Louise McKinney: mentor and friend.

• Author: Porath, Ann McGowan
• Position: Case Western Reserve University School of Law professor - Testimonial

It doesn't seem that long ago that Louise McKinney began her career as an attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. In fact, the year was 1978 and Louise was in the downtown Legal Aid office working with the Bar Advocacy Project, providing representation and support for people with mental disabilities. Lucky for me, when I began my placement at Legal Aid as a Heber Smith fellow, Louise was already a supervising attorney, and I was assigned to her charge. The impact Louise has had on my career, both then and now, cannot be overstated. Her confident dedication to the needs of low-income people and to giving them a voice still resonates with me today and is very much the reason that I have continued my career in public interest law at Legal Aid.

When I think of Louise, I can't help but recall a cold, damp Cleveland day in May 1981 when Louise and her husband invited the law clerks to their home for a cookout. As the grill was fired up, we gathered around the TV to cheer on the Indians in what turned out to be quite an exciting match-up with the Toronto Blue Jays. Two things stand out in my mind from that day: Ed McKinney's perfect mint juleps and the Indians' Lenny Barker securing his place in baseball history by pitching a perfect game!

Those early days were just the beginnings of a close personal and professional friendship that Louise and I still share. I have often looked to Louise for guidance and support and have admired her ability to successfully balance the components of her life as a female attorney and a mother. Since Louise is the mother of two sons, as am I, she became an obvious role model who never lost sight of the importance of family. In fact, family has always been most important in Louise's life.

In 1988, Louise's husband received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach at the University of Botswana. As her husband left for Africa, Louise stayed behind for a short while to make sure her son got off to college, to sell the family car, and to take care of other affairs. Because the McKinneys had already rented out their family home, Louise came to live with us in University Heights before leaving to join her husband. My boys, Matt and Brendan, were still young and quite pleased with the adventure of having a new housemate. Even as many years have passed, the boys still affectionately refer to the back room of that house as "Louise's room."

Louise's professional energy and dedication to bringing the rule of law to help...