MSBA Public Law Section

Section Membership
As of June 3rd, 2013, the Public Law Section has 484 members. This accounts for a 5% decrease in Section membership since July 1, 2012.

Financial Status
The Public Law Section had an account balance of $5713.37 as of May 31, 2013.

Program	Date		Event Code	CLE Credit
Public Law Section Annual Meeting CLE: "Religious Expression in Public and Government Spaces"		5/17/13	178337	2.5 EOB

Community Service
The PLS sponsored six Loaves and Fishes events over the last year. The mission of Loaves and Fishes is to “provide nutritious meals to people who are hungry in the twin cities metro area in an atmosphere of hospitality at site locations where the need is greatest and to develop joint ventures/partnerships with like-minded organizations to assist guests with additional basic needs key to becoming self-sufficient.” The PLS purchases the food for the meals and PLS members volunteer to prepare the food.

The PLS also sponsored several families over the holiday season and bought gifts for the family members. The program is run by Lutheran Social Services.

Legislation and Amicus Briefs
The Public Law Section did not submit any legislative proposals or amicus briefs in 2012-13.

Annual Meeting and Election Results
The Section’s annual meeting and elections were held on May 17, 2013, at Hamline University’s Klas Center. The program, including an awards presentation, lunch and CLE, was well attended with 106 participants.
The following individuals were elected to serve as Section Officers in 2013-14:
Section Co-Chairs: Margaret Westin, General Counsel, Osseo Public Schools and Lynn Belgea, Legal Counsel, Minnesota Department of Health
Section Treasurer: Hon. Diane R. Alshouse, Ramsey County, Second Judicial District
Section Secretary: Jim Alexander, U.S Attorney’s Office
The following individuals were elected to serve on the Public Law Section Council from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014:
Executive Council (1-year term):
Lisa Godon, Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office

Executive Council (2-year term):
Juan Hoyos, Ramsey County Attorney’s Office
Corrine Heine, Minnetonka City Attorney
Inta Sellars, Appeals Division, Minnesota Department of Human Services
Laura Zajac – General Counsel, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Lisa Veith – Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office
PLS awards were presented to the following individuals:
P. Kenneth Kohnstamm Pro Bono Award of Excellence: Nancy McLean
Rosalie E. Wahl Judicial Award of Excellence: Hon. J. Thomas Mott
Douglas K. Amdahl Public Attorney Career Achievement Award: Steven C. Moon
Douglas K. Amdahl Public Attorney Career Achievement Award: Mary E. Miller
Julius E. Gernes Prosecutor Award of Excellence: William F. Klumpp, Jr.
William E. McGee Public Defender Award of Excellence: Michael F. Crommett
Public Attorney Award of Excellence – Public Law Office Counsel: John Kirwin
Public Attorney Award of Excellence – In-House Agency Counsel: Ann Stiehm Ahlstrom
Submitted By:

Inta Sellars and Margaret Westin, Section Co-Chairs