2012 Issue II · received the 2012 Presidential Excellence Award, which is awarded to Chapters that...

December 12, 2012

Bar TalkMinnesota Chapter of the Federa l Bar Assoc iat ion

Open World Program 1

Diversity Committee CLE and WAVES

Diversity Website3

Bankruptcy Judge Kathleen Hvass

Sanberg Joins the Bench4

Clerk of Court’s Corner 7

Minnesota Chapter Recognized for

Excellence and Convention Highlights8

Judge Frank Recipient of ABA Award 12

Calendar of Events / Get Connected! 14

Inside This Issue

Volume VI, Issue 1I

www.fedbar.org/Chapters/Minnesota-Chapter.aspx

This past September the UnitedStates District Court, the Minne-sota Chapter of the FBA andOpen World Leadership Centerhosted a Ukrainian Delegation,providing a unique opportunityfor all involved to learn aboutone another’s legal communityand culture. Open World Leader-ship Center is an independentgovernment agency that admin-isters the Open World Program,which invites Eurasian govern-ment and civic leaders to come tothe United States to visit legalprofessionals, judges, schools,and courts, and learn about vari-ous aspects of the legal and po-litical community. The programaims to further the understand-ing and cooperation betweenEurasian and American leaders.With this broad purpose in mind,five delegates and one facilitatorfrom Ukraine came to Minneapo-lis to experience our legal cul-ture, and, in doing so, they alsoshared with us their personalexperiences and perspectives.

Magistrate Judge Steven E. Raudescribed his personal experi-ence working with the Ukrainian Delegation as one that gavehim pride because it afforded him an opportunity to help oth-ers better understand what role the rule of law plays in Amer-ica and it allowed him to interact with interesting people whoshared varying views on the Americanjustice system.

United States District Court, Minnesota Chapter of the FBA and Open World

Leadership Center Host Delegation of Ukrainian Leaders

Pictured Above: Chief Judge Mi-

chael J. Davis, Judge Ann D.

Montgomery, Senior Judge David

S. Doty, and Magistrate Judges

Jeanne J. Graham, Steven E. Rau,

and Tony N. Leung, with members

of the Ukrainian Delegation.

(Photograph courtesy of Tammy J.

Schemmel.)

(Continued on p. 2.)

Bar Talk | December 12, 2012

While spending time in Minneapolis, the UkrainianDelegation was exposed to many aspects of the Min-nesota legal community, with one focus of the visitbeing access to legal services. The Delegation metwith federal and state court judges, federal prosecu-tors and defense attorneys, representatives of proba-tion and pre-trial services, and the Chief and DeputyChief Clerk of Court for the District of Minnesota.In doing so they gained greater insight into the or-ganization and relationships found in the Americancourt system. The Delegation gained firsthandknowledge of the jury trial system when they ob-served a voir dire process in Hennepin County Dis-trict Court. During a round table lunch the Delega-tion had the opportunity to talk with Minnesotastate court judges about their role as judges. TheDelegates were particularly fascinated by a Q & A onmediation provided by Magistrate Judge Steven ERau—learning more about what role the magistratejudges play in mediation, and more generally, howthe mediation and settlement process itself works.They also took an interest in the separation of pow-ers in the American justice system. For instance, theDelegates were intrigued by the true division theywitnessed among federal defenders, assistant U.S.attorneys, and the court. Because one of the objec-tives of this visit was to learn about ways to increaseaccess to legal services, the Delegation also met anddiscussed issues with representatives of VolunteerLawyers Network, Hennepin County Self-help Clinic,Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, the William Mitchell Le-gal Clinic, and Minnesota Justice Foundation. Dur-ing their time in Minnesota, the Delegates were ableto experience our multifaceted justice system, andthis experience was one that was not likely to be for-gotten.

