Minnesota Law | Spring 2019 by University of Minnesota Law School

SPRING 2019

When Media Is Your Medium In a Highly Dynamic Industry, Alumni Are Making Their Mark

+ NEW COLLABORATIONS

Innocence Project of Minnesota relocates to Law School CLINIC SUCCESSES

Three students argue, win 6th Circuit appeal LAW LIBRARY

New exhibit honors Judge Diana Murphy â&#x20AC;&#x2122;74, other trailblazers

LAURA COATES '05 CNN LEGAL ANALYST

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL MAGAZINE

DEAN Garry W. Jenkins

2018–2019 BOARD OF ADVISORS

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Daniel W. McDonald ’85, Chair Gary J. Haugen ’74, Chair-Elect Amy C. Seidel ’98, Immediate Past Chair

Mark A. Cohen

EDITOR AND WRITER Jeff Johnson

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Monica Wittstock

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Luke Johnson

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT David Jensen

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AND ANNUAL GIVING Elissa Ecklund Chaffee

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dick Dahl Kathy Graves Ryan Greenwood Jessica Griffith Dan Heilman Chuck Leddy Cathy Madison Todd Melby Mike Mosedale

PHOTOGRAPHERS Deena Hamdan Jay Mallin Tony Nelson Tim Rummelhoff Rebecca Slater

DESIGNER Erin Gibbons, Launch Lab Creative

Ann M. Anaya ’93 Joseph M. Barbeau ’81 Jeanette M. Bazis ’92 Sitso W. Bediako ’08 Amy L. Bergquist ’07 Karin J. Birkeland ’87 Rachel S. Brass ’01 Barbara Jean D’Aquila ’79 John F. Hartmann ’87 The Honorable Natalie E. Hudson ’82 Rachel C. Hughey ’03 Ronald E. Hunter ’78 Nora L. Klaphake ’94 Greg J. Marita ’91 Ambassador Tom McDonald ’79 Christine L. Meuers ’83 Michelle A. Miller ’86 Cyrus A. Morton ’98 Michael T. Nilan ’79 Pamela F. Olson ’80 Roshan N. Rajkumar ’00 Mary S. Ranum ’83 Stephen P. Safranski ’97 Michael L. Skoglund ’01 Michael P. Sullivan, Jr. ’96 Bryn R. Vaaler ’79 Renae L. Welder ’96 Minnesota Law is a general interest magazine published in the fall and spring of the academic year for the University of Minnesota Law School community of alumni, friends, and supporters. Letters to the editor or any other communication regarding content should be sent to Mark Cohen (mcohen@umn.edu), Director of Communications, University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Avenue South, 421 Mondale Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455. The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. ©2019 University of Minnesota Board of Regents

FROM THE DEAN

Committed to Collaboration and Community

HE LAW SCHOOL’S COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION and community has

been a hallmark of its 130-year-plus history. As the stories in this edition of Minnesota Law magazine illustrate, dedication to these ideals manifests itself in a wide variety of ways at the Law School and among its alumni, faculty, students, staff, and partners. One exciting new example of both collaboration and community here at the Law School is the relocation of the Innocence Project of Minnesota to Mondale Hall. IPMN’s move is part of an expanded partnership that will offer opportunities for greater Law School involvement in IPMN’s critical work: freeing individuals who have been convicted of crimes they did not commit and ensuring that such wrongful convictions do not occur in the future. This involvement will come in many forms, including increased opportunities for our students to work on pending cases, engage in advocacy and policy work, and perform community outreach. Having IPMN at the Law School fits in with a key objective to make it one of the go-to law schools in the country for students interested in public interest law. Preparing our graduates to serve in leadership posts in government is another way in which the Law School contributes to the public good. Our story on alumni rising to high positions at the Minnesota Capitol includes profiles of the speaker of the House (Melissa Hortman ’95), the House majority leader (Ryan Winkler ’01), and the governor’s chief of staff (Chris Schmitter ’13). But our reach expands beyond Minnesota. In our “Alumni Interrogatory” feature, you can read about Kyle Hawkins ’09, the solicitor general of Texas. These individuals—and numerous others—exemplify the Law School’s preeminent place in creating lawyer-leaders who serve our communities, regions, and nation. Our clinics are another way in which we leverage our expertise for the good of the community. In one case highlighted in this issue, our students from the James H. Binger Center for New Americans argued and won a significant case protecting the procedural rights of immigrants. In addition, the Center’s recently launched Rural Immigrant Access Clinic helps bring legal representation to immigrants who would not otherwise have it. Other stories of service to the community abound. Professor William McGeveran’s work on data and privacy issues and Professor Susan Wolf’s work at

the intersection of law and medicine are just two of a plethora of faculty examples. Both engage in policy work and use collaborative approaches that extend their reach well beyond their fields. Our “Impact of Giving” feature highlights another type of community impact. Robert J. Owens ’69 gives back by helping law students secure postgraduate employment with prominent public and private employers throughout the country. Those students will, in turn, serve their communities as lawyer-leaders and amplify the Minnesota Law tradition of giving back. In short, the ideals of community and collaboration are inextricably linked components of the Law School’s DNA. Being a part of such a great tradition is one of my greatest points of pride as dean, and it is one of the many things that make Minnesota Law a special place.

Garry W. Jenkins Dean and William S. Pattee Professsor of Law

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SPRING 2019 CONTENTS

FEATURES 1FROM THE DEAN Committed to Collaboration and Community

4 FOR THE RECORD

In a Highly Dynamic Industry, Alumni Are Making Their Mark

4 5 6

In Brief Mondale Moments Honoring MLK’s Legacy

Innocence Project Moves In

Students Win 6th Circuit Appeal

Three 3Ls argue, win a 6th Circuit immigration appeal

Students Help Honduran Woman Win Claim for Asylum; Student Attorney Gets Client Unemployment Benefits Pioneers in the Courtroom

Recent Rare Acquisitions

13 14

When Media Is Your Medium

CNN analyst Laura Coates ’05 urges vigilance at annual convocation Relocation to Mondale Hall part of an enhanced collaboration between IPMN, Law School

Law Library pays tribute to Judge Diana Murphy ’74, women in the law Library acquires Darrow letter, 17th-century documents

New Clinic Helps Immigrants in Rural Areas Impact of Giving: Robert Owens ’69

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Minnesota Law Alumni Take Center Stage at State Capitol

In the Room Where it Happens

Chris Schmitter ’13 takes on new role as governor’s chief of staff

Theory at Work

Professor William McGeveran’s policy work and innovative practicum are helping to tame the Wild West of privacy law and data security

34 ALL RISE 34 Leading Questions

1L Navin Ramalingam

36 Student News 39 Hail to the (Editors-in) Chief

28 FACULTY FOCUS

Meet the 2Ls who will lead our four student-edited law journals

40 Big Picture

Students on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol

42 TORT Presents

Tale as Old as Time

28 Faculty News, Awards, & Grants 30 Author in Question

Professor Tom Cotter

At the Intersection of Law & Medicine

44 RAISING THE BAR 44 Alumni Interrogatory

Kyle Hawkins ’09

46 48 49 54 56 57 59 60

Alumni News TORT Reunion Class Notes Spring Alumni Weekend 2019 Recent Gifts Tributes In Memoriam Why I Give

Professor Susan Wolf ’s cutting-edge work connects the dots between disciplines

Joshua Colburn ’07

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in BRIEF Prof. Heidi Kitrosser Delivers Investiture Lecture on ‘Committing Truth in the Deep State’ On March 6, Professor Heidi Kitrosser delivered a lecture on “‘Committing the Truth’ in the Deep State” at the Law School. The lecture was part of a recognition of Kitrosser’s appointment as Robins Kaplan Professor of Law. In her talk, Kitrosser discussed two particularly controversial types of “whistleblower” disclosures: First, those made by civil servants

Dean Garry W. Jenkins honors Prof. Blumenthal

Prof. Susanna Blumenthal’s Appointment Lecture Focuses on Policing Fraud in America On April 1, Professor Susanna Blumenthal delivered a lecture on “The Apprehension of Fraud: Policing Deception in Modern America” at the Law School. The lecture was part of a recognition of Blumenthal’s appointment as William L. Prosser Professor of Law. The lecture tackled long-held views that swindlers and salesmen are close cousins, with some even suggesting that con artistry and economic innovation are simply two sides of the same coin in American history. Blumenthal traversed the ambiguous borderland between capitalism and crime, providing an important corrective as she reconsidered the regulatory paths that American lawyers have pursued across time to redress the social harms resulting from misplaced trust. A reception in honor of Blumenthal and her accomplishment in being granted an endowed chair followed the lecture.

Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson ’82 to Deliver Commencement Address

in the course of simply carrying out their jobs—for example, by writing scientific reports or making economic projections—where their stated conclusions conflict with their superiors’ preferences. Second, disclosures to the media that contain information that the executive branch has deemed classified. A reception in honor of Kitrosser and her accomplishment in being granted an endowed chair immediately followed the lecture.

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Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson ’82 will be the Law School’s 2019 commencement speaker. Hudson has served on the Minnesota Supreme Court since 2015. She previously served 14 years on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Prior to joining the bench, Hudson had an extensive career that included working in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, as an assistant dean at Hamline University School of Law, and as an attorney in private practice. At the Law School, Hudson served on the Minnesota Law Review staff and was editor-in-chief of Quaere, the law school newspaper. In addition to numerous other professional groups

and activities, she is currently a member of the Law School’s Board of Advisors. Commencement exercises will be held Saturday, May 18, at Northrop Auditorium. ❘❘❘❘

MondaleMoments

1 1L Alex Wolf emerged victorious over Professor Oren Gross in the Chess League Championship. 2 Law Library staff member Linda Anderson welcomes attendees to the library’s annual spring celebration of the baseball season opener 3 Dean Garry W. Jenkins welcomed Judge Jimmie V. Reyna, Judge Kara Farnandez Stoll, and Chief Judge Sharon Prost of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to the Law School to hear oral arguments in two cases. 4 3L Rebecca Rosefelt, 2L Caroline Sell, and Clinic Administrator Nicole Smiley get crafty 5 2L Grace O’Meara, 3L Kayla Hoel, and 2L Michelle Cardona Vinasco show their Minnesota Law spirit during Campus Preview Weekend 6 3L Veena Tripathi, host of the newly launched Minnesota Law Review podcast “Experto Crede,” discusses data security with Professor William McGeveran

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Honoring MLK’s Legacy CNN Legal Analyst Laura Coates ’05 Urges Vigilance at Annual Convocation

DURING TIMES OF SOCIAL UPHEAVAL, many people become

overwhelmed. Instead of getting engaged, they nod off, dreaming of quieter times. At the Law School’s fourth annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation, Laura Coates ’05, a CNN legal analyst and author, urged listeners not to be one of those people. Coates began her speech, titled “Conscious Justice in a Fake News Era: A Reflection on MLK’s Sermon ‘Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,’” by reading an excerpt of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s 1968 address at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Like King, Coates reminded

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listeners of the story of Rip Van Winkle, a fictional tale about a “simple, good-natured fellow” who slumbered for 20 years. When he fell asleep, King George III ruled America. When he awoke, a revolution had catapulted George Washington to become a young country’s first leader. “For Rip Van Winkle, it was 20 years,” Coates said. “Imagine if you had slept through the last 20 months.” Modern day Rip Van Winkles sleeping for 20 months or so would have missed the appointment of a pair of new U.S. Supreme Court justices, children held in cages, travel bans, an expansion of executive power, and a government shutdown, she said.

“This is the time to awaken yourself,” Coates said. She urged attorneys—and those soon to be attorneys—to ask themselves these questions: “How do I know what I am doing is in line with the trajectory of democracy? How do I keep pushing forward and not roll back? How do I ensure that what makes America great is perhaps what’s in its future once the aspirations align with the actuality?” Added Coates, “I really hope you remain awake and embrace the opportunity to be among the people to nudge the person next to you. This is not the time to sleep. This is the time for you to come alive and dream in color. And the words of King will remind you of that every single day.” The Law School’s Diversity Committee sponsored the event. After her remarks, Coates answered questions from Eduardo Castro, a 2L student and committee member, about several issues, including racial injustice in America. “Racism still very much exists,” Coates said. “Our nation is not unique in that.” Coates, who is also host of a SiriusXM radio show and author of You Have the Right: A Constitutional Guide to Policing The Police, called racism counterproductive to American competitiveness in a global economy and reminded listeners that King was working on the Poor People’s Campaign at the time of his death. In his introductory remarks, Dean Garry W. Jenkins welcomed audience members and noted, “Bigotry and hate remain persistent problems in our nation and in our politics. In my view, these are not the parts of America that inspire us. I mark these challenges not as a lament but rather, as a challenge, a call to action.” ❘❘❘❘ By Todd Melby, a Minneapolis-based freelance writer and radio producer

Innocence Project Moves In Relocation to Mondale Hall is Part of an Enhanced Collaboration Between IPMN, Law School

ON APRIL 1, the Innocence Project

of Minnesota (IPMN) moved to Mondale Hall as part of an expanded partnership between the group and the Law School. IPMN is a nonprofit legal services, education, and advocacy organization that works to free the wrongfully convicted and prevent future wrongful convictions from occurring in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The group was formerly located at Hamline University. With this relocation, the University of Minnesota Law School joins a select number of law schools across the nation housing Innocence Project affiliates, including the University of Arizona, University of Texas, University of Virginia, and University of Washington. IPMN’s physical presence at the Law School facilitates additional clinical, pro bono, and research opportunities for Law School students. In addition, it allows for further collaborative efforts with the Law School’s faculty,

the Robina Public Interest Scholars Program, the Saeks Public Interest Program, and the broader University of Minnesota community. “We are thrilled to have the Innocence Project of Minnesota join us at the Law School,” says Law School Dean Garry W. Jenkins. “The group’s mission comports well with the Law School’s 130plus-year tradition of public service and dedication to the cause of justice. We look forward to the many opportunities for deeper, richer collaborations that this move affords.” IPMN Executive Director Sara Jones ’88 says, “IPMN is becoming a truly regional innocence organization, our staff is growing, and we’re expanding our work of serving the wrongfully convicted through legal services, systemic change, research, and education. The Law School is an outstanding institution and shares our commitment to education, justice, and public service. As an

 Staff of the Innocence Project of Minnesota, from left to right: Executive Director Sara Jones ’88, Staff Attorney Jim Mayer ’01, Advancement and Operations Manager Emily Luxem, and Legal Director Julie Jonas ’95

alumna with deep ties to the Law School, I see this as the right place at the right time for IPMN.” IPMN remains an independent, nonprofit organization, with its own staff, board of directors, and finances. Interestingly, the move was a sort of homecoming for the three lawyers on the IPMN staff, all of whom are alums. Jones, in addition to having worked in the Law School’s Advancement Office for eight years, is the second of three generations of her family to have attended the law school. Her father, C. Paul Jones ’50, served as Minnesota’s founding state public defender for 25 years and had his main office at the Law School; her nephew is Curtis Wells ’09. ❘❘❘❘

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Students Win 6th Circuit Appeal Three 3Ls Successfully Brief, Argue a Key Point of Fundamental Fairness in Immigration Proceedings

