11th Annual Earl Larson Award

The 2007 Award Committee and the ACLU-MN Board of Directors are honored to present the 11th Annual Earl Larson Award to Kenneth Tilsen.

Kenneth Tilsen

Ken Tilsen practiced law in the Twin cities from 1950 to 1994. The majority of his career he represented Native Americans, African Americans, farmers, workers and peace and social justice activists. Ken also taught at Hamline Law School and directed their Public Interest Law Clinic. He was a leader in defending draft resisters and authored the book, Judging the Judges about the judges in the Minneapolis District and their decisions regarding draft resistors during the Vietnam War.

History of the Earl Larson Award

The Earl Larson Award is named after the ACLU of Minnesota’s founder, the late Federal Judge Earl Larson. ACLU of Minnesota created an award in his name 11 years ago as a lifetime achievement award for an attorney in the Twin Cities who has worked for the cause of civil liberties. The first award given to Earl Larson himself, and since then Peter Dorsey, Lynn Castner, Leonard Lindquist, Dr. James Shannon, Walter Mondal, Rosalie Wahl, Doug Hall, Jack Davies and Michael Goldner have recieved it. The event is sponosored by Minnesota Law & Politics and Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

The Minneapolis Club	L to R: Teresa Nelson, Audrey Thayer & Jeffrey Keyes	Justin Kwong & Petra Jensen
L to R: Mike Goldner, Wally Hilke & Richard Galena	L to R:Lisa Thimjon,Christina Hillary, Tim Woessner	Members of Ken Tilsen's family
Judge Davies	Ken Tilsen holding court	L to R: Charles Samuelson, Ken Tilsen & Therese Marso