Skinner, Gwynne (1964 - 2017)

SKINNER, SKRYPZAK, LYTTLE

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 12/31/2017 at 22:19:20

Name of deceased: Gwynne L. Skinner

Aged: 53 yrs, 4 mo, 24 days

Residence: Portland, OR (formerly of Shelby, IA)

Born: July 17, 1964; Des Moines, Polk County, IA

Died: Dec. 11, 2017; Portland, Multnomah County, OR

Funeral services: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018; St Andrew Church, Portland, OR

Survived by: Spouse, Dr. Beth Skrypzak of Portland, OR; daughters, Lucy, age 16 and Ella Skrypzak, age 12; mother, Joy Skinner of Wichita, KS; siblings, Brenda Lyttle (spouse, John) of Cheyenne, WY, Susan Skinner of Los Angeles, CA, Steven Skinner (spouse, Mary Frances) of Wichita, KS, and Jill Skinner of Phoenix, AZ; aunts; uncles; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: no information provided

Education: While growing up, she attended several schools in Iowa while moving with her family, including several Shelby, Melvin, and Sac City, from where she graduated high school. She went on to study at the University of Northern Iowa, where she was executive editor of the college newspaper, and then to the University of Iowa where she earned her law degree. Later, she earned an advanced law degree from Oxford University in International Human Rights Law.

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Dr. Beth Skrypzak; date and location not provided

Employment: Gwynne spent time working in politics as a paid staffer for the Iowa Democratic Party, the presidential campaign of Bruce Babbitt, and on senate and congressional campaigns. Her first job out of law school was with the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Criminal Division, in Washington, D.C. She went on to practice as a local prosecutor, and then various private practice firms. She founded the Public Interest Law Group in Seattle, Washington. After receiving an advanced law degree from Oxford University in International Human Rights Law, Gwynne became a visiting professor of law at Seattle University before joining the law faculty of Willamette University, where she founded and directed the Human Rights and Refugee Law Clinic. Over her career, Gwynne litigated several high profile cases, representing former Guantanamo Bay detainees in cutting-edge civil cases for their illegal detention and torture, the family of Rachel Corrie against Caterpillar for aiding and abetting human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and a class of Somali workers against a large sausage company for religious accommodation, among others. She also took the quiet cases that made a difference in people’s lives, such as representing those seeking asylum or facing discrimination. Gwynne loved being a professor and teaching and inspiring a new generation of lawyers how to advocate for the human rights of all. She initiated and co-directed the first state-wide human rights report on human trafficking in the United States, which led to a follow-up report on trafficking of Native American women and children in Oregon.

Hobbies/Interests: no information provided

Sources: Harlanonline.com; Holmansfuneralservice.com