After practicing in a boutique IP litigation firm, David joined the in-house legal team of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) in Delaware in 1993 and moved to Flagstaff, AZ, with Gore in 1996. David has practiced almost every aspect of IP law, including patent, trade secret, and copyright law, and has led Gore's global trademark team, protecting and enforcing the famous GORE-TEX® Trademark and Gore's other well-known brands. David has been active with the business incubator, Moonshot at NACET, where he has served on the board and as a mentor. David is also in private practice part-time at Aspey, Watkins & Diesel, PLLC (AWD). David will join AWD fulltime in October 2023. He has been a member of the Arizona Bar since 2015.

Why are you interested in running for election to the Board of Governors? What do you believe are the significant issues facing the members today? If elected, how would you hope to address these issues?

Based on almost forty-years as both in-house and outside counsel, I hope to leverage my experience on behalf of the larger State Bar. I am focused particularly on the continuing digital transformation impacting lawyers in all practice settings. The transformation has been greatly accelerated by restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, with new tools allowing our clients and ourselves to seamlessly work across both in-person and virtual work environments. We face evolving challenges in the digital era, including how we safely communicate with clients and others, how we deliver legal services, how we manage staff and legal practices, how we keep records, and how we bill and manage clients. The Arizona Bar has often led the nation in innovative approaches to legal practice, most recently in amending its ethical rules to address new fee sharing possibilities. I would focus on how the practice of law in Arizona needs to evolve with our rapidly changing environment so that the State Bar is anticipating the needs of its members, providing resources, and ensuring the relevance and value of Bar membership.

Candidate's Statement

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I attended Gonzaga Law School and graduated in 1996. I am barred in Washington, Arizona and Idaho. I served as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate from 1997 until retirement. As a Judge Advocate, I served as a legal assistance attorney, a Federal Torts Claims Act attorney, prosecutor, Brigade Judge Advocate, ethics advisor, liaison to foreign courts, Senior Defense Counsel, and Chief of Military Justice. I left active duty in 2003 and joined a law firm where I ultimately became the managing partner. I opened The Russell's Law Firm, PLC in 2012. I focus our practice on personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and criminal and military defense.

Why are you interested in running for election to the Board of Governors? What do you believe are the significant issues facing the members today? If elected, how would you hope to address these issues?

I was recently reminded that without injustice there would be no justice. Injustice is ever present in our world. Justice, or the strive for justice, requires our profession's constant effort and vigilance.  For my part, that means, among other things, a dedicated effort to serve and work as an elected representative for my community on the Board of Governors addressing the issues of our time.

My experience and awareness of these difficult issues, brought on by years of service as a trial lawyer, and a retired U.S. Army Judge Advocate, allows me to be a voice for our citizen's need to get equal access to justice.

In the work that we do, we all typically see people who are most vulnerable and in need of passionate, competent and understanding attorneys. To that end, we, as their advocates, must be attentive and dedicated to ensuring that the rules are set to allow people the access to the justice system that they are entitled, and to protect their rights. 

When re-elected, in addition to being our voice at the state level, I will seek my continued appointment on important groups, like the Rules Committee, so that I can be an advocate for our attorneys, as well as for our citizens.

Candidate's Statement

The message below is from a candidate for the State Bar Board of Governors. While the message is posted on the State Bar’s website, the Bar is not responsible for its content.

Dear Cochise County Attorneys:

It’s election time again for your local representative on the State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors. I would be honored by your vote so I can continue the work we’re doing at the State Bar level.

The election goes live on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 and closes Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Please take a moment and cast your vote by visiting the link in the email you received. I look forward to continued service.

Sincerely,

D. Christopher Russell

I have been admitted to practice in Arizona since 1977. I established the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy while serving as Chair of the Trial Practice Section and I have served on the Appellate Court Commission, as an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona College of Law and currently serve as a Judge Pro Tern in Pima County Superior Court. I am a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy of Trial Lawyers and International Society of Barristers.

Why are you interested in running for election to the Board of Governors? What do you believe are the significant issues facing the members today? If elected, how would you hope to address these issues?

My focus working on the State Bar Board of Governors right now is to improve the collaboration and cooperation between the State Bar and other local bar organizations including our county bar associations and affinity bars. I have instituted the Inter-Bar Collaboration Initiative towards this end and I am conducting interviews with local bar leaders around the state so as to develop an action plan that will facilitate better interaction and collaboration in the programs and services we are all delivering to the public, lawyers and judges.

