Our Attorneys

Wright Walling's creative legal mind, his tenacious spirit, and his life-long dedication to the welfare of children are the foundation from which he approaches the complex legal issues of adoption, juvenile, and family law cases.

Year Joined Organization

• 1991

Areas of Practice

• Adoption
• Appellate Practice
• Child in Need of Protection or Services
• Custody
• Domestic Abuse & Harassment
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Mediation
• Paternity

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1972
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1972
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1977
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1992

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1972
  Juris Doctor
  
  
• American University, Washington, DC, 1969
  Bachelor of Arts
  Major: History
  
  

Published Works

• Ask and Attorney: Homestudy 101, Adoptive Families Magazine, July/August, 2004
• 100 Years of Juvenile Court in Minnesota: A Historical Overview and Perspective, William Mitchell College of Law, Law Review, Volume 32, Number 3, 2006
• Recent Legislation Facilitating Adoption, Family Building, Volume IV, Issue 1, Autumn, 2004
• Adoption and Birth Fathers: A Balancing of Interests, 72 Hennepin County Lawyer 7, July-August, 2003
• Parenting Through Adoption: A Brief Summary of Minnesota Adoptions, (Co-Authored with Jody Ollyver DeSmidt, Esq.), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Adoption Law Seminar, February, 19, 2003
• AAAA Mediation Committee Training Session (Co-Author with Gary A. Debele), American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Mid-Year Meeting, Estes Park, CO, 1999
• Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice and Law Enforcement Records, Medical Services, Inc., Confidentiality of Children's Records, April, 1996
• Best Interests of the Child - Do We Have a Clue, Adoption Option Committee Article, Fall Newsletter, 1995
• Children in Need of Protection or Service: A Historical Treatment of Dependent, Neglected and CHIPS Children, William Mitchell College of Law, Law Review, Volume 20, No. 3, 1994
• Relative and Non-Relative Rights to Adoption and Custody, Family Law, It Is Not Just Divorce Anymore, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, May, 1994
• Juvenile Court Handbook, A Practitioner's Guide to Juvenile Court Practice, Butterworth's Legal Publication, Update, 1992, 1984
• Discovery and Treatment of Child Abuse, 47 Hennepin County Lawyer 8, May-June, 1978
• Juvenile Court Accomplishments, Co-Author With The Honorable Lindsey G. Arthur, 40 Hennepin Lawyer 20, January - February, 1972

Representative Cases

• In re H.L.K., 1999 WL 391845 (Minn.App. 1999)
• Matter of Paternity of P.A.V., 547 S.W.2d 374 (Minn. 1996)
• Matter of Custody of S.E.G., 521 N.W.2d 357 (Minn. 1994)
• Matter of Welfare of C.S.C., 1994 WL 273428 (Minn.App. 1994)
• In re Custody of K.E.G., 1994 WL 714350 (Minn.App. 1994)
• Valentine v. Lutz, 512 N.W.2d 868 (Minn. 1994)
• Weiler v. Lutz, 501 N.W.2d 667 (Minn.App. 1993)
• In re S.T., 512 N.W.2d 894 (Minn. 1994)
• Matter of Welfare of A.M.P., 507 N.W.2d 616 (Minn.App. 1993)
• Matter of Welfare of D.A.L., 1993 WL 328760 (Minn.App. 1993)
• Matter of Welfare of C.B., 1993 WL 35951 (Minn.App. 1993)
• Matter of Welfare of D.L., 486 N.W.2d 375 (Minn. 1992)
• Matter of Welfare of S.A.J., 1992 WL 122519 (Minn.App. 1992)
• Matter of Welfare of Y.B., 1992 WL 89650 (Minn.App. 1992)
• Pew v. Hope Intern. Family Services, Inc., 1992 WL 25434 (Minn.App. 1992)
• Matter of Welfare of M.B.P., 473 N.W.2d 389 (Minn.App. 1991)
• Matter of Welfare of J.S., 470 N.W.2d 697 (Minn.App. 1991)
• Matter of Welfare of N.M.C., 447 N.W.2d 14 (Minn.App. 1989)
• Durkin v. Hinich, 442 N.W.2d 148 (Minn. 1989)
• Matter of Welfare of C.K., 434 N.W.2d 925 (Minn. 1989)
• Matter of Welfare of S.N.T.R., 1988 WL 56371 (Minn.App. 1988)
• Matter of Welfare of J.W., 415 N.W.2d 879 (Minn. 1987)
• Nelson v. Nelson, 401 N.W.2d 92 (Minn.App. 1987)
• Myers v. Morris, 810 F.2d 1437 (C.A.8 (Minn.) 1987)
• Johnson v. Miller, 388 N.W.2d 26 (Minn.App. 1986)
• Matter of Welfare of J.M.G., 376 N.W.2d 494 (Minn.App. 1985)
• Petition of M.G., 375 N.W.2d 588 (Minn.App. 1985)
• Johnson v. Miller, 371 N.W.2d 94 (Minn.App. 1985)
• Matter of Welfare of T.J.J., 366 N.W.2d 651 (Minn.App. 1985)
• Minneapolis Star and Tribune Co. v. Schmidt, 360 N.W.2d 433 (Minn.App. 1985)
• Matter of Welfare of V.R., 355 N.W.2d 426 (Minn.App. 1984)
• Matter of Welfare of Mullins, 298 N.W.2d 56 (Minn. 1980)
• Matter of Welfare of G. D. R., 291 N.W.2d 702 (Minn. 1980)
• Welfare of R. L. K., 269 N.W.2d 367 (Minn. 1978)
• Matter of Welfare of J. B. S., 267 N.W.2d 183 (Minn. 1978)
• Matter of Welfare of C. W. S., 267 N.W.2d 496 (Minn. 1978)
• Welfare of Raino v. State, 255 N.W.2d 398 (Minn. 1977)
• State ex rel. Eagle v. Omodt, 250 N.W.2d 596 (Minn. 1977)
• In re R. L. W.'s Welfare, 245 N.W.2d 204 (Minn. 1976)

