# Harry H. MacLaughlin *American jurist; United States district judge for the District of Minnesota (1977–2005)* Harry Hunter MacLaughlin (August 9, 1927 – May 3, 2005) sat as a judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]] from 1977 until his death.[^1] Before joining the federal bench, he practiced law in [[Minneapolis]]. From 1972 to 1977 he was an associate justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]].[^1] President Jimmy Carter nominated him in August 1977 to the seat that Judge [[Earl R. Larson]] had vacated.[^2] MacLaughlin was chief judge in 1992 and took senior status that October. He remained a senior judge until he died in 2005.[^2] ## Education and career MacLaughlin was a native of Breckenridge, [[Minnesota]]. He was a yeoman in the United States Navy in 1945 and 1946.[^1] The [[University of Minnesota]] awarded him a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1949. The [[University of Minnesota Law School]] conferred his Bachelor of Laws in 1956.[^1] From 1956 to 1972 he was in private law practice in Minneapolis.[^1] During part of that period, from 1958 to 1963, he taught as an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law.[^1] He then sat on the Minnesota Supreme Court as an associate justice from 1972 to 1977.[^1] Between 1973 and 1986 he also lectured at the University of Minnesota Law School.[^1] ## Federal judicial service On August 4, 1977, President Jimmy Carter nominated MacLaughlin to the District of Minnesota seat left vacant by Judge Larson.[^2] The [[United States Senate]] confirmed him on September 16, 1977. He received his [[Commission]] on September 19, 1977.[^2] In 1992 he held the post of chief judge, and on October 1 of that year he took senior status.[^2] He continued as a senior judge until he died in Edina, Minnesota, on May 3, 2005.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Harry H. MacLaughlin* (revision 1349661578, retrieved 2026-10-26; CC BY-SA 4.0) — lead and *Education and career* section: birth and death dates, birthplace, naval service, degrees, private practice, teaching posts and Minnesota Supreme Court service. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_H._MacLaughlin [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Harry H. MacLaughlin*, *Federal judicial service* section (revision 1349661578, retrieved 2026-10-26; CC BY-SA 4.0) — nomination, vacated seat, confirmation, commission, chief judgeship, senior status, and date and place of death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_H._MacLaughlin