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Gary A. Debele

Attorney at Messerli | Kramer

Top Rated Family Law Attorney with 36 years of experience

Family Law, Child Custody, Mediation

1400 Fifth Street Towers, 100 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402

About
Qualifications
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About Gary A. Debele

Practice Areas

Family Law
Child Custody
Mediation

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May, 1987
J.D.
- Honors: Recipient, Steven Block Prize for Civil Liberties
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: Honors in Legal Research and Writing
- Honors: Student Attorney, Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP)
- Law Review: Law and Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice, Managing Editor, 1986 - 1987
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University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July, 1991
M.A.
- Major: American Legal and Constitutional History
- Honors: Assistant Archivist, Social Welfare History Archives
- Honors: Advisor, Professor Paul L. Murphy
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, May, 1984
B.A.
- Major: History
- Honors: <i>magna cum laude</i>
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: Phi Alpha Theta (History Honorary) - President of College Chapter
- Honors: Assistant, College Archivist (1982 - 1984)
- Honors: Departmental Distinction in History
- Minor: Literature and Political Science
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Languages

German

Representative Cases

In Re the Welfare of D.L., 486 N.W.2d 375 (Minn. 1992)
In Re the Welfare of D.L., 113 S. Ct. 603 (1992)
Weiler v. Lutz, 512 N.W.2d 868 (Minn. 1994)
In Re the Matter of S.T. and N.T., 512 N.W.2d 894 (Minn. 1994)
In the Matter of the Custody of S.E.G., A.L.W., and V.M.G., 521 N.W.2d 357 (Minn. 1994)
In the Matter of the Custody of S.E.G., A.L.W., and V.M.G., 115 S.Ct.935 (1995)
Matter of the Paternity of J.A.V., 547 N.W.2d 374 (Minn. 1996)
Silbaugh v. Silbaugh, 543 N.W.2d 639 (Minn. 1996)
In Re the Adoption of C.H. and A.H., 554 N.W.2d 737 (Minn. 1996)
In Re the Petition of Louis and Carole Santoro for Visitation Pursuant to Minn. Stat. $257.022, 594 N.W.2d 174 (Minn. 1999)
Rolf Rodgers v. Lisa Rodgers, 622 N.W. 2d 813 (Minn. 2000)
In the Matter of the Custody of N.A.K., 649 N.W.2d 166 (Minn. 2002)
In Re the Matter of A.M.P., 507 N.W.2d 616 (Minn. App. 1993)
In Re the Custody of A.S.R., 539 N.W.2d 607 (Minn. App. 1995)
Van Meveren v. Van Meveren, 603 N.W.2d 671 (Minn. App. 1999)
