Francis J. Connolly

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 for Kraus-Anderson Realty Co., 1994-1998
Attorney, Rossini, Nelson & Rossini, 1992-1994
Attorney, Dorsey & Whitney, 1987-1992
Attorney, Popham, Haik, Schnobrich & Kaufman, 1986-1987
Attorney, U. S. Department of Justice Honors Program, 1984-86
Professional Memberships:
Minnesota District Judges Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Hennepin County Bar Association
Member, Governing Council, Minnesota State Bar Association, Appellate Section, 2017-2023
Additional Information:

Judicial Activities

Presiding Judge of Civil Division of Fourth Judicial District, 2006-2007

Assistant Presiding Judge of Civil Division of Fourth Judicial District, 2004-2006

Member, Executive Committee of Fourth Judicial District, 2002-2007

Chair, Judicial Education Subcommittee of Minnesota State Bar Association Professionalism Committee, 2004-2010

Member, Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Juvenile Delinquency Rules, 2008-2014

Chair, Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure, 2008-2014

Member, Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Evidence, 2015-2021

Mentor, University of St. Thomas School of Law, 2005-present

Drafted Delinquency Bench Book used to train new Juvenile Court Judges, 2002

Critiquing Judge, University of Minnesota Law School Judicial Trial Skills Training Program, 2006

Community Activities

High School Mock Trial Coach, 2007-present

Minnesota State Bar Association Mock Trial Volunteer of the Year Award, 2016

Adjunct Representation Professor, William Mitchell College of Law, 2003-2007

Member, Board of Directors, Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation, 1993-2004

Member, Minneapolis Charter Commission, 1998

Publications

Landlord/Tenant Law - Code Violations Under Negligence per se and Common Law Negligence
Theories: Gradjelick v. Hance, 29 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 1013 (2003).

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Presentations

November 10, 2020, MN Attorney General’s CLE, Practice Before the Court of Appeals

February 21, 2019, Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, Technology and the Fourth Amendment

March 16, 2018, Minnesota State Bar Association 12th Annual Appellate Practice Institute, My Trial is Going South, What do I do now so I can Turn Things Around on Appeal

February 10, 2016, Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, Alford/Goulette pleas in Minnesota: Their History, Use and Future

March 8, 2013, Minnesota State Bar Association 7th Annual Appellate Practice Institute, How to Deal with Bad Facts and Circumstantial Evidence in your Appeal

October, 5, 2007, Lawyers Professional Responsiblity Board, Professionalism: Can it be Accomplished?

March 30, 2006, MSBA 27th Annual Family Law Institute, Walk the Line: Ethics and Professionalism in Family Law

December 9, 2005, Annual Conference of Judges, "Order in the Court!" Maintaining Professionalism in the Courtroom

January 31, 2005, Minnesota Administrative Law Judges, Working With Lawyers to Bring Out the Best and Avoid the Worst

March 20, 2003, Minnesota Social Service Association 110th Annual Conference, The Andrea
Yates Case: A Lesson in Prevention

March 12, 2003, HCBA Civil Litigation Section, How to Win a Dispositive Motion

June 12, 2002, MILE Civil Trial Practice Institute, How to Try Your Case to a Judge

May 2, 2002, MILE Juvenile Law Seminar, Parties Versus Participants in Child Protection Cases

June 8, 2001, MSBA Construction Law Symposium, A View from the Bench: How to Succeed or
Fail in Dispositive Motions on Implied Obligations in Contracts

January 1999, Criminal and Civil Trial Guidelines used at National Judicial College to teach new judges how to run criminal and civil trials

Fourth Judicial District Assignment History

Criminal and Civil 1/2003 - 2007
Juvenile 1/2001 - 12/2002
Civil and Criminal 1/2000 - 12/2000
Criminal 11/1998 - 12/1999