Margaret Chutich

Margaret Chutich
Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
In office
March 17, 2016 – July 31, 2024
Appointed byMark Dayton
Preceded byWilhelmina Wright
Succeeded byTheodora Gaïtas
Personal details
Born (1958-06-18) June 18, 1958 (age 66)
EducationUniversity of Minnesota (BA)
University of Michigan (JD)

Margaret Helen Chutich (born June 18, 1958) is an American lawyer and judge who served as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 2016 to 2024. She was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton.[1] She previously served as a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Chutich worked in the office of the Minnesota Attorney General and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. In 2008, she was appointed assistant dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. In 2011, Dayton appointed her to the appeals court.[2][3]

Chutich is a graduate of Anoka High School, the University of Minnesota, and Michigan Law.[4] She is married to Allina Health CEO Penny Wheeler, and is the first openly gay justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.[1] The couple had one child, Olivia Chutich, who was found dead outside a sorority house at Iowa State University on January 22, 2021.[5] She has announced her intent to retire on July 31, 2024.[6]

  1. ^ a b Bakst, Brian (January 22, 2016). "Dayton MN Supreme Court pick is court's first openly gay justice". MPR News. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  2. ^ Gov. Dayton appoints two members of state Court of Appeals
  3. ^ "University of Minnesota biography". Archived from the original on 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  4. ^ Froemming, Mandy Moran (March 22, 2012). "New appeals court judge has Anoka roots". ABC Newspapers. ECM. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  5. ^ Koop, Chacour (February 24, 2021). "Death of Minnesota justice's daughter at Iowa sorority attributed to alcohol and cold". Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  6. ^ Sepic, Matt (January 16, 2024). "Second justice this month announces retirement from Minnesota Supreme Court". Minnesota Public Radio.