The Opinion

The William Mitchell Opinion was William Mitchell College of Law's student newspaper from 1959-1979, when it was renamed simply The Opinion, after losing funding from the school administration. The Opinion continued publication under that name from 1979-1998. It was revived in 2000 as an online publication and ceased publication again in 2009.

The Opinion was published by the Student Bar Association of WMCL from 1959-1998, and a student organization from 2000-2009. Over the course of its publication, it won multiple national awards for legal writing. Regular features included school news, editorials, legal opinions, and even a sports section.

This digital collection is maintained by the staff of the Warren E. Burger Library of Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Disclaimer: These newspapers reflect the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of different times. Neither the library nor the school endorses the views expressed in these collections.

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The Opinion - Volume 44, No. 1, Spring 1998

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- How Not to Get a Judicial Clerkship / Edwards, Mathew A.
- Two Crows, A Shovel Handle; and An Essay on Professional Restraint / Gerlach, Charles S.
- The Nontraditional Student and Law Clerking Experience
- Student Bar Assoc. Budget 1997-1998 School Year
- WMCL Federalists Welcome Dr. Michael Greve
- 1998 Delta Theta Phi Talent Show a Success
- "You Cant Do That to Me" / Gottschalk, Randall E.
- Who's th Highest Paid Student Government Leader in the Nation?
Editorial Board

Gerlach, Charles S.; Botham, Debbie; Conroy, Tom; Gibbons, Michael; Ravnitzky, Mike; Connor, Crystal, Frundt, David; Anderson, Corey
The Opinion – Volume 43, No. 2, Winter 1997

William Mitchell College of Law
- Selected Table of Contents
- WMCL to allow military recruiters back on campus
- Sexual Orientation Discrimination: A Personal Perspective / Nemmers, Katie
- The Impractability of Legal Experience: The Dilemma of Non-Traditional Law Students / Gottschalk, Randall E.
- From the Client's Perspective
- Ramblings From a One-L / Zeman, Stephanie
- The Field of Carl Pohlad's Dreams / Gibbons, Michael P.
Editorial Board

Gerlach, Charles S.; Botham, Debbie; Conroy, Tom; Gibbons, Michael; Ravnitzky, Mike; Connor, Crystal, Frundt, David; Anderson, Corey
The Opinion - Volume 43, No. 1, Fall 1997

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Emotional Distress: WMCL Law Students - and Its Impact on their Learning / Wagner, Richard
- Government Demands Change Policy / Gerlach, Charles S.
- Dean Haynsworth recommends Granting MIlitary Access in Memo to Faculty / Haynsworth, Harry
- It's the Wrong Thing to Do / Nemmers, Katie
- Minnesota Justice Foundation Fall Fundraiser / Samsa, Kathy
- The Law and the Order / Gibbons, Michael
- Know Your Legal Employment Options / Brandt, Patrick
- VITA Goes to San Francisco / Kremer, Andrew
Editorial Board

Gerlach, Charles S.; Botham, Debbie; Conroy, Tom; Gibbons, Michael; Ravnitzky, Mike; Connor, Crystal, Frundt, David; Anderson, Corey
The Opinion - Volume 42, No. 2, Spring 1997

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Virnig elected Eigth Circuit Governor / Clubb, Carrie
- Outside of the Twin Cities, There's This Little Place Called Minnesota / Glaeser, Paul
- The View From Left Field: My Racial Attitudes / Gerlach, Charles S.
- Law Schools Examine Bar Exam Pass Rates
- What I Learned In Law School: A Charge to the Class of 1997 / Brehm, Peter C.
- Report From Sabbatical / Janus, Eric S.
- A Look (South) West to West Publishing / Ravnitzky, Michael
- As the Bear Gently Sleeps / Meizenburg, David
- It's Time to Say Goodbye and Get Off the Ride We Call Law School / Metz, Mark
Editorial Board

Mayer, Jo; Gerlach, Charles S.; Bessler, Lisa; Metz, Mark; Anderson, Corey
The Opinion - Volume 42, No. 1, Spring 1997

