It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to profile Judge Pamela Alexander for The Hennepin Lawyer. I have known Judge Alexander over 20 years, and it is clear to me she is one gifted individual. She has been a pioneer for African- Americans and women in the legal profession. And recently Sen. Paul Wellstone honored Judge Alexander by submitting her name to President Clinton for appointment to the U.S. District Court.

Pamela Alexander was born and raised in south Minneapolis. Her father, a bus driver, and her mother, a homemaker, have six children of which Judge Alexander is the youngest. Judge Alexander, the first in her family to go to college, graduated from Augsburg College (cum laude) in 1974. She decided to become a lawyer when she was 12 years old, after she had to testify at a rape trial in which her best friend was the victim. It seemed to her everyone always complained about their lawyer, so she wanted to become a lawyer who made a difference; one who would explain to clients their legal rights. She has since devoted her career to working toward equality and justice for all people regardless of race, gender, religion, or economic status.

Judge Alexander received her J.D. in 1977 from the University of Minnesota Law School. While in law school, she clerked for the Legal Rights Center. After receiving her law degree, Judge Alexander worked in the Corporate Trust Division at First Bank Minneapolis as a trust administrator. She became a criminal defense attorney in October 1978 with the Legal Rights Center, where she defended a variety of major criminal cases for indigent minority defendants. I worked with Judge Alexander at the Legal Rights Center and I saw, first hand, her dedication in ensuring each client received the highest quality legal representation. In April 1981, Judge Alexander became the first African-American female prosecutor at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office where she specialized in prosecuting sexual assault cases.

Then in 1983, Alexander became the first African-American female, as well as the youngest, judge in Hennepin County. Now, Judge Alexander has become the first African-American female to be nominated to the U.S. District Court in Minnesota. Without question, she will be an excellent addition to the federal bench as she has demonstrated reverence for all civil liberties and sensitivities of all people who have come before her in district court. She has also shown great courage by making the right decisions, even though unpopular, in the interests of justice.

During her 10 years on the Hennepin County bench, Judge Alexander has handled a number of high-profile cases, such as a case involving the constitutionality of Minnesota’s sodomy law and a major anti-abortion protest case. However, Judge Alexander’s most publicized case was that of State v. Russell, in which she struck down a state statute imposing disparate penalties for crack and powder cocaine, ruling the law had a racially discriminatory impact in violation of the Minnesota Constitution. In her opinion, Judge Alexander stated:

There has been a recent outcry in this country for control of drugs. This concern has led to a rash of new laws with tough penalties designed [to] aid in this "war." While the concern of the nation is justified, the reactionary impulses that have come from the legislatures, in this case the Minnesota legislature, do not necessarily get to the root of the problem. These actions must be kept in perspective and shouldn’t be instituted at the expense of basic civil rights . . . There is no justifiable reason to uphold a statute which results in such unequal treatment of similarly situated individuals. The constitution is designed to prevent this type of injustice.

Subsequently, the Minnesota Supreme Court upheld her decision in State v. Russell, 477 N.W.2d 866 (Minn 1991). The case has also gained national attention for it has been the subject, or has been discussed, in numerous publications such as the report of the ABA Task Force on Minorities and the Justice System entitled "Achieving Justice in a Diverse America"; Reflections of an Affirmative Action Baby by Stephen Carter; and a series of articles that will appear in the Harvard Law Review authored by Charles Ogeltree.

Her record shows that she is devoted to working toward equality and justice. Not only has she effectively combatted racial discrimination in drug sentencing, she has sought to protect the dignity of those who lead unpopular and alternative lifestyles. She stands firmly for the right of women to their physical integrity.

Judge Alexander’s commitment to equality for all extends outside of the courtroom as well. Currently she serves on the Executive Committee and is co-chair of the Criminal Process Committee of the Minnesota Supreme Court Racial Bias Task Force. The study and report of the task force concluded in April 1993. Judge Alexander is also the chairperson for the Hennepin County District Court Equal Justice in the Courts Committee, which provides training for judges on gender and race issues, and the chairperson for the Government Committee of the Minneapolis Initiative Against Racism. She serves on the ABA Commission on Race and Racism in the Criminal Justice System.