Appointed/Elected:
Appointed to the Hennepin County District Court by Governor Mark Dayton, effective June 16, 2011.
Elected in 2012 and 2018.
Retired on Nov. 22, 2022.
Appointed and assigned to serve statewide as Senior Judge from Feb. 27, 2023, to June 30, 2025.
Education:
Whittier College, Whittier, California, B.A. (1975)
Hamline Law School, Saint Paul, Minnesota, J.D. (1979)
Employment:
Hennepin County District Court Judge, Aug. 2011–Nov. 22, 2022
Hennepin County Family Court Referee, 2000–2011
Hennepin County Contract Child Support Magistrate, 1999-2001
Hennepin County Contract Chief Family Court Conflicts Panel Public Defender, 1995–1998
Hennepin County Contract Chief Family Court Public Defender, 1990–1995
Hennepin County Contract Conciliation Court Judge/Referee, 1983–1998
David L. Piper Law Office (sole practitioner) 1980–2000
Professional Memberships:
Chair of the Equal Justice Committee of the Hennepin County District Court, 7/1/12-6/30/14
Member, Minnesota and Hennepin County Bar Associations
Professional and Community Activities:
Leadership and Volunteer Activities
Neighborhood Involvement Program, Board Member, 2007-2013
Twin Cities Public Television, Board Member, 2004-2010
Chrysalis, Board Member and volunteer, 1983-2001
Park House, Capital Campaign Volunteer, 1994-1996
Minnesota AIDS Project, volunteer lawyer and volunteer, 1990-Present
Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center,
- Volunteer, 1996-2002
- Fundraiser/Funder, Cemetery-revision, Fall 2008
Citizens League, Former Board Member
Minnesota State Bar Association, Mock Trial Coach at Central High School, 1997-2000
Headwaters Fund, Board of Directors, 1988-1994
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Member, 2008–Present
Coordinator, Volunteer Guardians ad Litem, Hennepin County Panel for Incompetent Family Court Litigants, 2010–2011
Minneapolis Public Schools
- Substitute reading coach at CityView elementary school, 2005-2010
- Weekly volunteer teacher’s aide in ESL Classroom, 2004–2006
Pro Bono Legal Activities
Member, Hennepin County Family Violence Coordinating Council, 2004-2007 (Vice-Chair, Civil Subcommittee, 2004)
Volunteer Lawyers Network
- Volunteer (1980-1990)
- Board Member (1982-1996)
Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Court-Appointed Counsel, 2000-2001, focusing on improving representation for indigent litigants in civil cases
Minnesota Children’s Law Center, 1996-1998, represented children in State ward/Children in Need of Protective Services cases
Hennepin County and Minnesota State Bar Associations, 1980-present
- Co-Chair, Juvenile Law Committee, 1990-1995
- Member, Family Law Committee, 1985
- Member, Task Force for Unmarried Parents, 2003
- Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, 2011–Present
Teaching/Authorship
Continuing Legal Education courses, particularly involving juvenile and family law. Articles about Juvenile Court and parentage proceedings:
- Hennepin Lawyer, "Overview (10 years) of Juvenile Court," May-June 1990
- Hennepin Lawyer, “Role of Public Defender in Family Court,” Oct. 1996
- Hennepin Family Law Section Newsletter, "Role of the Public Defender," Mar. 1997
- StarTribune, Front page (Metro Section) Editorial, “Two Days Was an Eon when Mom was Taken” (Victim’s son’s Perspective on Crime), Dec. 28, 2003
- Hennepin Lawyer, “Family Court: A Public-Private Partnership to Serve Families in Transition,” May, 2010
Awards/Achievements:
Allies for Justice Award, Headwaters Fund, June 2002
Volunteer Lawyer of the Month, Volunteer Lawyer’s Network, 1998
Peer Recognition Award for Volunteer Service, Hamline University Law School, 1994
Assignments:
Civil, March 9, 2020 - Nov. 22, 2022
Juvenile, August 6, 2012 - March 6, 2020
- Presiding Judge, July 1, 2016 - March 6, 2020
- Assistant Presiding Judge, May 1, 2014 - June 30, 2016
Criminal, June 16, 2011 - August 2, 2012