News Item
The Honorable Margaret H. Chutich Appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Honorable Diane B. Bratvold Appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals

Posted: Friday, January 22, 2016

Judge Chutich will replace Associate Justice Wright, who has been confirmed as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota
 
Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced his appointments of the Honorable Margaret H. Chutich as Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Honorable Diane B. Bratvold as Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Judge Chutich will replace Associate Justice Wilhelmina M. Wright, who has been confirmed as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota. Judge Bratvold will replace Judge Chutich as at-large judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
 
“Judge Margaret Chutich has served the state of Minnesota honorably on the Court of Appeals, and as a Deputy Attorney General,” said Governor Dayton. “Her ability to forge understanding amongst colleagues, and her fortitude to dissent when she deems it necessary, have served her well throughout her distinguished career.”
 
“Judge Diane Bratvold has garnered a reputation among her colleagues as one of the top appellate lawyers in the state,” said Governor Dayton. “That experience, along with her service as District Court Judge for the Fourth Judicial District, have demonstrated her commitment to justice and public service.”
 
“Governor Dayton has made excellent appointments in his selection of Judge Chutich for the Minnesota Supreme Court, and Judge Bratvold for the Minnesota Court of Appeals,” said Lee Sheehy, Chair of the Commission on Judicial Selection. “These appointments are endorsed by the Commission’s multiple recommendations of each to these positions.”
 
About Margaret H. Chutich
Judge Chutich has served as an at-large Judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals since her appointment in 2012 by Governor Dayton. She previously served as Assistant Dean at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, as Deputy Attorney General of the Law Enforcement Section with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota.
 
Judge Chutich earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota and her J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School.
 
After completing law school, Judge Chutich was law clerk for the Honorable Diana E. Murphy, United States District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota. She then spent five years as an attorney with the law firms of Tanick & Heins and Opperman Heins & Paquin.
 
Judge Chutich is a member of the Minnesota Women Lawyers’ Advisory Council and a former director of the YWCA of Minneapolis.
 
About Diane B. Bratvold
Judge Bratvold has served as a District Court Judge for the Fourth Judicial District since her appointment by Governor Dayton in 2014. She is also an adjunct professor in appellate advocacy at the University of St. Thomas Law School and an officer in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. She previously served as a shareholder with Briggs and Morgan, P.A., where her practice focused on civil appeals and advice to clients and trial counsel.
 
Judge Bratvold earned her B.A. summa cum laude from Macalester College and her J.D. cum laude from the University of Minnesota School of Law.
 
After completing law school, Judge Bratvold spent 13 years as an attorney at Fetterly & Gordon, P.A. and six years as a partner and associate at Rider Bennett, L.L.P. She was also a volunteer attorney with Advocates for Human Rights.
 
Judge Bratvold is the Director and Treasurer of Advocates for Human Rights, is a board member for the Zion Lutheran Church Foundation in Anoka, volunteers as a mentor at the University of St. Thomas Law School, and previously served as Director of the Champlin Park Vocal Music Association.