View source for Minnesota Court of Appeals

{{short description|Intermediate appellate court of Minnesota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox court
|court_name       = Minnesota Court of Appeals
|image            = Seal of Minnesota.svg
|imagesize        = 170px
|established      = {{start date|1983|11|1}}
|jurisdiction     = [[Minnesota]], [[United States]]
|location         = [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]]
|coordinates      = {{Coord|44|57|16|N|93|6|1|W|region:US-MN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|type             = Nonpartisan election, appointment by the [[Governor of Minnesota|governor]] if filling midterm vacancy
|authority        = [[Minnesota Constitution]]
|appealsto        = [[Minnesota Supreme Court]]
|terms            = 6 years (mandatory retirement at the age of 70)
|positions        = 19
|website          = {{Official website|https://www.mncourts.gov/CourtOfAppeals.aspx}}
|chiefjudgetitle  = Chief Judge
|chiefjudgename   = [[Susan Segal]]
|termstart        = May 1, 2020
|termend          = October 31, 2025
|termend2         = January 2, 2029
}}

{{Politics of Minnesota}}

The '''Minnesota Court of Appeals''' is the intermediate [[appellate court]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. It began operating on November 1, 1983.

==Jurisdiction==
The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over most [[appeal]]s from the [[State court (United States)|state]] [[trial court]]s, including the [[Minnesota District Courts]], and from many decisions of state agencies and local governments. The only exceptions to this grant of jurisdiction are statewide election contests, first-degree murder cases, and appeals from the Minnesota Tax Court and [[Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals]], all of which go directly to the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]].

The Minnesota Supreme Court has [[discretionary review]]. Only about five percent of Court of Appeals decisions are accepted by the Supreme Court for further review, meaning that the Court of Appeals makes the final ruling in the vast majority of the 2,000 to 2,400 appeals filed every year.<ref name="pdf">{{cite web | url=https://www.mncourts.gov/Documents/0/Public/Court_Information_Office/Informational%20Brochures/QF-_Court_of_Appeals.pdf | title=Court of Appeals | publisher=Minnesota Judicial Branch | access-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref>

==Procedure==
Under Minnesota law, the Court of Appeals must issue a decision within 90 days after oral arguments. If no oral argument is held, a decision is due within 90 days of the case's scheduled conference date. This deadline is the shortest imposed on any appellate court in the nation.<ref name="pdf" /> The court expedites decisions on child custody cases, mental health commitments and other matters in which the parties request accelerated response.

==Composition==
The 19 judges of the Minnesota Court of Appeals are elected to renewable six-year terms.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/constitution/#section_6_7 | title=Minn. Const. art. VI, sec. 7 | publisher=Office of the Revisor of Statutes | work=[[Minnesota Constitution]] | access-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref> When a midterm vacancy occurs, the [[Governor of Minnesota|governor]] appoints a replacement to a term that ends after the general election occurring more than one year after the appointment.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/constitution/#section_6_8 | title=Minn. Const. art. VI, sec. 8 | publisher=Office of the Revisor of Statutes | work=[[Minnesota Constitution]] | access-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref> All judges who have served on the court have been appointed by the governor.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mn.gov/lawlib/judges.html#COA | title=Judges of the Minnesota Court of Appeals | publisher=Minnesota State Law Library | work=Chronological Listing of Judges and Justices of the Minnesota Appellate Courts | access-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref> The chief judge is selected by the governor from the members of the court to serve a fixed three-year term.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=480A.03 | title=Minnesota Statutes 2013, section 480A.03, subdivision 1 | publisher=Office of the Revisor of Statutes | access-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref>

Eight seats are associated with [[Minnesota's congressional districts]]. Judges for those seats must live in the associated district at the time of appointment or initial election. But seated judges remain eligible for those positions even if they later move to another district. Remaining seats are at-large positions that can be filled without regard to residency. The seats associated with congressional districts are redesignated every ten years following [[reapportionment]] of the districts. The most recent reapportionment occurred in 2022. The seats on the Court of Appeals were redesignated in January 2023.<ref name="order">{{cite web | url=https://www.mncourts.gov/Documents/0/Public/News/Public_Notices/COA_Designation_for_Congressional_Districts.pdf | title=Administrative Order Filed In re Designations of Court of Appeals Judges for Congressional Districts Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 480A.02, Subdivision 5. | publisher=Minnesota Judicial Branch | date=January 4, 2013 | access-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref>

