Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (DFL) is expected to name Theodora Gaïtas as the new Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Current Chief Justice Natalie Hudson is retiring from the bench.
Gaitas was named to the Minnesota Supreme Court by Walz on Aug. 1, 2024. Gaitas was formerly an Assistant Public Defender in the Office of the Minnesota Appellate, and a Minnesota District Court Judge. Gaitas is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and also the U of M Law School.
With her rising to the chief judge's post, Walz is expected to name Judge Reynaldo Aligada to the high court. He was appointed by Governor Walz on Sept. 23, 2019. Aligada was a former First Assistant Federal Defender in Minneapolis, and a graduate of St. John's and William Mitchell College of Law.
Hudson was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2015 by Governor Mark Dayton (DFL). She has been chief justice since 2024.
The official announcement from Walz will be made at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday.
