Favorite BYU Law Memory: Of course I have many happy and fun memories of law school. My favorite is one that illustrates the profound influence Dean Rex Lee has had on all of us. At graduation, one of the memorable points he made in his address to the graduates was that in law school we had been taught there can be many answers to a question. He then said, however there are varieties and truth upon which we can rely, and that some questions only have one answer. He then testified that God lives and that His work had been restored to the earth. His influence continues to guide me in my life.About: Michael Antone Neider was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho where he learned the value of industry by working hard in his father’s grocery business and as a farm hand for neighbors. Michael was student body president at Highland High School in Pocatello from 1965-1966, active in honor society and athletic teams. Michael and his first wife, Rosemary Curtis Neider, raised eight children and served together when Mike was called as the Mission President for the Nevada Las Vegas Mission. Following his wife’s death in 2015, Mike was called as the North America Central JustServe Area Specialist and then became the Utah National Parks Boy Scout Council President. Mike and his current wife, Cynthia Terry Neider, live in Heber City, Utah. Cindy has two children and together Mike and Cindy share 37 grandchildren.
1977 – Phil Broadbent
1978 – Ben Hadfield
Favorite BYU Law Memory:I served as the Student Bar President during my third year. I often would find a short message on my study carrel indicating Dean Lee wanted to see me. Even though I was just a kid from a small town who hoped to practice law in a small town, he always treated me as if I were the most important person he would meet that day. There are lots of Rex Lee stories but I don’t know if any of them do him justice. He was magnificent! About: Born and raised in Brigham City, Utah. Graduated from JRCLS in 1978. I spent 15 years in private practice in a small firm in Brigham City, then spent almost 22 years on the bench as a District Judge. I retired in 2014. Since retirement I have worked part time as a mediator and my wife and I have traveled to Ukraine, Moldova and South Africa doing law related volunteer work. In South Africa we spent 3 months training judges in mediation skills. My wife Annette and I have been married 45 years and have 5 children and 15 grandchildren.
1979 – Richard Sheffield
1980 – William Hansen
1981 – Bob Herrick Co-Pres
1981 – Gary Burnett Co-Pres
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Being taught Torts by Carl Hawkins, Trusts by Dallin Oaks, Evidence by Ed Kimball and Constitutional Law by Rex Lee…while Jim McMahon and Steve Young were dropping dimes on opposing defenses. If that isn’t res ipsa loquitur, Byrne v. Boadle was a figment of Pollock C.B. ‘s imagination.About:Following law school at Brigham Young University, Gary Burnett began his legal career as a staff attorney for the American Land Development in Washington, DC. While in Washington, DC, he co-authored the Model Timeshare Act, which served as a blueprint for many timeshare statutes in several states. As the timeshare industry expanded, Mr. Burnett became Associate General Counsel to Preferred Equities Corporation in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a private practitioner, Mr. Burnett has represented real estate developers, construction entities and small business concerns in transactional matters and commercial litigation. Mr. Burnett has practiced before the courts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Hawaii and is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar. He is also a licensed real estate broker in Nevada and Utah. Burnett and his teenaged children have organized a number of humanitarian expeditions to Peru and Bolivia. During these trips groups of teens sacrificed their Spring Break from school, to serve the less fortunate with construction projects, hygiene clinics and orphanage service. Mr. Burnett and all of his children are bilingual. Passionate about world travel, Mr. Burnett has visited all 50 states and over 60 foreign countries.
1982 – Kevin Sutterfield
Favorite BYU Law Memory: My favorite Law school memories include playing small section softball games and having Professor Wardle play with us as our catcher, foosball games in the break room, great classes from Woody Deem, Dale Whitman, Jack Welch, Ray Jay Davis, and enjoying my classmates, including watching in awe Kevin Worthen continue to get the highest grades in our classes. About:Kevin grew up on a potato farm and cattle ranch in Fremont County Idaho, graduating with high honors from South Fremont High School as Senior Class President. He served a mission in the Ohio Columbus Mission and graduated from BYU in 1979 and from BYU Law School in 1982, where he was an author and editor of its Journal of Legal Studies.After spending several years as a partner of Howard, Lewis & Petersen, he became co-founder and President of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton in 1994, a plaintiff’s litigation firm, exclusively representing injured persons.In 2005, the Utah Association of Justice Utah Trial Lawyers Association awarded its Life Member status to Kevin for his decades of service and contributions to that organization, one of only a few such awards given to its thousands of members the last 40 years. He was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Riverside Country Club from 2005 to 2007.He has also served twice on the Board of Directors of the J. Reuben Clark Law School Alumni Association and has served as the class of 1982 President for 30 of the last 38 years and looks forward to being replaced soon.Kevin is married to Michelle Bone and they are parents of 8 children and 5 grandchildren with 2 more expected this year. They served together as senior couple in the Oregon Eugene mission from 2015-16, and have been called to serve as a senior couple to Frankfurt, Germany in September 2020 with Kevin assigned as associate legal counsel for Europe. He loves to golf, travel, read and plan adventures with his family.
