# Christopher G. Ripley *American lawyer and judge; Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, 1870–1874* Christopher G. Ripley (September 6, 1822 – October 15, 1881) was a lawyer and judge in [[Minnesota]]. From January 7, 1870, until he resigned on April 7, 1874, he was Chief Justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]].[^1] This entry rests on a single secondary source. The record assembled for it does not document Ripley's opinions, his votes, or the cases he decided, and the dates and offices given here have not been checked against court records.[^1] ## Early life and education Ripley's father was Rev. Samuel Ripley, a Unitarian minister, and his mother was a daughter of Captain Gamaliel Bradford.[^1] Ripley completed his degree at Harvard University in 1841 and then spent one year at Harvard Law School.[^1] ## Legal practice Ripley next practiced in Boston alongside Franklin Dexter and then relocated to Minnesota.[^1] He settled at Brownsville in 1855 and moved on to Chatfield in 1856.[^1] ## Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court Ripley won election as Chief Justice, and his term commenced on January 7, 1870.[^1] Ill health led him to step down on April 7, 1874.[^1] ## Death Ripley died in Concord, Massachusetts, on October 15, 1881.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Christopher G. Ripley* (retrieved 2026-10-26; revision 1378384473) — birth and death dates, parentage, Harvard education, Boston practice with Franklin Dexter, residence in Brownsville (1855) and Chatfield, Chief Justice term (January 7, 1870 – April 7, 1874) and resignation for failing health, death in Concord, Massachusetts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_G._Ripley