Mary Pawlenty
Encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth Anderson Pawlenty (born 1961) is a former American state court judge who served on Minnesota's First Judicial District
from 1994 to 2007. The wife of Governor Tim Pawlenty
, she was First Lady of Minnesota
from 2003 to 2011. She previously worked as a private-practice attorney and is now a director at a medical nonprofit
.
. In 1979, she graduated from Edina-East High School. In 1983, she graduated from Bethel University
, earning a bachelor's degree
in political science
, summa cum laude. She received her Juris Doctor
, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School
—where she met Tim Pawlenty
—in 1986.
for one year. She then returned to Minnesota to marry Tim Pawlenty. They settled in Eagan, Minnesota
.
In 1994, Mary was appointed as a judge of the Dakota County
District Court in Hastings, Minnesota
by Governor Arne Carlson
. She and her husband began raising their two daughters, Anna and Mara. The family remained at their Eagan home instead of taking the Governor's Residence after Tim Pawlenty was elected Governor of Minnesota
in 2002 due to Mary's requirement to stay in her judicial district. In January 2007, Judge Pawlenty announced that she was leaving the bench on February 12, 2007. She began work at the National Arbitration Forum
shortly thereafter as its General Counsel
in charge of the National Arbitration Forum's legal affairs. However, less than a month later, she quit her position with National Arbitration Forum. Mrs. Pawlenty then took a position with the Gilbert Mediation Center. In January 2009, Mrs. Pawlenty left the Gilbert Mediation Center to start a new position as director of medical diplomacy at Children's HeartLink, an international medical nonprofit.
Minnesota District Courts
The Minnesota District Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. state of Minnesota.The Minnesota Constitution provides that the district court has original jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases and such appellate jurisdiction as may be prescribed by law.Each district...
from 1994 to 2007. The wife of Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
, she was First Lady of Minnesota
First Ladies and Gentlemen of Minnesota
The spouse of the Governor of Minnesota is given an honorary position, styled as First Lady or First Gentleman of the State of Minnesota. To date there have been no female governors of the State of Minnesota, and all First Spouses have been First Ladies....
from 2003 to 2011. She previously worked as a private-practice attorney and is now a director at a medical nonprofit
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
.
Early life and education
Mary Anderson was raised in Edina, MinnesotaEdina, Minnesota
Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
. In 1979, she graduated from Edina-East High School. In 1983, she graduated from Bethel University
Bethel University (Minnesota)
Bethel University is a Christian higher education institution with approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs...
, earning a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, summa cum laude. She received her Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
—where she met Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
—in 1986.
Law career
Following graduation, Anderson practiced law in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
for one year. She then returned to Minnesota to marry Tim Pawlenty. They settled in Eagan, Minnesota
Eagan, Minnesota
Eagan is a city south of Saint Paul in Dakota County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River. Eagan and nearby suburbs form the southern portion of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the fifteenth largest...
.
In 1994, Mary was appointed as a judge of the Dakota County
Dakota County, Minnesota
Dakota County is the third most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers on the north, and the state of Wisconsin on the east. Dakota County comprises the southeast portion of seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul, the thirteenth...
District Court in Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends...
by Governor 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:...
. She and her husband began raising their two daughters, Anna and Mara. The family remained at their Eagan home instead of taking the Governor's Residence after Tim Pawlenty was elected Governor of Minnesota
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
in 2002 due to Mary's requirement to stay in her judicial district. In January 2007, Judge Pawlenty announced that she was leaving the bench on February 12, 2007. She began work at the National Arbitration Forum
National Arbitration Forum
The National Arbitration Forum , founded in 1986, provides arbitration and mediation services to businesses, based at its Minneapolis, Minnesota headquarters and offices in New Jersey. The company is one of the United States's largest and most controversial dispute resolution companies...
shortly thereafter as its General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
in charge of the National Arbitration Forum's legal affairs. However, less than a month later, she quit her position with National Arbitration Forum. Mrs. Pawlenty then took a position with the Gilbert Mediation Center. In January 2009, Mrs. Pawlenty left the Gilbert Mediation Center to start a new position as director of medical diplomacy at Children's HeartLink, an international medical nonprofit.