Fall 2002 2 Moot Court 3 Back To School 4 Paralegal Grads 5 Alumni Events 5 Profiles 6 All Class Reunion
Reunion celebrates valedictorians
Smiles lit up with recognition, surprise, and delight throughout the halls of SJCL during the All-Class Reunion, September 20, 2002.
raduates from every class, Certain comic awards, suggested by active members of the Alumni 1974 through 2002, the attendees, were also presented, Association. In particular, she urged Greminisced with classmates, including recognition for having graduates to support the upcoming faculty, board and staff while enjoying convicted a ferret owner and the Christmas party for mothers and wine and cheese. A memory board for prestigious “Worst Joke Teller” award. children from the Marjoree Mason each class featured pictures of the Center. students’ years at SJCL and a list The real beauty of SJCL’s building showing the current employment of continues to impress graduates as did The event was spearheaded by Joan each graduate. the growing library collection. Some Lassley, Law Coordinator for SJCL, of SJCL’s holdings date from before assisted by members of the SJCL A medallion was presented to the the American Revolution. Alumni Association and SJCL staff. A valedictorian of each of SJCL’s twenty- great time was had by all! nine graduating classes as a permanent Alumni Association President Melissa See Law Reunion page 6 memento of their achievements. White invited all graduates to become
SJCL Valedictorians: FRONT ROW (L-R): Michelle Pepper, Hon. Nancy Cisneros; MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Carol Corey, Bethany Baker, Tamanee Krazan, Mark Pasculli; BACK ROW (L-R): Trisha Beckstead, Kathy Hart, Regina Derryberry, Mark Blum, Cynthia Scully, Dan Green, Deborah Coe, Suzanne McGuire, Randy Penner, Kimberly Nystrom-Geist Hopper Moot Court Competition
This competition provides students the unique experience of participating in oral argument of a fictional Supreme Court case.
herrie Flynn was named Best Oral Advocate and Ed Day and SDeborah Sandoval shared Best Brief honors at the 23d Annual George A. Hopper Moot Court Competition.
The competition this year involved issues regarding the right to seek consideration of a previously dis- missed writ of habeus corpus and the imposition of a life sentence under the (L-R) Honorable Steven M. Vartabedian, Associate Justice, 5th District Court of Appeal; Three Strikes law. For the competi- Sherrie Flynn, Best Oral Advocate; Honorable Rebecca A. Wiseman, Associate Justice, tion, teams of two students prepared 5th District Court of Appeal; Jason Taylor, Best Oral Advocate Finalist; Jeremy Lusk, Best briefs for either the appellant or Oral Advocate Finalist; Deborah Sandoval, Best Oral Advocate Finalist; and Honorable respondent. Each student then argued Lawrence O’Neill, U.S. Magistrate Judge. first for one side, then for the other side, in front of a panel of experienced attorneys and judges. From these preliminary rounds eight semi-finalists advanced for another day of argument. The four finalists then competed on the third day arguing before Associate Justice Steven Vardabedian, Associate Justice Rebecca Wiseman, both of the California Court of Appeal for the Fifth District and Judge Lawrence O’Neill, Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Our congratulations to all the participants in the competition and our gratitude to each and every attorney and judge who gave of their Back Row (L-R): Crissy Jelladian, Best Oral Advocate Semi-Finalist; Jeremy Lusk, Best time and experience to assist the Oral Advocate Finalist; Ed Day, Best Brief; Deborah Sandoval, Best Oral Advocate Finalist process of creating skilled attorneys. & Best Brief; and Brenda Linder, Best Brief Finalist & Best Oral Advocate Semi-Finalist. Front Row (L-R): Humphrey Valero, Best Brief Finalist; Lazaro Salazar, Best Oral Advocate Semi-Finalist; Sherrie Flynn, Best Oral Advocate; Jason Taylor, Best Oral Advocate Finalist & Best Brief Finalist; and Paul Jaurique, Best Oral Advocate Semi-Finalist. Not pictured: Joaquin Borunda, Best Brief Finalist
Board of Trustees Douglas Noll, J.D., Chair; Hon. James A. Ardaiz, Vice-Chair; John Loomis, J.D., Treasurer
Ross Borba, Jr.; Richard Caglia, J.D.; Hon. Jane Cardoza; Carol Smittcamp Copeland; Edward D. Fanucchi, J.D.; Traci Fritzler, J.D.; James K. Herbert, LL.B.; Jan L. Kahn, J.D.; Kendall Manock, J.D.; Michael Marderosian, J.D.; Elizabeth O’Neill, J.D.; Hon. Robert Oliver; Susie Osterberg; Wanda L. Rogers; Roland Soltesz, SBA President; Dennis Veeh, CPA; Dr. Vivian Vidoli; David Weiland, J.D.; Melissa White, Alumni Representative, J.D.