1983 – Craig Smith
1984 – Brent Bartholomew
Favorite BYU Law memories: Friday afternoon softball games after Professor David Thomas’ small section property class. Also, associating with our great classmates.
About: I was born in San Francisco, California, raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and spent most of my adult life in Provo-Orem, Utah. After law school, I obtained an MBA degree at the Marriott School of Management. My wife Karen got a job teaching audiology at BYU, so we stayed in the area.
My first law job was with Utah Legal Services representing indigent clients for civil matters, mostly divorces. Afterward, I worked for the Utah Office of Guardian ad Litem representing the best interests of abused and neglected children. In 2013, I was fortunate enough to be appointed to Utah’s Fourth District Juvenile Court bench. I continue as a juvenile court judge and enjoy helping youth and their families discover more effective ways of living and interacting with one another.
Karen and I have been blessed with two genuinely nice daughters, one outstanding son-in-law, and four energetic grandsons, all who live in American Fork, Utah. Our son-in-law works as an electrical engineer, our oldest daughter is an occupational therapist, and our youngest is employed as a school social worker. Karen and I enjoy hiking, serving others, and spending time with our family. We look forward to engaging in full-time missionary work for the Church after my time on the bench is over.
1985 – Scott Halverson
1986 – Steve Sumsion
Favorite BYU Law Memory:My “favorite memory” in law school is when Keith Hamilton sauntered into Woody Deem’s class decked out in white as a Halloween costume.About:Steve clerked for a federal judge in Washington, D.C., then worked in IBM’s legal department at several east-coast positions and Alltel in Arkansas. In 1998, Steve and Mindy ventured off to Taiwan to work for an international law firm with 7 kids in tow, then returned to Provo where he has been in private practice for 20 years.
1987 – Tadiana Jones
1988 – Gary Christensen
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Professor Gordon’s moon walk across the moot court bench; marching with the cockroach to the Cougareat in mock protest; nerf football in the carrels late at night; the stress and accomplishment of moot court arguments; the flicker of light near the end of first year when I thought I might be starting to understand the law…finally.About: Gary Christensen is president of the Class of 1988 and a board member of the Portland, Oregon, chapter of the J Reuben Clark Law Society. He has practiced since graduation at MillerNash in Portland and now is chair of the firm’s construction industry team handling design and construction contracts and claims. He and Elizabeth are now empty nesting with three adult children and one granddaughter. They enjoy the beauties of the Great Northwest’s mountains and coastline.
1989 – Jamie Lund
1990 – McKay Pearson
1991 – Kurt Johnson
Favorite BYU Law Memory:Favorite BYU Law memory: Playing intramural basketball as a Law school team and winning the highest division 2 out of my 3 years. The only year we didn’t win I tore my ACL in the championship game.About: Kurt has been a sole practitioner in Estate Planning for 25 years in St. George, Utah. He is married and has five children and eight grandchildren. Hobbies include golf, golf, and more golf (picture is from Augusta National) and being one of the biggest BYU sports fans. He loves going to home games and away football games or watching on BYU TV.
1992 – Grant Sumison
1993 – Lorena Riffo-Jenson
1994 – Michelle Blomquist
1995 – Kristin Gerdy
Favorite BYU Law Memory: I would have to say collecting Whitman-isms in property, especially struggling through learning future interests and trying not to be told to “put that toothpaste back in the tube.” The talent show and the annual re-invention of the Village People and YMCA. But more than, great friendships forged through conversations in the carrels, classes, and especially moot court.About: Kristin Gerdy is a Teaching Professor and Director of the Rex E. Lee Advocacy Program at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU where she also teaches courses in Church History and Doctrine. Professor Gerdy is past president of the Association of Legal Writing Directors and currently serves as the Editor in Chief of Legal Writing: The Journal of the Legal Writing Institute, a peer edited scholarly journal. Professor Gerdy joined the J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1995. Her scholarship focuses on legal education, issues arising from appellate practice and procedure, and the integration of religious principles in law practice and legal education. Professor Gerdy is also of counsel with a local law firm where she specializes in domestic appeals.
1996 – Julie Adams DeFord
Favorite BYU Law Memory: I have fond memories of the annual Halloween parties and remember still, with trepidation, arguing before Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the annual Moot Court Competition.About: Julie Adams DeFord is an attorney and owner of DeFord Law, P.C., in Nampa, Idaho, where she practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, guardianship/conservatorship, real estate and business transactions. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1996. Julie was a member of the National Moot Court Team and earned the award of Order of the Barristers. Julie is a past President of the Idaho Third District Bar Association and received the Professionalism Award for the Third District Bar Association in 2016. She is a Community Advisory Board member for Boise Public Radio and serves with several other professional organizations.
