Although Judy's practice is focused on employment litigation, she is also a frequent lecturer on employment law topics, has published numerous articles for both legal and business audiences, and serves as a mediator of employment disputes.
She defends employers in discrimination and wrongful termination litigation, including sexual harassment cases, and provides advice and training on personnel issues. A special interest is theater-based training for employers and employees.
Judy served as the assistant director of the City of St. Paul Department of Human Rights from 1973-1975 and the assistant commissioner for enforcement for the State of Minnesota Department of Human Rights from 1977-1981. She managed the investigative and contract compliance activities of these two agencies.
Experience
- Lead defense counsel representing a Minnesota employer in a wage and hour class action
- Lead defense counsel representing a multinational corporation in a class action sex discrimination lawsuit
- Assisted one of Minnesota’s fastest growing companies in developing its personnel policies and procedures
- Collaborated with a local theatre group to create the workplace diversity training presentations “Your Face Here”.
Publications
- "Follow 5 Steps To Make Sure New GINA Law Doesn't Trip You Up," Minnesota Employment Law, February 2010
- “Employment Lawyer: Advisor and Advocate,” Inside the Minds: Leading Labor Lawyers, 2002
- “Summary Guide to Sexual Harassment,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Employment Law Handbook, 1996, 2010
- “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Old Problem, New Awareness,” The Guide to American Law, 1992 Supplement
- “Equal Employment Laws and How They Affect Your Business,” coauthor, 1984
Presentations
- “Employment Law in Practice,” The New Lawyer Experience, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2013
- “Inside the Agencies: Charges, Investigations, Future Plans, and More,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, MSBA Continuing Legal Education, 2012
- “EEOC Update In-depth – Insights on ADA Leave Complexities and Other Hot Topics,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, MSBA Continuing Legal Education, 2012
- “30 Years of Harassment Law – The Critical Concepts and Nuances Every Employment Attorney Needs to Understand,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, MSBA Continuing Legal Education, 2012
- “Employment Law in Practice,” The New Lawyer Experience, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012
- “Responding to EEOC Investigations and Subpoenas,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, MSBA Continuing Legal Education, 2011
- “The Game Changer – How the Use of Electronic Communication Creates New Risks for Employees,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, MSBA Continuing Legal Education, 2011
- “Protecting Confidential and Proprietary Information in a Wired Workplace,” Social Media in the Workplace, 2011
- “Employment Law in Practice,” The New Lawyer Experience, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2011
- “Effective Feedback,” Minnesota Legal Administrators Association, June 8, 2010
- “Basic Employment Law and Practice,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 24, 2010
- “Discrimination Charges 101: What Employers Need to Know,” GPM Employment Law Seminar, April 21, 2010
- “Diversity in the Legal Profession—Focus on Twin Cities Diversity in Practice,” MSBA Continuing Legal Education, February 9, 2010
- “Employment Law and Practice,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education Young Lawyers Experience, January 14, 2010
- "Still Flirting with Trouble: The Right Focus on Sexual Harassment," Minnesota Department of Human Rights, November 2008
- "Employer Worst Practices," Gray Plant Mooty Employment Law Conference, October 23, 2008
- “Current Developments at the EEOC—The Commission’s New Systemic Litigation, Recent Guidances, and More,” Labor & Employment Law Institute, moderator, 2008
- “Ethics & Equal Justice: What Our Professional Conduct Codes Require,” Minnesota Legal Education Seminar, course chair, 2008
- "Understanding Diverse Cultures and Working with Diverse Lawyers and Clients,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education Seminar, course chair, 2008
- “Other Important Developments in Federal Employment Law,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2007
- “Application of Basic Employment Law Principles,” copresenter, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2007
- “Employment Law Developments Checklist, June 2006-May 2005,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2007
- “Electronic Documents in Litigation: Spoliation Findings, the New Federal E-Discovery Rules & Litigation Hold Policies,” Labor & Employment Law Institute, moderator, 2006
- “Scenes from the 27th Floor: An Original Presentation on Gender Issues in the Legal Workplace,” The Bankruptcy Institute, 2006, and Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, moderator, 2006
- “Introduction to Employment Law: A-Z,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2005
- “Everything New in the Law of Harassment—Is the Workplace Hostile? Is the Employer Liable?,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2004-2005
- “Elimination of Bias: Gender Issues in the Legal Workplace,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 2005
- “What Do You Do Now? Taking the Harassment Investigation Report and Making Good Decisions,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2004
- “Other New Federal Law Developments,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2003
- “Introduction to Ethics of Bias,” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2003
- “What Our Professional Conduct Codes Require,” Ethics & Equal Justice Seminar, chair, 2003
- “Introduction to the Ethics of Bias,” Ethics & Equal Justice Seminar, chair, 2003
- “Discrimination Among and Observed by Colleagues,” Ethics & Equal Justice Seminar, chair, 2003
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1973
- University of California, Berkeley, B.A., cum laude, 1970
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Minnesota Women Lawyers
- Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Board of Directors
- Minnesota Management Attorneys Association
Honors and Distinctions
- “The Best Lawyers in America,” Woodward/White, 1993-2013
- “Super Lawyer®,” Thomson/Reuters, 2005-2012
- Named one of Minnesota’s top employment and labor law attorneys by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, 2003-2013
- Hennepin County Bar Association Diversity Award, 2010
- Gray Plant Mooty Frank Plant Equal Justice Award, 2010
- “Top 100 Female Super Lawyers,” Minnesota Law & Politics, 2005-2009, 2013
- Minnesota Women Lawyers Myra Bradwell Award, 2004
- “Minnesota Super Lawyer,” Minnesota Law & Politics, 1993
- Minnesota State Bar Association’s Professional Excellence Award, 1990