Candidate's Statement

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My name is Heather Baker-Mushkatel. I am a native of Arizona and have been practicing law in the state since 2006. I previously worked at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office for six years and I am currently an associate attorney with Mushkatel, Robbins and Becker where I manage the family and criminal practices. I have volunteered with the Arizona State Bar throughout my legal career, I have participated on various Bar committees and boards. I was selected to be a faculty member to instruct at the Arizona College for Trial Advocacy, and I am a graduate of the Bar Leadership Institute. I would be honored to continue my public service with the Bar and serve the legal community at large with the Board of Governors.

Why are you interested in running for election to the Board of Governors? What do you believe are the significant issues facing the members today? If elected, how would you hope to address these issues?

Throughout my legal career, I have continuously involved myself with the Arizona State Bar (“Bar”). I have served on committees and as an executive board member for the Young Lawyer’s Division and the West Maricopa County Bar Association. Recently, the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy selected me as a faculty member, and I am also a graduate of the Bar Leadership Institute.

My diverse involvement with the Bar permitted me to assist various subsectors of the legal community. The Board of Governors is appealing because members serve in a multifaceted capacity and globally benefit the entire legal community. I have the experience, desire, and drive needed for this position, and would be honored to serve on the Board of Governors.

Mental health continues to be a prominent issue for the Bar, and the pandemic increased the need for additional services. If elected, I would strive to expand the Bar’s “Member Services” by implementing methods and programs that could provide outreach to those who are incapable or unwilling to independently seek aid. Presently, the Bar requires its members to actively pursue assistance. I believe providing services to less initiative-taking members would also be incredibly beneficial.

Candidate's Statement

The message below is from a candidate for the State Bar Board of Governors. While the message is posted on the State Bar’s website, the Bar is not responsible for its content.

My name is Heather Baker-Mushkatel. I am a native of Arizona and have been practicing law in the state since 2006. I previously worked at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office for six (6) years where I litigated major felony cases. I am currently an associate attorney with Mushkatel, Robbins and Becker where I manage both the family and criminal practices.

I am deeply committed to the Arizona legal community and always looking for different ways to serve. Throughout my legal career, I have remained committed to various boards and committees associated with the State Bar of Arizona. Some examples included having served on the Criminal Practice and Procedure and Mentor Committees and the on the Executive Council for the Bar’s Young Lawyers Division. Presently, I am the President for the West Maricopa County Bar Association. Last year, I was selected to be a faculty member to instruct at the Arizona College for Trial Advocacy, and I am a graduate of the Bar Leadership Institute.

Public service and positive change can best be effectuated through a collective effort. I find inspiration contributing as one part of a diverse group of people focused on collaborating together towards a common goal. Fortunately, I have had many opportunities to work with exceptional, talented attorneys. In each instance, we were able to utilize our respective skill sets to achieve a shared purpose. Serving on the Board of Governors would provide another opportunity to work in this capacity. I would be honored to continue my public service with the Bar and serve the legal community on the Board.

Jennifer M. Elias is an attorney at Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh Jardine, P.C. She focuses her law practice on personal injury and medical malpractice cases. She was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona on November 7, 2008.

Prior to joining Burg Simpson, she worked for Farmers Insurance Company, where she completed 14 jury trials, many arbitrations, depositions and mediations. She started her legal career working for Community Legal Services in Mohave County, where she represented clients in family law and domestic violence cases, as well as performing, community outreach, and developing self-service documents for pro per parties.

Jennifer grew up in South Dakota and attended The University of Arizona. She returned to South Dakota for law school, but winters convinced her to return to Arizona.

Why are you interested in running for election to the Board of Governors? What do you believe are the significant issues facing the members today? If elected, how would you hope to address these issues?

Access to Justice is fundamental to our legal system. Having started my career at Community Legal Service, I believe that the law is an effective vehicle for social change and lawyers are at the wheel. I firmly believe that the BoG must continue to create greater access to justice, by amplifying groups like Community Legal Service and increasing pro bono opportunities. We also need to keep working toward meaningful diversity and inclusion, particularly within the civil practice, such as diversifying mediator and arbitrator lists, and developing meaningful mentorship opportunities. Finally, the reduced number of civil jury trials continues to be a significant impediment to developing the next generation of lawyers; the creation of additional opportunities for younger lawyers to gain this experience is vital and requires an emphasis on trial schools, litigation-focused CLE, and opportunities to try cases in front of a jury.

