Named Advisory Council Member for Mountain States Legal Foundation
Parsons Behle & Latimer (Parsons) Boise attorney Norman M. Semanko has been appointed as an advisory council member for nonprofit law organization, Mountain States Legal Foundation. Semanko is Parsons’ water law practice group expert in the Pacific Northwest region. He has more than 30 years’ experience with water, environmental, natural resources, land use, public lands and regulatory issues. Mountain States Legal Foundation undertakes matters on behalf of Western residents when confronted with federal government overreach in environmental, natural resource and Second Amendment rights.
Semanko says, “Nonprofit law firms and legal foundations like Mountain States Legal Foundation play an important role for individuals who find themselves on the wrong side of oppressive enforcement of federal regulations. The high cost to mount a defense or bring actions against the federal government’s army of attorneys can be daunting and impossible for many. There is a place for a group like this to help individuals vindicate their rights in court.”
Mountain States Legal Foundation advisory council members meet three times per year to receive briefings from foundation staff attorneys and provide expert input for cases on which the attorneys are working. The council is also tasked to track and inform the foundation’s board of directors about emerging issues in the Western region related to federal legislation that could impact individuals’ rights and liberties. Many of the issues Mountain States Legal Foundation handles focus on water rights, farming, ranching and public lands. Semanko’s contributions to the foundation will focus on natural resource and environmental law.
Semanko says, “I’m fortunate to serve on this council with good attorneys from across the West. It is a privilege to meet and work with those people in an advisory capacity. Parsons Behle & Latimer has a long history of providing support to Mountain States Legal Foundation. I’m pleased to dedicate my time to the foundation to ensure the Constitutional rights of Idahoans and our neighbors in the Western region.”