1997 – Matt Jensen
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Making life-long friends, experiencing the construction of the library and expansion of the building, hearing the OJ Simpson verdict with the rest of the school all grouped around a TV outside the dean’s office and taking my secured transaction final while my wife was home in labor (It didn’t help my grade!)About: President of the Class of 1997. A partner with The Boyer Company, a commercial real estate development firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am focused on the development of office, research and medical office related projects throughout the western United States. My wife and I are the proud parents of 6 kids and currently reside in Riverdale, Utah. When not working, I enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, supporting our kids in their various endeavors and spending time with friends and family.
1998 – Jeremiah Morgan
Favorite BYU Law Memory: I remember sitting in my first year civil procedure class and trying to cope with the fog of civil procedure, when my small-section professor, Doug Floyd, asked me a question. I did not know the answer to the question and Professor Floyd let me struggle with it for a while – two class periods to be precise. Ultimately, he answered, “it is an ECIFSAJ.” At this point my mind was reeling, and I asked “what is an ECIFSAJ?” He answered as if the concept was bordering on the obvious. He said, “it is an essential characteristic of an independent federal system of administering justice.” Needless to say, it was not obvious to me (nor I think to anyone else in my class). The whole interchange makes me smile now, but I am certain there was intellectual terror on my face at the time, as there was in my heart.About: Jeremiah J. Morgan grew up in the Kansas City area and received his B.S. in political science from the University of Central Missouri, graduating magna cum laude, and his J.D. from Brigham Young University Law School, graduating summa cum laude. After law school, he clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and then practiced law with the firm of Bryan Cave LLC. He served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Missouri, arguing numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Missouri and many other appellate courts. He then served as General Counsel to the Supreme Court of Missouri. In 2019, Mr. Morgan accepted his current post as Deputy Attorney General. In that role, Mr. Morgan oversees all civil legal work for the State of Missouri, including practice groups covering governmental affairs, financial services, consumer protection, labor, and litigation. Mr. Morgan has presented on a variety of topics in continuing legal education, including religious freedom, appellate advocacy, legal writing, and U.S. Supreme Court cases. He is also actively involved in his Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife Rebecca have five children and two grandchildren.
1999 – Ryan Warburton
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Missing the first day of school for the birth of my first child, singing with the law school choir at the dedication of the law school library, and making lifelong friends. About: Ryan is a Shareholder and Director at Gilmore & Bell in Salt Lake City, Utah and practices in public and project finance. He enjoys volunteering his time to serve his church and community. Ryan lives with his wife Cami and five children in Bountiful, Utah, and his hobbies include trail running, split boarding, camping, traveling, reading and spending time with his family.
2000 – Melissa Hansen Co-President
2000 – Michelle Robinson Mitchell Co-President
2001 – Amy Smedley
2002 – Ben West
2003 – Amanda Montague
2004 – Jonathan Madsen
Favorite BYU Law Memory: The crazy antics that happened in the corner cluster of study carrels in the basement of the law school during our 2L year.About: Jonathan M. Madsen (’04) is currently serving as President of the BYU Law School Graduating Class of 2004. He is the Global Brand Protection Director for ZAGG Inc., headquartered in Murray, UT. Jon lives in Lehi, UT with his wife and five daughters; his oldest child and only son is currently serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In his spare time, Jon likes to hike and attend his daughters’ dance recitals.
2005 – Rebecca Oldroyd
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Playing dodgeball in the library, Professor Gordon’s introduction to every Contracts class, Professor Rasband’s tort stories, movies after final exams.About: Rebecca Oldroyd is an ERISA attorney that is currently Senior Counsel at Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators. She worked at law firms in Chicago and Washington DC before returning to Utah and happily settling into an in-house role. Rebecca and her husband (another BYU Law graduate) love to travel and have visited 5 countries with a toddler. Hobbies include searching for the best bakery and fried chicken sandwich in Salt Lake City and entertaining a high energy three year old.
2006 – Cory Braddock
2007 – Jason Redd
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Friendsgiving the Sunday before Thanksgiving, hanging out in the study carrels, and bowling at the Wilk.About: Jay Redd practices at Gibbons PC in their Washington, DC office in the Government & Regulatory Affairs Department. Jay has developed a wide range of policy expertise and has formed invaluable relationships on both sides of the legislative aisle in Washington, DC, and New Jersey. He is also active with his local chapter of the National Alliance On Mental Illness, where he works to end stigma and support individuals with mental illness and their families.Jay splits his time between Washington, DC, and New Jersey and is the proud dog parent of a ten-year-old puppy, Jackson. His hobbies include photography, traveling, and attending concerts.
