Lezak Social Justice Fellows Named

Four students have been named as the 2023 Lezak Social Justice Fellows: Mackenzie Carmen ’25, Elijah Cetas ’24, Kelli Garry ’24, and Loren Naldoza ’25. The Lezak Social Justice Fellowship honors the legacy of Sid Lezak by granting summer stipends to law students who will be serving the community. The program also provides mentorship and guidance to the fellows.

This summer, the fellows will be taking on challenging work for a number of community organizations.

Mackenzie Carmen will be working with the Oregon Innocence Project. Mackenzie’s work will include reviewing claims of innocence, and assisting in litigation.

Elijah Cetas will be working for the Tulalip Tribes’ Office of the Reservation Attorney. Elijah will be working on a number of critical issues facing the reservation community and tribal members.

Kelli Garry will be working with the Metropolitan Public Defender. In this position, she will represent indigent clients as a certified law student while Oregon is in the midst of a public defender crisis.

Loren Naldoza will be working for the Honorable Jacqueline S. Kamins in the Oregon Court of Appeals. Loren will be working closely with the Court to draft opinions, orders, memoranda, and other work product.

Sid Lezak was one of the longest serving US Attorneys in the history of the United States, the father of alternative dispute resolution in Oregon, an activist, a community servant, and a mentor to many Oregonians. The Lezak Social Justice Fellowship (previously known as the Lezak Legacy Fellowship) honors his legacy.