Plenary 8: A Legacy of Leadership: From Football to the Law and Social Justice

Session Description:

Excellence in sports and law requires discipline, preparation, and dedication. Justice Alan Page exemplifies these qualities through his extraordinary career as both an NFL Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. After an illustrious NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings (1967-1978) and Chicago Bears (1978-1981), Page transitioned to law and ultimately served on Minnesota’s highest court from 1993 to 2015.

This discussion will explore how the discipline that made him an NFL Hall of Fame player translates to excellence in appellate practice—from the careful preparation of advocates to the thorough analysis by court staff, to the deliberative process of judicial decision-making. Of particular interest is his mastery of communication across different audiences: drafting judicial opinions, advocating for education through his foundation, or writing children’s books that make complex ideas accessible. His insights on adapting writing styles and presentations for different audiences offer valuable lessons for appellate practitioners and judges alike. Drawing from his unique perspective as an athlete, jurist, children’s book author, and educational foundation leader, Justice Page will share insights about effective advocacy, the importance of clear communication at all levels, and the pursuit of excellence in every endeavor.

Through the Page Education Foundation, established in 1988, he has helped provide scholarships to thousands of students of color. Beyond the courtroom, he has co-authored five children’s books with his daughter Kamie.

His unique journey and dedication to excellence in every endeavor make him ideally suited to discuss how judges, advocates, and court staff can work together to advance justice through appellate practice.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this session, participants will be able to:

1. Apply principles of disciplined preparation and excellence from athletics to appellate practice and judicial decision-making.
2. Understand how effective communication strategies can be adapted for different audiences, from judicial opinions to public education initiatives.
3. Recognize the collaborative nature of appellate work and how mentorship and teamwork enhance legal outcomes.
4. Identify practical approaches to community service and education that advance access to justice beyond the courtroom.

From NFL Hall of Fame to Supreme Court Justice to children’s book author—discover how discipline, preparation, and clear communication create excellence in every arena. Justice Alan Page and his daughter, Kamie, share insights on mastering different audiences, from judicial opinions to picture books, and the power of mentorship in advancing justice.

Hon. Alan Page (Ret.), Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, Author, former Vikings player & Hall of Famer

The Honorable Alan Cedric Page was born on August 7, 1945, in Canton, Ohio. He graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School in 1963, received his B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1967, and received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978. After graduating from law school, he worked as an attorney for a law firm in Minneapolis, then served seven years as an attorney in the office of the Minnesota Attorney General.

He sought election to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1992 and won, becoming the first African American on the court and one of the few associate justices ever to join the court initially through election, rather than appointment by the governor. When Justice Page was reelected in 1998, he became the biggest vote-getter in Minnesota history. He was reelected in 2004 and 2010 and served until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2015.

Law was Alan Page’s second career. He was first known for his skills in football both in college and in the NFL. At Notre Dame, Alan Page led the school’s storied football program to the 1966 national championship, and in 1993, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

He was a first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1967, and he played for the Vikings until 1978. The last three years of his football career were with the Chicago Bears from 1978 to 1981. During his career, he played in 218 consecutive games, earning All-Pro honors six times, and was voted to nine consecutive Pro Bowls. In 1971, he was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, becoming only the second defensive player in history to be named MVP. In 1988, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and in 2019, he was chosen as a member of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Also in 1988, Alan Page and his wife, Diane, founded the Page Education Foundation, which assists Minnesota students of color in their pursuit of post-secondary education. To date, the foundation has awarded $17 million in grants to more than 8,500 students.

In June 2017, after a campaign initiated by students at Alexander Ramsey Middle School in Minneapolis, the school’s name was changed to Justice Page Middle School. A new elementary school named “Justice Alan Page Elementary School” opened in 2022 in Maplewood, Minnesota.

In November 2018, Justice Page received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Kamie Page, Teacher, The Blake School & Author

Kamie Page is a fifth-grade teacher at The Blake School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and an accomplished children’s book author, known for her collaborative work with her father. Together, they have created several impactful books, including Alan and His Perfectly Pointy Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky (2013), The Invisible You (2014), Grandpa Alan’s Sugar Shack (2017), Bee Love (Can Be Hard) (2020), and Baking Up Love (2025). Each story carries a message of inclusivity, empowerment, and love, and all proceeds from the books support the Page Education Foundation, reflecting Kamie and Alan’s commitment to fostering educational opportunities. As a lifelong educator, Kamie brings her passion for learning, and her understanding of children, to her writing, crafting stories that resonate with young readers.