AWARDS among many other roles. This year Sukanya Momsen (’16) was awarded she worked as a summer associate second place in the American Bar at Nilan Johnson Lewis in Association Tort Trial & Insurance Minneapolis; she has previously Practice Section’s 2014-15 law been a legal intern at the student writing competition. Her Minneapolis offi ce of the Equal article, “Discharging the Duty to Employment Opportunity Warn with Multilingual Warning Commission, a judicial extern for Sukanya Momsen (’16) Labels,” appeared on the Section’s U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Web site and was publicized in its Nelson, a summer associate at magazine, The Brief. Momsen was Briggs and Morgan, and a legal United States and abroad, and also named the winner of the counseling advocate at the non- offers possible solutions to these Minnesota State Bar Association’s profi t organization Tubman. problems. She analyzes relevant U.S. 2015 Law Student Award for In her ABA award-winning paper, case law, looks at labeling rules in Excellence in Employment Law. which she originally wrote for a other countries, and advocates for Momsen earned her B.A. at the product liability course with adjunct a new approach to reducing injuries University of Minnesota in 2013, professor Kenneth Ross, Momsen that can stem from the increasing graduating summa cum laude—hav- discusses issues arising from presence of non-English speakers ing completed all her coursework in multilingual warning labels in the in American workplaces. ■
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS SAVE THE DATES
January 23, 2016 NEW RE-STARTED Raise the Bar Day of Service Announcing a Law School chapter American Civil Liberties Union— To participate, contact Chelsea Lemke of the Minnesota Supreme Court UMN Law is a nonpartisan student at [email protected]. Historical Society, which was group dedicated to promoting founded, organized, and developed and protecting civil liberties March 4, 2016 by lawyers, educators, judges, and through education, discussion, Disruptive Manufacturing other legal professionals who have and critical engagement with Symposium: Legal Concerns a deep and abiding interest in the contemporary issues in United in 3-D Printing history of Minnesota and the States law. Details are available For more information: profound role that the state’s at sua.umn.edu/groups/directory/ [email protected] courts have played in that history. group/3620/. ■ Interested students can fi nd more information at sua.umn.edu/groups/ directory/group/3538/.
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 39 ALUMNI
1 PERSPECTIVE
ALUMNI PROFILES
1968. Although his annual caseload is politics, and, after practicing law for now about 50, down from 175, and two decades in Fargo, North Dakota, his walker helps him reach his chair, wielding substantial infl uence from Bright still sits, and still cares about all the bench. people. “A legal issue is to me like a Raised by Russian immigrant mathematical problem that requires a parents among Serbs, Slovenians, reasoned solution. I loved it as a Finns, and Italians in Eveleth, student, loved it as a lawyer, and of Minnesota, Bright sought career course I love it as a judge,” says advice from his college counselor, Bright, whose 50 years of federal who told him he’d excel at either law service includes nearly four years in or advertising, but “you won’t hurt World War II. MYRON H. “MIKE” BRIGHT yourself by learning a little bit of law.” “LBJ was probably the fi rst CLASS OF 1947 Bright reminisces in Goodbye Mike, president in history to bring civil Hello Judge: My Journey for Justice rights to the people in this country “THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS,” (North Dakota Institute for Regional suffering from discrimination. Judge Judge Bright calls himself with a Studies Press, 2015), which Touro Gerald Heaney (’41), Judge Donald P. The Forum chuckle. At 96, he has served more Law School professor Jeffrey Brandon Lay, and I spearheaded signifi cant than 47 years as a working judge and Morris deems “as sprightly and cases that extended those rights to is the last remaining appointee of irrepressible as the man.” Young women and minorities,” he says. President Lyndon B. Johnson, who Republican Bright turned Democrat Litigation has changed during his nominated Bright to the U.S. Court early on, befriending many of that tenure. Discovery is more important
of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in era’s infl uencers, plunging into and expensive, raising costs enough to of Michael Vosburg Photo: Bright
40 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu 4 Law School alumni at BakerHostetler: Kate McKnight (’08), 1 Dean David Wippman, 2 Sanam Danyll Foix (’98), and Julie Chosy (’90), Ghandehari (’16) 3 Charlie Rounds, Tom McDonald (’79) Karin Birkeland (’87), and Roshan Rajkumar Nancy Pearson, and welcome summer associ- Lee Mitau (’72), and Jim (’00) connect during Matthew Webster (’11) ate Allison Rochford (’16) Chosy (’89) at the Law the Spring Alumni at David Weissbrodt’s to the firm’s Washington, Review celebration Weekend in April. celebration D.C., office.
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“keep ordinary people out of federal 69% in 2009, and hit 78% in 2013. courts.” Since 1985, sentencing The St. Paul native and son of Nick guidelines have subjected more Coleman Sr., state senate majority criminal cases to appellate review. leader from 1973 to 1981, also served “A person charged with a crime on the St. Paul City Council from who wants to try the case gets a 1997 to 2003, lost the U.S. House 4th heavier sentence by losing than by District DFL nomination to Betty pleading guilty, so we don’t have as McCollum in 2000, and considered many trials,” explains Bright. “Too running for governor in 2010. many people are serving too long “Politics is in my blood,” he says, without any good reason”—espe- but that didn’t drive his initial career cially Native Americans on reserva- path. He spent eight years serving tions, he says, which is “wrong and Hennepin County as both prosecutor closing the achievement gap. Despite prejudicial. I am interested in equal (a short stint) and public defender serving during one of the worst rights for everyone.” (a longer one). “That’s somewhat recessions in our country’s history, he unusual,” admits Coleman, who is proud of surviving the mortgage declined to say which he preferred. foreclosure crisis and emerging “The facts are generally on your stronger than before. CHRISTOPHER (CHRIS) side as a prosecutor, but you have “We have absolutely changed the COLEMAN more creativity as a public defender. face of St. Paul and revitalized it in CLASS OF 1987 They are both important roles in the ways that I always knew were possible justice system.” but not fully realized. The vibrancy THAT CHRIS COLEMAN IS THRIVING He learned much, especially in downtown, with light rail serving in his third term as mayor of St. Paul juvenile court, about family structure, the community, is really fun to see,” should surprise no one. Personable neglect, and what leads kids down Coleman says, “although I haven’t and popular, he beat incumbent the wrong path. His civic work moved the ball as far as I would Randy Kelly with 69% of the vote in often focuses on education, youth have liked. The disparity between the 2005 election, won again with development, achieving equity, and whites and communities of color is CONT >
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 41 ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE
