Andy Norman
Biography
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Northern Illinois University in 1974, Andy Norman moved to San Diego with no definite plans. After a while he got his life on track and applied to South Texas College of Law (now part of Texas A & M University). At that time, nineteen of twenty applications to the College were rejected, yet Andy was accepted by the dean over the phone. Once there, he became interested in consumer litigation which carried into his law practice. He graduated in the top 10% of his class while working two jobs, going to law school year round, and writing two law review articles. He received his Juris Doctor in 1978. “I have always had a passion for the poor and abused, and wanted to use my law license to help them,” he says. He also adds “in the past decade or more I have developed an equally strong passion for life and pro-life issues.”
Though still practicing consumer and class action litigation, Andy followed God’s leading to feature in his practice constitutional, civil rights and injunctive relief litigation on behalf of Christians, Messianic Jews and their congregations. In addition, he has served as an expert in attorney’s fee-shifting litigation over 100 times and has practiced a large amount of business, real estate and zoning litigation.
Andy’s desire to do God’s work has been revealed in his acceptance of the challenges that these areas present him. Andy believes that religious liberty litigation is eternally significant because it advances those who themselves advance the Gospel of Messiah Yeshua and who advance God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Andy has handled more than seventy-five class actions and twice been a professor at the request of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (“NITA”). In addition, he has taught litigation to attorneys and law students at the request of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the Christian Legal Society, the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago and all five downtown Chicago law schools. He has published two full length law articles, two Illinois State Bar Journal articles, and several legal articles for various legal periodicals. He has testified in court on several occasions. He has also drafted and testified on behalf of legislation amending the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act in 1990.
With a Jewish background, Andy has unique perspectives on his faith and his work. As a teenager, Andy was shocked to learn that Jesus and the Apostles were not Catholic but Jewish. When he was seventeen, Andy’s desire for God led him to be baptized in a Catholic Church. However, it was not until he was thirty-one that he was born again and began a serious walk with God. As a Messianic Jew, Andy has learned that one need not abandon his Judaism in order to believe in Messiah Yeshua, the greatest Jew of all time.
Evangelism has become Andy’s passion over the years. He can be found evangelizing during some of his other favorite past times, which have included playing and coaching ice hockey, refereeing youth soccer, and working out. He enjoys reading books on political history and the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Andy is married to Mary. He has a son, Joshua, and a daughter, Jessie.
Education
J.D., South Texas College of Law, 1978 (Now a part of Texas A & M University)
Graduated “with honors”, the highest award offered
Member of the Order of the Lytae
B.A., Northern Illinois University, 1974
Admissions
Illinois, 1979
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1979
Trial Bar, 1984
7th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1979
Professional Activities (Memberships)
Christian Legal Society
Practice Areas
Attorney’s Fee-Shifting Litigation
Business Litigation
Civil Rights Litigation
Class Action Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Constitutional Law
Consumer Protection Litigation
Corporate Law
Credit Reporting Issues
Emergency Motions for Temporary Restraining Orders & Injunctive Relief
Employment Law & Litigation
Fraud Litigation
Freedom of Speech & Religion
General Litigation
Identity Theft
Landlord/Tenant
Real Estate Law & Litigation
Religious Liberty Protection
Residential Real Estate
Warranty Breaches
Zoning Law: Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act & Constitutional Protections