Hubbard County Health and Human Services v. Zacher, 742 N.W.2d 223 (Minn. App. 2007)
Velasco v. Velasco, 1990 WL 115179 (Minn. App 1990)
Olson v. Olson (Spousal Maintenance), 1991 WL 34683 (Minn. App. 1991)
Pew v. Hope Intern. Family Services, Inc.(Wrongful Adoption), 1992 WL 25434 (Minn. App. 1992)
Wybrow v. Wybrow (Spousal Maintenance), 1992 WL 71992 (Minn. App. 1992)
Matter of Welfare of Y.B. (Contested Adoption and CHIPS), 1992 WL 89650 (Minn. App. 1992)
Evans v. Getty (Domestic Abuse), 1992 WL 160849 (Minn. App. 1992)
Aitkin County Family Service Agency on Behalf of Landmeyer v. Demenge (Custody), 1993 WL 99453 (Minn. App. 1993)
Huneke v. Huneke (Spousal Maintenance), 1994 WL 111094 (Minn. App. 1994)
In re the Marriage of Long v. Long (Child Support), 1995 WL 465610 (Minn. App. 1995)
In re G.J.S., n/k/a G.J.C. (Custody), 1995 WL 673386 (Minn. App. 1995)
In re Marriage of Heffelfinger v. Heffelfinger (Spousal Maintenance), 1996 WL 453562 (Minn. App. 1996)
In re the Marriage of Schumacher v. Schumacher (Dissolution), 1996 WL 469341 (Minn. App. 1996)
Lofstrom v. Lofstom (Spousal Maintenance), 1997 WL 118121 (Minn. App. 1997)
Knapp v. Knapp (Domestic Abuse), 1997 WL 118142 (Minn. App. 1997)
In re Termination of Parental Rights of Edward Landt to J.J. L. (Termination of Parental Rights), 1997 WL 207601 (Minn. App. 1997)
Wilkie v. Wilkie (Marriage Dissolution), 1998 WL 113949 (Minn. App. 1998)
Schultz v. Minnesota Bd. Of Psychology (Denial of Psychology License), 1999 WL 1101219 (Minn. App. 1999)
In re the Welfare of L.A.M. (Termination of Parental Rights), 1999 WL 1216461 (Minn. App. 1999)
Smith v. Carlson (Custody), 2000 WL 760437 (2000)
Ramsey County v. Bulman (Child Support), 2000 WL 1617763 (Minn. App. 2000)
Musty v. Musty (Spousal Maintenance), 2001 WL 826956 (Minn. App. )
In the Matter of the Custody of N.A.K. (Third-Party Custody), 2001 WL 1568752 (Minn. App. 2001)
Ford v. Mostaghimi (Child Support in a Paternity Matter), 2002 WL 46996 (Minn. App. 2002)
E.S.K. for Herself and on Behalf of the Minor Children, D.J.K., S.L.K, and A.S.K,. v. M.S.K. (Domestic Abuse), 2002 WL 979754 (Minn. App. 2002)
Lemtouni v. Lemtouni (Child Support), 2003 WL 21321830 (Minn. App. 2003)
In re Adoption of D.Z.S. (Adoption), 2004 WL 2050095, rev. denied (Minn. App., Minn. Dec. )
Foster v. Foster (Spousal Maintenance), 2007 WL 1893238 (Minn. App. 2007)
In re P.L. (Adoption), 2007 WL 4564169 (Minn. App. 2007)
Boland v. Murtha, _ WL _ (Child Support), Minn. App. (Minn. App. 2008)
Hubbard County Health & Human Services v. Zacher (Child Support), 2009 WL 3364256 (Minn. App. 2009)

