Salas, Salazar earn top College of Law scholarship

Jessie Salas of Pueblo, Colo. and Cristina Salazar of Centennial, Colo., have been named University of Wyoming College of Law Brimmer Scholars for 2022-2023.

Established in 2011, the Brimmer Scholarship honors the career and service of Judge Clarence A. Brimmer. The Brimmer Scholarship is meant to serve as an inspiration to new generations of legal professionals.

Jessie Salas and Cristina Salazar

In addition to Salas and Salazar, scholarship finalists are Hope Bringhurst of Hurricane, Utah; Hannah Mink of Durango, Colo; Jenna VonHofe of Fulshear, Texas; and Austin Waisanen of Deadwood, S. Dak. The Brimmer Scholarship Selection Committee included representatives from the College of Law faculty, the judiciary, the Wyoming Bar, former clerks of Judge Brimmer and members of the Brimmer family.

Brimmer practiced law in Rawlins before serving as Wyoming Attorney General from 1971 to 1974 and U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming in 1975. He was nominated in 1975 by President Gerald Ford to the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming. He served as Chief Judge from 1986 to 1992 and stepped into senior status in 2006. He continued serving until his death in 2014. 

In his observations on the legal profession, Brimmer declared, “The serious law student must…make excellence his or her foremost endeavor.” The title of Brimmer Scholar comes with the expectation that recipients commit to excellence and service throughout their legal educations and careers. Salas and Salazar join the ranks of 16 past Brimmer Scholars. (See all the Brimmer Scholars HERE.)

Jessie Salas

Playing cello was an unusual path for a 12-year-old girl from an Hispanic neighborhood in Pueblo. Salas credits the support of her grandparents. “I practiced every day and dove headfirst into the music of Bach, Brahms and Mozart.”

She recounts the “rude awakening,” her first semester at Colorado State University when she realized how far behind the other students she was in both music and general classes.

“At first, I turned inward. I avoided making friends, my grades slipped, and I considered dropping out altogether,” she says. “Then came my second rude awakening: I would either fail or take charge of my success.”

Salas went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from Colorado State and followed that with a Master of Cello Performance from the University of Wyoming.

On May 19, her legal and musical worlds will converge in a cello performance at the Yellowstone National Park 150th Anniversary Symposium in Cody. The event is organized by the UW College of Law and the UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. 

Salas is a member of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and vice president and founding member of the Wyoming Sports and Entertainment Law Club. In 2021, she served as a summer law clerk for Strive Health in Denver.

In June, Salas will join a group of ten summer associates at Sherman & Howard, LLC, a Denver-based firm serving national clients from nine offices in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.

Cristina Salazar

Salazar says even as a Division I athlete and member of the soccer team that won the University of Wyoming’s first soccer conference championship in 2018, her goal was always to attend law school.

From the time she was a child, Salazar says her grandpa instilled in her the phrase “para nuestra gente,” “for our people.”

“I come from a family where none of my grandparents graduated high school and neither of my parents went to college,” she says. “As a first-generation Mexican-American woman, I understand the weight of ‘for our people.’ It means to strive for all the people who have never had a seat at the table.”

In her first year, Salazar served as the representative to the American Inns of Court, an association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals dedicated to serving the law and seeking justice.

Salazar worked as a research assistant at the George W. Hopper Law Library at the College of Law and as an extern for Judge Tori Kricken of the Albany County District Court. She has held leadership roles with Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and OutLaw, the student organization for LGBTQ awareness and advocacy.

Salazar says the truest showing of her commitment came in fall semester:

“The day before my first law school final ever, my favorite person in the world, my beloved grandpa passed away from COVID. I woke up the next morning with my grandpa’s phrase ringing in my ears and I began my first final. That phrase played on repeat throughout the week as I finished my finals while writing his eulogy.”

At the end of the school year, Salazar worked as a summer associate at the Denver office of global law firm Holland & Knight, LLP.

Not Alone

The selection process for the Brimmer Scholarship ensures finalists are evaluated on individual merit; law school, however, is not a solo effort. As Salazar emphasizes, “I am honored to be selected as a Brimmer Scholar. I could not have accomplished this without the love and support of my family and friends.”

