Public Law Section: 2025 Awards

The Public Law Section is comprised of MSBA, HCBA, and RCBA members working in local, state and federal government, in education, on the bench, and in various private law firms and businesses. Section members work together to provide services and programs relating to the unique needs of public and private attorneys involved with public law issues.

On Friday, May 30, the Section held its annual CLE, luncheon, and award ceremony. It was an all day event, held at the Eddie Manterville Chalet at Theodore Wirth Park that began with a morning of CLEs with the theme “Happy 35th Birthday ADA.” The last CLE of the day was “Complying with the ADA while providing Programs & Services,” presented by Nicole Salonek Schladt (Department of Human Rights) and Chad Wilson (Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid). 

The second part of the event was the Luncheon and Awards Ceremony. The MC’s for the Awards were Amber Eisenschenk and Lisa Godon, the co-chairs of the Public Law Council. Honorees are listed below.

• Retired Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung (United States District Court) was nominated for the Rosalie E. Wahl Judicial Award of Excellence by Brandon Luu (Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson, P.A.).
   
• Jason Stover (Anoka County Attorney’s Office) was nominated for the Public Attorney Award of Excellence by Pam LeBlanc (Anoka County Attorney’s Office).
   
• Robin Benson (Minnesota Department of Health) was not able to attend but he was nominated for the Public Attorney Award of Excellence by Justin Kwong (Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development).
   
• Stacy St. George (Dakota County Attorney’s Office) was nominated for the Julius E. Gernes Prosecutor Award of Excellence by Anne Zimmerman (Ramsey County Attorney’s Office).
   
• Larisa Gehmie accepted the William McGee Public Defender Award of Excellence on behalf of her aunt, Nadine Graves (Public Defenders Office, 4th District), nominated by Jesse Dong (Public Defenders Office-4th District).
   
• Judge Keala C. Ede (Minnesota Court of Appeals) was nominated for the Public Law Diversity Award by Maggie Chen (MN Supreme Court).
   
• Scott Cutcher (Public Defenders Office-5th District) was nominated for the Douglas K. Amdahl Public Attorney Career Achievement Award by William Ward and Cathryn Middlebrook (Public Defenders Office-5th District).
   
• Bill Neiman (retired) was nominated for the Douglas K. Amdahl Public Attorney Career Achievement Award by Julia Hillel (Children’s Law Center of MN).