Tribute: Minnesota Law Mourns the Passing of Hon. Robert G. Schiefelbein ’56

The Honorable Robert G. Schiefelbein ’56, retired District Court judge, passed away on August 15, at age 92. He was an Edina, Minnesota, native and was a graduate of St. Thomas Academy and the University of Minnesota. He received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1956. After law school, he served two years in the Army Center Intelligence Headquarters in Germany. He then practiced law for 22 years.

In 1982, Schiefelbein was appointed judge for Hennepin County District Court and served in the Fourth Judicial District for 15 years where he earned a reputation for his honesty, integrity, diligence, fairness, and intelligence. He led a successful career as an arbitrator and mediator for over 20 years after leaving the bench. He was highly regarded by the legal community and was chosen to mitigate a variety of legal matters and earned a “Best Lawyers in Minnesota” designation in 2013 in Alternative Dispute Resolution. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean, three children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.