2 SJCL Inter Alia Casino Night at SJCL
On Friday, August 23, SJCL’s Student Bar Association celebrated the beggining of school with its annual back to school night.
(L-R) Cynthia Brock, SBA Second Year Representative (Law ‘04), Offord Rollins (Law ‘05), Dianne Condley, Eric Kapigian (Law ‘06), Joaquin Borunda, SBA Third Year Representative (Law ‘03), Gianluca Alessia (Law ‘06), and Rolland Soltesz, SBA President (Law ‘03).
SBA President, Rolland Soltesz, at the craps table trying to earn Erin & Brent Woodward (Law ‘04) and Amy & Alex Merriam more “fun money”. At the end of the evening the “fun money” (Law ‘04) try their luck at blackjack. was exchanged for raffle tickets for a variety of prizes.
Full-Time Faculty Lawrence M. Artenian, Richard M. Cartier, Denise M. Kerner, Kathryn McTigue-Floyd, Janice L. Pearson, Sally A. Perring, Jeffrey G. Purvis Adjunct Faculty Marc C. Ament, Hon. James A. Ardaiz, Jesse J. Avila, Barry J. Bennett, Salvador M. Blanco, Stanley A. Boone, David M. Camenson, Lloyd Carter, Catherine J. Cerna, Hilary Chittick, Jonathan Conklin, John P. Eleazarian, Christine Goodrich, Hon. Michael Haubner, Sara Hedgpeth-Harris, Kathi Kesselman, Michael P. Mallery, William T. McLaughlin II, Mark D. Miller, Hon. Lawrence J. O’Neill, Douglas E. Noll, Deborah Davis Owdom, Rosendo Pena, Jr., Neal Pereira, Russell K. Ryan, Rose Safarian, Rene Turner Sample, Sarah A. Schmidt, Michael Seng, Hon. Mark Snauffer, David J. Weiland, E. Robert Wright
SJCL Inter Alia 3 Congratulations California Paralegal Grads Supreme The Fall 2001-2002 class of the San Joaquin College of Law Court Paralegal Program graduated on August 16, 2002. comes to Fresno
For the first time in history, the California Supreme Court held a special session of its oral argument calendar in Fresno on Tuesday, October 8, and Wednesday, October 9, 2002. The session, which included 10 cases, was held in the Court- room for the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
The special session was opened with welcoming remarks by (L-R) Jennifer Wright; Joshua Thornton; Valerie Sorensen; John Allen Jr.; Chief Justice George and Jennifer Ezell; Theresa Bryant; Pam Ramirez, Program Director; and Mark Cresci. Presiding Justice James Ardaiz, of the Fifth District Court of celebratory reception and loves her new employment as a Appeal and SJCL Board program was held at San paralegal with a Worker’s Comp firm. Member. A Joaquin College of Law with We are proud of these graduates and Harry Pascuzzi as the keynote speaker know they will join the ranks of San San Joaquin College of Law was and Valerie Sorensen as the valedictory Joaquin College of Law Paralegals a proud sponsor of the live speaker. Mark Cresci received the contributing to the legal profession. broadcast of this event on Outstanding Student award. KVPT (PBS Channel 18) throughout the Central Valley All of the graduates were working in SJCL’s Paralegal and the State. the legal field by the end of the Program was started in program except Valerie Sorensen. Valerie had not looked for local 1991 and has produced employment as her husband had been over 4oo graduates many transferred earlier to the Huntington Beach, CA area. We are pleased that of whom have gone on to Valerie stayed in Fresno to complete complete their Juris the program. She landed a job within Doctorate. two days after moving and says she
Staff Janice L. Pearson, Dean; Sally A. Perring, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Tom Chacon, Accounting Assistant; Ken Coyle, M.I.S. Director; Mark Enns, Director of Recruitment & Public Relations; Maureen Hayes, Assistant to Chief Financial Officer; Lonzetta Hightower, Secretary/ Receptionist; Joan Lassley, Law Program Coordinator / Facilities Administrator; Pamela Matthews, Assistant Director of Development; Kathryn McTigue-Floyd, Library Director; Joyce Morodomi, Admissions Director / Registrar; Tara Crabtree, Assistant Librarian; Pam Ramirez, Director, Paralegal Program / Director, Placement Services; Rick Rodriguez, Maintenance Supervisor; Patricia Smith, MCLE Coordinator; Jill Waller-Randles, Chief Financial Officer; Gwen Watt, Financial Aid Director
4 SJCL Inter Alia Alumni Profiles
The year 2002 is the Twentieth Anniversary of the graduation of the Class of 1982 and the Tenth Anniversary of the Class of 1992. Throughout the year, we will be letting you know “where they are now.”
