2026 Mid-Winter Meeting

Jenny Olson, Course Chair | Stephanie Balmer, Co-Chair

Friday, February 27, 2026

12:00 am – 1:00 pm
Joint Executive & Finance Committee Meeting

12:55 – 1:00 pm
Land Acknowledgement

1:00 – 2:15 pm
Safety In and Out of the Courtroom
Teresa Fariss McClain, Robins Kaplan LLP
Hon. Patrick J. Schiltz, Chief U.S. District Judge, District of Minnesota
Hon. Todd. R. Schoffelman, Tenth Judicial District

2:15 – 3:00 pm
Tailoring Your Courtroom Story – Lessons from Community Advocacy
Ellie Wilson, Autism Society of Minnesota

3:00 – 3:15 pm
Break

3:15 – 5:00 pm
Improv for Trial Lawyers: Fast Thinking, Stronger Advocacy
Laura Berger, Very Good Improv Team
Steph Callaghan, Very Good Improv Team
Chris Rodriguez, Very Good Improv Team

FRIDAY EVENING SOCIAL EVENTS

5:30 – 6:30 pm
Hors D’oeuvres & Cocktail Hour at The Garden (Location Change from Previous Years)
425 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN 55802 - map
Hors d'oeuvres Sponsored by Eve Legal

6:30 – 7:30 pm
Dinner at The Garden
425 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN 55802 - map
Wine Sponsored by Dr. John G. Stark, M.D., P.A.

Keynote:

Turning Organizing into Action
Greta Callahan, Minneapolis School Board Member

 

Saturday, FEBRUARY 28, 2026

9:00 – 9:30 am
How to Successfully Use the MN Government Data Practices Act in your Cases
Cory Whalen, SiebenCarey

9:30 – 10:30 am
The Power of the FOIA
Anna Matson, Journalist

10:30 – 10:45
Break

10:45 – 11:15 pm
Safe at Home: Minnesota’s Address Confidentiality Services
Austyn Aagaard, Safe at Home Communications Supervisor - Office of the Secretary of State        

11:15 – 12:00 pm
The Minnesota Protocol: International Standards on Investigating Deaths Caused by State Agents
Barbara Frey, International Human Rights Law Consultant

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Membership/Board of Governors Meeting

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The 2026 MAJ Mid-Winter Meeting will take place at the Inn on Lake Superior in Duluth, MN. To reserve your room call The Inn on Lake Superior at (218) 726-1111 and request the MN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE GENERAL BLOCK - BOOKING ID - 11570. The block of rooms will be held until January 27^th, 2026.

The program will NOT be streamed or recorded.

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Refunds will be made only if notification of cancellation is received five business days in advance of the convention less a $75 administrative fee. Please Note: Membership Benefits and Passport to Excellence DO NOT apply to the Mid-Winter Meeting.