- Justice Margaret Tutich, the first openly gay justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court, has announced her retirement.
- Her resignation leaves Democratic Gov. Tim Walz with two needed positions on the high court.
- Mr. Tutich was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 2012, and to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2016, before being elected in 2018.
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Margaret Tutich, the first openly gay justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court, announced her retirement on Tuesday.
Her resignation leaves Democratic Gov. Tim Walz with two vacancies he currently needs to fill on the high court and will appoint four of the seven justices once he takes office.
Mr. Tutic was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 2012 by former Democratic Governor Mark Dayton, appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2016, and elected in 2018.
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“Representation is important so that students have the confidence to set high goals when they see others like them succeeding,” Tutic said in a statement Tuesday.
Judge Margaret Tutich speaks during a press conference at the Veterans Administration building in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 22, 2016, after her appointment by Governor Mark Dayton. Judge Tutic announced his retirement on Tuesday. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune, via AP)
“Having someone like me in the courtroom can tell LGBTQ+ lawyers that they belong in the courtroom, and can enrich their understanding of the courtroom, especially the facts surrounding a particular case.” It also helps to let people in the community know that there are people in the courtroom with sexual life experiences.'' Diversity of all kinds among decision-makers is key to building a fair justice system. ” she added.
She is scheduled to retire on July 31, when the court's 2023-2024 term ends.
The news comes days after Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson also announced his retirement. Anderson was appointed in 2004 by former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. He is the only Republican-appointed judge and is scheduled to retire on May 10.
Still, Minnesota's Supreme Court is known to be nonpartisan, especially compared to neighboring Wisconsin's divided state court and the increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court.
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At a press conference Tuesday, Walz called Tutic and Anderson “two giants appointed by governors from different political parties who have earned the trust of Minnesotans by upholding the law regardless of political ideology.” ” he called.
“One thing I want to assure the people of Minnesota is that the continuity and stability of the Minnesota Supreme Court is probably as strong as any institution in this country. I feel a real sense of responsibility.”
In a separate statement Tuesday, Mr. Walz thanked Mr. Chutic for his contributions to the court.
“She is an outstanding legal scholar who has championed the rule of law for all Minnesotans,” he said in a statement. “She also pioneered Minnesota's first openly gay judge. With her grace and humility, she moved the state forward and redefined her image as a judge.”
Walz said there is no set date for appointing a new judge, but it will likely be sometime this spring.
