Hi, I’m Michael McGinniss, and I clerked from 1993 to 1994.

I have had the privilege of knowing Justice Holland since I was a very young boy growing up in Milford, and he was my first and greatest role model for what it means to be a lawyer. He positively and irreplaceably impacted my path throughout life by his gracious mentorship, his example of unfailing kindness and integrity, and his generous support and encouragement at each stage of my legal career.

He provided me with the opportunity to serve the public in my role as a lawyer disciplinary counsel for the court for 12 years, before I began my journey in North Dakota 12 years ago as a law professor teaching ethics and professional responsibility and mentoring our future lawyers and judges. I have now served for several years as the Dean of the School of Law.

I will forever cherish the beautiful letter from Justice Holland to the law school that he wrote to be read at the ceremony. None of these opportunities to serve and lead in the legal profession would have been possible without Justice Holland and what he did and meant to me. He inspired me throughout my life, and I’ve always wanted to make him proud of me, and I always will.

From my full, sorrowful and ever grateful heart. Thank you, Justice Holland and requiem en pace.

Note: The law clerk remarks were limited in time due to the number of clerks.

Michael S. McGinniss is Professor of Law and J. Philip Johnson Faculty Fellow at the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he joined the faculty in 2010 and served as the Dean from 2019 to 2022.