First Monday - December 1, 2014

It seems hard to believe that it is already December and the end of the fall semester. My first six months as dean have simply flown by. I continue to be impressed with the level of engagement and activity from the members of our law school community. November was a busy month with events on and off campus.

November 12 to 13, the College of Law, joined by the Center for Advanced Energy Studies and the Energy Policy Institute at Boise State University, presented the “Idaho Symposium on Energy in the West” in Sun Valley. The symposium brought national experts together to discuss energy infrastructure issues and the future of regional energy planning in the Western US and Canada. Speakers provided their vision for western energy market, demand, and transportation for 2050. The program included legal scholars and key policymakers, such as the Chief Legal Counsel for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Don Howell ’85. Special thanks to Professors Stephen Miller and Barb Cosens for their leadership in planning this very important and timely event.

The College of Law was the presenting sponsor of the Idaho Business Review’s Leaders in Law award ceremony November 20 in Boise at Holland & Hart. We are proud to mention that many of our own College of Law graduates were honored at the event.

Our alumni honorees included the following:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden ’85

Firm Associated Partners
James Dale ‘82
Kenneth Howell ‘84
James Martin ‘90
Susan Weeks ’86, ‘90

Firm Associated Associate
Meghan Sullivan Conrad ‘04
Beth Coonts ’03, ’04, ‘07

Up and Coming Lawyer
Mindy Willman ‘08
Brian Wonderlich ‘07 

Sole Practice
Steven Scanlin ‘84

On Saturday November 8, we held the final round of the 26th annual Raymond C. McNichols Moot Court Competition in the College of Law courtroom. The distinguished panel of judges included Chief Justice Barbara A. Madsen, Washington Supreme Court; Justice Jim Jones, Idaho Supreme Court; Judge Karen Lansing, Idaho Court of Appeals; Judge Candy Dale ‘82, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Idaho; and Judge Ron Schilling ‘71, District Judge for the Second District of Idaho (retired).

The issue presented was whether the routine booking exception to Miranda applies to questions about a suspect’s property during the booking process, and whether a suspect compelled to provide unencrypted data can invoke the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

I am proud to announce the results of the competition:

Best Oralist — Brandon Holt
Runner-Up Best Oralist — Taryn Basauri
Best Brief — Kyle Bastian
Runner-Up Best Brief — Jack Ormond
Best Overall Advocate — Jack Ormond

Thank you to the generous donors who have supported this event over the years and who provide this important competition opportunity to our students.

The week before Thanksgiving our students and faculty again conducted a food drive to support the Moscow Food Bank and needy families in the Moscow area. Phi Alpha Delta, the Business Law Association and the Black Law Students Association sponsored the food drive collecting food and cash donations. Thank you to all who participated.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Upcoming Events

Denton Darrington Annual Lecture on Law and Government
Speaker: Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO National Constitution Center
February 5, 2015 at 4 p.m.
Idaho Supreme Court
Live webcast will be available

Idaho Law Review Symposium — “Privacy in the Age of Pervasive Surveillance”
April 3, 2015
Boise, Idaho

Sherman J. Bellwood Memorial Lecture — Judge Juan Guzman
April 6, 2015 — Boise
April 7-8, 2015 — Moscow