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    Thissen, Paul

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2003-2012 (District 63A); House 2013-2018 (District 61B)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 12/10/1966
    Birth Place: Bloomington, Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney, Briggs and Morgan Law Firm

    EDUCATION

    Academy of Holy Angels High School; Secondary; 1985
    Harvard University; A.B.; 1989
    University of Chicago; J.D.; 1992

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Judicial Administration: 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, Minnesota (Clerk for Judge James Loken); [Dates Unknown]
    State Public Defender/Office: Minnesota (Appellate State Public Defender); [Dates Unknown]
    Judge: Minnesota Supreme Court (Associate Justice, Appointed by Governor Dayton); 07/24/2018 to ? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Karen Wilson
    Children: Three children: Emily, Griffin, and Evan
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He ran unsuccessfully to become the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for Governor of Minnesota in the 2010 election. He dropped out during the state convention.

    He announced his intention to run for governor in the 2018 election but he withdrew from the race.

    He was the "first former Minnesota House Speaker ever tapped for the state's highest court" (Minnesota Lawyer, May 8, 2018).

    Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5585

    SESSIONS SERVED

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 61B
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 4/20/2018 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Finance Minutes
    • Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Legacy Funding Finance Minutes
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
    term photo
    Click to view

    89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 61B
    Elected: 11/4/2014
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Rules & Legislative Administration Minutes
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 61B
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 63A
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney; Briggs and Morgan Law Firm (2011), Lindquist and Vennum Law Firm, Health Law (2012)
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
       2012 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 63A
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney, Briggs and Morgan Law Firm
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Environment Policy and Oversight Minutes
    • Environment Policy and Oversight: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
    • Finance Minutes
    • Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
    • Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight (Chair) Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 63A
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Biosciences and Emerging Technology Minutes
    • Commerce and Labor: Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Division Minutes
    • Finance Minutes
    • Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
    • Health and Human Services (Chair) Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 63A
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Health Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Health Policy and Finance: Health Care Cost Containment Division Minutes
    • Regulated Industries Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 63A
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney, Briggs and Morgan Law Firm
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy Minutes
    • State Government Finance Minutes
    • Transportation Finance Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    Session Interviews

    District Files

    2003 (63A)
    2004 (63A)
    2005 (63A)
    2006 (63A)
    2007 (63A)
    2008 (63A)
    2009 (63A)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Video


    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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