Exposure to the above individuals and organizationsprovided the Delegates with new ideas and moti-vated some to try to introduce concepts to theUkrainian legal community. Delegate Dmytro Mar-tynyuk hoped to implement a website similar towww.lawhelpmn.org, which would be a web-basedresource providing the public with documents andinformation about legal rights. Delegate OlegKramar was also impressed and hoped to create amodel based on the Minnesota Justice Foundationthat would pair volunteer law school students withcommunity agencies. Of course it was not just theDelegates who benefitted from this program, theMinnesota legal community and all who interactedwith the Delegation benefited as well. While in theTwin Cities the Delegates stayed with local host

families, which gave both the Delegates and the hostfamilies an opportunity to make new acquaintancesand learn about cultures different from their own.Those from the Twin Cities who participated felthonored to have been chosen and to have been givenan opportunity to act, in a way, as ambassadors forour legal community. The Ukrainian Delegationclearly succeeded in achieving the program’s goal: allinvolved gained a greater understanding and appre-ciation for the other’s culture and legal community.

Paige S. Stradley is a member of the Communications Com-mittee and an attorney at Merchant & Gould, P.C.

Chief Judge Michael J. Davis and Magistrate Judge Steven

E. Rau (Above and Below), Tetyana Hrushkevych, Assistant

Professor, Director of Legal Clinic, Khmelnitskyy Univer-

sity of Management & Law, along with interpreter Sasha

Etlin (Above), and Oleh Petrovych Kramar, Deputy, Obuhiv

City Council (Below), share remarks on the exchange pro-

gram made available through the Open World Leadership

Center. (Photos courtesy of Tammy J. Schemmel.)

December 12, 2012 | Bar Talk

The FBA Diversity Committee recently hosted anevent that featured a debate about a proposedamendment to Minnesota’s constitution and a sneakpreview of the Committee’s new diversity website.

The event, which was held on October 25 at Leo-nard, Street and Deinard, P.A., in downtown Min-neapolis, began with a debate about the proposedamendment to the state’s constitution that wouldhave required voters to show identification at poll-ing places to cast a ballot. Republican state repre-sentative Mary Kiffmeyer argued for the amend-ment, and Democratic state representative SteveSimon argued against the amendment. Eric Janus,Dean of William Mitchell College of Law, moderatedthe debate. Kiffmeyer and Simon made openingstatements and then both fielded audience ques-tions.

Eric Rucker, diversity co-vice president, praisedJanus for keeping the questions and the debateevenhanded. The amendment failed to garner 50percent of the vote in the November election, whichmeans it will not be added to the state’s constitu-tion.

After the debate, the Diversity Committee hosted areception to preview a new website called “Waves ofthe Future.” Rucker said the website is intended tobe a central resource to encourage and promotewomen and minority students and practitioners toachieve success in the legal profession by becominginvolved in diversity-related organizations. Thewebsite includes resources for students in highschool, college, and law school, in an attempt to cre-ate a “pipeline” of promising people to enter the pro-fession, he said.

Tom Nelson, a shareholder at Leonard, Street andDeinard who has been involved in creating the web-site, made the presentation to the crowd of about 70people, Rucker said. Judge Donovan W. Frank,Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung, Rucker, and di-versity co-vice president, Dulce J. Foster, also madeshort remarks at the event. The committee hopes tolaunch the website in early 2013. For more infor-mation about the website, contact Rucker at (612)977-8519, [email protected], or Foster at (612)492-7110, [email protected].

Paul A. Sand is a member of the Communications Commit-

tee and an attorney at Larson King, LLP.

Diversity Committee Hosts Amendment Debate and

Previews “Waves” Website

ATIME OF CHANGE: JUDGE KATHLEEN HVASS SANBERG JOINSTHE

BENCH OFTHE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT


The Honorable William Jay Riley, Chief Judge ofthe United States Court of Appeals for the EighthCircuit, announced that the court has appointedKathleen Hvass Sanberg as a United States Bank-ruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota. JudgeSanberg is the first new judge to join the Minnesotabankruptcy bench in 24 years. She joins ChiefJudge Gregory F. Kishel, Judge Dennis D. O’Brien,and retired Judge Robert J. Kressel, who continuesto serve the district in full-time recall status. JudgeSanberg fills the vacancy that will be left by JudgeKressel’s retirement.

