First Monday - October 6, 2003

In this issue:

"Bellwood Week" Provides Variety of Programs and Perspectives

• Justice Ginsburg Visits the College of Law and North Idaho
• United States Attorney Speaks on the "USA Patriot Act"
• Nez Perce Tribal Lawyer Addresses Treaty Rights and Environmental Protection
• Bellwood Dinner Features Justice Ginsburg, the Silver & Gold Award Winner, Law Advisory Council Presentations, and Reunions of Classes of '73 and '78
• Ada County Prosecutor's Office Help Students Master Courtroom Technology

Justice Ginsburg Visits the College of Law and North Idaho

On Thursday, September 18, 2003, the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined an interdisciplinary panel of academics and practitioners for a program entitled, "Landmarks of Gender Jurisprudence: The Reed Case and Its Progeny." Presented to an overflow audience in the College of Law Courtroom, the program featured remarks by Justice Ginsburg as well as by UI law professor Elizabeth Brandt; Jack Van Valkenberg, Executive Director of the Idaho ACLU; UI history professor (and department chair) Katherine Aiken; and JoAnn Bowen, Idaho deputy attorney general for human rights. Following the panel presentations, Justice Ginsburg fielded questions from law students on a wide range of issues. Later that afternoon, Justice Ginsburg delivered the 2003 Sherman J. Bellwood Memorial Lecture: "Looking Beyond Our Borders: The Value of a Comparative Perspective in Constitutional Adjudication." Welcomed by Idaho lieutenant governor James Risch (UI law '68) and Governor Kempthorne's legal counsel Michael Bogert (UI law '86), Justice Ginsburg was introduced by her friend and colleague, Boise lawyer Allen Derr. She addressed an audience of approximately 1,300 persons gathered at the Student Union Ballroom and at television viewing sites on campus as well as at the UI Boise Center. Justice Ginsburg and her husband, law professor Martin Ginsburg of Georgetown University, remained in North Idaho, from the following Friday to Sunday, in order to enjoy spectacular weather and scenery, as well as friendly Idaho hospitality, in the Coeur d'Alene area. Justice Ginsburg's lecture will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Idaho Law Review.

United States Attorney Speaks on the "USA Patriot Act"

On the Wednesday preceding Justice Ginsburg's visit, the Honorable Thomas E. Moss (UI Law '65), United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, made a well-attended presentation in the College of Law Courtroom. Mr. Moss, formerly a practitioner and state prosecutor in Bingham County, Idaho, was appointed to his present position by President George W. Bush. Accompanied by Terry Derden, first assistant U.S. Attorney, criminal chief, and antiterrorism coordinator for Idaho, Mr. Moss outlined the powers and limitations contained in the Patriot Act, and the procedures his office follows in implementing the legislation. He answered numerous student questions on legal dimensions of the domestic "war on terrorism." His presentation was sponsored by the student chapter of the Federalist Society at the College of Law.

Nez Perce Tribal Lawyer Addresses Treaty Rights and Environmental Protection

During Wednesday evening, Rick Eichstaedt, legal counsel for Idaho's Nez Perce Tribe, spoke in the College of Law Courtroom. Connecting environmental and natural resource issues with tribal treaty rights, Mr. Eichstaedt described the "environmental justice" movement, which focuses on correlations between sites of pollution discharges and locations of low-income populations. Mr. Eichstaedt was sponsored by the student chapter of the Environmental Law Society at the College of Law.

Bellwood Dinner Features Justice Ginsburg, the Silver & Gold Award Winner, Law Advisory Council Presentations, and Reunions of Classes of '73 and '78

On Thursday evening, Justice Ginsburg spoke yet again, this time at the Bellwood dinner, where she commented on collegiality and activities "behind the scenes" at the Supreme Court. UI interim president Gary Michael and alumni relations director Harold Gibson participated in making the UI Silver & Gold Award to Cindy Weiss (UI law '73), corporate counsel to the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. James M. English (UI law '73), incoming chair of the Law Advisory Council, opened the Council's semiannual meeting, which continued the next day. Mr. English specially recognized the service of Council members emeriti, Dennis E. Wheeler (UI law '67), Ernesto Sanchez (UI law '72), and the Honorable John Hohnhorst (UI law '78). The dinner audience was augmented by members of the reunion classes of '73 and '78. Members of these classes, who participated in recreational activities and a law school-provided CLE program on Friday, generously undertook to make special reunion gifts and pledges to the College of Law. The College has received more than $12,000 in commitments to date.

Ada County Prosecutor's Office Help Students Master Courtroom Technology

On October 1, 2003, Greg Bower, the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney, devoted a day in Moscow to training UI law students on current developments in courtroom technology. Mr. Bower teamed with Ada County deputy prosecutor Jim Dickinson (UI law '81), and Jan Bennetts, Ada County chief deputy for the violence unit, to demonstrate elements of a mock trial with arguments and proffers of evidence utilizing the latest technology. The team also consulted with students individually. The Ada County Courthouse and the federal courthouse in Pocatello are equipped for state-of-the-art litigation. The goal of the College of Law is to develop infrastructure and teaching resources to prepare students for effective advocacy in the most advanced courtrooms of the state and region.