December, 2017 - First Monday

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I hope you enjoyed a peaceful and fun Thanksgiving. At this time of year, in addition to lots of food, laughter, and sports, we also take time to reflect upon and give thanks for the people in our lives and blessings we enjoy. While family is first on my list, I am also grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the College of Law community and the chance to work and interact with so many smart, dedicated, thoughtful, and interesting people who are committed to the College and the success of its students. We are a school with a worthy mission, one in which we should all take pride, and a list of accomplishments by faculty, alumni, staff, and students is far too long to list in this brief greeting. Please accept my deep gratitude for all that you do, individually and collectively, to make this law school a special place with a very bright and exciting future.
 
This has been an eventful fall semester with numerous milestones, memorable events, and achievements as identified in earlier editions of First Monday. Please join us for the many things to come in 2018. With the calendar year-end approaching, I would ask that you consider the College in your charitable giving decisions. As this will be the final First Monday for 2017, I want to wish all of you a safe and joyous holiday season. Thank you again for your support. 

Immigration Clinic

Our Immigration clinic students are currently doing incredible work. One of their clients, a Ghanaian man who was persecuted for being gay and is seeking asylum in the United States, is being represented by law student Andrew Augustine. Augustine recently won an unheard-of bond on day 919 of the client’s detention, using a brief and evidence submitted by teammates Linda Sun and Kaity Wilson. The client had previously been deemed a flight risk by the same judge in Adelanto Immigration Court.  At the end of the hearing, the judge commended Andrew’s oral advocacy and said that it was the clinic’s thorough representation of the client that made the difference.

In late October, Kacey Jones, Jonathan Shirts, and Kaylee Woodard submitted their opening brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on behalf of the same client. The team garnered support from the National Immigrant Justice Center, which submitted an amicus curiae brief in light of the strength of the appeal. The students are scheduled to argue the case before the circuit court in April 2018.

Foundation Gives $50,000 Scholarship Toward Slette Scholarship Endowment

In recognition of Board Trustee Gary Slette (Law ’84), the J.A. Wedum Foundation has made a generous contribution of $50,000 to The Gary D. Slette Law Scholarship Endowment.  The endowment, established in honor of Gary Slette in 2012, was designed to benefit non-traditional deserving students who have chosen to pursue a career in the legal profession.  The College of Law is grateful for Mr. Slette and the Foundation’s dedication and commitment to student scholarship at the University of Idaho.  If you would like to learn more about giving to the College of Law, contact Michele Bartlett at 208-364-4044 or bartlett@uidaho.edu.

National Moot Court Region 13 Competition

We had the pleasure of hosting the National Moot Court Region 13 Competition at the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center in November. Congratulations to 3Ls, Emily James, Kendra Nagy, and Eulalia Kafari, and their coach Professor Benjamin Cover, for making it to the quarterfinals. Eulalia Kafari had the highest individual oral argument score from all rounds. Thanks to Associate Professor Kat Macfarlane, Associate Professor John Rumel, Assistant Clinical Professor Kristi Running, Associate Professor Aliza Cover, Student Affairs Director Rebekah Cude, and Scott Zanzig for serving as mock judges in preparation for the competition.

We have so many people to thank who helped make this event a success: Associate Professor Shaakirrah Sanders for bringing the competition to our Boise location; our student volunteers – Paola Aguilar, Chynna Castoro, Jenny Gallegos, Nicholas Gourley, Marsh Larson, Jaycee Nall, Jacob Hoshino, Tracy Stoff and Meg Waddel; all our volunteers who scored briefs and heard oral arguments including Justice Richard Bevan, Judge Mikel Williams, and Ken Robins who heard the final round; Haley Myers, Associate Professor Aliza Cover, Law Library Associate Director Stacy Etheredge and Assistant Clinical Professor Kristi Running for all their logistical help. Finally, a big thank you to the American College of Trial Lawyers and –especially alumni and Law Advisory Council member, Walter Sinclair – who served as their liaison.

Patent Pro Bono

The University of Idaho College of Law and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office celebrated the opening of the Idaho Patent and Trademark Resource Center, which started serving patrons at the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center in Boise. The celebration followed a daylong seminar by USPTO representatives, together with a local panel of experts from the Small Business Development Center, the Idaho Tech Council and Trailhead.

The Idaho Patent and Trademark Resource Center will provide resources and trained staff for anyone interested in accessing patent and trademark information. The center will also provide support to the Idaho Patent Pro Bono Program – administered through the College of Law – which connects qualified Idaho inventors seeking advice about the patent process with volunteer attorneys who are qualified to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Leaders in Law

We were able to join in celebration with the local law community for the IBR Leaders in Law awards. About 250 people attended to honor 21 law professionals. Nominated by their colleagues, reviewed by their peers (past honorees), and, ultimately, chosen by their own community, they represent “the best of the best.”

Our own Professor Maureen Laflin received the Educator Award; she joined U of I in 1991 and has served as the director of our clinical programs from 1998 until this year as she phases into retirement.

Also, congratulations again to our alumni: Tyler J. Anderson '02, David Arkoosh '11, Michael Balder '94, Jan M. Bennetts '89, Walter Bithell '68, William Fletcher ' 08, Kristina Fugate '12 and David Stanish '05 for being named as Leaders in Law. Law Advisory Council Chair Meghan Sullivan Conrad '04 and Vice Chair Peg Dougherty ‘99 were also honored. The Hon. Candy Dale ‘82 was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Two of our adjunct faculty also were honored, Ronald T. Caron Jr. and Matthew T. Christensen.

Have a great December,

Mark Adams
Dean
College of Law

Upcoming Events

Fall Commencement
12:30 p.m. PT
Dec. 9, 2017
ASUI- Kibbie Activity Center