Born 1953 in Thief River Falls, MN

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
Nominated by William J. Clinton on July 10, 1995, to a seat vacated by Donald D. Alsop. Confirmed by the Senate on December 22, 1995, and received commission on December 26, 1995. Served as chief judge, 2015-2022. Assumed senior status on December 1, 2023.

Education:
Concordia College, B.A., 1975
University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1980

Professional Career:

Law clerk, Hon. Earl Larson, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 1980-1981
Private practice, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1981-1984
Office of the Attorney General, State of Minnesota, 1984-1995; assistant attorney general and manager of Public Affairs Litigation Division, 1984-1985; solicitor general, 1985-1986; chief deputy attorney general, 1986-1995
Adjunct professor, University of Minnesota Law School, 1994
Chairman, Assassination Records Review Board, 1994-1995
Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2021-2024