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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William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 18, No. 4, April 1976

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Meshbesher for the Defense: Money's best buy / Elizabeth Binkard
- Sour Grapes? / Maury Airity
- Burger preserves Summit Avenue Zoning / Robyn Hansen
- Summit Avenue proclaims glory of the past / Ernest Sandeen
- Alumni President can not say, 'No'! / Candy Clepper
- Women's Conference airs views on law / Susan Strand
Editorial Board

Duane L.C.M. Galles Edward Lief; Todd Young; Roberta Keller; Louis Tilton
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 18, No. 3, March, 1976

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Paying the Price
- Campaign '76 Libertarian attorney seeks White House / Edward Lief
- Governor Anderson on Reserve Mining / Tad Jude
- Trustees have concerns about the College
- Architects present OLP Renovation Plans
- Founder and teacher was crusading advocate / Duane Galles
- Criminal Justice Reform Act: Cure or Ill? / Richard Haack
- Environmental Concerns: MPIRG seeks legislative action / Betsy Parker
- Frederick McGhee: Minnesota's First Black Attorney / Duane Galles
Editorial Board

Duane Galles Edward Lief; Todd Young; Roberta Keller; Louis Tilton
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 18, No. 2, November, 1975

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- OLP - Don't it make you want to go home?
- Pine Ridge: '75 / Brian J. Peterson
- Thompson still battles for release / Rich Gillman
- Attorneys', clients' clothes carry message to judge, jury / Kathy Davis; Dianne Wright
- McKinley case limits routine traffic stops, license checks / Mark Pfister
- Reports attack Hennepin County attorney / Frank Gerval
- Black Capitalism: What are the alternatives? / Andrew W. Haines
- Law School: Two Approaches / Steve Corson
- Where have all the barristers gone? / Duane Galles
Editorial Board

Mindy Elledge Frank Gerval, Edward Lief, Dan O'Leary, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 18, No. 1, September 1975

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- The Rise and Fall Bob Malone Mitchell, Sisters 'pawns' - but whose game? / Maury Landsman; Frank Gerval
- Supreme Court Strikes Lawyers' Fee Schedules / Bruce Douglas
- Legal Research: Taking the pain away / Linda Jungers Gerval
- Survey Shows how to get money with what strings attached / Edward Lief
- Let's kill all the lawyers! / Stephen Parrish
- Thompson: No excuse for not studying / Dianne Wright
- Hennepin County eases into new rules / Eric J. Magnuson
Editorial Board

Mindy Elledge, Frank Gerval, Edward Lief, Dan O'Leary, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 17, No. 6, April, 1975

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Counsel's 'Contemptuous' Conduct Condoned / Mark W. Peterson
- ABA Convention to be in Montreal
- Fault May Still Play Role Under State's New Divorce Law, says Jaycox / Ronald Mund
- Privacy V. Right to Know: Local Media Vary on Noting Rape Victim's Name / Frank Gerval
- Reviewer not Suprised: Law Review Top Drawer / Norton L. Armour
- Mitchell Researchers, Lobbyists, Politicians Make Their Mark on Legislative Process / Bruce Hanley, Steve Corsen
- A Look at European Legal Systems: Lesson: Don't Leave Undies in Austria / Duane Galles
- Police Awe Students With Insiders' Views / Mark Pfister
- Impact of State, Federal Information Acts Unclear / Bruce Douglas
Editorial Board

Jeanne L. Schleh, Mindy Elledge, Edward Lief, Frank Gerval, Roberta Keller, Stephen Halsey
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 17, No. 5, March, 1975

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Aimed at Minnesota Law: Mitchell's Law Review Debuts / Bruce Hanley
- Professor Discusses 'Dodo' Students / Roger Haydock
- Blind Attorney Says Doubters Were his Greatest Handicap / Ralph Carter
- Coping with Marriage and Law School: Experts Tell Their Successes, Failures / Jeanne Schleh, Kathy Gearin, Frank Gerval
- Early Look at '75 Session: Many Criminal Justice Bills in Hopper / Scott Holdahl
- First Local Black Attorney was Scholar, Activist / Duane Galles
- Judge Kalina Limits Local Gallo Boycott / David Cohoes
Editorial Board

