Appointed/Elected:

Appointed June 19, 1986.

Elected in 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, and 2010.

Retired June 9, 2011.

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, 1967
B.A., University of Minnesota, 1964
Queensbury High School, Glens Falls, New York

Employment:

• Private practice, Gary Larson, Ltd., 1983-1985
• City Attorney for the City of Shorewood, 1981-1985
• Attorney for Laketown Township, 1978-1985
• City Attorney for the City of Excelsior, 1979-1981
• Private practice, Penberthy & Larson, Ltd., 1977-1983
• City Attorney for the City of Tonka Bay, 1972-1985
• Private practice, Kelly & Larson, 1968-1977
• Judicial Clerk for District Court Judge John F. Cahill, 1967-1968

Professional Memberships:

• Co-chair Civil Litigation Hennepin County Bar Association, 2000
• Co-chair Bench & Bar Committee Hennepin County Bar Association, 1994-95
• Speaker/Panel Member, Continuing Legal Education in Family Law, Evidence andReal Estate Mortgages, 1985-present
• Hamline University Law School, Legal Research Instructor
• St. Thomas College, Business Law Instructor

Additional Information:

Assignment History

• Criminal & Civil, 1/2007-6/9/2011
• Assistant Chief Judge, 7/2004-6/2006
• Presiding Judge Drug Court, 1/2005-12/2006
• Presiding Judge Civil, 1/2000-12/2004
• Civil & Criminal, 10/1991-12/1999
• Criminal, 1/1991-9/1991
• Family, 7/1998-12/1990
• Criminal, 5/1986-6/1988

Judicial Activity

• Hennepin County Assistant Chief Judge, 7/2004-6/2006
• Presiding Judge of Civil, 2000-6/9/2011
• Executive Committee, 1992-6/9/2011
• Chair of Civil Committee, 1991-6/9/2011
• Co-chair of Unification Committee, 1986

Teaching Experience

• Hamline University Law School, Legal Research Instructor
• St. Thomas College, Business Law Instructor

Civic Organizations

• Provide pro bono legal services to incorporate and receive federal tax exemptions for the following Minnesota non-profit corporations:
  • Minnetonka Hot Line, Inc. (youth emergency telephone answering service)
  • Skipper Booster Club, Inc. (Minnetonka School District booster club)
  • Perspectives, Inc. (women's organization formed to deal basically with chemical dependency issues)
  • Minnetonka Sailing School, Inc. (non-profit school for teaching sailing)
• Served on the following boards:
  • Minnetonka Hot Line, Inc.: board 5 years; president 2 years
  • Skipper Booster Club, Inc.: board 1 year
  • Perspectives, Inc.: board 5 years
  • Minnetonka Sailing School, Inc.: board 20 years; chair 5 years
  • Minnetonka Yacht Club: 1976; board 2 years
• Member Excelsior Rotary Club: 1976 to 1989
• Served as legal advisor to Way 12 Halfway House for chemically dependent young adults
• Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Moderator, Excelsior Congregational Church.  Chair of pastor search committee
• Institutional Review Board at Methodist Hospital: 1983 to 1990
• Minnetonka School District 276: 1982 Community Services Annual Gavel Club Award for Outstanding Community Service
• Race for the Cure volunteer, 1995-Present
• 1st Annual Valentine Award West Suburban Teen Clinic
• Outstanding Individual Service Award District Court, 2001