Classes and Seminars

Moderator, Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl: The U.S. Supreme Court and the Indian Child Welfare Act, Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Hinckley, Minnesota, June 7, 2013
Moderator and Presenter, The Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out, Family Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 20, 2013
Moderator, Law and Literature Ethics and Elimination of Bias, HCBA, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 15, 2013 - Present
Presenter, Third Party Custody in Family and Juvenile Court, First District Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 12, 2013
Moderator and Co-Presenter, Hot Topics in Family Law, Appellate Practice Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 8, 2013
Speaker, Adoption History and Practice, Polish Genealogical Society, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 2, 2013
Co-Presenter, Paternity, Maternity, and Reproductive Technology, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - USA Chapter, Phoenix, AZ, February 14, 2013
Co-Presenter, Native Americans and Family Law, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - USA Chapter, Phoenix, AZ, February 14, 2013
Presenter, Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court, as part of a larger seminar entitled "Advising the Disadvantaged I: A Toolkit for Pro Bono and Public Interest Attorneys" , Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minnepolis, Minnesota, February 5, 2013 - Present
Facilitator, Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 18, 2013 - Present
Adjunct Professor-Family Law, William Mitchell College of Law, 2012 - Present
Course Chair and Presenter, the Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 29, 2012 - Present
Presenter, Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook - Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Technology Law -- Creating Families by Traditional and Non-Traditional Means (webcast), MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 29, 2012 - Present
Presenter, Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook - Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Technology Law -- Creating Families by Traditional and Non-Traditional Means , MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 29, 2012 - Present
Presenter, Interstate and International Family Law Matters: What you Need to Know to Tell Your Clients, Briggs & Morgan, P.A., North Star Alliance Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 11, 2012 - Present
Presenter, Interstate and International Family Law Matters: What you Need to Know to Tell Your Clients, North Star Alliance Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 11, 2012 - Present
Facilitator, Literature & the Law -- Ethics and Professionalism through the Lens of Literature, 47th Annual, Criminal Justice Institute, MCLE, St. Paul, Minnesota, August 27, 2012 - Present
Presenter, Adoption Law, The complete Lawyer: Answers to 101 Questions Asked by Your clients, Family, and Friends, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 23, 2012 - Present
Facilitator, Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 21, 2012 - Present
Co-Presenter, Issues in Assisted Reproduction Law in the United States and Canada, 49th Annual, Conference of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Chicago, Illinois, June 9, 2012 - Present
Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption, RESOLVE 2012 Family Building Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 21, 2012 - Present
Moderator, Basic Appellate Practice for Family Law Attorneys and Advanced Appellate Practice for Family Law Attorneys, 33rd Annual, Family Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 26, 2012 - Present
Panelist, Adoption Panel for University of Minnesota Law School Diversity Week 2012, University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 8, 2012 - Present
Facilitator, Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 17, 2012 - Present
Facilitator, Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 16, 2011 - Present
Co-Presenter, Family Law Series: Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Law -- Creating Families by Traditional and Non-Traditional Means, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 22, 2011 - Present
Presenter, Family Law Series: Adoption, Assisted Reproduction and Third Party Custody Arrangements: Building Families in the 21st Century, 6 part webcast, Hennepin County bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 10, 2011 - Present
Course Chair-Person and Presenter, Minnesota Child Custody Deskbook, 2nd Edition, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 26, 2011 - Present
Presenter, Current Issues in Assisted Reproduction Technology: Top 10 Current Challenges in Family Law , National Business Institute, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, October 12, 2011 - Present
Panel Presenter, Dealing with Difficult Lawyers, Clients, and Judges, The New Lawyer Experience, MCLE, Summer Session 2011, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 7, 2011 - Present
Co-Presenter, Love and the Law: Drafting and Enforcing Premarital, Postmarital, and Cohabitation Agreements, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 29, 2011 - Present
Co-Presenter, Alternative Dispute Resolution in Child Custody Cases, MCLE Webcast, Minneapolis, MN, May 10, 2011 - Present
