Theodore Christianson, Associate Justice 1950-1955

In 1950, Theodore Christianson was appointed Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

He died in office on September 19, 1955.

Theodore Christianson was born on June 4, 1913, in Dawson, Minnesota to parents Governor Theodore Christianson and Ruth E. Donaldson Christianson. He graduated from University High School in 1931. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1935. Theodore Christianson obtained his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1937.

Theodore Christianson practiced law in St. Paul from 1937 to 1950.  He married his wife Dorothy on June 3, 1939 and had a daughter, Sally, and a son, Theodore. He was away from his practice to serve as a naval officer in World War II. 

On May 15, 1950, Christianson was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court as an Associate Justice by Governor Luther Youngdahl.  He was elected on November 7, 1950.  Theodore Christianson was president of the University of Minnesota Law School Alumni Association at the time of his death.  He died of a heart attack while in office on September 19, 1955. He was 42 years old.

You may read more about the life and work of Justice Christianson in the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society's book: Testimony: Remembering Minnesota’s Supreme Court Justices, which is the source of this brief biography.