May–June 2005

“A Win-Win-Win Pro Bono Model”— June 2005, The Hennepin Lawyer
Sara Reisdorf '05 was one of the first pro bono volunteers through Minnesota Justice Foundation in a pilot program with Fredrikson & Byron to place law students in law firms as pro bono interns.

“Judge, not jury, to decide fate of Rocori teen”— June 29, 2005, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Prof. Phebe Saunders Haugen comments on how a judge, rather than a jury, deciding the fate of the Rocori High School shooter may be more fair due to the fact that jurors have a more difficult time separating emotion from fact.

“Hair-braiding restrictions needed untangling”— June 23, 2005, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Lee McGrath '04 is the founder and executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Institute for Justice, a public-interest law firm that promotes individual liberties. He won a case on behalf of hair-braiders to exclude them from cosmetology licensing, which includes no training in the area of hair-braiding.

“Judging the Judges”— April/May, 2005, Law & Politics
John Wendt '77 discusses his career as an Olympic arbitrator for the International Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“Former Attorney General Forms Committee to Monitor U.S. Actions in Iraq”— June 13, 2005, Kansas City infoZine
Prof. Peter Erlinder stated that the United States needs to remove itself from the legal process in regards to trying Saddam Hussein.

“Susan Holden takes the reins of the MSBA”— June 13, 2005, Minnesota Lawyer
Personal injury attorney Susan M. Holden '88 takes over the presidency of the Minnesota State Bar Association on July 1 as only the third woman to head the organization.

“Worke sworn in as Court of Appeals judge”— June 13, 2005, Minnesota Lawyer
Judge Renee Worke '83 was sworn in as a Minnesota Court of Appeals judge on June 9 at the Waseca County Courthouse.

“All Things Considered”— June 13, 2005, National Public Radio
Prof. Peter Erlinder was interviewed on the National Public Radio program "All Things Considered" about the United Nation's Rwandan Criminal Tribunal.

“Mover: Dwayne Radel”— June 12, 2005, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Dwayne Radel '81 is profiled as a "mover" in his new position of vice president and general counsel for Securian Financial Group, St. Paul.

“Lawyer takes on U.N. over Rwanda”— June 8, 2005, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Prof. Peter Erlinder is defending Maj. Aloys Ntabakuze, who controlled a commando battalion of the Rwandan army when nearly 1 million civilians were massacred, before the U.N. criminal tribunal. The controversial defense is based on the notion that what happened in Rwanda wasn't an orchestrated genocide of ethnic Tutsis by militant Hutu leaders, but rather an African civil war that had been pending for years.

“The fight that won us the right to birth control”— June 7, 2005, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Elizabeth Borg '96 authored this article discussing the case of Griswold vs. Connecticut and how it has affected the right to privacy in terms of birth control.

“Top Lawyer: Susan Holden”— June 6, 2005, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Susan Holden '88, a personal injury attorney at Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey is the new president of the Minnesota Bar Association.

“Up and Coming Attorneys 2005”— May 30, 2005, Minnesota Lawyer
Jennifer F. Beck-Brown '03, Jacqueline A. Dorsey '00, Heather H. Neubauer '02, and Reynaldo A. Aligada '02 were recognized as Up and Coming Lawyers in the legal profession by Minnesota Lawyer.

“Man's conviction in daughter's death is thrown out”—May 25, 2005, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Prof. Brad Colbert commented on the action of the Court of Appeals in the case of a father's conviction for the murder of his daughter being overturned.

“Evironmental Law Section Report”—May, 2005, The Hennepin Lawyer
The events and accomplishments of the Hennepin County Bar Association's Environmental Law Section, for which Professor Alexandra Klass is a co-chair, is outlined in this article.

“Helpful tips for practicing in federal court”—May 16, 2005, Minnesota Lawyer
Chief of the civil division of the U.S. Attorney's Office and William Mitchell adjunct faculty member, Joan Humes, presented at "Litigating in Federal Court: Top Ten Practical Tips" as a part of a continuing legal education seminar on practicing in federal courts.

“Minnesota's Diversity Web site celebrates a year of success”—May 16, 2005, Minnesota Lawyer
In celebration of the one year anniversary of Minnesota's Legal Diversity Web site, Kari Jensen Thomas '95,  provided the legal community with a close look at the site as part of the MSBA Legal Education Seminar "Diversity in Minnesota's Legal Community: Success Stories."

“The law is music to Ken Abdo's ears”—May 13, 2005, The Business Journal
Ken Abdo '82 is profiled in this article discussing his career as a lawyer in the music and entertainment industry, representing such clients as blues musician Jonny Lang and radio show host Garrison Keillor.

“Help Wanted, Twin Cities law firms are hiring more graduates from local pool of candidates”—May 13, 2005, The Business Journal
Assistant Dean of Career Services Nancy Onkka explains the trends in employment for William Mitchell graduates in terms of specialties and the prevalence of staying local after graduation.

“Supreme Court to hear case involving campus bans on military recruiters”—May 4, 2005, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Professor and Dean Allen Easley discusses the freedom that William Mitchell has to take a public stand against having military recruiters on campus because it's not part of a larger university that risks losing federal grants because of the decision.

“Lawsuit over defective muffin can proceed”—May 1, 2005, Minnesota Lawyer
Prof. Michael Steenson commented on adopting a reasonable-expectations test in Minnesota in reference to a case of a woman who allegedly suffered a throat injury while eating a muffin.

“Donors and foundation directors recognized by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities trustees”—May 1, 2005, Herald Review
Esther Tomljanovich '55 was recognized by Itasca Community College for years of dedicated service to the ICC Foundation Board during the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Eighth Annual Foundation Recognition.