The State Bar Association of North Dakota Spring 2015 Gavel Magazine | Page 9
Duane Houdek, who worked for
Fitzsimmons for several years beginning in
1982, believes his lasting legacy will be his
lifelong commitment to providing access
to justices for the poor and disenfranchised
across North Dakota.
Now the executive secretary of the North
Dakota Board of Medical Examiners,
Houdek observed throughout his career
how deftly Fitzsimmons built up the North
Dakota’s system of legal services.
A robust legal services system
“He worked very hard to incorporate the
private bar in the delivery of these services,
as well,” said Houdek. “He was very much a
part of the building of a robust legal services
system in North Dakota.”
Sundeen also noted Fitzsimmons’ strategy to
reach out to a private attorney when he could
not take on a case. “He would find someone
who would agree with him that there was an
injustice in something and take on a case pro
bono. He knew what buttons to push with
other lawyers.”
Johnson said several times a year
Fitzsimmons would call him to ask about an
area of law he practiced.
“’Let me bounce something off you’ he would
say,” said Johnson. “I always took his calls
because I knew it would be something very
interesting, even though it usually involved
my taking on a pro bono case. But he
didn’t call for himself, it was always to help
someone else.”
Besides his family and his legal career,
Johnson said Fitzsimmons’ one other great
passion was major league baseball. “He knew
all the teams and the stats on each player.
Nearly every spring he took a trip with his
family to Arizona to take in pre-season
games.”
The void left by Fitzsimmons’ death is being
felt by many. “LSND has lost something
that will never be replaced,” said Reinhardt.
“We now must figure out a way to carry on
his legacy.”
The high quality of legal services in North
Dakota is Fitzsimmons’ legacy, believes
Sundeen. “Not only was Legal Services his
job, it was who Jim was. He was North
Dakota Legal Services. That’s where his
soul was.”
The tribute that Don Saunders of the
National Legal Aid and Defenders
Association in Washington, D.C, shared
at the time of his death reflects the respect
held for Fitzsimmons nationally.
He wrote, “The light shines a little dimmer
in Indian legal services with Jim’s untimely
passing. I enjoyed the privilege of working
with and admiring Jim for over 20 years. He
was a beacon of justice for Native American
rights, and the rights of all disadvantaged
people, not just in his beloved North
Dakota, but on the national stage as well.
Our community is challenged in many
ways, but that never dampened Jim’s spirit,
compassion or leadership for the causes in
which we believe. To all his family, friends
and colleagues, please take solace in your
loss with the understanding that his career
has left a mark on many who strive every
day for basic human rights across the
nation.“
Sometimes The Best
Solution Is Resolution.
Jerilynn
Brantner Adams
Lisa
Edison-Smith
Angie Lord
Leah Sonstelie
Warner
Bob Udland
Family Law
Employment Law
Litigation
Family Law
Employment Law
and Litigation
• Focusing on divorce and
child custody disputes
• 20 years of experience in
family law
• North Dakota Statewide
ADR Neutral Roster
• Focusing on family law
mediation
• Chair, Joint ADR Committee
of the NDSC and the SBAND
• 15+ years of trial experience
• 13 years of experience in
family law and litigation
• Qualified Neutral
under Rule 114 in Minnesota,
as well as North Dakota
Statewide ADR Neutral Roster
• Qualified Neutral
under Rule 114 in Minnesota,
as well as North Dakota
Statewide ADR Neutral Roster
• Qualified Neutral
under Rule 114 in
Minnesota, as well as North
Dakota Statewide ADR
Neutral Roster
• Focusing on workplace
disputes and employment
litigation
• Mediation focus in general
litigation, professional liability
and personal injury
• MSBA Certified Labor and
Employment
Law Specialist
• Qualified Neutral under Rule
114 in Minnesota, as well as
North Dakota Statewide ADR
Neutral Roster
• More than 38 years of trial
experience
vogellaw.com
With offices in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and
Williston, ND, and Moorhead and Minneapolis, MN
SPRING 2015 9