News and Events

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison recently announced the 16 members of the state’s new Conviction Review Unit, which will review legal cases for people believed to be innocent. Five of the members are Mitchell Hamline alums: Tamara Cabán-Ramirez ’05 John Choi ’95 Nadine Graves ’17 Caroline Palmer ’98 Karin Sonneman ’89 Choi is also a …

Attorney General Keith Ellison names five Mitchell Hamline alums to Minnesota conviction review panel

Every time James Backstrom ’78 signs his name, he makes sure to include his middle initial so he can remember his father. Clifford Backstrom was a firefighter for more than three decades and passed a duty to serve the public to his son. In February, the son of Clifford Backstrom will retire just after his …

Retiring Dakota Co. Attorney Jim Backstrom ’78 encourages public service

            Several members of the Mitchell Hamline community are being recognized by Minnesota Lawyer in its 2020 Attorneys of the Year and 2020 Diversity & Inclusion awards. In all, 18 Mitchell Hamline alums made the list for Attorneys of the Year and five received a Diversity & Inclusion Award. Cindy …

Mitchell Hamline alums honored with Attorney of the Year, Diversity & Inclusion awards

‘I want to help them self-determine’ Jessie Stomski Seim ’08 remembers her dad driving down St. Paul’s historic Summit Avenue, admiring the Victorian homes and dropping hints while passing William Mitchell College of Law’s iconic building. “‘You would be a great lawyer,’” she recalls him saying. “‘Wouldn’t it be cool if you went there?’” Those …

Prairie Island general counsel helps tribe protect reservation, expand governance

Barbara Colombo ’89, a professor of law and director of the Health Care Compliance Program, is the new director of Mitchell Hamline’s nationally ranked Health Law Institute. The institute caters to both J.D. students and health care professionals seeking a greater knowledge of health law in their careers. Colombo says the institute’s unique blend of …

Barbara Colombo ’89 is new director of Mitchell Hamline’s Health Law Institute

The Mitchell Hamline Alumni Association has announced its three alumni awards for 2020 will go to women who each help different underserved communities, and who do so in private practice, from within the government, and as the head of a nonprofit. Jean Lastine ’80 will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for her work of more …

Three alums awarded for service to others