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 and Community Activities:

Leadership and Volunteer Activities

Foundation Board Member, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 2023

Foundation Board Member, Allina Health, 2023

Volunteer, Uptown Joyce Food Shelf, 2023

Volunteer, Simpson Housing, 2005

Volunteer, Gay For Good, 2023 

Board Member, Friends of Thomas Lowry Park, 2021

Contributing Writer, “Hill and Lake Press,” 2023

Volunteer, Hidden Beach Cleanup Crew, 2020

Pro Bono Legal Activities

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:

Hennepin County District Court Heart and Soul of the Court Award, 2022

Assignments:

Senior Judge Appointment, 2023
Commitment Appeal Panel, 2023 
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