< CONT still a huge challenge.” none had J.D.s, “but when I looked at “I’m not sure what the future people who ran for senator or holds,” Coleman says when asked president, the best were attorneys. I about his aspirations for a fourth was interested in politics and devel- mayoral term or possible run for state oped a heart for doing poverty law,” or federal offi ce. “Twelve years is a she says. After law school, she worked long time in one position,” he adds, on housing discrimination for the but he does like the impact his work Legal Aid Society, but with young has on a local level, where interaction children in day care, “I couldn’t is personal and results are evident. practice poverty law or I’d qualify for And while he brings the house their services.” down in comedic skits at MinnRoast, In solo practice and then as an hosted annually by the online news associate attorney for Rider Bennett, securities fraud, and civil rights. source MinnPost, Coleman has no Hortman continued to tackle housing “It’s all about whether the stars stage aspirations. “I’ll keep my day and consumer rights issues and align,” she says, though perhaps her job,” he says. employment matters, quickly learning effort and diligence nudged those that poverty and lack of education stars. A high-school debater who created a social structure in which earned a bachelor’s degree in chemi- one legal problem begat another. cal engineering at Northwestern “Being poor is just diffi cult,” she University as a backup, she had always notes, and thus a systemic challenge. wanted to go to law school. “I Encouraged to run for the Minnesota thought it would be exciting to go to House, she entered the 1998 race but court, have cases, and make speeches. lost. She skipped one and lost another It seemed like fun,” she says. before winning in 2004. At law school, she set her sights on “I learned that elections have more appellate work. “Law professors will to do with what happens in a particu- tell you that’s what smart people do,” lar year than with individual candi- she says. She found constitutional dates. Minnesotans are unique in that issues “super interesting,” though they like to balance things out,” says constitutional law jobs are hard to MELISSA HORTMAN Hortman, who was proud to be fl oor come by and seldom lucrative. After a CLASS OF 1995 manager during the transportation clerkship with the U.S. Court of funding bill override in 2008. “I love Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and a THE BEST PUBLIC SERVANTS HAVE being in the legislature. Some things fellowship in the solicitor general’s done it all: made Zantigo chili cheese you’re able to do matter so much.” offi ce, she focused on appellate burritos, sold dresses at Donaldson’s, Hortman also fi nds the ULC legislation as an associate at retrieved Minneapolis Auto Parts rewarding. “It’s careful, almost O’Melveny and Myers in Washington inventory, interned for Senator Al academic analysis, not just special while waiting for DOJ openings. One Gore, drafted letters for Senator John interest groups battling it out,” she showed up; she applied and was hired. Kerry, etc. These qualifi cations are a says. “We argue about where commas The tough job demands 60 to 80 mere fraction of Melissa Hortman’s are and whether it should be and or hours a week, but Saharsky thrives on long list, which of course includes her or. We’re actually doing what people the challenge and variety. “One of the current role as assistant Hennepin think legislators do.” best parts about working for the County attorney, plus 11 years government is the different subject representing Brooklyn Park in the matter for everything we litigate. You Minnesota House of Representatives. have to be good at appeals, at Hortman recently added a new line NICOLE SAHARSKY understanding what goes on in a case to her curriculum vitae: vice presi- CLASS OF 2002 so you can explain it to generalists,” dent of the Uniform Law she says. Few realize that her offi ce Commission (ULC), a nonpartisan FOR MOST LAW STUDENTS, manages all the government’s appeals, group of 350 volunteer commission- arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme amicus curiae participation, and other ers (lawyers, judges, professors, Court is a dream rarely realized. For functions as well as preparing legislators) who draft model state Nicole Saharsky, however, it was a Supreme Court briefs. legislation on issues ranging from goal set, pursued, and achieved. As Arguing before the Supreme Court property and trusts to family and assistant to the solicitor general at the is stressful, she admits. “Everyone still criminal law. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she gets nervous, no matter how many Public service has long guided has argued 23 such cases, ranging times they’ve done it,” she says. “The Hortman’s legal aspirations. Few in widely from criminal law and court is not at all forgiving of her family had college degrees and intellectual property to immigration, government lawyers. They expect you
42 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE
to know everything the government murderers to philanthropists occupy- she says, but fi nancial motives and is doing, and that’s diffi cult.” ing the top tiers of the 1%. advocacy skills led her back to the Nevertheless, it’s where she wants Amused by the fact that her University. As a regional development to be. “I had this idea, and I was criminal defense attorney father and offi cer, she spent the next years doing what I thought I could to prosecutor stepfather frequently scouring the East Coast in search of make it happen. Sometimes things oppose each other in court, Ring has Gopher pride and honing important work out and sometimes they don’t, a longstanding interest in criminal fundraising skills. but this worked out pretty well.” law but didn’t initially consider law “It’s not what you think,” she says school. Global Service Corps of fundraising. “It’s about relation- volunteer work on sustainable ships. People are incredibly open and agriculture in Tanzania fueled her offer a chance for real honesty and interest in international affairs, which sharing.” She deems development led her to earn an M.A. in confl ict experience a highly marketable asset and sustainable peace at Katholieke that is ideal for her current position. Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Through the Innocence Project she Eventually, law school beckoned. mingles with people of all kinds, from Entering students come in two high-profi le donors to exonerees fl avors, says Ring: half want to make a from challenging socioeconomic good living, and half want to change backgrounds who have just been the world. “I was a student who was released from years in prison and are going to stay nonprofi t, but only struggling in the outside world. about 10 percent of us were left at Her goals are as energetic as she HEATHER RING the end.” She focused on criminal is: faster screening and case investiga- CLASS OF 2007 and international law but didn’t want tion, best practices for witness to work for a big fi rm. Instead, she identifi cation, more legislation like “I LOVE PEOPLE, AND I LIKE joined Chicago-based Heartland the state’s recent wrongful conviction helping them,” says Heather Ring. International, a nonprofi t dedicated compensation bill. “I’m not a policy Early in her career, the new to democracy and economic devel- expert, but I get to be part of the full Innocence Project of Minnesota opment, then returned to circle,” Ring says. Seems perfect for a executive director has already demon- Minneapolis to become a litigator people person. ■ strated a passion for and commitment with her father’s fi rm, Jeffrey B. Ring to a wide swath of society, from & Associates. By Cathy Madison, a freelance writer drunk drivers and wrongly convicted “I really enjoyed criminal defense,” and editor based in the Twin Cities
UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS
Keep an eye out for our monthly digest FEBRUARY 2, 2016 RECENT GRADUATE APRIL 9, 2016 TORT PRE-SHOW email providing up-to-date information & CURRENT STUDENT NETWORKING ALUMNI RECEPTION regarding volunteer opportunities and RECEPTION AND HAPPY HOUR Students and alumni are invited alumni events, or visit community.law. Graduates from the classes of 2006- to a pre-show reception at Kieran’s umn.edu. 2015 and current students are invited to Irish Pub in downtown Minneapolis. a winter happy hour at the Living Room
bar in the W Hotel. DECEMBER 14, 2015 UNIVERSITY APRIL 15-16, 2016 SPRING ALUMNI
OF MINNESOTA CHICAGO WINTER WEEKEND SOCIAL MARCH 29, 2016 EMERGING See back cover, or go to Chicago-area Law School alumni are PROFESSIONALS NETWORK EVENT community.law.umn.edu/saw. invited to a happy hour to network AT LAKES AND LEGENDS and socialize with other University Recent graduates are invited to join of Minnesota graduates at the graduates from across the University at Metropolitan Club downtown. a new brewery in the Loring Park area Look for an email invitation soon! of Minneapolis.
