Russ Brown lecture series continues Thursday

The Russ Brown Lecture Series, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Kootenai County Courthouse, continues with its ninth event, slated for 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Courtroom 17 at the new Justice Facility just west of the old courthouse.

This month's presenters will be District Court Judge Casey Simmons and practicing attorney Kaycee Wall. This month's presentation will continue to focus on the First Judicial District with a discussion of the historical contributions of women in the law. 

This lecture aims to provide a historical review of female attorneys in North Idaho and the significant role they have played in the evolution of the practice of law and the justice system.

Simmons grew up on the Palouse and attended the University of Idaho for both undergraduate and law school. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 2009 and a Juris Doctor in 2012.

After graduating from law school, Simmons started her legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable John T. Mitchell in the First Judicial District. After a year of clerking, she joined the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office, where she prosecuted misdemeanors and felonies until 2019. That year, she moved to the private sector and joined Winston and Cashatt Lawyers, where she handled a range of civil and criminal matters.

In the fall of 2024, Gov. Brad Little appointed Casey to the district court bench, filling the vacancy left by retiring judge Rich Christensen. She was sworn in November 2024 and handles felony criminal matters, civil matters over $10,000, appeals from the magistrate court and other various matters.

Casey and her family have lived in North Idaho since 2012. When she and her husband are not attending their children's numerous events, their family can often be found enjoying the outdoors, especially biking and camping.

Wall graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. She taught Spanish for a year before returning to school and earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law in 2001. While in Law School, she received many top papers and served as an assistant editor of the Law Review.

After graduating from law school, Wall served as a law clerk for the Honorable Morris Sheppard Arnold of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

After her judicial clerkship, Wall was an associate with Jack, Lyon & Jones, a premier corporate firm in Little Rock. At Jack, Lyon & Jones, she worked in securities and bonds, health care law, employment law (including co-authoring the Arkansas Employment Law Handbook), and general corporate and contract law.

In 2005, Wall relocated back to North Idaho, where her family has resided for many generations. Wall was an associate attorney with Walker, Amendola, Andersen & Doty before becoming a solo practitioner, working almost entirely in family law. 

She has always focused her practice on children's needs and on educating families, and she has served as a Guardian ad Litem and attorney for children for over 15 years. She is trained in the areas of childhood development, the impact of trauma on children, domestic abuse, navigating high-conflict issues relating to children and families, and similar topics focused on best meeting the needs of children and families.

Editor's note: This story was changed to reflect a new meeting place.