Douglas Amdahl was Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court when I was appointed a District Court Judge. I think I only met him on one or two occasions, though I was privileged to preside at his Masonic Memorial Service on August 21, 2011. His “Judge’s Prayer” is famous, and posted in many judicial chambers around the State. I offer it here as an “extra”, as it was an inspiration to me to write A Judge’s Courtroom Blessing:
A Prayer
I pray that today I will have the knowledge to
discover and the wisdom to clarify, the legal issues;
The ability to see, and the unbiased mind to
recognize, the true facts;
The heart to know, and the gentleness to understand,
the human problems;
And the patience and logic to reach, and the courage
to declare, the just decision.
All these things, Lord, I ask that at the close of
this day my conscience may truly say,
“Today, you were worthy to be called
‘judge’.”