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Minnesota May Soon Use a New Type of Bar Exam / Ravnitzky, Michael
- The Life of a Lawyer
- A Meeting with the Deans / Mayer, Jo
- Judging Witness Credibility / Ver Ploeg, Christine
- The View from Left Field: A Hometown Murder / Gerlach, Charles S.
Editorial Board

Mayer, Jo Gerlach; Charles S.; Bessler, Lisa; Metz, Mark; Anderson, Corey
The Opinion – Volume 41, No. 3, Fall 1996

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Jonnie Cochran conducts a Minnesota Meeting / Bessler, Lisa
- Interview Follow Up Techniques: Thank You Letters
- The Last Word: Addressing the Criticism / Metz, Mark
- A Visit to a Women's Prison in El Salvador: An Enriching Experience / Duckstad, Julie
- Hardly Trivial
- Student Mentor-Mentee Program undertakes Self-Evaluation / Gerlach, Charles S.
- Professional Esteem: Law V. Medicine / Ketroser, David B..
- A Primer in English Justice / Gibbons, Michael P.
Editors

Mayer, Jo; Gerlach, Charles S.; Bessler, Lisa; Metz, Mark; Alexander, Brian; Connor, Crystal; Jarvis, Will; Le, Dan
The Opinion – Volume 41, No. 2, Fall 1996

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- The Dean Speaks / Metz, Mark
- Career Services Red Alert
- To My Fellow Law Students / Duggins, Terry
- On a Scale of 1-5 / Nelson, Rene
- Ride of a Lifetime / Alfriend, Kim
- One Person, One Vote / Ravnitsky, Michael
- Vote Informed on Election Day / Gibbons, Michael P.
- National Lawyers Guild Continues Tradition of Activism at William Mitchell / Connor, David
- Attn. Dean Haynsworth: You Who Are Not / Brehm, Peter C.
Editors

Mayer, Jo; Gerlach, Charles S.; Bessler, Lisa; Metz, Mark; Alexander, Brian; Connor, Crystal; Jarvis, Will; Le, Dan
The Opinion – Volume 41, No. 1, September 1996

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- The Interview: Practical Advice From Some Who Have Learned the Hard Way
- Judge C. Haynsworth's Character Attacked Again / Moore, Yvonne B.
- Policy, Politics and Mickey / Virnig, Matthew F.
- Your Choice: Vento vs. Newinski / Mairs, Rob
- Re-Orientation
- Courts to Crime Victims: Bug Off! / Ravnitsky, Michael
- Ralph Nader Visits William Mitchell
Editors

Mayer, Jo; Gerlach, Charles S.; Bessler, Lisa; Metz, Mark; Alexander, Brian; Connor, Crystal; Jarvis, Will; Le, Dan
The Opinion – Volume 40, No. 4, Spring 1996

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- A Fond Farewell to W.M.C.L. / Barrios, James A.
- Why Do You Want to be a Lawyer?
- Phi Delta Phi Sponsors Quiz Bowl / Hertzler, Megan J.
- ABA/LSD Spring Conference / Virnig, Matthew F.
- It Really Works!
- Adios & Goodbye / Rizek, Helen
Editors

Ranallo, Traci M.; Hathaway, William D.; Mayer, Jo; Rechlitz, Jennifer; Alexander, Brian
The Opinion – Volume 40, No. 3, Spring 1996

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- The Case Against Grade Normalization / Damiano, David
- Batson Inquiry for the Striking of a Judge / Wicka, James
- Attention All WMCL Students: Incorrect Grades Have Been Posted and Recorded in Student Transcripts! / Anonymous
- The Practice of Law: Occupational Hazards / Wagner, Richard
- Memo: Mandatory Grading Curve / Pannier, Russ; Hamilton, Neil
- Truth or Consequences / Castledine, David L.
- Thoughts on our Two-Party System / King, Mark A.
- Appointment Committee's Work is Done / Gerlach, Charles S.
Editorial Board

