A state court of last resort / Established 1930

Minnesota Supreme Court

St. Paul · A court of last resort in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Supreme Court is the highest court in Minnesota. Its justices are chosen by nonpartisan election. This page lists every justice to serve on the court, current and former, with when they joined the bench and whom they succeeded.

Justices in history

Currently serving

Nonpartisan

Selection

6-yr

Term

Current justices

Justice	Since
Alan C. Page	1993
Barry A. Anderson	2004
Lorie Skjerven Gildea	2006
Christopher J. Dietzen	2008
David Stras	2010
Wilhelmina Wright	2012
David L. Lillehaug	2013

Former justices

Justice	Years
Eric J. Magnuson	2008–2010
Sam Hanson	2002–2008
Helen M. Meyer	2002–2012
Russell A. Anderson	1998–2008
James H. Gilbert	1998–2004
Joan Ericksen Lancaster	1998–2002
Kathleen A. Blatz	1996–2006
Paul H. Anderson	1994–2013
Edward C. Stringer	1994–2002
Sandra Gardebring Ogren	1991–1998
Esther Tomljanovich	1990–1998
Peter M. Keith	1989–1998
Peter S. Popovich	1987–1990
Mary Jeanne Coyne	1982–1996
Glenn E. Kelley	1981–1990
John E. Simonett	1981–1994
Douglas K. Amdahl	1980–1989
Rosalie E. Wahl	1977–1994
George M. Scott	1973–1987
Lawrence R. Yetka	1973–1993
Harry Hunter MacLaughlin	1972–1977
John J. Todd	1972–1985
Fallon Kelly	1970–1980
C Donald Peterson	1967–1986
Robert J. Sheran	1963–1981
Walter F. Rogosheske	1962–1980
James C. Otis	1961–1982
Lee Loevinger	1960–1961
William P. Murphy	1955–1972
Roger L. Dell	1953–1962
Martin A. Nelson	1953–1972
Theordore Christianson	1950–1955
Oscar R. Knutson	1948–1973
Frank T. Gallagher	1947–1963
William C. Christianson	1946–1946
Leroy E. Matson	1945–1960
Thomas F. Gallagher	1943–1967
Clarence R. Magney	1943–1953
Henry M. Gallagher	1937–1944
Harry H. Peterson	1936–1950
Julius J. Olson	1934–1948
Charles Loring	1930–1953

How a justice reaches this court. Justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 6-year terms. Midterm vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment, after which the justice runs in the next nonpartisan election. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any justice to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.

Source: CourtListener / Free Law Project; selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data last verified 2026-06-30. Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).