RWolpert@GreeneEspel.comDownload vCard
Education
- J.D., Cornell Law School, cum laude (2001)
- Ph.D., M.A., University of Chicago, Political Science
- B.A., Colby College, Waterville, Maine, with honors
Experience
- Dorsey & Whitney, LLP, Associate (2003-2004)
- Minnesota Supreme Court, the Hon. Paul Anderson and the Hon. James Gilbert, Law Clerk (2001-2002)
Robin Wolpert practices in the fields of constitutional law, government liability, housing and employment law, and business litigation. She handles appeals in the federal and state appellate courts, including the Minnesota Supreme Court, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. Robin serves on the board of the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society and chairs its Events Committee. She also serves on the Minnesota State Bar Association's Appellate Practice Council and the Judiciary Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
Advantage Media LLC v. City of Eden Prairie, 405 F. Supp. 2d 1037 (D. Minn. 2005), aff’d 456 F.3d 793 (8th Cir. 2006). Obtained summary judgment against billboard company’s groundbreaking effort to secure standing to invalidate entire sign code under multiple theories.
Amicus brief on behalf of Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota in City of Granite Falls v. Soo Line Railraod Company et al. (pending, Minnesota Supreme Court 2008), involving challenge to the condemnation of an easement along a railroad right of way for a recreational trail and federal preemption.
Represented plaintiffs in LaRae Fjellman and Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals v. Dr. Sanne Magnan and Diane Mandernach (Ramsey County District Court), challenging constitutionality of state law prohibiting massage therapist from having sex and marrying a former client within two years of ending the professional relationship. Robin Wolpert and Mark Johnson each testified in the Minnesota legislature and, ultimately, the governor signed a bill to change the law. The case was named one of the Lawsuits of the Year by Minnesota Law & Politics.
Amicus brief on behalf of American Planning Association and International Municipal Lawyers Association in Naser Jewelers, Inc. v. City of Concord, NH (1st Cir. 2007), involving challenge to the constitutionality of ban on dynamic billboards and electronic message centers.
Amicus briefs in 2006 on behalf of the American Planning Association, International Municipal Lawyers Association, and other organizations in the following federal appeals cases involving challenges to the constitutionality of local sign regulations:Tanner Outdoor Advertising v. Fayette County, GA (11th Cir.), Prime Media v. City of Brentwood, TN (6th Cir.), and Get Outdoors II v. City of San Diego, CA (9th Cir.).
Amicus brief on behalf of the Rails to Trails Conservancy and Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota in State v. Hess (Minnesota Supreme Court 2004), addressing whether state or adjacent property owners owned portions of the Paul Bunyan State Trail.
Amicus brief on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota in In re Independence Party Candidates (Minnesota Supreme Court 2004), challenging the Secretary of State's removal of the Independence Party candidates from the 2004 general election ballot.
Amicus brief on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota in In re Pietsch v. Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners (Minnesota Supreme Court 2004), challenging disciplinary action by the Board.
