MINNESOTA JUSTICES SERIESNo.2

THE PR(ffSSlflJAL CAREEROF RffiERT J. SHERAN

VOLUME 1

LIFE LEGAL AND JUDICIALCAREER

STi.PAUL982

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VOLUME 1

LIFE LEGAL AND JUDICIAL CAREER

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement

Introduction

CHAPTER 1

Biographical Information

A. Biography

B. Amicus Curiae

C. Law and Legislative Career

1. Poster for Former Lt. Governor2. Voting Advertisment3. Head of Bar Association

CHAPTER 2

Associate Justice of theMinnesota Supreme Court

1963-1970

A. Selected Letters on Appointment

i

ii

1

7

101112

1.

2.3.

4.5.

6.7.8.

9.10.

\

11.12.

13.

Byron G. Allen-Democratic NationalCommitteeman; Candidate for Governor,Minnesota 13

Elmer L. Anderson-Governor of Minnesota 14Harry A. Blackmun-Attorney at Law,

Minnesota; Judge, U.S. Circuit Courtof Appeals 15

Val Bjornson-Minnesota State Treasurer 16Lyman A. Brink~Judge, District Court,

Minnesota, Ninth District 17Thomas Conlin-Esquire 18Marty Crowe-Classmate 19Edward J. Devitt-Judge, U.S. District

Court 21Clement De Muth-Pastor; Missionary Korea 22George D. Erickson-Judge, District Court

Hinnesota, Ninth District 23Edward Fitzgerald-Bishop of Winona 24Donald M. Fraser-U.S. Congressman

(currently Mayor of Minneapolis) 25Kelton Gage-Esquire 26

14. Edward J. Gavin-Esquire 2715. Leonard L. Harkness-State 4-H Club

Leader; Agricultural Professor,University of Minnesota 28

16. Rex H. Hill-Mayor of Hankato 2917., Fred Hughes-Esquire; Regent of University

of Minnesota 3018. Hubert H. Humphrey-U.S. Senate 3119. Gus Johnson-Esquire 3220. Wynn Kearny, M.D. 3321. Bernhard Le Vander-Law School Classmate 3522. Robert Lloyd-Personal Friend 3623. Perry Moore, Esquire 3724. Eugene J. McCarthy-U.S. Senate 3825. Paul J. McGough-Esquire 3926. Frederick Manfred-Author of Indian Lore

and Minnesota History 4027. Milton Mason-Judge, District Court,

Fifth District 4128. Joseph A. Maun-Esquire 4329. Walter F. Mondale-Minnesota Attorney

General, U.S. Senate; U.s. Vice-President 44

30. Joe Morrison-Judge, Probate Court 4531. Edward L. Murphy-Businessman 4632. James F. Murphy-Judge, District Court

Ninth District 4733. Mercedes Nelson-Educator 4834. Arthur H. Ogle-Esquire 4935. Joseph P. O'Hara-Esquire 5036. Warren F. Plunkett-Judge, District Court

Third District ·5137. William J. Quinn~Personal Friend;

Debate Teammate 5338. Robert V. Bensch-Judge, District Court

Second District 5439. Eugene A. Rerat-Esquire 5540. C. A. Rolloff-Judge, District Coure,

Eighth District 5741. Karl F. Rolvaag-Lt. Governor and Governor

of Minnesota 5842. Robert W. Scott-Esquire 5943. Bob SeInes-Judge, District Court 6044. James P. Shannon-Former Bishop of

