The Honorable Judge Franklin D. Burgess A Legend on Two Courts Each month, Chastek Library creates a new display highlighting distinguished alumni, historical events, or legal culture. In February, for Black History Month, Chastek Library’s display recognized the Honorable Franklin D. Burgess. Judge Burgess was an accomplished attorney and a proud Gonzaga alumnus. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after attending Eudora Colored High School. After, he went on to attend Gonzaga University and Gonzaga University School of Law. While here, he was a class officer, student body representative and class president. In 1995, he received the Gonzaga Law School Distinguished Judicial Service Award. Judge Burgess was known for being a legend on two courts. In undergrad, Judge Burgess was a basketball All-American at Gonzaga, leading the nation in scoring in 1961. He is a member of Gonzaga's Basketball Hall of Fame, the state of Washington sports Hall of Fame, the Inla...
Myra Bradwell Opening the Door for Women in Law For March's Women’s History Month, Chastek Library’s display recognized Myra Bradwell. Myra was a publisher, political activist, and supporter of women’s rights. Most notably, she was one of America’s first female lawyers , creating a space for women in the legal field and making it possible for women to pursue law careers and beyond. In 1831, Myra was born in Vermont. Colleges did not allow women to enroll at that time, so she graduated from an all-women monastery in Illinois and became a teacher. Shortly after, she met and married aspiring lawyer James Bradwell . James was studying to be a lawyer, but because there were very few formal law schools at the time, he had to study law on his own. Myra learned the basics of the legal field by studying alongside her husband. She saw her marriage as a “partnership,” in which she used her own legal knowledge to help her husband in his career. In the mid-1850s,...
Law students use online legal research services such as Westlaw or LexisNexis for research tasks at school and work. These resources make research fast and efficient but oftentimes students do not use the full range of services that these platforms offer. Tip: use an online legal research service to prepare for your next interview. While preparing for an interview is already stressful and time consuming, this research can be what sets you apart from other interviewees. Use Westlaw or LexisNexis to research cases involving the attorney(s) conducting the interview. Take the time to read available briefs and resulting judicial opinions to have a general understanding of writing styles and legal arguments. This will give you ample discussion material for the interview. The interviewer will likely be impressed with your research and you will stand out as a strong candidate. To access this information: On LexisNexis - Click on Litigation Profile Su...