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MSBA APPELLATE PRACTICE SECTION
2008-2009 Annual Report
By Sherri D. Hawley, Chair of the MSBA Appellate Practice Section

Membership: The Section had 164 members this year.

Continuing Legal Education:
The section hosted or co-sponsored the following CLEs:
            Quarterly Lunches – September 29, 2008, January 26, 2009, April 27, 2009
            Court of Appeals Reunion, October 10, 2008
            25th Anniversary of the Court of Appeals, November 6, 2008
            Annual Year in Review, February 23, 2009
            The Third Annual Appellate Practice Institute, March 6, 2009
            Annual Dinner, with Justice Barry Anderson as speaker, May 12, 2009
            Pro Bono Unemployment Compensation Appeals training, June 19, 2009

Pro Bono Program:
The Section's pro bono program facilitates the introduction of volunteer appellate lawyers to individuals who have initiated appeals from the denial of unemployment compensation benefits. Due to the rise in unemployment compensation claims, the Section will be hosted another training to recruit new volunteers.

Website and practicelaw.org:
Louise Behrendt and Karen Cole worked with the MSBA staff regarding ongoing improvements to Practicelaw.org.

Council Meetings:
The Section council met once a month from September through May on the first Thursday of each month at 12:00 p.m. at the MSBA's offices in Minneapolis. Council attendance was quite good and participation by members of the Council was excellent.

Annual Meeting:
The Section held its annual meeting on May 12, 2009, at McCormick & Schmick’s in Minneapolis. Following the dinner meeting, the Section heard from the Honorable Barry Anderson of the Minnesota Supreme Court who was the featured speaker for the evening.

Election Results:
The members attending the annual meeting voted unanimously for the following officers and council members:

Officers for fiscal 2009-2010 are:
Chair: Steve Buterin, Coleman, Hull & van Vliet
Vice Chair: Chuck Webber, Faegre & Benson
Secretary/Treasurer: Robin Wolpert, Greene, Espel

The 2009-2010 Council will be comprised of the following:
John M. Baker, Greene Espel PLLP, Minneapolis
Louise A. Behrendt, Stitch Angell Kreidler & Dodge PA, Minneapolis
Louise Dovre Bjorkman, Larson King LLP, Saint Paul
Diane Bratvold, Briggs & Morgan
Karen R. Cole, Saint Paul
Peter D. Gray, Halleland Lewis Nilan & Johnson PA, Minneapolis
William M. Hart, Meagher & Geer PLLP, Minneapolis
Kay N. Hunt, Lommen Abdo Cole King & Stageberg PA, Minneapolis
Charles K. Maier, Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett PA, Minneapolis
Andrea E. Reisbord, Cousineau McGuire & Anderson Chrtd, Minneapolis
Karl E. Robinson, Winthrop & Weinstine PA, Minneapolis
Jonathan P. Schmidt, Briggs and Morgan PA, Minneapolis
James S. Simonson, Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett PA, Minneapolis
Paula D. Vraa, Larson King LLP, Saint Paul
Kenneth R. White, Law Office of Kenneth R. White, Mankato
Honorable Bruce D. Willis, Minnesota Court of Appeals, Saint Paul
Robin Wolpert, Greene Espel PLLP, Minneapolis

The Section's MSBA representative for 2009-2010 will be Vice Chair, Chuck Webber.

Fiscal Status:
The Section finished the year with a surplus of $3,820.73 as of May 31, 2009.

- Last Updated 07/10/09 -