List of Gonzaga University School of Law alumni explained

This is a list of notable alumni of the Gonzaga University School of Law.

Federal Judges

U.S. District Judges

• Franklin D. Burgess, class of 1966, Western District of Washington (1994–2005);^[1] 1961 NBA draft pick
• William James Lindberg, class of 1927, Eastern District of Washington (1951–1961),^[2] Western District of Washington (1951–1981)^[2]
• Robert James McNichols, class of 1952, Eastern District of Washington (1979–1993)^[3]
• Justin Lowe Quackenbush, class of 1957, Eastern District of Washington (1980–1995),^[4] Lecture Series Namesake^[5]
• Thomas O. Rice, class of 1986, Eastern District of Washington (2012–present)^[6]

U.S. Bankruptcy Judges

• L. Warden Hanel, class of 1939, Eastern District of Washington (1973–1981), Scholarship Namesake
• John M. Klobucher, class of 1956, Eastern District of Washington (1981–1997)
• Frank L. Kurtz, class of 1974, Ninth Circuit U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (2013–2019), Eastern District of Washington (2005–2019)
• Madeleine C. Wanslee, class of 1988, District of Arizona (2014–present)^[7]
• Patricia C. Williams, class of 1975, Eastern District of Washington (1997–2013)

State Judges

Supreme Court Justices

• Edward M. Connelly, class of 1915, Washington Supreme Court (1946-1947)
• Christopher Dietzen, class of 1973, Minnesota Supreme Court (2008–2016)^[8]
• Mary Fairhurst, class of 1984, Washington Supreme Court (2002–2020);^[9] Washington State Bar Association President (1997–1998)^[10]
• Meagan Flynn, class of 1992, Oregon Supreme Court (2017–present)^[11]
• Richard P. Guy, class of 1959, Washington Supreme Court (1989–2001)^[12]
• Barbara Madsen, class of 1977, Washington Supreme Court (1992–present)^[13]
• Mike McGrath, class of 1975, Montana Supreme Court (2009–present),^[14]
• Debra L. Stephens, class of 1993, Washington Supreme Court (2008–present)^[15]
• William H. Williams, class of 1951, Washington Supreme Court (1979-1985)^[16]

From 2008–2020, with Madsen, Fairhurst, and Stephens concurrently serving on the Washington Supreme Court, Gonzaga University School of Law became the law school whose alumni constituted a majority of that Court's justices. Each of those justices also served as chief justice in succession (Madsen then Fairhurst then Stephens).

Court of Appeals Judges

• Cecily Hazelrigg, class of 2005, Washington Court of Appeals, Division I (2019–present)^[17]
• Debra L. Stephens, class of 1993, Washington Court of Appeals, Division III (2007–2008)

District Court Judges

• Patrick T. Johnson Jr., class of 1998, Spokane County District Court, Position 1 (2018–present)^[18]

Municipal Judges

• Thomas P. Amodeo, class of 1976, Buffalo City Court (1994–present)^[19]

Politicians

Executive Branch

Governors and Lt. Governors

• Christine Gregoire, class of 1977, 22nd Governor of Washington (2005–2013)^[20]

Attorneys General

• Christine Gregoire, class of 1977, 16th Attorney General of Washington (1993–2005)^[20]
• Catherine Cortez Masto, class of 1990, 32nd Nevada Attorney General (2007-2014)^[21]
• Mike McGrath, class of 1975, 22nd Attorney General of Montana (2000-2008)^[14]

United States Attorneys

• Edward M. Connelly, class of 1915, Eastern District of Washington (1942-1946)
• James P. Connelly, class of 1953, Eastern District of Washington (1993-2000)^[22]
• William D. Hyslop, class of 1980, Eastern District of Washington (1991-1993, reappointed 2019-present);^[23] Washington State Bar Association President (2015-2016)
• James A. McDevitt, class of 1974, Eastern District of Washington (2001-2009)^[24]
• Michael C. Ormsby, class of 1981, Eastern District of Washington (2010-2017)^[25]
• Jeffrey C. Sullivan, class of 1971, Western District of Washington (2007-2010)^[26]

Other Executive Branch Officials

• Richard A. Davey, class of 1999, Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation (2011-2014)^[27]
• Jim Ferrell, class of 1993, Mayor of Federal Way, Washington (2014–present)^[28]
• Dennis P. Hession, class of 1979, 42nd Mayor of Spokane, Washington (2005-2007)
• Christopher Loeak, class of 1982, 6th President of the Marshall Islands (2012-2016)^[29]
• Mike Pellicciotti, class of 2004, Washington State Treasurer (2021-present)
• Mary Verner, class of 1999, 43rd Mayor of Spokane, Washington (2007–2011)^[30]

Legislative Branch

United States Senate

• Catherine Cortez Masto, class of 1990, U.S. Senator from Nevada (2017–present)^[31]

