Senior Judge Michael L. Kirk

Appointed/Elected:

Court of Appeals

Appointed Aug. 15, 2012, by Governor Mark Dayton. Retired on Nov. 2, 2018. Appointed and assigned to serve the Court of Appeals as a Senior Judge through June 30, 2025.

District Court

Appointed December 1, 1989, by Governor Rudy Perpich.
Elected 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010. 
Assistant Chief Judge, Seventh Judicial District, 2000 to 2005.
Chief Judge, Seventh Judicial District, 2005 to 2009.

Education:

J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1975
B.A. in Economics, University of Minnesota, 1972

Employment:

Otter Tail County Attorney, 1978-1989
Williams and Nitz Law Firm, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, 1975-1978

Current Professional Associations and Committees:

Minnesota Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Criminal Procedure
Clay County Bar Association

Past Professional Associations and Committees:

Minnesota Judicial Council
Minnesota County Attorney’s Association (Director)
Otter Tail County Bar Association (President, 1978)
Minnesota Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Evidence
Minnesota Supreme Court Committee on Child Protection Procedures

Teaching Experience:

Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, Northland Community College

Business Law, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Bemidji Trial School, sponsored by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, County Attorneys’ Association, and State Board of Public Defense (1986-2002)

New Judges Orientation, Criminal Trial issues, presented twice a year

Numerous CLEs and other presentations