Ranallo, Traci M.; Hathaway, William D.; Mayer, Jo; Rechlitz, Jennifer
The Opinion – Volume 39, No. 2, December 1995

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- The Beijing Experience / Mayer, Jo
- Student Bar Association News / Nelson, Rene
- America, Russia, and that New Republican Budget Deal / Peterson, Lee
- Minnesota Justice Foundation's Annual Fall Fundraiser
- Diversity and Legal Education: Silence? Or, open and free discussion? / Janus, Eric S.
- Oedipus and the Sphinx: Understanding Oppression, Accepting Diversity / Mills, Christopher
- One Nation, Under Siege: The Contract on America / Olberg, David
- Zealotry and Academic Freedom / Mayer, Jo
Editorial Board

Ranallo, Traci M.; Hathaway, William D.; Mayer, Jo; Lederfine, Darren J.; Rechlitz, Jennifer
The Opinion – Volume 39, No. 1, Fall 1995

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- William Mitchell Under Direction of New Dean / Rechlitz, Jennifer; Ranallo, Traci
- An Interview with Professor Janus / Lederfine, Darren J.
- William Mitchell to Add 'Family Values' Week / Hagen, Tom
- An Insider's Look at a Law / Hathaway, Bill
- Student Reactions to OJ Verdict
- The Dying Art of Sarcasm / Mena, Aldo Nicolas
Editors

Ranallo, Traci M.; Hathaway, William D.; Jo Mayer; Lederfine, Darren J.; Rechlitz, Jennifer
The Opinion – Volume 38, No. 5, May 1995

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents

WMCL Student Spends Semester in D.C. / Roberts, Carolyn

Reflection of Ten Years on the Federal Bench / Williams. Ann Claire

Some U.S. Citizens are Less Equal than Others / Udoibok, Ken

Affirmative Action Abolitionists Are Not... / Udoibok, Ken

Free Beer! / Atwal, Manny

Editor

Hoey, Colleen
The Opinion – Volume 38, No. 4, March 1995

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- All New Trial Advocacy Competition / Hoey, Colleen
- A Trip to Chicago / Hoey, Colleen
- Why Does WMCL have Counseling? / Wagner, Richard
- First Hand Evidence of What Americans Fought For in the Civil War / Evans, Henry Kenneth
- Open Letter to the William Mitchell Community / Erlinder, Peter
- A Rude Awakening / Ranallo, Traci M.
Editors

Hoey, Colleen; Bjellos, Mike; Chatto, Jimmy; Hagen, Tom; Nguyen, Thi; Raver, Rick
The Opinion – Volume 38, No. 3, December 1994

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Dean Search Committee Selects Finalists
- Summaries of the Candidates
- An End Run for State Funded Abortions / Tarsney, Jim
- MJF's Fall Season / First, Patty
- And I Thought Jim Crow Was Dead / Udoibok, Ken
Editors

Hoey, Colleen; Chatto, Jimmy; Hagen, Tom; Nguyen, Thi; Raver, Rick
The Opinion – Volume 38, No. 2, November 1994

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- WMCL Students Attend First Amendment Conference in the Big Apple / Hoey, Colleen A.
- Who is Ann Wynia / Hagen, Thomas K.
- Nat Hentoff for Dean / Cunningham, Candace C.
- Revisiting "Revisiting the Death Penalty" / Engel, Kenneth
- Sexism... Strikes Again! / Saffouri, Hassan
Editorial Board

Hoey, Colleen; Bjellos, Mike; Chatto, Jimmy; Hagen, Tom; Nguyen, Thi; Raver, Rick
The Opinion – Volume 38, No. 1, October 1994

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Welcome Back - Crime is Over / Hagen, Thomas K.
- Women's Law Caucus Welcomes New and Returning Students to WMCL / Piper-Maurer, Joanne; Suby, Stacy
- Revisiting the Death Penalty / Hasselbalch, Mimi
- Who Said All Blacks Can Dance? / Udoibok, Ken
Editors

