Faegre Drinker’s Carver County Conciliation Court Referee Team Receives the 2025 First Judicial District Amicus Curiae Award

The Minnesota First Judicial District has selected Faegre Drinker attorneys and staff who volunteer for the Carver County Conciliation Court referee team to receive the 2025 Amicus Curiae Award. This annual honor is presented to individuals and groups who demonstrate exceptional service, leadership or contributions in assisting the courts’ constitutional duties for the administration of justice.

Business litigation partner Erica MacDonald established the pro bono program in 2021, which enables the Faegre Drinker partners to serve as referees for Carver County’s Conciliation Court cases. Conciliation court is a small claims court where many parties appear without counsel.  Working in partnership with the county’s judicial officers, the team provided crucial support as the courts managed a backlog of cases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By volunteering to preside over court calendars, the Faegre Drinker attorneys and staff enabled District Court Judges to focus on more complex matters and helped ensure the community maintained fair and timely access to justice.

The attorneys and staff who participate in this program were recognized at a bench meeting on Friday, August 8th in Hastings, MN.