Appointed/Elected:

Appointed on Oct. 2, 2006. Elected in 2008, 2014 and 2020. His current term expires in January 2027.

Education:

J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1988

B.A., summa cum laude, Moorhead State University, 1984

Employment:

Attorney & Shareholder, Fredrikson and Byron in Minneapolis, 1995-2006

Associate Attorney, Fredrikson and Byron in Minneapolis, 1988-1995

Conciliation Judge, Hennepin County, 2005-2006

Adjunct Professor, St. Thomas University School of Law, 2005-2006

Professional Memberships:

American Bar Association

Minnesota State Bar Association

Hennepin County Bar Association

Minnesota District Judges Association

Additional Information:

• 2010 Hennepin County Bar Association Judicial Professionalism Award
• Chair, Hennepin County District Court’s Legal Advocacy Committee
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association Legal Assistance for the Disadvantaged Committee (Co-chair, Judicial Subcommittee)
• Co-chair, Hennepin County Bar Association Bench and Bar Committee
• Founder of Volunteer Lawyers Network Summer Associate Program
• Co-founder of Minnesota Justice Foundation Partner Program
• 2003 Fredrikson & Byron Distinguished Service Award
• 2001 Minnesota Justice Foundation Outstanding Service Award
• Alternate for Minnesota Sex Offender Supreme Court Appeal Panel

Assignment History

• Criminal, Mar. 2013 - present
• Presiding Judge of Probate / Mental Health Court, Jan. 2010 - Feb. 2013
• Assistant Chief Judge of the Family Court, Feb. 2008 - Dec. 2009
• Criminal, Oct. 2006 - Feb. 2008 

• The Judge Looks Bored: How to Keep the Judge Interested (Dec. 13, 2011)
• Adversarial Advocacy: Too Much Adversity Can Hurt You (April 7, 2011)
• Probate/Mental Health Court: Rapidly Changing and Always Interesting (Dec. 23, 2010)
• How We Can Help Ex-Cons Thrive Outside (Nov. 2010)
• Judging Without Lawyers: Now Knowing Makes for Nightmares (May/June 2009)
• Pro Bono Lawyers: A View from the Bench (Aug. 25, 2008)