Background and Family (Following Father’sFootsteps)

Judge Sanberg, the sixth of nine children, was bornin Minneapolis and raised in Golden Valley, Minne-sota, where she grew up with the law. Her father,Charles Thomas Hvass, Sr., was a prominent per-sonal injury attorney in Minnesota. He founded hisown firm (Hvass Weisman & King) and specializedin aviation accident litigation. Named the “best all-around trial advocate” in a 1977 Minneapolis Starreader poll, Charles Hvass was known for histhoughtfulness, logic and preparedness as a plain-tiffs’ personal injury attorney.1

Although Judge Sanberg’s father exposed her to thelaw at an early age, Judge Sanberg never intendedto practice law initially. Her father firmly believedthat women should not be attorneys; he believed thepractice of law would be too difficult for them.Thus, when Judge Sanberg graduated from GoldenValley High School and later the University of Min-nesota College of Liberal Arts in 1979 with a degreein psychology, she worked part-time jobs in pursuitof becoming a psychologist. But eventually, JudgeSanberg decided to go to law school so that shecould become an attorney. In 1982, Judge Sanberggraduated from the University of Minnesota LawSchool. (Judge Sanberg’s father later came to be-lieve that women should be lawyers—two of hisdaughters and four of his granddaughters havesince become lawyers.)

Early Career in Minnesota and California

After law school, Judge Sanberg joined Oppen-heimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, where she workedfor two and a half years as a business litigator with

a focus on business and commercial litigation, raceand sex discrimination (both plaintiff and defenserepresentation) and bankruptcy. Judge Sanbergand her husband, Dean, then moved to Californiawhere she sat for the California bar and practicedlaw part-time for three years as an insurance cover-age and defense attorney at a small firm. In 1989,Judge Sanberg and her husband moved back toMinnesota, and in 1990 she joined Faegre & Benson(now Faegre Baker Daniels LLP) as an associateand became a partner in 1995, practicing in the ar-eas of bankruptcy, loan workouts, debtor-creditorrelations and litigation.

1 Jessica Thompson, Minnesota’s Legal Hall of Fame, Minnesota Law& Politics, available at http://www.lawandpolitics.com/minnesota/Minnesotas-Legal-Hall-of-Fame/9fe5f62c-aded-102a-ab50-000e0c6dcf76.html.

The Honorable Kathleen Hvass Sanberg, United States

Bankruptcy Judge. (Photo courtesy of the United States Bank-

ruptcy Court, District of Minnesota.)


Transition from Practitioner to Judge

While at Faegre, Judge Sanberg decided that shewanted to become a judge, specifically, a UnitedStates Bankruptcy Court Judge. Her intellectualcuriosity, skills and decision-makingcapabilities match those of many otherjudges. However, no bankruptcy judge-ship vacancies had existed in the Dis-trict of Minnesota for the past severalyears. At the encouragement of a friend(who was a Tax Court Judge in Minne-sota), Judge Sanberg decided to applyfor a judgeship in the Minnesota TaxCourt so that she could develop herjudgeship experience. When a bank-ruptcy judgeship became available inthe district, she knew she would then bewell-suited for the position. In 2001,then-Governor Jesse Ventura appointedJudge Sanberg to the Minnesota TaxCourt, where she presided for nearly 12years.

The transition from practitioner tojudge involved experiences that JudgeSanberg anticipated, and others that she did not.Judge Sanberg knew that the Tax Court sharedsimilar characteristics with the Bankruptcy Court.When reminiscing of her experience on the Minne-

sota Tax Court, Judge Sanberg re-calls, “The valuations, [the] code-based [nature], the court experi-ence—short trials, hearings, proce-dure—are very similar [to the Bank-ruptcy Court] in that regard.” ButJudge Sanberg did not immediatelyexpect the stark contrast betweenthe court’s workplace environmentand the legal environments she hadexperienced in the past. The Minne-sota Tax Court consists of threejudges, and none of the judges havelaw clerks. Judge Sanberg statedjokingly, “It is very quiet. Nobodycalls you anymore.” She recallstimes when she had encounteredfriends and former colleagues andhow they would treat her slightlydifferently because she was now in

some sort of “invisible barrier.”

Despite the adjustment to a lack of interaction andoften a sense of isolation, Judge Sanberg enjoyedher experience as a judge on the Tax Court bench.She had a profound sense of curiosity, and loved fig-uring out the law, assessing the facts and reachinga conclusion. Without a law clerk, she found herselfcoming into court always wanting to know what wasgoing on and always being prepared.

Chief Judge William J. Riley, Eighth Circuit Court of Ap-

peals, administered the oath to Judge Sanberg at her in-

vestiture on November 12, 2012. (Photo courtesy of Judge

Sanberg.)

