Keala C. Ede, Judge, 2023-

Keala Ede joined the Court of Appeals on September 11, 2023

Appointed:

Appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals Seat 8 (At Large) by Governor Tim Walz on September 11, 2023. Elected 2024. Current term expires January 2031.

Appointed to the Fourth District Bench March 8, 2022 by Governor Tim Walz.

Education:

J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2003
B.A., Occidental College, magna cum laude, 2000

Employment:

• Office of the Federal Defender, District of Minnesota, Assistant Federal Defender (2016-2022)
• Minnesota Attorney General's Office, Assistant Attorney General (2015-2016)
• Orange County Office of the Public Defender, Deputy Public Defender (2010-2015)
• American Samoa Office of the Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender (2009-2010)
• Robins, Kaplan, Miller, & Ciresi, L.L.P., Associate Attorney (2007-2009)
• Cades Schutte, L.L.P., Associate Attorney (2005-2006)
• Hawai'i Supreme Court, Judicial Law Clerk to Associate Justice Steven H. Levinson (ret.) (2003-2005)

Professional Memberships:

• Bar Admissions: Minnesota, Hawai'i, California, and American Samoa
• Bar Memberships: Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Native Hawaiian Bar Association, and Federal Bar Association

Professional and Community Activities:

• Past co-chair and member, Minnesota American Indian Bar Association Scholarship Committee
• Volunteer, Federal District Court "Open Doors" program (justice system and mock trial presentations to Minnesota high school students)
• Co-manager, Federal Defender law clerk program
• Federal Defender representative, Federal Practice Committee
• Volunteer coach, community youth sports

Additional Information:

• 2023 Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association “Trailblazer Award”
• 2021 Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Special Achievement Award
• 2020 Minnesota Lawyer "Attorney of the Year"
• 2019 Minnesota Lawyer "Attorney of the Year"