Appointed/Elected:

Elected to an open seat in November 1996. Sworn in January 6, 1997. Re-elected in 2002, 2008, and 2014.

Retired Sept. 7, 2018. Appointed and assigned to serve statewide as Senior Judge from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025.

Education:

J.D., Catholic University Columbus School of Law, 1978
B.S., with High Honors, University of Maryland (College Park), 1975

Employment:

Hessian, McKasy & Soderberg, 1989-1996
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, 1986-1989
Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel, 1985
Minnesota Office of Attorney General, 1982-1985
National Consumer Law Center, 1981-1982
Legal Assistance of North Dakota, 1978-1981

Professional Memberships:

Minnesota Women Lawyers:
President, 1997-1998
Board of Directors, 1994-1999
Chair- Conference on Challenges to Women in Leadership 1994-1995
Advisory Board, 2006-present

Minnesota State Bar Association:
Chair- Communications Law Section, 1996-1997
Board of Governors, 1995-1997
Assembly, 2006-2009
Co-Chair- Professionalism Committee, 2002-2003

American Bar Association- Fellow

Professional Activities:

Minnesota District Judges Association:
President, 2009-2011
Vice-President, 2007-2009
Board, 2006-present
Chair, Performance Evaluation Committee, 2008
Vice-Chair- Judicial Elections Committee, 2006-2010
Chair, Board on Judicial Standards Overview Committee, 2012-present

Minnesota District Judge Foundation President, 2009-2011

Minnesota Supreme Court Appellate Panel 2013-present

Tenth Judicial District Equal Justice Committee 2014 – present

Minnesota Supreme Court Legal Certification Board, 1993-1999

Minnesota Supreme Court Civil Justice Reform Task Force, 2010-2012

Chair- Washington County Bench, 2005-2010

Lead Judge- Washington County Children's Justice Initiative, 2001-2007

Washington County Community Services Advisory Board, 1997-2002

Tenth Judicial District, Administration and Finance Committee, 2000-2008

DHS Task Force on Financing the Future of Child Welfare, 2006

Institute for Excellence in Judicial Education, Faculty, 2005–2006

Investigator- Hennepin County District Ethics Committee, 1989-1994

Community Activities:

Board of Directors- Canvas Health, 2012-present

White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church:
Pledge Committee, 2011-2013
Endowment Steering Committee, 2012

Minnesota Hunter & Jumper Assoc.:
Board of Directors, 1998-2005
President, 2002-2004
Chair- Horse Show Committee, 1998-2004

United States Hunter & Jumper Association:
Zone 6 Committee, 2006-2010

Board of Directors- Sylmar Chamber Ensemble, 1987-1990

Volunteer- Second Harvest/St. Paul Food Bank, 1991-1992

Board of Directors- Minnesota Association of Cable Television Administrators, 1991-1995

Board of Directors- Minnesota Broadcasters Association, 1994-1996

Teaching Assistant- University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Health