(Left to right): Judge Robert J. Kressel, Judge Kath-

leen Hvass Sanberg, the late Judge Nancy C. Dreher,

Chief Judge Gregory F. Kishel, and Judge Dennis D.

O’Brien. (Photo courtesy of Judge Sanberg.)


Appointment to the Bankruptcy Court Bench

Judge Sanberg would have completed her secondterm on the Minnesota Tax Court, but in November2011, after having served as a tax court judge fornearly 12 years, her hope of becoming a bankruptcycourt judge was now within reach. At that time, theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Cir-cuit announced it was seeking applications fromhighly qualified candidates for a 14-year appoint-ment as United States Bankruptcy Judge for theDistrict of Minnesota. The appointment would fillthe vacancy created by Judge Kressel’s retirement.In early 2012, Judge Sanberg applied for the bank-ruptcy judgeship. After two rounds of interviewsover a four-month period, Judge Sanberg learnedshe had been selected for the bankruptcy judgeship.

Judge Sanberg’s momentous occasion soon becamebittersweet because three months before her ap-pointment, Judge Sanberg’s father passed away atthe age of 90 on May 20, 2012. But Charles Hvass’stime-honored influence on Judge Sanberg and herfamily is so obvious and enduring that his presencewas evident during the swearing-in ceremony inAugust 2012. She celebrated her accomplishmentwith her husband Dean, who works for theNeighborhood Development Center, a large non-profit widely known for the Midtown Global Marketproject; her son Robert and daughter Elizabeth, anattorney at Lindquist & Vennum LLP; her olderbrother Charles Thomas Hvass, Jr., a defense per-sonal injury attorney; her sister Jeanne Unger, pre-viously a partner at Rider Bennett and now a share-holder at Bassford Remele; the rest of her siblings;and many additional family members and friends.Judge Sanberg’s investiture was held on November2, 2012.

Leadership in the Community and Life Out-side the Court

No longer a practitioner, Judge Sanberg knows thatclient advocacy is a need that a bankruptcy judge-ship (and judgeship in general) cannot provide.However, through her community involvement,Judge Sanberg has been able to continue as an ad-vocate to the community at large. She has beenvery active and on the boards of directors for stateand local bar associations, charities and communityorganizations such as Sisters of St. Joseph. She hasalso served on various Minnesota Supreme Courtboards. Additionally, Judge Sanberg was an ad-junct instructor at St. Thomas University School ofLaw.

Furthermore, Judge Sanberg has been recognizedfor her community involvement. In May 2012,Judge Sanberg received the 2012 Myra BradwellAward from Minnesota Women Lawyers. The MyraBradwell Award is presented to a MWL memberwho expresses the highest ideals of courage, perse-verance and leadership on issues of concern towomen in the legal profession. She must possessthe qualities exemplified by Myra Bradwell (a pio-neer in the legal and journalism professions).

When not on the bench and away from “the legalworld,” Judge Sanberg spends her time reading.She is an avid mystery reader and is in three bookclubs. Judge Sanberg also collects rocks, knits and

Above: Judge Sanberg with her son Robert, husband

Dean, and daughter Elizabeth. Below: Judge Sanberg

with her daughter-in-law Anna, son Robert, husband

Dean, daughter Elizabeth, daughter-in-law Kimberly,

and grandson William after her swearing in ceremony in

August 2012. (Photos courtesy of Judge Sanberg.)


The Court is pleased to announce several recentinitiatives that are now operational.

Wireless access to the internet is now available forattorneys in all four federal courthouses. Attor-neys may access this private, password-protectedand encrypted network from every courtroom, at-torney conference rooms, the circuit library, andthe Minneapolis Federal Cafe. No technical sup-port will be provided by court personnel, so usersmust support themselves. Users should be awarethat there are security, privacy and confidentialityrisks inherent in wireless communications, andthe Court does not make any assurances or war-ranties relating to such risks. More information,including technical specifications, is available onthe Court’s website, www.mnd.uscourts.gov, underthe Courtroom Technology link. Login and pass-word information is also available at the Clerk’sOffice intake counter or the circuit library.

