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John Keller Named MN Chief Deputy Attorney General
Posted on Dec 26 2018
John Keller, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, has been chosen by Minnesota Attorney General-elect Keith Ellison to serve as Chief Deputy Attorney General, the number-two attorney in the Office of the Attorney General. This marks a big transition for both Keller and ILCM, as he has spent more than 20 years with ILCM. Writing to ILCM board and staff, Keller said:
“I have considered very, very few things to be comparable to the amazing opportunity to do good that ILCM has provided me over these 20+ years. This is without doubt one that I know will allow me to build on what ILCM has taught and made me over these years. I have both a broken heart at the prospect of leaving ILCM, all of you, the amazing clients and partners; and, on the other hand, true excitement about building Minnesota’s AG office into one that strengthens all of Minnesota for those that need justice and systems to work better for them in these challenging times.”
In his press release announcing the appointment, Ellison said:
“The Attorney General is the People’s Lawyer, and John Keller is a people’s lawyer. For many years, John has successfully managed and grown a well-respected non-profit legal practice that has helped people of all backgrounds navigate complex areas of the law so that they can afford their lives, reach new dreams, and live with dignity. He brings to the Attorney General’s Office a unique combination of deep grassroots understanding of the struggles that low-income people, immigrants, and communities of color face, and deep connection to and recognition from the legal community in Minnesota and across the country.
“I can think of no one better suited to help me serve the people of Minnesota,”
[Full text of press release below.]
ILCM board and staff are working out specific transition timelines and will keep the community informed in the days to come. Board Chair Maya Salah and ILCM Associate Director Melissa Pfeiffer said:
“ILCM is a strong and vibrant organization which has supported leadership from many staff. We look confidently to continuing our essential work for immigrants and refugees, and our state and national leadership on immigration in these difficult times.
“Going forward, we will continue to keep the community informed on our work, on leadership transitions, and on plans for an opportunity to celebrate and wish John well in this new endeavor. We deeply appreciate your support in the past and look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.”
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Stiles, Ellison Transition, (612) 581-1788, john@keithellison.org
Attorney General-elect Ellison names John Keller Chief Deputy Attorney General
Long-time executive director of Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota to assist Ellison in helping Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity
December 26, 2018 (MINNEAPOLIS) — Minnesota Attorney General-elect Keith Ellison today announced that he has named John Keller to serve as Minnesota’s Chief Deputy Attorney
General.
“The Attorney General is the People’s Lawyer, and John Keller is a people’s lawyer,” Attorney General-elect Ellison said. “For many years, John has successfully managed and grown a well-respected non-profit legal practice that has helped people of all backgrounds navigate complex areas of the law so that they can afford their lives, reach new dreams, and live with dignity. He brings to the Attorney General’s Office a unique combination of deep grassroots understanding of the struggles that low-income people, immigrants, and communities of color face, and deep connection to and recognition from the legal community in Minnesota and across the country.
“I can think of no one better suited to help me serve the people of Minnesota,” Ellison concluded.
John Keller began his work at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota in 1998 as a staff attorney and later as legal director. ILCM is a nonprofit agency that provides immigration legal assistance to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota. Since 2005 he has been ILCM’s executive director. In that time, he has transformed ILCM from a small, regional legal-services organization with five staff to Minnesota’s leading provider of free, high-quality, and comprehensive legal, policy, and education services with five offices statewide, 32 employees — a majority of whom are from immigrant, refugee, or mixed-family backgrounds — more than 350 trained pro bono attorneys, and a statewide and national reputation. In recent years, ILCM’s work has been commended by both the state and national American Immigration Bar Associations, Minnesota State Bar Association and Minnesota Lawyer among others.
Keller received his Juris Doctor cum laude from Hamline University in 1996 and worked at the League of Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota Court of Appeals before joining ILCM. He is licensed at the Minnesota Supreme Court and is admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Keller has twice been named Minnesota Lawyer’s Attorney of the Year and has been honored with the American Immigration Lawyers Association Human Rights Award, the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association Access to Justice Award, and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Excellence in Advocacy Award. The Minnesota Senate appointed Keller to the Legislature’s Ethnic Heritage and New American Working Group.
“I grew up on a small family dairy farm in May Township, north of Stillwater where I learned the importance of hard work, education, and service. I have had the opportunity to become the first lawyer in my family, to live abroad, and to raise a bilingual, bicultural family, and have never lost sight of those who have lacked access to resources or have been intentionally excluded,” Keller said.
“I am honored to help implement Keith Ellison’s vision as chief deputy attorney general. It represents the perfect opportunity to continue the work to which I’ve dedicated my professional life on a much larger scale in order to help transform lives and strengthen our democratic and legal systems and protections,” Keller added.
The Chief Deputy Attorney General serves as the number-two attorney in the Office of the Attorney General. As Chief Deputy, Keller will work with deputies and managers to implement the Attorney General’s vision of helping Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity. The Chief Deputy assists the Attorney General in managing the lawyers and legal assistants who provide legal representation for the many State agencies, boards, and other constitutional officers, and who protect the people of Minnesota from consumer fraud, anti-trust price fixing, or other unfair, discriminatory, or other unlawful practices in business, commerce, or trade. As Chief Deputy, Keller will also help fulfill Attorney General’s pledge of providing increased assistance to county attorneys, particularly in Greater Minnesota.
Keith Ellison will be sworn in as Minnesota’s 30th attorney general on January 7, 2019.
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