BAR ADMISSIONS
First Circuit Court of Appeals
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Minnesota Federal District Court
State of Minnesota
AWARDS
International Municipal Lawyers Association, Amicus Service Award (2008)
PUBLICATIONS
“Justice at Stake: An Introduction to the Quie Commission Report,” The Hennepin Lawyer (Nov. 2007)
“Deterring and Defeating the Sign Code Shakedown: Best Practices for Drafting a Constitutional Sign Ordinance,” 48 Municipal Lawyer 6 (Jan/Feb 2007) (with William D. Brinton and Randal M. Morrison)
“The Modern Tower of Babel: Defending the New Wave of First Amendment Challenges to Municipal Billboard and Sign Regulations,” 58 Planning and Environmental Law 3 (Oct. 2006) (with John Baker)
“Preserving and Promoting Minnesota’s Recreational Trails: State v. Hess,” 31 William Mitchell Law Rev. 1133 (2005)
“Phillips v. Martin Marietta, Reed v. Reed, Dothard v. Rawlinson, Bowers v. Hardwick” in The Encyclopedia of Women in American Politics (Jeffrey D. Schultz and Laura van Assendelft eds., 1999)
“Self-Interest, Symbolic Politics, and Public Attitudes Toward Gun Control,” 20 Pol. Behav. 241 (1998) (with James Gimpel)
“The Structure of Public Support for Gun Control:The 1988 Battle Over Question 3 in Maryland,”in The Changing Politics of Gun Control III (Clyde Wilcox and John Bruce eds., 1997) (with James Gimpel)
“Information, Recall, and Accountability:The Electorate’s Response to the Clarence Thomas Nomination,” 22 Legis. Stud. Q. 535 (1997) (with James Gimpel)
“Opinion Formation and Public Attitudes Toward Controversial Supreme Court Nominees,” 49 Pol. Res. Q. 163 (1996) (with James Gimpel)
“The Hearts and Minds of the American People: Gay and Lesbian Rights, Public Opinion, and Electoral Politics,” in The Politics of Gay Rights (Craig Rimmerman et al. eds., 2000) (with Clyde Wilcox)
“President Clinton, Public Opinion, and Gays and Lesbians in the Military,” in Gay Rights, Military Wrongs 127 (Craig A. Rimmerman ed., 1996) (with Clyde Wilcox)
“Rationalizing Support and Opposition to Supreme Court Nominations:The Role of Credentials,” 28 Polity (1995) (with James Gimpel)
“Jenness v. Fortson, Kusper v. Pontikes, Marchioro v. Chaney, Rosario v. Rockefeller,” in Political Parties and Elections in the United States:An Encyclopedia 524, 553, 637, 981-982 (L. Sandy Maisel ed. 1991)
Selected Conference Papers
"Litigating for Gay Rights: The Lessons of Bowers v. Hardwick," Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (1995)
"Judicial Review, Democracy, and Political Accountability," Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (1994)
"Explaining and Predicting Supreme Court Decision-Making: The Gender Discrimination Cases, 1971-1986," Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association (1991) and Awarded Prize
"The Least Dangerous Branch: Market Forces and the Implementation of Roe," with Gerald N. Rosenberg, Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (1990)
TEACHING AND LECTURING
Teaching Experience
William Mitchell College of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, Appellate Advocacy (2009-2010)
William Mitchell College of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, Advanced Trial Advocacy (2009-2010)
University of South Carolina, Assistant Professor, Department of Government (1996-1998)
University of Maryland, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Politics (1995)
Georgetown University, Visiting Instructor, Department of Government (1993-1995)
Lecturing
"The Writing on the Wall: Recent Developments in the Law of Signs and Billboards," International Municipal Lawyers Association Annual Conference, Miami, FL (October 2009)
“The History of the Minnesota Supreme Court:A View From the Law Clerks,” MSBA Appellate Practice Section and Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society Law Clerk Reunion, St. Paul, MN (May 2008)
“Local Regulation of Dynamic Billboards and Signs," International Municipal Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN (2007)
“Issues in Judicial Elections: Accountability, Representation, and the Rule of Law," Wisconsin Department of Justice, Madison, WI (September 2007)
“The Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Act: Promoting Recreational Trails by Limiting Liability," SMART Trail Symposium, Rochester, MN (2006)
“Drafting and Defending Sign and Billboard Ordinances: New Strategies and Emerging Issues for Local Governments," Moderator, International Municipal Lawyers Association National Audio-Conference (2006)
“The New Wave of First Amendment Attacks on Local Sign Codes," International Municipal Lawyers Association Mid-Year Conference, Washington, DC (2006)
“Defending Recreational Trails Against Quiet Title Actions,” Annual Meeting of Rails to Trails Conservancy, Minneapolis, MN (2005)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Infinity Project, Member, Board of Directors (2009)
Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society
Member, Board of Directors (2008-Present)
Chair, Events Committee (2009-Present)
Minnesota Citizens Commission for the Preservation of an Impartial Judiciary (Governor Al Quie, Chair), Reporter (2006-2007)
Minnesota State Bar Association
Member, Appellate Practice Section Council (2007-Present)
Secretary-Treasurer (2009-2010)
Member, Judiciary Committee (2007-Present)
Civic Education Committee and Kids Voting (2008-Present)
American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, Member, Board of Directors (2004-Present)
Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, Member, Board of Directors (2005-2006)
19th District Ethics Commitee, Member and Investigator (2006-Present)