DecemberGraduatesThirty-four law school students graduated inDecember. A recognition ceremony was heldDec. 3, 2005, in their honor at the BradburyThompson Alumni Center on campus. JusticeHarold Herd ’42, was the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Washburn Law School AlumniAssociation Board of Governors member, SteveCavanaugh ‘80, welcomed the students into theWashburn Law School Alumni Association andtold them of the great history of the school andsuccessful reputation of other graduates. After the recognition ceremony, students, family, friendsand faculty attended a reception in the graduateshonor.

BankruptcyLaw Reform:What Every FamilyLawyer Needs To KnowThe Children and Family Law Center sponsored acontinuing legal education program on BankruptcyLaw Reform, which was held Nov. 4, 2005. TheBankruptcy Abuse Prevention and ConsumerProtection Act of 2005 went into effect Oct. 17, 2005.The numerous changes include pitfalls for the familylaw practitioner in drafting property settlement agree-ments. This CLE discussed the important changes ofinterest to family lawyers, including discussion of thenew definition for a “domestic support obligation,”exemptions, priorities and new rules for dischargeabil-ity. In addition, it discussed changing rules forlawyers who advise clients about bankruptcy.

Presenting was Jill Michaux ’82, who practices withthe firm of Neis & Michaux, P.A., of Topeka, Kan.Michaux graduated with Dean’s Honors and has hadher own law practice since graduating from WashburnLaw. She is board certified in consumer bankruptcyby the American Board of Certification. She is afounding member and former Director of the NationalAssociation of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, ispast President of the Kansas Bar AssociationBankruptcy and Insolvency Section and a Director ofthe Topeka Area Bankruptcy Council.

Also presenting was Ruth Graham ’80, a sole practi-tioner in Topeka, Kan. working primarily in bankrupt-cy and probate. Graham is Past President of theTopeka Bar Association and the Bankruptcy Sectionof the Kansas Bar Association. She currently serveson The Board of Directors of the Topeka AreaBankruptcy Council. 39

The Washburn Lawyer

News & EVENTS

ProfessionalDevelopment– NewsThinking of a career change? Let the WashburnLaw Professional Development Office help you.You may access job postings at htpp://washburn-law.edu/career and click on “EmploymentOpportunities”. As with many on-line job postingsites, our site is password protected so onlyWashburn Law students and alumni may access tothe information. To obtain the password, contactthe Professional Development Office at 785-670-1184. In addition, Margann Bennett, Director ofProfessional Development, is available to discussyour career plans, help you identify careerresources and review your resume.

If you are an employer looking to post an openposition the Professional Development Office canhelp you as well. Log-on to their site athtpp://washburnlaw.edu/career, click on“Employer Services,” and complete the job-postingform.

Ruth Graham ‘80 and Jill Michaux ‘82

40WINTER 2005

Distinguished Service Award was awarded to JamesR. Roth ‘66 for his support and service to not onlyWashburn Law but also to Washburn University as aRegent.

The newly created Distinguished Alumni Award wasawarded to the late Justice Robert L. Gernon ‘69for his endless support of Washburn Law and his dedication to his profession. During the presentation of Gernon’s award, Hinkle noted that, unfortunately,Justice Gernon left us all too soon. However, JusticeGernon had received confirmation before he passedaway that he was the recipient of the DistinguishedAlumni Award. Hinkle read aloud a letter he received,dated March 23, 2005, from Gernon regarding theaward he had been selected to receive:

Dear Winton:

I received your letter and I was movedbeyond measure at the honor thatWashburn is willing to bestow on me.There are not enough thanks for me to giveyou.

My goal of course, is to be there at the(KBA) meeting so that I can thank you inperson. Whether I achieve that goal isanother matter, but that is my intendedgoal.

Please express to everyone my thanks, mygratitude and my love to the Associationfor this event.

Sincerely,Robert L. Gernon, Kansas Supreme Cour t

Gernon’s Distinguished Alumni Award was accepted posthumously on his behalf by his two daughters, Rebecca and Kristin.

Washburn Law SchoolAssociationAlumni AwardsThe Washburn Law School Association held itsannual awards presentation in conjunction with theDean’s Circle Dinner in October. These awards aretypically presented at the Kansas Bar Association’sAnnual Meeting during the Washburn Law lunch-eon, but due to varying circumstances, award win-ners were unable to attend that meeting, which washeld in June 2005.

Awards given each year by the Washburn LawSchool Association are the Honorary Life MemberAward which goes to a non-alum; the DistinguishedService Award; and new this year, the DistinguishedAlumni Award, both of which go to Washburn Law

alumni. The DistinguishedService Award goes to analum who has provided anabundance of service toWashburn Law. TheDistinguished AlumniAward goes to an alumwho has distinguished himor herself in their career.

