Judge Profile:

Judge Renee L. Worke Court of Appeals Chambers Phone: 651-297-1011 Appointed/Elected: Appointed 2005 to the Minnesota Court of Appeals; elected 2006 and 2012. Appointed 1996 to the Waseca County District Court; elected 1998; re-elected 2004. Appellate Court Service: Strategic Planning Workgroup Legislative Advisory Workgroup Employment Models and Specialty Court Funding Workgroup Children's Justice Initiative, Appellate Lead Judge Chemical Dependency Task Force, 3rd Judicial District District Court Service: Vice Chair, Conference of Chief Judges, elected July 2003 Chief Judge, Third Judicial District, elected December 2002, re-elected June 2003 Assistant Chief Judge, Third Judicial District, elected 2001 Member of Transformation Workgroup (responsible for recommending a leadership, management structure for the unified Judicial Branch), February 2004-present Member of Special Legislative Redistricting Panel, 2001-2002 Lead Judge, Children’s Justice Initiative, 2002-present Member of Child Protection Rules Committee, 2001-2004 Honors: Recipient of the Rosalie E. Wahl Judicial Award of Excellence, Minnesota State Bar Association, May 2002 Woman of Achievement, Owatonna Business & Professional Women’s Organization, 2003 Employment Background: Partner of Rietz, Rietz, Rietz & Worke, Owatonna, MN (1984-1996) Contract Assistant Public Defender, Third Judicial District (1984-1996) Contract Administrative Law Judge, Child Support Division, Office of Administrative Hearings (1994-1996) Law Clerk for District Court Judge Urban J. Steimann, Faribault, MN (1983-1984) Education: 2006-2007 Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow, University of Minnesota 2003 Institute for Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education, University of Memphis 1983 JD, William Mitchell College of Law 1980 BS, Magna Cum Laude, Minnesota State University – Mankato Current Professional and Community Activities: National Association of Women Judges, District 10 Director Minnesota District Judges Association Minnesota State Bar Association Minnesota Women Lawyers Donald D. Eustice Law Enforcement Scholarship Board University of Minnesota Extension Steering Committee Steele County Agricultural Society Mock Trial Judge Various other community organizations and advisory boards

Judge Renee L. Worke

Court of Appeals

Chambers Phone: 651-297-1011

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed 2005 to the Minnesota Court of Appeals; elected 2006 and 2012. Appointed 1996 to the Waseca County District Court; elected 1998; re-elected 2004.

Appellate Court Service:

Strategic Planning Workgroup
Legislative Advisory Workgroup
Employment Models and Specialty Court Funding Workgroup
Children's Justice Initiative, Appellate Lead Judge
Chemical Dependency Task Force, 3rd Judicial District

District Court Service:

Vice Chair, Conference of Chief Judges, elected July 2003
Chief Judge, Third Judicial District, elected December 2002, re-elected June 2003
Assistant Chief Judge, Third Judicial District, elected 2001
Member of Transformation Workgroup (responsible for recommending a leadership, management structure for the unified Judicial Branch), February 2004-present
Member of Special Legislative Redistricting Panel, 2001-2002
Lead Judge, Children’s Justice Initiative, 2002-present
Member of Child Protection Rules Committee, 2001-2004

Honors:

Recipient of the Rosalie E. Wahl Judicial Award of Excellence, Minnesota State Bar Association, May 2002
Woman of Achievement, Owatonna Business & Professional Women’s Organization, 2003

Employment Background:

Partner of Rietz, Rietz, Rietz & Worke, Owatonna, MN (1984-1996)
Contract Assistant Public Defender, Third Judicial District (1984-1996)
Contract Administrative Law Judge, Child Support Division, Office of Administrative Hearings (1994-1996)
Law Clerk for District Court Judge Urban J. Steimann, Faribault, MN (1983-1984)

Education:

2006-2007 Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow, University of Minnesota
2003 Institute for Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education, University of Memphis
1983 JD, William Mitchell College of Law
1980 BS, Magna Cum Laude, Minnesota State University – Mankato

Current Professional and Community Activities:

National Association of Women Judges, District 10 Director
Minnesota District Judges Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota Women Lawyers
Donald D. Eustice Law Enforcement Scholarship Board
University of Minnesota Extension Steering Committee
Steele County Agricultural Society
Mock Trial Judge
Various other community organizations and advisory boards