Judge Cara Lee Neville ’75
The legal community lost a legend with the death of Cara Lee Neville ’75 at age 82 on Dec. 24, 2025. Neville, a retired judge for the Minnesota District Court, was an influential leader in the law school and the legal communities. She lived a life defined by leadership and service, dedicated to opening doors for others and advancing the cause of justice as a judge, organizer, teacher, public speaker, and mentor.
Raised in Cannon Falls, Minn., Neville lived and skied in Idaho and California before returning to Minnesota to attend the University of Minnesota and William Mitchell College of Law, now known as Mitchell Hamline School of Law. After law school, she served as an assistant Hennepin County Attorney and an assistant public defender. She was appointed to the bench in 1983 and served as a judge for nearly 30 years before obtaining senior judge status. After retiring, she founded an alternative dispute resolution business.
From her time as a student—when she was the first woman elected president of the student body—Neville was heavily involved in Mitchell Hamline. She served on the Alumni Association Board and taught students as an adjunct professor. She supported the law school through donating to scholarships, the clinical program endowment, and others, as well as volunteering to support mentorship, the annual Celebration of Women in the Law Tea, and her class reunion committee.
Recognized for her significance to the law school community, Neville was named as one of the 100 alumni “who made a difference” in a William Mitchell publication produced in 2000, and she received the Hon. Warren E. Burger Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014.
“When those of us on the judicial selection committee recommended Cara Lee’s appointment to the district court in 1983, we knew she would be a great judge, but we did not know she would become a leader in the state and national legal scene,” said Justice Esther Tomljanovich ’55. “Despite all those accomplishments, when I remember Judge Cara Lee Neville, I think not of the state and national judicial leader she became, but the beautiful, enthusiastic friend and supporter and mentor of law students and young lawyers. She never missed one of the annual Tea gatherings where she made herself available to befriend, advise, and mentor the young women lawyers and students.”
Throughout her career, Neville was an influential leader in many legal organizations, including the American Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, National Association of Women Judges, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, and more. She traveled the globe and lectured in dozens of countries about the importance of the rule of law, human rights, and judicial independence. Among her countless honors were the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Professional Excellence Award and being named the No. 1 Best Mediator in the Minnesota Lawyer reader rankings.
MWL Founding Mothers in attendance at the 50th Celebration (from left): Justice Esther Tomljanovich ’55, Judge Cara Lee Neville ’75, (front) Judge Mary Lou Klas ’60, and Judge Harriet Lansing.
Neville was also a founding mother of Minnesota Women Lawyers, where she received its Myra Bradwell Award and had been a member of the MWL Advisory Board since its inception.
“Judge Cara Lee Neville has been among the most steadfast champions of Minnesota Women Lawyers and its mission,” said MWL Executive Director Debra Pexa. “Judge Neville’s selfless example, sense of inclusivity and justice, and generous spirit will be greatly missed by our community.”
Neville is survived by her two sons, Michael Miller ’04 (Mackenzie) and Joshua Miller ’15 (Laycee), and four grandchildren. According to her obituary in the Minnesota Star Tribune, a celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, from noon to 3 pm at Kieran’s Irish Pub, 85 N. 6th Street, Minneapolis, Minn.