Minnesota, Currently General MillsExecutive 61

45. John Simonett-Associate Justice r SupremeCourt of Minnesota 63

46. Bruce C. Stone-Judge, District Court,Fourth District 64

,47. William Stradtmann-Esquire 6548. Crane Winton-Judge, District Court

Fourth District 6649. Luther Youngdahl-Former Governor of

Minnesota, Judge, U.S. District Court 67

B. Articles and Letters as Associate Justice

1. Robert Sheran is New Supreme Court 68Associate Justice

2. Election Advertisment 703. Letter from Elmer L. Anderson 714. Letter from Orville L. Freeman, Governor

of Minnesota; Secretary, U.S. Depart-ment of Agricultural 72

5. Letter from Luther Sletten-Judge,District Court, Fourth District 73

6. Letter from Hubert H. Humphrey-U.S.Vice-President 74

7. Reading fills Life of Former Mankatoan 75

C. Letters on Retirement

1. Douglas K. Amdahl-Judge, District(currently Chief Justice, MinnesotaSupreme Court) 78

2. Elmer L. Anderson 793. Harry A. Blackmun-Judge, U.S. Supreme

Court 804. J. Brainerd Clarkson-Esquire 815. Edward J. Devitt 826. Donald Franke-Judge, District Court

Third District 837. Orville L. Freeman 848. Sidney P. Gislason-Esquire 859. Douglas M. Head-Minnesota Attorney

General 8610. Fred J. Hughes 8711. A.M. Keith-Esquire 8812. Glenn Kelley-Judge, District Court

Third District, Associate JusticeMinnesota Supreme Court 89

13. William B. Lockhart-Dean, University ofMinnesota Law School 90

14. Eugene J. McCarthy 9115. John S. Pillsbury-Law School Classmate,

State Senator 9216. Ralph Rossen-M.D.; Director, Mount

Sinai Hospital 9317. William J. Quinn 9418. George M. Scott-Hennepin County Attorney,

Associate Justice, Minnesota SupremeCourt 95

19. Charles R. Weqver-U.S. Congressman 96~O. Eugene Worley-Chief Judge, U.S. Court

of Customs and Patent Appeals 97

CHAPTER 3

Chief Justice of theMinnesota Supreme Court

1973-1981

A. Articles on Judge Sheran as Chief Justice

1. Mr. Chief Justice Sheran - A Law FirmAppreciation by Leonard Lindquist - 42Hennepin Lawyer 1 (1974) 98

2. Sheran Returns to Court as Chief Justiceby Kenneth Kirwin,- 30 Bench and Bar19 (1974) 102

B. Selected Letters on Appointment

1. Elmer L. Anderson 1052. Leslie L. Anderson-Judge District

Court, Fourth District 1063. Carl Auerbach-Professor, University of

Minnesota Law School 1074. Donald T. Barbeau-Judge, District Court,

Fourth District 1085. Frank R. Barth-President, Gustavus

Adolphus College 1096. Harry A. Blackmun 1107. Irving R. Brand-Esquire III8. Robert E. Bowen-Esquire 1129. Leo E. Byrne-Archbishop Co-adjuter of

St. Paul and Minneapolis 11310. Thomas L. Carlin-General Manager,

-St. Paul Dispatch/Pioneer Press 11411. Charles E. Cashman-Judge, County CouJt 11512. Gerald W. Christenson-Director, State

Planning Agency 11613. Thomas M. Conlin-Esquire 11714. Edward J. Devitt 11815. Peter Dorsey-Esquire 11916. Albert A. Eise1e-Journa1ist-Ridder

Publications 12017. Charlotte Farrish-Former Law Partner 12118. Orville L. Freeman-President, Business

International 12219. Edward J. Gavin-Esquire 12320. Frank Hammond-Esquire 12421. Arnold Hatfield-Judge, District·Court

Retired, Third District 12522. Hubert H. Humphrey 12623. L.J. Irvine-Judge, District Court

Fourth District 127

24.25.26.27.

28./

29.30.31.32.

33.34.

35.

36.37.38.

39.

40.41.42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.48.

49.

50.51.