Ronda has served in every possible Peter Wasemiller 1982 assignment, including the Sexual Peter has worked in higher education Deborah Byron Assault and Homicide teams. She administration and teaching at Fresno Deborah clerked at McCormick, currently supervises the Welfare Pacific University since shortly after Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte & Carruth Fraud, Child Abduction, and Special graduating from law school. He is during law school, then joined the Remedies Unit. Ronda says hers is a currently the Director of University firm as an associate upon graduation. great job with great people. Ronda Grants and Research. His office She took a two-year hiatus to work as serves on the Board of the Fresno coordinates all grant activity for a Senior Research Attorney for Justice Rape Counseling Service. Fresno Pacific from research to grant Hollis Best at the Fifth District Court submittal to grant management. He is of Appeal from 1988-1990. Thereaf- Ronda is married to James Little, a also responsible for prospect research ter, she returned to litigation at the California Highway Patrol officer of for the development office. Peter has firm, becoming a partner. Her practice 30 years. She has two stepchildren and taught a variety of courses in the for the last 12 years has been repre- now two grandchildren. They enjoy undergraduate program, including senting employers in employment law their cabin at Shaver Lake and History, Political Science, Environ- litigation, principally discrimination, hanging out with the grandkids. The mental Law, and the Legal Environ- wrongful termination, and hanging out includes playing Uno ment of Business. For the latter course harassment cases. with the triplets—children of her he often returns fondly to his law brother-in-law and sister-in-law. school Contracts class. He has also Deborah is married to Superior Court collaborated with another SJCL Judge, Don Black; they have two sons. As to law school, Ronda remembers graduate, Adina Janzen (1985) in As a family, they enjoy movies, water the great camaraderie of her class. They teaching law for educators. sports, their mountain cabin, and were always doing something together. Continued page 8 following the kids’ sports games.
Deborah remembers enjoying law school. She would always rather be a student. The class was a very close-knit Alumni Association group and supportive of each other. SJCL’s Alumni Association Board encourages you to participate in the She remembers Judge Wanger’s final in following events: Civil Procedure that asked about the “EIRE” Doctrine. She could not figure out what the “EIRE” Doctrine Nominations for Board Members was. She knew about the ERIE Get involved by being on the Alumni Association Board. As a Board Doctrine, but not the “EIRE” Member, you attend monthly meetings and help plan alumni functions. Doctrine. Deborah also remembers Call 323-2100 by November 7 to nominate alumni that would like to Judge Caeton asking Steve Polacek to participate on the Board, including yourself. diagram “the fruit of the poisonous tree” on the blackboard. The class had never before been asked to diagram a Membership Drive case. The color went out of Steve’s face When you receive your Membership Drive letter, please fill it in and and the entire balance of the class tried return with your annual dues of $30. The annual dues provide scholar- to hide to avoid being the back-up ships for SJCL students and other activities. candidate for board work. Ronda Duncan Ninth Annual Christmas Party Ronda went immediately to the Watch for our flyer announcing we are hosting the Marjaree Mason Fresno County District Attorney’s Center. Please donate to help support this wonderful holiday tradition. Office from law school. As a D.A.,