3Ls Paul Dimick, Kayla Hoel, and Zachary Hofeld

THREE LAW STUDENTS are

effectively pushing back against potential executive overreach, arguing and winning an important case at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. The case, Jasso Arangure v. Whitaker, was decided in late December. The legal issue in Jasso was whether “res judicata,” a legal principle intended to prevent relitigation of cases between the same parties over the same issues, applies at the administrative level of an immigration proceeding. The three Minnesota Law students who led the litigation were 3Ls Kayla Hoel, Paul Dimick, and Zachary Hofeld. Due to the case’s prominence and potential impact, the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild submitted an amicus curiae brief to the 6th Circuit supporting the arguments the students made in the principal brief. A legal permanent resident since 2003, Ramon Jasso Arangure pled guilty to first-degree home invasion in Michigan. Afterwards, the

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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began a removal proceeding against him. DHS claimed that Jasso Arangure’s home-invasion conviction was a “crime of violence” making him deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). DHS’s initial “crime of violence” claim was thrown out after the 6th Circuit declared the clause unconstitutionally vague. DHS then brought a second deportation action against Jasso Arangure, using the “burglary offense” clause under the INA, based on the same facts as the earlier administrative procedure. The question before the 6th Circuit was whether res judicata applied to preclude the second administrative proceeding. Ben Casper Sanchez ’97, faculty director of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans, was the supervising attorney in the Jasso case. “The students argued that common law judicial principles such as res judicata and preclusion, which apply in traditional courts, would apply

equally in administrative proceedings, in order to ensure fundamental fairness to people subject to federal prosecutorial power, as well as ensure the integrity and legitimacy of the decisions of the administrative courts,” explains Casper Sanchez. The 6th Circuit agreed with that argument, issuing an 18-page opinion in their client’s favor. Allowing DHS a second bite at the apple would have represented an offense against the rule of law, says Hofeld, who handled oral arguments before the 6th Circuit (along with Dimick). “Without res judicata in immigration proceedings, there would be no check on the government’s power to bring charge after charge, based on the same set of underlying facts, against lawful permanent residents. That check has now been restored,” Hofeld adds. “We were motivated by knowing we were making a real difference for our client, by working to return him to the United States and reinstate his lawful permanent resident status,” says Hoel, “and also making a real difference in the lives of thousands of individuals” potentially impacted by the 6th Circuit’s decision. Dimick describes his experience working on the Jasso case as “the highlight of my law school career,” adding that “[Casper Sanchez] and our team of adjunct professors were there every step of the way, providing invaluable feedback and guidance to our student team.” Casper Sanchez says, “Witnessing these three students brief, argue, and win this important case stands out as a highlight in my career as a teacher and lawyer.” All the more impressive because, as Casper Sanchez explains, “they argued in front of a three-judge panel and all the judges had been appointed by the Trump administration.” ❘❘❘❘ By Chuck Leddy, a Boston-based freelance writer

Students Help Honduran Woman Win Claim for Asylum U.S. Immigration Judge Audrey Carr last February granted asylum to a Honduran woman who is a client of the Law School’s Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. While working as a transit police officer in Honduras, the client refused to accept bribes from gangs who sought to procure drivers’ licenses for their members and information about police operations. Because she refused to comply, the client was threatened by the gang and eventually she and her family were attacked by gunmen at their home. The client fears that if she returns to Honduras, she will be killed. Judge Carr determined that the client’s claim of persecution on

3L Brittany Turany, 3L Natacha Garcia, 3L Emily Ortlieb, and Prof. Stephen Meili

account of her membership in a particular social group and her political opinion of opposition to government corruption was valid. Former transit police officers who refused threats by gangs are seen as a group by Hondurans and have discrete boundaries. Corruption within Honduras’ national police is normal, if not expected. Therefore, those who do not participate become the targets of persecution merely

because they refuse to abuse power. 3L Natacha Garcia, 3L Emily Ortlieb, and 2L Brittany Turany

served as student attorneys, working alongside Professor Stephen Meili and performing much of the prep work, including helping to research and write the brief. The government filed an appeal, and the clinic will continue to represent the woman at the appellate level. ❘❘❘❘

Student Attorney Gets Client Unemployment Benefits When Rasheed Ogunmade met 2L Bethany Anderson, he was in dire straits. His employer, a local printing company, had terminated his employment and was contesting unemployment benefits. A Nigerian immigrant and father of four, Ogunmade had represented himself at the initial hearing and lost. He now lacked money to support his family and faced imminent eviction from his apartment. Seeking pro bono legal representation for his unemployment insurance appeal, Ogunmade was referred to the Law School’s Robins Kaplan Civil Practice Clinic. The case was assigned to Anderson, a student attorney at the clinic. Ogunmade says he had no idea what to expect when he first came

Client Rasheed Ogunmade and 2L Bethany Anderson

to the clinic, but Anderson immediately put him at ease. “Ms. Bethany was very kind, very, very nice,” he says. “I had just lost my job. That is the way I feed my family. I was in a bad situation. She told me don’t worry, this is what we are going to do. She helped me through it.” Ogunmade retained Anderson and the clinic to represent him. The next step was a telephone hearing with an administrative law judge. “I prepared questions for Mr.

Ogunmade, and questions for the employer in case they showed up to the phone hearing,” says Anderson. “The judge called us, and asked Mr. Ogunmade a bunch of questions. I followed up with some questions, and made a closing statement to the judge.” The day after the hearing, the judge issued a ruling granting Ogunmade the benefits that he sought. “I am very grateful to the clinic and Ms. Bethany for their help,” he says. ❘❘❘❘

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Pioneers in the Courtroom Law Library Spring Exhibits Pay Tribute to Judge Diana Murphy ’74, Women in the Law

THE LAW LIBRARY IS PROUD

to commemorate the career of Judge Diana E. Murphy ’74 in its spring exhibits, “A Legacy Preserved: The Papers of Judge Diana E. Murphy” and “Women in the Law: Pioneers of the Courtroom.” “A Legacy Preserved” is based on the generous donation of Judge Murphy’s judicial and professional papers by her sons, John and Michael Murphy. In a judicial career that spanned four decades, Murphy was the first woman appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota (1980) and the first woman to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit (1994). While serving on the federal bench, Murphy shaped the law in areas from due process to free speech and guided issues from employment discrimination to American Indian rights. She was also deeply involved in professional and civic service,

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including her role as the first woman to chair the U.S. Sentencing Commission (1999-2004), and as president of the Federal Judges Association (1989-91), among other prominent roles. “A Legacy Preserved: The Papers of Judge Diana E. Murphy” showcases some of Murphy’s important letters, speeches, memoranda, and opinions, generated over the course of her extraordinary career. Standing panels highlight a selection of Murphy’s notable decisions, including rulings in the area of American Indian law, a subject that was of special interest to her. The exhibit features a biographical description of Murphy’s career, and excerpts from tributes by colleagues and former clerks that were recently published in the Minnesota Law Review. The second exhibit, “Women in the Law: Pioneers of the Courtroom,”

situates Murphy’s career in a wider context, celebrating the achievements of women in the law from the first graduates of the Law School in 1893 to the professional breakthroughs of the 1970s and 1980s. It focuses in particular on pioneering judges and on women who have served on the bench in Minnesota. In February, Dean Garry W. Jenkins and Associate Dean for Information and Technology Joan S. Howland hosted an opening reception for the exhibits, which was attended by Law School faculty, the Murphy family, and friends of Judge Murphy. At the reception, Dean Jenkins praised Murphy’s powerful legacy and emphasized the vital part that the Law School plays in producing leaders within the legal profession and in many other public and civic roles. Associate Dean Howland addressed Murphy’s many firsts, noting that the judge was part of an

Recent Rare Acquisitions DARROW LETTER, 17TH CENTURY DOCUMENTS ADDED TO LAW LIBRARY'S COLLECTION extremely significant movement, which saw the great growth of women as members of the bench and bar. John Murphy then described his family’s connections to the University and Law School through deep ties of education and service. A week after the opening reception, the Library and Riesenfeld Rare Books Research Center hosted an open house for Law School students, who were inspired by Murphy’s illustrious career and commitment to the legal profession. The exhibits will be open through the fall, and the Center will host additional events for students and alumni. For more information about the exhibits, for directions, or to arrange a guided tour, contact Ryan Greenwood (rgreenwo@umn.edu; 612-625-7323). ❘❘❘❘ By Ryan Greenwood, Law Library faculty member and curator of rare books and special collections

The Law Library and Riesenfeld Center have recently made several notable additions to the rare books collection, including an interesting 1930 letter by the great American trial lawyer Clarence Darrow. In the letter, which augments the Library’s preeminent collection of letters by Clarence Darrow, Darrow responds to Marie Sweet Smith, secretary of the American League to Abolish Capital Punishment. Although a lifelong opponent of the death penalty, Darrow rejects Smith’s appeal to economic arguments in a new campaign against it. He felt that an abiding mercy toward the human condition left little room for capital punishment, and wrote that the fight had to be led by “the poor and the humane and the idealists.” Two recent acquisitions related to England’s Glorious Revolution are also of particular note. The first is a very rare broadside listing the 513 individuals called to Parliament in January 1689 in an attempt to recognize William as king and Mary as queen. The second is a printed speech by William in February 1689, following William and Mary’s acceptance of the Declaration of Right (which in law became the English Bill of Rights), reflecting the more limited nature of the English monarchy and the beginnings of England's modern constitutional government. ❘❘❘❘

By Ryan Greenwood

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STUDENT SUPPORT

“The best thing about receiving a scholarship from Minnesota Law is the financial security that allows me to focus on how my degree can have the biggest impact.”

YOUR GIFT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE Every year, thousands of alumni and friends come together to make a real difference in the life of the Law School and our

TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS

Eduardo Castro, 2L

“As a 2L, I worked on a case that was on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. Through creative arguments, we were able to win re-opening, which provided the client with an opportunity to seek asylum in a noncombative setting, instead of the immigration court.” Mary Georgevich ’18 Judicial Clerk, Minnesota Supreme Court

students through their support of the Annual Fund.

Give.umn.edu/lawschool 612-625-5387

FACULTY EXCELLENCE

Join them today.

Heidi Kitrosser joined the faculty in 2009 and is an expert on the constitutional law of federal government secrecy, free speech, and separation of powers. Heidi Kitrosser Robins Kaplan Professor of Law 2017-18 Guggenheim Fellow

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 Students in March 2018 participating in the James H. Binger Center's Rural Immigrant Access Initiative with Binger Center Executive Director Deepinder Mayell. The successful program has now become the Law School's 25th clinic.

New Clinic Helps Immigrants in Rural Areas The Clinic, Run through the Binger Center, Is Number 25 for the Law School THE LAW SCHOOL last January

launched a new clinic designed to provide legal assistance to the growing number of immigrants living in rural areas. The Rural Immigrant Access Clinic is an outgrowth of a successful two-year-long initiative in which Law School faculty and students, along with volunteer attorneys, have periodically provided legal assistance to immigrants in pop-up legal clinics in greater Minnesota and the Dakotas. The new clinic formalized the program and converted it from a one-off experience for students to a semester-long learning opportunity. It is the 25th clinic at the Law School, and the fourth immigration-focused clinic run through the James H. Binger Center for New Americans. Deepinder Mayell, executive director of the Binger Center, says that at the start of the rural immigrant access initiative in January 2017, it quickly became apparent that there were a lot of unmet legal needs and community concerns. “We immediately began seeing very large turnouts,” he observed. Mayell also notes that immigrants are a fast-growing segment of the population in a number of rural

regions. “Rural areas are not what a lot of people think they are,” he explains. “Like the rest of the country, the face of these areas is changing, and there are a lot of immigrants working and living in rural areas, particularly near meatpacking facilities and dairy farms.” Up to a half dozen students may enroll in the program, which, over the course of a semester, includes a weekly classroom component and regular participation in legal clinics outside the Twin Cities metro area. The pop-up clinics are run in partnership with other legal assistance providers, including the ACLU-MN, Volunteer Lawyers Network, and the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. The mobile clinics are hosted in venues that local immigrants can easily access, including schools, churches, libraries, and community centers. Mayell believes that having a dedicated cohort of students provides an advantage not only to the rural immigrant clients—who receive assistance from individuals who have the high level of proficiency that comes from regularly handling these types of matters—but also to the students, who gain a deep knowledge

of the issues faced by this growing segment of society. “Our students are going to be leaders in our community, and having them understand the shortcomings of our system and the poverty-related challenges immigrants face is a very powerful lesson,” Mayell says. ❘❘❘❘ By Mark A. Cohen

Deepinder Mayell, executive director of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans

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IMPACT of GIVING Job Fair Fund Helps Students Make Key Employment Connections ROBERT J. OWENS ’69 grew up

on a farm in Blue Earth, Minnesota. A summer job at Green Giant provided enough income to pay his tuition to Carleton College. A combination of scholarships and loans funded his years at the University of Minnesota Law School. He recognizes that today’s students have a much more difficult financial situation. Not only do many of them graduate with five- or six-figure debt, they struggle with basic expenses like transportation, as well. Each year, with a gift of $100,000 that is matched by other donors, Owens endows a Law School scholarship—but he wanted to expand his giving. Director of Advancement David Jensen suggested a new fund that would help students make the leap from school to employment. The Robert J. Owens Job Fair Student Support Fund provides cash assistance to students who wish to travel to job fairs in other cities. Last year, the fund helped 44 students travel to fairs in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and other markets. One of these students is 2L Hunter Moss, a San Francisco native who flew to New York for the Off Campus

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Interview program and the Lavender Law Career Fair. “I wanted to cast as wide a net as possible, and the name recognition of the firm was just as important as the location,” Moss says. “I wanted some flexibility as to where I launched my career.” Moss, who is the 2019-20 executive editor of the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology, received an offer from Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office and will spend the summer working with that firm’s corporate team. Moss initially planned a career in patent litigation but changed his mind after his first summer internship. He reoriented his class schedule toward corporate work, thanks in part to conversations with working lawyers. “The 1L curriculum is very litigation-oriented, so talking to attorneys in different practices informed my decision,” he says.

