News Item
Jesson, Smith sworn-in as Court of Appeals judges

Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2016

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The Honorable Lucinda E. Jesson and the Honorable Tracy M. Smith were sworn-in as Minnesota Court of Appeals judges during a public investiture ceremony on Wednesday, February 10. The ceremony was held at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul.
 
Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointments of Judge Jesson and Judge Smith to the Court of Appeals in December. Judges Jesson and Smith replace the Honorable Natalie E. Hudson, who was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2015; and the Honorable John P. Smith, who retired from the Court of Appeals on February 2. They become the 52nd and 53rd judges to serve on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
 
Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith presented Judge Jesson and Judge Smith at the investiture ceremony. Judge Jesson was introduced by Donald M. Lewis of Nilan Johnson Lewis PA, while Judge Smith was introduced by Stephen J. Smith of Smith, Tollefson, Rahrick & Cass. Minnesota Court of Appeals Chief Judge Edward J. Cleary administered the oath of office for Judge Jesson, and Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge Margaret H. Chutich administered the oath for Judge Smith. Reverend Sarah Campbell from Mayflower Church in Minneapolis provided the invocation. President Michael Unger presented remarks on behalf of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
 
“I am so honored by this appointment and commit to service with an open mind, respect for the wisdom of my predecessors and an appreciation for the people served by the judiciary,” said Judge Jesson.
 
In discussing the practice of law, Judge Smith said, “In the end, whether the work is private sector or public, all legal work is about people.  The law is about how we, as a people, decide to govern ourselves, protect our individual rights, resolve our disputes, and shape and safeguard our communities.  The Court of Appeals plays a critical role in all of those decisions, and I am humbled by the responsibility that lies ahead of me as a member of the court.”
 
About the Honorable Lucinda E. Jesson
 
The Honorable Lucinda E. Jesson was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Mark Dayton on December 4, 2015.
 
Judge Jesson served as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services from January 2011 to December 2015. In that role, Commissioner Jesson managed a $12 billion annual budget, 6,200 state employees, and state programs serving more than one million Minnesotans.
 
Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, Judge Jesson was an associate professor of law at Hamline University, and a partner at Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly, LLP, and Jesson & Pust OA. Judge Jesson also previously served as Chief Deputy County Attorney for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, and the Deputy Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
 
About the Honorable Tracy M. Smith
 
The Honorable Tracy M. Smith was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Mark Dayton on December 4, 2015.
 
Before joining the Court, Judge Smith served as deputy general counsel for the University of Minnesota, where she was responsible for representing the University in general litigation in state and federal district and appellate courts. In this role, Judge Smith provided legal services for the University, managing a wide range of legal issues, including employment law, constitutional law, antitrust and business tort claims, and more.
 
Prior to that position, Judge Smith served as associate general counsel for the University of Minnesota. She also served as assistant attorney general in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, where she represented the State of Minnesota in consumer fraud investigations and lawsuits, worked on civil antitrust investigations, and handled a number of criminal appeals. Judge Smith also served as judicial law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Georgetown University and her Juris Doctor degree magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School.