SJCL Inter Alia 5 SJCL’s Valedictorians Law Reunion 1974 Leland D. Sterling an Joaquin College of 1975 Robert G. Williams Law decided to start a 1976 Deborah Davis Owdom Snew tradition of giving the 1977 Kathy Hart Seiler Valedictorian a comemorative medallion. The medallion 1978 Mary Ann Bluhm features the SJCL Seal incorpo- Judy Evans rating a “V” in the background 1979 Fran Wessel Christiansen and includes a display stand 1980 Hon. Nancy Cisneros with the student’s name and graduation year engraved on the 1981 Randall M. Penner base. SJCL retroactiveley 1982 Deborah A. Byron honored all of its Valedictorians 1983 Linda M. Rousse at this year’s All Class Reunion 1984 Carolyn Albers on September 20, 2002. 1985 Reggie Derryberry 1986 Tamanee A. Charnin Krazan 1987 Carol S. Corey 1988 Bethany R. Baker 1989 Cynthia R. Scully 1990 Michael J. Jurkovich 1991 Deborah Ann Coe 1992 Mark A. Blum Kimberly J. Nystrom-Geist 1993 Carla Rae Dietle Bourne 1994 Mark Andre Pasculli 1995 Jeremias F. DeMelo, Jr. 1996 Lori J. Anderson 1997 Danny William Green 1998 Tracy Elizabeth Sagle
1999 Suzanne D. McGuire Angela Ransom (Law ‘97), Traci Fritzler (Law ‘97), and 2000 Stefanie Jill Krause-Cota Steve Alfieris (Law ‘97) 2001 Michelle Pepper 2002 Trisha Lynn Beckstead
Valedictorian Kathy Hart (Law ‘77) and Donna Korotie (Law ‘85) Geoffrey Sims (Law ‘93) and Steve Hrdlicka (Law ‘84)
6 SJCL Inter Alia Annette Ballatore-Williamson (Law ‘97), Judith Baron (Law ‘97), Kathleen McKenna (Law ‘99) and Alumni Mark Pasculli (Law ‘94) and Mark’s wife Lori Board President Melissa White (Law ‘96)
Flora Istanboulian (Law ‘87) SJCL Founder and Board of Trustee member Mark Blum (Law ‘92) and Ka’Ren Ketendjian (Law ‘92) and Judy Ward (Law ‘74) John Loomis and Jim Wasson (Law ‘75)
SJCL would like to thank the following people for helping make the All Class Reunion possible. Richard Caglia and Richard & Michelle Oleksa donated the wine. Gene Bruce donated the grapes. Michelle Oleksa, Kathy (McGurty) McKenna, Pat Harter, Melissa White, Paul Rodriguez, Linda Richardson, Traci Fritzler, and Lisa Sondergard donated their time to make calls to invite other alumni. They also helped Jan Pearson, Dean, with the “Where are they now” sheets listing each graduate’s current legal employment. David Schneider (Law ‘00) holding his daughter Courtney with wife Melissa
SJCL Inter Alia 7 Peter is married to Diana who works actually in the office. “It’s wonderful for a food packaging and distribution 1992 to be living the lifestyle that I used to company. She has the accountant’s Karen Duncan only dream was possible.” mind to balance Peter’s lawyer/ Karen Duncan joined the partnership philosopher bent. Their daughter is a of Oliver & Duncan in Oakhurst six Richard Hemb freshman at Bullard. She is interested months after graduating from law Richard hung out a shingle and in math and science, plays piano, loves school and passing the bar. She took opened his own practice the day he photography, and is a Jimmy Stewart and passed the Oregon bar in 1997. got word he had passed the bar. His fan. Their son is in fifth grade, loves The partnership moved to Redmond, practice emphasizes estate planning books (the whole family does, really), Oregon in January, 1998. Their and business transactions. He is a has a red belt in Tae Kwon Do, and practice consists of plaintiff's labor member of the Fresno County Bar loves the Beatles. In fact, they are and employment cases and family law, Association and the Estate Planning currently adding a room to their house especially interstate family law matters Section of the California State Bar. He to accommodate an enormous organ because of their membership in both also teaches an estate planning class at inherited from Diana’s great aunt. the California and Oregon bars. Clovis Adult School. And in his free They also enjoy family travel, garden- time —he golfs!!! ing, and cooking. Karen picked Redmond because “it is Richard remembers the camaraderie of a good place to rodeo out of” which his class. If you got beaten up in class Peter says his wife had the good tells you the real love of Karen's life - you knew that it would soon be fortune not to meet him until he was team roping, calf roping, and someone else’s turn, so everyone stuck in his fourth year of law school. He breakaway roping. Karen says she is together. celebrated his 20th anniversary of law “living the dream.” She does much of school graduation alone in a condo at her legal work on a laptop while Maureen Holford Pismo Beach working on his masters’ traveling from rodeo to rodeo on the