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 43 ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE
ALUMNI NEWS AND AWARDS
WALTER F. MONDALE (’56) the nation known to apply for a SPEAKS AT HUD marriage license, Baker and McConnell set in motion a legal process “that has reverberated in federal courts and played an indirect role in pushing same-sex marriage to the high court this year.” Baker told the Times “he was proud that the Supreme Court this year heard the very same constitu- tional arguments of equal protec- tion and due process that he had state’s most dedicated champions identifi ed as a law student in 1970.” of international human rights. In The story also noted that Baker In a speech delivered Sept. 1 to 1983, he co-founded The Advocates and McConnell have written a a standing ovation at the U.S. for Human Rights and served as its memoir—The Wedding Heard Department of Housing and Urban fi rst board chair. In 1985, he played a ’round the World: America’s First Development in Washington, D.C., pivotal role in establishing the Gay Marriage—that will be published former Vice President Walter Center for Victims of Torture and by the University of Minnesota Press Mondale (’56) said that America chaired its inaugural board; he in January. is witnessing “the most important continues to serve as a board moment for fair housing since member and vice chair. Heins has JOHN R. TUNHEIM (’80) 1968.” That year saw the passage also been a longtime advocate of BECOMES CHIEF U.S. of the landmark Fair Housing the Human Rights Center at the Law DISTRICT JUDGE Act, which then-Sen. Mondale School, where he has established co-authored. However, he said, endowed funds to support fellow- citing recent riots in cities such as ships and research conducted by Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore, as students on topics related to the well as nearly 50 years of govern- advancement of international mental foot-dragging and legal human rights. fi ghts over the law’s intent, “the Fair Housing Act has unfi nished busi- JACK BAKER (’72) AND HIS ness.” Now, thanks to a recent HUSBAND PROFILED IN Supreme Court ruling and new rules NEW YORK TIMES requiring communities that receive HUD funds to “affi rmatively further” fair housing, the time is right, said John R. Tunheim (’80) succeeded Mondale, for the inclusive, integra- Michael J. Davis (’72) as chief judge tive vision enshrined in the Fair of the U.S. District Court, District Housing Act to become a reality. of Minnesota, effective July 1. Davis will remain with the court as a SAMUEL D. HEINS (’72) senior judge. NOMINATED AMBASSADOR Tunheim has served with the TO NORWAY U.S. District Court since 1995. At The White House announced in May the Law School, he was president that President Obama had nomi- of the Minnesota Law Review and nated Samuel D. Heins (’72) as the graduated cum laude. After clerking United States ambassador to the for U.S. District Judge Earl Larson Kingdom of Norway. Jack Baker (’72) and his husband, (’35) and working in private prac- After earning his J.D., Heins Michael McConnell, were profi led in tice, he was appointed Minnesota’s embarked on a legal career that the New York Times on May 17, 2015. solicitor general in 1985 and its spanned more than 40 years, The story, titled “Same-Sex chief deputy attorney general in becoming known as one of Marriage? Done That, Back in 1971,” 1986, a post he held until his Minnesota’s most talented plaintiff’s appeared on page A1. It described appointment to the federal bench.
lawyers. Heins is also one of the how, as the fi rst same-sex couple in From 1994-98, Tunheim chaired the of Minnesota Libraries. Studies, University in GLBT Collection Tretter the Jean-Nickolaus From (1970). Brooks Charlotte Photo: Baker
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Assassination Records Review American woman to serve on the B. TODD JONES (’83) Board, the independent agency Minnesota Supreme Court. She is a MOVES FROM ATF TO NFL charged with overseeing the member of the American Bar collection and release of records Association’s Judicial Division and relating to the assassination of of the Minnesota Women Lawyers President John F. Kennedy. Advisory Board. In 2010, Tunheim was presented with the University of Minnesota RON OUSKY (’82) WINS Outstanding Achievement Award. ABA PROBLEM SOLVER He has taught federal and state AWARD constitutional law as an adjunct faculty member at the Law School, and is a current member of the Board of Advisors. In March, B. Todd Jones (’83) left his NATALIE E. HUDSON position as director of the federal (’82) APPOINTED TO THE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, MINNESOTA SUPREME Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and COURT assumed a newly created role as a special counsel to National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell. Chief among Jones’s duties The ABA’s Section of Dispute will be serving as the league’s chief Resolution presented Ron Ousky disciplinary offi cer. (’82), who lives and practices in Jones had led the ATF since 2011, Edina, Minn., with the Individual when he became the bureau’s Lawyer as Problem Solver Award for acting director. He was confi rmed as 2015. This award is given to a director by the U.S. Senate in August member of the legal profession who 2013. Before going to Washington, has exhibited extraordinary skill and D.C., Jones served as Minnesota’s creativity in promoting the concept U.S. attorney during the Obama and Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton of the lawyer as problem solver. Clinton administrations. He got his appointed Natalie E. Hudson (’82) For the past 20 years, Ousky has start in that offi ce during the early to the state’s high court in August, been an international leader in 1990s as an assistant U.S. attorney replacing Justice Alan Page (’78), family law and the collaborative under Thomas Heffelfi nger (’76). who retired after reaching the law movement, focusing on making state’s mandatory retirement age of legal and other professional services PAUL R. SCOGGIN (’84) 70. Hudson had served on the more accessible to divorcing APPOINTED JUDGE IN Minnesota Court of Appeals for the families. He co-authored the widely MINNESOTA’S 4TH DISTRICT previous 13 years, issuing more than used manual The Collaborative 1,100 written opinions and, in Way to Divorce: The Revolutionary Dayton’s words, “demonstrating Method that Results in Less Stress, clearly her unique aptitude for Lower Cost, and Happier Kids— ruling on some of the most chal- Without Going to Court (2006). lenging legal issues facing our state He served on the board of the today.” Collaborative Law Institute of Before serving on the appeals Minnesota (the fi rst collaborative court, Hudson worked as an law organization in the world) for assistant Minnesota attorney 10 years, including 3 years as general in the Criminal Appeals and president. He has also served as Health Licensing Divisions, as St. a board member and president of Paul’s city attorney, and as assistant the International Academy of Paul R. Scoggin (’84) was appointed dean of student affairs at Hamline Collaborative Professionals, which by Minnesota Governor Mark University Law School. has more than 5,000 members in Dayton to serve as a judge in the Hudson is the second African 24 countries. state’s 4th Judicial District CONT >
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ALUMNI NEWS AND AWARDS
< CONT (Hennepin County), replacing Judge authored numerous reports and person I wanted to be and the kind Marilyn B. Rosenbaum, who retired. submissions to the United Nations of law I wanted to do.” Scoggin spent three decades in about domestic violence. the Hennepin County Attorney’s ANDREA MILLER (’15) WINS Offi ce, including 10 years as chief AMELIA WILSON (’04) BURTON AWARD FOR of the violent crimes division. He NAMED NGO LAWYER OF LEGAL WRITING was lead counsel in thousands of THE YEAR felony prosecutions, and he tried 150 cases before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. He also chaired the Minnesota County Attorneys Association’s Criminal Committee for fi ve years and was a co-author of the 2009 revision of the state’s rules of criminal procedure. In 2009, Scoggin was assigned as an international prosecutor in the Republic of Kosovo; he has also The Burton Foundation announced served as a consultant to U.S. State The Immigration Law Section of the in April that Andrea Miller (’15) had Department missions in the West Federal Bar Association (FBA) won a 2015 Distinguished Legal Bank and Jordan. presented Amelia Wilson (’04) with Writing Award—one of just 10 its NGO Lawyer of the Year award presented to students from U.S. law ROSALYN PARK (’02) TO for outstanding achievement in the schools. While working toward her LEAD WOMEN’S HUMAN nonprofi t sector. Wilson received J.D., Miller was also pursuing