Judge Duncan to host Promoting Peace conference in Owatonna

Race, justice and peace will be intersecting in Owatonna next week.

A Promoting Peace conference will take place Thursday, Sept. 22. The day-long event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna.

“We are more the same than we are different, so let’s get curious about how our differences show up,” said District Court Judge Karen Duncan, one of the organizers of the conference. “I am so excited that our Promoting Peace event coincides with the Human Rights Commission’s Welcome Week.”

Some of the conference sessions include: economics and practical equity, opposing racism- Minnesota style, equity in corrections, implicit bias and what the courts are doing to address the situation.

In addition to the conference, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Anne McKeig will provide a keynote speaking session at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Owatonna Middle School.

Justice McKeig was elected to the prestigious American Law Institute (ALI) earlier this summer. She is the only person representing Minnesota.

“I am humbled to be in a group of such distinguished minds, and I hope to be able to contribute something to the meaningful work of ALI,” said McKeig.

During her 30-year career, McKeig has become known as a fearless protector of children.

She was named to the Supreme Court in 2016 as the first Native American woman ever chosen to any state supreme court.

McKeig is a graduate of Hamline Law School and worked most of her career in Hennepin County both in the county attorney’s office and as a district court judge.

Along with Judge Duncan, the conference is sponsored by the county attorney’s offices in Steele and Waseca counties, police departments in Waseca and Owatonna, Waseca Rotary, Waseca Kwik Trip and CADA.