# John P. Devaney *Minnesota jurist; Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1933–1937)* John P. Devaney (June 30, 1883 – September 21, 1941) was a lawyer who held the office of Chief Justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] from 1933 until his resignation in 1937. An Iowa native, he came to [[Minnesota]] in 1901 and earned three law and arts degrees at the [[University of Minnesota]].[^1] He took the chief justiceship by appointment on September 7, 1933, and won election to it in November 1934. After leaving the bench in 1937, he went back to practicing law privately. He died on September 21, 1941.[^1] ## Early life and education Devaney's birthplace was near Lake Mills, Iowa, and his birth date was June 30, 1883. In 1901, at about age eighteen, he relocated to Minnesota and enrolled at the University of Minnesota. There he completed a B.A. in 1905, an LL.B. in 1907 and an LL.M. in 1908. His admission to the practice of law came in 1907, the year of his LL.B.[^1] ## Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court Devaney first reached the court's top seat by appointment, dated September 7, 1933. Voters then elected him to the same office in November 1934.[^1] ## Later career and death In 1937 Devaney left the court by resignation and took up private practice again. His death followed on September 21, 1941. The record does not establish the circumstances of his resignation or the nature of his later practice.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - John P. Devaney, lawyer; Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, 1933–1937.[^1] ### What - Degrees from the University of Minnesota: B.A. 1905; LL.B. 1907; LL.M. 1908.[^1] ### When - Born June 30, 1883; died September 21, 1941.[^1] - Admitted to practice in 1907.[^1] - Appointed Chief Justice on September 7, 1933; elected in November 1934; resigned in 1937.[^1] ### Where - Born near Lake Mills, Iowa; moved to Minnesota in 1901.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *John P. Devaney* (revision 1354057451, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birth and death dates, birthplace, move to Minnesota, University of Minnesota degrees, admission to practice, appointment (September 7, 1933) and election (November 1934) as Chief Justice, resignation in 1937. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_P._Devaney