Calm and commanding, on the bench and off

He began his legal career as an intern nearly 40 years ago, helping people living in poverty get their day in court. Today, he occupies a spacious office atop the 15-story U.S. Courthouse in downtown Minneapolis, the first black chief judge of federal courts in Minnesota.

Through it all, say friends, colleagues and those who have appeared before him, U.S. Chief Judge Michael J. Davis exudes a low-key yet commanding presence that demands formality and preparation while striving to ensure fairness.

"He is a thoughtful, reflective thinker. And that is coupled with a real passion for justice," said U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery, who's known Davis since their years on the Hennepin County bench.

Said longtime friend Jim Krieger, an assistant Hennepin County public defender who first got to know Davis at the Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis in the early 1970s: "He just has a presence. And his calmness just fills the room."

Davis, who became a federal judge in March 1994 after working as a criminal defense lawyer, Minneapolis civil rights commissioner, municipal and county judge, and law professor, is considered one of the top jurists in the country in dealing with complex, multi-district cases.

He has for years presided over the Baycol Product Liability Litigation, in which he has helped resolve most of the thousands of pharmaceutical-related injury cases involving more than $1 billion in damages across the country.

"I've been involved in a lot of these types of proceedings, and Judge Davis really did an outstanding job," said Phil Beck, an attorney for Bayer, the manufacturer of Baycol. "He was fair to all sides. And it takes a special kind of judge to ride herd on these kinds of cases."

Davis took over as chief judge from James Rosenbaum on July 1. The job is largely administrative, managing various departments within the court system -- such as the clerk of court's office. Chief judges also carry a full caseload.

Those closest to Davis say he could always bore into the heart of a complex issue and calmly find solutions.

Pam Alexander, a former Hennepin County judge who once worked at the Legal Rights Center with Davis and served alongside him on the Hennepin County bench, remembers turning to Davis and fellow Judge Charles Porter years ago to fix an overwhelming backlog of criminal cases that had ground the county system to a near halt.

"We had a huge number of people, sitting in jail, because they couldn't get into court," she said. "Well, [Davis and Porter] hammered out a plan."

The plan: No vacations, no trips to the cabin or the Caribbean, no time off until the backlog was gone. Such a plan was certain to elicit anger, Alexander said. But Davis presented it in just the right way.

Davis commands respect -- and his courtroom -- without bombast or bravado, colleagues say. Part of it may be intimidation. The former Macalester College basketball player is 6 feet 5 1/2, towering above most people in his courtroom.

"I have heard people say he can be intimidating, at least physically. He's a big guy," Montgomery said. "When he listens carefully and doesn't say anything, some people start shaking in their boots."

But, really, his friends say, his command comes from something else.

"Look at his eyes," said Krieger, who considers Davis his best friend. "When he is looking at somebody to make an assessment, well, he could see through a wall."

Davis once called himself "boring." He admits he's low-key.

Davis is married to Sara Wahl, daughter of the former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Wahl, and has two adult sons, one still in college. He was born in Cincinnati but spent much of his life in Aurora, Ill. He came to Minnesota and Macalester, from where he graduated in 1969, after former Gophers greats Lou Hudson and Sandy Stephens put the state on his mental map with their basketball and football success, Davis said.

A lifelong friendship

Doug Frantz was a childhood rival who became a junior high and high school basketball teammate of Davis'. They double-dated at the senior prom. They and their wives still double-date every Valentine's Day. And they forged a lifelong friendship that began by walking home from practice and talking about the events and politics of the day.

Davis was the straight-A student, Frantz got C's. But Davis always wanted to hear his friend's ideas.

"I remember I was leaning towards Goldwater, and Mike talked about Kennedy and Johnson. He would consider everything we talked about, make his case and we would talk and talk some more," Frantz said. "From that time in the early '60s until now, he hasn't changed. He always wanted to hear all the sides. And he was never full of himself."

The Baycol litigation involves a cholesterol drug found to cause serious health problems among some; it is linked to at least 100 deaths. Davis has been adept at managing the mountain of Baycol cases, establishing a network of "special masters" to help settle the cases, said Ken Feinberg, who has served as a special master on Baycol, as well as for the 9-11 Victims Compensation Fund and Agent Orange cases.

"He really is one of only a handful of judges who can do this," Feinberg said. "They will figure out a creative way to provide swift and certain justice. Here is where Davis shines."

Each federal judge receives the opportunity to serve as chief, based on seniority. The term lasts seven years. Davis said he relishes the duties of the new job. His priority is to continue the court's movement to greater public openness and access, he said.

Already, Davis has met with all the managers of the clerk of court's office. He intends to meet with every employee of the court at some point. He even has a book by his desk with the names and photos of all the folks who work in the clerk's office.

"Really," he said. "I want to set a tone of respect and fairness."