February 2018 - First Monday

Dear Alumni and Friends,

The start of spring semester is always bustling with excitement – 1Ls are half way through their first year, 2Ls are half way through law school, and 3Ls are (understandably) half way out the door. The new calendar year adds an air of reflection to that excitement as we celebrate our accomplishments to date and look ahead to those on the horizon.

This month’s First Monday recognizes some recent successes of our students, faculty, and alumni.  Through pro bono work, alumni giving, clinic cases, and national level leadership, our community exemplifies the ideals of our profession simply through giving back.  I’m truly inspired by of our collective impact on society.

Alumni Awards for Excellence

Please join me in congratulating four law students on receiving the University of Idaho Alumni Award for Excellence: Jacob Johnson, Kacey Jones, Lawrence Moran and Jaycee Nall. Recipients are asked to select a faculty or staff mentor that they want recognized at the award ceremony. So congratulations are also in order to Professors Richard Seamon and Wendy Couture on their selection.

The Alumni Award for Excellence is presented to approximately 40 undergraduate senior-level students and an additional 15 graduate and law students who have achieved outstanding academic success and demonstrated career and professional preparation; campus and community leadership and involvement; or “leaders in the classroom, laboratory, campus and community.” Law students must also be in their third year and in the top 10 percent of their class.

Room 104 Upgrades

Menard Law Building Room 104 received a cosmetic upgrade over winter break. Very special thanks to alumnus Jeffrey Messerich ’88, who made a gift to the College of Law that allowed us to paint, lay new carpet, replace the lectern and put in new desktops. Jeff lives in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, with his wife, Kathy, who is a state judge in the Saint Paul area. Jeff has a property management company and that work, coupled with his fondness for the campus in Moscow, prompted him to make this gift.

Rosa Parks Awards

Congratulations to third-year law students David Delyea and Andrew Augustine, who were awarded the Rosa Parks Student Award at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Breakfast in Moscow.

Delyea and Augustine were recognized for their commitment to social justice and service to the community through the development of an Emergency Planning Guide for Immigrant Families in Idaho. In addition to the development of the guide, they participated in a series of workshops in immigrant communities to explain the contents of the guide. Their work is now used by the Mexican Consulate and Idaho Legal Aid Services, along with other community groups, in ongoing training and outreach efforts.

Syringa Update

Our legal clinic has been working for years on behalf of the residents of Syringa Mobile Home Park in Moscow. In 2014, after several weeks of discussion with residents, directors at the clinic –working in conjunction with students – filed a class-action lawsuit in Latah County 2nd District Court against the owner of the park after nearly three months without potable water.

After almost four years, a settlement was reached in November with the owner and the bankruptcy court has approved the settlement agreement.  A fairness hearing will happen Feb 12. If approved, the agreement will give former residents and residents some compensation for having to live three months without water. Syringa Mobile Home Park, located east of Moscow, will close June 5.

AALS Conference

The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) held its annual meeting Jan. 3-6 in San Diego, California.  With the theme “Access to Justice,” the conference addressed important social issues facing law schools and the nation. Professor Wendy Couture was on the panel, “Emerging Voices in Securities Regulation.” AALS is also a time for faculty to meet and become involved within their sections including:

• Associate Dean Jeffrey A. Dodge was selected to serve as the chair-elect for the Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues. Dean Dodge served as Secretary in 2017 and will serve as Chair of the Section in 2019.
• Professor Annmarie Bridy was selected to serve on the Executive Committee for the Section on Intellectual Property Law.
• Professor John Rumel was renewed as a member of the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on Education Law.
• Professor Elizabeth Brandt was selected to serve on the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on Family Law.
• Professor Shaakirrah Sanders was selected to serve as chair for Section on Constitutional Law and treasurer of the Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues.
• Professor Wendy Couture was selected to serve on the Section on Securities Regulation’s Executive Committee.
• Professor Anastasia Telesetsky completed her service as chair of the International Law section.

Have a great February,

Mark Adams
Dean
College of Law

Upcoming Events

Idaho Critical Legal Studies Journal Symposium
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. MT
March 23, 2017
Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center

Idaho Law Review: 2018 Symposium
Terry v. Ohio at 50: Considering the Past, Present and Future of Stop-and-Frisk
April 6, 2018
Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center