ST PAUL, Minn. (May 19, 2026) — Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Theodora Gaïtas as Minnesota’s next Supreme Court Chief Justice. She will assume the position on Oct. 1.
Justice Gaïtas has served on the Minnesota Supreme Court since August 1, 2024. Previously, she was a member of the Court of Appeals from 2020 until her appointment to the Supreme Court.
“Justice Gaitas is an outstanding choice to serve as Minnesota’s next Chief Justice. I have had the privilege of working closely with her on the Supreme Court for the last two years and I have been impressed by her deep knowledge of the law, her commitment to the collaborative work of the court, her unparalleled work ethic, and her willingness to take on additional administrative work without complaint,” said outgoing Chief Justice Natalie Hudson. “Many years ago, when Justice Gaitas and I were both still practicing attorneys, we were frequent legal adversaries. I knew then that she would later be what she has, in fact, become: one of the most talented and respected jurists in the state. She is the perfect person to lead the Minnesota Judicial Branch in the years to come.”
“I am excited to work with Justice Gaïtas in her new role as Chief Justice,” said State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba. “The intellectual insight, steady composure, and exceptional work ethic she has brought to the Court as an Associate Justice will serve her, and the people of Minnesota, well in her tenure as our new Chief Justice.”
Before her appointment to the bench, Justice Gaïtas was in private practice with Matonich Law and served as an appellate public defender with the Office of the Minnesota Appellate Public Defender. Justice Gaïtas is a 1994 cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School.
The governor also named Reynaldo Aligada to fill the Supreme Court vacancy that opened as a result of Justice Gaïtas’ promotion.
Aligada was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz as a Ramsey County District Court judge in 2019. Previous to his position as a judge he served as First Assistant Federal Defender in the Office of the Federal Defender in Minneapolis, an associate attorney at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, and as a judicial law clerk at both the United States District Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He holds a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.A. from St. John’s University, Minnesota.
Aligada will assume his new role on the Supreme Court on Oct. 1.