Each year the Idaho State Bar presents the Professionalism to recipients who have devoted their careers to the practice of law in a way that upholds the highest standards of civility and professionalism. Each of these individuals embodies a reputation of mutual respect and camaraderie with their colleagues. In addition to submitting biographical information, each recipient was asked to respond to the following questions:

What ideals or values do you let guide your professional life? And, what advice would you give your younger self as you entered your law practice or began your career?

Benjamin (“Ben”) J. Allen – First District

Values: “My goal is to end each day hoping that I used the tools I have been given to make the world around me a better place. Reinvesting in our communities in which we live is a vital function of our social sustainability. When we fight our innate desires to be inner-focused and replace selfishness with empathy, we unlock our potential to facilitate positive change in the world. Even in a profession which is adversarial at its core, we often accomplish the most for our clients when we approach our colleagues and our cases with equal respect, ensuring that we never compromise our integrity in an effort to gain an advantage.”

Advice: “As legal professionals, time is a premium and sacrifice is a common thread within our profession. Oftentimes, things such as family, faith, and fellowship are competing with the demands of the law firm, which can have a tendency to pit career advancement against those things which ground us. Being cognizant of this can enable attorneys to prioritize their dedication of time to those things that might have the most meaningful impact. As attorneys, I believe at various points in our careers there is a time to push and a time to pace. Differentiating which stages in life require what approach can enable young attorneys to successfully develop while still maintaining mental health and striking a work-life balance that is tailored to each chapter of our professional careers.”

Growing up on a farm in rural North Idaho, Ben learned early in life how difficult it can be for rural communities to obtain professional services, motivating him to pursue a legal career that could be used to fill this void in rural parts of the state. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University where he graduated with Pro Bono Distinction and CALI Awards while serving on the University’s Honor Council. During his time there, he had the opportunity to complete internships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lemhi County Prosecutor’s Office, Wither’s Law, and clerk for Magistrate Judge Stephen Clark in the Seventh Judicial District.

In 2014, Ben contracted with Shoshone County to perform legal research and writing functions for a first-degree murder case. His relationship with Shoshone County would soon after blossom into full time employment as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and in 2018, he was promoted to Chief Deputy where he served underneath (now) Judge Keisha Oxendine for four additional years. In 2022, Ben was appointed to the position of Prosecuting Attorney before running for election to retain his office. When not engulfed in prosecution work, Ben’s private firm, Silver Valley Law, provides legal services to small/rural municipalities and other public entities, while also offering basic civil practice needs in areas such as estates and probates for local residents where there are minimal legal resources.

Over the years Ben has been actively involved in various wildlife and conservation-related organizations, including founding the Gonzaga Rod & Gun Club and serving as a state Hunter’s Education instructor. In addition to his passion for the outdoors, Ben shares an equivalent interest in providing opportunities for youth in his community, leading him to serve on the Board of the North Idaho Official’s Association, the President for both the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs in the Silver Valley, and the District 1 Chair for the Idaho Association of Counties.

April A. Smith – Second District

Values: “Serving the public and victims of crime with respect and empathy has guided me throughout my career. It is important for everyone to feel they have a voice and are being heard. It is equally as important to hear all different perspectives in a respectful and thoughtful way. Being professional and courteous when speaking with judges, court personnel, and opposing counsel is essential. I have tried to prioritize maintaining good relationships, even when we do not agree. The practice of law is stressful enough without interacting with others in an environment that is overly contentious.”

Advice: “Don’t take the bait. During my career I have learned this valuable lesson – just because someone is trying to attack you, put you down, or get an emotional reaction out, do not go to their level. Your integrity and ability to stay above it are far more important.”

April is the Chief Deputy Prosecutor for Nez Perce County. She attended law school at the University of Idaho and was admitted to the Idaho State Bar in 2004. April went to law school with the goal of becoming a prosecutor and her focus has been crimes involving victims. She has one daughter, Avery, who is a sophomore at the University of Idaho.

Elisa G. Massoth – Third District

Values: “I feel so lucky to have found a career that I love. I strive to be the most prepared person in the room, whether it’s for a meeting or a court hearing, because what I may lack in experience, I can make up for in preparation. No client wants to be sitting next to a lawyer who is shooting from the hip. I have always and still do take advantage of any opportunity to be mentored. I would not be the person I am today without really talented attorneys who showed me how to practice law. I hold the privilege of representing my clients in my heart and on my shoulders, trying always to see the humanity in every single one of them.”

