# Fred Norton *Minnesota politician and judge; Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals* Fred C. Norton (August 19, 1928 – October 28, 2000) was a [[Minnesota]] lawmaker and jurist of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). He held the speakership of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] twice and later sat on the [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]].[^1] Norton was first elected to the House from St. Paul in 1966. He won the speakership in 1980 with votes from 49 Independent-Republicans and 26 DFL members, without the backing of a majority of his own caucus. In June 1987 he left the House when [[governor]] [[Rudy Perpich]] appointed him to the appellate court. He stayed on that court until he retired in 1997.[^1] ## Early life and education Norton was born in [[Minneapolis]] in 1928. He began his undergraduate studies at the [[University of Minnesota]] and graduated from Wesleyan University in 1950. He then earned a law degree at the [[University of Minnesota Law School]].[^1] ## Legal and legislative career From 1955 to 1965 Norton worked in the office of the [[Minnesota Attorney General]], where he specialized in tax law. In 1966 St. Paul voters elected him to the House.[^1] ## Speakership Norton first became Speaker in 1980, after mid-term elections ended a deadlock in the House. A majority of his own caucus did not support him. The votes that elected him came from 49 Independent-Republicans and 26 DFLers.[^1] He held the post for one year. Harry A. Sieben, Jr. then succeeded him, after elections that enlarged the Democrats' majority; the source dates those elections to 1982.[^1] Norton served as minority leader from 1985 to 1987. He returned to the speakership in January 1987.[^1] ## Court of Appeals In June 1987 Norton resigned his House seat to accept Perpich's appointment to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He kept the seat at the 1988 election and remained on the court until he retired in 1997.[^1] ## Death Norton died of bone cancer on October 28, 2000.[^1] ## See also - [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] - [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]] - [[Rudy Perpich]] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fred Norton* (revision 1378384292, retrieved 2026-10-26) — establishes Norton's birth and death dates, party, education, service in the Attorney General's office, House election, Speakership votes, minority leadership, Court of Appeals appointment, election and retirement, and cause of death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Norton