Judge Profile:

Senior Judge Richard T. Jessen (retired 2007) Stearns County Family: Born in St. Paul, MN, 2/7/1941 Married Patricia M. (Schroeder) Jessen in Farmington, MN, 1966 Two children: Karen (born 1968) and Scott (born 1970) Two grandchildren: Paige (born 1993) and Caitlyn (born 1995) Education: St. John’s Preparatory School, Collegeville, MN, 1955-59 B.A., May 1963, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN J.D., December 1966, University of Minnesota Law School Professional Licenses: Minnesota Supreme Court, 6/5/1967 U.S. District Court (Minnesota), 11/12/1968 U.S. Supreme Court, 4/6/1981 Law Practice: Associate, Torell Law Office, Foley, MN, 1967-68 Partner, Torell and Jessen, 1969-74 Foley City Attorney, 1967-74 Assistant Benton County Attorney, 1967-70 Benton County Attorney, 1975-9/91 District Court Judge; St. Cloud, MN; appointed October 1, 1991; elected 1992, 1998 and 2004; retired March 7, 2007 Senior Judge, 3/7/2007-present Membership in Professional Legal Associations: Minnesota Bar Association, 1967-2007 National District Attorneys Association, 1975-91 Minnesota County Attorneys Association, 1975-91 (various offices including president, 1984-85) Stearns-Benton Bar Association, 1967-present (various offices, including president, 5/1986-5/87) Professional Activities As County Attorney: Several police in-service training seminars and meetings, 1975-91 Coordinator and instructor for Region V MCAA/P.O.S.T. Board peace officer training, 1990-91 Member of Minnesota Non-Tax Revenue Commission, 9/1984-5/86 Member of Minnesota Narcotics Enforcement Coordinating Committee, 3/1987-4/90 Member of Domestic Abuse Prosecution Policy Committee for Department of Public Safety, 1991 Member and chairman of Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, June 1991-Oct. 1991 Professional Activities As Judge: Lead judge for Restorative Justice, Circle Sentencing, St. Cloud, 7/1997-8/2001 Driver’s License Reinstatement Program in Stearns County, March 2002 Children’s Justice Initiative (CJI): Lead Judge, 9/2000-07 Member of Supreme Court CJI Advisory Committee, 12/2002-1/06 CJI Benchbook Committee, early 2003-07 Children’s Justice Initiative, Judicial Districts Seven and Eight Roll-out Conference, Alexandria, 4/20/2004 Family Dependency Treatment Court Planning Committee, 3/2005-7/06 Lead judge in establishing Stearns County Family Dependency Treatment Court, 7/11/2006-3/7/07 Acting Associate Justice, MN Supreme Court, 4/25/2005-12/05, McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing, Inc. v. County of Dodge, 705 N.W.2d 410 (MN.2005) Member, Supreme Court CHIPS Public Defender Workgroup (8/10/2005-3/16/06) Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) State Advisory Team (2/2007-6/07) Other Activities: Charter member and past president of St. John’s Church parish council, 1970-75 Charter member of Benton County Combined Charities, 1968-70 Member of Foley Lions Club, 1967-75 Charter member and past president (1986-87) and board of directors of Foley Kiwanis Club, 1981-9/91 Member and past chairman (1986 and 1987), Stearns-Benton Law Library Board, 9/1983-96 Charter member and chairman of Stearns-Benton-Sherburne-St. Cloud Major Crime Investigation Unit joint powers board, 1979-9/91 Member and vice-chairman of Local Board 40, U.S. Selective Service, 1982-92 Champion International, Inc.; scholarship committee; 1975-91 Boy Scouts of America, Central MN Council #296, many positions (including Council President, 2/24/1998-2/2000), 1979-2004 (Awards: Scouters Key, Distinguished District Commissioner, District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver) Member of St. Cloud Diocese Catholic Charities board of directors, 1993-96 Choir member, St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud, 9/05-present St. Mary’s Cathedral Annual Block Party, chair of steering committee, 2005 and 2006 External Review Board, St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN, 6/2007-present

