# Lorie Skjerven Gildea *American attorney; chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, 2010–2023* Lorie Skjerven Gildea (born October 6, 1961) is an American attorney and former judge. She led the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] as chief justice from 2010, when Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] appointed her, until she retired on October 1, 2023.[^1] Before becoming chief justice, she sat on the same court as an associate justice from 2006 to 2010. From 2005 to 2006 she was a Hennepin County district judge in the Fourth Judicial District.[^1] Before joining the bench, she spent 11 years as an associate general counsel for the [[University of Minnesota]]. She also served on the [[Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission]] from 2001 to 2004.[^2] She won election to her associate justice seat in 2008 and kept the chief justiceship in elections in 2012 and 2018.[^3] ## Early life and education Gildea was born on October 6, 1961, and grew up in Plummer, [[Minnesota]].[^4] In 1983 she earned a Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of Minnesota Morris. In 1986 she earned a Juris Doctor magna cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center.[^4] ## Career After earning her law degree, Gildea stayed in Washington, D.C., and practiced privately at the firm Arent Fox.[^2] She then returned to Minnesota and worked for a short period as a special prosecutor for the [[City of Minneapolis]]. After that she joined the University of Minnesota as an associate general counsel.[^2] She represented the university system for 11 years, a period that included the scandal involving former men's basketball coach Clem Haskins.[^2] From 2001 to 2004 she was a member of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, serving under Governors [[Jesse Ventura]] and Tim Pawlenty.[^2] ### Judicial service In 2006 Pawlenty named Gildea an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.[^3] Her seat came up for election in 2008. She beat three opponents in the primary and then defeated Hennepin County District Judge Deborah Hedlund in the general election.[^3] In 2010 Pawlenty elevated her to chief justice as successor to Eric Magnuson. Her term in that office started on July 1, 2010, and she took the oath at a ceremony in Saint Paul on July 12.[^3] Gildea won reelection as chief justice in 2012, taking 60% of the general-election vote against Daniel Griffith. She ran without opposition in 2018.[^3] In June 2023 she announced that she would resign, effective October 1, 2023.[^3] ## Personal life Gildea lives in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of [[Minneapolis]] and is an accomplished equestrian.[^5] She met her husband, Andrew J. "Andy" Gildea, while in law school. He was an active Republican and died on November 5, 2021.[^5] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lorie Skjerven Gildea* (rev. 1381058875, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead: born October 6, 1961; chief justice from 2010 appointment by Governor Tim Pawlenty until retirement October 1, 2023; associate justice 2006–2010; Hennepin County district judge, Fourth Judicial District, 2005–2006. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorie_Skjerven_Gildea [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lorie Skjerven Gildea*, "Career" section (rev. 1381058875, retrieved 2026-10-26) — Arent Fox private practice; special prosecutor for Minneapolis; University of Minnesota associate general counsel for 11 years; Clem Haskins scandal; Sentencing Guidelines Commission 2001–2004 under Ventura and Pawlenty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorie_Skjerven_Gildea [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lorie Skjerven Gildea*, "Judicial service" subsection (rev. 1381058875, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2006 appointment; 2008 primary and general election over Deborah Hedlund; 2010 chief justice appointment replacing Eric Magnuson, term from July 1, sworn in July 12; 2012 reelection over Daniel Griffith with 60%; 2018 unopposed; June 2023 resignation announcement effective October 1, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorie_Skjerven_Gildea [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lorie Skjerven Gildea*, "Early life and education" section (rev. 1381058875, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birth date; raised in Plummer, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Morris BA 1983; Georgetown University Law Center JD 1986. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorie_Skjerven_Gildea [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lorie Skjerven Gildea*, "Personal life" section (rev. 1381058875, retrieved 2026-10-26) — Lowry Hill residence; equestrian; marriage to Andrew J. "Andy" Gildea; his death November 5, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorie_Skjerven_Gildea