a Ph.D. RIGHTS PROGRAM the award at the FBA’s annual in the University’s Department of conference in May, where she was Psychology. Her winning paper was speaking on advancing the rights of entitled “The Separate Spheres mentally impaired immigrants Ideology: An Improved Empirical facing deportation. and Litigation Approach to Family Wilson is the senior detention Responsibilities Discrimination.” attorney with the Immigrant Rights At the Law School, Miller was a Program of the American Friends managing editor on the Minnesota Service Committee (AFSC) in Law Review, a student instructor of Newark, N.J. She is an adjunct legal research and writing, a Robina faculty member at both Rutgers Public Interest Scholar, and presi- School of Law and Seton Hall dent of the University chapter of University School of Law. She Law Students for Reproductive Rosalyn Park, who graduated cum credits her experience at the Law Justice. She worked as a research laude from the Law School in 2002, School with her desire to dedicate intern for Minnesota Women was appointed director of the herself to assisting vulnerable Lawyers, as a law clerk for Gender Women’s Human Rights Program populations. “As a law student I was Justice, and as a law intern for the for The Advocates for Human exposed to asylum and international Minnesota Department of Human Rights, an international nonprofi t human rights law by marvelous Rights. She is now a doctoral fellow organization based in Minneapolis. professors and mentors—true at the American Bar Foundation. Park has been a staff attorney leaders in the fi eld,” she said. In the 16 years that the Burton with the Women’s Human Rights “Furthermore, the Law School Foundation has sponsored its highly Program since 2003, and its acting nurtured my public interest ambi- regarded national legal writing director since June 2014. In these tions by enabling me to work awards program, the Law School roles, she has worked in Azerbaijan, abroad with refugees, write articles has had 8 student winners. The Bulgaria, Tajikistan, Croatia, alongside esteemed leaders in seven previous honorees are Phillip Mongolia, Serbia, Kazakhstan, and human rights, and network with Walters (’12), Eva B. Stensvad (’11), Sierra Leone, as well as at the alums doing important work Noreen E. Johnson (’09), Emily C. United Nations, to reform laws and around the world. Ultimately, my Melvin (’08), Dan Robinson (’07), systems to more effectively respond law school experience at the David Leishman (’06), and Kari M. to domestic violence. She has also University of Minnesota shaped the Dahlin (’01). ■
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Nearly 800 alumni returned to the Law School for SPRING ALUMNI WEEKEND April 24-25, 2015 for a variety of all-alumni events as well as individual reunions for those classes celebrating milestone anniversaries. SAVE THE DATES for Spring Alumni Weekend 2016: April 15-16. Details will be availble at www.community.law.umn.edu/saw.
1 Richard Bowman (’65), Dick Kinyon (’65), Tom King (’65), and James Wagemaker (’65) 2 Ron Aucutt (’75) and Bill Ball (’75) 3 Deborah Ellingboe (’95), Jonathan Cleveland (’95), and Howard Roston (’95) 4 Lucinda Hruska-Claeys (’80), Phil Meidl, and William Utermohlen (’80)
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View free live or archived webinars produced by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association on a variety of career and personal topics. Recent topics have included how to use social media in a job search, networking and career transition tips, pet wellness, world travel, and many others. Learn more at minnesotaalumni.org/alumniwebinarseries.
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CLASS NOTES NEWS ABOUT YOUR CLASSMATES AND COLLEAGUES
SEND US YOUR NEWS Your classmates and the Law School would love to know what important things are going on in your life, and we welcome your submissions for the Class Notes section of Perspectives. To be included in the next issue, your items must reach us by March 1, 2016. Submit your news via email at [email protected], or via mail to the Offi ce of Advancement, Suite 321, University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455. We look forward to hearing from you, and thanks for keeping in touch!
1956 Robert Metcalf joined 1973 Allen Saeks of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis Cummins & Cummins in Alan Eidsness of Henson & was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. Minneapolis in its Efron in Minneapolis was employment and labor named a 2015 Top 10 1965 practice. Minnesota Super Lawyer, Martha Mills wrote a memoir, published by the marking the eighth time American Bar Association, entitled Lawyer, Activist, since 2005 that he has Judge: Fighting for Civil and Voting Rights in Mississippi Robert R. Weinstine of Winthrop and Weinstine in been recognized in the top 10 of the list. and Illinois. Minneapolis was named a 2015 Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer. He was also recognized by The Best Lawyers in 1976 1967 America for his work in business litigation. John Goetz of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben in Minneapolis Richard Nygaard of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben in was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. He was also Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. 1970 recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in He was also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America Allan Ryan, director of intellectual property at Harvard personal injury litigation. for his work in personal injury litigation. Business School Publishing, wrote The 9/11 Terror Cases: Constitutional Challenges in the War against Al Qaeda, Hart Kuller of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis was Melvin Ogurak has retired after practicing law for 46 which was published by the University Press of Kansas. recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in years. Except for his two initial years, he was a member He teaches the law of war at Harvard University and corporate and securities law. of his own law fi rm, most recently named Ogurak Fami- Boston College Law School. ly Law & Mediation, P.A. 1977 1971 Pamela Alexander, a judge in Minnesota’s 4th Judicial 1968 William Forsyth of Henson District, received the Minnesota Women Lawyers 2015 Jim Schwebel of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben in & Efron in Minneapolis was Myra Bradwell Award “for expressing the highest ideals Minneapolis was named a 2015 Top 100 Minnesota Super named a 2015 Minnesota of the legal profession and possessing qualities Lawyer. He was also recognized by The Best Lawyers in Super Lawyer. He was also exemplifi ed by Myra Bradwell such as courage, America for his work in personal injury litigation. recognized by The Best perseverance, and leadership on issues of concern to Lawyers in America for his women.” 1969 work in family law. Joseph Dixon Jr. of Henson Edward Cleary, chief judge & Efron in Minneapolis was 1972 of the Minnesota Court of named a 2015 Minnesota Sam Heins was nominated Appeals, received the Super Lawyer. He was also by President Obama to Distinguished Humanitari- recognized by The Best serve as the U.S. an Award from the Ramsey Lawyers in America for his Ambassador to Norway. He County Bar Association for work in business litigation and alternative dispute was a partner at Heins Mills “humanitarian service to the bar and the community, resolution. & Olson in Minneapolis and outstanding professional performance and from 1994 to 2013, specializing in complex litigation achievement in service to the citizens of Ramsey involving securities fraud and antitrust class actions. He County.” has also been a dedicated advocate for international human rights throughout his career. Peter Riley of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben in Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. He was also