Members sit in three-judge panels in various locations throughout the state to hear oral arguments, all of which are open to the public.<ref name="pdf" />

==Members==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Seat
! Name
! District
! Appointed by
! Joined
! Duration
! Term end date
|-
| 7
| data-sort-value="Segal, Susan" | [[Susan Segal]] (Chief)
| [[Minnesota's 5th congressional district|5th]]
| data-sort-value="Walz, Tim" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Tim Walz]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2019|11|26}}
| data-sort-value="-20191126" |{{age in years and months|2019|11|26}}
| {{dts|2029|01|02}}
|-
| 6
| data-sort-value="Worke, Renee" | Renee Worke
| [[Minnesota's 1st congressional district|1st]]
| data-sort-value="Pawlenty, Tim" {{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Tim Pawlenty]] (R)
| {{dts|2005|6|9}}
| data-sort-value="-20050609" |{{age in years and months|2005|6|9}}
| {{dts|2025|01|06}}
|-
| 15
| data-sort-value="Ross, Kevin" | Kevin Ross
| [[Minnesota's 3rd congressional district|3rd]]
| data-sort-value="Pawlenty, Tim" {{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Tim Pawlenty]] (R)
| {{dts|2006|2|23}}
| data-sort-value="-20060223" |{{age in years and months|2006|2|23}}
| {{dts|2027|1|4}}
|-
| 19
| data-sort-value="Connolly, Francis" | Francis Connolly
| [[At-large]]
| data-sort-value="Pawlenty, Tim" {{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Tim Pawlenty]] (R)
| {{dts|2008|1|1}}
| data-sort-value="-20080101" |{{age in years and months|2008|1|1}}
| {{dts|2029|1|2}}
|-
| 17
| data-sort-value="Johnson, Matthew" | [[Matthew Johnson (judge)|Matthew Johnson]]
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Pawlenty, Tim" {{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Tim Pawlenty]] (R)
| {{dts|2008|1|1}} 
| data-sort-value="-20080101" |{{age in years and months|2008|1|1}}
| {{dts|2029|1|2}}
|-
| 11
| data-sort-value="Larkin, Michelle Ann" | [[Michelle Ann Larkin]]
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Pawlenty, Tim" {{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Tim Pawlenty]] (R)
| {{dts|2008|7|14}}
| data-sort-value="-20080714" |{{age in years and months|2008|7|14}}
| {{dts|2029|1|2}}
|-
| 5
| data-sort-value="Bjorkman, Louise Dovre" | Louise Dovre Bjorkman
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Pawlenty, Tim" {{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Tim Pawlenty]] (R)
| {{dts|2008|9|8}}
| data-sort-value="-20080908" |{{age in years and months|2008|9|8}}
| {{dts|2029|1|2}}
|-
| 16
| data-sort-value="Reyes, Peter" | Peter Reyes
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Dayton, Mark" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Mark Dayton]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2014|4|7}}
| data-sort-value="-20140407" |{{age in years and months|2014|4|7}}
| {{dts|2029|1|2}}
|-
| 4
| data-sort-value="Smith, Tracy" | Tracy Smith
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Dayton, Mark" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Mark Dayton]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2016|2|3}}
| data-sort-value="-20160203" |{{age in years and months|2016|2|3}}
| {{dts|2025|01|06}}
|-
| 12
| data-sort-value="Bratvold, Diane" | Diane Bratvold
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Dayton, Mark" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Mark Dayton]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2016|3|24}}
| data-sort-value="-20160324" |{{age in years and months|2016|3|24}}
|{{dts|2025|01|06}}
|-
| 13
| data-sort-value="Cochran, Jeanne" | [[Jeanne Cochran]]
| [[Minnesota's 6th congressional district|6th]]
| data-sort-value="Dayton, Mark" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Mark Dayton]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2018|11|07}}
| data-sort-value="-20181107" |{{age in years and months|2018|11|07}}
| {{dts|2027|01|04}}
|-
| 9
| data-sort-value="Slieter, Randall" | Randall Slieter
| [[Minnesota's 7th congressional district|7th]]
| data-sort-value="Dayton, Mark" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Mark Dayton]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2018|12|03}}
| data-sort-value="-20181203" |{{age in years and months|2018|12|03}}
| {{dts|2027|01|04}}
|-
| 10
| data-sort-value="Frisch, Jennifer" | [[Jennifer Frisch]]
| [[Minnesota's 4th congressional district|4th]]
| data-sort-value="Walz, Tim" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Tim Walz]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2020|05|04}}
| data-sort-value="-20200504" |{{age in years and months|2020|05|04}}
| {{dts|2029|1|2}}
|-
| 3
| data-sort-value="Wheelock, Sarah" | [[Sarah Wheelock]]
| [[Minnesota's 2nd congressional district|2nd]]
| data-sort-value="Walz, Tim" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Tim Walz]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2021|12|1}}
| data-sort-value="-20211201" |{{age in years and months|2021|12|1}}
| {{dts|2025|1|7}}
|-
|14
| data-sort-value="Larson, Elise" | Elise L. Larson
|[[Minnesota's 8th congressional district|8th]]
| data-sort-value="Walz, Tim" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Tim Walz]] (DFL)
|{{dts|2022|7|1}}
| data-sort-value="-20220701" |{{age in years and months|2022|7|1}}
|{{dts|2025|01|06}}
|-
| 2
| data-sort-value="Schmidt, Jon" | Jon Schmidt
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Walz, Tim" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Tim Walz]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2023|9|5}}
| data-sort-value="-20230905" | {{age in years and months|2023|9|5}}
| {{dts|2025|01|06}}
|-
| 8
| data-sort-value="Ede, Keala" | Keala C. Ede
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Walz, Tim" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Tim Walz]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2023|9|11}}
| data-sort-value="-20230911" |{{age in years and months|2023|9|11}}
| {{dts|2025|1|7}}
|-
| 18
| data-sort-value="Harris, JaPaul" | JaPaul Harris
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Walz, Tim" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Tim Walz]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2024|03|18}}
| data-sort-value="-20240318" |{{age in years and months|2024|03|18}}
| {{dts|2026|1|2}}
|-
| 1
| data-sort-value="Bentley, Elizabeth" | Elizabeth Bentley
| At-large
| data-sort-value="Walz, Tim" {{Party shading/DFL}}| [[Tim Walz]] (DFL)
| {{dts|2024|08|01}}
| data-sort-value="-20240801" |{{age in years and months|2024|08|01}}
| {{dts|2027|1|2}}
|}
{{small|Sources: }}<ref name="order" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/media/2999/judiciary_2017.pdf | title=State Judiciary | publisher=[[Minnesota Secretary of State]] | work=2017–2018 Minnesota Legislative Manual (Blue Book) | access-date=January 11, 2019 | pages=371–375}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mncourts.gov/CourtOfAppeals.aspx#tab04Judges | title=Court of Appeals Judges | publisher=Minnesota Judicial Branch | access-date=September 8, 2020}}</ref>

