Sarah Hennesy

Sarah Hennesy
Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office May 13, 2024
Appointed by	Tim Walz
Preceded by	G. Barry Anderson
Personal details
Born	1969 or 1970 (age 54–55)
Education	Central College (BA) Drake University (JD)

Sarah E. Hennesy (born 1969 or 1970)[1] is an American lawyer who serves as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Education

Hennesy earned a Bachelor of Arts from Central College in 1991 and a Juris Doctor from Drake Law School in 1994.[2][3]

Career

From 1994 to 1996, Hennesy was an assistant appellate defender in the State Appellate Defender's Office. From 1998 to 1999, she was an associate attorney with Kohn & Einstein in Washington, D.C. From 1999 to 2003, she worked at the Alexandria Public Defender's Office in Alexandria, Virginia. From 2003 to 2005, she was an associate attorney with Damiani & Damiani, P.C., in Alexandria, Virginia. From 2006 to 2012, she was a staff attorney with the St. Cloud Area Legal Services of St. Cloud, Minnesota.[3]

On March 12, 2012, Governor Mark Dayton appointed Hennesy to serve as a judge of Minnesota's Seventh Judicial District. She replaced Judge Steven P. Ruble, who retired in 2011.[3][4] In December 2023, Hennesy was one of three candidates named to fill a vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The vacancy came after the resignation of Judge Jeffrey Bryan, who was appointed by President Joe Biden to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.[5]

Appointment to Minnesota Supreme Court

In April 2024, Hennesy was one of six candidates named for possible appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court.[6] On April 22, 2024, Governor Tim Walz announced Hennesy's appointment. She was appointed to the seat vacated by the retirement of Justice G. Barry Anderson.[2] Hennesy took office on May 13, 2024.[3] Walz also announced the appointment of Judge Theodora Gaïtas to fill the upcoming vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Margaret Chutich.[2] With their appointments, the court will have a majority of women for the first time since Justice Rosalie E. Wahl retired in 1994.[7]

See also

• List of female state supreme court justices

References

1. Ferguson, Dana (April 22, 2024). "Walz appoints Theodora Gaïtas and Sarah Hennesy to Minnesota Supreme Court". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.
2. "Governor Walz Appoints Theodora Gaïtas and Sarah Hennesy to the Minnesota Supreme Court" (Press release). Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. April 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. "Associate Justice Sarah E. Hennesy". www.mncourts.gov. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
4. "Sarah Hennesy Appointed to Seventh Judicial District Vacancy". www.mncourts.gov. February 2, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
5. "Governor's Merit Selection Panel Recommends Court of Appeals Candidates" (Press release). Office of Governor Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan. December 18, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
6. Judd, Jake (April 1, 2024). "Stearns County District Court Judge Among Finalists for Minnesota Supreme Court Vacancies". KNSI. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
7. Swanson, Stephen (April 22, 2024). "New Minnesota Supreme Court appointments to usher return to female-majority bench - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved May 22, 2024.

External links

• Sarah Hennesy at Ballotpedia

Legal offices
Preceded by G. Barry Anderson	Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court 2024–present	Incumbent