Advice: “You have picked the right career. Stay the course; the areas of law that you end up practicing will find you. When you have children, don’t feel guilty about building a career while being a mom. Your daughters will grow up to be wonderful and loved. Let go of worrying about work/life balance and just live. When your gut tells you not to take a case or a client, always follow your gut.”

Elisa’s current practice, 27 years in, is primarily capital murder and serious federal criminal defense. This allows her to practice all over the state and in front of many different judges. As a solo practitioner in the small town of Payette, Elisa does some estate planning and business advising. All of it fascinates her. To get here, she had the great opportunity to clerk for Justice Joel Horton and Judge Michael McGlaughlin, to manage a team of attorneys and prosecute for the City of Boise, to work as an associate attorney at Moffatt, Thomas, Barrett, Rock and Field’s, and partner with Dartanyon Burrows before he became a magistrate.

One of Elisa’s most favorite times in her career was in the firm of Ketlinksi, Massoth, Rebholtz, and Soper, working side by side some of her very best friends and truly brilliant legal minds. Together they created and operated a firm in Caldwell, buying secondhand furniture (that she found at the Idaho Youth Ranch) and top of the line computers and software (that Ty Ketlinksi set up). They all built up a clientele that several of them have to this day and they had so much fun.

The University of Idaho College of Law is Elisa’s alma mater as a 1997 graduate. Time has flown. When she is not working, Elisa spends time with her two beautiful daughters, Josafina and Addie, who are now 23 and 21, and her very supportive husband of 25 years, Dave. They enjoy skiing, hiking, mountain biking, traveling, and eating good food.

Leslie M.G. Hayes – Fourth District

Values: “I try to be my authentic self in everything that I do and through that, I hope the people I deal with see someone who tries to make the right decision, is honest in her endeavors, and is kind to everyone that I encounter.”

Advice: “Try new things, explore new opportunities, and volunteer to help where needed.”

Leslie Hayes joined the Office of Administrative Hearings (“OAH”) on November 15, 2022. Prior to coming to the OAH, she spent 10 years with the Office of the Attorney General in the Civil Litigation Division. During her time with the Office, she has handled administrative appeals in front of the Idaho Personnel Commission, the Idaho Board of Veterinary Medicine, the Idaho Lottery Commission, the Idaho Charter Commission, and many more. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Ms. Hayes worked in private practice in insurance defense and clerked for the Idaho Supreme Court. Ms. Hayes has represented clients in all Idaho state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, the Western District of Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

Ms. Hayes attended the University of Portland and Gonzaga University School of Law, graduating cum laude. She is active in the Bar, volunteering to grade bar exams and serving as a member of the Appellate Practice and Litigation Sections’ Governing Councils. She also sits on the Board of Directors for Idaho Women Lawyers, currently serving as the President of the Board. Ms. Hayes is the recipient of the Idaho State Bar’s Service Award and Idaho Business Review’s Women of the Year and Leaders in the Law Award.

Kevin J. Scanlan – Fourth District

Values: “The values that guide my professional life are integrity in my communications, civility in my interactions, and quality in my work. I believe these principles should be applied to all our professional activities whether with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel and parties, or the court. You can’t go wrong being honest, treating people with respect and courtesy, and doing a good job.”

Advice: “I would tell me to recognize the value of relationships early. Develop and nurture relationships with colleagues, with clients, with others in the profession, and importantly with people outside of it; over time, many of those relationships are likely to blend from one group to another, but they will always fall into the category of friends. Also, listen to the people around you, as the folks who have been at this for a while may know some things that can really help you in your practice, your business, and the other parts of your life. Finally, find a mentor and be a mentor; learn and model behavior that fits with your values (see above).”

Kevin obtained his undergraduate degree in finance from Carroll College (’92) and went to Seattle University for law school (’96), where he served as an editor of the Seattle University Law Review and graduated with honors. He was admitted to the Bar in 1996. His practice has focused on litigation and trial work in a broad range of cases including professional liability, trucking law, insurance coverage/bad faith, products liability, and various other personal injury claims and commercial disputes.