United States House of Representatives

• Lloyd Meeds, class of 1958, U.S. Congressman from Washington (second district) (1965–1979)^[32]
• George Nethercutt, class of 1971, U.S. Congressman from Washington (fifth district) (1995–2005)^[33]

State Senates

• Jeff Holy, class of 1989, Senator, Washington State Senate (District 6) (2019–present); State Representative, Washington House of Representatives (District 6) (2013–2019)
• Mike Padden, class of 1974, Senator, Washington State Senate (District 4) (2011–present)

State Houses of Representatives

• Gary Hebl, class of 1976, State Representative, Wisconsin State Assembly (District 46) (2004–present)
• Mike Pellicciotti, class of 2004, State Representative, Washington House of Representatives (District 30) (2016–present)
• Jay Rodne, class of 1997, State Representative, Washington House of Representatives (District 5) (2004–2019)
• Matt Shea, class of 1996, State Representative, Washington House of Representatives (District 4) (2009–present)
• V. Lowry Snow, class of 1979, Speaker pro tempore/State Representative, Utah House of Representatives (District 74) (2012–2022); Utah State Bar President (2007)^[34]

Educators

• Michael Farris, class of 1976, Founder and Chancellor emeritus of Patrick Henry College,^[35] President/CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom (2017–present)
• Milton G. Rowland, class of 1985, Washington State Bar Association Lifetime Service Award Recipient,^[36] Namesake for Milton G. Rowland Adjunct Professor of the Year Award

Business Leaders

• Nancy Allen, class of 2015, Co-founder of Stay Alfred Vacation Rentals
• Kelly Cline, class of 1985, Exec. Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Entertainment for Fox Networks Group (FX, Fox Movie Channel, National Geographic Channel, and NG Wild)^[37]
• Uri Clinton, class of 1997, Exec. Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Boyd Gaming^{[38] [39]} and adjunct professor at William S. Boyd School of Law^[40]
• Jim Parke, class of 2006, CEO for OtterBox^[41] and Blue Ocean Enterprises Inc.
• Frederick Rivera, class of 1993, Exec. Vice President and General Counsel for Seattle Mariners^{[42] [43]}
• Bob Schroeter, class of 1990, CEO of Clallam County Economic Development Corporation (2017-2018)^[44]

