Renee L. Worke, Judge, 2005-

 

Judge Worke has served on the Minnesota Court of Appeals since her appointment on April 6, 2005 by Governor Tim Pawlenty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed June 9, 2005, to the Minnesota Court of Appeals; elected 2006, re-elected 2012 and 2018. Current term expires Jan. 2025. 

Appointed Nov. 8, 1996, to the Third Judicial District, Waseca; elected 1998; re-elected 2004.

Appellate Court Service:

• Specialty Court Development – Veterans Treatment Court
• Legislative Advisory Workgroup
• Strategic Planning Workgroup
• Security Committee
• Children's Justice Initiative, Appellate Lead Judge
• District Court Service:
• Conference of Chief Judges, elected vice chair
• Third Judicial District Chief Judge, two terms
• Third Judicial District Assistant Chief Judge
• Transformation Workgroup (responsible for recommending a leadership, management structure for the unified Judicial Branch)
• Special Legislative Redistricting Panel, 2001-2002
• Children’s Justice Initiative, Lead Judge
• Child Protection Rules Committee

Honors:

• Minnesota State University, Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
• Ann Bancroft Foundation, Women Leader Award
• Woman of Achievement, Owatonna Business & Professional Women’s Organization
• Recipient of the Rosalie E. Wahl Judicial Award of Excellence, Minnesota State Bar Association

Employment Background:

• Partner; Rietz, Rietz, Rietz & Worke; Owatonna, MN
• Assistant Public Defender, Third Judicial District
• Administrative Law Judge, Child Support Division, Office of Administrative Hearings
• Law Clerk for District Court Judge Urban J. Steimann, Faribault, MN

Education:

• Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow, University of Minnesota
• Institute for Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education, University of Memphis
• William Mitchell College of Law
• Minnesota State University Mankato, Magna Cum Laude 

Professional and Community Activities:

• William Mitchell College of Law, Adjunct Professor
• Hamline University School of Law, Adjunct Professor
• St. Thomas University School of Law, Mentor
• National Association of Women Judges, District 10 Director
• Minnesota District Judges Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Minnesota Women Lawyers
• Donald D. Eustice Law Enforcement Scholarship Board
• University of Minnesota Extension Steering Committee
• Steele County Agricultural Society
• Mock Trial Judge