Presenter, Avoiding Contested Adoptions When Possible: Litigating Contested Adoptions When Necessary: Tips and Strategies for Adoption Attorneys Handling Contested State Ward Adoptions, 22nd Annual Conference of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Savannah, Georgia, May 6, 2011 - Present
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics, and Elimination of Bias, 32nd Annual, Family Law Institute, MCLE, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 29, 2011 - Present
Presenter, Managing High-Conflict Family Law Disputes as Problem Solvers, 32nd Annual , Family Law Institute, MCLE, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 28, 2011 - Present
Lecturer, When Parents Can't Parent Their Children: Third Party Custody, CHIPS Proceedings, De Facto Custodians, Guardianship, and Adoption, Hamline University Law School, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 17, 2011 - Present
Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption, RESOLVE Midwest Region, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 12, 2011 - Present
Presenter, Managing Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases, Volunteer Lawyers Network, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 25, 2011 - Present
Course Co-Chair and Presenter, Strategies for Adoption Agencies and Attorneys: Loss Prevention, Management and Litigation Covering Disrupted and Wrongful Adoptions , American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Mid-Year Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 14, 2010 - October 15, 2010
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics, and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 18, 2010 - Present
Co-Presenter, 257C: Third Party Custody and Non-Traditional Families, Family Law for the Minnesota Judiciary 2010, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 8, 2010 - Present
Co-Presenter, Training and Re-Training Lawyers to Manage High Conflict Family Law Disputes as Problem Solvers, 47th Annual Conference, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Denver, Colorado, June 5, 2010 - Present
Presenter, Interstate and International Custody and Parenting Time Issues, 31st Annual, Family Law Institute, MCLE, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 23, 2010 - March 24, 2010
Presenter, Domestic Adoption 101, Resolve's 2010 Family Building Conference, Midwest Region, Minneapolis, Minneota , March 13, 2010 - Present
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics, and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 18, 2010 - Present
Presenter, Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court, as part of a larger seminar entitled "Advising the Disadvantaged I: A Tooklit for Pro Bono and Public Interest Attorneys", Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 16, 2010 - Present
Panel Participant, Immigration Law and Family Law: Marriage, Divorce, Adoption and the Rights of Children, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 10, 2009
Course Chairperson and Presenter, Solving the Most Difficult Problems in Divorce Cases: An Advanced Level Seminar, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 17, 2009
Presenter and Course Chairperson, Interstate Custody Disputes: Understanding and Applying the UCCJEA, as part of a larger seminar entitled "International and Interstate Family Law Conflict: Custody, Parenting Time, and Child Support Issues", Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 24, 2009
Presenter, Legal Questions about Assisted Reproductive Technology: Drafting Agreements and Establishing Parentage, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 17, 2009
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 11, 2009
Presenter, Tribal Court Practice in Child Protection and Custody Matters, 46th Annual Conference, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 28, 2009
Presenter, Negotiating and Litigating Step-Parent Adoptions, Disrupted Adoptions, and Contested Adoptions, 30th Annual Family Law Institute, St. Paul , Minnesota, MCLE, March 30, 2009
Facilitator, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Alternative Dispute Resolution, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Breezy Point, Minnesota, September 18, 2008 - September 21, 2008
Presenter, Handling Contested and Disrupted Adoptions, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 11, 2008
Presenter, Managing Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases, (with Sandra K. Hewitt, Ph.D.), 45th Annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Conference, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, May 31, 2008
Presenter, Domestic Adoption 101, Resolve's 2008 Family Building Conference, Midwest Region, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 17, 2008
Presenter, Responding to Child Protection Investigations in Juvenile Court, Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 9, 2008
Lecturer, Drafting Contracts in Assisted Reproduction Cases, University of St. Thomas Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 26, 2008
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 20, 2008
Presenter, Legal Questions about Assisted Reproductive Technology, (with Jody O. DeSmidt, Esq., and Randle Corfman, M.D.), Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 15, 2008
Presenter, Discussion of Proposed ARTS Legislation, Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 8, 2007
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 19, 2007 - June 27, 2007
Presenter, Ph.D., Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases, (with Sandra K. Hewitt), MCLE, 28th Annual Family Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota,, March 29, 2007
