Theodora Gaïtas, Judge 2020-2024

Theodora K. Gaïtas was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Tim Walz on May 18, 2020

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court on April 22, 2024 by Governor Tim Walz. 

Appointed to the Court of Appeals on August 24, 2020, by Governor Tim Walz. Current term expires Jan. 2029.

Appointed to the District Court on September 12, 2018, by Governor Mark Dayton.

Education: 

J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1994
B.A., summa cum laude, University of Minnesota, 1991

Employment:

Attorney, Matonich Law, P.C., 2013-2018
​Assistant Public Defender, Office of the Minnesota Appellate Public Defender, 1998-2013
Assistant Public Defender, Second Judicial District Public Defender, 2001-2002
​Law Clerk, Honorable Robert H. Schumacher, Minnesota Court of Appeals, 1997
Assistant Public Defender, Bucks County Public Defender’s Office, Bucks County, PA, 1994-1996
​Law Clerk, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, 1993-1994

Professional and Community Activities:

Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Rules of Evidence, 2015-Present
Member, Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure
​Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, 2013-2016
Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure, 2001-2007
Co-Chair, Domestic Violence Steering Committee, Hennepin County District Court
Minnesota State Bar Association
Hennepin County Bar Association
Minnesota District Court Judges Association
Minnesota Women Lawyers
Adjunct Professor of Law, William Mitchell College of Law
Judge, Law in Practice Chambers Conference, University of Minnesota Law School
Volunteer, Minnesota High School Mock Trial
Jungle Theater, Board of Directors, Chair and Director, 2013-2018
​Children of Incarcerated Caregivers, Board of Directors, 2015-2018
Member, Twin Cities Theater Camp Board of Directors, 2017-2018
​Sunny Hollow Montessori Board of Trustees, Chair and Trustee, 2010-2013