Says Salas, “Previous Brimmer scholar Celyn Whitt was my mentor, and I have taken what she taught me and the skills I have honed the past two years and tried to pass them on to incoming first-year students. Being a mentor for younger law students has been fulfilling.”

Salazar, a member of the Student Ambassadors Program, says, “I have moved into a role where I can now provide support and community to diverse students.”

In October 2021, Salazar and Salas were the winning team at the College of Law Richard E. Day Client Counseling Competition. In February, they represented UW in the ABA regional competition, where they placed third.

Next year, both will serve on the editorial board of the Wyoming Law Review, with Salas as research editor and Salazar as articles editor.

After graduation in 2023, both plan to begin their careers at the Denver law firms where they will work this summer, Salas at Sherman & Howard and Salazar at Holland & Knight.

2022 Brimmer Scholarship Finalists
Jessie Salas, Cristina Salazar, Hope Bringhurst, Hannah Mink, Jenna VonHofe and Austin Waisanen

Law Students Awarded Salt Creek Energy Excellence Scholarships

Jenna VonHofe

The Salt Creek Energy Excellence Scholarship Selection Committee has announced Jenna VonHofe of Laramie is the 2022-23 University of Wyoming College of Law Salt Creek Scholar.

The Salt Creek Energy Excellence Scholarship, named for the oldest producing oil and gas field in Wyoming, was established to encourage students who demonstrate a strong interest in energy and law. Other Salt Creek Scholarship recipients for 2022-2023 are Nicholas Espenan of Austin, Texas; Blake Godwin of Sheridan; Iva Reckling of Cheyenne; and Carson Tanner of Brooksville, Fla.

The Salt Creek program facilitates mentorship and employment opportunities, as scholars are introduced into a professional community of donors and practitioners dedicated to the energy law sector.

“This scholarship is unique in the number of donors who come together to promote energy scholarship, professional networking and employment in the industry,” says Joe Evers, Salt Creek Scholarship Committee member in Denver.

The committee is made up of donors, alumni and UW law faculty members. Two committee members, Madeleine Lewis and Casey Terrell, are past Salt Creek Scholars now active in the Energy and Natural Resources Section of the Wyoming Bar. See all the Salt Creek Scholars HERE.

VonHofe says her interest in law began with her upbringing in a small agricultural town in Texas and was solidified through her work as a journalist in Wyoming. “I saw firsthand the force of energy law and policy,” she says.

Under the guidance of UW Law Professor Tara Righetti, VonHofe now conducts legal analyses for CarbonSAFE, a full-scale carbon capture and storage project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy in Gillette. “The project raises a host of complicated legal issues that Jenna is helping resolve,” says Kipp Coddington, Senior Advisor in the UW School of Energy Resources.

She gained key experience in 2021 as a judicial extern for Judge Gregory Phillips of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and as the Janet D. Steiger Fellow in the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Unit of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office.

At the University of Texas at Austin VonHofe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and Bachelor of Science in biology with a concentration in ecology, evolution and behavior.

“When you stand on the rim of an operational coal mine in the Powder River Basin, you can see the deep hold that energy has in this region, rooted in the very ground that stretches out beneath you,” VonHofe says. “Here, I saw the intersection of energy and policy, natural resources and public lands, wildlife and agriculture that are now at the core of my legal education.”

Evers notes that through gifts to the Salt Creek Endowment, this year’s awards represent the highest single monetary award, largest total awards ($14,250), and most expansive award (five recipients) in the scholarship’s seven-year history.

 “I am honored to be recognized alongside the other esteemed scholarship recipients,” says VonHofe.

She will work with Holland and Hart, LLP, in Cheyenne this summer, seeking to foster client-centered approaches in energy law. “The importance of this opportunity is paramount,” VonHofe says, “as I seek to understand the corporate and individual relationships of relevant stakeholders in the region.”

Salt Creek Energy Excellence Scholarship Awardees

Wyoming Ranked 30th in the Nation for Federal Judicial Clerkships

The University of Wyoming College of Law is ranked 30^th in the nation this year for students placed in federal judicial clerkships. Above the Law recently highlighted the top law schools where graduates get the highest proportion of federal judicial clerkships based on law school employment data for the class of 2019 compiled by Law.com. Wyoming came in at number 30 on the list, just above Georgetown University.