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recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in David E. Moran of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis 1985 personal injury litigation. was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. Jeffrey R. Ansel of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. He was also Thomas Shroyer of Moss & 1982 recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Barnett in Minneapolis was Natalie E. Hudson was real estate and business litigation. recognized by The Best appointed an associate Lawyers in America as the justice of the Minnesota Gregory Brooker of the U.S. Department of Justice in Lawyer of the Year for Supreme Court. She Minneapolis was awarded the Minnesota State Bar Minneapolis Professional previously served as a Assocation Public Law Section’s Public Attorney Award Malpractice Law—Defendants. judge on the Minnesota of Excellence for his 30 years as a public lawyer. Court of Appeals. 1978 Patrick Seiter of Taylor Porter in Baton Rouge, La., was Jack Levey of Plunkett & Ronald Ousky of the Ousky recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as the Lawyer Cooney in Columbus, Ohio, Law Firm in Minneapolis of the Year for Baton Rouge health care law. was appointed chair of the received the Individual Real Property Committee Lawyer as Problem Solver 1986 for the Columbus Bar Award from the American Scott Forland assumed the Association. He was also Bar Association’s Section of position of executive vice recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Dispute Resolution. The award recognizes individuals president and chief legal real estate law. and organizations that use their problem-solving skills offi cer of MutualAid to forge creative solutions. eXchange Insurance in Alan Page received the 2015 Excellence in Diversity Overland Park, Kan. Award from the Ramsey County Bar Association for his Todd B. Urness of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis tireless support of racial fairness in the judicial system was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. He was also 1987 while an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Michael A. Piazza joined DLA Piper’s Los Angeles offi ce Court. Page retired from the court earlier this year. real estate law and corporate fi nance. as a partner in the litigation practice group, focusing on securities and white collar litigation. 1979 1983 Reid Rischmiller joined Meshbesher & Spence’s B. Todd Jones was 1988 Minneapolis offi ce as a personal injury lawyer. appointed the chief Jan Conlin of Ciresi Conlin disciplinary offi cer of the in Minneapolis was Lynn Roberson of Miles Mediation and Arbitration National Football League. inducted into the Services in Atlanta, Ga., received the 2015 Georgia He had previously been the International Academy of Association for Women Lawyers’ Kathleen Kessler director of the U.S. Bureau Trial Lawyers. Award, which honors a female attorney who exhibits of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives since 2011. the highest degree of professionalism and dedication to service in the legal community. She also received Tim Marx, president and chief executive offi cer of Dan Goldfi ne joined Lewis Roca Rothgerber’s Phoenix, the Commitment to Equality Award from the State Bar Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, joined the Ariz., offi ce as a partner in the litigation practice group. of Georgia’s Committee to Promote Inclusion in the HealthEast Care System board of directors. Profession, and the Distinguished Service Award from Olivia Mastry received the the Atlanta Bar Association. 1984 University of Minnesota Timothy M. Barnett of Winthrop & Weinstine in School of Public Health’s 1980 Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. 2015 Alumni Innovator Joe Finley of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis was Award. She is founding named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. Philip T. Colton of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis partner of The Collective was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. He was also Action Lab, a collaborative forum that fosters Max Hacker of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben in Minneapolis recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in cross-sector, large-scale systems change in the health, was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. corporate fi nance and securities law. older adult service, and disability arenas.
1981 Kathryn Graves of Henson Troy Mayne of DeWitt Ross & Stevens’ Madison, Wis., Jon J. Hoganson of Winthrop & Weinstine in & Efron in Minneapolis was offi ce was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. named a 2015 Minnesota his work in corporate and real estate law. He was also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America Super Lawyer. She was for his work in banking law. also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America Jeannine Lee of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis for her work in family law. was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. CONT >
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CLASS NOTES
< CONT 1989 Eric Levinson received a 3Mgives Volunteer Award, Tim Matson was elected to Marc Johannsen was which recognizes outstanding employee and alumni the board of directors of elected to the board of volunteer service. Lommen Abdo Law Firm, directors of Lommen Abdo where he practices out of Law Firm, where he Keith Moheban of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis the Minneapolis offi ce and practices out of the was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. serves in the entertain- Minneapolis offi ce and ment law, intellectual property and information technol- leads the fi rm’s family law practice group. Gerald Robinson joined ogy, litigation, and corporate law practice groups. Simmer Law Group, a new Tara Mattessich of Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren in fi rm in Washington, D.C., 1992 Minneapolis received the Service to Minnesota Women that represents David Dormont joined the Philadelphia offi ce of Lawyers Award. whistleblowers in certain Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads as a partner in cases alleging fraud the litigation department. Bob Seng returned to that has fi nancially impacted state and federal Dorsey & Whitney as a governments. He will remain based in Minneapolis. James M. Zappa of Edina joined CHS as its executive vice partner after a 12-year president and general counsel. tenure at Target. Seng now 1991 practices in the benefi ts Chad Baruch of the Law 1993 and compensation group in Offi ce of Chad Baruch in Joel Abrahamson of Stinson Leonard Street in the fi rm’s Minneapolis offi ce. Garland, Texas, received Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. the 2015 Gene Cavin Award Thomas Walker of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis from the State Bar of Texas. Tiffany A. Blofi eld of Winthrop & Weinstine in was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his The award honors one Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. work in employee benefi ts law. attorney each year for lifetime contributions to continuing legal education. Scott Neilson of Henson & Elizabeth Wright was appointed family court commis- Efron in Minneapolis was sioner in La Crosse, Wis., following her longtime service Peter Carter joined Delta Airlines in Altanta as executive named a 2015 Minnesota as a public defender. vice president and chief legal offi cer. Super Lawyer.
1990 Lorie Humphrey was named vice president of human Sandra Botcher, vice president of disability income at resources and offi ce operations at the University of Northwestern Mutual, was selected to manage the Minnesota. Most recently, she was the vice president construction of the $450 million Northwestern Mutual of human resources for the nonprofi t Volunteers of Tower and Commons in downtown Milwaukee. America of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
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AUGUST 14, 2015 DULUTH-AREA ALUMNI AND STUDENT BREAKFAST A group of about 20 alumni and students met for breakfast in 1 Students Sam Thompson (’17), Harold Yun (’16), Jenna downtown Duluth. The breakfast coincided with the Minnesota Defense Shannon (’16), Lindsey Krause (’16), Alysha Bohanon (’17), Lawyers Association conference, to allow students and alumni traveling Anthony Remick (’16), and Sukanya Momsen (’16) traveled to to Duluth for the conference to attend. Event hosts were Duluth-area Duluth for the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association conference. alumni Matt Thibodeau (’97) and Paula Polasky (’13). 2 Alumni and students enjoy pastries, coffee, and conversation.
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William Stock of Klasko 1996 Mark Zitzewitz was named chief operating offi cer of TCI Immigration Law Partners in Frank Douma was named director of the State and Local Business Capital in Burnsville, Minn. He joined the compa- Philadelphia was elected Policy Program at the University of Minnesota’s ny as senior vice president and general counsel in 2014. president of the American Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Immigration Lawyers 1999 Association for the 2015-2016 Sarah Duniway was Stacey Slaughter of Robins Kaplan in Minneapolis was term. He was also named one of the Top 20 Practitioners named a managing partner named a Rising Star in Finance in the fourth annual in Immigration Law by the 2015 Most Powerful at Gray Plant Mooty. Euromoney Legal Media Group Americas Women in Employment Attorneys Guide. Business Law Awards.
