After serving 12 years on the bench, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Margaret Chutich has announced her retirement. She will step down at the end of the Court’s 2023-24 term, with her last day being July 31.
Chutich was initially appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 2012 and later to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2016. She was subsequently elected in 2018. Her retirement letter was submitted to Governor Tim Walz on January 16.
In her letter, Chutich expressed gratitude for her time serving Minnesotans and appreciation for her colleagues' dedication. “I have loved serving the people of Minnesota on their appellate courts, first on the Minnesota Court of Appeals for four years and now as a member of this Court for almost eight years,” she wrote. She praised her colleagues as "hard-working, intelligent, and kind human beings."
As the first LGBTQ+ community member to serve on Minnesota's high court, Chutich recognized the significance of representation. Her appointment resonated with many mothers who thanked her for positively impacting their LGBTQ+ children. “Representation is important so that when students see someone like them having success, they will have confidence they can set high goals as well,” she stated.
Chutich particularly enjoyed engaging with students during visits to high schools across Minnesota where justices heard oral arguments in real cases. These visits inspired some students to consider legal careers. “Many students told us that they had never thought about being a lawyer before but were now intrigued,” she noted.
Justice Barry Anderson also recently announced his retirement from the Supreme Court, effective May 10.
Regarding her future plans post-retirement, Chutich intends to take advice from others who suggest taking six months before making any decisions. She looks forward to spending more time with family and friends and exploring opportunities involving writing and mentoring young lawyers.
“I’m looking forward to having more time to be a better family member and friend,” she shared.