Susan M. Holden - Press

From the College of Saint Benedict - 10/21/09

The eighth annual Red Mass is at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph. The public is invited to attend.

Trial attorney Susan Holden will be honored with the Fidelis Apparitor Award during a reception which follows the Red Mass at the Gorecki Dining and Conference Center at the College of Saint Benedict. Those who wish to attend the reception must register by Nov. 4. The cost of the reception is $25. RSVP by contacting Maureen Opitz at mxopitz@csbsju.edu or by phone at (320)-363-5020.

The award, which means “faithful servant” in Latin, is given to individuals who have been good and faithful servants of the law. Other recipients have been Judge John Simonett, a former associate justice with the Minnesota Supreme Court, Judge Diana Murphy of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and DePaul Willette, a retired attorney from Olivia, Minn., district court judge and member of the Minnesota Board of Judicial Standards.

Holden is a partner in the Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey law firm. Though she has earned her certification as a civil trial specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association and has years of experience as a strong advocate representing injured people, Holden is receiving this year’s award because of her tireless commitment to her community.

The Rule of St. Benedict is that “no one is to pursue what is judged better for oneself but instead, what is judged better for someone else.” Holden has lived this rule as evidenced by the awards and recognition she has received, including:

• Chair, Special Master Panel – Holden was appointed by the chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court to serve on the panel charged with distributing $37 million in compensation for 179 claims resulting from the 35W bridge collapse in 2007;
• 2009 recipient of Minnesota Lawyer’s Outstanding Service to the Profession Award in recognition of her years of service on behalf of the state bar and the courts;
• President, Minnesota State Bar Association 2005-06;
• 2008 recipient of the bar association’s President’s Award for outstanding service to the association and the profession.

While president of the bar association, Holden spearheaded fundraising efforts to help attorneys along the Gulf Coast following the devastation wrecked by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She led the call which resulted in Minnesota lawyers contributing over $425,000 along with five semi-truck loads of office furniture and supplies.

The judicial year in many jurisdictions around the world is traditionally opened with a Red Mass. The celebration of the Mass is designed to provide judges, lawyers, civic leaders and academics of all faiths the opportunity to reflect on the powers and responsibilities that are part of their office. Red Mass participants ask God to grant the virtues and gifts necessary for the proper and just administration of their duties. The Red Mass name comes from the red vestments and garments that early legal participants wore on this occasion.