Robin Ann Williams was elected chief operating offi cer 2000 and managing partner of Bassford Remele in Minneapolis. Tracey Holmes Donesky of Stinson Leonard Street in 1997 Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. 1994 John Bursch, a partner at Chad Jerdee was appointed general counsel and chief Warner Norcross & Judd in John Nolde of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis was compliance offi cer of Accenture Legal Group in Chicago. Grand Rapids, Mich., was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in elected to the American Law real estate and corporate law. 1995 Institute and to the Jeffrey Bureau was named senior counsel at Thrivent American Academy of Jill Radloff of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis was Financial in Minneapolis. Appellate Lawyers. named a 2015 Minnesota Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine. Matthew R. McBride of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneap- Bill Otteson was named deputy general counsel for olis was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. government and internal investigations at UnitedHealth Peter Wahl of Jackson Walker’s Dallas offi ce was Group in Minnetonka, Minn. recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Fernando Orrantia joined Greenberg Traurig’s Mexico environmental law. City offi ce as a shareholder. His practice focuses on real 1998 estate, mergers and acquisitions, corporate fi nance, and Jason Lien of Maslon’s 2001 commercial arbitration. Minneapolis offi ce was Benjamin Stromberg appointed co-chair of the was named the head Laura A. Pfeiffer of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis fi rm’s litigation practice of the Public Health and was named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. group. Human Services Division of the St. Louis County Rick Pins of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis was Attorney’s Offi ce in named a 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyer. northeastern Minnesota. CONT >
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SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 RECENT GRADUATE AND STUDENT NETWORKING RECEPTION About 150 alumni from the classes of 2006-2015 and current law 1 Alumni and students enjoyed the opportunity to connect students attended a networking reception and happy hour at Mission and catch up in Minneapolis. American Kitchen and Bar in downtown Minneapolis. The event was 2 Rachel Gartner (’08), Charles Moore (’17), Lauren Meads (’17), hosted by recent graduates Tace James (’14), Erik Mosvick (’13), Henry and Kevin Kitchen (’17) Pfutzenreuter (’10), and Kate Swenson (’08), and current student Amber 3 Allison Rochford (’16), Katarina Lee (’16), Amanda Roberson (’16) Kraemer (’16).
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CLASS NOTES
< CONT 2002 Jaime Driggs of Henson & 2007 Teresa Lavoie, principal at Efron in Minneapolis was Heather Ring is now the Fish & Richardson’s named a 2015 Minnesota executive director of the Minneapolis offi ce, received Rising Star by Super Innocence Project of a 2015 Women Worth Lawyers Magazine. He was Minnesota. She was Watching award from also recognized by The Best previously the regional Profi les in Diversity Journal. Lawyers in America for his work in family law. development offi cer at the The award honors the “top 100 business trailblazers” in University of Minnesota and has also worked as an corporations, government agencies, and nonprofi ts Jared Hager started work at the Civil Division of the U.S. attorney representing criminal defendants. across North America and Europe. Department of Justice in Portland, Ore. Ryan Schildkraut of Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapo- Rosalyn Park was Amelia Wilson was named the NGO Lawyer of the Year lis co-drafted MNvest, a new crowdfunding law that will appointed director of the by the Immigration Law Section of the Federal Bar enable Minnesota businesses to legally promote invest- Women’s Human Rights Association. ment opportunites online to all Minnesota residents. Program for The Advocates for Human Rights, an Allison Woodbury of Stinson Leonard Street in Minne- 2008 international nonprofi t apolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Rising Star by Super Angela Muñoz-Kaphing of Robins Kaplan in Minneapolis organization based in Minneapolis. Park had been a staff Lawyers Magazine. was named one of Minnesota Lawyer’s 2015 Up & Coming attorney with the program since 2003, and its acting Attorneys. director since June 2014. 2005 Christopher Cadem of Cadem Law Group in Fergus Falls, Michelle Rehbein of Stinson Leonard Street in Ethan E. Rii has joined the Chicago offi ce of Vedder Minn., was named one of Minnesota Lawyer’s 2015 Up & Minneapolis was named a 2015 Minnesota Rising Star Price as a shareholder in the health care and health care Coming Attorneys. by Super Lawyers Magazine. fi nance group. Anne Cotter of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis 2009 2003 was named one of Minnesota Lawyer’s 2015 Up & Coming Brian Clark of Lockridge Grindal Nauen in Minneapolis Court Anderson of Henson Attorneys. was named one of Minnesota Lawyer’s 2015 Up & Coming & Efron in Minneapolis was Attorneys. named a 2015 Minnesota Joseph C. Gratz of Durie Tangri in San Francisco was Rising Star by Super named one of Law360’s Top Attorneys Under 40 for his Sean Foss was named partner at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Lawyers Magazine. accomplishments in intellectual property law. Foss in Fargo, N.D., where he has practiced as a litigation associate for several years. Ryan Miske of Faegre Baker Daniels in Minneapolis was Nicole Druckrey was named one of Minnesota Lawyer’s 2015 Up & Coming Phillip Kitzer joined Teske appointed to the Wisconsin Attorneys. Micko Katz Kitzer & Rochel Supreme Court Board of in Minneapolis as a partner Administrative Oversight. 2006 practicing employment She is a partner in Quarles Andy Davis of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis was law. He was also named & Brady’s Milwaukee offi ce. named a 2015 Minnesota Rising Star by Super Lawyers one of Minnesota Lawyer’s Magazine. 2015 Up & Coming Attorneys. Aaron Simon joined Brownson & Linnihan in Michael Reif of Robins Kaplan in Minneapolis was 2010 Minneapolis as a civil named one of Minnesota Lawyer’s 2015 Up & Coming Amy Conway of Stinson Leonard Street in Minneapolis litigation associate Attorneys. was named a 2015 Minnesota Rising Star by Super focusing on professional Lawyers Magazine. liability, toxic torts, and Chang Wang, chief insurance coverage litigation. research and academic Linnea Eiden joined offi cer at Thomson Reuters, the Minneapolis offi ce 2004 received the Asian Pacifi c of Faegre Baker Daniels Anne Behrendt was named chief operating offi cer of Outstanding Contribution as an associate in the Doran Companies in Bloomington, Minn. Award from the Minnesota corporate group. She State Council on Asian-Pacifi c Minnesotans. He also was previously with received a Diversity in Business Award presented by the Mayer Brown in Chicago. University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business.
