News

Governor Tim Walz has appointed Heather Pipenhagen '96 as a district court judge in the 10th Judicial District. Pipenhagen will replace Judge Jonathan N. Jasper for the seat chambered in Sherburne County. Pipenhagen is an assistant county attorney in the Dakota County Attorney’s Office. She serves on the Minnesota County Attorney Association’s Appellate Advisory Committee and on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules Governing Proceedings under the Minnesota Commitment and Treatment Act.

Minnesota Law alum the Honorable Theodora Gaïtas '94 was sworn in to Minnesota Supreme Court during a ceremony at the Minnesota History Center on Monday, September 16.

Gaïtas replaces retired Associate Justice Margaret Chutich on the bench. Chutich stepped down at the end of July. Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court, Gaïtas served as a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. And she previously worked as a judge in the Fourth Judicial District, where she presided over a felony caseload in the criminal division. 

Professor James Coleman has been selected to become a 2024 IonE Fellow at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment! This prestigious recognition is a testament to his outstanding work and commitment to a future where people and the planet prosper together.

Professor Jack Whiteley has been selected to become a 2024 IonE Associate at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his outstanding work and commitment to a future where people and the planet prosper together.

Dear fellow alumni,

As I sit down to write this letter, I find myself overwhelmed with nostalgia and gratitude for the transformative years I spent at the University of Minnesota Law School. From the moment I first set foot on campus as an admitted student during the spring of 2011, I knew that I had found a special place: a community that would challenge me, support me, and ultimately shape me into the lawyer and person I am today.

The University of Minnesota Law School is delighted to welcome the Class of 2027! Comprising a diverse and talented group of 195 individuals, the incoming class promises to continue the Law School's tradition of producing exceptional lawyers who make a difference in their communities.

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.

Ziyi Kang ’27 is from Tianjin, China, and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. For the past two years, he lived in Tokyo working on his master’s degree. He comes to Minnesota Law with an interest in jurisprudence and will likely specialize in criminal law, focusing on the legitimacy and purpose of punishment from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Victor Paz ’27 is originally from El Salvador, but was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He majored in classical music performance and in addition to singing, enjoys learning languages. Having worked previously in asylum law, he chose Minnesota Law because of its strength in immigration and international law programs.