Anne Simonett

Who is Anne Simonett?

Anne V. Simonett was an American lawyer and judge from Minnesota. She was the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

The daughter of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice John E. Simonett, Anne Simonett received a degree in music from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. She received a masters degree in music performance, graduating magna cum laude from Yale University. She received her law degree from Harvard University in 1981.

Simonett worked in business litigation for Faegre and Benson, reaching the level of partner. She became a judge for Minnesota's fourth district, before being named Chief Judge in 1994 by Gov. Arne Carlson. Simonett succeeded Chief Judge Paul H. Anderson, who had been appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

During her first year in office, Simonett was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor. She resigned on March 31, 1995, and died on May 6 of the same year. She was survived by her husband, Henry Shea, and their two children, Henry, and Claire.