Thissen appointed to state Supreme Court, will resign Friday

Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Mpls) plans to resign Friday to become the newest associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Thissen to the court Tuesday to fill the vacancy created when Justice David Stras was confirmed to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in January. Thissen is Dayton’s sixth appointment to the seven-member court.

“He combines a brilliant legal mind, the highest integrity and a special understanding of Minnesota from his 16 years of service in the Minnesota House of Representatives,” Dayton said during a morning briefing, adding Thissen stood out among the four candidates for the appointment.

“I am confident Paul will be an exceptional justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court, working to ensure individual Minnesotans are better seen and heard in our justice system,” the governor said in a statement.

Thissen said he’s “really excited and inspired by this opportunity,” adding serving on the court will allow him to advance the work he’s tried to do throughout his career – “to promote fairness, to advance individual dignity and rights, to make sure that we’re accountable to each other and that the institutions that are supposed to serve us are accountable to us. And, perhaps most importantly, to make sure that every single person’s voice is heard.”

“My experience in the Legislature has given me deep, deep respect for each of the independent and coequal branches of government,” Thissen said. “I am now ready to move from policymaking to principle interpretation of the law.”

Thissen, an attorney, was first elected to the House in 2002. He led the House DFL Caucus from 2011-16 and served as House Speaker during the 2013-14 biennium.

“Paul Thissen is brilliant, compassionate, and dedicated to making Minnesota a better place for each and every resident. I’m certain that with his commitment to law and justice, he will serve the state well on the Minnesota Supreme Court,” House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said in a statement.

Appointing a legislator to the Minnesota Supreme Court isn’t unheard of. A handout at the news conference shows Thissen will be the 18th to serve on the state’s highest court.

Thissen said he does not plan to cast any votes prior to leaving the Legislature on Friday.

No special election for District 61B

Dayton said he does not intend to call a special election to fill the vacant District 61B seat when Thissen resigns. And he’s not required to do so.

The secretary of state’s office says it would take 38 days to complete all the steps required for a special election, but there are only 34 calendar days remaining in the legislative session, Dayton explained.

Instead, Thissen’s seat will be filled during the general election in November.