Lecturer, Assisted Reproduction Technology Services: an Overview, University of St. Thomas Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 27, 2007
Facilitator, Familyopoly: the Game of Family Law Skills, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Brainerd, Minnesota, October 12, 2006 - October 15, 2006
Course Chair and Presenter, Minnesota Custody and Child Support, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 18, 2006
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 20, 2006
Presenter, Creative Options for Third-Party Custody, 27th Annual Family Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, MCLE, March 29, 2006
Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption, RESOLVE of Minnesota Family Building Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 25, 2006
Presenter, New Minnesota Rules of Adoption Procedure: An Overview and Analysis, Adoption Law and Practice, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 20, 2006
Presenter, An Overview of Juvenile Court Practice for the Family Law Practitioner, Hennepin County Bar Association Family Law Section, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 14, 2005
Facilitator, Protecting Your Aspirations: Exploring and Sharpening the Skills to Attain a Balanced Family Law Practice, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Breezy Point, Minnesota, September 30, 2005
Presenter, Family Law in Tribal Courts, The Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Prior Lake, Minnesota, September 23, 2005
Presenter, When Parents Can't Parent Their Children: Third Party Custody, CHIPS Proceedings, De Facto Custodians, Guardianship and Adoption, Volunteer Lawyers Network Annual Family Law Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 22, 2005
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 8, 2005 - June 24, 2005
Presenter, Domestic Relations in the 21st Century, North Dakota Judicial Institute, University of North Dakota Law School, Grand Forks, North Dakota, May 24, 2005
Presenter, New Adoption Procedural Rules and Amendments to the Guardian Ad Litem Rules: An Overview and Analysis, 26th Family Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE,, March 30, 2005
Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 18, 2005
Presenter, Advising the Disadvantaged: Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE, February 15, 2005
Presenter, Adoption Rules 101: What You Should Know about the New Minnesota Rules of Adoption Procedure, MSBA Children and the Law Section, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 16, 2004
Presenter, What You Say is What You Get: Oral and Written Communication Skills for Family Law Practitioners, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Competence & Conscience and Family Law Conference, Breezy Point, Minnesota, October 8, 2004
Presenter, Domestic Adoption - Legal Aspects, RESOLVE of Minnesota Family Building Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 2, 2004
Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption, RESOLVE Adoption Education Series, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 10, 2004
Presenter, When Parents Can't Parent Their Children: Third Party Custody, CHIPS Proceedings, De Facto Custodians, Guardianships, and Adoption, 25th Family Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE, March 29, 2004
Presenter, Creating Families Through Assisted Reproductive Technology, Ninth Annual Rainbow Families Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 28, 2004
Presenter, Custody Outside the Box: New and Unusual Custody Situations, Family Law Mediation Skills, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 11, 2003
Presenter, Third Party Custody in Minnesota, Tenth Judicial District Guardian ad Litem Training, Anoka, Minnesota, September 23, 2003
Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption, RESOLVE'S Annual Infertility and Adoption Conference, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, September 20, 2003
Presenter, Permanency Mediation in Juvenile Court: Special Issues in Adoption and Child Protection Mediation, 2003 Annual Conference of the Family Law Section, Association for Conflict Resolution, Denver, Colorado, July 10, 2003
Presenter, Creating Families Through Assisted Reproductive Technology, Adoption, and Third-Party Custody, RESOLVE, Minnesota Chapter, Calvary Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 5, 2003
Presenter, Family and Juvenile Law Practice in Tribal Courts, 24th Family Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE, April 1, 2003
Presenter, Lawyers, Contracts, and Courts: Creating A Legally Recognized Parent-Child Relationship Using Assisted Reproductive Technology, Tenth Annual Infertility-Hoping & Coping Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 15, 2003
Presenter, Psychological Testing in Family Law: The Lawyer's Perspective, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 28, 2003
Presenter, Creating Families Through Assisted Reproductive Technology, Adoption, and Third Party Custody, 8th Annual Rainbow Families Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 22, 2003
Presenter, Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel, The New Lawyer Experience, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE, January 6, 2003
Course Chair and Presenter, Best Interests of the Child in Court: Today and Tomorrow, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 18, 2002
