Jerry Perry  

Jerry grew up the youngest child in his family in a somewhat rough section of Milwaukee.  Fortunately, he had a much older sister who lived in Rochester, MN with her husband on a farm they had purchased shortly after moving there. She also worked at the Mayo clinic as a nurse and thought it would be a good idea for Jerry to come and stay with her during his summer vacations and help out on the farm. They would get some help they needed and he could escape the Big City and learn some skills. Just like everything he does, Jerry took to farmwork like a duck to water and went every summer between the ages of 10 and 17 providing some much needed and appreciated assistance. He also learned the importance of hard work and dependability.  While a schoolboy in Milwaukee, he played a lot of street basketball with kids from very diverse backgrounds. He quickly learned to treat everyone with dignity, a trait he has carried throughout his life. As Jerry has reflected a number of times, “It doesn’t matter where someone comes from, you deal with everyone on a one-to-one basis. It didn’t matter their skin color or ethnicity. I was told to just look everyone in their eyes to determine who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.”  Being able to fairly assess people has helped him immensely, both in his career as a United States Marine, and as an attorney.

After his graduation from high school, Jerry attended St. Thomas University and graduated with degrees in Political Science and History. Upon graduation he was accepted at the University of Notre Dame College of Law, graduating three years later and entering the United States Marine Corps where he served as an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s office. He eventually rose to the rank of Captain and was a Special Courts Martial Military Judge. In 1975, he and his wife, Kathleen, made the decision for him to leave the Marine Corps and open his law office in Rochester, focusing on personal injury law, criminal defense, and estate planning. Along the way they brought three beautiful daughters into their family. Jerry and Kathleen have been married for 57 years and are proud to tell you that the thing they are most proud of are their daughters and seven grandchildren.

Jerry attended the Trial Lawyer College in July 2004. Since that time Jerry has been extremely active in TLC as a staff member and an F-Warrior Board Member representing Region 6. After several years on the F-Warrior Board he eventually became the Board president guiding us through the very tough time of Covid. His mentorship and calm nature helped us navigate some very difficult waters and come out the other side alive and still fighting. Jerry is also extremely involved in his community in Rochester, recently retiring after 30 years of refereeing varsity basketball. In this role he has been able to have a positive influence on hundreds of young lives. Jerry believes there are many important lessons and skills he took away from the Three-Week College, but primary among them is the power of being real in order to best tell each client’s unique story. With all of his experience, and confidence in the power of believing in other human beings, no one is better equipped to do this than is he. We are extremely fortunate to have Jerry’s leadership and presence at TLC.