Born and raised in Oregon, Monet Gonnerman has always felt a sense of dedication to her community and joined Rizk Law as a law clerk in 2020. By drafting civil demand letters and pleadings, Gonnerman assisted and built a wonderful connection with our Rizk Law family. Gonnerman graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School in the Spring of 2022, where she was a Lead Article Editor of the Lewis & Clark Law Review.
Monet Gonnerman co-wrote an article titled “To the States: Reflections on Jones v. Mississippi,” published in the Harvard Law Review. Ranked as one of the top three law reviews in the nation, the Harvard Law Review is a prestigious publication and is an extraordinary achievement. Our team at Rizk Law is incredibly proud and excited for Monet Gonnerman and her future law career.
The article argues that rather than the U.S. Supreme Court, state courts may provide higher levels of protection for juveniles facing life without parole. Director of MJC’s Supreme Court and Appellate Program and fellow author, David M. Shapiro, was asked by the Harvard Law Review to write an article after arguing Jones v. Mississippi in front of the Supreme Court on November 2, 2020.
Shapiro and Gonnerman discuss that when the Supreme Court addressed past juvenile life without parole and death penalty cases, they did not do enough to limit and prevent the harsh sentences and push for stronger protections for juveniles. The article talks about how the solution may end up with state courts and their ability to interpret state law. State Supreme Courts have the opportunity to provide more protections under state constitutions rather than the U.S. Constitution.
Our team at Rizk Law is so proud of Monet Gonnerman’s dedication and passion for relevant issues pertaining to communities across Oregon and the United States. We can’t wait to see more of the incredible work she will continue to complete following her graduation and clerking with the Oregon Supreme Court.
