Law is a tricky thing these days.
While some laws are pretty straightforward, like abiding by the speed limit, others are complex enough that you might feel like you’re trying to read a foreign language you’ve never spoken. Thankfully, there’s people who are trained in the art of understanding law, and the fine folks at Hopkins Roden Law are celebrating 40 years of serving the community with their knowledge and skills.
Hopkins Roden came about in 1973 in Idaho Falls, when young lawyers Tim Hopkins and Skip French shared a dream to create a full-service law firm of their own in Idaho Falls. The firm grew to have lawyers with expertise in a variety of areas, including agricultural law, insurance law, criminal defense, health law, property law, and many others. In 1994, the firm joined with a Boise office with lawyers William C. Roden, John Michael Brassey, and Bruce L. Thomas. This office usually represents cli ents with interest in Idaho legislation. Every lawyer at Hopkins Roden has collective experience with any area of law; the firm is essentially a meeting of the minds. One would be hard-pressed to ask a legal question that can’t be answered within the firm.
“We’ve accomplished an enormous number of things. This firm has handled lots of high-visibility cases,” said founder Tim Hopkins.
National attention has been felt by Hopkins Roden; D. Fredrick Hoopes, now semi-retired, represented Charles Fain in a murder trial. Fain spent nearly 18 years in prison on Death Row because he was believed to have kidnapped and murdered a nine-year-old girl in Nampa. There wasn’t a useful way to process DNA evidence at the time that Fain was convicted, but this story has a happy ending: he walked out of prison as a free man in 2001 after it was discovered that the DNA found at the crime scene was not a match to Fain’s. It’s a case that not only Hoopes is proud of, but the rest of the firm as well.
Another case of great prestige to Hopkins Roden is that of the South Fork Canyon. In the mid-1980’s, a group called the South Fork Coalition wished to prevent the development of a golf course and subdivision near Antelope Flat and Lufkin Bottom, a pristine area near the canyon that’s famous for fly fishing and floating.The Coalition wanted to conserve the area’s natural beauty for future generations to enjoy; Hopkins was chosen to represent the Coalition against the Bonneville County Planning and Zoning Commission. After a few close calls, the South Fork Canyon was preserved from becoming a summer resort – thanks to the efforts made by Hopkins and the Coalition.
Hard work and a drive for success reign supreme in this firm. As for the next 40 years of Hopkins Roden, the mantle falls upon the shoulders of lawyers new to the scene, such as Megan J. Fernandez. An Idaho Falls native, she returned to the Upper Valley after completing law school and now has two years of work at Hopkins Roden under her belt.
“The caliber of the attorneys [at Hopkins Roden] is very high. I was very blessed to join this firm,” said Fernandez, “I’ve had the chance to help every attorney in this firm with something.” She feels that every lawyer has qualities that she wants to bring into her career so she can have a greater impact on the community. Hopkins Roden has a tradition of excellence made by lawyers who are passionate about their practice and about this community.
As it is well-stated by Hoopes, “I have no doubts that the firm will grow as the community grows, and as the need for lawyers is felt.”
Here’s to 40 years of first-rate work, and to 40 more.