Jeanne L. Schleh, Mindy Elledge, Edward Lief, Frank Gerval, Roberta Keller, Stephen Halsey
William Mitchell Opinion - Vol. 17, No. 4, February, 1975

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Mitchell Students Argue For Defense: Court Dismisses Civic Center Search Cases / Jeanne Schleh
- For Whom Does the Bookstore Operate / Frank Gerval
- Mitchell Was Cut Out for Appellate Judgeship / Duane Galles
- Winter Graduation: A Mitchell First / Jim Lundin
- Minnesota High Court Applies Conflicts Rule to Direct Action Case / William Danforth
- No State Action in Utilities Case, Court Finds / Bruce Douglas
- Registration: Hail, Heidenreich, Full of... / Jim Yates
- For Nostalgia Buffs Only... Pearl Harbor Day: Getting Bombed
- Lt. Governor's Compromise to Fight Tooth Decay: Dentist Works to Exempt Brainerd from State Fluoride Law / Edward Lief
- Popular Participation is Key to Cuban Legal System / David Cohoes
Editorial Board

Jeanne L. Schleh, Mindy Elledge, Edward Lief, Frank Gerval, Roberta Keller, Stephen Halsey
William Mitchell Opinion, Volume 17, No. 3, December 1974

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Our Lady of Peace Prime Contender: Search for New Building Continues / Allan Shapiro
- Faculty Profile: 40 Years in the Law, 15 Years at Mitchell, Green has Worked for Change in Both / Jim Lundin
- Sanborn - the Man Behind the Portrait / Duane Galles
- Rules Analysis Sparks Ethics Comment / Mark W. Paterson
- Referendum This Week: Law Student Input Benefits MPIRG, Students / Bill Jacobson
Editorial Board

Jeanne L. Schleh, Mindy Elledge, Edward Lief, Frank Gerval, Roberta Keller, Stephen Halsey
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 17, No. 2, October 1974

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Dean Selection gets Underway: Trustees Hear Shaver Report / Allan Shapiro
- Minn. Proposed Rules of Criminal Procedure: Will the Defense Ever be Able to Rest? / Mark W. Peterson
- Bar Exam Serves Valid Purpose, Says Bar Chief / Patrick Martyn
- Admittee: Bar Exam Archaic / Don Horton
- Full Time Parole Board Feels its Way: An Insider's View of Parole in Minnesota / Edward Lief
- Student Researches Retrocession for Leech Lake Indians / Roger Clarke
- Luck, Hard Work may Bring Midwestern Accreditation / Jim Lundin
- The Wounded Knee Trial: How it Ended... / Linda Gallant
- Real Clients Make the Difference; Clinic Offers Students Civil, Criminal Practice / Patrick Martyn
- Law Student Relates Jury Experience / Frank Gerval
Editorial Board

Jeanne L. Schleh, Mindy Elledge, Edward Lief, Frank Gerval, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion, Volume 17, No. 1, August 1974

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Opinion Named First in Nation
- U.S. Summer Term Decides Executive Privilege, Racial Desegregation Plan Issues / Mark W. Peterson
- Think Positively,' Judge Tells Grads / Roberta Keller
- State Offers Low-Interest Student Loans / Edward Lief
- Registration=Frustration / Frank Gerval
- Impeachable Offense' Loosely Defined: Minnesota Has Own Impeachment History / Duane Galles
- Women Brace 'Man's World' Together / Frank Gerval
- To Neff, 'School of Divine is not Mitchell' / Frank Gerval
Editorial Board

Jeanne L. Schleh, Mindy Elledge, Edward Lief, Frank Gerval, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 16, No. 7, May 1974

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- SBA Board Elects 1974-'75 Officers / Don Horton
- Opinion Editor, LSD Rep to be Elected this Week
- Minnesota Bar Among Leaders in Requiring Continuing Legal Education
- Children and the Law: Local Program Getting National Visibility / Frank Gerval
- Mitchell Students Attend LSD Conference in Des Moines
- College's Founders Were Legal Reformers of Their Day / Duane Galles
- Kyle Montague- A Legend and an Educator / Frank Gerval
- The Methodology of Logic in the Law of Statutory Liens: Possession Worthier Than Ninety Percent / Alan D. Harris
- Mitchell Student Enters Political Race in 65A / Frank Gerval
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Jeanne Schleh, Greg Gaut, Edward Lief, Mindy Elledge, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 16, No. 6, April 1974

