The first time I stood in front of a jury, in a large superior courtroom in Spokane County, I was a younger lawyer with more energy than eloquence, more ambition than experience. I'll never forget the feeling as if my legs might give out and collapse as easily as the accordion files in my briefcase. My mouth...
My father and I, and everyone at Sweetser Law Office, are excited to announce the founding of the Sweetser Law Closing Argument Competition, in coordination with Gonzaga Law School. Sweetser Law's endowed gift will establish an annual skills-based oral advocacy competition for Gonzaga Law students that focuses on monetary damages in the civil justice system. Each year three participants are awarded...
Justice isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. Every day, we wake up to a world that feels a little more chaotic, a little more divided, and sometimes, a little more unjust. The headlines bombard us with stories of pain and suffering, of silenced voices, and trampled rights. As a civil rights lawyer, I confront these harsh realities head-on. I know the...
No one dreams of needing a trial lawyer. No one wakes up thinking an injury will change life forever, just like we do not expect to bury a child, because of someone else’s neglect. Odds are, if we meet, I am very sorry we had to. I wish we never had to meet. Most all of my battles representing injured families...
One day, an old man was walking along a beach where thousands of starfish had been washed ashore by a storm. Off in the distance, he noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often, and as he drew closer, the old man could see that the boy was carefully picking up starfish and...
A big part of my decision to become a trial lawyer was to be part of something bigger than myself. I believe that trial lawyers have an obligation to make their communities a better place – both through litigation and community service. There is perhaps no circumstances I find this commitment more important than when it comes...
