Narrator, Court Clerk, Jury Foreman

Playwright and Director

I recently retired after 36 years as a litigator and appellate attorney at the law firm of Elam & Burke in Boise, Idaho. Before becoming involved in the Nisei Paradox, I was vaguely aware of the internment camp system and Minidoka but was completely unaware of the historical subchapter involving Japanese American draft resisters and the serial trials that occurred in Idaho federal court with former governor Chase Clark presiding as a newly minted federal trial judge. Nor was I aware of my own firm's connection to the defense of some of those accused. Once I began to talk about the issues, I was amazed at how many people I knew who had connections to Minidoka or other camps. Minidoka was not a footnote in Idaho history; it was a major event and helped shape the Idaho we know today. It has been a real pleasure and honor to be involved in this project and to help tell the story of some of those incarcerees affected most by forced removal and imprisonment.

James Mitsugu Yamada, Resister

Growing up in Hawaii, my father, Roy Kawaguchi, shared stories of internment camps. At just 9, he faced displacement from his Seattle home, condensing his life into a single suitcase. Both my maternal and paternal families experienced life at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho. The sacrifices of the Nisei echo in my identity, shaped by their enduring values of strength, honor, courage, and loyalty. Inspired, I strive to honor the Issei and Nisei, especially my father, by embodying these virtues and passing them on. My journey is a testament to their resilience, and my aim is to make them proud.

Jonathan Blake, Representational Assistant U.S. District Attorney/Prosecutor

Dane Bolinger is an attorney and theatre artist. He studied acting at Indiana University and has performed with several theatre companies in Indiana and Chicago. Dane attended law school at the University of Illinois Chicago. In 2012, Dane was appointed as Executive Director of The Irish Theatre Company of Chicago. In 2013, Dane and his family relocated to Idaho, where he is a partner at Hawley, Troxell, Ennis & Hawley. Dane is the author of two plays: The Gods Live in Cleveland and an adaptation of August Strindberg’s The Father.

Josiah Montgomery, Representational/Composite FBI Agent

Josh Evett has been a trial attorney at Duke Evett in Boise since 2020. Before that he worked for many years with Jeff Thomson at Elam & Burke, where he tried a fair number of cases and argued many appeals before the Idaho Supreme Court and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Josh is proud to be part of this production, as the lessons of this historical episode are (perhaps unfortunately) always timely.  Josh and his wife Kristy love European travel, art, and a good train trip.

Chase A. Clark, Actual United States District Court Judge and former Governor of Idaho

I’m a baby boomer so all my World War II recollections were anecdotal until as a young adult I drove by Manzanar in the California desert. The story of how our government treated fellow citizens was disturbing to say the least. Then, as I became involved in this production and researched for the role, I discovered that Manzanar and Minidoka were the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Relocation centers dotted the American landscape as thousands of our fellow Americans were relocated and I was no longer disturbed, I was horrified. Never forget. History will one day judge.

Introduction

Researcher

Ronald Bush served as a federal judge from 2008 to 2021 in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, retiring as the chief magistrate judge. Previously, he was a state district judge from 2003 to 2008 in the Sixth Judicial District of the State of Idaho, with his chambers in Pocatello. His career as a lawyer spanned 20 years from 1983 to 2003 with the Hawley Troxell law firm, working in both Boise and Pocatello.  He is a graduate of the University of Idaho where he received a bachelor of arts degree, cum laude, in English. He then obtained a juris doctor degree from The George Washington University Law School, in Washington, D.C.  Judge Bush is a proud, fifth-generation, Idahoan.  His community service has included ten years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Idaho State Historical Society, including three years as chairman.  He also was a founder of the Idaho Legal History Society, now the Idaho Legal History Section of the Idaho State Bar Association, and served as its first president.

Matthew Kane, Representational/Composite Prominent Boise Attorney/Appointed Defense Counsel

Jim Hansen is currently serving his third term as one of five elected commissioners of the Ada County Highway District. A graduate of the College of William & Mary and the University of Idaho College of Law, he practiced law for six years. Jim served in the Idaho Legislature for three terms from 1988-1994. In 1995, Jim founded United Vision for Idaho – a statewide coalition of community organizations working for social and economic justice - and served as its executive director for 13 years. During Jim’s tenure, UVI launched campaigns for campaign finance reform, tax reform and human rights. Jim has consulted on organizational and leadership development, executive director mentoring, fundraising and strategic planning. Jim has been active in Rotary since 1989 and has volunteered in community theater.