2008 – Gilbert Bradshaw
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Rob McMillen threw a giant party somewhere up Provo Canyon and he made me and Dean Kevin Worthen do a legit tug-of-war, one-on-one. It was so awkward. Literally nobody except Rob wanted to actually make Dean Worthen and I participate, but Rob somehow hyped it up so much and he brought a 100 foot rope and suddenly we found ourselves fully engaged in the tug-of-war. Dean Worthen was in dress shoes for pete’s sake. It was at that moment I knew Rob was destined for great things.About: Gil Bradshaw grew up in Provo, Utah where he met his wife Marin Turley at the great Provo High School. Marin started BYU Law School two years before he did, so Gil feels an affinity towards her law school class (2006) almost as much as his own, someone even gave him a study carrel. Marin and Gil live in Orange County, California where Marin is a tax and estate planning lawyer at a fancy law firm and Gil is managing partner at a boutique corporate and securities law firm that takes companies public and helps them with SEC compliance. They have two children.
2009 – Eric Vogeler
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Winning the Law School Guitar Hero Tournament and the Humor in the Law Award in consecutive weeks; Supreme Court Seminar with pre-Justice and Senator versions of Tom and Mike Lee; learning to be a Can-Do Lawyer at the feet of Michael Goldsmith.About: Eric practices law in Salt Lake City and is a reforming commercial litigator. When not duking it out in motion practice, Eric is a founder and board member in several startups, and frequently advises small- and medium-size businesses on employment, governance, regulatory, and strategy issues. Eric married way above his station shortly after BYU Law and now has four children with his wife and sweetheart. He enjoys travel, reading, backpacking, mediating childhood disputes, fishing, gardening, and meditation. Lots and lots of quiet meditation.
2010 – Marie Kulbeth
2011 – Brittany Ratelle
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Halloween parade, Professor Jones and the hula hoop desk contest, book towers in the carrels, caffeine runs (current students wouldn’t understand!), baby/bridal showers in the reading room, study group treat baking, and SO MUCH PIZZA!!!About: Brittany has a solo practice geared toward creative entrepreneurs/influencers and practices virtually from her hometown of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho while licensed in both Utah and Idaho. She also sells legal education products for startup businesses and writes, speaks, and mentors women-owned businesses and hosts the Creative Counsel podcast. She serves as the Treasurer of the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene nonprofit and she and her husband have four children. When Brittany isn’t lawyering, she loves to ski, play on the lake, read YA books, and sing in the car loudly enough to make people uncomfortable at intersections!
2012 – Cathryne Harrison
Favorite BYU Law Memory: My favorite law school memory was the 2011 Barristers Ball. As usual, the Barrister’s Ball was planned during the middle of NCAA’s March Madness. Little did we know that the BYU Basketball team would make it to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in thirty years. Luckily, we worked it out with the venue to broadcast the sweet sixteen game on a 100 foot projector screen in the middle of the ballroom during the entire first half of the Barrister’s Ball. Dressed in our formalwear, we cheered on the team and were able to rally and laugh together. The basketball team lost in overtime that night, but it was the best Barrister’s Ball I ever attended. About: Cathryne is a partner at Hundley & Harrison. She primarily practices Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Probate Administration, Family Law, and Bankruptcy. She is recognized for her focus on clients and explaining legal issues in a simple way. Her commitment to this helps her serve her clients in an effective way and efficient manner no matter how complicated the situation is. Ms. Harrison started her career practicing Family Law and Estate Planning in Salt Lake County. She later became a partner at a small Utah County law firm before founding Hundley & Harrison. While she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time hiking and camping with her husband and two children.
2013 – Jessica Johnston
2014 – Haley Jankowski
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Conducting the BYU Law Choir; Participating in the Jail Outreach program at the Springville Juvenile Detention Center; Halloween costume parties; annual SBA talent show; and staying late in study groups to prep for finals–good friends can make even the hardest parts of law school fun!About: Haley Jankowski (’14) is Alumni President of BYU Law School’s 2014 Graduating Class. She practices at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLC in Houston and works in both their Supreme Court and Appellate group and Complex Commercial Litigation group. She also serves on the board of her local Houston Chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society as the Women in Law representative. Haley lives with her husband and two sons in Sugar Land, Texas, and hobbies include watching as many Broadway shows as possible, reading all kinds of books as fast as possible, playing harp and piano, and best of all, playing with her two little boys!
2015 – Anthony Loubet
Favorite BYU Law Memory:My favorite law school memory was when several classmates formed a rock band for the talent show, Orin Peasly and the Limited Purpose Public Figures, and performed a parody of Boston’s “Don’t Stop Believing”, “Don’t Stop Studying.”About: Anthony is a Deputy County Attorney for Utah County in their civil division. He assists the Board of County Commissioners of Utah County in drafting and amending county ordinances; negotiating sensible contracts among various cities, governmental entities, and businesses; litigating cases on behalf of Utah County; and advising various county departments and boards of directors. He is also running for state representative for Utah House District 22. Anthony and his wife live in Kearns, where they purchased their family home and are raising their six children.
