Our Team
Rylee Sommers-Flanagan
Founder and Executive Director
Before founding Upper Seven Law, Rylee Sommers-Flanagan served as Montana Governor Steve Bullock's deputy chief legal counsel, not only defeating the Trump campaign in election-related litigation but winning two other cases against the administration over the course of a few short months. Rylee also worked as a fellow for the nationally renowned class action firm Cohen Milstein and as the Supreme Court Assistance Project Fellow for the Public Citizen Litigation Group. Before that, she clerked for the Honorable Sidney R. Thomas, Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit, and for Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle and Judge Thomas Hogan of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.
Rylee graduated from Stanford Law School, where she served as president of the Stanford student chapter of the American Constitution Society. She graduated magna cum laude from Emory University. There, she founded Emory's Day On, a service day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. She also has a creative writing degree from the University of St. Andrews. Rylee is a fifth generation Montanan who grew up in Missoula and spent summers on the family's working ranch in Absarokee.
Publications: Rylee is the author of The Legal Story of Guantánamo North, 19 U. Pa. J. Const. L. 1169 (2017), and Our False Promise of Justice, Democracy Journal (Spring 2020).
Molly Danahy
Litigation Director
Before joining Upper Seven as Litigation Director, Molly was Senior Legal Counsel for Litigation at the Campaign Legal Center, litigating voting rights, redistricting, and campaign finance cases at both the trial and appellate level, including in the United States Supreme Court. During her time at CLC, Molly served as counsel of record in over two dozen cases.
Molly was born and raised in Moscow, Idaho, and grew up spending her summers swimming in Priest Lake and her winters skiing and snowboarding in McCall. After leaving for college at 17, she lived in several different places, including Los Angeles, Denver, D.C., Boise, and most recently Baltimore. Molly’s heart has always been in the west, however, and she is thrilled to finally be back home, closer to family and the wild places she loves.
Molly graduated from Georgetown Law and received her undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California. After graduating from law school she clerked for the Honorable Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. In the spring of 2024, Molly co-taught the Election Law Practicum at Georgetown Law.
Publications: Molly is the co-author of Distortion in the Census: America’s Oldest Gerrymander?, 49 U. Mem. L. Rev. 1065 (2019).
Jamie Wattnem
Operations Director
Jamie Wattnem is a dynamic financial expert with a business degree from Montana State University and experience in government accounting, start-ups, and nonprofits. She is a master of business systems and thrives in roles that demand versatility.
Through her work as an accountant with the State of Montana, Jamie honed her expertise in financial management, budgeting, and compliance. Her tenure in this role laid the groundwork for a keen understanding of financial intricacies in the public sector. In late 2020, Jamie began to work as a consultant, guiding diverse nonprofits to enhance their accounting and business processes. Jamie is a trusted advisor who excels in analyzing intricate financial systems and delivering tailored solutions.
Jamie’s Montana roots also run deep. Her great-great uncle, Forrest Anderson, served as Montana's Governor during a transformative era, overseeing Montana’s pivotal Constitutional Convention in the 1970s. Jamie's profound connection to Montana's heritage fuels her passion for Upper Seven’s mission: holding the powerful accountable and safeguarding the rights of ordinary citizens. She brings a personal commitment to this cause and is an essential support to our dedicated attorneys.
Andres Haladay
Staff Attorney
Before joining Upper Seven Law, Andres Haladay served as Chief General Counsel for the Montana Department of Corrections. Andres has over a decade of public service for the State of Montana, working for the Department of Justice, Department of Administration, and Office of Public Defender. He served two terms as a Helena City Commissioner. Andres also clerked for the Honorable Mike McGrath, Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court.
Andres graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 2010. While there, he served on the Montana law review and Jessup International Moot Court. He graduated from CUNY Hunter with a major in political science and a minor in geography.
Andres grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. After graduating from high school, he moved to the Twin Cities where he served two years as an AmeriCorps Volunteer.
Audrey McCue
Deputy Operations Director
Prior to joining Upper Seven, Audrey worked for a decade in Montana election administration. During this time, she contributed to the Montana Election Technology Advisory Council and the Montana Association of Clerk and Recorder’s Legislative and Public Outreach committees. Audrey loves democracy and transparency, and is committed to solving problems through friendship, nonpartisanship, and elbow grease.
