Associate Justice Paul C. Thissen

Minnesota Judicial Center
Supreme Court
(651) 297-7650

Associate Justice Paul C. Thissen

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed on May 14, 2018, by Governor Mark Dayton. Elected in 2020. His current term ends January 2027. 
 

Education:

University of Chicago Law School, J.D with honors, 1992
Harvard University, A.B. magna cum laude, 1989
 

Employment:

Minnesota State Representative, 2003-2018
  • Speaker of the Minnesota House, 2013-2014
  • Democratic House Leader, 2011-2016
  • Chair of the Health and Human Service Committee, 2007-2010
Ballard Spahr Law Firm (formerly Lindquist & Vennum), 2010-2018
 
Briggs and Morgan Law Firm, 1993-2010
 
Minnesota State Public Defenders Office, Appellate Division, 1998-1999
 
Federal Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Clerking for the Honorable Judge James Loken, 1992-1993
    

Professional Memberships:

Member of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) and Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA)
 
Executive Board Member, New Lawyers Division of the HCBA and MSBA
 
Coach, MSBA Mock Trial Competition
 

Professional and Community Activities:


Boards
 
Healthy and Happy Kids, Member of the Board, 2015-Present
                       
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Trustee, 2011-2018
 
Minnesota AIDS Project Policy Board, 2006
 
Minnesota Justice Foundation, Member of the Board, 2000-2002
 
Women of Nations Shelter, 1998-2000
 
Access for Persons with Disabilities, Founder and Member of the Board, 1995-1997
 
Awards and Recognitions
 
Top 100 Influential Minnesotans in Health Care; 2016, 2013, 2009
 
Women’s Economic Security Champion, 2015
 
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Legislator of the Year, 2014
 
Standing Ovation Award, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 2014
 
Minnesota High Tech Association Public Service Award, 2014
 
Legislator of the Year, Politics in Minnesota, 2012
 
ARRM Cares Leadership Award, 2009
 
Minnesota Nurses Association, Public Official Award, 2008
 
Mpls/St. Paul Magazine, Best Brains in the Twin Cities, 2008
 
ARC Minnesota, Legislator of the Year, 2008
 
"Forty Under 40" Top Twin Cities Professionals, Twin Cities Business Journal, 2006
 
Civic Leadership Award from Citizen's League, 2005