Moss also was working as an extern for a judge and earning class credit. Trips to New York and San Francisco for interviews and job fairs would have required him to take out extra loans. “It’s an investment I would have made, but the scholarship provided some major relief,” he says. Owens describes the Job Fair Student Support Fund as “a logical extension of my scholarship giving, because it helps support students’ career development choices. Many of the Law School students are not from the Twin Cities or Minnesota and they may not have the Minnesota ties to make them want to stay here. “And if you want to work for someplace like the Department of Justice,” he adds, “you can’t do that in Blue Earth, Minnesota.” Students who benefited from the fund last year accepted jobs at such top firms such as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Chicago; Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

in New York; and Latham & Watkins in San Francisco. Others found employment at such organizations as Earthjustice, Legal Aid, and the American Bar Association Commission on Immigration. 2L Andrew McCarty, who accepted a summer job from Kirkland & Ellis in New York, says the scholarship allowed him to interview in multiple markets instead of budgeting for a trip to one city. He attended fairs in New York and San Francisco via the MidwestCalifornia-Georgia Consortium, which works with the University of Minnesota and six similarly ranked law schools to organize job fairs in major U.S. markets. “The exposure to different market cultures is valuable,” he says. “The New York legal culture is different than here, and you can even tell that from the interviews.” Students who lack the resources to travel to out-of-state job fairs and interview sessions can apply to firms in other cities, but opportunities to interview outside the formal events is hit-or-miss, McCarty says. “The job fairs give you a few more bites at the apple,” he says. “And with every interview you get better at interviewing.” The interviewing and networking process is valuable even if you do not accept the job offers, says 3L Kelsey Friberg. Last spring, she attended the Equal Justice Works event, a public-interest job fair in Washington, D.C. She met law students from around the country, heard Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speak about her career, and received offers from two of the three employers with whom she interviewed. “It’s good to remember that the four walls of Mondale Hall are not the confines of the world. Had I not decided I wanted to stay in Minneapolis, I would have taken one of the positions I was offered,” she says, adding that she is grateful for

the travel funds and hopes other students learn about the program. Her scholarship and loans cover tuition and living expenses but do not leave money for travel. Her friend and classmate 3L Dante Harootunian also traveled to the Equal Justice Works fair. He interviewed for several positions and accepted a summer job at the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel. The office reviews cases in which defendants sentenced to death have exhausted all appeals but may have had their rights violated in the process. “I probably want to do immigration law, and I wanted experience with different types of law before I graduated,” Harootunian says. “I never would have been able to get that job if I hadn’t been able to interview in D.C.”

Owens spent his own career at West Publishing, now Thomson Reuters. He started in 1970 as an editor in the statutes division, earning $800 a month, and worked his way up to vice president and editor-inchief. When Thomson acquired West Publishing in 1996, Owens took early retirement and now splits his time between Golden Valley, Minnesota, and Palm Springs, California. “The older I get, the more critical I think it is, for those of us who have the ability, to provide higher education for young people,” he says. “It is so incredibly expensive now. I tell all my friends who are in that position to help those who either would not be able to do it or would be left with insurmountable debt.” ❘❘❘❘ By Jessica Griffith, a freelance writer based in the Twin Cities

Left to right: 3L Dante Harootunian, 2L Andrew McCarty, 3L Kelsey Friberg, and 2L Hunter Moss.

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“It’s challenging, but I love the freedom of being a storyteller. There’s nothing I’d rather do.” —LAURA COATES ’05 CNN LEGAL ANALYST

WHEN MEDIA IS YOUR MEDIUM 16

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DICK DAHL

In a Highly Dynamic Industry, Alumni Are Making Their Mark

L Photo: Jay Mallin

aura Coates ’05 always knew she was a storyteller at heart. A St. Paul native, Coates always loved performing on stage with school and community theater groups and was drawn to the law because it offered a different kind of stage—the courtroom. As her career unfolded, Coates did put her persuasive storytelling skills to good use in court—initially as an intellectual-property litigator in Minneapolis and New York and then as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., where she first handled voting-rights cases in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and then prosecuted major felonies as an assistant U.S. attorney.

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Then, 10 years on, Coates stepped back and did a career assessment. Pregnant with her second child in 2015, she began to contemplate what she might want next in her career. The answer soon became clear. She had things to say about criminal justice, about voter fraud, about the presidential race that was beginning to take shape. And she wanted an audience. “I had no experience in journalism or broadcasting,” she says, “but I knew I was a storyteller and that I had conviction. And I said, ‘It’s now or never.’ If one day my children come to me and say they have a dream for themselves in what they want to pursue, I didn’t want to be the person who says, ‘I never tried, but you should.’ So I said, ‘I’m going to try it and see what happens.’” The result of that commitment has been a rapid ascent in the world of broadcasting. Through a connection provided by a former paralegal of hers, Coates met SiriusXM satellite radio talk-show host Karen Hunter, who gave Coates opportunities to provide legal analysis on her show. “I would break down issues that were happening in the law,” Coates recalls, “oftentimes with my baby in my Bjorn in front of me—I’d be sure she had a bottle or was being quiet at the time—and it eventually led me to doing television.” She began making appearances on MSNBC and CNN, and then in 2016 she signed an exclusive deal with CNN. In 2017, she launched her own daily radio program, The Laura Coates Show, on SiriusXM’s Urban View channel, providing commentary and guest interviews dealing with “the intersection of law and politics and pop culture and whatever interests me.” Her escalating popularity as a legal commentator even caught the attention of Jeopardy game-show host Alex Trebek, who, when asked to recommend a potential successor, named Coates. Combined with a class she teaches at George Washington University Law School on legal writing for criminal litigation, Coates is balancing an extremely busy schedule. She rises at 4:30 a.m. to appear on early CNN programming and prepare for her radio show and is often summoned on very short notice by CNN for commentary on breaking news. “It’s challenging, but I love the freedom of being a storyteller,” she says. “There’s nothing I’d rather do.”

< CONT

Media Was Her Plan Another Minnesota Law alum who created a career as a media personality, Roshini Rajkumar ’97, took a somewhat different path in that she had her sights set on television even before law school. Rajkumar emigrated from Sri Lanka when she was 2 and grew up in Edina. She did her undergraduate studies at Boston College, where she had her first experience interviewing people for the campus TV station during her freshman year. After college, she returned to Minneapolis and took a year away from studies before

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ROSHINI RAJKUMAR ’97 FOUNDER/CEO, ROSHINI PERFORMANCE GROUP

“If someone has to testify in front of Congress, my clients would be well prepared and would not fall apart like we saw Mark Zuckerberg or the CEO of Wells Fargo fall apart.”

starting law school in 1994. During that year, she took her next steps into television as an intern for PBS’s Newton’s Apple (produced at TPT in St. Paul) and as a sports intern for KARE 11. Rajkumar began law school thinking about how she might combine law with a career in TV. Then, during her 2L year, the O.J. Simpson trial became a national obsession and changed the landscape for aspiring legal journalists and commentators. “It made it a possibility in my mind that I could mesh my law degree with TV,” she says. “I was thinking that maybe one day I could work for Court TV.” After law school, Rajkumar embarked on that path, working as a reporter and anchor for TV stations in Fargo, Des Moines, Nashville, Minneapolis, and Detroit. Sometimes her stories involved courts and legal angles. Today, she is based in Minneapolis and is a regular contributor for KARE 11 and Twin Cities Live on KSTP-TV. She has her own weekly show on WCCO Radio, as well as a new podcast, Real Leaders with Roshini. Both can be found on iTunes. For the last 13 years, her full-time job has been her business, Roshini Performance Group, where she provides services as a mainstage speaker—keynoter, conference or event emcee, panel moderator. When not on stage, a large portion of her work involves strategic communication and crisis prevention for C-suite executives, frequently prepping them for how to deal with the media or other inquirers. “Little by little, the coaching practice grew,” she says. “Early on, I was coaching all levels of people; now I’m

mainly coaching high-level executives or the equivalent in professional services—strategic leaders at law firms, hospitals, and banks. It’s more than just prepping them to get on a stage and speak. For example, if someone has to testify in front of Congress, my clients would be well prepared and would not fall apart like we saw Mark Zuckerberg or the CEO of Wells Fargo fall apart. That would not happen with my clients.”

Media Lawyer Turned Consultant Another alum who has followed a career path to crisis management and media coaching is Amy Rotenberg ’92. After completing her undergraduate studies at Harvard, Rotenberg came to the Law School, where her experiences led her unexpectedly to practice media law. She recalls being inspired by constitutional law professors Philip Frickey (who died in 2010) and Dan Farber (now at University of California Berkeley School of Law) and then by Chief Judge Donald Lay of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, who taught a law-school seminar on the U.S. Supreme Court. Lay hired Rotenberg to be his law clerk after she graduated in 1992, and during that clerkship a case came along that piqued her interest in media law. Ruzicka v. Conde Nast Publications involved a breach of promise by a magazine writer not to reveal the plaintiff’s identity in a Glamour magazine article on therapist-patient sexual abuse. Following her clerkship, Rotenberg headed to New York to join Cravath, Swaine & Moore, which had a well-established media-law practice, and to work with partner Stuart Gold, one of the lead lawyers for Time Warner. She worked extensively on media-law matters there for two years and then returned to Minneapolis to join Dorsey & Whitney, initially handling complex commercial litigation. But when a partner who represented many of Dorsey’s media clients transitioned to a nonlitigation role, another partner asked Rotenberg if she was interested in taking over that portfolio. She was, and she began representing a number of TV and radio stations, newspapers, and book publishers. “I loved it,” Rotenberg recalls. “I really loved learning about how the news is put together and also counseling the reporters, producers, and editors. I helped them understand what could and couldn’t be on the air, helped them get access to information under Freedom of Information, protected them against claims of privacy invasion and other things that go wrong during news gathering. And then, when they got sued, I defended them in court.” By 2000, Rotenberg had begun to notice a curious recurrent reality about the matters she was handling. “When I was on the side of the media and they were doing investigative pieces, I was always astonished that I never

heard anybody on the other side trying to shape the narrative or turn the story in a different direction. It was like, ‘This is going to be a really bad story about XYZ,’ and nobody was trying to do anything to fix that.” Rotenberg saw an opportunity to shift her career in a new direction: crisis communication. She assembled a pitch to Padilla Speer Beardsley (now Padilla), a large Minneapolis public-relations firm, and the company brought her in as a vice president in 2001 to launch its first “litigation and critical issues communication practice.” In 2004, she left to launch her own company, Rotenberg Associates, which remained Minneapolis-based until 2013, when her husband, former University of Minnesota general counsel Mark Rotenberg, was named vice president and general counsel at John Hopkins University. She opened a second office in Baltimore, and then, when her husband took a new position last year, the couple moved to Washington, D.C. Rotenberg relocated her Baltimore office to Washington and continues to maintain her Minneapolis office to better serve her national client base. She describes her work as “helping clients at the intersection of legal claims, regulatory attacks, and media scrutiny,” and contends that her status as a licensed attorney is a valuable benefit for her clients. “I work very closely with my clients’ lawyers, and we set the engagement up so that we can best protect the client under attorney-client privilege,” she says.

CONT >

“I work very closely with my clients’ lawyers, and we set the engagement up so that we can best protect the client under attorneyclient privilege.”

AMY ROTENBERG ’92 FOUNDER/PRESIDENT, ROTENBERG ASSOCIATES

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SHANNON JANKOWSKI ’17 ASSOCIATE, FAEGRE BAKER DANIELS

Shannon Jankowski ’17 has helped a major news organization gain access to government records and worked on defamation cases.

One of the biggest recent upticks in her work, she says, has been the #MeToo movement, which has resulted in sexual-misconduct allegations against individuals and a sea change in how institutions are beginning to deal with bad press. “Years ago, I think there was more opportunity for institutions facing claims like this to make them go away by paying a settlement to the accuser and having the accuser sign a nondisclosure agreement,” Rotenberg says. “Then the accused was quietly removed from their position—or, in many cases, the accused stayed in the position and it was the accuser who went away. What I have observed in the last couple of years, however, is that the nondisclosure and the quiet payment options are really gone. They’re rarely enforceable anymore and the public won’t tolerate anything that looks like silencing a victim.”

< CONT

Making Her Way In Media Law Shannon Jankowski ’17 was inspired by her experiences

at the Law School to pursue a career in media law. Long active in theater—she has a B.A. in theater from the College of St. Catherine and has frequently acted professionally in the Twin Cities—Jankowski recalls starting law school drawn to any subjects that dealt with freedom of expression. Professor Heidi Kitrosser’s First

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Amendment class made a big impact, but it wasn’t until she took a First Amendment practicum from Kitrosser that she knew media law was for her. In that practicum, she and other students worked with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, looking into the practices for unsealing criminal records in Minnesota and writing a report for that committee. “It was a wonderful opportunity to get hands-on experience dealing with media law and access-to-records issues,” Jankowski says. “I knew then that I was really interested in this and wanted to go further with it.” After receiving her J.D., Jankowski joined Faegre Baker Daniels, where she works in the firm’s TCAM (trademark, copyright, advertising, and media) practice area, in which she has done a significant amount of media-law-related work, including assisting a “major news organization” with obtaining access to judicial and government records and defending clients in defamation cases. In addition to her practice, Jankowski is continuing to work pro bono with the James H. Binger Center’s Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, where she served as student director and had the opportunity as a 3L to argue a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. “I got such a broad range of experience at the Law School, at the Immigration Clinic where I was able to argue the case at the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and then doing the practicum with Professor Kitrosser. I feel that I received not only a strong academic training but excellent practical experience as well.”

Tackling Today’s Nontraditional Media When Los Angeles attorney Benjamin Mulcahy ’94 talks about his media clients, it becomes apparent that many of them are quite untraditional. After working as a litigator in the Minneapolis firm of Winthrop & Weinstine following law school, Mulcahy moved to LA for personal reasons in 1997 and became an entertainment lawyer in the firm of Hill Wynne Troop & Meisinger. At first, he was an associate in the litigation department, but he then moved to the transaction side of the practice and has continued in that vein ever since. Last year, he joined DLA Piper in Los Angeles, where he is a partner in the firm’s intellectual property and technology practice, heading the firm’s national advertising practice. “My practice is focused on the creation, distribution, and monetization of content for traditional media companies,” he says, “but also for nontraditional media clients.” Mulcahy’s clients are diverse, including major film studios and retailers, but a large portion of his practice is devoted to the broadcast industry—which, he points out, is changing very rapidly. First, he says, traditional companies like Fox Broadcasting are moving in new

directions; second, the kinds of clients are changing. “An example of the first is recent projects we’ve done for Fox that have involved launching FX+ and Fox Nation, which are two over-the-top online and mobile channel content delivery platforms. They’re designed to reach predominantly younger viewers who consume media through digital media channels, as opposed to traditional television, on their mobile devices and their computers. An example of the second type is REI, which is now producing a significant amount of original content, all themed around outdoor activity and outdoor recreation and not necessarily branded REI, but designed to encourage people to spend more time outdoors.” It’s been almost 25 years since Mulcahy left law school, but he still credits it for the base that allowed him to make the transition from litigation to transactional law. “I loved law school,” he says. “So many of our professors at the University of Minnesota laid such a strong foundation for what it means to think like a lawyer.” ❘❘❘❘ Dick Dahl is a freelance writer based in St. Paul who writes frequently on the law and legal issues.

“My practice is focused on the creation, distribution, and monetization of content for traditional media companies, but also for nontraditional media clients.”