Gus Johnson-Esquire 128Glenn Kelley 129Leonard J. Keyes-Esquire 130Theodore B. Knudson-Judge, District

Court, Fourth District 131Jonathan Lebedoff-Judge, District

Court, Fourth District 132Bernhard W. Le Vander-Esquire 133Milton Mason 134Leslie H. Morse-Esquire 135Edward D. Mulally-Judge, District Court

Second District 137Edward Murphy-President, Murphy Motors 139James F. Murphy-Judge, District Court

Ninth District 140Terrence J. Murphy-President, College

of St. Thomas 141Mercedes L. Nelson 142Clifford Olson-Judge, County Court 143James C. Otis-Associate Justice,

Minnesota Supreme Court 144Walter F. Rogosheske, Associate Justice

Minnesota Supreme Court 145John S. Pillsbury 146Maynard E. Pirsig-Law Professor 147William F. Quinn-Chairman of Board,

Chicago, Milwaukee R.R. 148Neil A. Riley-Judge, Municipal Court

Fourth District 149Arthur A. Rouner, Jr.-PastQr, Colonial

Church of Edina 150Joseph Robbie-Managing Partner, Miami

Dolphins 151James D. Rodgers-Chief Judge, Municipal

Court, Fourth District 152Ralph Rossen-M.D. 153Warren A. Saetre-Judge, District Court

Seventh District 154Paul E. Schuessler-Pastor, A1grim

Lutheran Church, St. Paul 155James P. Shannon 156Urban T. Steimann-Judge, District

Court, Third District 157

C. Letters on Retirement as Chief Justice

1. Cliff J. Benson-Esquire 1582. Dave Durenberge-U.S. Senator 1593. John E. Derus-Board of Hennepin County

Commissioners 160

4. Ralph J. Erickstad-Chief Justice ofNorth Dakota Supreme Court 161

5. Frank S. Farrell-Senior Vice President,Law and Secretary 162

6. Edward R. Garvey-Executive Director ofNational Football League Players Assn. 163

7. Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman-Adath JeshurunCongregation 164

8. Alfred H. Joslin-Esquire 1669. John C. Lindstrom-Judge, District Court,

Eighth District 16710. William J. Nierengarten-Esquire 16811. Albert H. Quie-Governor of State of

Minnesota 16912. Gerald A. Regnier-Esquire 17113. William S. Rosen-Esquire 17214. Warren Spannaus-Attorney General of

State of Minnesota 17315. Harold E. Stassen-Former Governor of

State of Minnesota 17416. Bruce C. Stone-Judge, District Court,

Fourth District 17517. Bruce F. Vento-U.S. Congressman 17618. Ernst John Watts-Dean of The National

Judicial College 17719. DePaul Willette-Judge, District Court,

Eighth District 17820. Roger L. Wollman-Chief Justice of South

Dakota Supreme Court 17921. Stephen B. Young-Dean of Hamlin

University School of Law 180

CHAPTER 4

Personal Accounts of Friends and ColleaguesI

1. Tim Baland-Law Clerk2. Albert Barney-Chief Justice, Vermont

Supreme Court3. Harry A. Blackmun-Associate Justice

U.S. Supreme Court4. John H. EricksoniLaw Cleuk5. David F. Fitzgerald-Law Clerk6. Thomas F. Gallagher-Associate Justice,

Minnesota Supreme Court7. Loren Gross-Law Clerk8. John Guthmann-Law Clerk

,9. Barbara Isaacman-Law Clerk10. Robert W. Johnson11. Dorothy Marchant12. Glenn O. Nelson-Law Clerk

181I

191

192209213

214215219220223A223C224

13. Carol O'Keefe-Secretary to ChiefJustice Sheran 226

14. Bruce Peterson-Law Clerk 22715. William J. Quinn-Debate Partner 23416. Deborah M. Regan-Law Clerk 23717. Sidney A. Rand-President, Emeritus

St. Olaf College 23818. James P. Shannon-Vice-President

Foundation 23919. Robert F. Utter-Chief Justice, Washington

Washington Supreme Court 240

CHAPTER 5

Certificates and Honors

1. Minnesota Law Review Student, 1938 2432. University of Minnesota Bachelor of

Laws Degree, 1939 2443. Admission into State Practice, 1939 2454. Picture signed by J. Edgar H00ver{ 1945 2465. Admission to Practice in District

