News Item
American Board of Trial Advocates to Honors Two First Judicial District Judges As Trial Judges of the Year

Posted: Tuesday, July 23, 2019

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The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) has selected both First Judicial District Chief Judge Kathryn Davis Messerich and First Judicial District Judge Jerome B. Abrams to receive its 2019 Trial Judge of the Year Award. The judges were honored at ABOTA’s Annual Meeting on July 11.
 
ABOTA is an organization of experienced and ethical trial lawyers whose mission is to preserve the right to a civil jury trial guaranteed by the 7th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and to elevate the standards of integrity, honor, ethics, civility, and courtesy in the legal profession.
 
“I am humbled by this honor and thrilled to have received it at the same time as my colleague, Judge Abrams,” said Chief Judge Messerich.
 
Judge Abrams has served in a number of capacities in ABOTA on a local and national basis. Both judges were members of ABOTA when they were appointed to the bench. 
 
Chief Judge Messerich was appointed to serve on the First Judicial District bench in 2004. Her first term as chief judge began on July 1, 2017, and her second term will begin on July 1, 2019. Before serving as a judge, she spent 17 years in private practice as a civil trial lawyer. She graduated with her juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law, earned a Master of Science degree in maternal child nursing from the University of Minnesota, and has a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Northern Michigan University. Chief Judge Messerich has served on the Minnesota District Judge Association Civil Jury Instruction Guide Committee since 2004, and has chaired the committee since 2012. She also has previously served as Chair of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice for District Courts Committee. Chief Judge Messerich’s chambers are located in the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings. 
 
Judge Abrams was appointed to serve on the First Judicial District bench in 2007. Before serving as a judge, he spent 26 years in private practice. He graduated with his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law, and earned a bachelor of arts degree from Beloit College. Judge Abrams serves on the Board of Directors for the National Center for State Courts. He has made more than 70 continuing education presentations to judge and lawyers. Judge Abrams’ chambers are also located in the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings.