Hennepin County judge gavels career to a close

Hennepin County District Judge Jack Nordby's life story has a touch of fairy tale, a bit of tragedy, lots of contradiction and maybe some legend.

He grew up in Windom and went to Harvard University and Harvard's law school. His fans, mostly defense lawyers, call him brilliant and intellectual.

Appointed by Gov. Arne Carlson in 1995, Nordby became a near-iconic courthouse figure with his white hair, three-piece suits, fedora and pipe. He turned 70 on Feb. 10 and must retire at the end of the month.

He's been considered a top criminal appellate lawyer, writer and expert on ethics and criminal law. He calls his life a run of "good fortune." He's also been candid about darker days.

He lost his alcoholic father to suicide and lost a son, most likely to suicide, although questions linger about whether it was murder.

Nordby was hospitalized for depression, but he got better and no longer takes drugs. He divorced the mother of his two sons and reconnected with his high school sweetheart, whom he calls his fiancée after their 22 years together.

He defended attorneys and doctors against ethical violations. Now he's fighting his own alleged violation, filed by a court watchdog group that claims he made improper comments. No ruling has been issued.

Friedberg recalls Nordby defending a theater owner against pornography charges and selecting a nun for the jury. Nordby won an acquittal. "They're no strangers to human nature," he said of nuns. "They're compassionate and understanding."

In one of his best-known judicial rulings, he held that the state Constitution requires "reasonable bail before conviction." He said, "To set bail higher than a defendant can afford is to deny bail."

Nordby set affordable bail, and as a consequence former Chief Judge Dan Mabley acceded to the county attorney's request to remove Nordby from arraignments -- an action Nordby says was improperly handled.

His January 2000 ruling in a Mall of America free speech case went to the Supreme Court and back. Nordby wrote a 21-page rebuke to the high court, which he accused of "gratuitous interpolated vilipendency."

He never wore a robe on the bench, saying it didn't feel right, but he always wore a suit to work. One of his best friends, Judge John Holahan, said that even at Holahan's cabin, Nordby "wears a sportcoat with a silk hankie. Primarily, what he loves to do is read and smoke his pipe."

Mention Nordby to the normally soft-spoken Meshbesher, and he all but squeals, "I love Jack Nordby!"

The judge doesn't use a computer. His office, home and two storage facilities are jammed with books on topics from Robert Frost, whom he knew at Harvard, to Shakespeare to Enron to the U.S. Constitution.

His plans include spending time with his family, consulting on legal matters and continuing at least four book projects. He also hopes to travel. "One thing I'd like to do is go to London and get a bespoke suit," he said.

As for being a judge, Nordby said, "I'll miss it, but it's also tedious."

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747