Minnesota Judicial Branch Logo
Judge Renee L. Worke

Minnesota Judicial Center
Court of Appeals
(651) 297-7650

Chambers Phone: (651) 297-1011

Judge Renee L. Worke

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed June 9, 2005, to the Minnesota Court of Appeals; elected 2006; re-elected 2012, 2018, and 2024. Current term expires Jan. 2031. 

Appointed Nov. 8, 1996, to the Third Judicial District, Waseca; elected 1998; re-elected 2004.

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 Judges, elected vice chair
  • Third Judicial District Chief Judge, two terms
  • Third Judicial District Assistant Chief Judge
  • Transformation Workgroup (responsible for recommending a leadership, management structure for the unified Judicial Branch)
  • Special Legislative Redistricting Panel, 2001-2002
  • Children’s Justice Initiative, Lead Judge
  • Child Protection Rules Committee

Honors:

  • Minnesota State University, Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
  • Ann Bancroft Foundation, Women Leader Award
  • Woman of Achievement, Owatonna Business & Professional Women’s Organization
  • Recipient of the Rosalie E. Wahl Judicial Award of Excellence, Minnesota State Bar Association

Employment Background:

  • Partner; Rietz, Rietz, Rietz & Worke; Owatonna, MN
  • Assistant Public Defender, Third Judicial District
  • Administrative Law Judge, Child Support Division, Office of Administrative Hearings
  • Law Clerk for District Court Judge Urban J. Steimann, Faribault, MN

Education:

  • Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow, University of Minnesota
  • Institute for Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education, University of Memphis
  • William Mitchell College of Law
  • Minnesota State University Mankato, Magna Cum Laude 

Professional and Community Activities:

  • William Mitchell College of Law, Adjunct Professor
  • Hamline University School of Law, Adjunct Professor
  • St. Thomas University School of Law, Mentor
  • National Association of Women Judges, District 10 Director
  • Minnesota District Judges Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers
  • Donald D. Eustice Law Enforcement Scholarship Board
  • University of Minnesota Extension Steering Committee
  • Steele County Agricultural Society
  • Mock Trial Judge