Law School Mourns the Passing of Judge Miles Lord (’48)

Miles Lord (’48), an outspoken judge whose two decades on the U.S. District Court were marked by frequent controversy and banner headlines, died in Eden Prairie, Minn., on Dec. 10. He was 97.

Lord presided over a number of “huge cases that reformed the law and set a new standard for judicial courage,” former Vice President Walter Mondale (’56) told the Associated Press. “When he got onto something, he really didn’t care about the consequences. He wanted to do what was right.”

Miles Welton Lord grew up on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota and earned his bachelor’s degree at the University before attending the Law School. After a brief stint as an assistant U.S. attorney, he was elected Minnesota’s attorney general, serving from 1955 to 1960. He then served as a full U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson appointed him to the federal bench. He was a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota until 1985, the last five years as chief judge. Following his retirement, he founded the Lord & Associates Law Office, a personal injury firm.

Lord is best remembered for the Reserve Mining case, involving taconite pollution of Lake Superior, and the Dalkon Shield case, in which A.H. Robins was held liable for injuries to thousands of women who used its intrauterine device. Details of these and other cases, as well as memorable stories of Lord’s colorful personality and career, can be found in the links below.

“Federal Judge Whose Reputation Ranged Beyond Minnesota Dies” (Associated Press)

“Miles Lord, Judge Who Played Pivotal Role in Minnesota History, Dies at 97” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

“Miles Lord, ‘Pivotal’ Federal Judge Who Helped Shape MN and U.S. Policies, Dies at 97” (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

“Judge Miles Lord Remembered as the ‘People’s Judge’” (Minnesota Public Radio)