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John J.
Sommerville
Originally published in
the November/December 1983 issue.
Author: Charles Nixon
Portions of this profile were
redacted on request of the Judge.
When
John J. Sommerville was sworn in as a Hennepin County Municipal
Court Judge last November, he brought to the bench approximately
ten years of experience in the private practice, an outstanding
academic record and the benefit of a judicial clerkship. Most
importantly, John Sommerville brings with him a keen sense of
the obligations and responsibilities of the office and firm
determination to fulfill them in a calm and impartial manner.
Although he views his appointment as a challenge, his
personality and background well suit him to meet it.
Born in
Bemidji, he graduated valedictorian of his class at St. Anthony
Village High School, and obtained his B.A. degree summa cum
laude at the University of Minnesota in 1968, as a member of Phi
Beta Kappa. Judge Sommerville served in the U.S. Army Reserve
from 1968 through 1974. Following active duty in 1969, he
entered law school at the University of Minnesota and obtained
his J.D. degree cum laude in 1972.
After
law school, Judge Sommerville clerked for the Honorable Gerald
W. Heaney, United States Circuit Judge. John attributes his
interest in the judiciary to this two year clerkship and
describes the time fondly and with sincere admiration for Judge
Heaney’s judicial skills. The respect is apparently mutual.
Judge Heaney, who robed the new judge at the ceremonies on
November 23, says of him: "The appointment of John
Sommerville as a municipal judge of Hennepin County is an
excellent one. The people of this county will learn quickly that
Judge Sommerville is a person of highest integrity with a keen
intellect and a well developed sense of justice. Judge
Sommerville will work hard and treat litigants and lawyers
fairly and courteously. In short, Governor Perpich is to be
congratulated for making an excellent appointment."
Judge
Sommerville entered private practice with the law firm of O’Connor
& Hannan in Minneapolis in 1974. His practice involved
primarily complex civil litigation matters including energy,
constitutional and administrative law and additional work in the
area of workers’ compensation. Because of the complex nature
of the litigation ordinarily involved, his actual trial
experience during that time was limited. Joe A. Walters, a
partner in O’Connor & Hannan, commented upon John’s
appointment saying: "John Sommerville will well serve the
people of Hennepin County. He brings to the bench good legal
training, including clerking for the Court of Appeals for the
Eighth Circuit, experience in private practice and
professionalism. Time will prove the wisdom of his appointment
to the bench."
John
also has extensive and varied experience in the political
processes of state and local government. In 1979, he took a
leave from O’Connor & Hannan to manage the Fraser for
Mayor Volunteer Committee and remained as co-chairman of Mayor
Fraser’s campaign committee until his recent appointment. With
his judicial appointment, however, John says with some regret
that he is seeking a new, apolitical hobby.
Following
the general election in 1979, he returned to private practice
with the firm of Sommerville, Nixon, Whalen & Fowler, P.A.
His practice continued to emphasize civil litigation and workers’
compensation, and also did misdemeanor defense work. He spent
considerably more time in various trial courts and also was
plaintiffs’ counsel in a civil rights class action alleging
sex discrimination.
In
addition to his professional practice and political activities,
Judge Sommerville has been active in church and community
affairs serving as Chairman of the Finance Committee at his
parish church and as a member of the Minneapolis Civil Rights
Commission.
Judge
Sommerville enters office with some natural concerns about his
knowledge of the mechanics of Municipal Court procedures and
various aspects of trial practice. He also recognizes that he
faces an inevitable learning process to become fully comfortable
in his new role. For John Sommerville, however, these
reservations only mark the respect he holds for judicial office
and the legal process. Because he is well versed and experienced
in the law, adjusted and secure in himself, his family and his
community, and genuinely concerned about each person with whom
he comes in contact, lawyers and their clients appearing before
him will find him to be personable, temperate, fair and
decisive.
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