Maureen had worked in every possible thesis. National Senior Professional Rodeo capacity at Parichan, Renberg, circuit. Last year she was ranked third Crossland & Harvey before starting Peter also remembers the “fruit of the in the United States in the 40-50 age law school. During law school, she poisonous tree” incident; the class was group in Team Roping (headers). This clerked for the firm, then became an horrified. Peter was grateful that his year she is currently ranked first in the associate upon graduation. In April of name was long and more difficult to Breakaway Roping and won the 1997, Maureen opened her own pronounce because Judge Caeton Women's All Around competition in practice concentrating on research and seemed to call more frequently on the the Northwest Circuit. The year-end writing projects on a contract basis, students with simple names. Outside Finals will be in Reno, Nevada the exclusively in civil litigation. She of class, however, Judge Caeton was a first week of November. Karen is also prepares discovery motions, briefs, and party animal, always having a good on her way to Canada this month for writs, but the bulk of her work is time with the class. Contracts the Canadian Senior Professional complex summary judgment motions. Professor Mike Case gave Peter a Rodeo Finals where she is ranked third concept he remembers to this day and in Ribbon Roping and eighth in Team Maureen’s daughter served in uses in his own classes – “Let the Idiot Roping for 2002. Needless to say, the Americorp and is now studying Know.” In other words, when you are practice also does a significant amount psychology at California State answering an essay question, assume of equine law. University, Sacramento. Her son is an the reader knows nothing and spell it Emergency Medical Technician with all out so even an idiot, like the All Karen really remembers about law American Ambulance currently professor who is reading it, can school is the big personal transition stationed at the Command Dispatch understand it. she had to go through to get there and Center. the hours and hours of work. She Peter remembers his study group never wanted the big firm job, just a When asked what she did for fun, preparing for finals in a mountain small practice that could be integrated Maureen responded “What??? Fun?? cabin. Everyone became fabulous with rodeo and ranching. Karen’s What’s that?” Her practice keeps her cooks because meals were the big event office is located 2 miles from her very busy. She does, however, read A of the day. Peter really enjoyed his ranch in central Oregon where she LOT and is totally hooked on politics. classmates a lot and, better still, he raises longhorn and corriente-cross knows so many lawyers, he can always cattle as a sideline. She takes her blue- get help on any sort of issue. heeler dog (Dally) to work with her every day – that is every day that she’s
8 SJCL Inter Alia Maureen remembers being terrified of ground lakes). She says she looks and Kile McCarty Jan Pearson in Torts. (?????) She really listens for the possibility that is Upon graduating and passing the bar, enjoyed the intellectual challenge and present in people and situations to Kile says the first thing he did was stimulation of law school. promote the greatness in each. really celebrate. Then he worked for two years with Horswill, Mederos & Marlene Hubbell Marlene’s (very successful) Moot Dorman in Tulare. In 1994, Kile Marlene commenced practicing law as Court competitions are some of her opened his own practice doing family an associate with Sarah Schmidt for best memories of law school. She also law, real estate transactions, and her first 4 years after graduation, then remembers having to read more than construction and general business becoming a partner in Schmidt she ever had to read before in her life, litigation. In 1999, he joined Hubbell LLP until December 2000. resulting in having to get thicker McCormick, Kabot, Jenner & Watson The firm focused on investigating, glasses. Above all, she was impressed doing litigation for public entities in preventing and litigating insurance that law school draws so many Tulare County. In March