The ranking is an important recognition of one of the most prized features of the College of Law. The relationship that College of Law has with members of the Wyoming judiciary is second to none. While the ranking is a nod specifically to the federal bench, the overall number of Wyoming graduates that enter into clerkships is equally impressive, with students earning coveted positions in various Supreme Court clerkships, as well as trial court clerkships around the country.

The class of 2019 had an impressively high number of students enter into clerkships following graduation with 20% of the graduating class of 70 students placed in a clerkship position. Of that 20%, 5.71% account for federal judicial clerks. A list of the students in clerkships and the chambers they entered can be explored here.

The recently graduated class of 2020 is fairing even better with a total of fourteen students out of 67 earning top clerkship positions, accounting for 20.89% of the class. Of the fourteen, five students are entering into federal clerkships in Wyoming. With 7.46% of the class moving into a federal clerkship, the College of Law’s nation ranking will likely be even higher next year. Students moving into clerkships from the class of 2020 include:

• Morgan Temte of Cheyenne, Wyo., who will be clerking for the Honorable Scott Skavdahl (J.D. ’92) Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming;
• Adam Carman of Jackson, Wyo., who will be clerking for the Honorable Nancy Freudenthal (J.D. ’80) of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming;
• Kari Hartman of Cheyenne, Wyo., who will be clerking for the Honorable Alan B. Johnson (J.D. ’64) of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming;
• Meri Heneage of Lexington, S.C., who will be clerking for the Honorable Kelly Rankin (J.D. ’94) Chief United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Wyoming;
• Brent Rhodes of Rock Springs, Wyo., who will be clerking for the Honorable Mark Carman (J.D. ’81), United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Wyoming;
• Adelaide Myers of Saratoga, Wyo., who will be clerking for the Honorable Kate Fox (J.D. ’89) of the Wyoming Supreme Court;
• Renee Leone of Jackson, Wyo., who will be clerking for the Honorable Lynne Boomgaarden (J.D. ’91) of the Wyoming Supreme Court;
• Katelyn Krabbenhoft of Fargo, N.Dak., who will be clerking for the Honorable Jerod Tufte of the North Dakota Supreme Court;
• Ashlee Morse of Huntsville, Utah, who will be clerking for the Honorable A. Andrew Peterson of the Alaska Superior Court;
• Samuel Laffey of Memphis, Tenn., who will be clerking for the Honorable Marvin Tyler (J.D. ’81) of the Ninth Judicial District of Wyoming;
• Benjamin Peterson of Cheyenne, Wyo., who will be clerking for the Honorable Thomas Campbell of the First Judicial District of Wyoming;
• Shayla Fosmo of Douglas, Wyo., who will be clerking for the Honorable F. Scott Peasley of the Eighth Judicial District of Wyoming;
• John “Jack” Day of Grosse Point, Mich., who will be clerking for the Honorable David R. Wallace of the Third Judicial District of Alaska; and
• Christian Marsh of Carson City, Nev., who will be clerking for the Honorable Leon Aberasturi of the Third Judicial District of Nevada.

A notable addition this year to the list of judges hiring Wyoming law grads is United States Magistrate Judge Mark Carman with his exceptional hire of Brent Rhodes into a federal clerkship position in Yellowstone. This is the first year that Magistrate Judge Carman has hired a College of Law student.

Something that is very unique to Wyoming is that our judges and justices really take the time to get to know the students that they plan to hire, frequently volunteering in multiple capacities at the law school where they can see students perform in programs like the Summer Trial Institute, student competitions, or serving on prestigious scholarship committees. Additionally, a large proportion of Wyoming judges and justices allow students an equal glimpse inside the inner workings of their chambers by hiring them as externs, or allowing them to shadow through the Legal Liftoff Program. Often, students also appear in court arguing a case for one of the legal clinics.

Candidates for clerkships are highly competitive and offer the most prestige to any law graduate. Judges seek the best and brightest, with excellent research, writing, and analytical skills. Wyoming graduates have proven time and again that they have the academics, the tenacity, and the heart to fill the positions with dedication, and to go above and beyond for their judges. Regularly, it is that determination that is so characteristic among Wyomingites that sets our graduates apart.