BENJAMIN MULCAHY ’94 PARTNER, DLA PIPER, L.A. OFFICE

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT:

When a Reporter Becomes a Lawyer The discussion of alums who work in the space where law and media intersect also includes somewhat of a reverse story in the person of Daniel Oberdorfer ’92, a partner in the Twin Cities firm of Stinson Leonard Street. That’s because Oberdorfer started out as a journalist—he was a prize-winning reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune and the Minneapolis Star Tribune— before becoming a lawyer. Oberdorfer joined the Tribune in 1979 after graduating from the University of Michigan and stayed for 12 years. Over the final five years before law school he was a courts reporter, a beat that convinced him that he wanted to give lawyering a shot. “I was watching the courtrooms and seeing how lawyers could make a difference,” he says, “and I thought: I’d like to try this.” Oberdorfer says he knew immediately after he started law school that he’d made the right decision. He also knew that he had a leg up on his fellow students due to the fact that the skills he’d developed as a journalist were similar to those that are important to lawyers: “Basically, in both professions you have to gather information, sift through the information to figure out what’s important, and then you need to communicate it.” He joined Leonard, Street and Deinard (now Stinson Leonard Street) in 1993 and has been practicing employment law, mostly counseling and litigating for businesses on employment issues, ever since. ❘❘❘❘

—Dick Dahl

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MINNESOTA LAW ALUMNI

Take Center Stage at State Capitol BY

MIKE MOSEDALE

n January, when the Minnesota House of Representatives convened for the first session of the new biennium, the spectacle at the front of the chamber looked a bit like a Law School reunion. At the center of the action was Rep. Melissa Hortman ’95, who, after successfully engineering the DFL takeover of the House in November, had just been formally elected speaker. When it came time for the eight-term representative from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, to officially commence the proceedings, it was Secretary of State Steve Simon ’96 who stepped to the podium to present her with the gavel. And when the House finally got down to the business of the day—enacting a temporary set of procedural rules—there was Rep. Ryan Winkler ’01, assuming his new role as House majority leader.

Lawyer, Lawmaker, Leader That a couple of attorneys might wind up in two of the most powerful legislative positions at the Capitol is hardly a shock. After all, the business of the Legislature is making laws, so legal training presents some obvious advantages for anyone trying to get ahead. Still, Hortman and Winkler’s ascent marks the first time in more than three decades that two lawyers have simultaneously occupied the number one and number two posts in Minnesota House leadership. And it comes at a time when the number of lawyers in the Legislature (now 21 out of 201 total members) has

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dropped to its lowest level in more than a century. In kicking off the session, Hortman, Winkler, and the new DFL House majority have unveiled an ambitious legislative agenda that includes potentially contentious bills relating to health care, gun regulation, and boosting K-12 funding. To advance these items, they have a daunting obstacle to overcome: Minnesota is the only state in the nation with a divided legislature, which means they’ll have plenty of opportunity to use their lawyerly skills of persuasion negotiating with their counterparts in the GOPcontrolled state Senate. It’s a tall order, but Hortman is hopeful that she and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka will be able to find common ground. And she vows to avoid the sort of end-of-session partisan meltdowns that have many observers complaining about rising dysfunction at the Minnesota Capitol. “As a litigator, I know that conflict is expensive and risky and that settlement can produce a more efficient and fair outcome,” explains Hortman. “I think Sen. Gazelka and I have similar personalities. We don’t desire to have a fight for the sake of having a fight.” But can bipartisanship prevail in the current hyperpartisan political environment? Winkler thinks Hortman has the right stuff to make it happen. “She brings valuable personal skills to her role. She tends to be low drama, she sticks to the facts, and she doesn’t play games,” Winkler says. “Those are all qualities of a good lawyer.”

CONT >

WITH THE ASCENSION OF REP. MELISSA HORTMAN ’95 TO SPEAKER AND REP. RYAN WINKLER ’01 TO MAJORITY LEADER, BOTH TOP HOUSE LEADERSHIP POSTS ARE NOW IN THE HANDS OF MINNESOTA LAW ALUMS

Photo: Tony Nelson

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“AS A LITIGATOR, I KNOW THAT CONFLICT IS EXPENSIVE AND RISKY AND THAT SETTLEMENT CAN PRODUCE A MORE EFFICIENT AND FAIR OUTCOME.”

< CONT

—House Speaker Melissa Hortman ’95

Head of the House Hortman’s rise to the upper echelon of power at the Capitol is testament to, among other things, dogged persistence. She made two failed bids for her House seat before a successful run in 2004. Since then, Hortman has steadily climbed the ranks of her caucus, serving as assistant majority leader, minority whip, deputy minority leader, and, last year, minority leader. Hortman has always had an interest in politics and public policy. As an undergraduate at Boston University, she majored in philosophy, a specialty without an obvious career path. So, given what she refers to as her “save the world” ambitions, law school seemed a natural fit. She returned to her home state and enrolled at Minnesota Law. After obtaining her J.D., Hortman worked for Central Minnesota Legal Services, where she focused on landlord-tenant and housing discrimination work. In 1997, she garnered a then-record-setting verdict in a housing discrimination lawsuit. But she also soon realized that there was only so much she could accomplish through such litigation. “I represented mostly poor women with children, many of whom came from several generations of poverty. It wasn’t just cockroaches or inadequate heat or [landlord demands for] sexual favors that was the sum total of problems,” she says. “Their problems came from inadequate wages and inadequate education. I grew frustrated in my inability to address those economic and social problems.” With two young children, Hortman also needed to make more money, so she made the leap to the storied (and now-defunct) Minneapolis-based law firm Rider Bennett, where she overlapped briefly with Gov. Tim Pawlenty ’86. After she was elected to the Legislature, Hortman switched up again and went to work for her family’s auto parts business, where she remained until her father sold the company in 2012. She then went to work for Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman ’74 for a few years, only moving on after she was elevated to minority leader—a position that, she says, is in effect a full-time job.

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A Similar Pathway Winkler, who grew up in Bemidji, Minnesota, followed a somewhat similar trajectory. He had an active interest in politics from an early age and, like Hortman, headed to Boston for his undergraduate degree—in his case, Harvard—and then returned to his home state for a legal education at Minnesota Law. Winkler says he knew that a law degree would be useful for the two careers he was interested in, business and politics. “The Law School was a great setup for what I wanted to do,” Winkler says. “A lot of schools offer a great legal education. But if you plan to have a career in Minnesota, there’s no better place to go than the University of Minnesota, because the legal community is pretty small and people tend to know each other. You can’t replace the fact that you’re going to school in the community in which you will practice.” To this day, Winkler says, the connections and friendships he made at law school are among the most enduring of his adult life. After getting his law degree, Winkler went to work for a small Minneapolis firm, Smith Parker, before moving on to a succession of in-house counsel posts at tech companies. Winkler says he chose the jobs in part because they allowed him the luxury of pursuing a career in the Legislature. At many large law firms in town, serving in the Legislature is not an option. (Winkler notes that Walter Mondale ’56 had to resign from Dorsey when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2002). First elected to the House in 2006, Winkler quickly garnered a reputation as a sharp-tongued progressive. After his wife accepted a job overseas, Winkler resigned his seat midway through his fifth term to move abroad with his family. Last year, he flirted with a run for state attorney general when the then-DFL incumbent, Lori Swanson, jumped into the gubernatorial primary. But in the end, Winkler opted to run for his old House seat, which was vacated when his successor, Peggy Flanagan, joined Tim Walz’s successful gubernatorial campaign and was elected lieutenant governor. In the end, it was another Law School alum—former Congressman Keith Ellison ’90—who stepped into, and won, the election to replace Swanson as attorney general. While Hortman, Winkler, and Ellison are the most publicly visible Law School alumni to step into prominent roles at the Capitol this year, Minnesota Law grads also are well represented in the new governor’s cabinet. Gov. Tim Walz tapped Rebecca Lucero ’07 as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and Nancy Leppink ’85 as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. ❘❘❘❘ Mike Mosedale is a Twin Cities-based freelance writer.

In the Room Where It Happens Almost immediately after being elected governor, Tim Walz tapped longtime friend and aide Chris Schmitter ’13 for what is probably the administration’s biggest behind-the-scenes job, chief of staff. Schmitter’s connection to Walz stretches back to his undergraduate days at Georgetown, when he took off a semester to work on John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign. It was there that he met Walz, then a Mankato, Minnesota, high school teacher. Walz and Schmitter stayed in touch, and when Walz decided to run for Congress two years later, Schmitter signed on as his field director. Walz won, and Schmitter became his legislative assistant. Schmitter later managed Walz’s successful re-election campaign and became his deputy chief of staff and legislative director. Schmitter returned to Minnesota in 2010 to go to Minnesota Law, where, he says, he was “trained by some of the best professors in the world.” He was editor-inchief of the Minnesota Law Review and graduated first in his class. Like Ryan Winkler, Schmitter says the connections he made during those years have proved invaluable, as have the experiences of clerking at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and, later, for Chief U.S. District Court Judge John Tunheim ’80. Schmitter also worked at the boutique Minneapolis law firm Greene Espel, where his practice consisted of a mix of private- and public-sector litigation. “It was a great training ground for a lot of the legal and policy issues I face in this job,” he observes. Since signing on as Walz’s chief of staff, Schmitter says he’s bumped into plenty of fellow Minnesota Law alums. “The Law School is well represented at the Capitol, and that’s not surprising,” he adds. ❘❘❘❘

—Mike Mosedale

Photo: Rebecca Slater

Chris Schmitter ’13 Takes on New Role: Governor's Chief of Staff

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THEORY at WORK

PROTECTOR OF PRIVACY

Professor William McGeveran’s Policy Work and Innovative Practicum Are Helping to Tame the Wild West of Privacy Law and Data Security BY

DAN HEILMAN

ata privacy has become an issue of pressing concern to virtually every technology user. Minnesota Law Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs William McGeveran, who was in the vanguard of legal experts entering the field, is working both inside and outside of academia to shed light on the challenges of data privacy in the digital age. McGeveran, a frequent media commenter on data privacy matters, established the Law School’s innovative Data Privacy Practicum, which introduces students to top privacy practitioners and offers them the opportunity to become certified in the field. McGeveran was recently appointed to the crucial role of reporter for the Uniform Law Commission’s newly formed Study Committee on Online Privacy Protection. Part of the impetus for the formation of the study committee was a law passed in California last June that, among other things, aims to provide residents with the right to know what personal information is being collected about them and whether that information is sold or disclosed and to whom. Europe and Brazil have also enacted major new regulations related to data protection. “The committee is considering whether there should be a model or uniform online privacy law,” notes McGeveran. Ultimately, the committee’s recommendations

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could form the basis of proposed privacy-protection legislation that will be sent for consideration to the legislatures of all 50 states. “The California law is more far-reaching than any other state laws have been,” says McGeveran. “The question now is whether there’s a way for states to harmonize their approaches so that we don’t have a lot of disuniformity.” Professor McGeveran Goes to Washington The national impact of McGeveran’s work was recently on display when he was tapped to speak on data security enforcement at a Federal Trade Commission hearing in Washington, D.C. The gist of his testimony was that it is better to have flexible standards and an agency with the power to enforce them rather than “really detailed cookbook recipes for rules.” While the FTC partially performs this function, McGeveran says, “it doesn’t quite have the authority, the resources, or the penalties to really do that job as well as we need it to be done.” McGeveran’s colleagues in the privacy compliance world applaud his efforts to prepare students to grapple with privacy issues and to spur legislative and regulatory action to help tame this still-wild frontier. “With so much activity that is important to Minnesota businesses and the people who live here, having a legal

 Professor William McGeveran participates in a Federal Trade Commission hearing on data security enforcement in Washington, D.C.

The Next Big Thing: The Internet of Things The breakneck pace of tech innovation means that data privacy will forever be a moving target. McGeveran predicts that the next great shift will come in response to the fact that more and more information collection is coming from sources other than our traditional digital devices. “We’re accustomed to thinking of online privacy as having only to do with your screens—your computer or smartphone,” he explains. “But increasingly, there will be information collection happening out in the world with the Internet of Things, including driverless cars or automated checkout at the store. It will make the everyday world part of the issue of data privacy.” ❘❘❘❘

Photos: Jay Mallin

expert that specializes in information law is critical,” says Mitchell W. Granberg ’98, chief privacy officer at Eden Prairie-based Optum. “Bill does a fantastic job in preparing students for a career in legal privacy, and he performs important public policy work.” Sarah Rohne, director of employment and talent development at the Law School’s Career Center, points out that Minnesota Law is one of only a handful of schools partnering with the International Association of Privacy Professionals to offer the Privacy Pathway, which gives students the opportunity to take the association’s Certified Information Privacy Professional exam at a highly discounted rate. Rohne also notes that the practicum course developed by McGeveran “offers students an opportunity to shadow privacy professionals working in the area, allowing them to see firsthand the application of their academic learning to the world of work.”

Dan Heilman is a St. Paul-based freelance writer.

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FACULTY FOCUS

Faculty News, Awards & Grants

the Eastern District of Texas in HTC Corp. v. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. His scholarship on anonymous speech was cited by the Arizona Court of Appeals in its opinion in Doe v. Hon. Margaret Mahoney. Linus Chan received a faculty

Kristin Hickman’s work with Mark

research award for an interdisciplinary immigration data-collection project—co-proposed by Jack DeWaard, professor of sociology in the College of Liberal Arts— entitled “Promoting Transparency and Engagement in U.S. Immigration Court by Ensuring the Quality and Utility of Data Collected by Volunteer Observers.” The project aims to build a systemized way to access soft data collected by volunteer observers at immigration proceedings.

Thomson ’12 on judicial review of agency rulemaking was cited by U.S. District Court Judge James Browning in New Mexico Health Connections v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In the Cornell Law Review, Hickman and Thomson documented and discussed judicial responses to agency procedural violations. In his opinion, having found that the agency action at issue violated procedural requirements, Judge Browning highlighted a lack of clarity in 10th Circuit jurisprudence regarding vacatur of agency action as injunctive relief, declared his own view that remand without vacatur is an inappropriate remedy, and cited the Hickman and Thomson article as documenting issues raised by that remedy.

Allan Erbsen was elected to

membership in the American Law Institute. ALI is the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and improve the law.

Tom Cotter was invited to speak

at a Federal Trade Commission hearing on innovation and intellectual property policy. In his remarks, Cotter noted, among other things, that patents can serve different purposes in different industries. The event was part of an ongoing series of FTC hearings entitled “Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century.” Cotter’s scholarship on persuasive authority on the subject of determining royalties for the use of standard essential patents was cited by the U.S. District Court for

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Barry Feld’s research on juvenile

interrogation, adolescents’ diminished criminal responsibility, and school searches has been cited recently by a number of state courts. Feld is one of the nation’s leading scholars of juvenile justice. In 2008, he received the American Bar Association’s Livingston Hall Award, which recognizes lawyers practicing in the juvenile delinquency field who have demonstrated a high degree of skill, commitment, and professionalism in representing their young clients.

Heidi Kitrosser delivered the keynote

address at the Cline Symposium at the University of Illinois on democracy, the separation of powers, and the future of American constitutionalism. The annual symposium invites a prominent intellectual to address the University of Illinois

 campus community on a topic of great public significance.

Public Employees’ Retirement System, a case addressing whether certain changes to public employee pensions enacted by the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 were legally permissible.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Professors Meili, Schwarcz Appointed to Endowed Chairs

Fionnuala Ní Aoláin—as part of

the broader University human rights faculty—was awarded a $325,000 Grand Challenges Research Grant that will support “The Minnesota Model,” an interdisciplinary initiative to understand and propose solutions to the recent backsliding in human rights around the world.

William McGeveran was appointed

to serve as reporter for the Uniform Law Commission’s Study Committee on Online Privacy Protection. The committee’s charge is to study the need for and feasibility of a uniform or model law providing protection of online privacy. As reporter, McGeveran’s function is to serve as the committee’s subject-matter expert.

