Wyoming Dean Resigns, Says University Is Making Decisions Without Consulting Law School Administration or Faculty

Stephen Easton, Dean of the University of Wyoming College of Law since 2009, resigned yesterday, effective November 15. From a remarkable email sent to students, faculty, staff, and alumni:

As a result of changes at the University of Wyoming, I can no longer be effective in representing the interests of the College of Law as your dean. As a result, I have submitted my resignation as dean. I will continue to serve as a faculty member, and I look forward to working with you to make the University of Wyoming College of Law an even better law school. ...

It is crucial for the College of Law to continue to offer a comprehensive legal education, not an education that is overly focused in one particular area of the law [Energy Law]. This helps us attract students who have a wide variety of interests, which we must do to thrive in a very competitive environment for law students. It also helps us prepare these students for practice in a wide variety of legal specialties. We cannot allow an emphasis on one area of the law to detract from our duty to prepare great attorneys for the citizens of Wyoming. As such, it is incumbent for the College of Law to provide a comprehensive legal education.

It is also crucial for the College of Law to comply with the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools, including Standard 205(b), which provides that the “dean and the faculty shall formulate and administer the educational program of the law school, including curriculum [and] methods of instruction.” In executing this important responsibility, we have always welcomed the suggestions of others who have the law school’s best interests at heart. This is reflected by our active Advisory and Alumni Board, by holding regular Town Hall Meetings with students, by my frequent attendance at Board of Trustee meetings and conversations with individual Trustees, by a meeting we held with general counsel from several energy corporations, who provided advice about how best to prepare students for energy practice, and by the open door policy of our administration, which is always receptive to suggestions for improvement of the College of Law. However, the faculty and the dean must govern the College of Law, if it is to continue to enjoy the accreditation that allows the College of Law to maintain its reputation, allows its graduates to take the bar exam in Wyoming and in every other state, and allows its alumni to take advantage of opportunities available only to graduates of ABA-accredited law schools.

Recent events cause me concern in this regard. Important decisions affecting the College of Law have been made without meaningful consultation with me or others on the faculty. If the concerns that have led to this lack of consultation are with me, my resignation will remove this impediment and clear the way for the effective faculty governance of the College of Law that the accreditation standards require. I cannot continue to serve as your dean while critical decisions are made about the College of Law without the input of the administration and faculty of the College.

Update:

• University of Wyoming Press Release, UW College of Law Dean Resigns
• ABA Journal, Wyoming Law Dean Resigns, Cites Lack of ‘Meaningful Consultation’ on Recent Decisions
• Above the Law, Poor Funding and Maybe Politics Force Popular Dean to Resign
• Associated Press, University of Wyoming Law School Dean Steps Down, Cites Lack of Consultation on Decisions
• Billings Gazette, UW Law School Dean Quits
• Casper Star Tribune, Dean of Wyoming's College of Law Steps Down
• Laramie Boomerang, College of Law Dean Resigns