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Advanced Seminar on Adoption Law, St. Thomas School of Law, Spring Semester, 2006
• Presenter, Ask the Lawyers, North American Council on Adoptable Children, Vancouver, Canada, August 6, 2003 - August 9, 2003
• Birth Father's Rights in Adoption: A Minnesota Perspective (Co-Authored with The Honorable Stephen L. Muehlberg and Jessica J.W. Maher, Esq., Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Adoption Law Seminar, February 19, 2003
• Faculty Member, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Adoption Law Seminar, February 19, 2003
• Presenter, Adoption Mediation: Solving Problems and Developing Good Communications for Adoptions, Association for Conflict Resolution Conference, Toronto, Canada, October 10, 2001 - October 13, 2001
• Presenter, Balancing the Rights of Minors, Parents and the Provider, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Mental Health And the Law in Minnesota Seminar, August 21, 2001
• Presenter, Mediation Training, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Mediation Training in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, February 17, 2001 - February 19, 2001
• Presenter, Legal Aspects in Foster Care, Anoka County Foster Care Conference, October 10, 2000
• Presenter, Balancing the Rights of Minors, Parents and the Provider, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Mental Health And the Law in Minnesota Seminar, August 23, 2000
• Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption in Foster Care, Professional Association of Treatment Homes (PATH) Workshop, May 11, 2000
• Presenter, Mediation and Other Forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution as Applied to Disputes Involving Adoption, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Annual Conference in Alabama, April 26, 2000 - April 30, 2000
• Panel Discussion, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, October 30, 1999
• Presenter, Mediation Committee Training Session, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Mid-Year Conference in Estes Park, Colorado, September 23, 1999 - September 26, 1999
• Faculty Member, Permanency In Minnesota: Achieving Stability and Safety for Children, The Minnesota Supreme Court and The Minnesota Department of Human Services, September 17, 1999
• Speaker, Minnesota Social Service Association 106th Annual Training Conference and Expo: Many Voices One Community, March 24, 1999 - March 26, 1999
• Faculty Member, Minnesota Institute Legal Education ADR and Family Law Replacing Litigation with Communication Seminar, December 3, 1998
• Presenter/Panelist, Faegre & Benson LLP's Justice For Kids - State Wards Advocacy Training, November 10, 1998
• Panel Discussion, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, October 17, 1998
• Speaker, Adoptions - Can We Ensure They Are For Life?, National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS) 1998 Annual Forum/Education Task Force, October 10, 1998
• Presenter, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Children and Mental Health in Minnesota Seminar, September 25, 1998
• Minnesota Department of Human Services Adoption Conference, June 24, 1998 - June 25, 1998
• Course Co-Chair, Minnesota Institute Legal Education Adoption Law Seminar, May 21, 1998
• Key Presenter, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, November 1, 1997
• Presenter, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Children and Mental Health in Minnesota Seminars, June 19, 1997
• Participant, Why Liberals and Conservatives Should Agree on Adoption, American Experiment Forum, April 14, 1997
• Participant, Why Aren't There More Adoptions in Minnesota, American Experiment Forum, March 12, 1997
• Key Presenter, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, 1996
• Minnesota Conference of Chief Judges, 1996
• Faculty Member, Minnesota Journal of Law and Politics Family Law CLE Seminar; Adoption Law Update, December 9, 1996
• Adjunct Professor, Winter Semesters, taught Family Law, supervise clinical students on an ongoing basis, Hamline School of Law, 1992 & 1996
• Presenter, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Confidentiality of Children's Records, April 22, 1996
• Panel Discussion, Hamline University School of Law Indian Child Welfare Act Panel Discussion, March 26, 1996
• Presenter, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, November 4, 1995
• Adoption Law Update, Family Law Section Meeting, Minnesota State Bar Association Annual Convention, June, 1995
• Course Chair - It is Not Just About Divorce Anymore, Minnesota Institute Legal Education Family Law Seminar, June 15, 1995 - June 16, 1995
• 16th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, 1995
• Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice and Law Enforcement Records, Confidentiality of Children's Medical Records, Medical Educational seminar, February 24, 1995
• AAAA Mediation Committee Training Session, 1999 Mid-Year American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Meeting, Estes Park, Colorado, September, 1999
• Juvenile Court Issues, Third Party Issues, Grandparent Issues, and Other Unusual Family Law Matters, Minnesota Institute Legal Education ADR and Family Law Replacing Litigation with Communication Seminar, December 3, 1998
• Parenting Through Adoption, A Brief Summary of Minnesota Adoptions, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, October 17, 1998
• Adoptions - Can We Ensure They Are For Life?, National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS) 1998 Annual Forum/Education Task Force, October 8, 1998
• Representing Children and The Role of the Guardian ad Litem: Practice and Ethical Issues, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Children and Mental Health in Minnesota Seminar, September 25, 1998
• Process and Procedures In Adoption, Legal and Social Work Practice, The Basics, Minnesota Department of Human Services Adoption Conference, June 24, 1998 - June 25, 1998
• Mediation in Adoption: Its Time Has Come; Adoption Assistance Simplistic Confusion; International Adoption Current Issues and Development, Minnesota Institute Legal Education Adoption Law Seminar, May 21, 1998
• Parenting Through Adoption, A Brief Summary of Minnesota Adoptions, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, November 1, 1997
• Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice and Law Enforcement Records, Children and Mental Health in Minnesota, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Seminar, June 19, 1997
• Parenting Through Adoption, A Brief Summary of Minnesota Adoptions, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, 1996
• Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice and Law Enforcement Records, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Confidentiality of Children's Records, April 22, 1996
• Family Law Seminar Problem Solving in Non-Dissolution Family Court - It is Not Just About Divorce Anymore, Minnesota Institute Legal Education, March 21, 1996
• Parenting Through Adoption, A Brief Summary of Minnesota Adoptions, Resolve of the Twin Cities Parenting Through Adoption Workshop, November 4, 1995
• Issues of Specialized Courts - Mastering Minnesota Appellate Practice, Minnesota Institute Legal Education Seminar, October 20, 1995
• Dealing With Third Party Custody, 16th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota State Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, April, 1995
• Confidentiality of Records for Children In Need, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Seminar, Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice and Law Enforcement Records, February 24, 1995
• Confidentiality of Children's Medical Records in Minnesota, Medical Educational Services, Inc. Seminar, Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice and Law Enforcement Records, January, 1995
• What Every Family Law Attorney Should Know about Juvenile Court Practice, Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Committee, November 12, 1994
• Relative and Non-Relative Rights to Adoption and Custody; Family Law - It is Not Just Divorce Anymore, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, May, 1994
• Relative and Non-Relative Rights to Adoption and Custody; - It is Not Just Divorce Anymore - A Family Law Seminar, Minnesota Institute Legal Education, May 17, 1994 - May 18, 1994

