Law School Class Notes

Leland Baxter-Neal JD ’15 has taken a position with the ACLU of Oregon. Previously, Baxter-Neal worked at Immigrant Defense Oregon, a project at Metropolitan Public Defender. There, he represented people in deportation proceedings and worked with unaccompanied minors held in a secure detention facility. He also worked to improve access to immigration legal services and with Oregon Ready to help develop and advocate for a universal representation project at the Portland immigration court. In his first week with the ACLU, Baxter-Neal fought the federal government for access to the 123 immigrants and asylum seekers in ICE custody who had just been shipped to the federal prison in Sheridan. The following week, he helped secure a major victory in federal court when the judge found that the federal government was unconstitutionally preventing Baxter-Neal and other pro bono attorneys from entering the prison or communicating with the immigrants detained there. The judge ordered that the lawyers be allowed access. 

Is a senior intergovernmental program analyst in the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. Diaz writes that he would like “to connect with folks who are working on legislation to protect and advance efforts to combat climate change and ensure civil rights for all…we, in California, are continuing to partner with other jurisdictions, especially in light of the shift at the federal level.” He can be reached at samuel.diaz@opr.ca.gov.

Joined Bendixsen Law in Hermiston, Oregon. Foy was previously at the Umatilla County District Attorney’s office.

Was selected to be a Presidential Leadership Scholar, joining the second class of a leadership development initiative that draws on the resources of the presidential centers of Lyndon B. Johnson, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush. The six-month executive-style program starts at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home, and travels to each participating presidential center so scholars can learn from former presidents, key administration officials, and leading academics. The goals are to study and put into practice varying approaches to leadership, develop a network of peers, and exchange ideas with mentors and others who can help participants make an impact in their communities.

Published “Shared Sovereignty: The Role of Expert Agencies in Environmental Law” with Jeffrey Bain Faculty Scholar and Professor of Law Michael Blumm in Ecology Law Quarterly, vol. 42, University of California at Berkeley (2015).

David Rosengard JD ’15, LLM ’16 and his wife, Diana Wiener Rosengard BA ’04, JD ’09, bought their first home in Saint Helens, Oregon, in October 2017. They promptly adopted two adorable rescue pitbulls, who keep them busy. David works at the Animal Legal Defense Fund and teaches as a adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law School. Diana works as a senior manager at a global open-source technology company, while writing novels in her spare time.

Joined the League of Oregon Cities as assistant general counsel. Thoennes will advocate in the areas of constitutional and municipal law, and will help develop training and educational materials for elected officials in municipal government. Previously, he clerked for Justice Rives Kistler of the Oregon Supreme Court, where he met his wife, Lauren Eldridge, who was clerking for Justice Jack Landau. Lauren is currently a staff attorney for the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board.