Minnesota Judges
45 Minnesota appellate judges active in the 2020s, by the opinions they sat on.
Minnesota Court of Appeals
30 JUDGESDenise D. Reilly
Active 2014–2026
Diane B. Bratvold
Seated 2016
Education: J.D., University of Minnesota School of Law B.A., Macalester College Past Employment: Shareholder; Briggs and Morgan, P.A. Volunteer attorney, Advocates for Human Rights Adjunct professor, University of St. Thomas …
Edward J. Cleary
Active 2014–2026
Elise L. Larson
Seated 2022
Education: J.D., University of Minnesota Law School B.A., Concordia College Past Employment: Water Program Director and senior attorney, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy Adjunct professor, University of Minnesota Law School …
Elizabeth G. Bentley
Seated 2024
Appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals on August 1, 2024, by Governor Tim Walz. Current term expires Jan. 2027. Education: B.A., Northwestern University, 2007, with honors J.D., Harvard Law …
Francis J. Connolly
Seated 1998
Education: J.D., Georgetown University Law School, 1984 Editor, "Law and Policy in International Business" M.S.F.S., Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, 1984 B.A., Columbia University, 1980 Employment: Associate General Counsel …
JaPaul Harris
Seated 2024
Education: B.A., Syracuse University, 2000. J.D., Hamline University School of Law, 2003. University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Policy Fellows Program (2007 - 2008) Prior Legal …
Jeanne M. Cochran
Seated 2018
Education: Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, Dartmouth College Past Employment: Administrative Law Judge, Minnesota Office of Administrative …
Jennifer L. Frisch
Seated 2020
Education: B.A. Macalester College, magna cum laude J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude Employment History: Senior Associate General Counsel, University of Minnesota Attorney, Kelly & Berens, P.A. Advisory …
Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks
Active 1999–2026
Jon Schmidt
Seated 2023
Education: J.D., William Mitchell College of Law B.A., University of Minnesota Employment: Principal Attorney, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office Shareholder, Briggs and Morgan P.A. Law clerk, Judge Myron H. Bright, Eighth …
Keala C. Ede
Seated 2023
Education: J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2003 B.A., Occidental College, magna cum laude, 2000 Employment: Office of the Federal Defender, District of Minnesota, Assistant Federal Defender (2016-2022) …
Kevin G. Ross
Seated 2008
Minnesota voters confirmed Judge Ross in the post by statewide election in 2008, 2014, and 2020. He has authored more than 1,200 opinions for the court and 50 concurring or …
Margaret H. Chutich
Active 2014–2026
Matthew E. Johnson
Seated 2008
Education: J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1992 Editor-in-Chief, William Mitchell Law Review, 1991-92 Recipient of “The Student Award of Merit” at Commencement B.A., Saint Olaf College, …
Michael L. Kirk
Active 2014–2026
Michelle A. Larkin
Seated 2008
Education J.D., magna cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 1992. B.A., Journalism, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Campus, 1988. Experience Appellate Judge, Minnesota Court of Appeals, St. Paul, …
Rachel Bond
Seated 2025
Education: J.D. cum laude, Boston University School of Law Honors B.A., University of Toronto Past Employment: Managing Attorney, Office of the Minnesota Appellate Public Defender Assistant State Public Defender, Office …
Renee Worke
Seated 2005
Appellate Court Service: Specialty Court Development – Veterans Treatment Court Legislative Advisory Workgroup Strategic Planning Workgroup Security Committee Children's Justice Initiative, Appellate Lead Judge District Court Service: Conference of Chief …
Sarah I. Wheelock
Seated 2022
Education: J.D., with distinction, University of Iowa B.A., with distinction and honors, University of Iowa Past Employment: Legal counsel, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prior Lake Adjunct Professor, Mitchell Hamline School …
Louise D. Bjorkman
Active 2009–2025
Roger M. Klaphake
Active 1989–2025
Carol A. Hooten
Active 2014–2024
Jack Davies
Active 1991–2024
John R. Rodenberg
Active 2014–2024
Gordon W. Shumaker
Active 1998–2023
James C. Harten
Active 1992–2023
Sam Hanson
Active 2001–2022
Thomas J. Kalitowski
Active 1988–2021
Heidi S. Schellhas
Active 2008–2020
Minnesota Supreme Court
15 JUDGES
Anne K. McKeig
Seated 2008
Education: J.D., Hamline University School of Law, 1992 B.A., College of St. Catherine, 1989 Employment: Assistant Hennepin County Attorney, Child Protection Division, 1992 - Mar. 7, 2008 Indian Child Welfare …
Gordon Moore, III
Seated 2020
Education: J.D., University of Iowa, 1988 (graduated with high honors) B.A., Carleton College, 1985 Employment: District Court Judge, Fifth Judicial District, Nobles County (March 2012 - July 2020) Nobles County …
Karl C. Procaccini
Seated 2023
Education: Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2010 The American University in Cairo, LL.M. in International and Comparative Law, 2007 Harvard University, A.B., magna cum laude, 2005 Employment: University …
Natalie Hudson
Seated 2023
Appointment Natalie E. Hudson was appointed Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court by Governor Tim Walz on Oct. 2, 2023. She first joined the Supreme Court on Oct. 26, …
Paul Thissen
Seated 2018
Education: University of Chicago Law School, J.D with honors, 1992 Harvard University, A.B. magna cum laude, 1989 Employment: Minnesota State Representative, 2003-2018 Speaker of the Minnesota House, 2013-2014 Democratic House …
Sarah E. Hennesy
Seated 2024
Education: J.D., Drake Law School, Des Moines, IA, 1994 B.A., Central College, Pella, IA, 1991 Employment: St. Cloud Area Legal Services, Staff Attorney, St. Cloud, MN, 2006-2012 Damiani & Damiani, …
Theodora Gaïtas
Seated 2024
Education: J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1994 B.A., summa cum laude, University of Minnesota, 1991 American Community School of Athens, Greece, elementary, middle school, and high school, …
Christopher J. Dietzen
Active 2005–2025
George M. Scott
Active 1973–2025
Walter F. Rogosheske
Active 1968–2024
David Stras
Active 2011–2023
Lorie Skjerven Gildea
Active 2007–2023
Wilhelmina Wright
Active 2005–2023
Eric J. Magnuson
Active 2022
David L. Lillehaug
Active 2014–2020