(Above) Justice Lynne Boomgaarden (J.D. ’91); (Below) Renee Leone (J.D. ’20)

Once such student is Renee Leone. Originally from New York, Renee moved out west and rooted her life in Wyoming before deciding to attend law school. Her education has been peppered with accolades and experience including her selection as a Brimmer Scholar finalist, her reception of the Archie McClintock Outstanding Student Award, and her work in the Civil Legal Services Clinic and other internships. She has drive for success and a talent for creating opportunities, which landed her a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Lynne Boomgaarden of the Wyoming Supreme Court.

“I first met Renee when she emailed to introduce herself and asked if we could meet so that she could learn more about me and possible externship and clerkship opportunities,” says Boomgaarden.  “That’s Wyoming initiative!”

From there, the pair were able to get to know each other on both a personal and professional level. They immediately hit it off with their mutual love of the Wyoming outdoors, similar backgrounds, and a shared passion for writing and excellence in the legal profession.

“Renee and I became better acquainted when she did an externship in my chambers for academic credit,” recounts Boomgaarden. “Her interest in externing gave me the chance to see her legal writing and analytical skills first hand. We visited face to face each week, and she even drafted a Wyoming Supreme Court opinion. I was thrilled when she accepted my offer to join our chambers for two years following her graduation.”

The personal investment that the judiciary is willing to make in College of Law students has a ripple effect that enhances the overall quality of the Wyoming Bar. Wyoming graduates are more likely to stay and practice in the state and invest their expertise back into the community. The opportunity to gain critical mentorship inside the courts, as well as adaptability in an ever-changing landscape is irreplaceable.

“I am very grateful to get to work for such an accomplished and well-respected female member of the Wyoming legal community,” says Leone. “Clerking is an opportunity to work under and learn from some of the best minds in the legal profession. I look forward to the research and writing aspect of the position, and I hope to gain insight on some of the important legal issues that are of concern across Wyoming.”

Recognizing the value of judicial clerkships not only for the students, but also for the judges and justices, Justice Boomgaarden has high hopes for the future and Wyoming graduates.

“As a proud UW College of Law graduate, I hope to provide UW law students the same valuable opportunity to clerk in Wyoming that Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Wade Brorby provided me,” she comments. “Wyoming judges and justices have long appreciated the skill and work ethic UW College of Law graduates bring to chambers, and any judicial clerkship provides unique insight into the practice and development of law. I have every confidence it will pay dividends to the law graduate willing to dedicate her time and service. It is my hope more and more law students commit to developing the writing skills necessary to be hired and excel in these positions.”

Leone echoes her sentiment and believes that the opportunities to clerk enhances the entire legal community.

“We are fortunate, in Wyoming, that the College of Law creates opportunities for students to foster relationships with judges and that our judiciary is so willing to engage with students and graduates in ways that help us learn and grow in the legal field.”

The College of Law cannot stress enough how important clerkship opportunities are for our students. No other experience bridges the gap between legal education and practice so succinctly. We encourage all of our students to clerk should the opportunity arise, and to strive for excellence in their legal educations in order to better prepare them for clerkship positions.

We are continually grateful to the dedication of many of our Federal Judges, Supreme Court Justices and Wyoming District Court Judges who consistently hire our students year after year, as well as the out-of-state judges who have recognized the value and skills of our graduates.

Clinic Highlight: Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources Law Clinic

The Clinical programs at the University of Wyoming College of Law are in full swing! We’d like to take a moment and introduce the Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources (“EENR”) Law Clinic.

The EENR Clinic is a cooperative venture between the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office and the Wyoming College of Law.  The Clinic was developed in 2013 and remains the only of its kind in the United States. It has had great appeal for students seeking clinical experience at the University of Wyoming College of Law. Michael Kollker, a law student enrolled in the Haube School JD/MA master’s program, said, “We are lucky to have such a strong relationship with our state officials that we get to do meaningful natural resource work before we graduate.”

At the beginning of the fall semester, the students from the EENR Clinic met with Governor Matthew Mead to kick off their clinical experience.

EENR Clinic students with Governor Matt Mead, Attorney General Pete Michael, Special Assistant Attorney General Jay Jerde, and Assistant Professor Temple Stoellinger. 

