In memoriam
Dan Burk
The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law community – and the entire American legal academic community – mourns the loss of Dan L. Burk, who passed away on Feb. 4.
Judicial icon, groundbreaking Arizonan Sandra Day O’Connor dies at 93
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court and the namesake of Arizona State University’s law school, died December 1, 2023 at age 93. A trailblazer throughout her career, she made history as the first American woman to serve as a state Senate’s majority leader, as well as the first contemporary woman to have a law school named after her.
Hugo Zettler
Zettler taught at the law school as an adjunct faculty member and led the Criminal Practice Clinic from 1979 until the fall of 2014. A beloved teacher, he was awarded the Outstanding Faculty award by ASU Law in 1999 and the Professor Hugo Zettler Scholarship fund was established in his name in 2014.
Leo Beus
Leo Beus’ generosity reached almost every corner of Arizona State University. With his wife, Annette, Beus for many years directed philanthropic support to a wide range of causes and programs at ASU with one unifying motive: to improve the lives of others. Beus died on November 14 at the age of 78, leaving a legacy at ASU characterized by its breadth and wide-ranging impact.
Michael Berch
A popular teacher who picked up many awards during his tenure, Berch was one of the first faculty members hired at ASU Law in 1969. He taught until his retirement in 2011, even serving as dean of admissions for two years in the 2000s.
Rose Mroz
ASU Law mourns the loss of Judge Rosa Mroz who passed away on February 5, 2022. Known for her commitment to the bench and to the people who appeared before her, Judge Mroz came to the U.S. from Taiwan, becoming a naturalized citizen at age 18 and graduated from ASU Law in 1993.
Hannah Rose Arterian
Hannah Arterian, the legal academic and administrator who held the Deanship at Syracuse University’s College of Law for thirteen years, died on April 8 in Los Angeles. She was 72.
Allister Adel
A celebration of life memorial service for former Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel was set for Monday afternoon. Adel, the first woman elected to that office, died on April 30 at age 45.
Michael Gallagher
The ASU Law community is saddened to learn of the passing of alumnus Michael Gallagher. Michael, a member of one of the inaugural classes of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, received his JD in 1970.