Minnesota Lawyers on the Town
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- Human Rights Award Dinner 2023
- Judge Jerry W. Blackwell joins Living History
- MNAPABA Hosts annual Gala ‘Building Bridges : Connecting our Past, Present, Future’
2023 Human Rights Award Banquet
June 15, 2023
On June 15, 2023, Advocates for Human Rights will celebrate its 40th Anniversary with a Human Rights Award Dinner. This event, which takes place every year, is the largest gathering for human rights supporters from the Upper Midwest. The Depot Minneapolis hosted an evening of community, recognition and celebration this year. Many individuals and groups were honored for their crucial role in the human right movement.
Justice Alan Page received the 2023 Don & Arvonne Fraser Human Rights Award in recognition of his lifetime commitment to human rights. Justice Page has been a strong advocate for social justice, equality and human rights throughout his career, as a Supreme Court Justice, an attorney, and a professional athlete.
The Advocates awarded Greater Caribbean for life with the Human Rights Defender Award. GCL, along with its 49 members, has been advocating nationally and regionally to end the death penalty. GCL stands out as a champion of human rights in a region where abolition is still strongly opposed. GCL has been a partner of The Advocates for ten years. This year, GCL was part of an Advocates delegation to the UN in Geneva.
Law Firm Pro Bono Awards have been presented to Faegre drinker, Lathrop GPM and Fredrikson. Both Faegre Drinker, Lathrop GPM and Fredrikson have been helping Afghan refugees in over 30 cases. The Advocates also recognized Fredrikson paralegals, and other legal professionals that have worked on immigration matters and helped The Advocates to respond to the increasing legal needs as well as the ever-changing laws and regulations.
The Advocates presented Volunteer Awards to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of human rights both in Minnesota and worldwide. Amy Fiterman conducted interviews with Ukrainian human right defenders in order to document what they saw and heard, which would be considered war crimes, crimes of humanity, or genocide. Fiterman’s experience as a lawyer was invaluable for documenting these experiences, and advocating to the UN in order to amplify Ukrainian voices. Brittany Knutson, a volunteer with the WATCH project for more than three year, has been monitoring court proceedings to ensure victims of gender-based abuse have access to justice. Christin Eaton, Linda Svitak, and their team invite new people to join the table by creating a cookbook. The book tells stories about resilience, hope and celebration, using recipes from clients and immigrants in Minnesota.
Advocates for Human Rights have reached a 40-year landmark in the fight for Human Rights. The organization looks forward to the future, continuing its mission and critical research as well as advocacy. Volunteers will become advocates for human right.
Judge Jerry W. Blackwell joins Living History
February 15, 2023
It is possible that you remember the February 2020 issue Attorney at Law Magazine Minnesota, which featured a pair articles on legal black history in MN. The first article, ” legal diversity: 30 years in the trenches“, was written by Jerry W. Blackwell when he was an attorney. The second, “Bending Toward Justice : The Black Experience in Minnesota Judiciary”, was written by Ramsey County district court judge JaPaul J. They were all written before COVID-19 was implemented in Minnesota.
On December 21, 2022 – three years later – Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz will administer the oath to Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on the 15th Floor of the Diana E. Murphy Federal Courthouse. A small reception was held after the private ceremony. Judge Blackwell gave a few remarks. As of our deadline, the court had not yet set details for a formal public investiture ceremony.
Since then, Judge Blackwell spent many hours in training. He’s scheduled for a 2-day Federal Judicial Center Training, also known as “baby Judge School.” Judge Schiltz said that Judge Blackwell had received over 200 civil cases from other active Judges, which were selected at random by the Clerk’s Office. Although criminal cases aren’t transferred to new judges as they aren’t passed on, Judge Blackwell is still going to receive new cases from grand juries.
Blackwell has been involved in a number of high-profile projects in the past three years since he published “Legal Diversity 30 Years in Trenches.” Max Mason was a traveling Black circus worker who had been wrongly convicted in 1920 of raping an White woman. Blackwell played a key role in helping to secure the first pro bono posthumous pardon for Max Mason in Minnesota history. Mason’s coworkers Elias Clayton and Elmer Jackson, as well as Issac Mchie, were lynched in Duluth by a crowd of 10,000 people. Blackwell served as the lead special assistant attorney for the prosecution of Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis Police Department officer who was charged with the murder of George Floyd. The firm that he founded in 2006, with Martin “Skip Burke” (deceased January 2016), is now dissolved. The firm’s website posted a final “thank you” note.
Judge Blackwell has now become a part of the “firsts” of our legal profession in terms of diversity. He has also achieved success in his “Years on the Front Line” (technically nearing 35 years after receiving his J.D. In 1987, he graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law and began his career with Robins Kaplan LLP.
As he continues his service in the Federal District of Minnesota, I hope to have the opportunity to “call and have a lunch with living history”. CONGRATULATIONS Judge Blackwell.
MNAPABA hosts annual gala ‘Building Bridges – Connecting our Past, Present and Future’
August 24, 2022
The Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association hosted its annual gala on August 24, 2022 at the Nicollet Island Pavilion.
The organization held its first gala in person since 2019. They enjoyed a great turnout, a beautiful location, wonderful company and delicious food.
MNAPABA President Mayura Noordyke said: “As MNAPABA navigated through the challenges and changing environment over the past couple of years, we reflected on what matters most to us–our family and friends, our communities and the wellbeing of the places that we call home.” The evening was a celebration of our community, which includes members, supporters and friends, who give us the strength and resilience to move forward.
MNAPABA celebrated the scholarship recipients of its inaugural Terry M. Louie Founder’s Scholarship. The scholarship is named after a founding MNAPABA member and the first president of the organization.
The keynote speaker, ThaoMee Xiong of the Coalition of Asian American Leaders, shared an inspiring yet grounded story about her experience as an immigrant. She also spoke of her advocacy for underserved community and her desire to look to the future while connecting with the past.
MNAPABA wishes to thank its sponsors and all those who attended the event for their support.
Noordyke says, “We are looking forward to the new board year.”
The article Attorneys in Minnesota first appeared on Attorney at Law Magazine.