Steve Meili was named the

The Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity, directed by Myron Orfield, recently played a pivotal role in a case against a Connecticutbased bank that yielded a fair housing settlement of more than $16 million. As a part of a broader effort to evaluate lending patterns in Connecticut, the Institute produced data that suggested that Liberty Bank disproportionately located branch offices in white neighborhoods, excluded African American and Latinx neighborhoods from its service area, and treated loan applicants differently based on race and ethnicity.

Daniel Schwarcz was appointed

Susan Wolf, along with co-principal

Amy Monahan’s work was cited

by the California Supreme Court in Cal Fire Local 2881 v. California

inaugural James H. Binger Professor in Clinical Law. Meili writes and teaches about the rights of noncitizens, particularly those seeking asylum. He also serves as director of the Law School’s Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, where students represent asylum-seekers, trafficking victims, and detained individuals in various immigration and appellate court proceedings.

investigators at the University, was awarded a $325,000 Grand Challenges Research Grant to fund a project entitled “Toward Pharmacogenomics-Enabled Healthcare at Statewide Scale— Implementing Precision Medicine.” Wolf will lead a team investigating the ethical, legal, and social issues of the project at a state level. ❘❘❘❘

the Fredrikson & Byron Professor of Law. Schwarcz, who entered law teaching in 2007, focuses his research on insurance law and regulation, risk and risk management, consumer protection, and insurance coverage litigation. His articles have appeared in a wide range of leading law reviews and journals, and he is a co-author of the leading insurance law casebook in the country, Insurance Law and Regulation (6th Edition). ❘❘❘❘

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FACULTY FOCUS

AUTHOR in QUESTION Prof. Tom Cotter

Patent Wars: How Patents Impact Our Daily Lives Professor Tom Cotter’s new book, Patent Wars: How Patents Impact Our Daily Lives, is not an academic treatise for those versed in the intricate complexities of patent law, but a down-to-earth guidebook educating members of the general public on the innumerable ways that patents shape the world they live in. The 360-page book, available both digitally and in hardcover, was published last July by Oxford University Press.

 Video of Prof. Cotter discussing his book is available at law.umn.edu/ bookbites

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What are just a few of the interesting dispute areas (or “wars”) you delve into in the book?

What is something surprising that you discovered in researching or writing the book?

The book discusses most of the major controversies in patent law that people might read about in the news. These include the smartphone patent wars, in which all the major tech companies periodically find themselves embroiled in litigation around the world. But it also includes other pressing questions on which people often disagree. Should patent protection extend to subject matter such as life forms, genes, software, business methods, diagnostic methods? How do patents contribute to the high cost of prescription drugs? Do “patent trolls” help solo inventors receive compensation for their inventions, or are they actually a drag on innovation?

The health care system in the United States is so insanely complicated. Patents do play a role in the high cost of health care, but they are only one piece of the puzzle. We also don’t know as much as we should about exactly how much patent protection is necessary to innovation in the drug industry. If there’s any industry that needs patent protection to recoup its costs of research and development, it’s the pharmaceutical industry. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that pharma should get everything it wants, or should be able to evade any sort of price regulation.

What inspired you to write a book on this topic for a general audience? I like to read popular science books— books by people like the late Stephen Hawking, trying to explain the Big Bang to people like me. It occurred to me that, although people often come across stories about, say, the smartphone wars, or patent trolls, in the news, the average person who isn't already a specialist in this field probably doesn’t know a great deal about what patents are, how the patent system operates, and so on. And yet innovation is so important to the modern economy! I thought it would be good to have a book about these topics that the educated nonspecialist reader could pick up to better understand them.

What are a few common misconceptions about this area of law? One is the myth of the solitary genius, who toils away to create the clichéd better mousetrap, after which the world will surely beat a path to his door. In fact, as others have pointed out, most inventors aren’t solitary and they aren’t geniuses— which is just as well, because true genius is in short supply. Moreover, most patents are not commercially successful—we grant more than 300,000 of them every year in the U.S.—so the simple assumption that patents are monopolies, or a ticket to riches, is usually false. What are some of the key things you would like readers to take away from your book? Patents generate both social benefits and social costs, so stronger patent

“

There really isn't another book like this on the market. Most are geared either to specialists, or they are more in the nature of how-to books. ... Mine aims to make the subject understandable.” —Professor Tom Cotter

rights are not always good for society. At the same time, patent protection is important to ensure innovation in certain fields, such as pharma. But there’s a lot of uncertainty. It’s difficult today to get a patent on a new method for diagnosing disease, and I worry that this might inhibit some developments in personalized medicine— but we honestly don’t know for sure. Governments often have to make decisions about the patent system without knowing for certain which legal rules will best foster innovation, but empirical evidence can help, at least at the margin. What differentiates your book from other patent law titles on the market today? There really isn’t another book like this on the market. Most are geared either to specialists, or they are more in the nature of how-to books. Mine aspires to make the subject understandable, but at a reasonable level of sophistication, to enable readers to come to their own views about the role of patents in making the world a better place. Is there anything else you would like to share about your book or the experience of writing it? It was enjoyable writing a book that draws on my (and many other people’s) scholarly work, and to try to make it relevant to a wider audience. ❘❘❘❘

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At the Intersection of Law and Medicine Professor Susan Wolf’s Cutting-Edge Work Connects the Dots Between Disciplines

SUSAN WOLF HAS LONG BEEN FASCINATED by medicine and the

biological sciences. She pored over the history of surgery and medical biographies in elementary school and studied behavioral evolution in college. Yet after graduating from Princeton University, Wolf found herself in a quandary about whether to pursue medicine or law. “I was interested in bioethics long before it was a recognized subject,” she says. “And truth be told, I was better at talking than at lab work. I loved argumentation.” Today, Wolf holds professorships in law and medicine. She also chairs the groundbreaking Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences, which links 19 member centers at the University to conduct research and advance dialogue on pressing issues at the intersection of science and society. Propelled on a Path Wolf’s path after college led her to work at Southbury Training School, a state-run facility in Connecticut for people with disabilities. That experience propelled her to think deeply about the ethics of care and patients’ rights. A few years later, at Yale Law School, she met Jay Katz,

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a leading theorist of the physicianpatient relationship. “I began to see how I could marry my love for biomedicine with law and ethics,” she says. After clerking for a federal judge in New York City, Wolf became a litigator at a large law firm, where she collaborated with a partner who chaired the presidential commission on bioethics during the Carter administration. She then plunged full-time into bioethics at The Hastings Center, an interdisciplinary institute addressing ethical issues in health care, science, and technology. “I was fortunate to spend eight years at the epicenter of bioethics,” she says. At the Intersection of Science and Law In 1993, the University of Minnesota recruited Wolf to forge a crucial connection between law, biomedicine, and ethics at a time when concerns about end-of-life care, health care reform, and genetics were exploding. She joined the faculty, based in the Law School but with half of her time allocated to the Center for Bioethics in the Academic Health Center. Wolf quickly began to build programs—first, the University’s Joint Degree Program in Law,

Health & the Life Sciences, and then the University-wide Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences. “The Consortium deals with issues at the intersection of law, ethics, policy, and the biomedical and life sciences, such as how to oversee emerging technologies,” says Wolf. “These are ‘perfect storm’ problems that obey no disciplinary borders and require interdisciplinary collaboration.” The Consortium’s pioneering work has attracted funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and others. A recent series of NIH-funded

“ I was interested in bioethics long before it was a recognized subject. And truth be told, I was better at talking than at lab work. I loved argumentation.” —Prof. Susan Wolf

projects analyzed whether to offer research participants individual-specific genomic findings of potential importance to their health. “We asked questions that were brand-new,” says Wolf. “What should researchers do when they find something unexpected, beyond what they are studying? Our work built a foundation for what is now a burgeoning field of research and innovation.” With support from the University of Minnesota provost’s Grand Challenges program, the Consortium now is partnering across the University and state to investigate how pharmacogenomics—the study of genetic factors affecting patient

reactions to medications—can advance health throughout Minnesota. On the national level, Wolf is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, where she serves on a committee that addresses issues in public policy. She also sits on the advisory panel for an NIH program on genomic analysis in large population studies. “The challenges posed now by biomedicine and the life sciences are huge,” says Wolf. “These are the problems our collaborative teams are trying to solve.”❘❘❘❘

Professor Susan M. Wolf is the McKnight Presidential Professor of Law, Medicine & Public Policy; Faegre Baker Daniels Professor of Law; and Professor of Medicine. She also serves as chair of the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences.

By Kathy Graves, a writer based in Minneapolis.

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 LEADING QUESTIONS

1L Navin Ramalingam Raised in India, Ramalingam has been active in diversity, wellness initiatives at the Law School

WHY MINNESOTA LAW: Because of its welcoming and collaborative culture, impressive faculty, breathtaking number of clinical and concentration options, and the Twin Cities location. CAREER ASPIRATIONS: I'm interested in pursuing a career in civil litigation, and maybe class action and complex litigation if I get those opportunities along the way. I also plan to do public service work, especially in the human and civil rights area, after I gain litigation experience in the private sector. LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE: Law School has been the most challenging and thrilling experience I have had in my adult life. It is intellectually demanding yet fulfilling too. I have received great support from the administration, my classmates, and especially the upper-level students. They have been there for me, providing their assistance every step of the way.

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LANDING A SUMMER JOB: Primarily because of my kind and knowledgeable career counselor, Wendy Griak, at the Career Center, who was instrumental in making sure I was interview-ready, and through Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, a group of leading Twin-Cities legal employers dedicated to advancing diversity in the legal community in Minnesota. FAVORITE MINNESOTA LAW MOMENT: Meeting Chief Justice John Roberts and having the opportunity to ask him questions. He visited the school for the 2018 Stein Lecture and our constitutional law class had the good fortune of meeting him for an hour before the official lecture in the evening. TIPS FOR INCOMING STUDENTS: Have an open mind, be ready to work hard, unlearn and adapt your strategies as you go through the first year. More importantly, make friends and make use of the amazing breadth of outside-theclassroom experiences that Minnesota Law has to offer. ❘❘❘❘

Navin Ramalingam was born and raised in the city of Chennai in southern India. Prior to law school, he was a business consultant at Deloitte and Ernst & Young. This summer, he is going to work at Gray Plant Mooty in Minneapolis. He enjoys biking, running, reading, and traveling.

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Student News

Two 3Ls Receive Fellowships from World Without Genocide

N. Georgette Marling, 3L

World Without Genocide, a St. Paulbased human rights organization, recently awarded Benjamin B. Ferencz Fellowships in Human Rights and Law for the 2018-19 academic year to 3Ls Abigail Hencheck and N. Georgette Marling. The fellowships provide financial support for work on core areas of human rights including research, policy development, and action at local, state, national, and international levels. Hencheck was selected to work on legislation to address gender discrimination and violence. Marling was selected to work on legislation to address climate change. The fellowships are named for one of the world’s leading advocates for human rights, Benjamin B. Ferencz. In Nuremberg, Germany, in 1947, Ferencz prosecuted members of the Nazi

Alicia Granse, 3L

Abigail Hencheck, 3L

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Einsatzgruppen, mobile killing squads responsible for the deaths of more than a million Jews during the Holocaust. He received convictions for every one of the accused. He has committed his life to advocating for justice and peace around the world, and he was a key figure in the development of the International Criminal Court. 3L Alicia Granse Wins 2019 MWL Equal Justice Award 3L Alicia Granse won the 2019

Minnesota Women Lawyers Equal Justice Award for her note, “Gun Control and the Color of the Law.” The award, granted for a paper or article on a social justice topic, includes a $1,000 cash prize and recognition at MWL’s 47th annual meeting luncheon on April 26. Granse is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law & Inequality and a student director for the Detainee Rights Clinic. After graduation, she will work at the office of the Hennepin County Public Defender.

David Hahn, 3L

3L David Hahn Wins Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing The Burton Foundation has announced that 3L David Hahn is the winner of a 2019 Distinguished Legal Writing Award. In the 20 years since the award’s creation, Law School students have received it 11 times. Only two other law schools—Georgetown University Law Center (13) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School (12)— have won the award more. Hahn’s winning entry, “Late for an Appointment: Balancing Impartiality and Accountability in the IRS Office of Appeals,” was written as a note for the Minnesota Law Review. The piece discusses constitutional issues raised by the structure of the Internal Revenue Service and its tax collection procedures. Hahn says he is “grateful to the Law School for prioritizing quality legal writing in its curriculum.” He also says he “owes much to my peers on Minnesota Law Review for their thoughtful feedback and work in preparing the note for publication.”

Jessica Wheeler, 3L

3L Jessica Wheeler Places Second In National Health Law Writing Competition 3L Jessica Wheeler recently won

second place in the Epstein Becker Green Writing Competition for her note, “Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics: Privacy Protections in Integrated Care.” The competition is designed to encourage J.D. and LL.M. students in the preparation of scholarly papers on current topics of interest relating to health law. Second place carries with it a $2,000 cash prize. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are clinics where patients receive care for substance use disorders and physical and mental health conditions from various providers working together to deliver holistic treatment. “The clinical and financial benefits of integrated care are numerous and well-documented, but current federal and state privacy regulations make it difficult for providers to share patient

information in integrated care settings, even for the purpose of treatment,” explains Wheeler. “My note proposes changes at both the state and federal level that would help CCBHCs and other integrated care arrangements share patient information for treatment purposes while still protecting the patient’s privacy.” Wheeler expressed her gratitude to Professor Amy Monahan and to her peers at Minnesota Law Review for their feedback throughout the writing process. “This national recognition of Jessica’s research and writing is well-deserved,” said Professor Monahan, who is also associate dean for research and planning. “She chose a cutting-edge issue that was receiving little attention and wrote about it in a way that is valuable to all stakeholders—patients, health care professionals, lawmakers, and regulators. Her note is a great example of the ability of students to serve the legal profession.”

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3Ls J.J. Pristanski and Matt Mirabella

3Ls Ted McGee, Allison Chadwick, Brendan Johnson, Kelly Nizzari, Caroline Schmitz, and Paul Dimick

< CONT

Law School National Moot Court Team Wins Regional Title

Andrew Leiendecker ’17. Other

The Law School’s National Moot Court Competition teams continued the program’s success in achieving outstanding results at the Region 14 tournament, with one team making it to the semifinals and the other emerging as regional champions. The Region 14 competition was hosted by the University of South Dakota Law School in Sioux Falls on Nov. 16-17. The Respondent team (3Ls Allison Chadwick, Kelly Nizzari, and Brendan Johnson) completed a clean sweep of the awards: Region 14 champions; best Respondent brief; best overall brief; and best oral advocate in the finals (Nizzari). The Respondent team defeated a team from the University of Iowa in a spirited, well-argued final round to take the championship. The Petitioner team (3Ls Ted McGee, Caroline Schmitz, and Paul Dimick) went a perfect 4-0 through the preliminary rounds and quarterfinals. The team advanced to the semifinals, where they suffered their only loss of the tournament to their classmates on the Law School Respondent team. The teams were coached by adjunct professors Kyle Hardwick ’13 and

and provided additional valuable feedback. At the national level in New York City, the Respondent team placed 8th in the brief competition and made it to the round of 16. In the last 37 years, 54 out of 74 Minnesota Law teams in the competition have qualified for the region quarterfinals, 36 have qualified for the region final four, and 22 have gone on to the national finals. This is the sixth time a Minnesota Law team has outright won the Region 14 tournament, and this year’s Respondent team was the 13th team in the last 17 years to go to New York.