Recently, Audrey worked as a business analyst and helped develop Montana’s first online visitation application for friends and family of incarcerated individuals.
A proud graduate of Helena Public Schools and a current parent in the district, Audrey volunteers with a local committee that advocates for school levies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology with a minor in Feminist Studies from Stanford University.
Krisha Weingartner
Office Coordinator
Krisha Weingartner joined Upper Seven Law in 2025 as the Office Coordinator, bringing 20+ years of experience working for a large telecommunications company, where she specialized in supply chain management, demand planning, and organizational leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Logistics from the University of North Texas and has a strong background in managing operations, leading cross-functional teams, and driving process improvements.
Originally from Texas, Krisha and her family relocated to Helena, Montana, in 2014, where her husband has roots. Their children attend Helena Public Schools and are currently very active in dance and sports. Krisha is also engaged in the community and currently serves as Board President of Premiere Dance Company since 2024.
K.N. McCleary
Fellow
K.N. is a Liman Law Fellow and recent graduate of Yale Law School. K is a first-generation descendent of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians and was born and raised on the Crow Reservation in southeastern Montana. Before joining Upper Seven, they clerked for the Honorable Anthony D. Johnstone of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
While in law school, they worked in the Yale Veterans Legal Services Clinic, bringing affirmative litigation on behalf of transgender veterans and veterans denied access to fertility services. In recognition of their clinical work, they received the Francis Wayland Prize. They also served as Co-Chair of the Native American Law Students Association, Co-Chair of Trans@YLS, and Submissions Editor on the Yale Journal of Law & Feminism.
Prior to law school, K earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale College. They then served as Senator Jon Tester’s Legislative Assistant on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C., and co-curated Yale University Art Gallery’s first major exhibition of Native North American art. Outside of work, K enjoys playing tennis and basketball, birdwatching, and curating exhibits of Indigenous art.
Jonathan Molony
Fellow
Jonathan graduated with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he served as the president of Iowa Law’s LGBTQ+ student organization, as a student ambassador, as a research assistant, and as a member of Iowa Law’s Pro Bono Society and the Journal of Corporation Law. While in law school, Jonathan worked for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and a civil rights firm in Denver, Colorado. Jonathan is an inaugural recipient of Iowa Law’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, which he received for his work advocating for LGBTQ+ rights on campus.
Before law school, Jonathan attended the University of Iowa as an undergraduate student and earned a bachelor’s degree in both journalism and political science, as well as a certificate in human rights. As an undergraduate student, Jonthan worked for the Human Rights Campaign and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. He also received the Burns H. Weston International Human Rights Essay Prize and was inducted into the National Political Science Honor Society. Born and raised in Eastern Iowa, Jonathan grew up with a love for all things fiction and was admitted to the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, an immersive creative writing program for high schoolers taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
Before joining Upper Seven, Jonathan clerked for the Honorable Mary Tabor and the Honorable Tyler J. Buller of the Iowa Court of Appeals, and for the Honorable Moxila A. Upadhyaya of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Jonathan is currently admitted to practice law in Iowa and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Elizabeth Dejanikus
Impact Associate
Elizabeth recently joined Upper Seven as an Impact Associate. Originally from Seattle, she graduated from Yale in 2025 with a degree in political science and humanities. There, she conducted research on digital ethics, was involved in several campus publications, and performed in one (1) musical. She wrote a yearlong thesis about eulogies but really only sometimes thinks about death.
Outside of class, Elizabeth spent one summer in Paris studying modern art and two summers in Washington, D.C. working on AI policy. She is thrilled to be back out West and cannot wait to explore the Last Best Place!
Julia Newman
Roadshow Associate
Julia graduated with honors from St. Olaf College, where she majored in political science and environmental studies. She earned distinction for her research on political rhetoric that specifically analyzed language and word choice relating to topics on authoritarianism, collective action, and political sex scandals.
Before joining Upper Seven, Julia interned in the United States Senate for Senator Amy Klobuchar, where she focused on health and education policy. She also completed an AmeriCorps internship at Climate Generation, an environmental nonprofit in Minnesota, and participated in a summer scholarship program where she published a research paper in an undergraduate journal.
Julia is originally from Hudson, Ohio, and grew up spending summers in the New England area. She is excited to explore Montana and the West over the next two years!