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Faculty Approves Sweeping Curriculum Changes: Law Review Seniors Taken Off Hook / Greg Gaut
- Five Become One: Mitchell to Mark Diamond Anniversary / Duane Galles
- Pictures Say it All: Dean Plays Meter Maid / Frank Gerval
- Robinson and Gustafson: Drive at Your Own Risk / Jim Swanseen
- ABA President Wants Ethics Taught
- Mitchell's First Law Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream? / Duane Galles
- LSD Releases Results of National Law School Survey
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Jeanne Schleh, Greg Gaut, Edward Lief, Mindy Elledge, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 16, No. 5, March 1974

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Faculty Adopts Sweeping Curiculum Revision / Jim Lundin
- Forty Seven Mitchell Students Donate Blood to Red Cross / Frank Gerval
- Recommends for Student Approval: SBA Board Unanimously Approves Amended Constitution / Dale Wolf
- SBA Board Feels Amended Constitution Solves Problems / Larry Meuwissen
- New By-Laws Enacted By SBA Board of Governors
- Soviet Constitution and Criminal Persecution of Soviet Jewish 'Activists' / Edward Lief
- At $85 an Hour: Computer Research Less Costly Than Attorney's Time Business Week
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman, Jeanne Schleh, Greg Gaut, Edward Lief, Mindy Elledge, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 16, No. 4, February, 1974

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- From Wounded Knee Trial to 'Extra Hour': Kunstler: Law Used More Now to Control Politically / Stephen R. Bergerson
- Should Utility Companies be Held to Due Process Standards? / Bruce J. Douglas
- Women's Law Caucus Organizes at Mitchell
- The William Mitchell Sputnik, 1974: Students, Faculty Depart, Dean Traded, Buses Still Running Ah Hoc S.O.S. Committee
- New Search, Seizure Decision Reviewed / Paul C. Jones, Phyllis Gene Jones, Willard B. Morris
- Seeks to "Deprofessionalize the Law": Social Scientist Defends Jury Selection Role / Edward Lief
- Court: 'Inadmissible Evidence Now Admissible' / Jim Lundin
- Also May Cut Enrollment or Expand Facilities: Trustees Considering Merger With St. Thomas / Allan Shapiro
- 1919: The Demise of the Diploma Privilege / Duane Galles
- Mitchell Student Working With Wounded Knee Defense / Jeanne Schleh
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman, Jeanne Schleh, Greg Gaut, Edward Lief, Mindy Elledge, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 16, No. 3, December 1973

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Dean Sees Three Possibilities: SBA Inquires About School Expansion / Jim Lundin
- William Mitchell Hosts Roundtable: National Director Emphasizes Students' Role in Education
- SBA Demands Nixon Resign
- Clinical Program - Alive, Well & Growing: Amended Senior Practice Rule Would Increase Participation / Jeanne Schleh
- How Time Flies When You're Having Fun...' / Stephen Doyle
- Use of Stand-Ins Brings New LSAT Security
- MCLU's Weatherbee: "Presidential Powers - Real and Imagined" / Ed Lief
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman, Jeanne Schleh, Greg Gaut, Edward Lief, Mindy Elledge, Robera Keller
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 16, No. 2, October 1973

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- ABA's Fellers Visits Mitchell / Roberta Keller
- Mitchell Students Give Over $300 to March of Dimes
- Four One-Act Plays Remain Popular at School / Rick Glanz
- Moot Court Frenzy is Underway / Jeanne Schleh
- Request for Resignation of C. Paul Jones / Stephen Doyle
- No Exhilaration After Bar Exam: An Examinee's Account / Fred Finch
- Hypnosis - A Defense? / Ann B. Hooten
- The Road Ahead / Mike Fahey
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman, Jeanne Schleh, Greg Gaut, Mindy Elledge, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 16, No. 1, September 1973