Attorneys can now open civil cases in CM/ECFand file their own initiating documents. A casenumber is received after the case opening processis complete. Filing fees will be paid onlinethrough the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov program.Cases opened by attorneys will be assigned by theClerk’s Office to a district and magistrate judgeshortly after the case is opened, or the next busi-ness day if the case is filed outside of business

hours. At the same time the judges are assigned,the Clerk’s Office will issue summonses electroni-cally and the filer will access the summonsthrough the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) hy-perlink. In the first week, the process is going ex-tremely well, and filers are doing a fantastic job.

As always, the Clerk’s Office staffs a help deskphone line between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm and willrespond during those times to emails sent [email protected]. Training specifi-cally on case opening is available weekly through-out December and January. For more informa-tion, go to www.mnd.uscourts.gov, click on theCM/ECF tab, then select Attorney Civil CaseOpening Training and Resources.

Attorneys who are unable to open their own casesmust submit new case initiating documents (civilcover sheets, complaints, exhibits, notices of re-moval, etc.) in PDF form on CD, along with thefiling fee, to the Clerk’s Office.

Finally, as of January 1, 2013, the Court will nolonger accept credit card payments by facsimile forany purpose. Credit cards may be used to pay fees(e.g., new case filing fee, appeal fee, pro hac vicefee) through CM/ECF and Pay.gov or may be pre-sented in person at the Clerk’s Office. Alterna-tively, payment by check will be accepted whenthe check accompanies the documents at the timeof filing.

Lisa D. Rosenthal is the Chief Deputy Clerk of the United

States District Court, District of Minnesota.

(Judge Sanberg, continued from p. 6.)

enjoys spending time with her growing family (bothof her children are married, and she has one grand-child).

Conclusion

Judge Sanberg’s appointment marks a time ofchange for not only the Bankruptcy Court, but alsothe bankruptcy community and the Minnesota Bar.Given her professional and personal experiences,Judge Sanberg offers a unique perspective, beingable to share new and different approaches to a courtthat has had a well-founded, long-standing history.

Adine S. Momoh is a member of the Communications Com-mittee and an attorney at Leonard, Street and Deinard, P.A.,where her practice consists of complex business and commer-cial litigation, securities litigation, estates and trusts litiga-tion, and banking and financial services representation in thefirm’s Business and Commercial Litigation group, with a fo-cus on creditors’ rights and bankruptcy. Ms. Momoh is also aboard member of the National Board of Directors for the FBAYounger Lawyers Division, a board member of the MinnesotaChapter’s Board of Directors and a former law clerk to theHonorable Jeanne J. Graham, United States District Court forthe District of Minnesota.

Clerk of Court’s Corner

MINNESOTA CHAPTER RECOGNIZED BY FBA FOR

PRESIDENTIAL EXCELLENCE


The 2012 FBA Annual Meeting and Conventionwas held from September 20-22, 2012 in SanDiego, California and featured a collection ofspeakers examining developments and debatesfacing the legal industry today. Attendees(including many members from the MinnesotaChapter) had access to a wide variety of CLE op-portunities for civil and criminal practice, immi-gration, bankruptcy, intellectual property, andenvironmental law.

Aside from the available CLEs, attendees wereable to connect with members from across theUnited States through the various social activi-ties planned in San Diego, which included lunchmeetings and evening receptions. On day one,during the Foundation of the FBA Fellows Lunch-eon, the Foundation of the FBA inducted its 2011Fellows. The Foundation of the FBA also awardedseveral grants during the luncheon, including a$3,000 grant to the Minnesota Chapter for its ProSe Project. Later that evening, FBA membersgathered for the Federal Litigation Section HappyHour, which was followed by a reception at theU.S.S. Midway Museum, one of America’s longest-serving aircraft carriers. At the U.S.S. MidwayMuseum, FBA members were able to take aguided tour to bring the carrier’s history to life(the museum featured more than 60 exhibits witha collection of 25 restored aircraft) and to “take tothe sky” aboard one of three flight simulators.

On day two of the Convention, the morning beganwith the Ninth Circuit Swearing-in Ceremonyofficiated by the Honorable John Clifford Wallace,Senior Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit (andformer District Court Judge for the Southern Dis-trict of California and San Diego native). TheSwearing-in Ceremony was later followed by theFBA Younger Lawyers Division’s Younger Fed-eral Lawyer Awards Luncheon.