Other

• Daniel D. Clark, class of 2002, first President-Elect of the Washington State Bar Association with a major disability and career as a county deputy prosecuting attorney^[45]
• Patrick J. Conroy, attended 1972-1973 but did not graduate, 60th Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives (2011–present)^[46]
• Bing Crosby, attended 1922-1924 but did not graduate, Academy Award Winner, Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee^[47]
• Chad Little, class of 1988, NASCAR Winston West Series Champion (1987) and Director for Camping World Truck Series^{[48] [49]}
• Paul N. Luvera, class of 1959, American Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame Inductee^[50]
• Carl Maxey (1951), civil rights leader in the Pacific Northwest
• Katherine Merck, class of 2017, first Miss Rodeo America from Washington^[51]
• Bill Nyrop, class of 1986, Three-time Stanley Cup winning Defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens
• Joe Sullivan, class of 1985, President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (2022–23, anticipated); State Bar of Montana President (2010–11)
• Jim Wickwire, class of 1967, World-class mountain climber; First American to summit K2^[52]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Frank Burgess. Federal Judicial Center. 2 January 2013.
2. Web site: William James Lindberg. Federal Judicial Center. 2 January 2013.
3. Web site: Robert James McNichols. Federal Judicial Center. 2 January 2013.
4. Web site: Justin Lowe Quackenbush. Federal Judicial Center. 2 January 2013.
5. Web site: Gonzaga University School of Law » Quackenbush Lecture Series . Law.gonzaga.edu . 2015-03-24 . 2017-05-03.
6. Web site: Thomas O. Rice. Federal Judicial Center. 3 January 2013.
7. Web site: Gonzaga University School of Law » Madeleine C. Wanslee ('88) appointed to Federal Bench . law.gonzaga.edu . 6 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140423062100/http://www.law.gonzaga.edu/blog/2014/news/alumni/madeline-c-wanslee/ . 23 April 2014 .
8. Web site: Christopher Dietzen. " Bench & Bar of Minnesota . 3 January 2013.
9. Web site: Mary Fairhurst. Washington Courts. 3 January 2013.
10. Web site: WSBA Presidents . Wsba.org . 2017-05-03 . 2018-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181106092818/https://www.wsba.org/About-WSBA/History/WSBA-Presidents . dead .
11. Web site: Chris. Lehman . Gov. Kate Brown Appoints Meagan Flynn To Oregon Supreme Court . News . OPB . 2017-03-31 . 2017-05-03.
12. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-05-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235723/http://www.gud.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2008DistrictConference/US%20Supreme%20Court%20Review--Guy.pdf . 2016-03-04 .
13. Web site: Barbara Madsen. Washington Courts. 3 January 2013.
14. Web site: Mike McGrath. Project Vote Smart. 3 January 2013.
15. Web site: Debra L. Stephens. Washington Courts. 3 January 2013.
16. Web site: Washington State Courts - Washington Court News . Courts.wa.gov . 2002-04-29 . 2017-05-03.
17. Web site: Election Coverage: Zags in Office Gonzaga University.
18. Web site: Honorable Patrick Johnson Spokane County, WA. www.spokanecounty.org. 2019-10-01.
19. https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/8jd/erie/buffalo.shtml
20. Web site: Christine Gregoire . National Governors Association . 3 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130101230314/http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/current-governors/col2-content/main-content-list/chris-gregoire.html . 1 January 2013 .
21. Web site: Catherine Cortez Masto . 2012 Nevada Attorney General . 3 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130120014913/http://ag.state.nv.us/about/agbio.html . 20 January 2013 .
22. Web site: Jim Connelly Dies. 15 February 2017.
23. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-judicial-nominees-united-states-attorney-nominee-united-states-marshal-nominees-3/ www.whitehouse.gov
24. Web site: U.S. Attorney to successor: 'Don't pass this up' > Spokane Journal of Business.
25. Web site: President Obama Nominates Kenneth J. Gonzales and Michael C. Ormsby to Serve as United States Attorneys . 2015-07-04 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216172910/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-nominates-kenneth-j-gonzales-and-michael-c-ormsby-serve-united-stat . 2017-02-16 . . . 3 March 2010 .
26. Web site: U.S. Attorney's Office - U.S. Department of Justice.
27. News: Richard Davey, former MassDOT secretary, named Boston 2024 CEO . Boston Business Journal . 23 January 2015 . Carlock . Catherine . 2017-05-03.
28. Web site: About Jim Ferrell City of Federal Way.
29. Web site: Gonzaga's OTHER President. magazine.gonzaga.edu. 6 May 2014.
30. Web site: Mary Verner Building America's Future Educational Fund. bafuture.org. 6 May 2014.
31. Web site: Cortez Masto keeps Reid's Senate seat in Dem hands . Msn.com . 2016-11-09 . 2017-05-03.
32. Web site: Lloyd Meeds. NNDB. 2 January 2013.
33. Web site: George Nethercutt. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 3 January 2013.
34. Web site: Snow, V. Lowry Snow Jensen & Reece, P.C. 29 March 2022.
35. Web site: Patrick Henry College. phc.edu. 6 May 2014.
36. https://www.wsba.org/about-wsba/apex-awards
37. Web site: The Lawyer Winter / Spring 2013. 13 February 2013 .
38. https://www.boydstyle.com/boyd-style/executive-team
39. Web site: West Las Vegas' Own. lasvegasblackimage.com. 20 November 2017.
40. https://law.unlv.edu/content/uri-l-clinton
41. Web site: Jim Parke - CEO.
42. Web site: Mariners name Fred Rivera Executive VP & General Counsel MLB.com . M.mlb.com . 2016-01-20 . 2017-05-03.
43. Web site: Frederick (Fred) B. Rivera Perkins Coie . 2017-03-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160815190306/https://www.perkinscoie.com/en/professionals/frederick-b-rivera.html . 2016-08-15 .
44. Web site: New Clallam County Economic Development Corp. director underscores priorities . Peninsula Daily News . 2017-04-25 . 2017-05-03.
45. Web site: Daniel D. Clark Elected as WSBA President-Elect │ June 1, 2021.
46. Web site: The Chaplain of the House, Office of the Chaplain . Chaplain.house.gov . 2011-05-25 . 2017-05-03.
47. Web site: 1912 - 1940 - First Class Law School, or None at All: GU Law School Turns 100 - LibGuides at Gonzaga University . Researchguides.gonzaga.edu . 2017-05-03.
48. Web site: Chad Little receives WSU Alumni Achievement Award WSU News Washington State University. 26 July 2012. news.wsu.edu. 6 May 2014.
49. Web site: Roberts . Ken . Truck series gears up for return to Gateway Sports . stltoday.com . 2014-06-11 . 2017-05-03.
50. Web site: Paul Luvera Journal: Gonzaga Law School Class of 1959 . Paulluvera.com . 2014-08-22 . 2017-05-03.
51. News: Gonzaga law student crowned Miss Rodeo America. 2015-12-07. The Seattle Times. 2018-09-12. en-US.
52. Web site: Gonzaga University School of Law » Summer 2005 Lawyer . 2014-08-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903071154/http://www.law.gonzaga.edu/blog/2005/news/the-lawyer/summer-2005-lawyer/ . 2014-09-03 .