Thank You Council President Ostrow for that kind introduction.
A lawyer is most often appointed to be a judge in recognition
of his or her contributions to the legal profession or work on
an important case.
This is not the case with me.
As Governor Ventura said I was a blue-collar lawyer. My clients
were ordinary folks with ordinary legal problems.
Whatever contributions I have made have not been in scholarship
or to the philosophy of the law but rather have been to the quality
of life and the well being of my community.
Today I have three thank-yous to extend to the people who are
most responsible for my being here.
First to my mother. Because I was raised in a home where the
first step of community volunteerism, helping your neighbors,
was a mandatory not an optional activity.
Second, to former Governor Elmer L. Andersen, who over the
course of many long car rides to the North Shore and back talked
so often of the great satisfaction a lawyer must find using the
law to advance the good of the community that he convinced me
that volunteerism was the best part of being a lawyer.
The third thank you is to Governor Ventura whose appreciation
for volunteerism resulted in my appointment.
Today we often read reports that lawyers leave the profession
because they do not find satisfaction in the work. Practicing
law is not always satisfying. At times it is pure drudgery or
worse. On the other hand being a lawyer provides you with great
opportunities. It has always seemed to me that the happiest lawyers
are not the ones making the most money, but are those who realize
that possessing knowledge of the law and the skills of a lawyer
provide you with the opportunity to advance the causes close
to your heart and the communities in which you live. I confess
that I have always been a selfish volunteer and worked on projects
that I liked and gave me satisfaction. And I always felt that
I received more than I gave when I volunteered. I am thrilled
at being appointed to the District Court bench. But if my appointment
came in recognition of volunteer service, I did not deserve it.
The work truly was its own reward.
Paid for by the Committee
to Retain Judge Pihlaja
1230 Landmark Towers, 345 St Peter Street, St Paul, MN 55102
Martin Costello, treasurer
Judge
Pihlaja's Remarks when Sworn into Office