Civil Litigation Section Issues Advocate Award to Former Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea

The Civil Litigation Section of the MSBA presents its annual Advocate Award to someone who has greatly improved the civil litigation system in Minnesota. The award has been presented by the Section for 30 years.

This year the Advocate Award will be presented to Former Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea, who retired from the Minnesota Supreme Court in October of 2023. 

The factors considered by the Section's Governing Council are whether the nominee: 

• brought about structural improvements in the civil litigation system;
• advanced the cause of under-represented groups in the civil litigation system;
• demonstrated a commitment to the civil litigation system over years of service; and
• furthered improvement in the civil litigation system without receiving appropriate recognition

In the 1990s, as a member of the Civil Litigation Section Governing Council, I helped draft the factors the Governing Council considers when deciding who should receive the Advocate Award. The Civil Litigation nominated Chief Justice Gildea for improving the litigation landscape for Minnesota attorneys and litigants. A few of her most obvious contributions include:

• Steering Minnesota’s courts through the COVID years
• Implementing electronic filing in both the district and appellate courts
• Seeking and maintaining funding for Minnesota’s courts in difficult budgeting years
• Overseeing the numerous court rules committees
• Overseeing the formation and development of committees to ensure equality and fairness for all involved in the justice system, including civil litigants

• Through orders, furthering the ability of participants in civil litigation to reduce costs and increase efficiency through video appearances

Please join the Civil Litigation Section for presentation of the Advocate Award at our 2024 Annual Dinner held Thursday May 9 at Windows at Marquette, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to presentation of the award, the evening’s festivities will also include time for socializing, a sit-down dinner, and a keynote speech by Chief Justice Natalie Hudson. 

Kenneth Bayliss III, Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A.