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A selection of speeches written and presented by Justice Paul Anderson
Nordic-American Thanksgiving Breakfast, 2003
"…But what is this concept of freedom that we cherish? When I told a law professor friend that I was going to speak about freedom, he asked with a smiled whether I was going to speak for or against it. Obviously, the answer was—for it—but I told him my challenge was to define it.…" Read More...
Sesquicentennial Storytelling, 2008
"… The reason that my Scots-Irish ancestors came to Minnesota is a result of an Indian Treaty signed in 1851 The Treaty of the Traverse De Sioux. This treaty opened up Minnesota west of the Mississippi for settlement. When I go to the Governor’s reception room, I can see a picture on the wall depicting the signing of this treaty. When I view that picture, I often reflect upon what the Indians gave up so that my ancestors could settle here." Read More...
Bar Admission Ceremony, 2006
"...So this is what my speech will be about today. I want to share with you my grandfather’s eight points of advice to his children—advice he gave more than 85 years ago—and to hopefully illustrate how these points of advice can assist in making each one of you a better lawyer." Read More...
Cass Gilbert Portrait Unveiling, 2005
"… It is an awesome—truly awesome—experience to work in this building. I have been in awe of this building ever since I first saw it as an elementary school child, and later, when I came here as a Boys’ Stater. Then when I was a student at Macalester, I frequently rode my bicycle to the capitol just to absorb the magnificence of this building. And now I work here. Every time I come up those steps, I still get goose bumps to think that I have the privilege of working in such a marvelous building." Read More...
Clayton, Jackson & McGhie Memorial Dedication Dinner, 2003
"...To say it is a pleasure to be with you tonight does not really do justice to this event. Tonight is something different. Tonight I am honored to be with you. It is also humbling to be with you. Today the city of Duluth has done something special—something very special—something extraordinary. As one of the speakers said this afternoon: “Today Duluth is a light in the world.” You are remembering and memorializing an important, but painful, event from your past. The memory is painful because of the awful nature of the act of a lynching. It is also painful because it happened here, in Duluth. It is painful because it is so hard to explain. Things like this are not supposed to happen in Duluth. There was talk of this today." Read More...
Robert Burns 246th birthday celebration…
"…Now the first right Burns speaks of in the poem is protection. It is freedom from fear—a right which Robert Burns espouses for men, women—both men and women….So why is it we celebrate Robert Burns’ birthday with a Burns supper? The answer to that is that Robert Burns represents the aspirations of the common man—the ordinary mortal. He put into poetry many of our ordinary thoughts and he put into song many of our better ideas and ideals." Read More...
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