of 2001, he fraud cases including personal injury different people from different walks ventured out on his own again, fraud, arson, residential, vehicle and of life together to learn the same skills, emphasizing business and construc- commercial frauds. She worked closely and then disperses them out again to tion litigation. with Special Investigation Units, contribute those skills to create and Licensing Boards, Law Enforcement achieve so many things in the name of On June 15, 2002, Kile married his and District Attorneys in combating practicing law. wife, Shereen. With Shereen’s son, fraud. During that time, Marlene also Steven, and Kile’s two girls, Kaitlin taught the Moot Court class at SJCL and Megan, from his previous for five years and coached traveling Ka’Ren Ketendjian marriage, Kile’s free time is devoted teams. Beginning January 2001, Ka’Ren immigrated from Armenia almost exclusively to family stuff - Marlene served as in-house counsel for shortly before starting law school. boating at Don Pedro and Pine Flat Farmers Insurance Group of Compa- Although he had taught English in the reservoirs and trips to the coast. nies through the firm of Banner & Soviet Union, adjusting to immersion Wells, with her primary caseload in English and American culture was a Kile says the first night of class in Civil servicing the Bakersfield Branch major challenge. Ka’Ren describes his Procedure with Judge Wanger is Claims Office. Her trial results have four years of law school as the most etched in his mind for eternity. He been published regularly. Commenc- difficult of his life. That he succeeded had not read every page of the ing January 2002, Marlene opened her and passed the California bar was a assignment and when called upon to own general practice involving civil significant personal victory for him. define a Latin term, he had no clue. and certain criminal cases, unlawful That experience guaranteed he would detainer law, collections, family law, After graduation, Ka’Ren first worked never show up for class unprepared and bankruptcy as well as providing for Greg Morris & Associates. In again. Kile also remembers many support in the form of contract and September of 1994, he joined the firm exhausting and rewarding hours of special appearance work. She is of Villareal & Farley which became discussion, usually arguing over the currently adding mediation and Farley & Ketendjian in June of 1995. finer points of the law, with his study alternative dispute resolution to her Ka’ren’s practice now consists of group, which included classmates Tim array of services. worker’s compensation and immigra- Mazzela, Bruce Nickel, Wes tion cases. From fall of 1993 to fall of Hammond, and Karen McCarter. The pregnancy that persuaded 1996, he also taught Russian language Marlene to miss most of Mr. Evans’ at California State University, Fresno. Rose Mohan P.R. course is now eleven years old. Since graduating from law school, Austin attends Rio Vista Middle Ka’ren’s parents and brother also live in Rose worked with Forrest, Henderson, School and wants to grow up to sell Fresno. His brother, Armen, is a Sloan & Davis and Jory, Peterson, Baby Bobcats, and construction and classical musician. Ka’Ren loves to Watkins & Smith. On September 16, agricultural equipment (all read history and fiction and travels 2002, she opened the Law Offices of earthmoving machines). Marlene is extensively. He went back to Armenia Rose E. Mohan, specializing in into anything that is energetic and for the first time in 2001 where he employment law in state and federal pushes her limits. For Marlene, these found that introduction of a market court and business and civil litigation. include ballroom and swing dancing, economy had significantly improved Rose says the best two years of her white water rafting and kayaking, the variety and quality of goods career were spent as an understudy to hiking, and spelunking (cave exploring available. Although he still saw some Ted Forrest. Her goal is to endow fully including swimming through under- elements of corruption, the economy the Theodore Forrest Memorial was growing rapidly with much promise for people for the future.