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local attorneys and Clinical Professors Brad Clary ’75 and Chris Soper judged practice rounds

Moot Court Teams Continue String of Impressive Showings In the McGee National Civil Rights competition held in February, the Respondent team (2L Isabel McClure, 3L Zachary Hofeld, and 3L Tariq Miller) advanced through the quarterfinals and semifinals to the final round, where they ultimately lost a split decision. McClure was named best overall oralist. The team also placed 8th in the brief competition. The Petitioner

team (3Ls Fatjon Kaja and Matt McCord) had a perfect 3-0 record in the preliminary rounds. Also in February, the Duberstein Bankruptcy moot court competition team (3Ls Charles Shafer, Nora Steinhagen, and Kevin Cunningham) placed second in the Chicago regional, narrowly losing in the final round before a panel of bankruptcy judges. The team also performed well in the national competition, in New York City. In March, 3Ls J.J. Pristanski and Matt Mirabella won the MIPLA Cup, sponsored every year by the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association. Minnesota Law moot court teams have done well in several other recent competitions: • The Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition team (3L Adam Ratchenski, 3L Maya Digre, and 2L Sam Duggan) in February placed 6th out of 54 teams in the briefwriting portion of the competition, in White Plains, New York. • The ABA moot court teams (3Ls Christopher Conway, Rob Wild, Kalyssa Maile, Christie Geter, and Breanna Helland) in March narrowly missed advancing through the prelims, with Conway winning 4th best oralist. • The NYU National Immigration Law Competition moot court team (2Ls Jiaqi Li and Kimberly Medina) advanced beyond the preliminary rounds in February to the quarterfinal round. Their brief scored in the top third of the competition. ❘❘❘❘

Hail to the (Editors-in) Chief These enthusiastic 2Ls are ready to take the reins of the Law School’s four student-edited law journals

IN AN ANNUAL RITE OF PASSAGE at the Law School, the

newly elected editors-in-chief of the four student-edited law journals are making their plans for the next volume of their publications. 2L Cindy Shi, editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Journal of International Law, is a graduate of Arizona State University, where she studied marketing and business law. Prior to attending law school, she worked at a law office that primarily dealt with employment law and bankruptcy issues. Her career aspirations include working on employment law and health law issues. 2L Makenzie Krause, editorin-chief of the Journal of Law & Inequality, attended the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University

as an undergraduate. Prior to attending law school, she was an administrative assistant for the city of Delano. She hopes to one day work in business, municipal, or health law. 2L Will Dooling, editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology, obtained his B.A. in history and communication from Saint Louis University and his M.A. in library and information science from the University of WisconsinMadison. Before going to law school, he worked in a variety of roles including as a science, literature, and history teacher in Taiwan, a research intern for the Center for Media and Democracy in Madison, Wisconsin, and in library reference/information positions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton

 Left to right: 2Ls Cindy Shi, Makenzie Krause, Will Dooling, and Gina Tonn are the incoming editors-in-chief

University. He likes criminal law, but is open as to what areas he would like to practice in after law school. 2L Gina Tonn, editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Law Review, obtained her B.A. in economics and religion from St. Olaf College. Before law school, she worked in nonprofit fundraising as a volunteer manager, including for the St. Olaf Fund. This summer, she will work at a Chicago law firm focusing on civil litigation. Her legal areas of interest also include administrative law, labor and employment, and higher education. ❘❘❘❘

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Big Picture

Photo: Tim Rummelhoff

ST U D EN TS DR A F T R A D O N LE GISL ATIO N

Students in the Law Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Legal Partnership for Health Clinic worked closely with a Minnesota state senator to draft legislation that would require landlords to test for radon and mitigate where there are high levels. The bill was introduced in the Senate, and managed to gain bipartisan support. While the bill will not get a hearing this session, students are hopeful that it will be reintroduced in the next one. The nine students who worked on the legislation included (left to right in photo) 2Ls Rebecca Zadaka, Alex Eschenroeder (the student director of the clinic), and Julie Griep. The six participating students not pictured are 2L Becca Barberio, 2L Nathan Fawley, 2L Rebecca Hare, 3L Laura Lukey, 2L Katie Miller, and 2L Alex Park.

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TORT PRESENTS: TALE AS OLD AS TIME

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On March 29-30, the Theatre of the Relatively Talentless presented its 17th annual show, Tale as Old as Time. Performed at the Pantages Theatre, this fun-filled musical production on the foibles of law school life was a parody of the beloved classic Beauty and the Beast.

JOIN THE CLUB. MAKE A DIFFERENCE .

The Lockhart Club leadership annual giving society brings together generations of alumni and friends who generously express their support of the Law School through an annual gift of $2,000 or more. Together, this group makes a significant impact at the Law School and beyond— on its students, faculty, and community members. Learn how to join at z.umn.edu/ lawlockhartclub.

Save the Date for the 2019 Lockart Dinner October 28, 2019 McNamara Alumni Center

GIVING LEVELS BINGER CIRCLE $25,000+

FRASER SOCIETY $10,000-$24,999

DEAN’S CIRCLE $5,000-$9,999

MURPHY SOCIETY $2,000-$4,999

Named for legendary lawyer-leader and philanthropist James H. Binger ’41, members ensure our alumni, faculty, and students can solve today’s grand challenges.

Dean Everett Fraser helped bring the Law School to national prominence. Members help secure the Law School’s place at the forefront of legal education.

Since its founding in 1888, the Law School has been led by 11 distinguished Deans. Members of the Dean’s Circle build on their example.

Judge Diana Murphy ’74 was a champion of justice for all, and promoted education as a means to improve lives. Members of the Murphy Society honor her legacy.

LOCKHART GOLD GRADUATES OF THE LAST DECADE Lockhart GOLD was created to engage a new generation of leadership donors. Alumni give at special giving levels based on their graduation year and enjoy all benefits of the Lockhart Club.

Graduation Year 2018 2017, 2016, 2015 2014, 2013, 2012 2011, 2010, 2009

GOLD Giving Level $10/month ($120 annually) $25/month ($300 annually) $50/month ($600 annually) $100/month ($1,200 annually)

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RAISING THE BAR

ALUMNI Interrogatory Kyle Hawkins ’09 Last fall, Kyle Hawkins ’09 became the solicitor general of Texas—a high-profile position nationally, given the amount of U.S. Supreme Court litigation the state generates. Former occupants of the office include Sen. Ted Cruz. Hawkins previously served as an assistant solicitor general in the office; prior to that, he was engaged in private practice at the firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

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“

I’m the chief appellate lawyer for the state, and I run a department with 18 lawyers. Much of my day is spent formulating strategy in ongoing and upcoming appeals.” —Kyle Hawkins ’09

Were there any formative experiences at Minnesota Law that helped send you on your path (a class, a clinic, a professor, etc.)? Yes, many, but I’ll pick two. First, Professor Kristin Hickman’s administrative law class opened my eyes to the power of the administrative state and its pervasive role in our daily lives. Second, serving on the Minnesota Law Review introduced me to legal scholarship on dozens of different topics and made me a better writer and clearer thinker. Did it ever occur to you while you were roaming the corridors of Mondale Hall that you might one day be Texas solicitor general? No way. I grew up in Minnesota and always assumed I’d wind up practicing law in Minneapolis. I fell in love with Texas when I moved here after law school to clerk on the 5th Circuit. The January weather sealed the deal. You were a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. What was that experience like, and how does it inform what you do today as solicitor general? Clerking for Justice Alito was a dream come true. By interacting with the justices every day, clerks come away with profound insight into how the Court works as an institution and how to advocate persuasively. As solicitor general, I practice in the Supreme Court regularly, and every day I draw from my experiences as a law clerk there.

Can you very briefly describe a typical day as Texas solicitor general? I’m the chief appellate lawyer for the state, and I run a department with 18 lawyers. Much of my day is spent formulating strategy in ongoing and upcoming appeals. I also spend a lot of time editing briefs and preparing for oral arguments. What might people find surprising about your work? When I’m in court, the judges sometimes address me as “General Hawkins.” I thought that title was reserved for senior military leaders with armies and tanks, but apparently it also covers certain government lawyers. What are a few interesting items that one might find decorating your desk or office? I inherited from my predecessor a bobblehead collection of the lawyers named “Jurist of the Year” by the Texas Review of Law and Politics. I also have a framed photo of all my colleagues from volume 93 of the Minnesota Law Review. And I have a bunch of photos from my wedding. Previous occupants of your office have gone on to the U.S. Senate and the federal appellate bench. Any thoughts about what you might do in the next stage of your career? I have no idea what’s next, and hopefully I won’t have to figure that out for a few more years! I have the best job in Texas. When it’s eventually time to move on, I’m sure I’ll look for opportunities to keep practicing law in the areas that I love.

What advice would you give to a current Minnesota Law student trying to determine his/her own career path? Find a mentor—ideally, a professor you really connect with. That mentor can help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, and long-term goals. And once you’ve got that figured out, your mentor can help you plot a course. It’s very difficult to do all that on your own without help. Being solicitor general of Texas is no doubt a very stressful job. What do you do to maintain wellness and/or life balance? This job definitely can be all-consuming. I try to maintain my physical health with regular trips to the gym. I try to maintain my mental health by having dinner with my wife every night, even if I have to hop back on the laptop after dinner. That helps me maintain my mental balance and keep things in perspective. Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Minnesota Law community? I always encourage students to enjoy law school to the fullest. Mondale Hall offers a special opportunity to learn something interesting every day and interact with some of the brightest minds in the country—both in the classroom and (perhaps more importantly) at the Town Hall Brewery. I really enjoyed my time at Minnesota and am grateful for the opportunities it prepared me for. ❘❘❘❘

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Alumni News

Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson ’83 Named Chief Executive of the Year

Hon. Alan Page ’78

Hon. Alan Page ’78 Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan C. Page ’78 received the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This prestigious award may be given by the president to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. President Donald J. Trump awarded the medals to Page and six other individuals at a ceremony at the White House on Nov. 16. Also attending were First Lady Melania Trump, several Cabinet members, six Supreme Court justices, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, and numerous other dignitaries.

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The White House release announcing the awards described Page as follows: “Justice Page is an accomplished jurist, athlete, and philanthropist. After a successful college football career at the University of Notre Dame, he played 15 years in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. He started in four Super Bowls, was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1971, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. While playing for the Vikings, he obtained his law degree and practiced law during the off-season. After retiring from the NFL in 1981, Justice Page practiced law full-time before winning a seat on the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1992. He served for more than 20 years. Since 1988, his Page Education Foundation has provided scholarships to nearly 7,000 students.”

Chief Executive magazine recently named Arne M. Sorenson ’83, the president and chief executive officer of Marriott International, its 2019 Chief Executive of the Year. Sorenson joined Marriott in 1996 and held a number of positions before serving as president and CEO. He became CEO in 2012, the first person to hold the post without the Marriott family name. “Since becoming CEO, Mr. Sorenson has led a vast expansion of the business, including the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2016,” the magazine notes. “The company now has more than 7,000 properties across 130 countries and territories and 30 brands. An outspoken corporate leader, he has advocated for environmental sustainability, a more open, safe, and inclusive workplace, and a welcoming culture around the world.” The selection committee, composed of other CEOs, cited Sorenson’s outstanding performance running one of the most complex, global businesses in the world in the face of daunting cultural and technological change. “I am deeply honored by this tremendous recognition, and I thank my peer CEOs for the nomination,” Sorenson told Chief Executive magazine. “I stand on the shoulders of an icon, Bill Marriott, and the 730,000 people around the world who wear a Marriott name badge. Together, we work each day to uphold a legacy of creating opportunities—for our guests, our associates, and the local neighborhoods where we operate.”

Over the past 33 years, Chief Executive of the Year winners have been a who’s who of American business leadership, including Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Michael Dell, A.G. Lafley, John Chambers, Bob Iger, Anne Mulcahy, Larry Bossidy, Andy Grove, and Herb Kelleher, among others. Sorenson’s selection as 2019 CEO of the Year will be celebrated at an invitation-only event hosted by Chief Executive Group at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York in late July. Amy Seidel ’98 Named a 2019 ‘Women in Business’ Honoree Amy Seidel ’98, a partner at Faegre

Baker Daniels, was been named a 2019 “Women in Business” honoree by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. The awards honor industry-leading professionals, taking into account individual accomplishments,

industry leadership, community service, civic engagement, and more. Seidel leads FaegreBD’s public companies and securities practice, which represents over 50 public companies. She has been practicing law for over 20 years and handles some of the most complex securities compliance and corporate governance legal work for companies of all sizes, including Fortune 100 companies. In a sophisticated web of regulations, she marks a path to compliance for public companies and executes exemplary work—supporting management teams and boards of directors. In addition to her legal practice, Seidel has served many leadership positions within FaegreBD. She was recently elected to the firm’s management board. She headed FaegreBD’s recruiting committee for several years and also served as a member of the firm’s nominating committee and several strategic initiative teams.

Seidel is immediate past chair of the Law School’s Board of Advisors. She and other “Women in Business” honorees will be honored at an awards luncheon and expo on May 23, in Minneapolis. Nancy Leppink ’85 Appointed Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Gov. Tim Walz appointed Nancy Leppink ’85 as commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. She was previously chief of labour administration with the Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety

CONT >

Nancy Leppink ’85

Arne Sorenson ’83

Amy Seidel ’98

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and Health Branch of the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Leppink has more than 25 years’ experience as a strategist and leader in employment and labor policy, law, administration, enforcement, and compliance. Her experience includes work at the international, national, and state levels working with public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

< CONT

Rebecca Lucero ’07 Named Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Human Rights Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appointed Rebecca Lucero ’07 as commissioner of the state’s Department of Human Rights. At the time of her appointment, Lucero was serving as the public policy director at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. She previously served as policy and advocacy manager and global village leader for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, as senior community representative for then-U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison ’90, as an unemployment law judge with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and as an attorney with a civil rights firm and with the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis. She is a board member for Gender Justice. Cheryl Dalby ’95 Becomes CEO of MSBA, HCBA, and RCBA Cheryl Dalby ’95 accepted the

Rebecca Lucero ’07

position of chief executive officer of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, and Ramsey County Bar Association.

WE  TORT REUNION FEBRUARY 12, 2019 | DAY BLOCK BREWING

This year’s TORT cast invited alumni to join them at the annual We  TORT event. The event is a chance for alumni and students to connect over their love of the TORT experience. We  TORT was organized and hosted by 3L producer Ellen Levish, 2L producer Kenzie Gerber, and the Office of Advancement. Donations can be made to TORT at z.umn.edu/Give2TORT

 2L Mika Millard, 1L Bree Crye, and 1L Maddie O’Mara

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Cheryl Dalby ’95

The combined CEO position was created after the boards of directors of the three associations decided in June 2018 to adopt a shared staff model to better coordinate efforts, increase efficiencies, and improve member value. Dalby, who has served as executive director of the Ramsey County Bar Association for the last 18 years, was selected after a nationwide search. “I am thrilled to lead the bar associations into a collaborative future,” said Dalby in a joint announcement that the bar groups sent to members. ❘❘❘❘

Class Notes

Lawrence Zelle has

joined JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide, in its Minneapolis office. Zelle has served as lead or co-lead counsel in more than 300 cases that were tried to completion, arbitrated, or settled through mediation or negotiation.

