THE BERYL LEVINE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Women Lawyers Section Beryl Levine Achievement Award Ceremony
THE BERYL LEVINE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Beryl Levine Achievement Award was established this year by SBAND ’ s Women Lawyers Section . The award recognizes and honors individuals for their exceptional dedication and contributions to promoting gender diversity , equity , and inclusion in the legal profession . The award is presented during the SBAND Annual Meeting but need not be given every year . This year , the Women Lawyers Section Executive Committee voted unanimously to grant this inaugural award to Beryl Levine posthumously .
Justice Beryl J . Levine was appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court on January 17 , 1985 . She had begun at the University of North Dakota School of Law as a mother of five children , which made her feat of graduating as the top student of her 1974 class all the more incredible . She worked enthusiastically in dedicated service to the judiciary , the state , and North Dakota citizens . Her enduring commitment to eliminating gender bias and racism in the administration of justice led to the creation of the Commission on Gender Fairness in the Courts and Legal Profession , which she co-chaired . The committee was charged with developing a detailed course of action to eradicate gender bias in North Dakota courts .
Justice Beryl J . Levine and her husband Dr . Leonard Levine .
Justice Levine ’ s place in history is important not only because she is the first woman to serve on the North Dakota Supreme Court , but due to the merit of her work . She expressed hope that her “ mere presence ” on the Court made a difference . Justice Levine graced us with far more than “ mere presence .” She was a lady , a lawyer , a leader , a valiant advocate , and a justice – in whose hands all people , of whatever age , color , or gender , received respect , equity , and protection under the law .
Women Lawyers Section Beryl Levine Achievement Award Ceremony
Remarks Given by David K . Levine :
Good afternoon to you all . I begin as my mom would , by recognizing my mom ’ s family . In addition to me , the youngest of her five children , one of Mom ’ s two daughters , Sari , and Sari ’ s husband , Scott , and son , Noah , are here , as are two of my children , my amazing and beautiful daughters , Lexi and Madelyn , two of Mom ’ s 10 grandchildren . Roger Gilbertson , my lifelong best friend of more than 50 years , whom both my mom and I have always considered a member of my family , is also here . Mom ’ s other daughter , Susan , and other sons , Marc and Bill , as well as my wonderful wife , Aviva , and my incredible son , Zachary , were unable to be here today . On behalf of the entire family , I express my sincere gratitude to the State Bar of North Dakota , its Women Lawyers Section , and the executive committee of the Women Lawyers Section , including Justice McEvers whom I know was instrumental in making this award a reality .
This is a bittersweet moment for me in that I wish Mom were here to accept this award herself . She is certainly with me in my heart , and I will do my best to honor her by conveying what I believe she would have expressed .
If Mom were here , she would talk about two things – her gratitude and what the award represents . She would begin by thanking those who came before her , like
12 THE GAVEL
Helen Hamilton , and those who helped her along the way , like her family , law school classmates and professors , and her colleagues at the Vogel Law Firm and on the Supreme Court .
In addition to recognizing her children and grandchildren , Mom would thank her husband , my dad . I have told my children many times that I am a proud and loud feminist . Given my lineage , perhaps this is not surprising , as I am a feminist – and an attorney – in part because of my mom and her inspiration , but I am a feminist in equal parts because of my dad – his support for my mom was unqualified and without jealousy or resentment .
Mom always acknowledged that she had many mentors whose support , guidance , and wisdom were critical in her development as an attorney and as a justice . Those mentors included Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle , who is here today and whom I also had the opportunity to speak with just a couple of days ago . True to form , the first thing he said was how deserving Mom was of this honor . He reminisced with me about the very special relationship he forged with Mom during her time on the Court , which continued during her retirement . Maurice McCormick , a colleague from the Vogel Law Firm , who , along with his wife , Joy , are here today , was one of Mom ’ s first mentors and a dear friend for five
David K . Levine
decades . At her investiture in 1985 , 39 years ago , Mom said this about Maurice , and I quote : “ I see Maurice McCormick , whose generosity of spirit sustained him and whose patience surely saved me from assault and battery in the face of my daily barrage of questions to him as I struggled to meet the myriad of bafflements arising from the day-to-day practice of this wonderous profession of ours .”
There are many other colleagues of Mom ’ s here today , and please know that if I don ’ t mention you by name , it has nothing to do with the impact you had on Mom ’ s career or life because both were significant .
Mom also said this about Nick Vogel : “ I see Nick Vogel , whose quiet grace , intelligence , and strength of character