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CLASS NOTES
2011 Elizabeth S. Gerling joined 2015 Jacob Coleman is seeking the Republican endorsement the Minneapolis offi ce of Bryan Coe joined Honigman for the District 47 (Carver County) seat in the Minnesota Jackson Lewis as an Miller Schwartz and Cohn in Senate. He has served in the offi ce of U.S. Representative associate focusing on Detroit as an associate in the Erik Paulsen since 2012. employment law. Previously, real estate department. she was a law clerk for Justina Roberts joined Judge James A. Moore in Minnesota’s 4th Judicial District. the Minneapolis offi ce of Faegre Baker Daniels as Andrew Gross joined Kosieradzki Smith Law Firm in Plym- Andrea Miller received the 2015 Service to Minnesota an associate in the corporate outh, Minn., as a litigation associate focusing on personal Women Lawyers Award from the Minnesota Women group. injury and wrongful death cases. Previously, he was a law Lawyers association. The group also presented her with clerk for Judge John B. Van de North Jr. in Ramsey County its Equal Justice Award for her article entitled “The Use District Court. (And Misuse) of the Same-Actor Inference in Family 2012 Responsibilities Discrimination Litigation: Lessons from Zachary W. Froelich joined Jud Nichols of The Nichols Law Firm in Minneapolis Social Psychology on Flexibility Stigma.” the Minneapolis offi ce of appeared on NBC’s reality television series “The Island.” Faegre Baker Daniels as an Lin Niu, a 2015 Master of Science in Patent Law graduate, associate focusing on Talon Powers joined Hecht joined Mayo Clinic Ventures in Rochester, Minn., as a mergers, acquisitions, and Solberg Robinson Goldberg patent liaison. private equity transactions, & Bagley in San Diego as an and particularly the tax implications of such deals. associate focusing on Hakeem Onafowokan Jr. Previously, Froelich clerked for Judge Mark V. Holmes at litigation, risk management, joined the National Football the U.S. Tax Court. and transactional matters in League Players Association real estate, business and fi nance. in Washington, D.C., as a Tennille C. (McCray) Hoover legal and business affairs and William T. Hoover were Scott Sorenson joined Foley fellow. married on May 15, 2015. & Mansfi eld’s Minneapolis They now live in Atlanta, Ga., offi ce as an associate Comran Sharif joined Koley Jessen in Omaha, Neb., as an where Tennille is an focusing on commercial and associate in the fi rm’s mergers and acquisitions group. associate at McFadden Davis, toxic tort litigation, with an employment defense fi rm, and William is an associate additional experience in at Clark & Washington, a consumer bankruptcy fi rm. construction and patent litigation.
Adam Houck of Adams, Rizzi & Sween in Austin, Minn., 2014 was granted membership into the American Association Colleen Kelly, an Equal of Premier DUI Attorneys. Justice Works fellow sponsored by 3M and Jamie Ling joined Honigman Fish & Richardson to work at Online Opportunities Miller Schwartz and Cohn in the Minnesota Assistance for Alumni Engagement Detroit as an associate in the Council for Veterans, and Learning: corporate practice group. received a 2015 Veterans’ Voices On the Rise Award. The Minnesota Law Alumni award recognizes Minnesotans who have honorably & Student Networking served in the U.S. Armed Forces and are making Community extraordinary contributions to their communities. She 2013 served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 10 years and is a Join this new subgroup of the Edmond Ahadome joined two-time veteran of the Iraq War. University of Minnesota Law the Minneapolis offi ce of School LinkedIn group. This is Faegre Baker Daniels as an Seth Nadler was hired as an attorney advisor for the an online community for associate in the intellectual Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) in Minnesota Law alumni and property group. He was also Washington, D.C. students to connect, introduce, named to The National Black and network. Relationships and Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 directory for 2015. Sara G. Vakulskas joined communication between alumni Hecht Solberg Robinson and students are vital to the Goldberg & Bagley in future of our profession. Please San Diego as an associate consider participating today. focusing on land use, planning, and entitlements and common interest developments.
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 53 ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE
RECENT EVENTS ALUMNI AND STUDENTS CONNECT
SEPTEMBER 19, 2015 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DAY OF SERVICE Nearly 300 University of Minnesota alumni, including Law School graduates, partici- pated in the second Annual Alumni Day of Service at sites all over the Twin Cities 1 2 and the nation. New York-area Law School alumni ambassador Sitso Bediako (’08) organized the New York City project. Nearly 20 University graduates participated in the project at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, where they removed invasive weeds from a wetlands area in the park.
1 U of M grads remove invasive weeds from wetlands at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. 2 Day of Service participants from the New York City area 3 University students and graduates Sam Mosbruker, Heather Dunlop, Joe Cherion, and Colleen Bharadwaj (’11) package meals for community members dealing with major 3 illnesses at Open Arms in south Minneapolis.
OCTOBER 30, 2015 CLASS OF 2015 WELCOME TO THE BAR BREAKFAST
1 2 Graduates from the class of 2015 and their families and friends gathered for breakfast before the Minnesota Bar Admissions Ceremony at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Dean Wippman and David Potter (’80), chair of the Law School’s Board of Advisors, congratulated the recent graduates on their achievements and welcomed them offi cially to the bar and to the University of Minnesota Law School alumni community.
1 George Griffiths III, Amy Griffiths, and George Griffiths (’15) 2 The Welcome to the Bar Breakfast is always a family affair. 3 Nick Devine and Mikaela Devine (’15) 3
54 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE
TRIBUTES
JOHN W. MOOTY Among his many civic contribu- CLASS OF 1944 tions, Mooty was president of the Citizens League, Rotary Club, and St. John’s Lutheran Church, chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Education, and acting chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party, as well as a frequent campaign chair and convention delegate. He coached his sons’ baseball teams and was deeply committed to both family and alma mater, where he presided over the Alumni Association, chaired the Law School’s capital fund campaign, and received the University’s Alumni Service, Outstanding Achievement, receiving his J.D. from the Law and Regent Awards. A professorship School, he worked briefl y as a law JOHN W. MOOTY, WHO GRADU- in honor of Mooty was established clerk at the newly formed Honeywell ated fi rst in his Law School class at the Law School in 1990, and Corp. before signing on with a small and became a leader in law, business, Professor Paul M. Vaaler holds the family law fi rm then known as and philanthropy, died April 17, 2015, John and Bruce Mooty Chair in Law Merchant & Merchant. He would in Edina, Minn. He was 92. and Business. remain there for 60 years, in time Born in Adrian, Minn., Mooty Mooty is survived by his wife of becoming name partner, managing earned a BSL degree at the 43 years, Jane Glaser Mooty; children partner, president, and board chair as University of Minnesota before David (’78), Bruce (’80), Charles, the fi rm grew to have offi ces in eight enrolling at the Law School, where Barbara Glaser, and Chip Glaser, and U.S. cities and a staff of more than he served on the Minnesota Law their spouses; 17 grandchildren; and 100 attorneys. Review and received the Order 13 great-grandchildren. Gould’s specialty was patent of the Coif. His fi rst job, practicing litigation, and in that capacity he corporate and merger-and-acquisi- represented clients ranging from lone tion law at the fi rm now known as inventors to such major corporations Gray Plant Mooty, lasted 70 years. JOHN D. GOULD and institutions as 3M, Medtronic, Highly respected for his business CLASS OF 1953 and the Mayo Clinic. He served as acumen, Mooty rescued two iconic president of the Minnesota Intellec- brands from near oblivion. In 1959, JOHN D. GOULD, A FOUNDER OF tual Property Law Association in he became part owner of and general the Minneapolis-based intellectual 1997-98, received the Professionalism counsel to National Car Rental, property law fi rm Merchant & Gould Award from the Hennepin County reversing the company’s downslide and a leading fi gure in the legal Bar Association in 2000, served as a before selling it in 1969. He did the community for six decades, died May court-appointed mediator and same for International Dairy Queen, 13, 2015, in St. Paul. He was 88. arbitrator, and frequently lectured serving as board chairman for more Born in Minneapolis, Gould had at law schools around the country. than 20 years before Warren Buffett what he called a “rather idyllic” child- In 2013, the Minnesota Law Review acquired the company in 1998. He hood and graduated fi rst in his high presented him with its Distinguished served on the boards of numerous school class in 1945. He enlisted in Alumni Award. corporations, including Faribault the Navy and served 13 months as a Gould is survived by his wife of Woolen Mill, and was inducted into radio technician, then enrolled at the 64 years, Mary Ravlin Gould, fi ve the Minnesota Business Hall of University, earning his bachelor’s children, ten grandchildren, and one Fame in 2003. degree in physics in 1950. After great-grandchild. ■
law.umn.edu Perspectives FALL 2015 55 ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE
IN MEMORIAM
CLASS OF 1942 CLASS OF 1953 CLASS OF 1967 Howard H. Gelb John D. Gould Ford M. Robbins September 1, 2015 May 13, 2015 June 25, 2015 St. Paul, Minn. St. Paul, Minn. Santa Fe, N.M.