Robert Weinstine was

selected as an honoree of Minnesota Lawyer’s inaugural Icons class. Weinstine is one of the founders of Winthrop & Weinstine, one of Minnesota’s 10 largest firms.

Tom Johnson

was honored by Minnesota Lawyer for Outstanding Service to the Profession. Johnson is a principal in the Minneapolis office of Gray Plant Mooty.

Michael Ciresi

was selected as an honoree of Minnesota Lawyer’s inaugural Icons class. Among his lifetime achievements, the publication noted, are the state of Minnesota’s historic litigation over tobacco, the Bhopal gas leak disaster in India, and the Dalkon Shield case. Ciresi is a founding partner of Ciresi Conlin in Minneapolis.

NEWS ABOUT YOUR CLASSMATES AND COLLEAGUES

Joe Price was

selected as an honoree of Minnesota Lawyer’s inaugural Icons class. The publication hailed Price as a national pioneer in medical products liability. He is senior counsel at the Minneapolis office of Faegre Baker Daniels.

Daniel H. Mabley joined

JAMS, a private provider of alternative dispute resolution services, in its Minneapolis office. Mabley previously served for 26 years as a Hennepin County District Court judge, including a term as chief judge, and another 15 years in prosecuting attorney roles in Dakota, Hennepin, and Ramsey counties.

William Lubov

was honored by Minnesota Lawyer as a 2018 Attorney of the Year. Lubov is a principal of Lubov Anderson in Golden Valley. Heidi Wilson was honored with an In-House Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer in the public company category. She is senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary with Tennant Co.

Barbara Grahn

was selected as an honoree of Minnesota Lawyer’s inaugural Icons class. The publication hailed Grahn as “a trademark-law pioneer.” Grahn is a partner in Fox Rothschild’s Minneapolis office.

Catherine Cella of Edina,

Minnesota, joined the board of trustees for the Minneapolis-based Sheltering Arms Foundation.

Tom McDonald

moderated a roundtable discussion for the speaker of the California State Assembly on diversifying California’s state affairs. McDonald, who served as U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe from 1997 to 2001, is an attorney with Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease in Washington, D.C.

Cheryl Heilman was

appointed chief legal counsel of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. She had served as deputy counsel of the Wisconsin DNR since 2011. Ronald Schutz was selected as an honoree of Minnesota Lawyer’s inaugural Icons class. The publication noted Schutz’s storied career as an attorney, which has included a number of major intellectual property verdicts. He is managing partner at Robins Kaplan’s New York office.

Richard Ostlund was

elected chair of the Fairview Health Services board of directors. Ostlund is a senior partner and executive committee member of Anthony Ostlund Baer & Louwagie in Minneapolis.

Barbara Shiels

was honored with an InHouse Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer for lifetime achievement. She is senior associate general counsel for the University of Minnesota.

Mark Kimball

was honored with an InHouse Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer for lifetime achievement. He was senior vice president and chief legal and risk officer with Sleep Number Corp.

Nancy Leppink

was appointed commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Leppink was formerly chief of labour administration with the Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ruth S. Marcott has

joined Kutak Rock’s national employee benefits and executive compensation practice group in its Minneapolis office. Marcott has more than 20 years’ experience in employee benefits law, as well as 10 years’ experience in commercial litigation. Michelle Miller of Medtronic was honored with an In-House Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer in the public company category. CONT >

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Elena Ostby was reelected as a district court judge in Minnesota’s 2nd Judicial District. She has served on the bench since 2004.

< CONT

Diane Bratvold

was reelected as a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals, where she has served since 2016. From 2014-16 she served on the Hennepin County District Court. Scott Lepak was honored as the Anoka County Bar Association’s 2018 Lawyer of the Year. He was recognized for his outstanding legal services and his support to the community during his 30-year career as an attorney practicing in labor relations and employment matters affecting local government. He is a shareholder with the firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. David Stork was named chief legal officer of Lithia Motors Inc. Previously, he worked for most of his career at Jeld-Wen Inc., most recently as general counsel.

Robyn Millenacker

term as a judge on the North Las Vegas Justice Court. She was also appointed a professional boxing judge by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Keith Ellison

was elected to the office of Minnesota Attorney General. He was previously a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District from 2007–2019. Kristine Kubes was elected as chair-elect of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law. She practices in Minneapolis in the area of design and construction. Mark Fredrickson was elected to the board of DRI, the Voice of the Defense Bar, as its north central regional director. He is a shareholder with Lind, Jensen, Sullivan & Peterson in Minneapolis.

Lorie Humphrey

accepted the role of director of employee relations for the University of Minnesota. She has been with the University since 2015.

was reelected as a district court judge in Minnesota’s 2nd Judicial District. She has served on the bench since 2010. Tracy Smith was reelected as a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals, where she has served since 2016.

Natalie Tyrrell

Elizabeth Truesdell Smith was honored with

was reelected to a fourth

an In-House Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer

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Jeanne Cochran was

appointed a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. She was previously an administrative law judge with the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings.

in the healthcare organization category. She is senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary to the Allina Health board of directors.

Michael Ouyang was

honored with an In-House Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer in the public company category. He is vice president, intellectual property at CommScope. Kristin Jones Pierre

became a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels, specializing in labor and employment workplace matters. She represents employers of all sizes, including public and private companies, emerging businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

Daniel G. Lugo was

named the 21st president of Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina. Lugo previously served as vice president for college advancement at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Benjamin Mulcahy

was selected for Variety’s 2018 Dealmakers Impact Report. Working in DLA Piper’s Los Angeles office, Mulchahy is a partner in the intellectual property and technology practice and co-chair of the firm’s national advertising team. Timothy Mulrooney

was reelected as a district court judge in Minnesota’s 2nd Judicial District. He has served on the bench since 2016.

Heidi Neff Christianson

was named president of Nilan Johnson Lewis in Minneapolis. She joined the firm in 2012 and represents health care and nonprofit entities. Melissa Hortman was elected speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Hortman was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2004 and has previously served in a number of leadership roles, including House minority leader. Pamela H. Nissen joined the Minneapolis office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren as a shareholder in its employee benefits practice and Taft-Hartley group. Bethany Owen was elected president of Duluthbased Allete Inc. She has been with the company for more than 16 years and has previously held a number of operational and legal leadership roles.

Kristyn M. Anderson of

the Minnesota Management and Budget Office was honored with an In-House Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer in the nonprofit or government organization category. John Dragseth was honored by Minnesota Lawyer as a 2018 Attorney of the Year in the group category for his work on the Fish & Richardson team that secured highprofile patent litigation wins for Arctic Cat. Steve Simon was reelected to the office of Minnesota Secretary of State. He has served in the

position since 2015, and was previously a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Michael Sullivan Jr. was elected managing officer of Gray Plant Mooty’s board of directors. Sullivan has served on Gray Plant Mooty’s board since 2014 and chairs its corporate and business practice group. He concentrates his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, general corporate/business counseling, and securities offerings—including private placements, venture capital financings, and private equity and debt offerings.

Diego Edber was

appointed to a judgeship on the Los Angeles Superior Court by California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. Edber was formerly a commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court. M. Gayle Packer was named president and CEO of Terracon Consultants Inc., a 4,000-employee design firm. Most recently, she was executive vice president and chief administrative officer, coordinating the integration of 50 acquired companies.

RICHARD OSTLUND ’82 ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF FAIRVIEW HEALTH SERVICES’ BOARD OF DIRECTORS A member of the Minneapolis-based nonprofit’s health system’s board since 2013, Ostlund oversaw the selection of the organization’s president and CEO two years ago. He also helped lead the renegotiation of Fairview’s new M Health Fairview partnership between Fairview, the University of Minnesota, and University of Minnesota Physicians. Ostlund practices at the Minneapolis law firm of Anthony Ostlund Baer & Louwagie P.A., where he is an executive committee member and an officer. He has tried complex cases in more than 30 states, spanning a 33-year career. Past accolades include being a Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year (2009) and being selected as Business Litigation Attorney of the Year by Corporate INTL magazine, based in London, England.

Bryan Bleichner

was named a shareholder of Chestnut Cambronne in Minneapolis and was elected to the firm’s board of directors. Mike Skoglund was honored with an In-House Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer in the private company with annual revenues over $500 million category. He is a senior commercial lawyer at Cargill. Ryan Winkler was elected majority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represents District 46A,

which includes portions of the cities of Golden Valley, Plymouth, and St. Louis Park in Hennepin County.

Brandon Derry

was recognized with the Class of 2019 Leaders in the Law award from the Wisconsin Law Journal. Derry is a shareholder with Hupy and Abraham, working out of the firm’s Madison, Wisconsin, office. Julie Engbloom was elected president of the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. She is a shareholder with Lane Powell in Portland, Oregon.

CONT >

KEITH ELLISON ’90 ELECTED MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL Before his election as attorney general, Ellison served as a member of Congress for 12 years. In Congress, Ellison was a vice-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a chief deputy whip. He also sat on the House Committee on Financial Services. Ellison also served as the Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2017-18. Ellison was the first Muslim to be elected to Congress and the first African American U.S. representative from Minnesota. Before entering politics, Ellison spent 16 years as an attorney specializing in civil rights and defense law, including five years as the executive director of the Legal Rights Center.

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Teresa Lavoie, Ph.D., received the 2019 Diversity Leader Award from Profiles in Diversity Journal. She is a principal with Fish & Richardson.

< CONT

Laura Nelson

was re-elected as a district court judge in Minnesota’s 2nd Judicial District. She has served on the bench since 2016.

Julia Decker

joined the ACLU of Minnesota as its policy counsel. She was previously a staff attorney at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. Sarah Morrison was sworn in as a magistrate judge for the 7th Circuit in South Dakota. Before becoming a judge, Morrison served as a prosecutor for the state’s attorney’s office, with a focus on juvenile cases.

Zach Crain was

promoted to shareholder at Nilan Johson Lewis in Minneapolis. He joined the firm in 2015. His clients include businesses, hospitals and medical providers, social services charities, insurers and nonprofit health plans, and trade associations. Anne Stephenson was honored with an In-House Counsel Award by Minnesota Lawyer in the rising stars category. She is general counsel with Reuter Walton.

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Kristy L. Peters was

honored with the 2019 International Law Office’s Client Choice Award as the exclusive winner in the Employment & Benefits category for the state of Arizona. She is a shareholder at Littler Mendelson in Phoenix, where she represents and counsels employers regarding all types of labor and employment matters.

Rebecca Lucero was

appointed commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights by Gov. Tim Waltz. She previously served as the public policy director at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Zaviel T. Simpser joined Dorsey and Whitney’s regulatory affairs group as a partner in its Minneapolis office. He has served clients in the energy industry for more than a decade.

Julie Nagorski

was promoted to partner at DeWitt in its Minneapolis office. She has been with the firm since 2016. Sarah B. Riskin was promoted to shareholder at Nilan Johnson Lewis. She has been with the firm since 2013.

wide range of commercial litigation, labor and employment disputes, and both ERISA and non-ERISA life, health, and disability matters.. Claire Deason was promoted to shareholder at Littler Mendelson’s Minneapolis office. She has been with the firm since 2012. Joshua Feneis has joined Lommen Abdo in Minneapolis, focusing on the firm’s family law and business litigation practices. Jeff Justman became a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels, specializing in securities and appellate litigation. He has been with the firm since 2011. John McIntire was promoted to counsel at Faegre Baker Daniels in its Minneapolis office. Having joined the firm in 2014, he helps clients implement intellectual property strategies, specializing in patent drafting and prosecution, patent invalidity, and non-infringement investigations and opinions.

Linnea Eiden

became a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels in Minneapolis, specializing in corporate debt finance. She joined the firm in 2015. Sean Somermeyer

Alexander Baggio

has joined Hinshaw & Culbertson as an associate in the firm’s Minneapolis office, where he advises businesses in a

became a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels in Minneapolis, specializing in serving college, university, and secondary education institutions. He joined the firm in 2011.

Joshua Taggatz was named a shareholder of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren in Madison, Wisconsin. He works in the firm’s litigation practice.

Daniel S. Block

was elected director at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox in Washington, D.C. He is a director in the firm’s electronics practice group, where his practice primarily focuses on patent and anti-counterfeiting litigation at the International Trade Commission and in federal district court. Sharon Markowitz was elected partner at Stinson Leonard Street in its Minneapolis office, where she focuses her practice in the areas of financial services litigation, appellate litigation, and class actions. Matthew Tews was elected partner at Stinson Leonard Street in its Minneapolis office, where he assists employers with complex employment and traditional labor law issues.

Heather Abraham joined

the Georgetown University Law Center Civil Rights Clinic as a teaching fellow and supervising attorney. She teaches civil rights law and litigation skills, with a focus on Fair Housing Act impact litigation. Her scholarship addresses the future of fair housing, including legislative strategies to expand its scope and enforcement.

Kristen Barlow

has joined Dorsey & Whitney in Minneapolis as a consultant with Dorsey Health Strategies. Previously, she was a senior consultant with the Advisory Board Company, where she was responsible for assisting health industry companies with strategic, operational, and compliance challenges. Jim Kiner was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives for District 51A.

Emily McNee has been named to Littler Mendelson’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. She joined the firm’s Minneapolis office in 2014. Chris Schmitter was named chief of staff to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Claire Zhao was promoted to counsel at Faegre Baker Daniels in its Shanghai office. She advises multinational companies in labor and employment matters, including support of mergers and acquisitions and joint venture transactions.

BETHANY OWEN ’95 NAMED PRESIDENT OF ALLETE INC. Owen is the first woman ever to hold the role at the Duluth-based energy company. She has been with the company for 16 years in a number of legal and operational positions, including, most recently, as senior vice president and chief legal and administrative officer. In her new position, Owen oversees the publicly traded company’s growth strategy and its five operating divisions: Minnesota Power, Superior Water Light and Power, Allete Clean Energy, U.S. Water Services, and BNI Energy. Prior to joining Allete, Owen worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and in the office of former Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana. She also acted as legal counsel for various public and private ventures.

Jill Jensen

has become a deputy Brown County attorney in New Ulm, Minnesota. Kim VandenAkker

started a new position as legal counsel for Western Digital.

Ashlynn Kendzior was awarded a Benjamin B. Ferencz Fellowship in Human Rights and Law. Rhett Schwichtenberg

has joined Gislason & Hunter as an associate in its New Ulm, Minnesota, office. ❘❘❘❘

Taher Ali has

joined Plunkett Cooney as an associate in its Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, office. Jacob C. Harksen has joined Fox Rothschild as an associate in its Minneapolis office.

SEND US YOUR NEWS! To be included in class notes, send your news to lawalum@umn.edu or at Office of Advancement, Suite 321, University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455, attn: Ryan Sendelbach.

MICHAEL SULLIVAN JR. ’96 NAMED MANAGING OFFICER AT GRAY PLANT MOOTY In his new role, he leads approximately 175 lawyers in 10 practice groups spanning the firm’s offices in Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Fargo, North Dakota. Sullivan has served on Gray Plant Mooty’s board of directors since 2014 and chairs its corporate and business practice group. He concentrates his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, general corporate/business counseling and securities offerings—including private placements, venture capital financings, and private equity and debt offerings. He has been recognized numerous times for his practice excellence, including being named to The Best Lawyers in America for the last three years. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead our firm,” Sullivan said. “We have aggressive growth goals, which include adding attorneys, expanding our geographic reach, and building relationships with new clients in key practice areas.”

