Minnesota Lawyer

Ramsey County Judge Judge Sophia Y. Vuelo is all about breaking boundaries — and solving problems.

When Brandon Vaughn began his career as an attorney in 2008, he had at least one advantage over many of his African American peers.

Alice Silkey has been a dedicated champion of diversity and equality in the legal profession since beginning her career in 1986, in what was then largely a male-dominated profession.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch’s Committee for Equality and Justice (CEJ) has played an important part in eliminating bias from court operations, promoting equal access to the court and increasing trust and public confidence in the state’s judiciary.

As a lifelong gamer who began playing Nintendo’s “Super Mario” games as a kid, Jules Porter saw that few characters that looked anything like her.

A veteran employment attorney, Sonja Dunnwald Peterson recently shifted gears to work as staff attorney at the Minnesota Disability Law Center of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.

Greenberg Traurig LLP attorney Thomas Pack, who has spent his career encouraging diversity, equity and inclusion, sees the Twin Cities area’s commitment to DEI in two general ways.

Lariss Maldonado sees her leadership roles in volunteer organizations as an opportunity to give back and offer young Latinos an example of success in the legal profession.

After the world-changing death of George Floyd in 2020, the management committee at Minneapolis law firm Barnes & Thornburg took positive action by launching the Barnes & Thornburg Racial and Social Justice Foundation, to support organizations that focus on promoting, advocating and effecting racial and social justice.

It can be easy to pay lip service to the idea of diversity and inclusion, but Ann Jenrette-Thomas makes it a personal and professional mission.