2016 – Ruth Twede/Caroline Lamb
2017 – Laura Shrum
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Of all my experiences, getting to know my fellow classmates through various co-curricular activities has been the most meaningful.About: Laura Shrum is from Salt Lake City, Utah. She received an International Baccalaureate Diploma from West High School, which sparked her interest in international politics and issues. She graduated from the University of Utah with Bachelor degrees in History and Political Science and a Masters degree in Political Science majoring in Comparative Politics. Laura has studied abroad at the University of Cambridge, worked at Walt Disney World, and interned in Washington D.C.. Shrum relocated to Washington, D.C., to begin work with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission as an Honor Law Graduate in the Office of General Counsel.
2018 – Lisha Lisonbee
2019 – Rhonda Peck
2020 – Chase Olsen
Favorite BYU Law memory:The look on his classmate Alex Clark’s face when Alex single-handedly won the Feddie award at the 2010 Federalist Society Student Symposium.About: Chase Olsen (’11) is a judicial clerk for the 4th District Court in Provo, Utah. He is the youngest of 5 boys born to kind and loving parents in Meridian, Idaho. Chase’s hobbies include playing drums, writing poetry, and performing stand-up comedy.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Of course I have many happy and fun memories of law school. My favorite is one that illustrates the profound influence Dean Rex Lee has had on all of us. At graduation, one of the memorable points he made in his address to the graduates was that in law school we had been taught there can be many answers to a question. He then said, however there are varieties and truth upon which we can rely, and that some questions only have one answer. He then testified that God lives and that His work had been restored to the earth. His influence continues to guide me in my life.
About: Michael Antone Neider was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho where he learned the value of industry by working hard in his father’s grocery business and as a farm hand for neighbors. Michael was student body president at Highland High School in Pocatello from 1965-1966, active in honor society and athletic teams. Michael and his first wife, Rosemary Curtis Neider, raised eight children and served together when Mike was called as the Mission President for the Nevada Las Vegas Mission. Following his wife’s death in 2015, Mike was called as the North America Central JustServe Area Specialist and then became the Utah National Parks Boy Scout Council President. Mike and his current wife, Cynthia Terry Neider, live in Heber City, Utah. Cindy has two children and together Mike and Cindy share 37 grandchildren.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: I served as the Student Bar President during my third year. I often would find a short message on my study carrel indicating Dean Lee wanted to see me. Even though I was just a kid from a small town who hoped to practice law in a small town, he always treated me as if I were the most important person he would meet that day. There are lots of Rex Lee stories but I don’t know if any of them do him justice. He was magnificent!
About: Born and raised in Brigham City, Utah. Graduated from JRCLS in 1978. I spent 15 years in private practice in a small firm in Brigham City, then spent almost 22 years on the bench as a District Judge. I retired in 2014. Since retirement I have worked part time as a mediator and my wife and I have traveled to Ukraine, Moldova and South Africa doing law related volunteer work. In South Africa we spent 3 months training judges in mediation skills. My wife Annette and I have been married 45 years and have 5 children and 15 grandchildren.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Being taught Torts by Carl Hawkins, Trusts by Dallin Oaks, Evidence by Ed Kimball and Constitutional Law by Rex Lee…while Jim McMahon and Steve Young were dropping dimes on opposing defenses. If that isn’t res ipsa loquitur, Byrne v. Boadle was a figment of Pollock C.B. ‘s imagination.
About: Following law school at Brigham Young University, Gary Burnett began his legal career as a staff attorney for the American Land Development in Washington, DC. While in Washington, DC, he co-authored the Model Timeshare Act, which served as a blueprint for many timeshare statutes in several states. As the timeshare industry expanded, Mr. Burnett became Associate General Counsel to Preferred Equities Corporation in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a private practitioner, Mr. Burnett has represented real estate developers, construction entities and small business concerns in transactional matters and commercial litigation. Mr. Burnett has practiced before the courts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Hawaii and is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar. He is also a licensed real estate broker in Nevada and Utah. Burnett and his teenaged children have organized a number of humanitarian expeditions to Peru and Bolivia. During these trips groups of teens sacrificed their Spring Break from school, to serve the less fortunate with construction projects, hygiene clinics and orphanage service. Mr. Burnett and all of his children are bilingual. Passionate about world travel, Mr. Burnett has visited all 50 states and over 60 foreign countries.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: My favorite Law school memories include playing small section softball games and having Professor Wardle play with us as our catcher, foosball games in the break room, great classes from Woody Deem, Dale Whitman, Jack Welch, Ray Jay Davis, and enjoying my classmates, including watching in awe Kevin Worthen continue to get the highest grades in our classes.
About:Kevin grew up on a potato farm and cattle ranch in Fremont County Idaho, graduating with high honors from South Fremont High School as Senior Class President. He served a mission in the Ohio Columbus Mission and graduated from BYU in 1979 and from BYU Law School in 1982, where he was an author and editor of its Journal of Legal Studies.
After spending several years as a partner of Howard, Lewis & Petersen, he became co-founder and President of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton in 1994, a plaintiff’s litigation firm, exclusively representing injured persons.
