Public Notice Detail

ST. PAUL, MINN. (Sept. 23, 2002) – The Minnesota District Judges Association (MDJA) has announced that Otter Tail County District Court Judge Thomas M. Stringer and Anoka County District Court Judge James A. Morrow are this year’s recipients of the awards for exemplary service to the state judicial system.  MDJA has also announced that Renville County District Court Judge Randall J. Slieter has received the association’s award for outstanding service to the community and judicial system.

This is the sixth year the MDJA has honored judges.  Nominations for the awards were submitted by judges, court staff, attorneys and the public.  A committee of retired district court judges selected the winners.

Judge Stringer

Judge Stringer received the Award for Exemplary Service to the Judicial System for his work in the MDJA, where he has served as an officer for four years, including president in 2000-2001.

“His work on behalf of the association and its members has been tireless,” said District Court Judge Richard Perkins, President of MDJA.  “He has worked to achieve the Judicial Branch’s legislative goals including salary increases for law clerks, which has resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of law clerk applicants and appointees much to the benefit of the entire judicial system.”

Judge Stringer is also recognized for his exemplary handling of recent complex product liability and highway design lawsuits in his county.  In his 13 years on the District Court bench, he has earned a reputation as a hard-working judge who treats litigants and counsel with courtesy and respect, and provides them the opportunity to fully present their cases.

Judge Morrow

Judge Morrow was recognized with the Award for Exemplary Service to the Judicial System for his work with the Minnesota Judicial College, a school for experienced trial court judges that he cofounded in 1989.  The annual College gives judges an opportunity to connect with other judges and undergo academic refresher courses on issues such as courtroom management, evidence and other court-related matters.  All Minnesota District Court judges are required to attend the College once every six years.

Judge Morrow teaches similar classes at the National Judicial College, as well as at the Minnesota New Judges Orientation, the Minnesota Judicial Training Skills Program, the Minnesota Judicial Advocacy Program and the Minnesota Evidence Seminar for Attorneys and Judges.  He has also served on the governing council of the Minnesota Civil Litigation Section of the State Bar Association, and is past president of the Warren E. Burger Inn of Court.  In 1999, he was selected as the Trial Judge of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.  He also coaches a mock trial team in Anoka, which has twice competed in the national championship.

“In addition to his out-of-court activities, Judge Morrow has conducted his in-court proceedings in a very efficient yet fair and reasonable manner for nearly 20 years,” Judge Perkins said.  “He is a thoughtful and hard-working decision maker who is tireless in his attention to detail.”

Judge Slieter

Judge Slieter, who has served on the District Court since May 1994, received the Award for Outstanding Service to the Community and Judicial System for his initiation of several Renville County student education programs.  He has created a panel of speakers on bullying, which has performed its program in schools throughout his area, as well as a program that teaches students about principals of leadership called “Values and Choices in the Real World.”  He has been called upon on several occasions to speak at special educational programs throughout the Eighth Judicial District and has assisted with the Minnesota Mock Trials Program.

He has also been involved in a number of efforts to advance the MDJA and has served on the board of directors of the association for two years.  He has chaired the Eighth District Long Range Planning Committee and has served on the Minnesota Supreme Court General Rules Advisory Committee, the State Technology Planning Committee, the Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS) Steering Committee, the MNCIS Electronic Documents Management Committee and the Technology Planning Committee Request Advisory Board.  He also teaches at William Mitchell College of Law Remedies and WRAP, a legal writing and skills program.

“Judge Slieter is recognized as a dedicated member of the judiciary,” Judge Perkins said.  “He constantly works to build public confidence in the Judicial Branch through public education and through his fair and reasonable demeanor with parties and counsel who come before him in court.”