 

Governor Mead emphasized the importance of natural resources to the state, illustrated by the percentage of Wyoming legal work involving natural resource issues. He commended the students for committing to work with the State on natural resource issues through the Clinic. Meeting Governor Mead was just the first portion of the clinic “boot-camp.” The students also met with Attorney General, Pete Michael and the Water and Natural Resource staff at the Attorney General’s Office.

The cooperation between the State and the University of Wyoming College of Law provides third year law students with the education, skills training, and real life experience necessary for a career in the areas of energy, environmental, and natural resources law.

The classroom component of the Clinic teaches students how to draft litigation documents through a series of lectures and experiential learning assignments. It also provides students with a general overview of the Wyoming laws governing the regulation of natural resources within the state.

In the clinical practice component of the Clinic, students perform real-life natural resource legal work. Students have the opportunity to research and draft actual litigation-related documents and perform other legal work for state agencies. Since the beginning of the semester, the EENR Clinic has already opened 10 new cases on behalf of the state.

This years clinic students are Tatyana Bannan, Carter Bruening, Callie Capraro, Micah Christensen, Megan Condon, Michael Kollker, and Conner Nicklas.

 

 

 

 

Faculty Highlight: Dona Playton

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month wraps up, we’d like to highlight College of Law faculty member Dona Playton, and all of the work that she has done for victims of domestic violence.

Playton is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wyoming College of Law. She teaches Domestic Violence Law, Children and the Law, and directs the Family and Child Legal Advocacy Clinic, which she established in 2002. The Clinic  is operated by  third-year law students who represent low income clients in family and juvenile court matters, including domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking cases, as well as divorce, child custody, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianship, and as guardians ad litem in private custody or public child welfare cases.

According to the Division of Criminal Investigation Uniform Crime Report for Wyoming, in 2015, there were 2,513 incidents of domestic violence reported.[1] Each year, the Family and Child Legal Advocacy opens between 50-60 cases throughout Wyoming, many of which are for victims of domestic violence, making it a leading legal resource in the state along with the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and Equal Justice Wyoming.

One of the greatest obstacles for victims of domestic violence is the lack of an effective advocate.[2] Many victims of domestic violence find themselves in situations controlled by a myriad of issues that inhibit the ability to leave an abusive situation, including lack of financial resources and legal representation. The work performed by Playton and the students of the Family and Child Legal Advocacy Clinic provides access to legal recourse, helping victims of domestic violence take the first step towards safety and self sufficiency while also ensuring that their other legal rights are not compromised due to domestic violence.

According to the American Bar Association, “domestic violence has a tremendous impact on the legal profession.”[3] Under Playton’s supervision, the UW College of Law has worked to fill the gap in legal education by incorporating domestic violence law into its curriculum and clinical programs. Playton is called on regularly to conduct trainings and continuing legal education courses and recently presented at a national child support enforcement conference in Salt Lake on the overlap between child support enforcement and domestic violence.

“Working with law students to expand access to the legal system for low income victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” says Playton. “I believe together we are making tremendous strides in the legal profession to increase intolerance for domestic violence and to promote appropriate legal interventions in the area of intimate partner violence.”

Another important aspect of Playton’s work has been in providing the resources for other attorneys in Wyoming so that they may adequately represent abuse victims. Playton recently published the second edition of the Wyoming Domestic Violence Benchbook, A practical and comprehensive source of information and law. The benchbook serves as an all-inclusive guide to assist judges and attorneys as they mitigate situations where domestic violence may be at play.

Additionally, Playton was also recognized for her dedication to representing victims of domestic violence as the 2016 recipient of the Gerald R. Mason Professionalism Award. This award is given to a Wyoming attorney who, over the course of his or her career, has embodied the spirit of Wyoming State Bar Past President, Gerald R. Mason’s phrase “Proud to Be a Wyoming Lawyer,” and who serves as an example to others by having the highest professional standards to which all members of the Wyoming State Bar should aspire.

Playton’s work at the College of Law has been a tremendous asset to the students and the state and her recognition is well-deserved. We would like to acknowledge her incredible dedication to serving those without a voice and for making a real difference in the world.

