Richard N. Morrison

Richard Morrison’s practice is focused on water law, environmental law, and issues facing special districts and agriculture. His practice principally involves representation of irrigation districts concerning water rights, government contract disputes, and environmental issues. Much of his work since 1985 fostered negotiated settlements of Indian water rights claims. He has worked on four completed settlements in Arizona.

Representative Professional Experience

• Negotiated settlement of four central Arizona Indian water rights settlements representing local irrigation districts.
• Advised irrigation districts on compliance with surface water quality standards and environmental issues associated with groundwater pumping.
• Advised irrigation districts and electrical districts on matters of governance, insurance, voting rights, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Represented interests of university receiving public benefit conveyance of land at former Williams Air Force Base.
• Advised university on environmental law issues associated with use of land at former Williams Air Force Base.

Honors & Awards

• Martindale-Hubbell, AV rating
• American Jurisprudence Labor Law Award
• Order of the Barons, University of Houston School of Law
• Distinguished Achievement Award, Arizona State University
• Phi Kappa Phi, Northern Arizona University

Professional & Civic Activities

• Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona, Advisor
• East Valley Partnership, Director
• Electrical District No. 5 of Maricopa County, Director
• CW & Modene Neely Charitable Foundation, Director
• Morrison Institute of Public Policy, Arizona State University, Executive Committee

Publications

• “State and Federal Law Conflicts Over Indian and Other Federal Reserved Water Rights,” Drake University Agricultural Law Review, Vol. 2., No.1, Spring 1996.
• “The Evolution of Environmental Ethics,” University of Denver Water Law Review, Volume2/Issue 1/Fall 1998.
• “Virtue Ethics and Sustainability Policies.” Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, Volume 12, No.1, Spring 2007.

Speaking Engagements

• “Ethical Behavior and Public Virtue” Project Civil Discourse, Arizona State University, 2008.
• “A Call for Public Virtue” Philosophy Colloquium, Northern Arizona University, 2008.
• “Culture and Global Water Crisis” Jesuit Alumni of Arizona, 2008.
• “Fundamentals of Water Law in Arizona: Protecting Water Rights, Use and Quality” National Business Institute, 2002 and 2003.
• “Recent Developments in Arizona Water Law” National Business Institute, 2001.
• “Negotiating Conflicts Over Indian and Other Federal Reserved Water Rights” American Agricultural Law Association Symposium, 2001.
• “Organization and Governance of Irrigation Districts” Roosevelt Water Conservation District workshop for engineers and resource managers from Uzbekistan, 1999.
• “Environmental Ethics” CLE International, August 1998.
• “Water Law Impacts on Land Use” Land Use Seminar, CLE International, 1997.
• “Fundamentals of Water Law in Arizona: Protecting Water Rights, Use, and Quality” National Business Institute, 1997.

Memberships & Affiliations

• State Bar of Arizona
• American Bar Association