Presenter, the Honorable Gustavo Gelpi, Jr. with thePresidential Excellence Award Winners—ChicagoChapter, District of Columbia Chapter, Eastern Dis-trict of Michigan Chapter, El Paso Chapter, MinnesotaChapter (pictured left to right: Adine Momoh, RachnaSullivan, Jeanette Bazis and Anh Kremer), New Or-leans Chapter, Northern District of Ohio Chapter,Oklahoma Chapter, Oregon Chapter, Hon. RaymondL. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter, San Antonio Chapter,San Diego Chapter, Southern District of Texas Chap-ter, and Utah Chapter. (Photo courtesy of National FBA.)

Outstanding Newsletter Recognition Awards—EasternDistrict of Michigan Chapter, El Paso Chapter, IndianLaw Section, Minnesota Chapter (pictured left toright: Adine Momoh and Rachna Sullivan), New Or-leans Chapter, Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto RicoChapter, Transportation and Transportation SecurityLaw Section, and Tucson Chapter. (Photo courtesy of Na-tional FBA.)

The Awards Luncheon honors outstanding fed-eral attorneys nominated by U.S. agency heads,general counsels, judge advocates general, admin-istrative judges and attorneys. This year, fiveattorneys were awarded the 2012 Younger Fed-eral Lawyer Award:

Samantha Chaifetz, Civil Division, U.S.Department of Justice;

Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cen-tral District of California;

Major Jaclyn C. Grieser, Judge AdvocateGeneral’s Corps, U.S. Army;

Peter Mazza, U.S. Attorney’s Office, South-ern District of California; and

Andrew Strelka, Tax Division, U.S. Depart-ment of Justice.

In the evening, the Sections and Divisions HappyHour was held, followed by a night of amazingcuisine, fun and friends at an open air fiesta bythe San Diego Bay, which is a natural harbor anddeep-water port twelve miles long and threemiles across at its widest point.

Day three included the traditional highlights ofthe Convention, such as the FBA Awards Lunch-eon, National Council Meeting and the Receptionand Presidential Installation Banquet. At theFBA Awards Luncheon, the Minnesota Chapterreceived the 2012 Presidential Excellence Award,which is awarded to Chapters that excel in allareas and go above and beyond the minimum re-quirements of Chapters (and is the highestaward that a Chapter can receive from the FBA).For the second time in a row, the MinnesotaChapter also received the 2012 OutstandingNewsletter Recognition Award for its exceptionalquarterly publication Bar Talk. At the NationalCouncil Meeting, various individuals from theFBA’s leadership reported on the status of theFBA, including membership, financing, govern-ment relations and judicial vacancies, FBA tran-sitions and upcoming events.

The Reception and Presidential Installation Ban-quet capped off the Convention. The annual ban-quet marks the formal installation of the incom-ing FBA national president. This year, Robert J.DeSousa was installed as the 85th President ofthe FBA for fiscal year 2013. DeSousa is thestate director for U.S. Senator Pat Toomey ofPennsylvania and is a lieutenant colonel in theJudge Advocate General’s Corps of the Pennsyl-vania Army National Guard.


Presenter Adine Momoh with award recipient MartinEstrada. (Photo courtesy of National FBA.)

The 2012 Award recipients with the Younger Law-yers Division Board Members who presented theawards. (Photo courtesy of National FBA.)


As in years past, the Annual Meeting and Con-vention was a great event. The MinnesotaChapter, which had one of the largest chapterrepresentations at the Convention, continues tobe recognized as the second largest FBA Chap-ter in the country with approximately 850members. We thank the judges from the fed-eral bench in the District of Minnesota for theircontinued support, dedication and participationin the Minnesota Chapter and the many attor-neys whose services make the Minnesota Chap-ter outstanding.

The Honorable Gustavo Gelpi, Jr., District of PuertoRico, and FBA National Treasurer, swears in BobDeSousa as the 85th President of the FBA. (Photo courtesyof National FBA.)

Pictured Above: Jeanette Bazis, Foundation of the

FBA Board of Directors Member (Minnesota Chapter);

John Okray, Corporate and Association Counsels Divi-

sion Chair; Hector Huezo, Transportation and Trans-

portation Security Law Section Chair; and Anh

Kremer, Past Vice President for the Eighth Circuit

(Minnesota Chapter).

