GN-IP is thrilled that Anna McGinn is joining the organization’s legal team as a Bank of America Fellow. A recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School, Anna will work with GN-IP for two years and increase our capacity to investigate claims of innocence, litigate cases where an innocent person has been wrongfully convicted, and conduct advocacy towards criminal legal system reform.
GN-IP: Tell us about yourself.
Anna McGinn: I graduated from Carleton College in 2018. I studied Religion and Philosophy and I swam on the varsity swim team. Before attending law school, I did a year of AmeriCorps service for the Minneapolis Public Schools truancy and credit retention and recovery program. I attended Notre Dame Law School and graduated this past May. I am originally from Minneapolis, and I am very happy to begin my legal career back home. In my free time, I enjoy painting, printmaking, and sewing.
GN-IP: What made you interested in becoming a lawyer? What are you passionate about?
AM: I was inspired to go to law school by my mentor, the late Judge Steve Rau. During college, I spent one summer interning in his chambers. I received a substantial education and gained an understanding of many areas of the law from a judge’s perspective. As a philosophy student at the time, I was mostly drawn to criminal law cases, as I found those to involve many complex ethical questions and dilemmas. I still believe, as I did then, that the law has the power to enable the achievement of societal goals by serving as a pathway to racial equality and justice. Once in law school, I was drawn to the criminal law course offerings and subsequently focused my studies on various areas of criminal law and procedure.
GN-IP: What drew you to innocence work? What are you most looking forward to as you join this team?
AM: Prior to starting law school, I completed an AmeriCorps year of service, working in the Minneapolis Public Schools’ credit retention and recovery program. My job relied heavily on my capacity to serve as a supportive adult and to believe in the potential of all youth in my community. This experience served as my call to action. I understand that being of service to others is the best way for me to honor my talents, as I have been blessed with the means to achieve my goals. As such, I am eager to use my legal education to advocate for marginalized communities in Minnesota.
Beyond the obvious, cognizable harms done to those who are incarcerated, wrongful convictions undermine the public’s trust in the rule of law and the criminal legal system. Skepticism breeds tension between the public and those in positions of power — among them, lawyers who are tasked with ensuring the laws are applied appropriately and equitably, without bias. In practice, this is of course not always the case. Given my interest in criminal defense work, the Great North Innocence Project is a perfect place for me to combine my interests in the law and public interest work. I am hopeful that my work will aid in furthering the broader mission of criminal legal reform.
I am excited to be working alongside a group of dedicated team members who share my values. I am inspired by people who work towards creating a society that treats all people with dignity and respect, especially our most marginalized citizens (among them, the incarcerated). I live in hope that this vision will ultimately be realized.
GN-IP: What do you hope to learn during your fellowship?
AM: I hope to better understand the constraints that our law imposes on criminal defendants and how attorneys can confront injustice and create a more equitable society.
GN-IP: Tell us about your fellowship: what is it, who sponsors it, and how did you obtain it?
AM: I received a two-year fellowship grant through the Bank of America Foundation. The fellowship covers the salary and benefits of two law school graduates who partner with an organization that provides essential legal services to those who need it the most. I applied for the grant through Notre Dame’s career center. I am grateful to the benefactors of the foundation for their generosity in sponsoring my fellowship.
GN-IP: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
AM: I am hopeful that this experience will provide me with clarity in terms of my next steps in my career. Right now, I think I would like to become a public defender in Minneapolis after my fellowship ends.