Minnesota Lawyer Diversity & Inclusion Awards recognizes lawyers who go above and beyond in their efforts to create a more diverse and inclusionary community. These individuals have made a significant impact with respect to diversity and inclusion on the greater community. Firm Founder, Jerry W. Blackwell, and Partner, Corey L. Gordon, spearheaded the Firm's pro bono initiative to participate in commemorating the 100-year anniversary of lynchings in Duluth, MN, and securing the posthumous pardon of Max Mason. Left to right: Jerry W. Blackwell and Corey L. Gordon   Jerry Blackwell led the posthumous pardon request for Max Mason, a Black…

Benchmark Litigation recognized Blackwell Burke P.A. as a “Highly Recommended” law firm in Minnesota in its 2021 edition. In addition to the firm-wide ranking, 10 of its attorneys were named as either “Local Litigation Stars” or “Future Stars.” Firm founder and CEO Jerry Blackwell was ranked among Benchmark Litigation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers.   Benchmark Litigation honors the achievements of the nation’s most accomplished law firms, partners and associates. All partners in the Firm were recognized as Local Litigation Stars: Mary Young, Deborah Lewis, Ben Hulse, Corey Gordon, Jamal Faleel, Jerry Blackwell, and Gerardo “Jerry” Alcazar. Associates Ted Hartman, Charmaine…

The University of Minnesota Law School recently featured Blackwell Burke P.A. Attorney Amarachi Ihejirika in the Q&A news series highlighting law school alumni. Ihejirika was a 2016 University of Minnesota Law School graduate. In the article, Ihejirika shared her thoughts on working for Blackwell Burke, the importance of diverse perspectives in the legal profession, her perspective on the racial justice movement and the killing of George Floyd and more. “A good starting point for being an ally and/or advocate in this space is understanding the [accurate] history of racism and racial injustice in this country, beginning with slavery, and the…

Blackwell Burke P.A. Attorney Spiwe L. Jefferson and Partner Corey L. Gordon joined members of the legal community at the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL) organized Silent Protest in Solidarity at Hennepin County Government Center earlier this month. Jefferson is co-chair of the Communications Committee, and a past president, treasurer and board member of MABL. She was part of the MABL team that organized attorneys to gather during the first court appearance of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who was charged with second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd which has brought on a movement in the United…

Blackwell Burke P.A. Attorney Andrew “Andy” Crowder partnered with the University of Minnesota Law School’s James H. Binger Center for New Americans and Robins Kaplan LLP to represent a U.S. permanent resident and Ethiopian citizen in her case before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Amreya Rahmeto Shefa was convicted of first-degree manslaughter after killing her abusive husband and served five years in prison, as the crime exceeded the scope of self-defense in Minnesota. In 2017, Ms. Shefa was ordered to be deported from the United States after serving her time.  Leading Ms. Shefa’s defense, Crowder argued that Ms. Shefa…

Blackwell Burke P.A. collaborated with the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc., the Minnesota Historical Society, members of the Federal Bar, and other supporters, to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the wrongful criminal conviction of Max Mason and the brutal lynching of three Black circus workers in Duluth – the only lynchings in Minnesota’s history.  Firm Founder and CEO, Jerry W. Blackwell, led a request for the posthumous pardon of Max Mason, a man who was accused of rape 100 years ago, in front of the Minnesota Board of Pardons on June 12. Governor Tim Walz, state Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven…