Chief Judge Kathleen R. Gearin

Ramsey County Courthouse
Phone: (651) 266-8266

Appointed/Elected:

Elected in 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004. Current term expires January of 2011.

Education:

J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, (Student Director of Criminal Defense Clinical Program), 1975

B.A., with Honors, College of St. Catherine, History, 1967

Employment:

District Court Judge- Second Judicial District, 1987-present

Prosecuting Attorney- Ramsey County Attorney's Office, 1975-1985

Secondary School Teacher, Social Studies, 1967-1971

Professional Memberships and Activities:

Chief Judge, 2008-Present

Assistant Chief Judge, 2004-2008

Board of Directors- Project Remand (a Ramsey county Pre-trial criminal diversion
program)

Board of Directors- National Association of Women Judges/Women Judges Fund for Justice

President- Minnesota District Judges Association, 1999-2000

Advisory Board- Project Reconnect (a Ramsey County corrections program for substance abusing women offenders

Former Chair- Ramsey County's District committee that successfully developed home confinement, Sentence to Service, and Day Reporting programs

Former Member- Ramsey County Committee that developed and implemented the Fast Track Drug Program for possession cases

Member- Steering Committee, MNCIS (Minnesota Court Information System)

Chair- Juror Treatment Subcommittee, Minnesota Supreme Court Jury Task Force

Appointed Acting Supreme Court Justice on two conflicts cases

Lecturing and Teaching Experience:

In addition to formerly teaching in the St. Paul Public School System, Judge Gearin has extensive experience lecturing.

Topic: Judicial Decision Making, Illinois Advanced Judicial Academy, 2001

Teaches Sentencing Portion, Minnesota Judicial College, 1996-present

Minnesota County Attorney Association and Public Defender Association
Trial School, 1987-present

Topic: Continuing Legal Education Seminars on Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Civil Post-Trial Motions, Trial Skills, Juvenile Law, Sentencing, Ethics, and Juror Stress, 1977-present

Arkansas Circuit Court, Judges Sentencing Seminar, 1993

Topic: Substance Abuse and the Courts, Georgia Judges Conference, 1993

Panel Member, Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1993

Moderator/Presenter, Center for Sex Offender Management Seminar (White Plains, NY), 1993

Topic: Development of Intermediate Sanctions, American Probation and Parole Association National Convention, 1992

State of Minnesota Intermediate Sanctions Training Program, Conference of Chief Judges, 1992

Topic: Development of Intermediate Sanctions, Workshops sponsored by State Justice Institute and National Institute of Corrections in Chicago, Washington D.C., San Diego, Columbus, Ohio and Charlotte, North Carolina, 1992-1997

National Institute of Corrections-Longmount, Colorado Intermediate Sanctions Workshop, 1991

Topic: Investigating Sexual Assault Cases, International Association of Women Police Officers, 1978

Awards and Honors:

Judge Gearin has been a recipient of the following:

"Senior Moot Court Award," William Mitchell College of Law
"Leadership Award," YWCA
"School Bell Award," Minnesota Education Association
"Distinguished Irishwomen of 2000 Award," St Paul's St Patrick's Day Association