Appointed/Elected:
Appointed to the Fourth Judicial District Court by Governor Arne Carlson on Nov. 9, 1998. Elected in 2000. Reelected in 2006.
Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Tim Pawlenty on Jan. 1, 2008. Elected in 2010, 2016, and 2022. Current term expires Jan. 2029.
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-present
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