In 2005, the Utah Association of Justice Utah Trial Lawyers Association awarded its Life Member status to Kevin for his decades of service and contributions to that organization, one of only a few such awards given to its thousands of members the last 40 years. He was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Riverside Country Club from 2005 to 2007.
He has also served twice on the Board of Directors of the J. Reuben Clark Law School Alumni Association and has served as the class of 1982 President for 30 of the last 38 years and looks forward to being replaced soon.
Kevin is married to Michelle Bone and they are parents of 8 children and 5 grandchildren with 2 more expected this year. They served together as senior couple in the Oregon Eugene mission from 2015-16, and have been called to serve as a senior couple to Frankfurt, Germany in September 2020 with Kevin assigned as associate legal counsel for Europe. He loves to golf, travel, read and plan adventures with his family.
Favorite BYU Law memories: Friday afternoon softball games after Professor David Thomas’ small section property class. Also, associating with our great classmates.
About: I was born in San Francisco, California, raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and spent most of my adult life in Provo-Orem, Utah. After law school, I obtained an MBA degree at the Marriott School of Management. My wife Karen got a job teaching audiology at BYU, so we stayed in the area.
My first law job was with Utah Legal Services representing indigent clients for civil matters, mostly divorces. Afterward, I worked for the Utah Office of Guardian ad Litem representing the best interests of abused and neglected children. In 2013, I was fortunate enough to be appointed to Utah’s Fourth District Juvenile Court bench. I continue as a juvenile court judge and enjoy helping youth and their families discover more effective ways of living and interacting with one another.
Karen and I have been blessed with two genuinely nice daughters, one outstanding son-in-law, and four energetic grandsons, all who live in American Fork, Utah. Our son-in-law works as an electrical engineer, our oldest daughter is an occupational therapist, and our youngest is employed as a school social worker. Karen and I enjoy hiking, serving others, and spending time with our family. We look forward to engaging in full-time missionary work for the Church after my time on the bench is over.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: My “favorite memory” in law school is when Keith Hamilton sauntered into Woody Deem’s class decked out in white as a Halloween costume.
About: Steve clerked for a federal judge in Washington, D.C., then worked in IBM’s legal department at several east-coast positions and Alltel in Arkansas. In 1998, Steve and Mindy ventured off to Taiwan to work for an international law firm with 7 kids in tow, then returned to Provo where he has been in private practice for 20 years.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Professor Gordon’s moon walk across the moot court bench; marching with the cockroach to the Cougareat in mock protest; nerf football in the carrels late at night; the stress and accomplishment of moot court arguments; the flicker of light near the end of first year when I thought I might be starting to understand the law…finally.
About: Gary Christensen is president of the Class of 1988 and a board member of the Portland, Oregon, chapter of the J Reuben Clark Law Society. He has practiced since graduation at MillerNash in Portland and now is chair of the firm’s construction industry team handling design and construction contracts and claims. He and Elizabeth are now empty nesting with three adult children and one granddaughter. They enjoy the beauties of the Great Northwest’s mountains and coastline.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Favorite BYU Law memory: Playing intramural basketball as a Law school team and winning the highest division 2 out of my 3 years. The only year we didn’t win I tore my ACL in the championship game.
About: Kurt has been a sole practitioner in Estate Planning for 25 years in St. George, Utah. He is married and has five children and eight grandchildren. Hobbies include golf, golf, and more golf (picture is from Augusta National) and being one of the biggest BYU sports fans. He loves going to home games and away football games or watching on BYU TV.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: I would have to say collecting Whitman-isms in property, especially struggling through learning future interests and trying not to be told to “put that toothpaste back in the tube.” The talent show and the annual re-invention of the Village People and YMCA. But more than, great friendships forged through conversations in the carrels, classes, and especially moot court.
About: Kristin Gerdy is a Teaching Professor and Director of the Rex E. Lee Advocacy Program at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU where she also teaches courses in Church History and Doctrine. Professor Gerdy is past president of the Association of Legal Writing Directors and currently serves as the Editor in Chief of Legal Writing: The Journal of the Legal Writing Institute, a peer edited scholarly journal. Professor Gerdy joined the J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1995. Her scholarship focuses on legal education, issues arising from appellate practice and procedure, and the integration of religious principles in law practice and legal education. Professor Gerdy is also of counsel with a local law firm where she specializes in domestic appeals.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: I have fond memories of the annual Halloween parties and remember still, with trepidation, arguing before Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the annual Moot Court Competition.
About: Julie Adams DeFord is an attorney and owner of DeFord Law, P.C., in Nampa, Idaho, where she practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, guardianship/conservatorship, real estate and business transactions. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1996. Julie was a member of the National Moot Court Team and earned the award of Order of the Barristers. Julie is a past President of the Idaho Third District Bar Association and received the Professionalism Award for the Third District Bar Association in 2016. She is a Community Advisory Board member for Boise Public Radio and serves with several other professional organizations.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Making life-long friends, experiencing the construction of the library and expansion of the building, hearing the OJ Simpson verdict with the rest of the school all grouped around a TV outside the dean’s office and taking my secured transaction final while my wife was home in labor (It didn’t help my grade!)