Presenter, Third Party Custody in Minnesota after N.A.K. and the New Statute, Hennepin County Department of Family Court Services, November 6, 2002
Presenter, Third Party Custody in Minnesota after N.A.K. and the New Statute, Washington County Bar Association, October 31, 2002
Facilitator, Law and Literature: Elimination of Bias, MSBA Annual Conference, Duluth, Minnesota, June 27, 2002
Presenter, Assisted Reproductive Technology: What Every Estate Planning Attorney Should Know, 28th Annual Probate and Trust Law Section Conference, St. Paul, Minnesota, MCLE, June 11, 2002
Moderator, Marketing Your Adoption Practice, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Chicago, Illinois, April 27, 2002
Presenter, Assisted Reproductive Technology: What Every Family Law Attorney Should Know, 23rd Family Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, MCLE,, March 25, 2002
Presenter, Child Protection Cases and Appellate Practice, MSBA Children and the Law Section, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 18, 2002
Presenter, Fair Hearings and Appeals, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys' Special Needs Adoption Advocacy Training, Savannah, Georgia, October 20, 2001
Presenter, Adoption Mediation: Solving Problems and Developing Good Communication for Adoption, The First International Conference of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Toronto, Canada, October 13, 2001
Facilitator, Law and Literature: A Discussion of Personal and Professional Ethics and Bias, MSBA Law and Literature Committee, St. Paul, June 8, 2001
Presenter, Mediation: What is it and Why use it in Adoption Disputes?, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, San Antonio, Texas, April 26, 2001
Facilitator, Law and Literature: Elimination of Bias, 22nd Family Law Institute, MCLE, March 20, 2001
Presenter, Adoption Mediation Training, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 18, 2001 - February 20, 2001
Presenter, Mediating Third-Party and Grandparent Custody and Visitation Disputes, Family Support Project, Ramsey County Human Services, May 24, 2000
Presenter, The Status of Assisted Reproductive Technology Services in Minnesota, 2000 Annual Meeting, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Perdido Beach Resort, Alabama, April 30, 2000
Presenter, Mediation and Other Forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution as Applied to Disputes Involving Adoption, 2000 Annual Meeting, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Perdido Beach Resort, Alabama, April 28, 2000
Presenter, Effective Marketing of Your Family Law Practice, 21st Family Law Institute, MCLE, March 30, 2000
Moderator and Presenter, Family and Juvenile Issues in Tribal Court, 21st Family Law Institute, MCLE, March 29, 2000
Presenter, Child Custody and Time Sharing in Minnesota, National Business Institute, December 14, 1999
Presenter, Disclosure Issues, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Divorce Camp X, October 3, 1999
Presenter, AAAA Mediation Committee Training Session, 1999 Mid-Year American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Meeting, Estes Park, Colorado, September 23, 1999
Organizer, Tribal Courts and Family Law in Minnesota, MSBA Annual Convention, Duluth, MN, July 1, 1999
Presenter, Emerging Discovery Issues in Family Law, Minnesota Law & Politics, June 8, 1999
Presenter, Marketing Your Family Law Practice, 20th Family Law Institute, MCLE, April 6, 1999
Presenter, Family Law and Teens, Legal Expo 99, Hennepin County and Ramsey County Bar Associations, March 3, 1999
Co-Chairman and Presenter, Adoption Law in Minnesota, National Business Institute, December 8, 1998
Presenter, Juvenile Court Issues, Third Party Issues, Grandparent Issues, and Other Unusual Family Law Matters, ADR and Family Law, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, December 3, 1998
Presenter, Adoptions: Can We Ensure They Are for Life?, National Association of Legal Secretaries National Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 11, 1998
Presenter, Children and Mental Health in Minnesota, Medical Education Services, Inc., September 25, 1998
Presenter, Certified Family Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, MCLE, June 26, 1998
Presenter, Adoption Law, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, May 21, 1998
Presenter, An Update on the Putative Father's Adoption Registry, Hennepin County Juvenile Law Committee, January 21, 1998
Presenter, Certified Family Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, MCLE, December 30, 1997
Presenter, Certified Family Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, MCLE, July 23, 1997
Presenter, Adoption Law in Minnesota, Medical Educational Services, Inc., June 19, 1997
Presenter, Certified Family Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, MCLE, May 12, 1997
Presenter, Open Adoptions in Minnesota and Other Developments in Adoption Law, 18th Family Law Institute, MCLE, 1997
Presenter, "Open Adoptions," Family Law Series: Adoption Law Update, Minnesota Law & Politics, December 9, 1996
Co-Chairman and Presenter, Child Custody and Visitation in Minnesota, National Business Institute, Inc., March 14, 1996
Presenter, Jurisdictional Issues: Types of Actions and Alternative Forums, Child Custody and Placement, MCLE, 1994
Adjunct Instructor, Legal Research, Legal Writing and Appellate Advocacy, University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1993 - 1995
Presenter, Life and Health Insurance Provisions in Marital Termination Agreements, Drafting Marital Termination Agreements, MCLE, 1993

