Brief Biographies

Walter B. Pontynen, MA

Walter is President of the Interfaith Religious Liberty Foundation and with Karen has produced Roger Williams: Freedom’s Forgotten Hero.  Prior to working on the Roger Williams video, Walter taught high school history and government for twenty-six years.  After leaving teaching he co-founded Legislative Research Inc. a firm that specializes in researching the history of specific pieces of legislation for attorneys and judges who are involved in litigation over the interpretation of a statute.

He earned Masters Degrees in history and government and has read extensively in the area of religious freedom.  Additionally, he has been published in the following periodicals: Liberty, Journal of Church and State and Liberty Express.  Walter is also a member of the National Advisory Committee of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Karen R. Scott, LL.B

Karen currently practices education law.  She was born in California but grew up in Canada where she practiced law for several years before coming back to California.  She earned a law degree from the University of British Columbia and successfully argued a civil rights case before the Supreme Court of Canada. This decision continues as a Canadian landmark defining religious and disability discrimination in the workplace and requiring reasonable accommodation for such individuals.

While working at the California legislature Karen was involved in church-state issues and in protecting the interests of private education.  She is also vice-president of the Interfaith Religious Liberty Foundation and with Walt was involved in the production of Roger Williams: Freedom’s Forgotten Hero.