Anne Simonett
Encyclopedia
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. She was the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals
Minnesota Court of Appeals
The Minnesota Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state of Minnesota. It began operating on November 1, 1983. It is housed in the Minnesota Judicial Center in St...
.
The daughter of Minnesota Supreme Court
Minnesota Supreme Court
The Minnesota Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Minnesota and consists of seven members. The court was first assembled as a three-judge panel in 1849 when Minnesota was still a territory. The first members were lawyers from outside of the region who were appointed by...
Justice John E. Simonett
John E. Simonett
John E. Simonett was an attorney and associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He was famous for his wit and thoughtfulness, characteristics reflected both in his judicial opinions, and in his writings and speeches. In 2007, he was named one of the 100 most influential attorneys in...
, Anne Simonett received a degree in music from Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...
in Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
. She received a masters degree in music performance, graduating magna cum laude from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. She received her law degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
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
Arne Carlson
Arne Helge Carlson, Sr. is an American politician and the 37th Governor of the state of Minnesota.-Early years, education and family:...
. Simonett succeeded Chief Judge Paul H. Anderson
Paul H. Anderson
Paul H. Anderson is currently an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, taking office on July 1, 1994. He previously served as Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 1992-1994....
, who had been appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court
Minnesota Supreme Court
The Minnesota Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Minnesota and consists of seven members. The court was first assembled as a three-judge panel in 1849 when Minnesota was still a territory. The first members were lawyers from outside of the region who were appointed by...
.
During her first year in office, Simonett was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
. 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.