Hoey, Colleen; Bjellos, Mike; Chatto, Jimmy; Hagen, Tom; Nguyen, Thi; Raver, Rick
The Opinion – Volume 37, No. 6, May 1994

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Congressman Grams and Ramstad visit WMCL / Petite, Peter; Hagen, Thomas
- The Opinion in History / Hoey, Colleen
- A Comedy of Errors... or Who Evaluated Whom / Haydock, Roger
- Reflections of a Second Year / Hasselbalch, Mimi
- The DeParcq Leadership Dinner: A Student's Perspective / Chatto, Jimmy
Editors

Hoey, Colleen; Bard, Paul; Bjellos, Mike; Chatto, Jimmy; Nguyen, Thi; Saldivar, Myla
The Opinion – Volume 37, No. 5, April 1994

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents

The New McCarthyism / Cunningham, Candace

De Minimis Not Curat Lex You Can Drop Out Now, The Rest is Gravy / Chatto, Jimmy

WMCL Republicans Wrap Up A Successful Year / Hagen, Thomas

The Culture War / Hoey, Colleen

Gun Control: Can We Talk? / Castledine, David

Editorial Board

Bard, Paul; Hoey, Colleen
The Opinion – Volume 37, No. 4, March 1994

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Student Evaluations Don't Need Fixing / Kelleher, Robin
- Accomodating the Current Needs of Lawyers / Lipsky, Jessica
- Yearning Needlessly For Death / Udoibok, Ken
- "PILF"in' It! / Scholder, Lee
Editorial Board

Bard, Paul; Hoey, Colleen, Bjellos, Mike; Nguyen, Thi; Prado, Julie; Raver, Rick; Saldivar, Myla
The Opinion – Volume 37, No. 3, December 1993

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- St. Thomas Merger!!! / Hoey, Colleen
- Evaluating Evaluations / Brooks, Jennifer
- A "Howling" Good Time / Thill, Debbie; Fast, Renee; Rinta, Keith
- A Comment on Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Center / Kelly, Maureen
- Death Penalty Defense Litigation / Anaba, Ozzy
Editorial Board

Bard, Paul; Hoey, Colleen
The Opinion – Volume 37, No. 2, November 1993

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- The Socratic Method is a Tool / Hoey, Colleen
- The Socratic Method is a Waste of Time / Nguyen, Thi
- Linking Behavior to Biology Will Change the Law / Nguyen, Thi
- National Coming Out Day / Lieske, Steve
- President of the ACLU to Help MJF Launch a Second Decade of Difference / Wood, Joan
- Regulating to Create a Responsible Media?? / Hoey, Colleen
Editors

Bard, Paul, Hoey, Colleen Bjellos, Mike; Nguyen, Thi; Prado, Julie; Raver, Rick; Saldivar, Myla
The Opinion – Volume 37, No. 1, September 1993

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Student Evaluations of Faculty: Is Anyone Up there Listening? / Bard, Paul
- Student Evaluations of Faculty: A Blessing or a Curse? / Oliphant, Robert
- Political Hooey / Hoey, Colleen
- A Proposal for more Effective Teaching at William Mitchell / Hamilton, Neil
- New MJF Program Says "Just Ask" About Pro Bono / Scholder, Lee
Editorial Board

Bard, Paul; Hoey, Colleen
The Opinion – Volume 36, No. 7, May 1993

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Phi Delta Phil Celebrates Charter Year / Lee, Patricia
- Moot Court Competitions / Evans, Henry K.
- The Michigan Suicide Statute: Constitutional Questions / Evans, Henry K.
- A Personal Interview with Professor Daniel S. Kleinberger / Saldivar, M.R.
- Indict the System? No, Indict the Press / Skelton, Margie
- A Difficult Clarion Call for Voluntary Admissions Cuts / Globus, Mark
- Local Artist Fries Burger / Bachman, John
- Debt is the Real Crisis / Hoey, Colleen A.
Editorial Board

Evans, Henry; Muellner, Donna; Sandberg, Tami; Skelton, Margie