Volunteers of the Year
Lawyers Board 2025 Volunteers of the Year
Benjamin Butler
Congratulations to Ben Butler, Chair of the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, one of two recipients of this year's Volunteer of the Year Award.
Ben is a managing attorney with the Office of the Minnesota Appellate Public Defender. He helps lead the office and represents people convicted of crimes who cannot afford an attorney before the Minnesota Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the District Courts.
Ben has served with the LPRB since 2021, where he served as an attorney member and Panel Chair. In 2023, the Minnesota Supreme Court appointed Ben to be Board Chair. His term as chair and service on the Board will conclude on February 1, 2026.
Mr. Butler was nominated for this award by the entire LPRB. The Board specifically praised Ben's “steady hand, thoughtful leadership, and deep dedication to the mission of lawyer regulation." The Board also commended Ben for how he championed collaboration and cohesion among board members. Chief Justice Hudson shared the Board's praise for Ben's service, commenting when she learned his service was coming to an end, that Ben has expertly guided the LPRB through times of tremendous change, both internally and with respect to the proposed substantive restructuring of the attorney disciplinary system. And that he did so with integrity, wisdom, patience, and grace.
Upon learning of his award, Ben noted that serving on the Board, in particular as Chair, has been one of the greatest honors of his career. He deeply appreciates how Board members work together, listen to one another, keep open minds, and stand their ground when needed. He believes we have one of the best attorney-regulation systems, and some of the most respected attorneys in the country. He believes that volunteers like the people in the room today are some of the reasons why that is true.
Ben will be busy this year with kids graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College and St. Louis Park High School, as well as his youngest moving to high school from middle school.
On behalf of the Court, thank you and congratulations to Ben Butler on his Volunteer of the Year award.
Lawyers Board 2025 Volunteers of the Year
Curtis Smith
Congratulations to Curtis Smith, a volunteer member on the 2nd District Ethics Committee, on his Volunteer of the Year Award.
Mr. Smith retired from the practice of law in 2022 from Moss & Barnett, where he practiced civil litigation for 43 years. Mr. Smith was chair of the firm's litigation department and the firm's general counsel for much of his lengthy tenure at the firm.
Mr. Smith is an outstanding contributor to the 2nd DEC. He takes on difficult investigations, and always works through his investigations with curiosity, respect, and tenacity. His colleagues on the committee noted his sound insight and analysis, superb listening skills, investigation skills, active participation, workhorse mentality and friendliness.
Mr. Smith acts as a resource for other members of the committee. And his work ethics is unparalleled. This past year he suffered some significant health issues. Instead of seeking relief from what is obviously a volunteer assignment, he asked to present his report on an accelerated timeframe so he could get it in before his surgery! He is deeply valued as a member of the 2nd DEC, and as Greg Egan, the Chair of the 2nd DEC noted, “he serves for the rights reasons and with a big heart."
On behalf of the Court, congratulations and thank you to Curtis Smith on his Volunteer of the Year award.
Click here to view list of prior Volunteers of the Year