Winton Hinkle ’68, a mem-ber of the Washburn LawSchool Association Boardof Governors, made theaward presentations onbehalf of the Washburn

Law School Alumni Association. The Honorary LifeMember Award was awarded to Dr. Jerry Farley,President of Washburn University, for his unwaver-ing support of the School of Law. The

Dean Honabach, Dr. Jerry Farley and Winton Hinkle ‘68

Dr. Jerry Farley, Neil Cohen, Kristen Gernon, Rebecca Gernon, Marc Wilson and Dean Honabach

News & EVENTS

Winton Hinkle ‘68, James R. Roth ‘66 and Dean Honabach

AlumniFellow AwardChief Justice Kay McFarland ’64, received theWashburn University Alumni Fellow Award for theSchool of Law on Oct. 14, 2005. The AlumniFellow Award recognizes alumni who have distin-guished themselves in their careers. Fellows areinvited back to campus to interact directly withstudents and faculty. Justice McFarland receivedthe Alumni Fellows Award at a luncheon that day,as other members of the Kansas Supreme Courtlooked on. Prior to the awards luncheon,McFarland addressed a group of law school stu-dents in Robinson Courtroom and BianchinoTechnology Center at the law school. She spoketo the group about her career, how she ultimatelyarrived in the position of Chief Justice of theKansas Supreme Court and her many firsts andobstacles she encountered as a woman not only inthe private practice of law, but also in the courtsystem. McFarland’s remarks were given with agood dose of humor. The audience was intriguedby her accomplishments and were equally enter-tained by her wit and sense of humor.

Justice McFarland has held the position of ChiefJustice of the Kansas Supreme Court since 1995.She is the first woman to serve in that capacity. Infact, her career has been a remarkable series of“firsts.” Following law school, she was in privatepractice in Topeka until 1971, when she chal-lenged the incumbent judge of the ShawneeCounty probate and juvenile courts and won theelection. She was the first woman elected to ajudgeship in Shawnee County. She delivered thecourt reforms pledged in her campaign andreduced serious juvenile offenses by more thanhalf in the two years she held the office. In 1973,she became Judge of the newly created FifthDivision of the District Court in Topeka, therebybecoming the first woman to be a District Judge inthe history of Kansas. She was appointed by thegovernor to be a Justice of the Kansas SupremeCourt in 1977, and she remained the only womanto hold that office until the appointment of JusticeMarla Luckert in January 2003.

Justice EricRosen ‘84Justice Eric Rosen joined the ranks of the KansasSupreme Court Nov. 18, 2005, when he was offi-cially sworn in. The Washburn Law SchoolAlumni Association hosted a reception in hishonor at the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Centeron Washburn’s campus Dec. 8, 2005. ManyTopeka area alumni, lawyers and members of theKansas Judiciary attended the reception to honorJusticeRosen on his past accomplishments and towish him well in his new position. Justice Rosenwas surrounded by his family members at thereception including his wife Libby; parents Irwinand Betty Rosen and sons Mark and Tom, amongother family members. Justice Rosen’s additionto the Kansas Supreme Court places fourWashburn University School of Law alumni on thebench of the Kansas Supreme Court out of theseven seats. Other alumni sitting on the KansasSupreme Court include Chief Justice KayMcFarland ’64, Justice Marla Luckert ’80 andJustice Donald L. Allegrucci ’63. Rosen replacesthe late Justice Robert L. Gernon ’69, also aWashburn Law alumnus.

Justice Rosen became a District Judge in April1993. He previously held positions as PublicDefender from 1983 to 1985; Assistant DistrictAttorney from 1985 to 1988; Associate GeneralCounsel for the Kansas Securities Commissionerfrom 1988 to 1990; Attorney in private practicefrom 1990 to 1993; and District Court Judge from1993 to his recent appointment to the KansasSupreme Court. In addition, Justice Rosen hasbeen a part of Washburn Law serving as anAdjunct Professor from 1989 to 1994. 41

The Washburn Lawyer

Professor Nancy Maxwell, Justice Eric Rosen and Dean Honabach

Dean’sCircleDinnerThe annual Dean’s Circle Dinner washeld Oct. 22, 2005, at the FairmontHotel, Kansas City. Supporters of thelaw school including alumni andfriends enjoyed a wonderful evening ofconversation, camaraderie and enter-tainment. Attendees heard updates onthe law school from Dean Dennis R.Honabach. Other speakers includedDr. Jerry Farley, President ofWashburn University, and SteveCooper ‘73, Vice-President, WashburnLaw School Alumni Association.

Members of the Dean’s Circle give$1,000 or more annually to WashburnLaw. Members are invited to the Dean’sCircle Dinner and also receive special invi-tations for premier events and programsthroughout the year. For more informationabout how to become a member of the Dean’sCircle, contact the Law School AdvancementOffice at (785)-670-1100.

42WINTER 2005

Judy Jewsome ‘07, Prof. Linda Elrod ‘72, Aaron Jewsome, Prof. Joyce McCray Pearson ‘89

and Mitchell Pearson

Ann and Tom ‘69 Adrian

Gary Mathews ‘77 and Deb Huff

Dick Sherbondy ‘74 and Linda Miller

John ‘73 and Peggy Johnson

Danny ‘08 and Charlie ‘88 Manh

Dean’s Circle

Judge Sam Crow ‘52, Ruth Crow, Carol Honabach and Dean Dennis Honabach