Author’s Note:
Practicing law in a storefront on University Av., at the border of the Frogtown and Rondo communities, behind a plate glass window where passers-by could see me at my desk with no receptionist to get past, together with all the connections heretofore described, led to my getting elected to the state legislature. Being a storefront attorney, a Movement lawyer, and now a legislator pretty much ends the “steering friendships” in my life, but there are many others to pay tribute to for a significant event in my life or playing a significant role in my life.
Of course, being a lawyer and a legislator all these years makes for many good stories, but mostly these Tributes are about others in my life, more than me. (As I’ve noted a couple times already, many of these stories can be fond in the Archives.) If you go on reading the rest of this and don’t see your name, please know for sure I still consider your friendship, and/or advice, a true blessing and a wonderful, important, part of my life. Thanks to each of you. Though unnamed, you are amongst my friends.
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Carla Kjellberg
In 1985 the local chapter of the National Lawyers Guild was involved in the pro bono (no charge) defense of P-9 workers and supporters arrested for both felonies and misdemeanors in connection with the strike at the Hormel plant in Austin, MN. Carla Kjellberg and I headed-up the misdemeanor cases. Carla came to work in my office after making a name for herself as the lobbyist for MPIRG (Minnesota’s Ralph Nader public interest group) and went on to be a preeminent family law attorney as well as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s top advisor and fundraising chair. Carla, like some of the others I’ve written about, died too young.
We had 224 clients facing misdemeanor trespassing, disorderly conduct or obstructing justice charges just for blocking the path of scab laborers into the Hormel plant. Given the threat of 224 separate jury trials, we worked a deal with the prosecutor and the judge to have a quasi-representative trial with Carla and I representing one defendant, and one defendant going pro se (being his own lawyer). Thus, we would get two opening statements, two cross-exams, and two closing statements. Brilliant idea Carla! But neither of us foresaw it working out as well as it did.
caption: P-9 drawing by artist Greg Kelsey, Bluebird Nation First Baseman, who died young
Benny Thompson was the one the 224 chose to go pro se. He was an ordained minister, known for his oratory, and sure to be viewed sympathetically by the jury. He gave the first opening statement. Neither Carla nor I had reviewed it. Although Benny went slightly beyond what’s usually allowed in an opening statement, the prosecutor feared objecting would incur the wrath of the jury. When Benny sat down, I whispered to Carla, “We just won the case.” It was brilliant. All Carla and I had to do was cross a couple t’s putting in the favorable evidence Benny had suggested might be forthcoming. To read his opening statement click <Here> or find “And Then We Were Known as the Black Sheep” in the Archives.
Just as we broke for lunch on the second day of trial, one of our clients came racing up saying, “The UFCW has started sandblasting our P-9 mural off the union hall!” (The United Food and Commercial Workers International union had de-authorized the strike saying, “You guys got the best offer you’re going to get – take the reduced wages and be happy.”)
Carla and I skipped lunch, typed-out a Temporary Restraining Order request, and found the Judge (Judge James Mork) on his lunch break – who signed it! The International had to back off sandblasting this mural:
Took the jury only two hours to come back with an acquittal – what a great day that was Carla! And thanks, Benny, for making me & Carla winners!