Mediator / Arbitrator

Most recently, since May 2002, Franklin J. Knoll has been practicing Alternative Dispute Resolution; conducting summary trials and arbitrating and mediating all types of civil disputes. He also has been serving as a consensual magistrate and as a retired judge of the Minnesota District Court pursuant to appointment of the Chief Justice. Prior to his appointment to the District Court, Judge Knoll served for 10 years in the Minnesota legislature. During the 1970s he was active in Legal Advice Clinics, serving on its original Board of Directors, and was co-founder of Operation de Novo, one of the country’s first pre-trial diversion programs. From 1970 to 1974 Franklin Knoll was Staff Counsel for the Urban Coalition of Minneapolis and from 1966 to 1970 Knoll was a Patent Attorney for 3M Company.

• Trial Judge, Hennepin County District Court (1984 – 2002)

• Member, Minnesota State Senate, District 61; Chair, Committee on Governmental Operations (1976 – 1982)

• Member, Minnesota House of Representatives, District 61A (1973 -1976)

• Assistant Hennepin County Public Defender, concurrent with service in legislature (1974 – 1984)

• Qualified Neutral under Rule 114

• Awarded the Alumni Achievement Award in the Humanities from St. John’s University (2003)

• Selected a Bush Leadership Fellow in 1978 (one of twelve Minnesotans)

• Participant in the Program for Reflective Leadership in the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs during the academic year (1982 – 1983)

• Founder and Chair of the Larry Brown Youth Education Corporation which provides tutoring and mentoring to inner city grade school children

• Instructor in law at Inver Hills Community College (1990 – 1996)

Contact Franklin J. Knoll:
Phone: 952-767-0167
Toll-free: 877-ADR-0167 (877-237-0167)
E-Mail: FJKnoll@lawgilbert.com