Minneapolis Star Tribune File Photo
I never met or knew Larry Leventhal and I am pretty sure we are unrelated. But for my twenty years of practice in civil litigation in Minnesota, I have gotten telephone calls intended for Larry. Once, a judge told me, “You look like your father,” thinking I was Larry Leventhal’s son.
A few times, over the years, I reached out to Mr. Leventhal, hoping to get to know him because I had learned of his long history of activism on behalf of Native Americans and dedication to progressive causes, Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet Larry. I am sure he had many more important things to do than meeting up with me, a stranger who only shared the same last name, the same profession, and, perhaps, a similar sense of justice.
I note in Mr. Leventhal’s obituary that U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis is quoted as saying, “What we need is 1,000 more Larry Leventhals” and I would think this is all the more pressing in our current political climate.
John Ledford
As an official federal court reporter assigned to the Wounded Knee trial, I saw Mr. Leventhal’s tenacity in defending Dennis Banks and Russell Means. He was the treaty expert in the proceedings; his extensive knowledge of that are of criminal law was most impressive. I recall the thorn he put into the backs of the prosecution team – loved it!