SJCL Inter Alia 9 Scholarship Fund at SJCL so that an • Jan Pearson’s negligence chart Kim is still married to Rod whom she annual scholarship can be given to a • midnight hours in the law review describes as the nicest man in the future litigator to pay the cost of the office giving birth to the first world. Their son is in his third year of bar exam. volume of the San Joaquin Agricul- college in the Smitcamp program at tural Law Review. Marlene Hubbell California State University, Fresno. Five years ago on a trip to Ireland, had to top that by giving real The family also consists of a fat old Rose discovered her Irish relatives, birth while she was an editor of bichon and a lhasa apso who is an avid including a half brother living in New that edition. TV watcher, except for basketball York who is twenty-five years older • Moot Court road trips with Sarah which he hates. Kim loves to be home than her. The extensive research that Schmidt, Mark Blum, and spending time with friends and family. led to this discovery was sipping a tall Jim Dubbels. She is a devoted, but only moderately one in a local pub in the village where • a diet of coffee, cigarettes, successful, gardener. her father was born. The pub owner and donuts. directed her straight to her father’s • parking lot dialogues with Kim says she loved law school: “it was birthplace. Rose is spending this class members the most fun ever. I loved the people October in the west of Ireland with • nightly phone calls with and the material and the school. her brother and his family to meet Leah Cole during bar review. When you go to school as an adult, their only known surviving Irish • friendships that endure. you value it much more.” cousins who still live on the land owned by Rose’s grandparents. She Kathryn Roberts plans to do more pub research. Kimberly Fresh out of law school, Kathryn Nystrom-Geist opened her own office in Merced as Rose’s other family members include Kim began clerking for Judith Leslie- under Roberts Law Office. She now Doe One, who as a kitten studied for Soley after Kim’s first year of law also has a satellite office in Fresno, the bar sitting on bar outlines, Dinky, school. She joined the Leslie-Soley where she still lives. After training in Rose’s guardian angel, and Tigger, the firm as an associate immediately upon mediation procedures, she changed alpha upstart youngster. Rose enjoys graduation. She became a Certified the name of her practice to Roberts gourmet cooking, giving dinner Family Law Specialist in February of Law & Mediation Offices. Her parties, designing her Japanese garden, 1997. Kim became a shareholder and practice consists of family law and the self-named Beautiful and Intelli- the firm became Leslie-Soley and personal injury. As the “boss” in her gent Women’s Book Club, writing, Nystrom-Geist in 1998. office, Kathryn reports that it is good and genealogy. She has raised funds not to have someone else looking over for the Mary Haven Center for Kim blames this association on Dean her shoulder. She will admit, however, homeless women and served as a Moot Pearson. She says at the end of the first that knowing the “buck stops at her Court judge at SJCL. year, Dean Pearson asked her if she desk” for everything, especially payroll, wanted to practice family law. Kim can be a bit stressful. As to law school, Rose remembers: answered “No”. Two weeks later, the • being afraid Justice Ardaiz would dean repeated the question, so Kim As to Kathryn’s personal life, she and call on her and she wouldn’t know decided she should check it out. She Ken still live in Woodward Park where the answer. interviewed with Judy Leslie-Soley and Kathryn spends as much time • Judge Ardaiz’s final exam question never left. Fortunately, Kim also says it gardening as possible, while Ken is involving the wink test. all worked out wonderfully. deep into “dead ancestors.” Their • Judge Wanger’s war stories and children, who were teens during law his suits. Kim’s practice is exclusively family law. school causing typical teen problems, • the thrill of her practice trial in She served on the Resolutions are now professionals themselves. Magistrate Judge O’Neill’s Trial Committee of the Conference of Jennifer is a registered dietician at Practice class. Delegates of the State Bar of Califor- Corona Regional Hospital. Burke, • Jackie Schaad Yates waiving her nia for three years. She then served for who has a degree in finance, is now a hand every time an instructor three years on the Executive Commit- “headhunter” with a local company asked a question. tee of the Conference of Delegates. In (that is, when he is not golfing). Both • Mark Blum’s irritating habit of 2000, Kim was the chair of the local Kathryn and Ken have an interest in knowing everything, including Family Law Section and now serves on jazz and are resolved to stop re- case cites. the Family Law Section Executive remodeling the house and start • the feoffment ceremony in Committee of the State Bar. She sits traveling to as many jazz festivals Real Property. regularly as Judge Pro Tem on a as possible. domestic violence calendar.
