News Item
Court of Appeals Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr. to Receive 2019 Spirit of Excellence Award from American Bar Association
Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2019
The American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession has announced that
Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr. will be presented with its 2019 Spirit of Excellence Award for his commitment to racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession. The award will be presented during a ceremony on Jan. 26, 2019, during the ABA Midyear Meeting at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
The Spirit of Excellence Award celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of lawyers who work to promote a more racially and ethnically diverse legal profession. The Award is presented to lawyers who excel in their professional settings; who personify excellence on the national, state or local level; and who have demonstrated a commitment to racial and ethnic diversity in law.
From the ABA news release about the Award: “Throughout his illustrious legal career, Judge Peter Reyes has been driven by a strong desire to mentor and help others. Overcoming great adversity to achieve success in the legal profession, he has led by example in promoting diversity in the legal profession, giving a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves, and being a beacon of reason through difficult times. Through it all, Judge Reyes has always sought collaboration with others, understanding that only through collaboration can this success be had, and this is evident from his role in creating the Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy, among many other accomplishments. Judge Reyes exemplifies the highest qualities of a Spirit of Excellence awardee, and the Commission is proud to honor him.”
Peter M. Reyes, Jr., is a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals in St. Paul. He formerly worked as a senior intellectual property lawyer at Cargill and as a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He is active in the American Bar Association as a member of the House of Delegates, the Judicial Division, the Section of Intellectual Property Law, and the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. He also served on the ABA Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities and the ABA Council for Diversity in the Educational Pipeline. In addition, Judge Reyes served as national president of the Hispanic National Bar Association from 2012 to 2013, and president of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association from 2000 to 2003. In 2012 and 2013, Poder Magazine named him as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America. Judge Reyes received the 2016 Ohtli Award, the highest award the Mexican government presents to a non-Mexican citizen.