~ Dietzen brings appellate court and complex commercial litigation experience to state’s highest court ~

Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge Christopher J. Dietzen to the position of Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Dietzen will succeed the Honorable Sam Hanson, who announced his retirement from the Supreme Court last month. Justice Hanson’s retirement is effective on January 1, 2008.

“Minnesota appreciates Justice Hanson’s public service as a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court,” Governor Pawlenty said. “He is a true gentleman with a genuine concern for justice.”

Dietzen has been a judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals since December 2004. Previously, he was a shareholder with the Larkin, Hoffman, Daly and Lindgren law firm in Bloomington where he was its senior litigator in the Real Estate Litigation Practice Group, and served on the firm’s Board of Directors from 1995 to 2002. Prior to joining the Larkin Hoffman firm in 1978, Dietzen was an attorney and partner with the law firm of Richter, Wimberley and Ericson in Spokane, Washington from 1973 to 1978. Dietzen earned his juris doctorate degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane in 1973 and his bachelor of business administration from Gonzaga University in 1969.

“Judge Dietzen distinguished himself in private practice and as a member of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. His private practice complex litigation experience and the thoughtful approach he takes as a member of the Court of Appeals makes him well-prepared for this position. He has the professional background, intellect and wisdom to be an outstanding Supreme Court Justice,” said Governor Pawlenty.

Dietzen chairs the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure, a committee of which he has been a member since 1998. Earlier this year, Dietzen was appointed by Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Russell Anderson to an ad hoc Advisory Committee to Review the Minnesota Code of Judicial Conduct. Minnesota Court of Appeals Chief Judge Edward Toussaint appointed Dietzen to chair an ad hoc committee to review and make recommendations to the Court to improve the efficiency of the handling of Court of Appeals cases.

As a lawyer, Dietzen was certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Civil Trial Specialist and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate. He was a member of the Commission on Judicial Selection, and the Minnesota State and Hennepin County Bar Associations, where he served on a number of bar committees.

Dietzen, 60, was born in Yakima, Washington, and resides in Bloomington with his wife, Peggy. They have four adult children and seven grandchildren.

The Minnesota Supreme Court hears appeals from the Court of Appeals, Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals and Tax Court; reviews first-degree murder convictions, and legislative election disputes. The Supreme Court consists of seven justices, including one chief justice and six associate justices.