Mondale Hall at sunset

News

Minnesota Law Mourns Passing of Bruce Burton ‘68, Former Mitchell Dean, Law Professor

Bruce Burton, a lawyer, law professor, and former Dean of William Mitchell College of Law, passed away on June 11 at the age of 83

Hailing from Fairmont, Minnesota, Burton graduated from Mankato State University in 1961, then taught high school English in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, and Long Beach, California, before returning to Minnesota to attend the Law School.

Bruce Burton '68

Prof. Kritzer Receives Harry J. Kalven Jr. Prize for Empirical Scholarship in Law

Professor Emeritus Herbert M. Kritzer received the Law & Society Association's  Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for empirical scholarship and the advancement of research in law. 

Originally trained as a political scientist, Kritzer is author, coauthor or coeditor of 12 books and over 100 research articles. He also served as general editor of a remarkable resource for comparative and international study—the four-volume encyclopedia, Legal Systems of the World, which includes detailed overviews of legal topics and summaries of the diverse legal systems of the world’s countries.

Prof. Herbert Kritzer

Minnesota Law Mourns the Passing of Joaquin C. Arriola ’53, Former Guam Senator, Legislative Speaker, and Supreme Court Justice

Joaquin C. Arriola ’53, whose storied public service career in Guam included serving as the speaker of its legislature, a member of its senate, and an associate justice on its supreme court, passed away on May 4 at the age of 96.

Arriola served as a senator in the Guam Legislature from 1955 to 1959. From 1967 to 1971, he served as speaker of the Guam Legislature. In 1974, he ran for governor of Guam.

Joaquin C. Arriola

Minnesota Law Mourns the Passing of Dale Larson '65, a Founding Partner of Larson • King

Dale I. Larson '65, a founding partner of the Twin Cities law firm of Larson • King, died on May 10 at the age of 84.

After graduating Moorhead High School in 1955, Larson served three years as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. When he returned, he tried his hand in broadcasting as a TV reporter for KXJB-TV in Fargo and for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. He earned a B.A. from Moorhead State before enrolling in Minnesota Law.

Dale Larson '65

Minnesota Law Celebrates Its 134th Commencement 

The Law School held its 134th commencement on Saturday, May 14 at Northrop auditorium, the first time the ceremony has returned to its traditional venue as an in-person event in three years.

The 2021 and 2020 commencements were held as virtual and live-stream events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief John R. Tunheim '80

Professors Meili and Dewey Receive Promotions

Steve Meili has been elevated to rank of full professor and faculty research librarian Scott Dewey has received promotion and continuous appointment as associate librarian. 

The two academic promotions, newly approved by the Board of Regents, are effective in August.

Professors Steve Meili ans Scott Dewey