Pictured Right: Adine Momoh, Younger Lawyers Divi-

sion Board Member (Minnesota Chapter); and Ethan

Don, Younger Lawyers Division Board Member

(Maryland Chapter). (Photos courtesy of National FBA.)

Adine S. Momoh is a member of the Communi-cations Committee and an attorney at Leonard,Street and Deinard, P.A., where her practice con-sists of complex business and commercial litiga-tion, securities litigation, estates and trusts liti-gation, and banking and financial services repre-sentation in the firm’s Business and CommercialLitigation group, with a focus on creditors’ rightsand bankruptcy. Ms. Momoh is also a boardmember of the National Board of Directors for theFBA Younger Lawyers Division, a board memberof the Minnesota Chapter’s Board of Directorsand a former law clerk to the Honorable JeanneJ. Graham, United States District Court for theDistrict of Minnesota.

(FBA National Convention, continued from p. 9.)


TM

724 North 1st Street, Mpls, MN 55401 • www.nightowldms.com • 800.267.9695

Judge Donovan W. Frank Awarded the ABA’s

Paul G. Hearne Award for Disability Rights


Judge Donovan W. Frank’s longstand-ing career advocating for the rightsand access for individuals with devel-opmental disabilities was recognizedby the American Bar Association Com-mission on Disability Rights. JudgeFrank was selected to receive the 2012Paul G. Hearne Award for DisabilityRights because of his continued workfor equal access, equal opportunities,and the equal treatment and respectfor those with disabilities. JudgeFrank is a frequent presenter on dis-ability discrimination and the impor-tance of a diversified workplace. JudgeFrank has also been awarded the Lu-ther Granquist Systems Change Awardfrom the Arc Minnesota for making lifebetter for individuals with disabilities.

Judge Frank believes that the mosteffective means to erode stereotypes isto make sure everyone is included.This understanding comes from theteachings of his father, Donald, whoinsisted that a family friend who had a develop-mental disability be included in all family activi-ties. Through his interactions with this familyfriend, Judge Frank learned that people with de-velopmental disabilities have the same hopes andaspirations as everyone else. Thus, he believesthat one of the most effective ways to removestereotypes is to make sure people with disabili-ties are included in all activities. Continual in-clusion of all people from different backgroundswill allow people to understand and appreciateothers as individuals, and not just people withdisabilities.

The Paul G. Hearne Award was established in1999 in honor of Paul G. Hearne, an attorneywith connective tissue disorder who was a leaderin advocating for disability rights. The award ispresented to an individual or organization thathas performed outstanding service in promotingand fostering the rights, dignity, and access to

justice for people with disabilities. The award, co-sponsored by Starbucks Coffee Company, waspresented on August 6, 2012 at the Commission’sAnnual Meeting Reception for Lawyers with Dis-abilities in Chicago, Illinois.

Part of the Paul G. Hearne Award included a$1,000 honorarium that Judge Frank donated toan educational program where a self-advocate, aperson with a disability, visits elementaryschools. The self-advocate teaches students aboutthe negative impact bullying has on kids with dis-abilities and minorities. This program is an ex-cellent example of a way to help erode stereotypesby exposing people to others with disabilities.

Judge Frank continues his work to improve thelives of those with disabilities, this year by re-cently participating in the Third Annual Disabil-ity Justice Seminar held on December 4, 2012 atRobins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP titled“Disability Issues and Employment Law: Past,

Judge Donovan W. Frank at the ABA-CDR Annual Meeting Recep-

tion for Lawyers with Disabilities in Chicago, Illinois, accepting the

Paul G. Hearne Award, along with representatives of the American

Bar Association. (Photo courtesy of the ABA.)

In August, in conjunction with the ABA’s Paul G.Hearne Award, Judge Frank attended an openhouse hosted by self-advocates. The self-advocates will receive the $1,000 honorariumthat Judge Frank donated so that they can teachanti-bullying practices to elementary and middleschool students. The self-advocates will educatechildren on how bullying impacts those with dis-abilities and minorities.


(Judge Frank ABA Award contd.)