Our Board
Bill Jarosz
Board Chair
Bill Jarosz is a Founding Partner of Cartesian Capital Group, a global investment management firm headquartered in New York. He started Cartesian’s office in Shanghai, China. He also serves as Executive Director of Satellos Bioscience, a biotechnology firm focusing on novel treatments for skeletal muscle regeneration. Bill grew up in Bozeman, Montana, and graduated from University of Montana. He subsequently graduated from the Fletcher School at Tufts University with an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy and from Harvard Law School with a J.D., magna cum laude. Before founding Cartesian, Bill practiced law in New York at Debevoise & Plimpton.
Bill is an avid outdoorsman who is grateful for the opportunities that Montana has provided. He seeks to protect and preserve the sense of community that he believes lies at the root of the Montana way of life and is honored to be part of the Upper Seven Law team.
Rachel Carroll Rivas
Treasurer
Rachel Carroll Rivas is the Deputy Director of Research, Reporting and Analysis at the Southern Poverty Law Center. For more than twenty years, Rachel has worked to expose anti-democratic far-right forces and to organize communities in response to hate activity. Her work has supported and empowered rural community organizing and research across the United States. Rachel’s work countering white nationalism and the anti-government militia movement has been featured extensively in major news media outlets.
Before joining SPLC, Rachel was Co-Director of the Montana Human Rights Network. Rachel’s collegiate studies took place at North Dakota State, University of Montana, Illinois State, and Utah State University.
Rachel was raised in Central Montana by parents who were public servants and who instilled in her the value of community engagement and the public good.
Kari Hong
Board Member
Kari Hong has been with the Florence Project since June 2021. Kari has represented nearly 200 individuals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, dozens of people before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and more than 50 people in state and federal criminal court appeals. The Ninth Circuit has issued decisions on more than 100 of her cases, including nearly 30 published decisions.
Before joining the Florence Project, Kari was a tenured law professor at Boston College Law School where she specialized in immigration law, criminal law, and founded the Ninth Circuit Appellate Program, a clinic in which law students argued cases to the Ninth Circuit. Kari’s commentary and scholarship has appeared in national publications including the Washington Post, New York Times, and CNN. She has spoken at numerous trainings and conferences on matters relating to asylum, immigration consequences of criminal convictions, and appellate advocacy. Before teaching, Kari was a solo practitioner specializing in immigration and criminal appeals, with offices in California and Oregon. Kari is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Swarthmore College and clerked for Judge Jeremy Fogel (Northern District of California) and Judge Sidney Thomas (Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals).
Jason Smith
Board Member
Jason Smith is enrolled with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and a descendant of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. For eight years, Jason served as Governor Steve Bullock’s Director of Indian Affairs. In that role, Jason acted as a liaison and advocate for tribes in Montana. Jason has sweeping experience developing relationships and between state and tribal governments, developing policy, and supporting tribal economic development. Before his work with the Governor, he served as Chairman Assistant to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, and worked as Program Manager for the State Tribal Economic Development Commission in the Montana Department of Commerce. He graduated from Salish Kootenai College with a business degree.
Jason is a proud member of his tribe and enjoys working to make a difference in the Big Sky State. He values his time with friends and family across the state. He loves to listen to people stories and experiences in Montana and finds we have more in common than we do difference. He strives to strengthen relationships and build new ones.
Deborah Griffin
Board Member
All of her adult life, Deborah has been active in non-profit work, serving as the board chair for Hambidge Center for the Arts, La Gonave Haiti Partnership, Serenbe Institute for the Arts, and South Fulton Arts. She also served on the Oglethorpe University Board of Trustees and is currently serving as a council member on the Good Neighbor Agreement, the only agreement that exists between a hard rock mining company and a citizen's environmental group.
A staunch advocate for civil and human rights, Deborah has worked to see that others have access to funding and services whether in the arts, social services, or voting rights.
After graduating from Smith College School for Social Work, Deborah worked at Jewish Family Services in Atlanta working with individuals, children, and families as a clinical social worker. Following agency work, she had a private practice for over 20 years as a psychotherapist working with adults and couples.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Deborah has owned property in Nye, Montana, for 24 years, and after being here for summers, is now at her home in Nye full-time. When she is not consumed with her volunteer work, she enjoys her life in the Beartooth Mountains with her dog, Charles Otis.