Courts, 1945 2476. War Service Certificate, 1945 2487. Katherine Schmoll Will Contest, 1952 2498. Admission to Practice in Court of

Appeals, 1953 2509. Appointment as Associate Justice, 1963 251

10. Doctor of Laws at St. Mary's College,1963" 252

11. The Teresa of Avila Award, 1964 25412. Marshman Wattson Memorial Award, 1965 25513. Doctor of Laws at William Mitchell

College of Law, 1975 25714. Doctor of Laws at Hamline University

School of Law, 1976 25815. Certificate of Election, 1976 25916. Special Commendation at University of

Minnesota, 1977 26017. Alumni Service Award at University of

Minnesota, 1980 26118. Resolution by Hennepin County Board

of Commissioners, 1981 26319. Trees for Israel, 1981 264

CHAPTER 6

Regional Meeting of theInternational Acqdemy of Trial Lawyers

1. John Alan Appleman-Esquire2. Elmer L. Anderson

265266

3. Wendell R. Anderson-U.S. Senate 2674. Melvin M. Belli-Esquire 2685. James Dempsey-Esquire 2696. Bill DeParcq-Esquire 2707. James Dolley-Associate Justice, Illinois

Supreme Court 2718. William H. Erickson~Associate Justice,

Colorado Supreme Court 2729. Hubert H. Humphrey-U.S. Senate 273

10. Walter F. Mondale-Vice-President 27411. Rudy Perpich-Governor, State of· ...

Minnesota 275

VOLUME 2 - Written Communications

Articles, Reports, Opinions

Introduction

CHAPTER 7

The Conference of Chief Justices

i

A. Report to the Conference of Chief Justices 1From the Task Force on a State CourtImprovement Act

B. Interview with Chief Justice Robert Sheran,Chairman of the Conference of Chief Justices,13 The Third Branch 1 (1981) 67

C. CCJ. COSCA Leaders Assess Year's Programs8 National Center for State Court Reports1 (1981) 72

D. Letters to Chief Justice Sheran Regardingthe Conference of Chief Justices NationalConferences in 1977

1. Alaska - Robert Boochever2. Alaska - Jay Robinowitz3. Arkansas - C.R. Euie4. Arkansas - C.R. Huie5. California - Frank Richardson6. Connecticut - Charles House7. Idaho - Joseph McFadden8. Kansas - Harold Fatzer9. Maryland - Robert Murphy

10. Michigan - Michael Cavanagh11. New Hampshire - Frank Kenison12. New Hampshire - Frank Kenison

747576777879808182838485

13. New Jersey - Richard Hughes14. New Jersey - Richard Hughes15. Oregon - Arno Denecke16. Pennsylvania - Michael Eagen17. South Dakota - Francis Dunn18. South Dakota - Mark Geddes19. Utah - Richard Peay20. Virginia - Lawrence I'Anson

8688899091929394

E. Resolution: In Appreciation of Chief JusticeRobert J. Sheran 95

CHAPTER 8

State of the Judiciary Messages

1. 1975

2. 1976

3. 1977

4. 1978

5. 1979

6. 1980

7. 1981

CHAPTER 9

Articles Written by Robert J. Sheran

96

119

162

183

217

238

257

1. Procedure Outlined to Insure IndigentsAdequate Appeal Record. February, 1964,'Hennepin Lawyer 297

2. Advice Given on Appeal Procedure. March,1964, Hennepin Lawyer 301

3. Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Affect­ing Criminal Trials in State Courts,January, 1965, Bench and Bar 302

4. Change Meaning of Due Process. Summer/Fall1965, Minnesota Welfare 308

5. ,Amendments to Rules of Civil Procedure,'February 1968, Hennepin Lawyer 314

6. Minnesota Plan: Mandatory Continuing LegalEducation for Lawyers and Judges As A Con­dition For the Maintaining Of Profess~onalLicensing. May 1976, Fortlham Law Rev~ew 317

