Judge Melissa Houghtaling

Appointed:

Referee, January 2018, Hennepin County Civil and Criminal Divisions
Judge, June 2022

Education:

J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, 2007
B.A., Hamline University, 2002

Employment:

Human Services Judge, Minnesota Department of Human Services (2017)
Appeals Attorney, Minnesota Tax Court (2016-2017)
Hearing Officer, Saint Paul Public Housing (2017)
Conciliation Court Referee, 2^nd and 4^th Judicial Districts (2015-2017)
Private Practice (2007-2016)

Professional Memberships:

Member, Minnesota State Bar Association

Legislative Committee (2007-2011)

Member, Minnesota Lavender Bar Association

Chair (2008-2010)
Treasurer (2010-2011)
Board of Directors (2004-2011)

Member Ramsey County Bar Association

Family Law Section Co-Chair (2012-2014)

Member, Minnesota Women Lawyers
Member, National LGBT Bar Association

Community Activities:

2017 St. Paul Civilian Police Academy
St. Paul Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission

Chair (2017)
Rules Committee Chair (2014-2017)

Volunteer Lawyers Network
MSBA High School Mock Trial Program

Teaching:

Adjunct Professor, Mitchell Hamline School of Law (2017-2018)

Lawyering: Advice and Persuasion
Internship Supervising Attorney

Adjunct Professor, Hamline University (2012-2017)

Legal Research and Writing
Family and Gender Issues in Law

Adjunct Professor, Inver Hills Community College (2011-2016)

Family Law
Field Supervising Attorney

Publications:

Minnesota Child Custody Deskbook, 3rd Ed., Chapter 20: Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Families, Fall 2016
Minnesota Child Custody Deskbook, 2nd Ed., Chapter 20: LGBT Family Issues
The Complete Family Lawyer, Unmarried and Same-Sex Couples, November 2015
Marriage Equality in Minnesota for the Already Married, Lavender Magazine, August 8, 2013.
Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Families Deskbook, 2nd Ed. December 2010, updated December 2014.