Kevin is a founder of Scanlan Griffiths + Aldridge, and is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and a member of the Idaho Association of Defense Counsel. He is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review rated in Martindale Hubbell and has been repeatedly recognized by Mountain States Super Lawyers (civil litigation – defense) and Best Lawyers in America (personal injury – defense; medical malpractice law – defense). Kevin has also twice received Best Lawyer’s Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” award for Boise.

Steven M. Parry – Fourth District

Values: “You can never over prepare. This goal helped in the late 1970s when I had my first Supreme Court argument outside of Boise. I had a late morning argument in Lewiston and was booked on an early morning Hughes Air West flight. I arrived in Lewiston but my briefcase with all my files and preparation were on a plane to Pocatello. Right before oral argument I was able to borrow copies of the briefs and transcript and made it through the argument on adrenaline due to my preparation. Afterwards, I was told that the truly kind Supreme Court clerk had forewarned the Justices of my predicament.

Always be kind and respectful to the Court staff and your support staff. A court reporter, much like your secretary, can transform a barely intelligible question into perfect English in the transcript.

At my retirement luncheon one of my adversaries said that my word was the same as my signature. To represent a client effectively you need to be credible. Credibility starts with being totally honest.

When representing an organization, you need to know the governing documents and policies better than the client, but it is the client that  makes all of the decisions. Sometimes you must advise the client to amend the policy or governing document if they wish to take a certain course of action.”

Advice: “As an attorney you do not win or lose cases. You represent a client to the best of your ability. The best way to represent a client is to know the facts better than anyone else and keep the client fully informed. Always treat other attorneys as you would like them to treat you. You will win more cases being civil to opposing counsel. A settlement with the client’s approval is better than leaving the resolution to the trier of fact. The client needs to hear unfavorable news from you directly and immediately.”

Steven graduated from Gonzaga University in 1974 and received his law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1977. He worked for more than 32 years for the Idaho Attorney General. In September of 1977, Attorney General Wayne Kidwell hired him as an Assistant Attorney General doing general civil litigation.

In 1980, Steven transferred to the Department of Administration, spending most of his time representing the Division of Public Works in construction litigation and in 1986 he began representing the Idaho Transportation Department. Steven was part of the Transportation Department’s legal team for 24 years and retired in 2010 upon qualifying for full retirement.

At the Transportation Department, Steven field pleadings in all 44 counties and by his best count appeared in 24 different county courthouses. Eminent Domain, defense of environmental violations, and resolving highway construction disputes were his major areas of practice. He represented the Department in acquiring some of the final pieces of right of way for the original construction of Interstate Highways 90 and 84. Steven became the de facto expert in “Stock Drives.”

Steven’s favorite area of practice was the resolution of highway construction disputes with the contractor. These were handled through arbitration and typically involved multiple week hearings. Usually, it involved describing to a group of arbitrators how a highway was designed, how it was constructed, and why the contractor is not entitled to additional compensation.

Jennifer K. Brizee – Fifth District

Values: “I value our justice system and believe as attorneys we have an obligation to foster an environment of nurturing and furthering our justice system. I value the rules that are the foundation of our justice system. I strive to follow these rules and value other attorneys who also strive to follow the rules. As attorneys, we are held to a high standard of ethics in order for our system of justice to meet its goals. I strive to practice law with integrity. I value the relationships I have built over my career with clients and with other attorneys. These relationships are built on trust, which has been earned over time. I strive to honor the trust my clients and other attorneys have placed in me by being honest and professional in my communications and interactions.”

Advice: “The best advice I would give to my younger self at the beginning of my legal career is the advice my mentor, Steve Tolman, gave me, which is to remember that once you lose your credibility with other attorneys, it will be very, very difficult to earn it back. We all work with many different attorneys, be it as opposing counsel or as counsel for co-defendants. We can be honest, candid, and fair in our interactions and communications with other attorneys, while still being zealous advocates for our clients.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1994, and was admitted into the Idaho State Bar in August 1994. She has practiced law continuously since then, based in Twin Falls. Her practice has always focused on personal injury defense, including medical malpractice defense. She has represented numerous hospitals and physicians, automobile and truck drivers, and business entities such as general contractors, construction subcontractors, dairy operations, farming operations, and individuals. Jennifer has tried numerous cases to jury verdict and has argued many an appeal to Idaho’s appellate courts and the Ninth Circuit. She had the honor of serving on the Idaho Supreme Court’s Civil Rules Advisory Committee for many years and has recently joined the University of Idaho College of Law Advisory Council.

