Associate Justice Theodora Gaïtas

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court on Aug. 1, 2024, by Governor Tim Walz. Current term expires Jan. 2027.

Appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals on Aug. 24, 2020, by Governor Tim Walz. Elected in 2022.

Appointed to the District Court on September 12, 2018, by Governor Mark Dayton.

Education:  

• J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1994
• B.A., summa cum laude, University of Minnesota, 1991
• American Community School of Athens, Greece, elementary, middle school, and high school, graduated 1987

Employment:

• Attorney, Matonich Law, P.C., 2013-2018
• Assistant Public Defender, Office of the Minnesota Appellate Public Defender, 1998-2013
• Judicial Clerk, Honorable Robert H. Schumacher, Minnesota Court of Appeals, 1997
• Assistant Public Defender, Bucks County Public Defender's Office, PA, 1994-1996
• Law Clerk, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, 1993-1994

Professional Activities:

Minnesota Supreme Court:

• Liaison, Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Rules of Evidence
• Liaison, Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Rules of Juvenile Delinquency Procedure
• Liaison, Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Special Rules of Civil Commitment Procedure
• Liaison, Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education
• Liaison, Minnesota Board of Legal Certification
• Liaison, Seventh Judicial District and Tenth Judicial District

Minnesota Court of Appeals:

• Co-Chair, Equal Justice Committee
• Co-Chair, Law Clerk Recruiting Committee
• Co-Chair, Tribal Court/State Court Forum

District Court:

• Co-Chair, Domestic Violence Steering Committee, Hennepin County District Court
• Volunteer, Minnesota High School Mock Trial

Attorney:

• Member, Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Rules of Evidence, 2015-2020
• Member, Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, 2013-2016
• Member, Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure, 2001-2007
• Adjunct Professor of Law, William Mitchell College of Law
  • Criminal Procedure: Minnesota Practice, 2007-2010
  • Appellate Advocacy, 2002-2003
• Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Minnesota Law School
  • Criminal Appeals Clinic, 1998-1999

Community Activities:

• Volunteer, Wilder Foundation, Meals on Wheels, 2023-present
• Volunteer, Minneapolis Public Schools Reader/Writer Program, 2024-present
• Mentor, MSBA Appellate Practice Section Mentorship Program, 2025-present
• Board Member, Twin Cities Theater Camp, 2017-2020
• Secretary, Children of Incarcerated Caregivers Board of Directors, 2015-2018
• Chair and Board Member, Jungle Theater, 2013-2018

Memberships:

• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Minnesota District Court Judges Association
• Minnesota Women Lawyers
• Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society