News Item
Mary Stapleton Receives First Judicial District Amicus Curiae Award

Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2015

The First Judicial District presented its fifth annual Amicus Curiae Award to Mary Stapleton on June 11, 2015.  The Amicus Curiae Award, meaning Friend of the Court, is an annual recognition of persons who have provided exceptional service, leadership or other contributions to assist the courts in the First Judicial District discharge their constitutional responsibility for the administration of justice.  Mary Stapleton was nominated by First District Judges Kevin Eide, Janet Cain, Michael Wentzell and Eric Braaten for her exemplary volunteer work on behalf of children and families.

Mary Stapleton was a volunteer guardian ad litem from 1994-2003 and a contract guardian ad litem from 2003-2010.  For the last five years (since 2010) she has been an unpaid volunteer for the guardian ad litem program.  Mary has volunteered literally thousands of hours serving and advocating for the best interests of children.  She is a member of the Carver County Children’s Justice Initiative Committee (CJI) and has been a member since 2001 when the CJI Committee was formed as part of a pilot program with the Minnesota Supreme Court.  Mary is an active member and faithfully attends CJI meetings and conferences with the team.  She is a strong and compassionate voice for children who often cannot advocate for themselves.  Mary has made deep connections with the children she advocates for and the families she works with and has made a lasting impact on their lives.  In addition, she has also served as a citizen volunteer for the Carver County Justice Advisory Committee.

Mary is an active community volunteer.  She is member and Past President of the local chapter of Minnesota League of Woman Voters, member of the Chaska Historical Society, Past Chairman of the Chaska Park and Recreation Board, and Past Member of the Chaska Planning Commission.  Mary is also a very active volunteer in the local educational community and her church.

Past recipients of the Amicus Curiae Award are: Liz Reppe, Dana McKenzie, Merlyn Meinerts, Mary Freyberg, the law firm of Lindquist & Vennum, Sharon Freiling, Karissa Richardson, Dan Beeson, Wayne Jagow, Lloyd Moosbrugger, Bob Morris, and Jerome Wickert.