Ron Meshbesher, one of the most well known lawyers in Minnesota, here gives an account of his career with special attention afforded to his major cases, the Jewish law community in Minnesota and anti-Semitism in the law community in general. He was born in 1933 and raised in North Minneapolis. He gives his family background and a description of North Minneapolis at the time, including some talk about racism and the riots in the 1960s. Meshbesher tells stories about law school at the University of Minnesota and the Jewish students there, mentioning one of his classmates was Walter Mondale, and continues to explain how he became a personal injury/criminal defense lawyer, along with issues associated such as Jewish values and representing African Americans. The cases discussed are the Congdon murder and Piper kidnapping. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
William Dosland discusses his years as a lawyer, including his involvement with the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association and his work for them during the acquisition of the American Crystal Sugar Company. His involvement as a Minnesota state senator, with the city of Moorhead and on the Board of Regents for the University of Moorhead. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1927, William Dosland moved to Moorhead after World War II.