I have practiced in Mohave, Pima, and Maricopa, representing clients in family law and on both side of civil personal injury/insurance defense and appreciate how these issues affect Arizona and different practices. I would be grateful to be elected and would work hard at promoting civil jury trials, access to justice, as well as diversity and inclusion.

Candidate's Statement

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Desiree Kerfoot graduated from Arizona Summit Law School in December 2016 and has been an attorney in Arizona since May 2017. Desiree began her career prosecuting violent crimes in the Gang Bureau at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. She transitioned to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office in 2020 and now focuses her practice on prosecuting major drug trafficking in Arizona.

Desiree previously served on the Young Lawyers’ Division Executive Board. She is currently a member of the Criminal Justice Executive Council. Desiree is a member of the Arizona State Bar Leadership Institute Class of 2022-2023.

Why are you interested in running for election to the Board of Governors? What do you believe are the significant issues facing the members today? If elected, how would you hope to address these issues?

I would like to be a part of the Board of Governors because I believe attorney engagement is a key principle in the legal profession and necessary in our leadership. I am extremely organized, detail oriented, and passionate to serve the legal community. I aspire to mentor and teach fellow attorneys. I believe the most significant issue facing members today is a lack of knowledge of all that the State Bar has to offer. Because of the pandemic, many of us were very disconnected in the last couple of years. We need strong leadership to continue to develop and highlight State Bar opportunities and support. I believe that strong leadership is patient, compassionate, and empathetic. I am committed to representing attorneys in Maricopa County and continuing to strengthen and support the State Bar.

Candidate's Statement

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Kelsi is an empathetic experienced attorney. A significant portion of Kelsi’s practice focuses on probate/trust administration and litigation as well as estate planning at Davis Miles McGuire Gardner, PLLC ("Davis Miles"). As a member of the Board of Governor's for the AZ State Bar, Kelsi serves as the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and previously served as the Vice-Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. Kelsi also volunteers her time serving on the Bar Foundation Board as the Public Relations Committee chair. Outside of the law, Kelsi also volunteers as an active member in the Junior League of Phoenix. In her downtime, Kelsi enjoys spending time with her husband and son and crafting. Kelsi is a dedicated to improving the community.

Why are you interested in running for election to the Board of Governors? What do you believe are the significant issues facing the members today? If elected, how would you hope to address these issues?

I am running for a second term on the Board of Governors ("Board") to continue to give back to the legal community. My skill set is in fostering communities and open communication style. I will continue to spread the message that the State Bar offers training, leadership opportunities and personal growth programs. Secondly, as the pandemic continues to economically shape the community and the market softens, it is important for the Bar to continue its economic responsibility and avoid raising dues. To address this issue, as Chair of the Finance and Audit committee, I work with the diligent Bar staff to ensure the Bar is operating in a manner that maximizes available funds while also preparing for the future. To conclude, I wish to continue to spread the message of the successes of the Bar and volunteer through service as a Governor.

Candidate's Statement

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Robert J. McWhirter is a nationally and internationally known speaker and author on trial advocacy, immigration law, and the history of the Bill of Rights. He is a frequent guest on Arizona Horizon and KJZZ as a Constitutional expert and historian.  He is a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law.

Mr. McWhirter is a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from the Barrett Honors College and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.  Mr. McWhirter has been a president of Arizona Attorneys’ for Criminal Justice.  He was also the supervising criminal attorney at the ASU Alumni Law Group, a teaching law firm serving underserved clients.

Why are you interested in running for election to the Board of Governors? What do you believe are the significant issues facing the members today? If elected, how would you hope to address these issues?

I want to see the Board continue to serve our membership and protect the public. I have not agreed with many of the changes from the Supreme Court to the profession. I hope to continue to give effect to what the membership wants. The State Bar of Arizona serves many good functions I hope to see preserved. We are self-governing and must not lose this. Also, the services we provide members are imperative. Many times, the Bar members most disaffected can access the best Bar services. To give one example, the Bar’s Fastcase service, free to members, is invaluable. As a sole practitioner I have all the access to caselaw I need without maintaining an expensive library or having a costly Lexis or Westlaw subscription.

I very much want to continue to be a voice for the members on the Board of Governors.

Candidate's Statement

This candidate chose not to submit a statement.