Present, and Future.” The seminar discussed thehistorical backdrop of employment law issuesfaced by those with disabilities through programsand initiatives to improve access to the judicialsystem for these individuals. Along with JudgeFrank, the seminar included an esteemed panel:Colleen Wieck, Ph.D., Executive Director of theMinnesota Governor’s Council on DevelopmentalDisabilities; Laurie Vasichek, Senior Trial Attor-ney at the Equal Employment Opportunity Com-mission; Shamus O’Meara, Partner at Johnson &Condon, P.A.; Tom Nelson, Partner at Leonard,Street and Deinard, P.A.; and Karen Loven, Self-Advocate.

Judge Frank believes the Paul G. Hearne Awardshould be shared with the entire MinnesotaChapter of the Federal Bar Association. It is theteam effort of the lawyers, judges, and staff of theMinnesota Chapter that helps create and fosteran environment striving to eliminate stereotypesand other challenges facing people with disabili-ties. Judge Frank thanks everyone for their ef-forts and hopes that the members of the Minne-sota Chapter continue their work towards equal-ity.

Ryan M. Schultz is a member of the Communications Com-

mittee and an attorney at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi,

LLP.

Judge Frank Donates $1,000 to

Self-Advocates in Conjunction

with the Paul G. Hearne Award

Judge Frank attended an open house hosted by self-advocates who will receive the $1,000 honorariumaward to be used to educate children on the impactof bullying on those with disabilities. Picturedabove, left to right, Kelly Cammack, Merrick, Inc.,Katie McDermott, Judge Donovan W. Frank, andMary Raasch. (Photos courtesy of Colleen Timbers, Merrick,Inc.)

December 12, 2012 | 12:00 p.m.

Monthly Luncheon: State of the District

Chief Judge Michael J. Davis

Minneapolis Club, Minneapolis

December 19, 2012 | 12:00 p.m.

Newer Lawyer Luncheon: Trying a Case v. Litigating a Case

Judge Paul A. Magnuson

St. Paul Courthouse

January 8, 2013 | 12:00 p.m.

Newer Lawyer Luncheon

Magistrate Judge Jeanne J. Graham

St. Paul Courthouse

February 13, 2013 | 12:00 p.m.

Newer Lawyer Luncheon

Magistrate Judge Jeffrey J. Keyes

St. Paul Courthouse

Calendar of Upcoming EventsAshlee Bekish

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

Marc Betinskky

Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard H. Kyle

Kate Buzicky

Law Clerk to the Honorable Steven E. Rau

Tara Craft

Seaton, Peters & Revnew, P.A.

Trish Furlong

Law Clerk to the Honorable Steven E. Rau

Michael Goodwin

Jardine, Logan & O’Brien, P.L.L.P.

Jeff Justman

Faegre Baker Daniels, L.L.P.

Steve Katras

Law Clerk to the Honorable Janie S. Mayeron

Katherine Kelly

Heins, Mills & Olson, P.L.C.

Kirstin Kanski (Co-Chair)

Lindquist & Vennum L.L.P.

Jon Marquet

Bassford Remele, P.A.

Adine S. Momoh

Leonard, Street and Deinard, P.A.

Kerri Nelson

Bassford Remele, P.A.

Erin Oglesbay

Target Corp.

Timothy O’Shea

Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Paul Sand

Larsen King, L.L.P.

Tammy Schemmel (Co– Chair)

Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

Ryan Schultz

Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.

Paige Stradley

Merchant & Gould, P.C.

Vildan Teske

Crowder Teske, P.L.L.P.

Kathryn Uline

United States District Court, Clerk of Court’s Office

Joe Wearmouth

Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

A special thank you to Rebecca Baertsch, Judicial Assis-

tant to the Honorable Donovan W. Frank, for her proofread-

ing expertise.

Communications Committee


Bar Talk is the official newsletter of the Minnesota Chapter

of the FBA. It is published quarterly by the Communica-

tions Committee. For any inquiries or article suggestions,

please contact: Kirstin Kanski ([email protected]) or

Tammy Schemmel ([email protected]).

Did you know? The Minnesota Chapter of theFBA is now on Linked In! Join us!

Did you know? You can follow National FBA,now tweeting as @federallawyer and find the Na-tional FBA on Facebook.

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2012 Issue II · received the 2012 Presidential Excellence Award, which is awarded to Chapters that...

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