Denise D. Reilly, Judge, 2014-2023

 

Judge Denise D. Reilly was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Mark Dayton on April 3, 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Mark Dayton, April 3, 2014.

Elected 2016 and 2022.  Retired August 2023. Currently serves as a senior judge.

Appointed to the Fourth Judicial District by Governor Arne Carlson in 1997.

Elected in 2000, 2006, and 2012.  District Court Assignment History:

• Civil and Adult Criminal, Jan. 2006-April 2014 (Presiding Judge, Civil for several years)
• Juvenile, Aug. 1998-Dec. 2005 (Presiding Judge, Oct. 2002 to Oct. 2004)
• Criminal, Sept. 1997-July 1998

Education:

J.D., cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 1983

B.A., The College of Wooster, 1975

Legal Experience:

• Assistant United States Attorney, Criminal Division, Chief of Firearms and Narcotics Section, April 1989-Nov. 1997
• Attorney; Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP; Minneapolis, MN; Sept. 1985-April 1989<
• Law Clerk; U.S. District Judge Robert G. Renner; St. Paul, MN; 1983-1985

Professional Accomplishments:

• 2023 Excellence Award, Recognized for Career Contributions to the Profession, Hennepin County Bar Association
• 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award- Mitchell Hamline School of Law
• Recognized as Trial Judge of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocacy – Minnesota Chapter (June 2010)
• Minnesota District Judges Foundation Outstanding Judicial Service to the Community Award (Sept. 2009)
• 2008 Judicial Professional Award, Hennepin County Bar Association
• 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award, The College of Wooster

Professional Activities:

• University of Minnesota Law School, Adjunct Professor, Trial Practice, 2004-2019
• Minnesota Judicial Council, 2005-2013
• Appointed to serve on the three-judge panel for In the Matter of the Contest of General Election Held on November 4, 2008 for the Purpose of electing a United States Senator from the State of Minnesota, Sheehan and Coleman v. Franken (Supreme Court Case #A09-697, District Court Case #62-CV-09-56)
• Minnesota Supreme Court Civil Justice Reform Task Force, 2011-2012
• Minnesota Supreme Court Children’s Justice Initiative Advisory Committee, 2011-2023

Civic and Community Activities:

• Board Member, William Mitchell College of Law, 2012-2021
• Judge Reilly continues to be active in many other civic and community activities.

Additional Information:

Judge Reilly was an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, teaching Trial Skills. She also has presented at Department of Justice conferences in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Costa Rica on the topic of children victims and witnesses in human trafficking. She has given many presentations on other topics as well in various venues. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of Wooster.