The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota Honors Minneapolis Attorney Thomas Kayser with its Earl Larson Award
Award Honors Attorneys who Pursue a Lifelong Commitment to Justice and Civil Liberties Work
October 22, 2009
Posted with the permission of ACLU-MN.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota (ACLU-MN) announced today that it will honor Minneapolis Attorney, Thomas C. Kayser, with its Earl Larson Award. In 1996, the ACLU of Minnesota created the Earl Larson Award to honor those attorneys who have pursued a lifelong commitment to justice and civil liberties work. The award was named for the founder of the ACLU of Minnesota, Federal Judge Earl Larson. Other distinguished recipients of the award include former Vice President and Ambassador Walter Mondale, the Honorable Rosalie Wahl, Peter Dorsey and Leonard Lindquist.
"This award is presented to the legal and political leaders of the Twin Cities who have worked to make Minnesota one of the most civil liberty friendly states in the country," said Wally Hilke, President of the Board of the ACLU-MN. "Tom Kayser has spent close to four decades fighting for civil liberties and his career is one full of distinction and merit."
Kayser, a partner in the Minneapolis office of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., spearheaded a lawsuit for the ACLU-MN against the Osseo School District and Maple Grove Senior High. The lawsuit argued that Maple Grove Senior High violated the Federal Equal Access Act when it refused to allow, the student group, Straights and Gays for Equality (SAGE) the same access (hall posters and the PA system) as other student groups. In August 2008, a fedeal appeals court issued a permanent injunction, requiring Maple Grove Senior High to allow SAGE the same access as other student groups.
In addition to his pro bono work for the ACLU-MN, Kayser was named the 2007 "Volunteer of the Year" by the Volunteer Lawyers Network for his work in family law. Kayser is a former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, a former officer of the United States Air Force and is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Air Force Reserve. He is also a great supporter of many local non-profit organizations.
The Earl Larson Award Ceremony will be on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at the Minneapolis Club. It will begin at 5:30.
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