Judge Keala C. Ede

Appointed:

Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Tim Walz on September 11, 2023. Elected in 2024. Current term expires Jan. 2031.

Appointed to the District Court on March 8, 2022, by Governor Tim Walz.

J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2003
B.A., Occidental College, magna cum laude, 2000

Office of the Federal Defender, District of Minnesota, Assistant Federal Defender (2016-2022)
Minnesota Attorney General's Office, Assistant Attorney General (2015-2016)
Orange County Office of the Public Defender, Deputy Public Defender (2010-2015)
American Samoa Office of the Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender (2009-2010)
Robins, Kaplan, Miller, & Ciresi, L.L.P., Associate Attorney (2007-2009)
Cades Schutte, L.L.P., Associate Attorney (2005-2006)
Hawai'i Supreme Court, Judicial Law Clerk to Associate Justice Steven H. Levinson (ret.) (2003-2005)

Bar Admissions: Minnesota, Hawai'i, California, and American Samoa
Bar Memberships: Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota Native American Bar Association, Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Minnesota Disability Bar Association, Native Hawaiian Bar Association, American Bar Association, National Native American Bar Association, and National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Professional Associations: Minnesota District Judges Association and National Disabled Legal Professionals Association

Court of Appeals Liaison, Minnesota Judicial Council Committee for Equality and Justice
Chair, Court of Appeals Equal Justice Committee
Judicial Member, Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence
Board of Directors Member, Division of Indian Work
Wilder Foundation Meals on Wheels Volunteer Meal Delivery
Volunteer Youth Sports Coach

2025 Minnesota State Bar Association "Public Lawyer Diversity Award"
2023 Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association “Trailblazer Award”
2021 Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers "Special Achievement Award"
2020 Minnesota Lawyer "Attorney of the Year"
2019 Minnesota Lawyer "Attorney of the Year"