Qualifications

Bar Admissions

Minnesota, 1987
Wisconsin, 2005
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1999
U.S. Supreme Court, 1993
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Tribal Court, 1997
Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Court, 1999
Lower Sioux Tribal Court, 1999
Upper Sioux Tribal Court, 1999

Other Affiliations

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Member, Collaborative Law and Mediation Committees (National))
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2002 - 2004 (Chair, Minnesota Chapter, Seminar Committee)
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2001 - 2003 (Member, Board of Managers, Minnesota Chapter)
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Member, Legislation and Amicus Committees, Minnesota Chapter)
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Co-Chair, Problem Solving Committee, Minnesota Chapter)
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1996 - Present (Member, Assisted Reproduction Technology Services Committee)
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2006 - Present (Member and Chair, Contested Adoption Committee)
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2007 (Member, Nominating Committee)
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2003 - 2005 (Member and Co-Chair, Mediation Committee)
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2006 - Present (Member)
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2009 - Present (President, Minnesota Chapter)
Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption, 1996 - 1997 (Member)
Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption (Chairman, Subcommittee on Alternative Dispute Resolution)
Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption (Member, Subcommittee on Putative Father's Adoption Registry)
Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee, 2001 - 2006 (Member)
Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee (Member, Adoption Rules Subcommittee)
Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee, 1987 - Present (Member, Indian Child Welfare Act and Tribal Courts Subcommittee)
Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee, 2008 - Present (Member, Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure)
Minnesota Department of Health Father's Adoption Registry Advisory Group, 1997 - 1998 (Member)
Minnesota Department of Human Services Uniform Parentage Act Task Force, 2001 - 2002 (Member)
Minnesota Department of Human Services Uniform Parentage Act Task Force, 2001 - 2002 (Member, Assisted Reproductive Technology Subcommittee)
Minnesota Supreme Court ADR in Child Protection Cases Work Group, 2004 - 2006 (Member)
Adoption Policy Resource Center (Member, Board of Directors)
American Bar Association , 1987 - Present (Member, Family Law, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections)
Minnesota State Bar Association , 1987 - Present (Member, Family Law, Elder Law, Probate and Trust Law Sections)
Minnesota State Bar Association, 1997 - 1998 (Chairman)
Minnesota State Bar Association, 1996 - 1997 (Vice-Chairman)
Minnesota State Bar Association, 1995 - 1996 (Treasurer)
Minnesota State Bar Association (Member, Children and the Law Section)
Minnesota State Bar Association, Combined Jurisdiction Implementation Committee
Minnesota State Bar Association, 1998 - 2004 (Member, Board of Governors)
Minnesota State Bar Association (Member, Pro Se Implementation Committee)
Minnesota State Bar Association, 2001 - 2003 (Co-Chair, Lawyers Subcommittee)
Minnesota State Bar Association, 2003 - 2006 (Co-Chairman, Pro Se Implementation Committee)
Minnesota State Bar Association (Member, Legislation Review Committee)
Hennepin County Bar Association (Member, Family Law, Probate and Estate Law Sections)
Hennepin County Bar Association, Juvenile Law Committee
Hennepin County Bar Association, 1995 - 1997 (Co-Chairman, Juvenile Law Committee)
Hennepin County Bar Association, 1992 - 1997 (Member, Hennepin Lawyer Committee)
Hennepin County Bar Association, 1998 - 2004 (Member, Governing Council)
Hennepin County Bar Association, 2002 - 2004 (Member, Special Committee on Judicial Evaluations)
Hennepin County Bar Foundation, 2004 - 2007 (Member, Board of Directors)
Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota, 2006 - Present (Member)
Minnesota American Indian Bar Association (Special Member)
Minnesota American Indian Bar Association (Member, Tribal Courts Committee)
American Society for Legal History
Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society
American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2009 - Present (Charter Member)
Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, 2008 - Present (Member)

Past Positions

Walling, Berg & Debele, P.A. Minneapolis, Minnesota, Associate Attorney, 1991 - 1995
Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, P.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota, Associate Attorney, 1989 - 1991
Honorable Edward J. Parker, Minnesota Court of Appeals. St. Paul, Minnesota, Judicial Law Clerk, 1988 - 1989
Honorable O. Russell Olson and the Honorable Lawrence E. Agerter, District Court of Minnesota, Third Judicial District. Rochester, Minnesota, Judicial Law Clerk, 1987 - 1988

