The Center for Law and Renewal

Michael Gergely, Esq. has 25 years of experience in trial litigation and in the general practice of law. He received his bachelor of philosophy in 1960, his master’s in international politics and economics in 1962, and his doctorate in jurisprudence in 1965, all from the University of Detroit.

In 1966, Mike became assistant prosecuting attorney for Kalamazoo County, working on trial litigation and handling appeals to the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. In 1969, he formed what has become Gergely Law Offices and is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and the Kalamazoo County Bar Association.

Mike is a successor co-trustee for the John E. Fetzer revocable trust fund, the John E. Fetzer memorial trust fund, and the Inner Light Ministries trust fund. He was John Fetzer’s personal attorney and attorney for the estate of John E. Fetzer.

Justice Geske currently serves as a Distinguished Professor of Law at Marquette University Law School and as an associate-adjunct professor in the Marquette University graduate dispute resolution program in Milwaukee. She served as interim Milwaukee County Executive from February 28th, until May 6th, 2002. She previously served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1993-1998. From 1981-1993, she was a Milwaukee County circuit court judge. Prior to becoming a judge, she served as chief staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee and then as clinical director and assistant professor of law at Marquette University. She is the founder of the Marquette University Law School Clinic for the Elderly.

Marquette University has awarded her honorary doctor of law degree and Mt. Mary College awarded her an honorary doctorate of humanities. Justice Geske frequently teaches at judicial, legal and community conferences on mediation, sentencing, evidence, the courts, and spirituality and work. She also leads retreats and workshops and spirituality in everyday life. She was the dean of the Wisconsin Judicial College for five years and is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin, Fellows of the American Bar, American Law Institute, ACR and the Wisconsin Association of Mediators.

Justice Geske was recognized by Marquette University as the 1993 Law School Alumnae of the Year and as the 1994 Alumnae of the Year. In 1998, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association selected her as the Newsmaker of the Year and the Milwaukee Press Club honored her by choosing her as the Milwaukee Headliner of the Year. In both 1994 and 2002, the Milwaukee Bar honored Justice Geske with its “Lawyer of the Year" award.

Richard L. Halpert, Esquire
Board of Trustees

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Richard L. Halpert, Esq. was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1973. He has also been admitted to the U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan and to the U.S. Supreme Court. Richard received a B.A. degree from Kalamazoo College in 1969 and a J.D. with honors from Indiana University in 1972. He is a partner in the law firm of HALPERT, WESTON, WUORI & SAWUSCH, P.C. in Kalamazoo. Additionally, he volunteers as a Special Assistant Prosecutor for the Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

Richard is a personal injury lawyer who, for over two decades, has dedicated his practice to working with burn survivors and the families of injured persons. In addition to co-authoring over 40 manuals for lawyers on how to handle accident cases, he has lectured nationally for various organizations. He has received record-setting multi-million dollar verdicts in several rural counties.

Richard Halpert and his partners stay actively involved with their clients long after the case is settled. They believe that a lawyer’s job is not only to handle the legal matters involving personal injury but to become deeply involved with the client as a person, helping him or her overcome the emotional, psychological, physical, vocational and educational challenges of the injury. Richard has successfully participated in several apology meetings between victims and the at-fault individuals.

Roland Johnson, Esquire
Board of Trustees

Roland Johnson is the managing shareholder of Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C., the law firm where he has worked since 1982 and has 17 years experience as managing shareholder. He is board certified in civil litigation, and has over 27 years experience in civil litigation. His practice includes extensive litigation in commercial litigation, legal malpractice defense, and arbitration related issues. Roland graduated from Baylor University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1976; J.D., cum laude, 1979), and is an Adjunct Professor at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award in 2005).

Roland holds professional licenses with the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; and U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas; State Bar of Texas Board of Directors (2003-2006); Texas Legal Protection Plan Board of Directors (2006-2007); The American Law Institute; American Board of Trial Advocates; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow); Tarrant County Bar Association (President, 2001-02) Professionalism Award, (2004); Tarrant County Bar Foundation (Board of Directors, Charter Fellow, Sustaining Life Fellow); Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism (Member); and Texas Association of Mediators (Member); Texas Monthly Super Lawyers (2003, 2004, and 2005); Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court (Master).

Angela E. Oh, Esquire
Board of Trustees

Angela E. Oh is an attorney based in Los Angeles who has spent the last eight years traveling nationally and lecturing on the subject of leadership and race relations. Emerging as a voice of reconciliation in Los Angeles in 1992, and having served on the seven-member Advisory Board to President Clinton’ Initiative on Race, she brings a combination of organizational, community, and political insight to the opportunities and challenges of diversity and change. Angela designs presentations for businesses and organizations seeking to prevent claims of discrimination and harassment, and provides services as a consent decree monitor in matters involving the EEOC as an external investigator for claims of discrimination or harassment in employment, and as a private consultant to leaders faced with discrimination or harassment cases in their organizations.

Angela was Chair of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’ Federal Judicial Nominations Committee for two years, she was a Lawyer Delegate to the 9th Circuit Judicial Conference, and served as a member of the Federal Magistrate Judge Selection Panel in the Central District of California, for three years.

She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Korean American Bar Association of Southern California, the Board of Directors for Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, Vice-chair of the Board of Women’s Policy, Inc. based in Washington, D.C., and the Board of Directors of the Western Justice Center Foundation.

Angela’s past university appointments include Regent’s Professor at UCLA’s Asian American Studies Department, Lawyer in Residence at UCLA’s School of Law, and Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellow at UC Irvine’s School of Social Sciences. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she earned her BA in Psychology and Masters in Public Health. Her Juris Doctorate is from King Hall - UC Davis School of Law.

Judge William G. Schma received his B.A. from Notre Dame University and his J.D. from the Detroit College of Law. He has been a Kalamazoo Circuit Court Judge since 1987, a presiding judge in the Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Diversion Program, a founding member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, and the past president of the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Bill has lectured, published articles and law reviews, and made numerous presentations on criminal justice, therapeutic jurisprudence, and problem solving courts. He is the author of “Drug Treatment Courts,” Principles of Addiction Medicine, published by the American Society of Addiction Medicine in 2003; and co-author of a chapter, “Legal Interventions” in Addiction Interventions: Strategies to Motivate Treatment-Seeking Behavior, Haworth Press.

Bill has presented for the Department of Justice, Michigan Judicial Institute, National Association of Women Judges, American Judges Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on substance abuse and criminal justice issues. In 2005 he received The Champion of Justice Award from the State Bar of Michigan. He maintains a particular interest in understanding and promoting the law as a healing profession and practicing law, judging and criminal justice with an ethic of care.

Bob Seng is an Assistant General Counsel with Target. is primary responsibilities are compensation and benefits law and Target Law Department knowledge management. Prior to joining Target, Bob was a partner with Dorsey & Whitney in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he practiced law for 12 years, primarily in the employee benefits field. Bob has a BA in English from St. John's University and a JD from of the University of Minnesota where he was a member of the Minnesota Law Review.

Bob is a past Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association Section on Employee Benefits. He was named a Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics in 2006 and from 2003 to 2004 he was a Policy Fellow with the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Bob has taught Employee Benefits as an adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Bob is married and has two children whose lives include dyslexia,circus performances and lots of guitar playing. In addition to time with family and friends, he enjoys camping, yoga, figuring out mid-life, and reading.