Senior Judge Martha M. Simonett
Senior Judge Martha M. Simonett

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed June 24, 1996, by Governor Arne Carlson.  Elected 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016.  Retired on June 4, 2019. Appointed and assigned to serve statewide as Senior Judge from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025.

Education:

J.D., cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 1984 (Law Review Editor, 1982-83)

B.A., University of Minnesota, English Literature, 1979

Macalester College, 1974-75

Employment:

Attorney, Partner in Private Practice, Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel, 1984-1996

Judicial Experience:

District Court Judge, 1996-June 4, 2019.

Additional Professional Experience:

Supreme Court, Appointed to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Review Board, 2000-04

Supreme Court, Appointed to ADR Review Board Appeals Panel, 2012-13

Past Member, Supreme Court Advisory Committee, General Rules of Practice for District Courts

Past Co-Chair, Minnesota Jury Reform Task Force, Civil Litigation Governing Council

Past Member, Dakota County Community Corrections Board

Minnesota District Judges Association, 1996-present

Past President, Minnesota New Lawyers Section, Minnesota State Bar Association 

Presenter at legal conferences on various topics related to the justice system, with emphasis on civil litigation skills and jury reform issues.