Breaking the Ice: Family of lawyers influenced judge’s path

Name: Richard Kyle Jr.

Title: Judge, 2nd Judicial District

Education: B.A., history, St. Olaf College; J.D., William Mitchell College of Law

A fourth-generation lawyer, 2nd Judicial District Judge Richard Kyle Jr. says he’s more impressed with first-generation lawyers and judges.

Growing up in a family of lawyers — his father is Senior U.S. District Court Judge Richard Kyle — influenced the younger Kyle’s choice of profession. He appreciates the context and sense of how things were in the past.

“But I’m also more interested in how we’re going to judge in the future and how we’re going to address the new issues,” Kyle said.

Kyle was a trial lawyer doing mostly criminal defense and some civil work for more than two decades before his 2015 appointment to the bench. He’s been active in the Minnesota State Bar Association, including a term as president.

“I felt I could make a greater contribution being up on the bench,” Kyle said. “I felt I had something to contribute and could make a difference.”

Q. What’s the best way to start a conversation with you?

A. You can probably ask me about the weather or more specifically how the weather might affect a morning or evening bike ride or cross-country ski. You can ask me about my family. My two boys are in their 20s. One is a recent college graduate working as a finish carpenter. The other is a college senior who aspires to be an architect. My spouse is a psychotherapist who used to be a lawyer.

Q. What prompted you to study law and pursue it professionally?

A. During college I entertained thoughts of other jobs, being a journalist or an Episcopal priest. I even considered the foreign service. In the end I chose the law because I felt it would make more of an impact on people’s lives.

Q. What books are on your bedside table or e-reader?

A. “The Underground Railroad,” by Colson Whitehead. “The Boys in the Boat,” by Daniel Brown. I just finished a biography of William Hall, who was an English barrister in the early 1900s.

Q. What is a pet peeve of yours?

A. I’m pretty tolerant. Like many judges and lawyers I don’t like unprofessional conduct. I don’t see much, but when I do I don’t like it. I don’t like last-minute filings, motions and various requests. I work in a very busy urban court. It’s difficult to give a matter the attention it deserves if my law clerk is handing me a just-filed memorandum as I’m walking into the courtroom.

Q. What are your most favorite and least favorite aspects of being a judge?

A. My favorite aspect is the wide variety of cases that come before me. I’m currently on the felony criminal rotation. I love being in the courtroom. There is never a dull moment. I also enjoy my colleagues on the Ramsey County bench. My least favorite part of being a state trial judge is feeling rushed especially on our larger calendars.

Q. What’s a favorite activity outside your job?

A. Biking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. I picked up biking seriously about 10 years ago and cross-country skiing about five years ago.

Q. If someone visits you in your hometown, what would you take them to see or do?

A. I’d bring them to the Ramsey County Courthouse. It’s one of the most beautiful courthouses in the state. It was built in 1932 or ’33. The design is art deco. They say it’s haunted by several ghosts. Most of them are allegedly dressed in 1930s apparel. So I would recommend taking a tour of the courthouse followed by lunch at the St. Paul Grill or Mickey’s Diner.

Q. Is there an attorney or judge, past or present, whom you admire most?

A. My dad. He’s been on the federal bench for over 25 years. He’s patient, works hard, doesn’t take himself too seriously and is always prompt with orders and rulings. Now we work just a few blocks from one another. We often get together for lunch, and he still pays.