Appointed/Elected:

• Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Mark Dayton on December 3, 2018. Elected in 2020. Current term expires Jan. 2027. 
• Appointed to the Eighth Judicial District Court by Governor Arne Carlson in 1994.  Chambers in Olivia, Renville County.  Elected in 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2014.

Education:

• J.D. Hamline University School of Law, 1986.
• B.A., University of Minnesota, 1983.

Legal Employment:

• Qualley, Boulton, & Slieter, 1986-1994

Law School and College Faculty:

• Adjunct Professor of Pre-Trial Litigation
  • Mitchell Hamline Law School, 2015
• Adjunct Professor of Remedies
  • Mitchell Hamline Law School, 2000-2015
• Adjunct Professor of WRAP
  • Mitchell Hamline Law School, 2000-2010
• Adjunct Professor in Department of Government
  • Minnesota State, Mankato, 2010-2011

Professional Awards

• 2009-2010 Elmer H. Wiblishauser Author’s Award
  • Issued by the Minnesota State Bar Association Publications Committee, October 2010. Best article contributed to the Bench & Bar magazine for an article entitled “Contempt of Court: Has This been a Bad Month for Your Client?”, May/June 2010.
• Award for Outstanding Service to the Community
  • Minnesota District Judges Association, September 6, 2002.

Publications

• William Mitchell Law Review
  • “The Minnesota Public Defender System: A Change of Governance Should Occur for the State to Effectively Fulfill its Constitutional Obligation”, Vol 37, No. 2, 2011; Co-Author
• Bench & Bar of Minnesota Magazine
  • “Contempt of Court: Has This Been a Bad Month for Your Client?”, Vol. LXVII, No. V, May/June 2010
• Bench Notes, 2008 Minnesota District Judges Association
  • “Technology: What Changes Judges Might Expect to See in the Next Ten Years; Spring 2008
• E-Filing Report, 2003 Glasser Legalworks
  • “Electronic Filing in Minnesota Courts”, May 2003, Vol. 3, No. 5

Professional Association:

• Minnesota State Bar Association
• 12^th District Bar Association; past president
• Minnesota District Judges Association; past member and board member
• Minnesota District Court/Tribal Court Forum (2010-2018)
• Criminal & Juvenile Justice Task Force (CrimNet Task Force) Judicial Representative (2004-2015)
• Minnesota Supreme Court General Rules of Practice Committee; past member
• Western Minnesota Legal Services; past member and president
• MSBA Volunteer Attorney Program; past volunteer
• MSBA Mock Trial Program; past attorney coach and trial judge

Community Activities:

• RC Hospital & Clinics of Olivia Foundation Board Member (2008-2014)
• Olivia Kiwanis Barbershop Quartet; current member
• Kiwanis International; current member
• Woodbury Chorus & Orchestra; past member
• BOLD (Bird Island, Olivia, & Lake Lillian School District) Community Jazz & Swing Band; past member
• St. Aloysius Church Choir; past member
• Minnesota West Community & Technical College (formerly Southwestern Technical College); past member board of directors and chair