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Return. Reconnect. Celebrate. Spring Alumni Weekend 2019 brought together more than 1,000 alumni and friends for a host of events where they celebrated their connection to Minnesota Law.

1 The Honorable Lois Lang ’79, Jennifer Wellner ’79, Wanda Young Wilson ’79 2 Anthony Begon ’14, Sarvesh Desai ’14, Bryce Riddle ’14 3 Hal Ulvestad ’69, Joy Erickson 3

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4 Tim Schmidt ’09, Georges Tippens ’09, Robbie Barton ’09, Jeff Justman ’09, Bree Dalager ’08, Mark Torma ’09, Shana Marchand ’09 5 Mary Lindall, Bob Lindall ’69, The Honorable Phil Carruthers ’79 6 Bibi Black ’79, Nita Luis ’77, Dean Garry W. Jenkins 7 Jenny Monson-Miller ’15, Linhda Nguyen ’14

SPRING ALUMNI WEEKEND 2019 | April 12-14, 2019

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Recent Gifts GIFTS OF $100,000+ Karin Birkeland ’87 and Lee Mitau ’72 established the Karin

Birkeland and Lee Mitau Scholarship. Karin was a partner in the commercial real estate practice at Faegre & Benson and associate general counsel at the University of Minnesota. Lee was formerly executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary of U.S. Bancorp and currently serves as chairman of Graco Inc. Their gift will be matched with $50,000 from the Robina Foundation as part of the Driven to Lead Scholarship Challenge Program. David* ’63 and Karen Beadie chose

to include the Law School in their estate plan, dedicating a portion of their assets toward the Law School’s greatest needs. David enjoyed a long career practicing law with Faegre & Benson in Minneapolis. He passed away peacefully on April 5, 2018, at the age of 81, from complications of

nearly 26 years of Parkinson’s disease. David and Karen’s generosity will help to secure the Law School’s place at the forefront of legal education. Bruce ’80 and Tracy Mooty made an

additional gift to the John W. Mooty Public Service Summer Fellowship and the Bruce and Tracy Mooty Scholarship. Bruce is a principal with Gray Plant Mooty, representing and counseling public and private companies in a wide variety of industries. Bruce and Tracy’s gift, which will benefit students with academic promise and financial need, is dedicated to the goal of promoting leadership, community service, problem-solving skills, academic excellence, and justice for all. Robert J. Owens ’69 made additional

gifts to the Law School Scholarship Match Incentive Program and the Robert J. Owens Job Fair Student

Support Fund. Bob was editor-inchief at Thomson Reuters (formerly West Publishing) before retiring in 2002. Bob’s contributions will help to enhance the resources available to recruit and support students and advance their professional development as they transition to successful careers. Gregory Soukup ’76 and Mary Jo Carr

made an additional gift to the Robert J. and Rosemary Soukup Scholarship. Greg spent his entire career with Ernst & Young’s tax practice and retired in 2008. The scholarship was created in honor and loving memory of Greg’s parents, Robert and Rosemary Soukup, and helps make a first-rate legal education accessible and affordable. Greg and Mary Jo’s additional gift will be matched with $50,000 from the Robina Foundation as part of the Driven to Lead Scholarship Challenge Program.

GIFTS OF $25,000–$99,999 Patricia A. Beithon ’81

M. Nazie Eftekhari

Dan ’85 and Kim McDonald+

Lisa A. Rotenberg ’85

Rachel S. Brass ’01

David R. ’86 and Anne R. Johanson+

Charles N. Nauen ’80 and Pati Jo Pofahl ’86

Bill ’68 and Carol Tempest

Joseph T. Dixon Jr. ’69 and Eugenia C. Dixon

William A. Johnstone ’69

Mark ’69 and Jackie Nolan

William T. Dolan ’63 and Jane E. Tilka

Randall E. ’89 and Elisabeth A. Kahnke

Terrence P. ’74 and Valerie C. O’Brien

Laurance R. ’69 and Diane E. Waldoch + These donors also made a larger estate gift at the same time. * Deceased

TESTAMENTARY BEQUESTS Jeannine L. Lee ’81 and C. Roger Finney

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Meredith McQuaid ’91 and Brad Delapena

Tributes WARREN PLUNKETT CLASS OF 1948 Warren Francis Plunkett,

who served for 26 years as a judge in Minnesota’s 3rd Judicial District, died Dec. 30 in Austin, Minnesota, of complications from pneumonia. He was 98. Born in St. Paul and raised in Austin from the age of 7, Plunkett received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1942. He was an All-American player on the celebrated Gopher football team that went undefeated and won national championships in both 1940 and ’41. After spending a year playing professional football for the NFL’s Cleveland Rams, Plunkett served in WWII as a U.S. Navy boat group commander in the Pacific theater. He attended the Law School on the GI Bill and was a member of the Minnesota Law Review while

D. KENNETH LINDGREN CLASS OF 1958 Derbin Kenneth Lindgren Jr.,

the last surviving founding partner of the Twin Cities law firm Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, died peacefully on Jan. 16 at the age of 86. Lindgren grew up in Edina, Minnesota, attended high school at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, and earned both his undergraduate degree and J.D. at the University. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, he went into partnership with James Larkin ’54, Robert Hoffman ’55, and Jack Daly ’57, all of whom predeceased him. As an attorney, Lindgren specialized in trusts and estates as well as tax and business law; as a partner, he helped guide Larkin Hoffman to a position as one of Minnesota’s largest

working toward his J.D. After graduating cum laude, he joined the family law firm in Austin, where he practiced with his father and three brothers. Plunkett was appointed to the 3rd Judicial District bench in 1955 by Minnesota Gov. Orville Freeman ’46. He served as president of the Minnesota District Court Judges Association in 1976, and, following his retirement from the bench in 1981, he returned to practicing law; in fact, he kept his license to practice active until 2018. A man of many interests, Plunkett enjoyed fishing, hunting, travel, coaching youth hockey, and flying (he was an instrument-rated pilot). He was a principal shareholder of the Minnesota Surety and Trust Company as well as the First Heartland Surety Casualty and Insurance Company. In 1959, he and his first wife, Ellie, purchased the

Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Elam House, a notable exemplar of Wright’s Usonian architectural aesthetic. Plunkett lived in the house for 59 years.

and best-known full-service business law firms, with more than 20 areas of practice. Outside the office, Lindgren devoted himself to a number of community organizations, among them the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the University of Minnesota Founders Society. His generous support of the Law School goes back nearly 40 years. Throughout his life, Lindgren enjoyed participating in sports, especially handball, skiing, golf, and tennis. He served twice as president of Interlachen Country Club in Minneapolis. He was an avid gardener, a collector of Native American art, and, with his late wife, Patricia, a traveler of the world. “Ken was a great lawyer and an exceptional civic leader,” said Paul

Smith, Larkin Hoffman president. “He will be dearly missed by his family, colleagues, friends and clients.”

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MINNESOTA LAW

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RAISING THE BAR

BERT J. McKASY CLASS OF 1968

< CONT

Bert J. McKasy, who was elected

to three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives and later served as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, passed away peacefully at his home in Mendota Heights on Feb. 8. McKasy had undergone three years of chemotherapy for colon cancer until deciding in August 2018 to enter hospice care. He was 77. Born in St. Paul, McKasy attended St. Mark’s Catholic School—where he met Carolyn, his wife of 54 years, in second grade—and earned his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of St. Thomas. After receiving his J.D. from the Law School, he practiced law at the venerable Twin Cities firm of Lindquist & Vennum (now Ballard Spahr), where he became a partner. McKasy was elected to the first of his three consecutive terms in the

BUCKY ZIMMERMAN CLASS OF 1972 Charles Selcer “Bucky” Zimmerman—nationally known

litigator, founder of the law firm Zimmerman Reed, and a dedicated supporter of the Law School—passed away Feb. 24 at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, after a short battle with cancer. He was 72. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Zimmerman attended West High School and earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Minnesota. He formed Zimmerman Reed in 1983 in Minneapolis; the firm now also has offices in Phoenix and Los Angeles and practices in the areas of consumer protection, antitrust, sports law, and defective drugs and medical devices, among others. During his 47-year career as a

MINNESOTA LAW

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Minnesota House in 1983. After leaving the legislature in 1988, he moved to Washington, D.C., to work as chief of staff for Republican Sen. Dave Durenberger, a close friend. Two years later, McKasy returned to Minnesota, having been appointed commissioner of the state’s commerce department by Gov. Arne Carlson. He was later appointed to the Metropolitan Airports Commission by Gov. Jesse Ventura, where he served for 11 years. McKasy was active in business, as well. He founded McKasy Travel Agency with Carolyn, and he served on the boards of directors of numerous enterprises, including Mairs & Power Mutual Funds (where he was board chair), UCare, Lec Tec, Northstar Ice, and the American National Bank of St. Paul. He was equally active as a civic leader, chairing the board of the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce; leading the St. Paul Winter Carnival in its centennial year, 1986, when

litigator, Zimmerman’s legal insights and courtroom skills brought him accolades from clients, colleagues, opponents, and judges. Outside the courtroom, Zimmerman was a talented athlete—a member of the Professional Tennis Association, he was nationally ranked and medaled at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel—as well as an avid golfer, dancer, motorcyclist, and world traveler. In addition to his generous donations to the Law School, he was a proud supporter of University of Minnesota Athletics as well. In the last decade of his life, Zimmerman devoted time to actively sharing his legal expertise, frequently lecturing to professional associations and, as an adjunct professor at the Law School, finding great satisfaction in teaching and mentoring those just entering the legal profession. ❘❘❘❘

the famous Lake Phalen Ice Palace was erected; and serving as treasurer of Children’s Hospital, trustee of the F.R. Bigelow Charitable Foundation, and president of Somerset Country Club, where he played golf for 42 years.

In Memoriam CLASS OF 1948

CLASS OF 1958

CLASS OF 1973

CLASS OF 1989

Warren F. Plunkett

D. Kenneth Lindgren Jr.

Edward A. Backstrom III

Anne D. Lah

December 30, 2018 Austin, Minnesota

January 16, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota

June 23, 2018 Minneapolis, Minnesota

August 22, 2018 Cloquet, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1950

CLASS OF 1960

CLASS OF 1976

CLASS OF 1991

Clinton C. Fladland

Ronald E. Martell

James M. Meehan

Michael D. Michaux

October 3, 2018 Annandale, Minnesota

February 25, 2019 Longville, Minnesota

December 6, 2018 Burnsville, Minnesota

February 20, 2019 St. Paul, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1951

A. Charles Olson

CLASS OF 1977

CLASS OF 2018

Alf LeCaptain

October 2, 2018 Duluth, Minnesota

Richard E. Tollefson

Lawrence Philbin

February 6, 2019 Owatonna, Minnesota

January 28, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota

January 21, 2019 Billings, Montana

CLASS OF 1966 CLASS OF 1952

Allen B. Hyatt

CLASS OF 1981

Patricia E. Heinzerling

November 5, 2018 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sandra Burge

February 23, 2019 Sarasota, Florida

October 25, 2018 St. Paul, Minnesota

Scott W. Johnson

CLASS OF 1954 Julius C. Smith

September 29, 2018 Edina, Minnesota

September 8, 2018 Chaska, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1968

John M. Burman February 21, 2019 Laramie, Wyoming

Glenn R. Ayres

CLASS OF 1982 Patricia E. Hansell

Philip J. Franklin

February 27, 2019 Coronado, California

November 1, 2018 St. Paul, Minnesota

Bert J. McKasy

Norman T. Shaft

February 8, 2019 St. Paul, Minnesota

November 21, 2018 Falls Church, Virginia

CLASS OF 1969

CLASS OF 1955

August 28, 2018 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ruth S. Martinson August 24, 2018 Alexandria, Minnesota

Stephen H. Munstenteiger

CLASS OF 1983 Sandra R. Boehm

Donald J. Diesen

September 24, 2018 Anoka, Minnesota

December 22, 2018 Hermantown, Minnesota

John P. St. Marie

William S. Fallon

August 17, 2018 Minneapolis, Minnesota

November 27, 2018 St. Paul, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1971

CLASS OF 1956

October 27, 2018 St. Paul, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1985 Jan M. Zender October 4, 2018 St. James, Minnesota

James R. Berens

CLASS OF 1957 Richard J. Mattson

January 7, 2019 St. Paul, Minnesota

August 1, 2018 Hibbing, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1972

CLASS OF 1988 Joan Altman February 8, 2019 Groton, South Dakota

Charles S. Zimmerman Ronald L. Simon November 12, 2018 Hopkins, Minnesota

February 24, 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sherri L. Rohlf December 25, 2018 Eagan, Minnesota

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MINNESOTA LAW

RAISING THE BAR

WHY I GIVE

Joshua Colburn ’07

oshua Colburn climbed the Lockhart GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) giving ladder in part to take advantage of his firm’s matching-donation program. Lockhart GOLD is part of the William B. Lockhart Club, the Law School’s leadership annual giving society. “The money was on the table and I wanted it to go to my school,” says Colburn, a partner in the corporate practice at Faegre Baker Daniels in Minneapolis. “It was a convenient way to donate, and an easy way to increase participation each year.” Colburn directs part of his gifts to the general fund but sets aside some for the Theatre of the Relatively Talentless, which stages an original musical each spring that is written and performed entirely by Minnesota Law students. Colburn sang in the chorus as a 1L and then served as a producer for two musicals. He also attended the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate and credits the Law School for providing him with career opportunities and an extensive network. A second longtime commitment to the Law School—11 years and counting—is Colburn’s role as an adjunct instructor. He’s a member of the teaching team for Law in Practice, a required first-year course that allows students to practice client interactions, depositions, negotiations, and other lawyering essentials with actors in the roles of clients and witnesses.

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“I can’t imagine anyone saying they would have passed on this course in their first year,” Colburn says. “These soft skills distinguish a good practice from a great practice.” HOMETOWN: Brandon, South Dakota CURRENT HOME: Wayzata, Minnesota GIVING: Lockhart Club member WHAT YOU WON’T FIND ON HIS RESUME: Organizes a day each year for FaegreBD lawyers to work on a Habitat for Humanity house. Longtime season ticket holder for Gophers football and hockey. ADVICE TO FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS: “You get out of it what you put into it, even long after graduation.” ❘❘❘❘

WAYS TO GIVE There are many ways to give back to the University of Minnesota Law School. For more information, visit www.law.umn.edu/giving. Or send your gift directly to the Office of Advancement, Law School, 229 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455. ANNUAL FUND Student scholarships, clinics, and faculty support are just a few areas that benefit from annual gifts made to the Law School. By making your annual gift to Minnesota Law, you create opportunities for talented people and the communities they serve.

To make a gift, visit give.umn.edu/lawschool

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421 MONDALE HALL 229 19TH AVENUE SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455

TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 90155

Minnesota Law is Driven to Lead. law.umn.edu/driven

Minnesota Law | Spring 2019

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