Maynard Pirsig

Maynard E. Pirsig LLD (January 9, 1902 – February 6, 1997) was an American legal scholar and academic.^[1]

He was a University of Minnesota Law School professor, from 1933 to 1970, Dean from 1948 to 1955. And, Professor at the William Mitchell College of Law, from 1970 to 1993. He had one of the longest careers of any legal academic.^[2]

Teaching career

Pirsig's pathbreaking casebook on Judicial Administration invented a new subject.^[3]

About his Judicial Administration course, "The hope, one would gather, was that students thus equipped with a challenging attitude, a reformer's zeal for ideal solutions, and a full arsenal of possibilities for innovations would continue to confront the judicial system with challenges to ever more humane conduct that alone will guarantee it's continuing legitimacy."^[4]

University of Minnesota Law School 1933-1970

In 1934, he originated the course Judicial Administration, which he taught throughout his career. "A course that strove to encompass all subjects - from justice and precedence, to trial techniques and the organization of the courts - pertinent to developing well rounded lawyers".^[5] He also taught courses on pleading, ethics and criminal law.

He introduced the first course on personnel training in correctional institutions, at the university.^[2]

He received the University of Minnesota's Outstanding Achievement Award in 1985.^[6]

He retired from the U of M at 70, the school's mandatory retirement age then.^[7]

The main Law School Building houses a lecture hall named in honor of professor Pirsig, and also houses a large portrait painting of him.

In his final will was a substantial monetary gift to "The U" to entice adding Judicial Administration back to their curriculum, which they did.

The U of M Law School named their moot court, The Maynard Pirsig Moot Court, click here

William Mitchell College of Law 1970-1993

William Mitchell Law School had no mandatory retirement age, and immediately hired Pirsig for the next semester - on Pirsig's condition that he not be tenured, in case due to age he became incompetent to teach, they could let him go - that was not until 23 years later, at the age of 91. At "Mitchell" he taught courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, professional responsibility, and comparative judicial administration.

He received an honorary doctorate from William Mitchell, 1981.

Professor Pirsig made a substantial donation for the construction of the Warren E. Burger Law Library^[8] The Law Library now houses a hall named after him, which houses a collection of his Legal and personal memorabilia, for instance one of his U of M lectures which was recorded onto a vinyl LP.

Minnesota Supreme Court

In 1942, at the age of 40, Pirsig served briefly as an interim Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court. He was appointed by Governor Harold Stassen. He served for only a few months, but wrote more than a dozen opinions, several of which later became important legal precedents.^[2] Pirsig felt he could be more influential as a professor, and returned to teaching, and soon became U of M Law' s Dean.

To see a summary of opinions written by Maynard E. Pirsig, click here.

Judicial Committees and Legal Aid Society

Executive Director the Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Society, from 1926 to 1931 (from the age of 24 to 29 years old).

Chairman of the Minnesota State Bar Association committee formed to study the American Law Institute's Youth Conservation Act^[7]

Secretary of the Minnesota Judicial Council, which studied the organization and procedures of the courts.

1945 - 1956 Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Minnesota Division of Employment and Security, which was responsible for the development and administration of Minnesota's employment security program.^[7]

Member of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law.^[5] Pirsig's 30 year tenure as a member of the conference included service in many capacities, such as chairman of committees for uniform acts in arbitration, expunging criminal records, juvenile court, and rules of criminal procedure.^[7]

The United States Supreme Court named Pirsig to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in 1950. He served on the committee until 1957.^[7]

Publications

Maynard E. Pirsig was a prolific writer. Many of his publications were about how to improve the Judicial system.

To see a list of his publications, click here

Awards and Honors

1973 Herbert Lincoln Harley Award from the American Judicature Society, for outstanding contributions to the improvement of the administration of justice.

1981 Honorary doctorate (LLD) from William Mitchell Law School

1985 University of Minnesota's Outstanding Achievement Award

The University of Minnesota Law School's moot court is named after him, "Maynard Pirsig Moot Court"

Controversies

In 1963, Pirsig helped draft a bill to revise the state's criminal code. Although some officials believed that it was too lenient and hampered law enforcement, it was passed two years later.^[2]

1957 Publicly urges the University Senate Committee on Student Affairs to expel fraternities and sororities that have racial "bias clauses" in their charters or constitutions.^[7]

1920, during Maynard's student years, he retires from playing trombone in the University marching band, because his arms are too short to reach all the notes.^[7]

Education

1919-1923 University of Minnesota, B.A. degree

1923-1925 University of Minnesota Law School, LL.B degree

1931-1932, attends graduate courses in law at Harvard University, studying under Roscoe Pound and Felix Frankfurter.^[7]

1932-1933 As further preparation for developing a course in judicial administration, lives one year in England with his wife Harriet and son Robert, studying the English legal system.^[7]

Personal life

Pirsig was born in Kossuth County, Iowa in 1902, to Gustav and Amelia Pirsig. He was raised on his parents' farm and spoke only German until he began attending school.

Following courtship of several years, in 1925, marries Harriet Sjobeck.^[7]

He was a quiet, unpretentious man, but with a quick smile. From his first handshake, he gave the appearance of someone you would like to have as a friend and a colleague.^[3]

One of Maynard and Harriet's three children is philosopher Robert M. Pirsig.^[9]

Sources