7. The Law, Courts; and Lawyers in the FrontierDays of Minnesota: An Informal LegalHistory of the Years 1835 to 1865, 1976,William Mitchell Law Review 334

8. State Cases Belong in State Courts. October1978, Creighton Law Review 387

9. State Courts and Federalism in the 1980's:Comment, Summer 1981, William and Mary LawReview 457

10. Propping up State Courts with FederalDollars. Winter 1978, Judges Journal 470

CHAPTER 10

Introduction

A. Bibliography of Opinions Written byRobert J. Sheran

VOLill1E 3 - Verbal Communications

Speeches, Interviews, Comments, Remarks

Introduction

CHAPTER 11

Testimony Given Before theUnited States Congress

479

i

1. Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties,and the Administration of Justice. HouseJudiciary Committee on The State of theJudiciary and Access to Justice. July 28,1977 1

2. LEAA Funding. Testimony before UnitedStates House Judiciary Subcommittee onCrime. March 1, 1978 19

3. Subcommittee on Improvements in Judicial,Machinery. U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee~n The Allocation of Jurisdiction AsBetween State and Federal Courts. March 20,1978 41

Addresses Given to the Public

CHAPTER 12

8. Ethical Aspects of Due Process, Februar~ 22,1965 199

280

1726. Fraternity. Northfield, 1964

5. Kennedy Memorial. Mankato State College,November 24, 1963 170

3. Remarks to Hennepin County Bar Association.Minneapolis, October 8, 1963 158

2. Liberty's Debt to Law Enforcement.Minnesota Sheriff's Convention. Mankato,December 12, 1963 152

7. News Media and Fundamental Fairness in theTrial of Criminal Cases. College of St.Thomas, February 21, 1965 179

5. Senate Judiciary Committee on DiversityJurisdiction and Related Problems. March 21,1979 76

4. Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, andthe Administration of Justice on The MinorDispute Resolution Act. August 2, 1978 59

4. The Insurance Industry - A Lawyer's View.Minneapolis, November 20, 1963 161

1. Municipal Government - Democracy'sLaboratory. Mankato, 1963 144

ll~ Minnesota Courts and Judges CitizensConference. September 8, 1966 246

9. Rights of Offenders. Central StatesCorrections Conference, May 17, 1966 212

10. The Court and the Constitution. 29th AnnualConference National Council .of JuvenileCourt Judges, June 21, 1966 229

12. Speech to the Catholic Daughters of America.\Waseca, Minnesota, April 24, 1968 473

13. Golden Deeds Award Banquet. Mankato,Minnesota, March 25, 1969

14. Social Work and the Law. University ofMinnesota, October 13, 1969 287

15. Hennepin County Memorial Services.Courthouse, 1971 314

16. Private Colleges: Envo1ving SocialInstitutions. President's Council,November 8, 1974 330

17. Arbitration in Minnesota. AmericanArbitration Association, Minneapolis,Minnesota, May 12, 1976 344

18. Dedication of Nobles County CourtsBuilding. Worthington, Minnesota, May 20,1977 362

19. Dedication of the Minnesota Valley RegionalLibrary. Mankato, Minnesota, May 12, 1977 368

20. The Changing Legal Profession. Universityof Minnesota, June 10, 1977 371

21. State and Federal Relations: Allocation ofJurisdiction as Between State and FederalCourts. Brainerd, Minnesota, August 19-21,1980 379

22. Freedom of Education. Mankato, Minnesota,Fall, 1980 405

23. Bar Admissions and the Role of the Courts.New York City, New York, November 14, 1981 419

CHAPTER 13

Oral Interviews

1. Public Affairs Forum - March 9 , 1977 427

2. Minnesota Historical Society - April 28,1978 438

3. Minnesota Issues - April 19, 1981 485

4. Dick Pomerantz Show - August 17, 1981 489\

5. Interview for Quare - September 15, 1981 508

6. Minnesota Issues - December 20, 1981 540

7 . State Law Library - January 17, 1982 555