OUR INITIATIVES

The Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association seeks outstanding, service-minded individuals who reflect the breadth and diversity of the Chapter's membership to fill Executive Committee (officer and committee co-chair) positions for the 2025-2026 year (Sept. 1, 2025 - Aug. 31, 2026). 

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The FBA Leadership Application and Recommendation form can be found here.

Completed forms may be emailed to President Honorable Elizabeth Cowan Wright at ecwright@mnd.uscourts.gov and President-Elect Elsa Bullard at elsa.bullard@faegredrinker.com. The deadline for the submission is February 23, 2025.

The Bar Talk Newsletter Committee works to provide Minnesota FBA Chapter members with timely and valuable information about Chapter business through quarterly publication of the award-winning newsletter Bar Talk. To get involved in Bar Talk, please contact chairs Gina Tonn, Mary Nikolai, Devin Driscoll, or Alyssa Schaefer.

The Civil Discovery Committee works to make discovery better, faster, cheaper, and less confusing through educational resources and CLEs. To get involved in the committee, please contact chairs Honorable Jane Maschka, Andrew Tweeten, or Brittany Resch.

The Community Outreach Committee seeks to promote the Chapter’s mission—to strengthen the federal legal system, the administration of justice, and the rule of law—by engaging with community members, outside organizations, and schools through events, activities, and other programs. To get involved in the committee’s activities, please contact chairs Samuel Walling, Gabriel Ramirez-Hernandez, or Honorable William Fisher.

The Digital Communications Committee works to provide Minnesota FBA Chapter members with timely and valuable information about Chapter business through the Chapter website, the events platform, and timely emails to members. To get involved in the Chapter website, events platform, or emails, please contact chairs Tony Stauber, Nicholas Scheiner or Nathan Converse.

The commitment to diversity and inclusion is part of our collective duty as lawyers to uphold the Rule of Law and ensure that our justice system considers and reflects the diverse nature of our society. Through thoughtful programming, events, networking opportunities, outreach initiatives, and collaboration with other diverse groups, the Chapter not only connects people through action, but builds community, both inside and outside the Association. To get involved, please contact Vice Presidents of Diversity & Inclusion Honorable John Docherty, Natasha Townes Robinson, or Aaron Knoll.

The Chapter’s Annual Golf Tournament is a long-standing annual tradition that brings together members of the bench and bar at an end-of-season celebration filled with friendly competition and camaraderie. To get involved, please contact chairs Peter McElligott or Tracey Donesky.

The Intellectual Property Practice Group hosts a series of events designed to highlight cutting-edge legal issues in IP law and to bring together the judges and lawyers who adjudicate and litigate IP cases. If you would like to join the IP Committee or be included in its events, please contact chairs Sharon Roberg Perez, Sheila Niaz, or Courtland Merrill.

The Justice and Democracy Center Committee actively works with the Minnesota District Court to develop two Justice and Democracy Centers in both the St. Paul and Minneapolis Courthouses. To get involved, please contact chairs Prof. Elizabeth Bentley, or Shannon Bjorklund.

A key goal of the LSOC is to ensure that members of each school’s law student division are getting the most out of their membership, including learning about federal practice areas, meeting members of the FBA, federal bar, and judiciary; and cultivating relationships within the legal community. The LSOC provides local FBA Law Student Divisions with guidance on organizing events, obtaining funding, furthering diversity, and connecting with opportunities within the Minnesota Chapter of the FBA and FBA-National. They also hold events to recognize and support local law students. To get involved, please contact law school liaisons Megan Helstrom or Zac McFarland.

The Legal Education Committee organizes and presents the annual Federal Practice Seminar, a day-long program held each summer. The Seminar fosters improvements in the practice of federal law, including the elimination of bias, the promotion of diversity and inclusion and high standards of ethical practice, facilitating the administration of justice, and promoting legal education. The Committee meets regularly over the to identify innovative topics and speakers, develop the Seminar’s content, and plan and execute the Seminar. To get involved, please contact Vice Presidents of Legal Education Honorable Eric Tostrud, Donna Reuter, or Abou Amara

The Mass Tort, Multi-District Litigation, and Class Action Practice Group’s mission is to create a diverse community to address a spectrum of issues and substantive questions arising in cases in which a large number of plaintiffs assert common claims. The group focuses on both substantive and procedural legal developments as well as best practices. To get involved, please contact chairs Kate Baxter-Kauf, Gene Hummel, or Stacey Slaughter.

The Membership Committee develops  and implements the Chapter’s annual membership recruitment and retention programs, engaging in membership outreach to new members with an increased focus on diversity and inclusion with respect to members from the affinity bars, public sector, in-house, and greater Minnesota communities, as well as updating the Chapter’s Membership Plan. The Committee reviews the Chapter’s membership reports, which FBA National submits to the Chapter monthly, and contact those whose memberships have recently lapsed. To get involved, please contact Vice Presidents Barry Landy or Emily McAdam

The Mentorship Committee seeks to connect law students and others interested in pursuing a legal career with practicing attorneys offering practical information and support. One important area of focus for the Committee is on initiatives that demystify professional pathways for future lawyers from diverse backgrounds that have not had previous exposure to the legal profession. To get involved, please contact chairs Amanda Mills or Charles Toomajian

From September through May of each year, the FBA hosts a monthly luncheon at the Minneapolis Club on a topic of interest to the federal bench and bar. In addition to a chance to hear from engaging speakers on interesting topics, the lunches also offer opportunities for FBA members to network with each other and the federal judges, many of whom are in attendance. Please check the Chapter’s website and calendar for additional details. For more information about the FBA monthly lunches, please contact Vice Presidents Kelly Fermoyle, Bibi Metsche-Garcia, or Honorable Doug Micko.

The Newer Lawyers Committee is responsible for coordinating a series of monthly luncheons hosted by members of Minnesota’s federal bench for lawyers who have been practicing for five years or less. These luncheons present an excellent opportunity for newer lawyers to gather with federal judges on an informal basis. The Committee also plans events as part of the “Vintage” series, a program that connects newer lawyers with “vintage” lawyers for storytelling and sharing insights about federal practice. To get involved, please contact chairs Joseph Balthazor, or Greta Wiessner.

The Pro Se Project is an important initiative of the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association to improve the administration of justice. The Project strives to provide civil pro se litigants who receive a judicial referral with the opportunity to consult with volunteer counsel and thereby enhance access to justice in our federal courts. Thanks to the generous contribution of time and talent by more than 450 volunteer lawyers, the Project has served over 1,400 pro se litigants. Nationally recognized for its work with indigent and disabled individuals, the Project received the ABA’s prestigious Harrison Tweed Award. To get involved, contact the Pro Se Project Coordinators, Honorable Dulce Foster or Brittany Resch.

The Special Events Committee plans and organizes special events, including the FBA Dinner Dance, for the Minnesota Chapter. To get involved, contact Vice Presidents James Becker or Nathan Louwagie.

The White-Collar Crime Practice Group brings together prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and defense attorneys practicing in federal court to plan CLEs and social events designed to promote collegiality among lawyers from both sides of the courtroom. To get involved, please contact chairs Chelsea Walcker, Amy Conners, or Manny Atwal.