About: President of the Class of 1997. A partner with The Boyer Company, a commercial real estate development firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am focused on the development of office, research and medical office related projects throughout the western United States. My wife and I are the proud parents of 6 kids and currently reside in Riverdale, Utah. When not working, I enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, supporting our kids in their various endeavors and spending time with friends and family.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: I remember sitting in my first year civil procedure class and trying to cope with the fog of civil procedure, when my small-section professor, Doug Floyd, asked me a question. I did not know the answer to the question and Professor Floyd let me struggle with it for a while – two class periods to be precise. Ultimately, he answered, “it is an ECIFSAJ.” At this point my mind was reeling, and I asked “what is an ECIFSAJ?” He answered as if the concept was bordering on the obvious. He said, “it is an essential characteristic of an independent federal system of administering justice.” Needless to say, it was not obvious to me (nor I think to anyone else in my class). The whole interchange makes me smile now, but I am certain there was intellectual terror on my face at the time, as there was in my heart.
About: Jeremiah J. Morgan grew up in the Kansas City area and received his B.S. in political science from the University of Central Missouri, graduating magna cum laude, and his J.D. from Brigham Young University Law School, graduating summa cum laude. After law school, he clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and then practiced law with the firm of Bryan Cave LLC. He served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Missouri, arguing numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Missouri and many other appellate courts. He then served as General Counsel to the Supreme Court of Missouri. In 2019, Mr. Morgan accepted his current post as Deputy Attorney General. In that role, Mr. Morgan oversees all civil legal work for the State of Missouri, including practice groups covering governmental affairs, financial services, consumer protection, labor, and litigation. Mr. Morgan has presented on a variety of topics in continuing legal education, including religious freedom, appellate advocacy, legal writing, and U.S. Supreme Court cases. He is also actively involved in his Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife Rebecca have five children and two grandchildren.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Missing the first day of school for the birth of my first child, singing with the law school choir at the dedication of the law school library, and making lifelong friends.
About: Ryan is a Shareholder and Director at Gilmore & Bell in Salt Lake City, Utah and practices in public and project finance. He enjoys volunteering his time to serve his church and community. Ryan lives with his wife Cami and five children in Bountiful, Utah, and his hobbies include trail running, split boarding, camping, traveling, reading and spending time with his family.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: The crazy antics that happened in the corner cluster of study carrels in the basement of the law school during our 2L year.
About: Jonathan M. Madsen (’04) is currently serving as President of the BYU Law School Graduating Class of 2004. He is the Global Brand Protection Director for ZAGG Inc., headquartered in Murray, UT. Jon lives in Lehi, UT with his wife and five daughters; his oldest child and only son is currently serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In his spare time, Jon likes to hike and attend his daughters’ dance recitals.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Playing dodgeball in the library, Professor Gordon’s introduction to every Contracts class, Professor Rasband’s tort stories, movies after final exams.
About: Rebecca Oldroyd is an ERISA attorney that is currently Senior Counsel at Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators. She worked at law firms in Chicago and Washington DC before returning to Utah and happily settling into an in-house role. Rebecca and her husband (another BYU Law graduate) love to travel and have visited 5 countries with a toddler. Hobbies include searching for the best bakery and fried chicken sandwich in Salt Lake City and entertaining a high energy three year old.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Friendsgiving the Sunday before Thanksgiving, hanging out in the study carrels, and bowling at the Wilk.
About: Jay Redd practices at Gibbons PC in their Washington, DC office in the Government & Regulatory Affairs Department. Jay has developed a wide range of policy expertise and has formed invaluable relationships on both sides of the legislative aisle in Washington, DC, and New Jersey. He is also active with his local chapter of the National Alliance On Mental Illness, where he works to end stigma and support individuals with mental illness and their families.
Jay splits his time between Washington, DC, and New Jersey and is the proud dog parent of a ten-year-old puppy, Jackson. His hobbies include photography, traveling, and attending concerts.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Rob McMillen threw a giant party somewhere up Provo Canyon and he made me and Dean Kevin Worthen do a legit tug-of-war, one-on-one. It was so awkward. Literally nobody except Rob wanted to actually make Dean Worthen and I participate, but Rob somehow hyped it up so much and he brought a 100 foot rope and suddenly we found ourselves fully engaged in the tug-of-war. Dean Worthen was in dress shoes for pete’s sake. It was at that moment I knew Rob was destined for great things.
About: Gil Bradshaw grew up in Provo, Utah where he met his wife Marin Turley at the great Provo High School. Marin started BYU Law School two years before he did, so Gil feels an affinity towards her law school class (2006) almost as much as his own, someone even gave him a study carrel. Marin and Gil live in Orange County, California where Marin is a tax and estate planning lawyer at a fancy law firm and Gil is managing partner at a boutique corporate and securities law firm that takes companies public and helps them with SEC compliance. They have two children.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Winning the Law School Guitar Hero Tournament and the Humor in the Law Award in consecutive weeks; Supreme Court Seminar with pre-Justice and Senator versions of Tom and Mike Lee; learning to be a Can-Do Lawyer at the feet of Michael Goldsmith.
