Earthrise student argues before the Ninth Circuit
Drew Baloga, who took the Earthrise clinic last year and then worked with us as a summer clerk, argued in front of the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco last week. Drew presented oral argument on behalf of our clients Earth Island Institute and the Center for Biological Diversity in support of their challenge to the Three Creeks logging Project in the Inyo National Forest.
Open gallery
On October 17, 2023, Lewis & Clark third-year law student, Drew Baloga, argued in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on behalf of Earthrise clients Earth Island Institute and the Center for Biological Diversity in support of their challenge to the Three Creeks logging Project in the Inyo National Forest. Drew was enrolled in Earthrise last year as a 2L student and also worked for Earthrise as a summer clerk in 2023. While in the clinic Drew worked with Earthrise Clinical Professor Tom Buchele on the opening appellate brief and then helped draft the reply brief during his summer internship. Under Tom’s supervision, Drew was certified to present the argument, which the Ninth Circuit scheduled during the fall semester of Drew’s third year. Drew is the first Earthrise student to argue in front of the Ninth Circuit before passing a bar exam. A court security officer took the picture of Tom and Drew in the Ninth Circuit’s ornate courtroom shortly after Drew completed his argument. Drew did a great job answering numerous questions from the appellate judges. Earthrise thanks our clients for letting Drew represent them before the Ninth Circuit, and we thank Drew for spending part of his 3L year continuing this fight!
