Judge Rachel Hughey

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed on Sept. 13, 2021, by Governor Tim Walz. Elected November 8, 2022. Current term expires December 31, 2028.
 

Education:

  • University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Law Review
  • University of Wisconsin – Madison, B.S. Chemical Engineering, Tau Beta Pi

Employment:

  • Merchant & Gould, P.C., Partner and Shareholder, 2003 to 2005, 2008 to 2021
  • Carlson Caspers Vandenburgh & Lindquist, PA, Associate, 2006 to 2008
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Law clerk for the Honorable Alvin A. Schall, 2005 to 2006

Professional Memberships:

  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
    • Editorial Board for the Quarterly Journal, 2011 to 2014
  • Federal Bar Association
    • Editorial Board for The Federal Lawyer, 2011 to 2020; Editor-in-Chief, 2018 to 2019
    • Diversity Committee, 2020 to 2021
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
    • Board Member, 2018 to 2019, 2020-present
  • The Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
    • Co-Founder, 2014; Secretary, 2014 to 2019; President-Elect, 2019 to 2021; President, 2021 to 2023
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers
    • Master Lawyers
  • Federal Circuit Bar Association
    • Amicus Committee, Vice-Chair, 2016 to 2020; Journal Committee, Chair, 2020 to 2021 

Professional and Community Activities:

  • American Civil Liberties Union-MN, Board Member, 2017 to 2021; Governance Committee, Co-Chair, 2020 to 2021
  • Minnesota Young American Leaders Program, 2020 Cohort
  • Simpson Housing Services: Board, 2021 to 2022; Strategy Committee, 2020 to 2022
  • University of Minnesota Law School
    • Legal Writing Instructor, 2003 to 2005, 2006 to 2007
    • Intellectual Property Moot Court Team Coach, 2003 to 2005, 2021 to 2022
    • Intellectual Property Moot Court Class Instructor, 2003 to 2005, 2006 to 2007
  • University of Minnesota Law School Board of Advisors, Board Member, 2014 to 2020; Executive Committee, 2017 to 2020
  • University of Minnesota Law Review Alumni Advisory Board, 2010 to 2015; President, 2011 to 2015
  • University of St. Thomas, Communications Law Instructor, 2004 to 2005
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network, Board Member, 2013 to 2022; Executive Committee, 2017 to 2021; Board Chair 2019 to 2020
  • YouthCARE, Board Member, 2010 to 2012; Alumni Advisory Board Member, 2013 to 2019 

Additional Information:

  • Selected by the Hennepin County Bar Association for the Excellence Award for Mentoring in the Profession, 2020
  • Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2019 to 2021
  • Recognized by Minnesota Monthly in its list of Best Lawyers, 2018 to 2021
  • Selected by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) to the Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, 2017 to 2021
  • Selected by Minnesota Lawyer as one of its Attorneys of the Year – Groups, 2017
  • Selected as a member of The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2017
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, 2017 to 2021
  • Selected by Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 honoree, 2016
  • Selected by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine for inclusion in The Top Women Lawyers in Minnesota, 2012 to 2020
  • Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Rising Stars, 2009 to 2018
  • Selected by Minnesota Lawyer as one of 25 Up & Coming Attorneys, 2008