News Item
First District Judge Michael Mayer Receives A.L. Carlisle Child Advocacy Award
Posted: Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Judge Michael Mayer received the A. L. Carlisle Child Advocacy Award from the Coalition of Juvenile Justice (CJJ) in recognition of Mayer’s work championing for youth with courage, compassion and commitment. It was presented at the CJJ Annual Conference in Washington D.C., June 10-12, 2015.
The CJJ’s A.L. Carlisle Award is presented annually by CJJ to an individual who makes outstanding contributions to youth, the improvement of juvenile justice, and in the broader area of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. This award is named in honor of A.L. Carlisle, CJJ’s founding force. She was a volunteer activist who strived to ensure that the nation’s most troubled and vulnerable children would have secure futures. She served as the first CJJ National Chair and Northeast Regional Chair from 1979 through 1987.
Judge Mayer is a Juvenile Court Judge in the First Judicial District. He has served as a member of the Minnesota Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (State Advisory Group) since being appointed by Governor Arne Carlson in 1995. He has served as the Chair of the SAG and presently serves as Vice Chair. He also sits on the CJJ Executive Board as Chair of the Midwest Region.
Karen Henke, a veteran juvenile prosecutor, in her letter supporting Judge Mayer, said “I have always respected his dedication to see justice and to reach children…his compassion is palpable in court.” Linda Hayes, a former CCJ board member and past recipient of the A.L. Carlisle Award, describes Judge Mayer as, “always [using] great judgment in his decisions. [He is] willing to ponder the points, hear everyone else’s thoughts, and then come to the best decision for children.”
In 2009, Judge Mayer and the Minnesota State Advisory Group convinced legislators to pass a statewide disproportionate minority contact policy. In 2014, they convened a forum on incarcerated youth sentencing practices and the need to make changes to state law. The forum resulted in a statewide push for the elimination of juvenile life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In addition to his duties on the bench, Judge Mayer chairs the Eliminating Racial Disparities Committee for the Juvenile Court and sits on the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Executive Committee. He served as the Chair of the Juvenile Court Process Committee in an effort to streamline the court process to get children and families in and out of court as quickly as possible. Judge Mayer serves on the Board of Tree House, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youth and youth who are suffering from mental health and chemical dependency issues.
In 2013 Judge Mayer was appointed to the CAP Board for Dakota, Carver and Scott Counties. CAP (Community Action Partnership) runs the Headstart programs, handles energy assistance grants, established a program for senior meals and offers housing for low income families.
Judge Mayer is an active member of Easter Lutheran Church, where he serves as a mentor for youth in the confirmation process. He gives presentations to his congregation and community about the consequences of juvenile records and young people who are involved in the juvenile justice system.
Carrie Wasley, the Juvenile Justice Specialist for Minnesota, says, “Mike has always been accessible to everyone and this attribute is particularly critical when dealing with youth. He is more than approachable [and] he has the ability to sit down and relate to kids [who tend to] open up to him, trust him, and are willing to listen to him. He talks to them in their language and looks them in the eye when speaking to them. [His] guiding light is the desire to do what is best and fair for the children impacted by his decisions.”
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice is a nationwide coalition of State Advisory Groups (SAGs) and allies dedicated to preventing children and youth from becoming involved in the courts and upholding the highest standards of care when youth are charged with wrongdoing and enter the justice system. CJJ envisions a nation where fewer children are at risk of delinquency; and if they are at risk or involved with the justice system, they and their families receive every possible opportunity to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
CJJ’s substantive areas of work include:
- Promoting evidence-informed policies and practices in delinquency reduction and prevention;
- Educating the public and advising federal policymakers on state and local juvenile justice issues;
- Assisting the states (including territories and the District of Columbia) in meeting the core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act;
- Improving racial/ethnic fairness, accessibility, and overall quality of community and court-based policies and practices; and
- Linking national, state, and local advocates and organizations to pursue a common mission.
Mayer was appointed as a First Judicial District Judge in 2004 by Governor Tim Pawlenty. He was a partner with the Eagan law firm of Grannis and Hauge, practicing there from 1989 to 2004. Previously, he was an associate attorney with the South St. Paul law firm of Grannis, Grannis, Farrell and Knutson from 1986 to 1989, and an associate attorney with the Eagan law firm of Hauge, Eide and Keller from 1985 to 1986. Mayer earned his Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1985, and his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from St. Mary’s University in Winona in 1981.
About the First Judicial District
The State of Minnesota’s First Judicial District has 36 judges and 250 staff that handle nearly 120,000 cases annually in the counties of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott and Sibley. Its mission is to provide justice through a system that assures equal access for the fair and timely resolution of cases and controversies. For more information please visit
http://www.mncourts.gov/district/1/.