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Member Spotlight by Lisa Montpetit Brabbit. As Helen Meyer took the oath of office on September 3, 2002, MWL members lauded the Governor’s excellent choice and took pride in the fact that one of their own became the seventh woman appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court. No doubt the Governor quickly identified Helen’s hallmark traits: integrity, leadership, commitment to service and sharp legal acumen. Helen also will bring her own brush of color to the portrait of the Court given her background as a trial lawyer. Long before Helen became a trial lawyer, she spent her days as one of seven children on a Stearns County dairy farm. Life on the dairy farm taught her valuable lessons: it’s never too hard, it’s never too much and everyone contributes. Her father, a leader in the community, taught the value of community service. He still delivers meals to seniors in the community. Her mother exemplifies determination and perseverance as a woman who, despite a disability, worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk. She still serves school lunches on Thursdays. Together Helen’s parents “kept the peace,” especially at the dinner table with all seven children. All the children understood the rules: one person speaks at a time; when someone speaks, you listen; be collegial, civil and show respect for others and their ideas. Helen still lives by those rules in her personal and professional life. She progressed from student to lawyer and held true to her values, morals, ethics and faith. Following graduation from William Mitchell College of Law, women role models were, at best, sprinkled in the crowd. Helen considers herself fortunate that as a young lawyer she had a female mentor, Diane Hanson. Although Helen was eager to understand and learn the “how to’s” of a new profession, Diane first communicated a more important lesson through words and actions: always be your own person because your character and integrity are an important part of what you bring to the table. It was the first of many similarities that Diane and Helen discovered about each other as Helen began her career as a trial lawyer. During Helen’s 20-year tenure as a personal injury attorney, she was always passionate about her work, understanding of her clients and dedicated to their cause. She earned a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding attorney who always put clients first. The keys to success were her entrepreneurial spirit, her connection with clients and what clients told others about Helen as a person and a lawyer. Her former law partner, Paul Downes, witnessed tears of happiness from family and friends following news of the appointment, and tears of another sort from clients when they discovered Helen would no longer be handling their cases. True to her character, Helen is quick to note the Supreme Court serves people, too. Helen smiles as she recalls her conversation with the Governor the day he called with news of the appointment. The receptionist asked the caller if he desired to leave a message because Helen was on a conference call. The Governor did not want to leave a message and said, “Well, this is Governor Ventura and I think she’ll want to take my call.” Helen, questioning the timing of the call, picked up the line and asked in a suspicious voice, “Is this Tim, [my friend who often impersonates Governor Ventura]?” Tim, no doubt, would have been a welcome phone call. But the Governor brought tears to Helen’s eyes. She promised the Governor that he would never be disappointed in her appointment. Helen brings to the Court a passion for hard work and a compassion for those who will appear before her. She will make significant contributions to the administration of justice. She will pen opinions with fairness and dignity. And equally important, Helen will never allow unfair judgments about gender to hinder the pursuit of justice. As she settles into her new role as Associate Justice, Helen is back to the big family of seven around the table and she feels at home. The Chief Justice seated at the head of the table “keeps the peace” and the same rules of decorum that governed at her family dinner table govern when the Court is in conference. Perhaps seven has become her lucky number.
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