News

The Law School's Black Law Students Association (BLSA) last week issued the following statement to the Minnesota Law community on the tragic death of George Floyd.

Dear Peers,

Dear Law School Community:

Simply put, this is a terrible moment for the Twin Cities, during a terrible time. George Floyd suffered a maddeningly horrendous and senseless death, and the ensuing unrest has rocked our community. And, what started locally has expanded and roiled our country in the last few days, demonstrating the shared pain felt by many.

For me, this past week has been hard: my emotions have ranged from shock to sorrow to anger to fear to pain to frustration.

Robert E. Bowen ’48, who served as a judge in both the Hennepin County and Minnesota District Court systems, passed away May 15 at the age of 96.

Minnesota Law, the magazine serving our Law School community, has launched an all-new digital edition with our spring 2020 issue.

This mobile-optimized platform creates a user-friendly way to experience our magazine content digitally. 

The spring 2020 edition of Minnesota Law includes features on:

Dear Law School Community:

Sally Rae Mooty, who with her husband Melvin R. Mooty ’51 generously supported the Law School and its students, died peacefully at her home in Edina, Minnesota, on May 7. She was 87.

A former teacher, Sally Mooty was devoted to her family and to the causes she believed in. In 2010, she and Melvin—along with their son, Paul Mooty ’85, and daughter, Mary Mooty Kileen—founded the Melvin R. Mooty Scholarship at Minnesota Law. The fund benefits Law School students with academic promise, leadership skills, and a passion for community service.

Hennepin County District Court Judge Theodora Gaïtas ’94 has been appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Tim Walz.

Gaïtas will filli a vacancy created by the departure of retiring Judge John Rodenberg.

On Saturday, May 16, the Law School held its first-ever virtual commencement ceremony. A video program that lasted approximately a half hour celebrated the class of 2020, which includes: 204 J.D. graduates, 49 LL.M. graduates, and 10 M.S.P.L. graduates.

A traditional commencement event at Northrop was not possible this year in light of COVID-19-related restrictions on public gatherings. However, in addition to Saturday's virtual event, the Law School plans to hold an in-person event to honor 2020 graduates in spring 2021. 

Governor Tim Walz has appointed Professor Laura Thomas as a District Court judge in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District. Thomas will be chambered in Minneapolis in Hennepin County.

“Laura Thomas has been a beloved teacher, an exemplary faculty colleague, and a key architect of our leading clinical program,” said Garry W. Jenkins, dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law. “We will miss her enthusiasm and dedication. Yet, it is always a point of great pride when a member of our community is called to the bench. I am confident that she will be a wise and even-handed jurist.”

The Board of Regents recently approved the promotion of Francis Shen to professor of law, Jennie Green to clinical professor of law, and Ryan Greenwood to member of the Law Library faculty, with the title associate law librarian. The promotions are effective with the upcoming academic year.