Former Chief Justice Eric J. Magnuson ’76

Former Chief Justice Eric J. Magnuson served as chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 2008 to 2010 and focused almost exclusively in state and federal appellate courts. Eric is regarded as one of the most effective appellate lawyers in Minnesota and the 8th Circuit. In more than 40 years of practice, he has handled hundreds of appeals involving a wide range of issues including the constitutionality of the public school finance system, employment law, trust and probate matters, trade secrets, business contracts, corporate fraud, insurance law, and professional liability. Eric speaks regularly on appellate topics, as well as matters of public interest. He has served as an associate professor of law at William Mitchell College of Law and the University of St. Thomas School of Law and taught at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. He is a fellow and past president of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and was named to the school’s board of trustees in 2010.