International Be Kind to Lawyers Day
- What is International Be Kind to Lawyers Day?
To us, it's a day to celebrate our team of attorneys fighting the good fight and standing up for public interest and the environment in Minnesota's courts. Our lawyers work super hard every day to be prepared for our legal battles against heavily-funded corporate interests. On Tuesday, April 13th, we celebrate that hard work!
- What can I do to "be kind" to MCEA's legal team?
There are many ways (and you might even be doing them)! Our lawyers love to hear from our supporters, feel free to drop a staff attorney an email of thanks, or by donating to MCEA, you are directly contributing to our ability to staff some of the best legal minds in Minnesota and have the resources to take on some of Minnesota's most pressing environmental issues.
LOVE OUR LAWYERS? DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR LEGAL TEAM'S WORK!
IN THE SPIRIT OF BE KIND TO LAWYERS DAY, WE INTERVIEWED MEMBERS OF OUR LEGAL TEAM — YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THEM IN COURT, ON THE NEWS, OR IN ONE OF OUR WEBINARS — BUT, HERE'S A CHANCE TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW (AND MAYBE A LITTLE GOOFY) ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE LAWSUITS:
Kathryn Hoffman
Currently Working On: Realizing her vision of making MCEA the Premier non-profit organization to work for and raising the bar for non-profit organizations everywhere.
Favorite Legal Drama: On The Basis of Sex (RBG biopic)
Hobbies: I’m a Maker. I enjoy almost any creative pursuit with textiles, and appreciate anyone who can help me take the craft to the next level. I use some of my vacation every year to travel and learn from expert couture clothing designers and seamstresses. My next project will be making my own shoes!
Pictured: Kathryn proudly displaying her hand-knit RGB sweater
Kevin Reuther
Currently Working On: Just about everything!
True Confession: He may or may not have been wearing shorts and flip flops in several of those webinars...
Little Known Fact: He learned to knit during the pandemic and just finished his first socks!
Favorite Quotes: “power concedes nothing without a demand” (Frederick Douglas), “good luck. And don’t f—- it up” (RuPaul)
Ellen Anderson
Currently Working On: Xcel IRP, Next Gen Climate Act, climate/energy legislation, etc.
Little Known Fact: First woman to wear pants on MN Senate floor
Favorite Legal Drama: Suspect (1987, with Cher)
Hobbies: becoming a pool shark, playing the fiddle badly
Joy Anderson
Currently Working On: Barrick Farms appeal, Clean Cars Minnesota rulemaking
True Confession: She racked up 90 fouls during her junior year basketball season, a record she assumes still has not been surpassed at her high school.
Favorite Legal Drama: Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
Little Known Fact: 4H State Champion Rabbit Judger, 1992
Ann Cohen
Currently Working On: Not giving in to MCEA peer pressure on knitting.
Nickname: “Queen of Underground.”
Favorite Quote: “Swinhood hath no remedy.” (American Poet Sidney Lanier)
Favorite Legal Drama: Trial of the Chicago 7
Hobbies: J'espère maîtriser le français. Aussi le ping-pong.
Jay Eidsness
Currently Working On: East Phillips Campus Expansion, Barrick Farms, and Limbo Creek
Nickname: Dizzle
True Confession: Jay once lost his mountain bike when he dismounted mid-trail to search for mushrooms.
Hobbies: Phenology, woodworking
Stephanie Fitzgerald
Currently Working On: Limbo Creek and utility resource planning
True Confession: Stephanie cannot carry a tune.
Quote: Everything Niles Crane ever said.
Favorite Legal Drama: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Hobbies: vegetarian cooking; making little messes around the house
JT Haines
Currently Working On: Duluth-y things. Also, the wild and crazy idea that downstream communities belong at the table.
Nickname: Jonathan Thomas
True Confession: I took the last chilled LaCroix from the fridge. And, I snuck my brother into my law school yearbook.
Favorite Legal Drama: The Wire? Does that count? LA Law? I'm guessing that one doesn't hold up but the theme song was the JAM.
Little Known Fact: I'm on a film team! #Hockeyland coming soon.
Elise Larson
Currently Working On: All things water, but is currently spending a lot of time on Limbo Creek.
Nickname: Ann calls her "Khaleesi", (Elise, but only Elise, gets to call Ann "Anita")
True Confession: Elise has a mild case of fructaphobia - you can’t get her near a glass of juice or cooked fruit desserts like pie or apple crisp.
Quote: "I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability." (RBG).
Favorite Legal Drama: Law and Order SVU. Elise grew up wanting to be Alexandra Cabot.
Melissa Lorentz
Currently Working On: Updating Minnesota’s water quality standards
Nickname: Mel, Marveda (grandmother’s name, of unknown origin)
Hobbies: Dancing when nobody’s watching. Also, nieces are unsuccessfully giving rollerblade lessons.
Evan Mullholland
Currently Working On: Minnesota Power and PolyMet
True Confession: I’ve only been ice fishing once!
Little Known Fact: I spent a year waiting tables at the Cactus Cantina near Georgetown in DC
Quote: "The new dawn blooms as we free it -- For there is always light, -- if only we're brave enough to see it -- If only we're brave enough to be it" (Amanda Gorman)
Hobbies: Live Jazz, floating Minnehaha Creek
Amelia Vohs
Currently Working On: Line 3, Incorporating climate analysis into environmental review
Nickname: Meels, Meels on Wheels, Badger (Most people in Indiana don’t even know my real name, they just call me Badger)
True Confession: I’m afraid of birds. The south Minneapolis wild turkey collective terrifies me. Also, until I was 30 years old, I thought the lyrics to the “Friends” theme song were: “When it hasn’t been your day, we come up and breathe in your ear.” Turns out, it's “When it hasn’t been your day, your month, your week, or even your year.”
Little Known Fact: I was a child Norwegian sweater model...for an outlet store.
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