10 SJCL Inter Alia Recalling her days at SJCL, Kathryn Between her husband and herself, they Sally Perring’s Real Property class. He goes back to her first interview with have five children- all grown - and remembers the banana peel cases from Dean Pearson. Having conflicting now 8 grandchildren. Most of their Torts, mainly because of the demon- thoughts about going to law school free time is spent visiting the scattered strative evidence — real, brown, icky- after so many years of teaching, the children and grandchildren, as well as sticky old banana peels. Oddly Dean is reported to have said “Well, in other travel. Mary’s daughter enough, this is the type of evidence he you can do a ‘little work’ and have a married an Englishman. Now the now looks for in his “slip and fall” JD in four years, or you can muck family is going to England next cases against supermarkets. Last of all, around for four years, and at the end August to attend her son-in-law’s he remembers the first year of law of the four years, you will still be four mother’s wedding ceremony. Mary is school when Jackie Yates won the title years older but have no degree.” also active in committee work for her of “Prom Queen” for the class of 1992. Kathryn is certain that was the Dean’s Methodist church. well-rehearsed line to potential Melanie O’Mara Taylor students; nevertheless, it worked (and Mary says her memories of law school Shortly after she learned she had probably still does!). As to other get better with the passage of time. passed the bar, Judge O’Neill called specifics about SJCL, Kathryn She remembers the “post mortems” in Melanie asking if she could fill in at remembers many long night classes the parking lot after exams; she always the Public Defender’s office for two and many early mornings writing thought she had missed every issue months for an attorney on medical papers on her old Apple 2E computer. after those discussions. Mary remem- leave. She handled dependency She also remembers many good bers the camaraderie of the class. hearings during that period, then did friends and many exciting lectures. There was a special bonding that does contract work with the conflict office And Kathryn remembers that after not occur in undergraduate work; the for the P.D. In April, 1996, Melanie four long years of study, when she was stressors bring people together. became a Deputy District Attorney, also law-clerking 40 hours-plus, she representing minors in dependency was so excited about graduating that hearings and somehow managing not she literally had difficulty sitting still, Scott Vanwagenen to burn out. let alone concentrating for classes. But Scott has worked for a total of 14 years more than anything, Kathryn will for Perez, Williams & Medina, first as In September, 1992, Melanie married always remember the SJCL experience a paralegal, then as a law clerk, and Nick Taylor. Their daughter, Annie, as the most intellectually stimulating now as an associate. His practice was born in February, 1996. Sons time in her life. consists principally of plaintiff’s John and Nick were born in January, personal injury cases and workers’ 1999 and August, 2001 respectively. Mary Rogers compensation. Nick is now the principal at Wilson Mary joined the firm of Crowe, Elementary School in Sanger. They Williams, Jordan, Richey & Broderson Scott and his two children, Shawn, 15, live on five acres in Clovis where they in Visalia as an associate upon and Courtney, 12, live on 5 ½ acres in board two horses. With three children, graduation from law school. When Prather. Shawn attends Sierra High most free time is spend doing kid stuff that partnership dissolved, she became School where he is active in the jazz as well as a lot of yard work. part of Richey & Rogers. In January band. Courtney is into volleyball and of 1997, Mary opened a sole propri- drama. As a family, they enjoy Melanie remembers the difficulty of etorship. She contracts with Tulare anything that gets them outdoors— working, going to school, and trying County to act as public defender in skiing (snow and water), riding to get to know her eventual husband dependency hearings, generally motorcycles, taking cross-country jeep when she didn’t get out of school until representing the child. She also excursions. 10 p.m. every night. She also remem- handles plaintiff personal injury work, bers hanging out and studying with along with some medical malpractice Scott has very particular memories of Jane Woodcock, Wes Hammond, Gail cases and some estate planning. law school. He remembers Oliver Sears, and Cheryl Stollar. Wanger’s lectures which he describes as more like demonstrations than lectures. He remembers “fee tail male”, an ancient conveyancing term from
SJCL Inter Alia 11 LegalPad LexisNexis Announcing the LexisNexis Ramp Up Program for New Attorneys. Save 75% off the list price of a first year subscription. Call Deborah Stokes at 559/433-1647 for details. Bookstore The Bookstore also has a complete listing of the books it carries on SJCL’s website at www.sjcl.edu/bookstore.html We want updates We want to know what you are doing. Include your current address, family information, recent accomplishments, and any other LegalPad is San Joaquin College of Law’s new bulletin board. LegalPad is information or photos you would a great way for SJCL’s alumni and students to share ideas and expertise with like to provide. Then send us the each other. LegalPad also features SJCL’s official calendar where all of information by fax: (559) 323-5566, SJCL’s events and programs will be posted. Registration is quick, simple, email: [email protected], or mail: and free. If you have any questions about this new feature of our website, Mark Enns, SJCL, 901 5th Street, please contact Mark Enns at 559/323-2100 or [email protected]. Clovis, California 93612.
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