Honors and Awards

• Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2007
• Best Lawyers in America, 2006
• North American Conference on Adoptable Children: Voices from the Heart, 2005
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption: Angels in Adoption, 2004
• Super Lawyers, Law & Politics, 1999 - Present
• Who's Who in American Law, 9th Edition Marquis Who's Who, 1995

Professional Associations and Memberships

• North American Council on Adoptable Children, 2006 - Present
  Board Member
  
  
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2004 - 2005
  President
  
  
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1990 - Present
  Charter Fellow
  
  
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2000 - 2006
  Member, Board of Trustees
  
  
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2006 - Present
  Chair, Board of Grievances and Discipline
  
  
• Minnesota Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1998 - 2002
  Member
  
  
• Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee, 1997 - 2001
  Member
  
  
• Minnesota Children Law Center, 1994 - Present
  Member, Advisory Board
  
  
• Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, February 24, 1997 - January 30, 1998
  Member
  
  
• Minnesota Supreme Court Foster Care and Adoption Task Force, 1995 - 1996
  Member
  
  
• Minnesota Commissioner of Human Services Advisory Board of Adoptions, 1993
  Member
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association, 1972 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Mental Health Commitment Defense Panel Adversary Committee, 1990 - 1994
  Chairman
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Juvenile Law Committee, 1979 - 1984
  Chairman
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association Governing Council, 1979 - 1984
  Member
  
  
• Minnesota State Bar Association, 1972 - Present
  Member
  
  
• American Bar Association, 1977 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1985 - 1988
  Member, Board of Governors
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Hennepin County Guardian ad Litem Attorney Panel, Director, 1980 - 1994
• Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, Shareholder, 1987 - 1991
• Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, President, 1988 - 1989
• Wright S. Walling & Associates, Owner, 1985 - 1987
• Kuduk & Walling, Managing Partner, 1978 - 1985
• Hennepin County Bar Association, LRIS Commitment Defense Panel Attorney Director, 1981 - 1983
• Hennepin County Public Defender's Office, Chief of Juvenile Division, 1977-1978, 1973 - 1978
• Rider, Bennett, Egan, Johnson & Arundel, Associate Attorney, 1972 - 1973
• The Honorable Lindsey G. Arthur, Sr., Law Clerk, 1970 - 1972