Announcing the Ninth Annual MLBA Conference and Membership Drive!
The 9th Annual MLBA Annual Conference, formerly known as Regional Lavender Law, will be held at William Mitchell College of Law on January 30, 2010. The Conference offers members and friends an excellent opportunity to learn, share, and network with local and national leaders who are committed to promoting social justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. This year we will feature 3 Tracks of CLE programming tailored to Solo/Small Practitioners, GLBT Law and Policy, a Non-GLBT Law and of course the ever popular Networking Luncheon.

Conference tickets and membership renewal options are now available to purchase online through Brown Paper Ticket at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/89108.

MLBA Tax Attorney Happy Hour,
December 1, 2009, 5:00 pm @ Ike’s
Have you noticed the number of MLBA members that practice in the area of tax law? Check out our member directory and see for yourself: http://www.mnlavbar.org/directory.htm.

We are getting together after the first day of this year’s tax institute. Please join us! Tuesday, December 1, 5:00 p.m. at Ike’s (50 S 6th St, Minneapolis). Questions? Contact Jenny Ryan (jennyryan@gmail.com). Interested in being listed in the membership directory? Contact Julie Plumitis (julie.plumitis@gmail.com).

The ACLU Thirteenth Annual Earl Larson Award,
November 18, 2009, 5:30 at the Minneapolis Club
This year’s Annual Earl Larson Award will honor Tom Kayser, an advocate for student rights and equality. Tom Kayser is a partner at the law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller Ciresi, LLP. Kayser spearheaded a lawsuit for the ACLU-MN against the Osseo School District and Maple Grove when it treated the student group, Straights and Gays for Equality (SAGE), less favorably than other student groups. In August of 2008, a federal appeals court upheld the ruling to require Maple Grove Senior High to treat SAGE the same as other student groups.

Come join us in honoring Tom Kayser as he is presented the Earl Larson Award at a reception on Wednesday, November 18th at the Minneapolis Club. For further information, visit http://action.aclu.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=106561

HCBA Offers Opportunity for Interested MLBA Member to Assist with CLE Training
The Hennepin County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee is offering an interested MLBA member the opportunity to present a CLE training over a lunch hour on December 16, 2009. The topic is "Defending a Collection Lawsuit.” If interested, please contact Mark L. Vavreck, Attorney at Law
(612) 659-9500
Co-Chair HCBA Debtor/Creditor Section
MARTINEAU, GONKO &VAVRECK, PLLC

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Commission on Judicial Selection Announces Sixth Judicial District Vacancy
The Commission on Judicial Selection today announced that applications are now being accepted for a trial court bench vacancy in the city of Duluth in St. Louis County. Licensed Minnesota attorneys who are residents of the Sixth Judicial District may request an application for this position by calling John Hultquist at 651-296-0019, via e-mail at john.hultquist@state.mn.us or by writing:

Ronald J. Schutz,
Chair, Commission on Judicial Selection
130 State Capitol,
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

All candidates for this vacancy must submit an application. Applications and letters of recommendation must be submitted to the above address so they are received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2009. Applicants are asked not to contact the commission members individually, as the nine at-large members and the four district members will conduct interviews at a later date.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

President Obama Signs Hate Crime Prevention Act
On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act. This piece of critical and historical legislation extends hate crime protection through federal dollars and programs. This new law gives the Justice Department the power to investigate bias-motivated violence in situations where the perpetrator targets individuals due to the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Here in Minnesota, Hate Crimes against LGBT individuals have risen 300% since 2006. In celebration of President Obama signing the Federal Hate Crime Prevention Act, Outfront Minnesota sponsored a candle light vigil on October 30th to remember the victims for whom this bill came too late and to give hope to those who are currently dealing with a Hate Crime issue. For more information on the 2008 Report on Anti-GLBT Violence, please visit http://outfront.hutman.net/antiviolence/2008report. For more information on the signing of the Federal Hate Crimes bill, please visit: http://www.hrc.org/news.htm.

Get your own newsletter!

Was this newsletter forwarded to you by a friend? Get your own subscription. To add your email address to the newsletter mailing list, click here.

Subscription Update?

Changed your email address or need to unsubscribe to the newsletter?
Click here and let us know.

Job Opportunities posted
on MLBA website

MLBA receives a number of notices from employers seeking candidates for open positions. We try to post these on our web site regularly, and in fact have now created a specific page dedicated to sharing these opportunities.
Please click here for more information. http://www.mnlavbar.org/Employment.htm