[1] Crime in Wyoming, Division of Criminal Investigation Uniform Crime Report, p. 38, https://docs.google.com/a/wyo.gov/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=d3lvLmdvdnxkY2ktLS1wdWJsaWN8Z3g6YzI4ODdkY2RlNzRhOGNj

[2] Buel, Sarah M., “Fifty Obstacles to Leaving, a.k.a, Why Abuse Victims Stay” The Colorado Lawyer, October 1999, Vol. 28, No. 10.

[3] U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, When will they ever learn? Educating to End Domestic Violence, A Law School Report, American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence, 1997.

UW College of Law Establishes New Fund to Support Trial Practice Education

Buoyed by the generous gift of two alumni, the University of Wyoming College of Law has created a new fund for the support of trial practice education, the Trial Practice Success Fund. Alums Nick Murdock (J.D. ’77) of Casper and Cody Balzer (J.D. ’95) of Loveland, Colorado, contributed $50,000 to launch the fund.

J. NIck Murdock

Cody Balzer

The initial gift from Murdock and Balzer was made possible by their success in a series of class action lawsuits they litigated together on behalf of Wyoming mineral owners.  They hope to start a tradition among UW College of Law alums of donating to the Trial Practice Success Fund to celebrate success in litigation.

“The University of Wyoming College of Law has long been known for producing strong trial lawyers,” noted Balzer. “Nick and I wanted to support its trial advocacy education efforts, so the College of Law can continue to be a leader in the education of future trial lawyers.”

Murdock noted that the alumni of the College of Law have supported the College’s trial advocacy education efforts through volunteer teaching for some time. The College of Law’s well-established Summer Trial Institute, for example, brings about roughly seventy prominent trial attorney and judicial alumni to the College of Law each year. “The volunteer efforts of our alumni to educate those who will represent the citizens of Wyoming and other states are already remarkable,” Murdock said. “This new Trial Practice Success Fund will allow our alumni to also contribute financially to the law school’s trial advocacy education program.”

By their example, Murdock and Balzer hope to establish a tradition where trial attorneys celebrate their success by supporting the College of Law. “In the career of a trial attorney, there is nothing quite as wonderful as a successful result in litigation,” reflects Balzer.  “When that moment happens for us, we should remember that the education we received at Wyoming’s law school got us started on the path to that success.”

The Trial Practice Success Fund will be used to provide scholarships for students studying trial advocacy and other financial support of the Trial Practice program at the College of Law. The first expenditures from the new fund, for example, provided scholarships to help UW law students defray the expenses of participating in the College of Law’s new Alaska Summer Trial Institute program in Anchorage.

UW College of Law Dean Klint Alexander expressed the law school’s gratitude and enthusiasm for the new fund created by Murdock and Balzer. “Trial practice education is one of the things our law school is known for,” noted Alexander.  “We graduate students who are practice ready and better able to represent their clients upon graduation, because they have had the chance to learn how to try cases while in law school.  The Trial Practice Success Fund will provide the financial underpinning to strengthen these efforts.  Moreover, reducing the cost of law school through scholarships such as the Trial Practice Success Fund will also help our students graduate with lower debt loads, thus allowing them to pursue their dream of a career in the courtroom.”

Professor of Law Steve Easton, who serves as the director of the College’s Summer Trial Institute, urges College of Law alumni and other friends to follow Murdock’s and Balzer’s lead in contributing to the Trial Practice Success Fund to celebrate their victories in court. “We would love to have the support from all of the trial bar, including plaintiff’s attorneys and defense attorneys in civil cases and prosecutors and defense attorneys in criminal cases. This new Trial Practice Success Fund is a great way for our alumni and friends to let us know about their litigation successes. We love to hear about those victories.”

Balzer, who currently practices law in Loveland, Colorado, urged those practicing “in Wyoming and elsewhere” to support the Fund.  “I always remember that the foundation of my work as a trial attorney was at the University of Wyoming College of Law. I urge all Wyoming alums to support the new Trial Practice Success Fund, because we all owe part of that success to the College of Law.”

The College of Law is extremely grateful or this new fund. Anyone interested in the contributing the Trial Practice Success Fund should contact the College of Law. A gift is also made easy by donating online.

 

2016 Law Graduation

The 2016 College of Law Graduation Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 14, 2016 in the Buchanan Center for Performing Arts Concert Hall beginning at 10:00 AM.

