Russell A. Anderson

Who is Russell A. Anderson?

Russell A. Anderson is an attorney and former Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He served as an Associate Justice of the court from September 1, 1998 until he was sworn in as Chief Justice on January 10, 2006. He retired from the Supreme Court on June 1, 2008, at age 66, and was succeeded by Eric J. Magnuson.

Anderson graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1964, then went on to the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis, earning his J.D. in 1968. He later attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., earning his Master of Laws degree in 1977.

Before being named to the state's high court in 1998 by Governor Arne Carlson, Anderson had served on the Ninth District Court since 1983, having been appointed by Governor Al Quie. Prior to serving on the bench, he was the Beltrami County Attorney from 1978-1982. He was in private practice in Bemidji from 1976-1982. His first legal experience came while in military service. Lieutenant Commander Anderson served in the Judge Advocate General's Corp of the U.S. Navy. He acted as prosecutor and defense attorney for general and lesser courts-martial, as military judge for special and summary court-martial, and as civil and criminal staff attorney in the Office of Judge Advocate General, Washington, D.C.