Senior Judge Richard T. Jessen
(retired 2007)

Stearns County

Family:

Born in St. Paul, MN, 2/7/1941
Married Patricia M. (Schroeder) Jessen in Farmington, MN, 1966
Two children: Karen (born 1968) and Scott (born 1970)
Two grandchildren: Paige (born 1993) and Caitlyn (born 1995)

Education:

St. John’s Preparatory School, Collegeville, MN, 1955-59
B.A., May 1963, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN
J.D., December 1966, University of Minnesota Law School

Professional Licenses:

Minnesota Supreme Court, 6/5/1967
U.S. District Court (Minnesota), 11/12/1968
U.S. Supreme Court, 4/6/1981

Law Practice:

Associate, Torell Law Office, Foley, MN, 1967-68
Partner, Torell and Jessen, 1969-74
Foley City Attorney, 1967-74
Assistant Benton County Attorney, 1967-70
Benton County Attorney, 1975-9/91
District Court Judge; St. Cloud, MN; appointed October 1, 1991; elected 1992, 1998 and 2004; retired March 7, 2007
Senior Judge, 3/7/2007-present

Membership in Professional Legal Associations:

Minnesota Bar Association, 1967-2007
National District Attorneys Association, 1975-91
Minnesota County Attorneys Association, 1975-91 (various offices including president, 1984-85)
Stearns-Benton Bar Association, 1967-present (various offices, including president, 5/1986-5/87)

Professional Activities As County Attorney:

Several police in-service training seminars and meetings, 1975-91
Coordinator and instructor for Region V MCAA/P.O.S.T. Board peace officer training, 1990-91
Member of Minnesota Non-Tax Revenue Commission, 9/1984-5/86
Member of Minnesota Narcotics Enforcement Coordinating Committee, 3/1987-4/90
Member of Domestic Abuse Prosecution Policy Committee for Department of Public Safety, 1991
Member and chairman of Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, June 1991-Oct. 1991

Professional Activities As Judge:

Lead judge for Restorative Justice, Circle Sentencing, St. Cloud, 7/1997-8/2001

Driver’s License Reinstatement Program in Stearns County, March 2002

Children’s Justice Initiative (CJI):

Lead Judge, 9/2000-07
Member of Supreme Court CJI Advisory Committee, 12/2002-1/06
CJI Benchbook Committee, early 2003-07
Children’s Justice Initiative, Judicial Districts Seven and Eight Roll-out Conference, Alexandria, 4/20/2004
Family Dependency Treatment Court Planning Committee, 3/2005-7/06
Lead judge in establishing Stearns County Family Dependency Treatment Court, 7/11/2006-3/7/07

Acting Associate Justice, MN Supreme Court, 4/25/2005-12/05, McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing, Inc. v. County of Dodge, 705 N.W.2d 410 (MN.2005)

Member, Supreme Court CHIPS Public Defender Workgroup (8/10/2005-3/16/06)

Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) State Advisory Team (2/2007-6/07)

Other Activities:

Charter member and past president of St. John’s Church parish council, 1970-75
Charter member of Benton County Combined Charities, 1968-70
Member of Foley Lions Club, 1967-75
Charter member and past president (1986-87) and board of directors of Foley Kiwanis Club, 1981-9/91
Member and past chairman (1986 and 1987), Stearns-Benton Law Library Board, 9/1983-96
Charter member and chairman of Stearns-Benton-Sherburne-St. Cloud Major Crime Investigation Unit joint powers board, 1979-9/91
Member and vice-chairman of Local Board 40, U.S. Selective Service, 1982-92
Champion International, Inc.; scholarship committee; 1975-91
Boy Scouts of America, Central MN Council #296, many positions (including Council President, 2/24/1998-2/2000), 1979-2004 (Awards: Scouters Key, Distinguished District Commissioner, District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver)
Member of St. Cloud Diocese Catholic Charities board of directors, 1993-96
Choir member, St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud, 9/05-present
St. Mary’s Cathedral Annual Block Party, chair of steering committee, 2005 and 2006
External Review Board, St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN, 6/2007-present