Articles

Published Works

The Due Process Revolution and the Juvenile Court: the Matter of Race in the Historical Evolution of a Doctrine, 5 Law & Inequality 513, 1988
Editor, Legal Stuff, Hennepin County Bar Association, March, 1994
Private CHIPS Petitions in Minnesota: the Historical and Contemporary Treatment of Children in Need of Protection or Services (Co-Author with Wright S. Walling), 20 William Mitchell L. Rev. 781, 1994
Post-Decree Custody Modification: Moving Out of State, (Co-Author with Nancy Zalusky Berg), 10 Am.J. of Fam.L. 183, Winter, 1996
Adoption Law and the Family: Facing the 21st Century, 54 Bench & Bar of Minnesota 37, December, 1997
A Children's Rights Approach to Relocation: A Meaningful Best Interests Standard, 15 J. of the Am. Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 75, 1999
"The Supreme Court and Juvenile Justice", (Kansas 1997), 42 Am. J. of Legal History 343, July, 1998
"Family Matters: Secrecy and Disclosure in the History of Adoption", (Harvard 1998), 47 Am. J. of Legal History 110, January, 2005
The Nuts and Bolts of Amicus Curiae Practice, 11 MSBA Family Law Forum 40, March, 2000
The Current State of Third-Party Custody Law in Minnesota, 72 The Hennepin Lawyer 18, September/October, 2003
Adoption Mediation (Chapter), Adoption Law: Practice and Procedure in the 21st Century, New York State Bar Association, 2004
Book Review: A Century of Juvenile Justice (Chicago 2002), 44 Am. J. of Legal History 500, October, 2004
Editor, Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2006
Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook (Chapter 1, "The History of Custody"), Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook (Co-Author, Chapter 10, "Tribal Court Practice and the Indian Child Welfare Act in Minnesota"), Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook (Chapter 12, "Third Party Custody"), Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook (Co-Author, Chapter 22, "Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases"), Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
Prenuptial Agreements in the United States, (Co-Author with Susan Rhode), International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Law Journal, Fall, 2007
Custody and Parenting by Persons Other than Biological Parents: When Non-Traditional Family Law Collides with the Constitution, 83 N.D. L. Rev. 1227, 2008
Editor/Revisor, Summary Guide to Minnesota Adoption Law and Procedure: Resources, Timing, and Deadlines, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2008
Children's Issues and Tribal Courts, Family Law Forum, Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section, Vol. 17, No. 1, Fall, 2008
Co-Author, “Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Author, “Third Party Custody” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Co-Author, “Tribal Court Practice and the Indian Child Welfare Act in Minnesota” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Author, “The History of Custody” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Editor, Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Author, “Adoption and ARTS” – the Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012
Author, “Third Party Custody” – the Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012
Editor, The Family Law 50: the 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012
Reviewer, “Intimate Associations: the Law and Culture of American Families” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 257, 2014-2015
Author, “Family Law Issues for Same-Sex Couples in the Aftermath of Minnesota’s Same-Sex Marriage Law: A Family Law Attorney’s Perspective” – William Mitchell Law Review 157, 2014
Co-Author, “Ethical Issues in Assisted Reproduction: A Primer for Family Law Attorneys” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 289, 2015
Reviewer, “Marriage Markets: How Inequality is Remaking the American Family” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 491, 2015
Author, “Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Technology” – The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015
Author, “Third Party Custody” – The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015
Editor, The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015
Author, “Adoption Law,” The Complete Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2017, 2019
Co-Author, “Shifting Ethical and Social Conundrums and ‘Stunningly Anachronistic’ Laws: What Lawyers in Adoption and Assisted Reproduction May Want to Consider” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 101, 2017
Co-Author, “Legal Issues Surrounding Embryos and Gametes: What Family Law Practitioners Need to Know” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 701, 2018