Washburn Law Journal
50th Anniversary Celebration Banquet
See more photos and watch video from the banquet.
View slideshow of past editorial boards and Journal events.
Read Professor James M. Concannon's article "Celebrating Volume 50: The Early History of the Washburn Law Journal" (80 KB PDF)
Past editors speaking at the celebration: Lowell Hahn, Winton Hinkle, George Barton, Terry Mann, Mary Lynch Matthews, Robin Carlson.
Michael Duma received Kuether Memorial Faculty Award for best note.
Jacqueline Blaesi-Freed and Andrew Newcomer received Kuether Faculty Awards for best comment.
Robert Rojas and Robert Fitzgerald received Ensley Awards.
Jacob Porter (note) and Andrew Holder (comment) received GNIP-GNOP Awards.
View the banquet program (360 KB PDF; requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Washburn Law Journal celebrated the 50th anniversary of publication at a banquet held Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka, Kansas. In addition to recognition of law journal members and presentation of awards the evening was highlighted by remarks from past editors:
- Lowell F. Hahn, '61, Volume 1
Hahn & Ames, P.A., Phillipsburg - Winton M. Hinkle, '68, Volume 7
Hinkle Law Firm, L.L.C., Wichita - George A. Barton, '77, Volume 16
Law Office of George A. Barton, P.C., Kansas City, Missouri - Terry L. Mann, '86, Volume 25
Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Bauer, L.L.P., Wichita - Mary Lynch Matthews, '91, Volume 30
Law Clerk to Chief Judge Kathryn H. Vratil
U.S. District Court, District of Kansas - Robin K. Carlson, '04, Volume 43
Stinson Morrison Hecker, L.L.P., Kansas City, Missouri
Lowell Hahn highlighted the beginnings of the law journal. Winton Hinkle discussed how the June 1966 tornado, which destroyed the law school building, impacted the journal. George Barton talked about the critical importance of good legal writing and Terry Mann provided insight about how good writing is the key factor to a successful practice. Mary Lynch Matthews gave an overview of the law journal's move into the digital age and Robin Carlson talked about the special issues produced by the volume 43 staff related to the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision and the law school centennial.
Presentation of Awards
John F. Kuether Memorial Faculty Awards
To provide an incentive for excellence and to recognize exemplary student writing, the Washburn University School of Law faculty established awards for the best Note and best Comment. In 1999, the awards were named in memory of Professor John F. Kuether, faculty advisor to the Washburn Law Journal from 1987 through 1999. The Hinkle Law Firm, L.L.C., of Wichita, Kansas, has generously established a fund that helps sponsor the John F. Kuether Memorial Faculty Award. Recipients of the awards have their names engraved on a plaque permanently displayed at Washburn University School of Law.
- Best Note: Michael C. Duma
- Best Comments (tie): Jacqueline M. Blaesi-Freed and Andrew T. Newcomer
John D. Ensley Memorial Award for Excellence in Legal Writing
Washburn University School of Law presents the John D. Ensley Scholarship for Excellence in Legal Writing semi-annually to the student who writes the top memorandum in the Washburn Law Journal write-on competition held each spring and fall semester. The award memorializes John D. Ensley, a 1983 graduate of Washburn University School of Law, whose experience on the Law Journal made him a careful practitioner of the craft of legal writing. Learn more about John Ensley and this award.
- Spring 2010: Robert Fitzgerald
- Fall 2010: Robert J. Rojas
The Free Society of GNIP-GNOP
The Free Society of GNIP-GNOP had its first meeting in 1947. Its members were nine Washburn Law graduates who were also members of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta social fraternity at Washburn. Although all members did not graduate in the same class, due in large measure to their military service during World War II, they and their spouses have gathered annually at various locations throughout the United States since 1947. It was at one of the mid-year meetings that the members decided to establish a cash award to benefit Washburn University School of Law.
GNIP-GNOP presented its first award to a law professor who had, in their judgment, been the outstanding law school teacher during that year. They abandoned this practice, however, because the members resided in several states and concluded it was, as a practical matter, impossible for them to know and determine who the outstanding teacher was for the year. Accordingly, they decided to grant two awards each year to student writers on the Washburn Law Journal.
The Editor-in-Chief and other Law Journal editors select what they consider to be the three best Notes and three best Comments. These are sent to all GNIP-GNOP members who determine the winner in each category. A substantial cash award goes to each winner.
Erosion by the sands of time has reduced the number of original GNIP-GNOP members from nine to three. In 2009, GNIP-GNOP was expanded to include the following 1977 Washburn University School of Law graduates and former editors of the Washburn Law Journal: George Barton, The Honorable Rebecca W. Crotty, Patty Riley, H. Reed Walker, and Professor David Pierce.
- Best Comment: Andrew D. Holder
- Best Note: Jacob L. Porter
For those interested in the origin of the name, GNIP-GNOP stands for one of the group's two favorite pastimes. It spells 'Ping-Pong' in reverse! The group’s other favorite pastime is horseshoes.
Eric Turner (right) recognizing Washburn Law Journal volume 50 editorial board.