John David (“JD”) Oborn – Sixth District

Values: “In my professional life, I strive to practice law and represent clients with integrity. I firmly believe in zealous advocacy for each and every client. However, I believe that can be accomplished while operating from a strong ethical foundation. The best argument should win the day. Those arguments should be presented with candor and without deceit. I hope that I practice this profession in a way that other attorneys and judges will trust me even if they disagree with me. I also think it is important to be adaptable and creative in representing clients and resolving conflicts. Finally, there is nothing that can replace hard work. It is not easy being a lawyer. Each new case requires a new commitment and dedication to explore the details of the case and the applicable legal arguments. That has to be done over and over again.”

Advice: “I still remember the best advice I received when I was a new lawyer. I was working on a complex case with Gary Cooper. The facts and law were difficult and convoluted. At one point, personal attacks started entering some of the briefing that was being presented to the Court. As a young lawyer, I was responsible for the initial draft of all the briefs that were being filed. I was full of righteous indignation and was not going to let a single personal attack go without a pithy rejoinder. After reviewing a brief that had several retorts directed at opposing counsel instead of the facts or legal arguments, Gary told me to edit those out. He explained that my reputation as an attorney was more important than scoring a personal point in a brief. That reputation would be established by the quality of legal arguments and how I conducted myself as a lawyer. It would be diminished by unnecessary attacks on the character or intentions of opposing counsel.”

JD Oborn is a native of Pocatello, Idaho and an Iraq War veteran who served with HHB 1/148th Battalion of the Idaho National Guard. He graduated summa cum laude from Weber State University with a B.A. in political science. He attended Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated cum laude in 2013. After graduating and returning to Pocatello, JD clerked for the Honorable David C. Nye in the Sixth Judicial District. Judge Nye was JD’s first mentor in the legal profession. He learned invaluable lessons from Judge Nye’s dedication and commitment to justice and the individuals whose lives are indelibly impacted by the legal system. JD joined the firm of Cooper & Larsen Chartered in 2014 where he has had the privilege of learning to practice law from Gary Cooper. Gary is the attorney JD aspires to be and JD is grateful for Gary’s guidance and friendship.

Steven R. Parry – Seventh District

Values: “Fairness. The legal profession is at its best when producing fair results.”

Advice: “Under normal circumstances, whether you enjoy the practice of law will be your choice. Abraham Lincoln rightly said that ‘most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.’ Perhaps I am the only one, but on occasion I have not enjoyed the practice of law. Fortunately, about 20 years ago I came across a quote attributed to Edmund Burke that it was more important to enjoy what you do than to do what you enjoy. I kept that quote handy for some time. Given a climate that emphasizes making choices based upon what society may perceive as bringing happiness, it may seem incongruous to focus more on changing one’s own attitude rather than always seeking greener pastures. The exercise was very valuable for me, and for the most part I have not only enjoyed the practice of law but have savored many moments in my practice that have made a difference for good in the lives of others.”

After graduating from Idaho Falls High School in 1977, Steven Parry spent a couple of years in Taiwan speaking Mandarin and then graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors in accounting in 1983, and with a Master of Accountancy in tax and a Juris Doctor in 1987, taking four months out to intern with Senator James A. McClure in Washington D.C. After working four years at a firm in Salt Lake, Steven returned to Idaho Falls in 1991 and has been with Nelson Hall Parry Tucker, PLLC or its predecessor since 1995.

Steven married Sharon Hasting in 1982 and they have three children and eight grandchildren, each of whom is a delight. Sharon has been very active in the community, including three terms on the school board and two terms on the City council. Together they have spent much time whitewater rafting. Any spare time Steven has left has been spent in supporting church and youth activities, and various wonderful community causes, with a favorite pass-time of being a member of “The Not Brothers,” a “cowboy comedy” quartet which has been a great stress reliever.