The Commencement speaker for the ceremony will be the Honorable Marilyn S. Kite. Marilyn Kite graduated from UW with a B.A. in international affairs from UW in 1970. She went on to attend the UW College of Law, earning her J.D. in 1974. She started working for the State Attorney Generals Office. In 2000 she was appointed to the Wyoming Supreme Court, where she served as the Chief Justice. Justice Kite is now retired from the Supreme Court.

Also featured on the program will be the Class of 2016 Speaker, Kathryn Ashton Pennetta. The class speaker is selected from among the students’ class peers.

In addition, the graduating class also selects an Outstanding Faculty Award Recipient, as well as faculty members to hood the class during the ceremony. This years Outstanding Faculty member was none other than Professor Jerry Parkinson. Faculty selected to hood are Professor Stephen Easton, and Professor Elaine Welle.

For the first year ever, the ceremony will be available to watch on a live stream through WyoCast. Please use the following link: http://www.uwyo.edu/commencement/ The video of the ceremony will also be kept in the WyoCast archives for future viewing.

Immediately following the ceremony, a class photo will be taken on the stage, followed by a reception in the lobby of the Buchanan Center for Performing Arts.

EENR Clinic Visits Legislature

On February 26th, the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law Clinic had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the Wyoming state legislature. In order to better understand the legislative process, the clinics students, guided by Cindy Delancey, Representative Kinner, and Senator Hastert toured the temporary home of the legislature and spoke with Gov. Matt Mead and several representatives, senators, and lobbyists.

Kara Jennen, a 3L student in the EENR Clinic who serves as the Student Director was one of the eight students that visited the Capital.

“Opportunities like this make me really appreciate Wyoming,” says Jennen. “Even in the midst of trying to wrap up the busy legislative session everyone seemed eager to talk to us, and I think going to the legislature adds value to our legal education by gaining a fuller understanding and appreciation of the law making process.”

University of Wyoming College of Law students uniquely benefit from the close relationship with lawmakers in the state, and are able to gain a real understanding of current issues as they apply their legal educations. 

The Wyoming Legislature began its 20 day budget session for 2016 on February 8th, and wrapped up March 4th. Many important topics were discussed including the impending budget cuts for across the state as a result of the current lull in the energy industry.

Alumni Highlight: Monica Houston

The University of Wyoming College of Law would like to congratulate recent graduate Monica Houston (J.D. ’15) on her recent accomplishment of earning second place in the Washington College of Law (WCL) First Annual National Health Law Writing Competition. Houston entered the writing competition with her paper entitled, “ Hepatitis C: There’s a Cure, but Who Will Bail Out the Department of Corrections.”

Houston entered the contest after hearing about it through an independent study course she took with Professor Darrell Jackson during her final semester of law school.

“This is a big deal,” says Jackson. “Monica represented the University of Wyoming very well and I am very pleased by her accomplishment.”

The UW College of Law is ranked #12 in the nation by U.S. and World Report for its legal writing program. Houston’s recognition in a national competition showcases the skills and writing abilities of students coming out of the UW College of Law.

Humbled by the achievement, Houston says, “ I am very honored to have received second place. I owe special thanks to Professor Jackson for directing me to this competition.”

A native of Bridgeport, Nebraska, Houston earned her bachelor’s degree at Chadron State College. She graduated in December 2015 with her law degree and will be taking the February Bar Exam.

Student Highlight: Debra Bulluck

University of Wyoming College of Law student Debra Bulluck, of Casper, will discuss landmark cases as part of Black History Month at UW.

Bulluck’s “#BecauseOfThemWeCan” talk will focus on “key landmark cases and the people behind them that helped advance our community as it is today.” Her talk is Wednesday, Feb. 17, at noon in Room 170 of the UW College of Law Building.

The Multicultural Law Student Association sponsors Bulluck’s presentation, which is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.

The #BecauseOfThemWeCan campaign is a nationwide project created by Eunique Jones Gibson, a content producer, photographer, author and activist. She says the campaign is “to educate and connect a new generation to heroes who have paved the way.”

Jones Gibson launched the campaign in 2013, using photos of children replicating African-American icons; the campaign went viral. She was honored in 2014 as a White House Champion of Change for her work with the #BecauseOfThemWeCan campaign.