On Monday, Dec. 22, Gov. Tim Walz announced the appointment of Judge Anne M. Rasmusson to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Rasmusson will fill the vacancy that will occur upon the retirement of Judge Randall J. Slieter. Rasmusson currently serves as the assistant chief judge of the Ninth Judicial District and is chambered in Polk County. Slieter’s seat is designated for Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District.
“Judge Rasmusson is a remarkable judge who has dedicated her career to administering fair and equitable justice in Greater Minnesota,” said Walz. “Having her perspective on the Minnesota Court of Appeals not only enriches and informs the court’s work, but it deepens the bench’s understanding of the communities it serves throughout the state.”
David Lillehaug, retired Minnesota Supreme Court justice, said, “The governor made a wise choice in elevating Judge Anne Rasmusson of Crookston to the Court of Appeals. She’ll bring to the Judicial Center a Greater Minnesota sensibility, having litigated and decided business and family disputes in the ag-based economy of the northwest. Those who appear before her will notice her strong work ethic, keen eye for fairness, and easy laugh.”
Justice Anne McKeig of the Minnesota Supreme Court said, “Judge Anne Rasmussen's elevation from the Minnesota District Court to the Minnesota Court of Appeals is a testament to her common sense, exceptional people skills, and deep understanding of the values rooted in our state’s rural communities. Her journey reflects a dedication to justice that resonates with all Minnesotans. Congratulations to the governor on a great choice.”
Through Rasmusson’s work, she established and served on the White Earth/Mahnomen DWI and Drug Courts, and the DWI Courts for Polk, Red Lake, and Norman counties. Rasmusson was previously a partner at Rust, Stock, & Rasmusson, P.A. She is chairperson of the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the General Rules of Practice, chair of the Ninth Judicial District Case Flow Committee, and a member of the Children’s Justice Initiative Committee. Rasmusson’s community involvement includes chairing the RiverView Healthcare Association Board of Directors and the Polk County Developmental Achievement Center. She earned her B.A. from St. Catherine University, M.A. from the University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Policy, and her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.
During the same announcement, Walz announced the appointment of Lisa Beane to another Minnesota Court of Appeals vacancy that will occur upon the retirement of Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman, who serves in an at-large capacity. Beane is a senior associate general counsel in the University of Minnesota’s Office of the General Counsel.
