Senior Judge Mary R. Vasaly
Senior Judge Mary R. Vasaly

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty on Dec. 30, 2010. Elected in 2012 and 2018. Retired on Oct. 30, 2020. Appointed and assigned to serve statewide as Senior Judge from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025.
 

Education:

J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1983
 

Past Employment:

Practiced civil litigation with the Maslon Edelman Borman and Brand law firm in Minneapolis for more than 25 years. 
 

Professional Memberships:

Minnesota Supreme Court’s Civil Rules Advisory Committee

Co-chair, Committee for Equality and Justice, Judicial Council 

Eighth Circuit Bar Association

Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Former President, Hennepin County Bar Association

Former President, Minnesota Women Lawyers

Former President, Council of Appellate Lawyers, American Bar Association's Judicial Division

Officer, Minnesota State Bar Association Litigation Section’s Governing Council

Officer, Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society

Professional and Community Activities:

Taught appellate advocacy and legal writing at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and the University of Minnesota Law School. 
Former Editor in Chief, TortSource (a magazine distributed by the American Bar Association's Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section)
Volunteer, Children’s Law Center of Minnesota
Volunteer, Volunteer Lawyers Network
Volunteer, City of Edina Zoning Board of Appeals
Volunteer, University of St. Thomas School of Law mentorship program
Board of Directors, Continental Ballet Company 
Active in a wide range of law-related activities.

Additional Information:

Assignment:
Civil, 11/2014-10/30/2020
Family, 1/2012-10/2014
Criminal, 1/2011-12/2011
Named to Best Lawyers in America
Myra Bradwell Award, Minnesota Women Lawyers, 2010
Stephen Pihlaja Justice Partner Award, FourthJudicial District, 2009

President’s Award, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2006

Ramsey County Pro Bono Award, 2005 

Author of the Year, American Bar Association TIPS TortSource, 2005 


Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2003
Judge Vasaly is the author of a number of books and other publications and has spoken on a wide variety of legal topics.

Practice Pointers & Preferences