Biernat, Len Francis "Leonard"
House 1997-2004 (District 59A)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
Birth Place:
Minnesota
Birth County:
Hennepin
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
No Religious Affiliation
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Leonard
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Professor of Law, Hamline University
EDUCATION
Mankato State University; B.S.; English, 1968
St. Thomas University; M.A.; Education, 1978
New York University, School of Law; LL.M.; 1985
Hamline University School of Law; J.D.; 1975
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Army (1st Lieutenant);
1969 to 1972
School Board/Administration:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (School Board Member);
1989 to 1996
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Christine Jax (she was Education Commissioner under Governor Jesse Ventura, divorced in 2006)
Children:
One child: Shelley(daughter); Three stepchildren
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Thaddeus Lewis Biernat
- Father
GENERAL NOTES
He was of Polish ancestry on his father's side.
Religion provided by the member.
Body:
House
District:
59A
Elected:
11/5/2002
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Professor of Law, Hamline University
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Body:
House
District:
59A
Elected:
11/7/2000
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Professor of Law, Hamline University
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Education Policy
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy
Minutes
-
K-12 Education Finance
Minutes
Body:
House
District:
59A
Elected:
11/3/1998
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Professor of Law, Hamline University
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Body:
House
District:
59A
Elected:
11/5/1996
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Professor of Law, Hamline University
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Education
Minutes
-
Education: Facilities
Minutes
-
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division
Minutes
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Civil and Family Law Division
-
Judiciary: Data Practices
Articles & Books About
-
Bryant, Miranda. "Law Teacher: Biernat to Retire from House, Return Full Time to Post at Hamline University Law School." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 30, 2004, p. 18.
-
Lonergan, Tom. "In Their Blood: 16 Legislators Have a Family Connection to Previous Members of the House and Senate." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 7, 2003, p. 16-17.
-
Gallagher, F.J. "Biernat Unites Legal Know-How, Teaching, Lawmaking." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 11, 1997, p. 16.
District Files
2000 (59A)
2001 (59A)
2002 (59A)
2003 (59A)
2004 (59A)
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.