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- First Edition of Law Review to be Published in Early 1974
- Legal Education: How it Determines Legal Ethics / Ed Lief
- Frosh Set Undergrad Scholastic Records / Jeanne Schleh
- Last 'Family Man' Class Graduated From Mitchell / Roberta Keller
- Law Student Division has National Convention in D.C.
- Student Loan Situation is Tightening Up / Ed Lief
- The Diploma Privilege: A Status Report / Don Horton
- Clinical Program Expanded / Jeanne Schleh
- Dean Heidenreich Announces Faculty Changes / Marilyn Neuschwander
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman, Jeanne Schleh, Greg Gaut, Mindy Elledge, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 15, No. 5, April 1973

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- SBA Board Elects New Officers
- Dean Says 12% Tuition Hike is 'Reasonable, Justified'
- Mitchell to Offer First Summer Session For This Summer
- How Time Flies When You're Having Fun / Stephen Doyle
- MPIRG Tackles Health Care Field / Brian Peterson
- Press Power Prevails / Steve Mihalchick
- ABA President Elect: 'Coordination Need to Stop Breakdown'
- At Kansas City: Mitchell Students Attend Eight Circuit Convention
- Proposed 'Mini Supreme Court' Attacked and Defended
- It Pays to Advertise / Wayne Swanson
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman, Mindy Elledge, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 15, No. 4, February 1973

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Clinical Legal Program off to 'Tumultuous' Start / Gretchen Quattlebaum
- Four More Years: The Nixon Court / Stephen R. Bergerson
- The Extra Hour: Supreme Court Officials Talk / John Gries
- Prior Restraint of Property and Due Process of Law Revisited / Alan Harris
- The Diploma Privilege Special Supplement
- Fair Trial v Free Press / Randy G. Millard
- Scientists Call for More Investigation of 'Voiceprint' Identification Process / Stephen Doyle
- New Law School Project Trust Battles for Status / Jeanne Schleh
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman, Mindy Elledge, Roberta Keller
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 15, No. 3, January 1973

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- The Prosecution Goes Forward, but: The Defense Never Rests / Stephen R. Bergerson
- Students Sorriest Sayings or What not to Write in a Law Exam / Roger S. Haydock
- Nationwide: Freshman Enrollment Drops
- What Rights do Prisoners' Have? Stephen R. Bergerson
- John Doe's Thoughts on the Justice System / Jean Schleh
- The Wentangone Papers / Larry Meuwissen
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 15, No. 2, November 1972

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Who Rules the Law School? / Greg Gaut
- Shop Early' Attorney Tells of Real World
- Students Pursue Interest in CLE / Gretchen Quattlebaum
- Four Fascinating Women / Jean Schleeh
- The Not so Free Press / Stephen S. Bergerson
- Minnesota's Environmental Rights Act - What is it? / Rick Glanz
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman, Mindy Elledge
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 15, No. 1, September 1972

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Sears Challenges 1972 Graduates / Bobby Keller
- First Survey Results: Part-Time Workers get Better Grades / Jean Schleh
- Leech Lake Settlement Reached / Barb Bleifus
- Young Lawyers Join Staff: Mitchell Welcomes New Faculty / Davideen Manosky
- Lawyer's Guild Rejuvenates / Greg Gaut
Editorial Board

Stephen R. Bergerson, Kay Silverman
William Mitchell Opinion - Volume 14, No. 3, May 1972

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- The Changing Face of William Mitchell
- Stillwater Warden: Prison Reform- No Easy Solutions / Stephen Bergerson
- Richard H. Rowan: St. Paul Police Chief Interviewed / Norman M. Brody
- Judge Sedgwick Enjoys Her New Vocation / Cheri Brix
- Female Civil Right Lawyer Speaks at St. Catherines / Margaret Leary
Editorial Board

John Decker, Stephen Bergerson, Kay Silverman
William Mitchell Opinion – Volume 14, No. 2, November 1971

William Mitchell College of Law

Selected Table of Contents
- Is it worthwhile?: Controversy Still Rages Over Bar Examinations / Kay Silverman
- Mitchell Seniors Gain Legal Aid Experience / Cheri Brix
- New and Used Bookstores Show Disparity in Profits
- S.D. Indian Victim of Frontier Justice / Stephen Bergerson
- Commisioner of Corrections: "Attica Will Have Little Effect on Prison Reform" / Stephen Bergerson
- Rights and Remedies of Prison Inmates / Margaret A. Leary
Editorial Board

John Decker, Joel Watne