Larry Hammerling

Attorney and former Chief Appellate Public Defender for the State of Minnesota, Larry Hammerling, 61, died peacefully at his home in St. Paul, surrounded by his wife, daughters, and close friends Jim, Jean, Dale and Janet, on June 20, 2010.

Larry attended the University of Denver, receiving a BA, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1971 and a JD in 1973. He then worked for VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) at Winnebago, Nebraska from 1975 to 1979, serving the legal needs of the Winnebago, Omaha and Santee Sioux Indian Tribes.

In 1979, he moved to Minnesota and practiced law as an assistant state public defender, managing the Minnesota State Public Defender's LAMP (Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoner's) clinic at William Mitchell College of Law(WMCL). He also taught the criminal appeals clinic and a criminal procedure course at WMCL. Additionally, he served on the second judicial district's ethics committee and the Minnesota Supreme Court's criminal rules and civil appellate rules committees. For over 20 years he was also a volunteer reader for Minnesota Services for the Blind.

Larry became chief appellate public defender in 1989. He continued to teach at WMCL until recently. During this tenure with the public defender's office he was instrumental in developing the Re-Entry Clinic at WMCL Known for his keen intellect and delightful sense of humor, he was even more admired for his integrity, unwavering ethics, and dedication to justice for the poor. He was always willing to help anyone who needed it. By his teaching and his actions, he influenced a generation of lawyers to serve admirably as public defenders, prosecutors, private attorneys and judges.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents Milton and Goldie (Rosen) Hammerling. He is survived by his cherished wife of twenty one years, Paula Duthoy, daughters Elena and Lily, his sister, Stephanie Piro (John Nolan) of New Hampshire, niece, Nico Piro (Jeremiah) of Washington D.C., Steve Piro (dear friend and Nico's father), special cousins Elie and Myrna Hammerling, in laws, Dr. Ev and Ardeth, Mark, Dale, James, Mary, Sam, Lisa and a whole world of extended family and friends.

Memorials preferred to the Law Clinics at William Mitchell College of Law, 875 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104. The family will receive visitors at an open house on July 10, 2010, from 2 PM to 7 PM at the home of Jim and Jean Peterson, 1685 Englewood Avenue, St. Paul