CLASS OF 1944 Arthur S. Nelson Floyd D. Rudy John W. Mooty April 10, 2015 August 12, 2015 April 17, 2015 Edina, Minn. Cloquet, Minn. Bloomington, Minn. CLASS OF 1954 CLASS OF 1972 CLASS OF 1948 Richard D. Allen John G. Skogmo Arnold H. Martinsen August 2015 April 4, 2015 November 6, 2014 Edina, Minn. Minneapolis, Minn. Lenexa, Kan. Roger W. Schnobrich CLASS OF 1977 Robert C. Rice May 2015 Carolyn M. Viets July 23, 2015 Wayzata, Minn. May 27, 2015 Flandreau, S.D. Cape Coral, Fla. CLASS OF 1958 CLASS OF 1949 Richard C. Hefte CLASS OF 1982 Sherman Garon May 31, 2015 Michael T. Tierney March 23, 2015 St. Paul, Minn. June 23, 2015 St. Louis Park, Minn. Lake Nebagamon, Wis. Terry C. Klas CLASS OF 1951 April 19, 2015 CLASS OF 2003 Maurice C. Lizee Chaska, Minn. Jason A. Koch February 2, 2015 June 20, 2015 Excelsior, Minn. CLASS OF 1960 Maplewood, Minn. Roger D. Weisman Mac M. McGrew July 4, 2015 December 11, 2014 Westlake Village, Calif. Sauk Rapids, Minn. CLASS OF 1961 CLASS OF 1952 Lloyd Graven Arnold W. Larson March 23, 2015 May 25, 2015 Crystal, Minn. Duluth, Minn. CLASS OF 1965 Raymond C. Ploetz Stephen A. Bard August 3, 2015 April 8, 2015 Hanover, Minn. West Palm Beach, Fla.
CLASS OF 1966 Richard J. Schieffer September 12, 2015 Independence, Minn.
56 Perspectives FALL 2015 law.umn.edu THANK YOU, PARTNERS AT WORK
DEAN BOARD OF ADVISORS Perspectives is a general interest magazine published David Wippman Sitso W. Bediako (’08) in the fall and spring of the academic year for the Thank you to all volunteers, organizations, Amy L. Bergquist (’07) University of Minnesota Law School community of alumni, and fi rms that participated in the 8th GROUP 1 (UP TO 9 ALUMNI) ASSISTANT DEAN AND CHIEF OF STAFF Karin J. Birkeland (’87) friends, and supporters. Letters to the editor or any other annual Partners at Work challenge, which Nora Klaphake James L. Chosy (’89) communication regarding content should be sent to Jennifer Ciresi (’07) ended on June 30, 2015. Overall, 62% of Gaskins Bennett Birrell Schupp 100% Cynthia Huff ([email protected]), Director of Communications, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS William E. Drake (’66) alumni at 36 organizations made a gift to University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Avenue South, Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan 100% Cynthia Huff John F. Hartmann (’87) 421 Mondale Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455. the Law School. This year, 7 participants Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben 100% Gary J. Haugen (’74) achieved 100% alumni giving. EDITOR AND WRITER Cathy Haukedahl (’79) Zimmerman Reed 100% Jeff Johnson Rachel C. Hughey (’03) The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to The Partners at Work challenge is a Monroe Moxness Berg 88% E. Michael Johnson (’91) and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment friendly competition to increase alumni COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Jay L. Kim (’88) (Chair Elect) without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, giving participation at organizations that Valerie Mason Jeannine L. Lee (’81) gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance employ University of Minnesota Law (10-24 ALUMNI) Marshall S. Lichty (’02) status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, GROUP 2 School alumni. DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Daniel W. McDonald (’85) or gender expression. AND ANNUAL GIVING Christine L. Meuers (’83) Bassford Remele 100% Dinah C. Zebot Rebecca Egge Moos (’77) (Past Chair) A special thank you to ©2015 by University of Minnesota Law School Cyrus A. Morton (’98) those organizations that Lind, Jensen, Sullivan & Peterson 100% CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael T. Nilan (’79) Fish & Richardson 94% Kathy Graves David B. Potter (’80) (Chair) fi nished at the top of each Nilan Johnson Lewis 93% Ryan Greenwood Roshan N. Rajkumar (’00) respective group! Cathy Madison Mary S. Ranum (’83) Henson & Efron 88% Todd Melby The Honorable James M. Rajin Olson (’16) Rosenbaum (’69) Lisa A. Rotenberg (’85) COVER ILLUSTRATION Stephen P. Safranski (’97) GROUP 3 (25+ ALUMNI) Stephen Webster Amy C. Seidel (’98) Joseph P. Sullivan (’67) Maslon 100% PHOTOGRAPHERS The Honorable John R. Tunheim (’80) Charlotte Brooks Kevin Warren Winthrop & Weinstine 92% Jayme Halbritter Stinson Leonard Street 74% Humphrey School of Public Affairs Dorsey & Whitney 66% Library of Congress Tony Nelson Faegre Baker Daniels 65% Tim Rummelhoff University of Minnesota Law Library Archives Michael Vosburg
DESIGNER Launch Lab Creative For the full results of the Partners at Work challenge, go to www.law.umn.edu/generations/partners-at-work.html. FALL 2015 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE FALL 2015 421 Mondale Hall PAID 229 19th Avenue South TWIN CITIES, MN Minneapolis, MN 55455 PERMIT NO. 90155 Perspectives THE MAGAZINE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL PERSPECTIVES THE MAGAZINE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL
IN THIS ISSUE
A New Approach APRIL 15–16, 2016 to the 3L Year
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE LAW SCHOOL AND ITS ALUMNI DURING Minnesota Law A WEEKEND OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE ENTIRE LAW SCHOOL COMMUNITY. Review Celebrates 100 Volumes FRIDAY, APRIL 15: STUDENT AND ALUMNI NETWORKING EVENT AND ALL-ALUMNI COCKTAIL RECEPTION Theory at Work: SATURDAY, APRIL 16: CLE PROGRAM, ALUMNI & FACULTY LUNCHEON, AND INDIVIDUAL CLASS REUNIONS Prentiss Cox (’90) SPECIAL REUNION EVENTS WILL BE HELD FOR THE CLASSES OF: Faculty Profi le: 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, AND 2011 SUITE June Carbone FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PLANNING OF YOUR CLASS REUNION, PLEASE CONTACT DINAH ZEBOT, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & ANNUAL GIVING: SPOT 612.626.8671 OR [email protected] LAWYERS AS
Spring Alumni Weekend is about returning to remember your years at the Law School and the friendships CORPORATE LEADERS you built here. We hope you will be able to attend to celebrate and to reconnect with the Law School. We look forward to seeing you in April!
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