===Chief judges===
* [[Peter Popovich]] (1983–1987)
* [[D.D. Wozniak]] (1987–1992)
* [[Paul Anderson (judge)|Paul Anderson]] (1992–1994)
* [[Anne Simonett]] (1994–1995)
* [[Edward Toussaint]] (1995–2010)
* [[Matthew Johnson (judge)|Matthew Johnson]] (2010–2013)
* Edward Cleary (2013–2020)
* [[Susan Segal]] (2020–present)

===Former judges===
* [[Barry Anderson]]
* [[Paul Anderson (judge)|Paul Anderson]]
* [[Jeffrey Bryan]]
* [[Margaret Chutich]]
* [[Theodora Gaïtas]]
* [[Sam Hanson]]
* [[Natalie Hudson]]
* [[David Minge]]
* [[Fred Norton]]
* [[Randolph W. Peterson]]
* [[Peter Popovich]]
* [[Robert A. Randall]]
* [[John Rodenberg]]
* [[Larry Stauber]]
* [[Terri Stoneburner]]
* [[Edward Toussaint]]
* [[Wilhelmina Wright]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.mncourts.gov/CourtOfAppeals.aspx}}

{{Government of Minnesota}}
{{State Intermediate Appellate Courts}}

[[Category:Minnesota state courts]]
[[Category:State appellate courts of the United States]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1983]]