Walz appoints Judge Gordon Moore to Minnesota Supreme Court

Friday, Gov. Tim Walz appointed Judge Gordon Moore to serve as the newest associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. 

Moore is set to fill the vacancy of Justice David Lillehaug. 

"Judge Moore has been a public servant in Southern Minnesota since his days serving on the local school board," Walz said at a news conference Friday morning. "Supreme Court Justices decide some of the most pressing and significant questions of our time, and the feedback from Judge Moore's peers was resounding: He is a brilliant jurist and a leader in his community. He has spent his career working hard for the people of Southern Minnesota, and he will bring a fair and respected voice to the Minnesota Supreme Court."

Lillehaug says he has Parkinson's, leaving Supreme Court

Moore currently serves as a judge in the Fifth Judicial District in Worthington. Prior to that appointment, Moore served as the Nobles County Attorney. 

"I am grateful to Governor Walz for this tremendous opportunity," Moore said. "Serving the people of this great state in a new capacity as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court will be a true honor and privilege. During my career as a lawyer, county attorney, and district court judge, I have continuously strived to pursue justice while maintaining the highest ethical standards the legal profession requires. Assuredly, I will continue doing my utmost to ensure the Minnesota judiciary continues its proud tradition of providing impartial justice for all."

In response to a question, Moore also said he watched with interest the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling overturning that state's "stay-at-home" order. He says a flood of litigation related to COVID-19 is possible in Minnesota, but he hopes not.

"My hope is we wouldn't have that type of flood of litigation,: Moore said. "My hope is that consensus can be reached and cooler heads will prevail and that frankly, we won't have some of the scenario that's occurred in Wisconsin. It's been terribly divisive. It's pitted communities against the state. People against each other. It would be irresponsible for me to give any prediction as to how those cases would come or how I would rule."

He went on to say he's proud of the Minnesota Supreme Court's reputation for impartiality.