About: Eric practices law in Salt Lake City and is a reforming commercial litigator. When not duking it out in motion practice, Eric is a founder and board member in several startups, and frequently advises small- and medium-size businesses on employment, governance, regulatory, and strategy issues. Eric married way above his station shortly after BYU Law and now has four children with his wife and sweetheart. He enjoys travel, reading, backpacking, mediating childhood disputes, fishing, gardening, and meditation. Lots and lots of quiet meditation.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Halloween parade, Professor Jones and the hula hoop desk contest, book towers in the carrels, caffeine runs (current students wouldn’t understand!), baby/bridal showers in the reading room, study group treat baking, and SO MUCH PIZZA!!!
About: Brittany has a solo practice geared toward creative entrepreneurs/influencers and practices virtually from her hometown of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho while licensed in both Utah and Idaho. She also sells legal education products for startup businesses and writes, speaks, and mentors women-owned businesses and hosts the Creative Counsel podcast. She serves as the Treasurer of the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene nonprofit and she and her husband have four children. When Brittany isn’t lawyering, she loves to ski, play on the lake, read YA books, and sing in the car loudly enough to make people uncomfortable at intersections!
Favorite BYU Law Memory: My favorite law school memory was the 2011 Barristers Ball. As usual, the Barrister’s Ball was planned during the middle of NCAA’s March Madness. Little did we know that the BYU Basketball team would make it to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in thirty years. Luckily, we worked it out with the venue to broadcast the sweet sixteen game on a 100 foot projector screen in the middle of the ballroom during the entire first half of the Barrister’s Ball. Dressed in our formalwear, we cheered on the team and were able to rally and laugh together. The basketball team lost in overtime that night, but it was the best Barrister’s Ball I ever attended.
About: Cathryne is a partner at Hundley & Harrison. She primarily practices Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Probate Administration, Family Law, and Bankruptcy. She is recognized for her focus on clients and explaining legal issues in a simple way. Her commitment to this helps her serve her clients in an effective way and efficient manner no matter how complicated the situation is. Ms. Harrison started her career practicing Family Law and Estate Planning in Salt Lake County. She later became a partner at a small Utah County law firm before founding Hundley & Harrison. While she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time hiking and camping with her husband and two children.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Conducting the BYU Law Choir; Participating in the Jail Outreach program at the Springville Juvenile Detention Center; Halloween costume parties; annual SBA talent show; and staying late in study groups to prep for finals–good friends can make even the hardest parts of law school fun!
About: Haley Jankowski (’14) is Alumni President of BYU Law School’s 2014 Graduating Class. She practices at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLC in Houston and works in both their Supreme Court and Appellate group and Complex Commercial Litigation group. She also serves on the board of her local Houston Chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society as the Women in Law representative. Haley lives with her husband and two sons in Sugar Land, Texas, and hobbies include watching as many Broadway shows as possible, reading all kinds of books as fast as possible, playing harp and piano, and best of all, playing with her two little boys!
Favorite BYU Law Memory: My favorite law school memory was when several classmates formed a rock band for the talent show, Orin Peasly and the Limited Purpose Public Figures, and performed a parody of Boston’s “Don’t Stop Believing”, “Don’t Stop Studying.”
About: Anthony is a Deputy County Attorney for Utah County in their civil division. He assists the Board of County Commissioners of Utah County in drafting and amending county ordinances; negotiating sensible contracts among various cities, governmental entities, and businesses; litigating cases on behalf of Utah County; and advising various county departments and boards of directors. He is also running for state representative for Utah House District 22. Anthony and his wife live in Kearns, where they purchased their family home and are raising their six children.
Favorite BYU Law Memory: Of all my experiences, getting to know my fellow classmates through various co-curricular activities has been the most meaningful.
About: Laura Shrum is from Salt Lake City, Utah. She received an International Baccalaureate Diploma from West High School, which sparked her interest in international politics and issues. She graduated from the University of Utah with Bachelor degrees in History and Political Science and a Masters degree in Political Science majoring in Comparative Politics. Laura has studied abroad at the University of Cambridge, worked at Walt Disney World, and interned in Washington D.C.. Shrum relocated to Washington, D.C., to begin work with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission as an Honor Law Graduate in the Office of General Counsel.
Favorite BYU Law memory: The look on his classmate Alex Clark’s face when Alex single-handedly won the Feddie award at the 2010 Federalist Society Student Symposium.
About: Chase Olsen (’11) is a judicial clerk for the 4th District Court in Provo, Utah. He is the youngest of 5 boys born to kind and loving parents in Meridian, Idaho. Chase’s hobbies include playing drums, writing poetry, and performing stand-up comedy.