ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Richelle M. Wahi as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Ms. Wahi will be replacing the Honorable Mary J. Theisen, who retired earlier this year. Ms. Wahi will be chambered at Hastings in Dakota County.

“I am pleased to appoint Richelle M. Wahi to serve as District Court Judge in the First Judicial District,” said Governor Dayton. “Throughout her career, Ms. Wahi has demonstrated her commitment to justice through her work in family law, and her commitment to public service and volunteerism.” 

Ms. Wahi is a partner at Lindquist & Vennum LLP, where she handles cases primarily in family law and general litigation, and chairs the firm’s Diversity Committee.  She also serves as a Conciliation Court Referee in Dakota County and previously was an attorney at the law firms Moss & Barnett and Henson & Efron. Ms. Wahi earned her B.A. from the College of St. Catherine and her J.D. with honors from William Mitchell College of Law.  

Ms. Wahi volunteers with the Tubman Safety Project, coaches volleyball for the Eagan Athletic Association and softball for the Mendota Heights Athletic Association, and mentors law students from the University of St. Thomas Law School, Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, and Mitchell Hamline School of Law. 

Minnesota’s First Judicial District consists of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, LeSueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley Counties.

More information on the Commission on Judicial Selection, as well as vacancies it is currently considering, can be found at http://mn.gov/governor/appointments/judicial-appointments/.