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Senior Judge John R. Rodenberg
Senior Judge John R. Rodenberg

Education:

1981  J.D., cum laude, Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Honor Society
  • Law Review Associate 1979-80 
  • Law Review Editor 1980-81

 1978  B.A., cum laude, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota.

Professional:

Feb. 10, 2012-Aug. 21, 2020
Court of Appeals Judge
Elected in 2014. 

Appointed and assigned to serve statewide as Senior Judge from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.

Oct. 27, 2000-Feb. 9, 2012
Judge of District Court

1982-2000
Berens, Rodenberg & O'Connor, Chartered

1981-82
Staff Attorney, Social Security Administration - OHA

Professional Accomplishments and Honors:

  • Recipient of the Rosalie E. Wahl Judicial Award of Excellence from the Minnesota State Bar Association (May 2010)
  • Minnesota Judicial Council, by at-large appointment of Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz (2005-2011) – Elected Vice-chair, July 2007
  • Chair of Access and Service Delivery Committee of Judicial Council
  • Former member of Minnesota Children’s Justice Initiative (CJI) Advisory Committee; Brown County CJI Lead Judge and team member; Fifth Judicial District CJI Lead Judge
  • Member – Minnesota Drug Court Initiative workgroup (2006-2010)
  • Chair of Minnesota State Law Library/Self-help Center Committee established by State Court Administrator Sue Dosal (2006-07)
  • Member of Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch, by Order of Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz dated January 23, 2003 (2003-07)
  • American Bar Association Judicial Advisory Committee to the Section of Dispute Resolution (2003-06)
  • Presenter – Justice for Children National Leadership Summit, Bloomington, MN, sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, (September 2005)
  • Fifth District Representative to the Minnesota District Judges Association (MDJA) Board of Directors (2001-04)
  • Member of 1996 Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Juries Subcommittee, including responsibility for drafting Minnesota Jury Instructions governing post-trial contact with jurors by attorneys and the media
  • Participant and presenter in multiple Continuing Legal and Judicial Education seminars and education programs for attorneys and judges, including the MDJA Annual Conference (2004), Regional CJIConferences (2005, 2006, and 2007), Minnesota Family Law for the Judiciary Institute (2006), and Annual Conference of Minnesota Judges (2006).  Co-chair of Minnesota Family Law for the Judiciary Institute (2007)
  • Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist    
    • National Board of Trial Advocacy  (1993)
    • Minnesota State Bar Association Certification Council (1990)

Professional Associations and Societies:

Minnesota State Bar Association; Board Member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Appellate Practice Section; Ninth District Bar Association; Brown County Bar Association; Member of Minnesota District Judges Association

Civic and Community Activities:

Member, Past Council Member and Past President of Christ the King Lutheran Church; Discipline Committee of Southwestern Minnesota Synod of ELCA (continuing); Past Member and Chairman of New Ulm Police Commission (1991-97); Former Coach and active member of New Ulm Hockey Association; Former USA Hockey Certified Referee; Former Member of Minnesota Apple Growers Association