---
title: "Denise D. Reilly | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-d-reilly-7645"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-02"
---

# Denise D. Reilly

Minnesota Court of Appeals · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Minnesota Court of Appeals
- State: Minnesota
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 2014-present
- Judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 2014 to 2023, appointed by Governor Mark Dayton and later elected, before retiring at the mandatory age of 70
- Previous judicial service: Judge in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District (Hennepin County) from 1997
- Law clerk to U.S. District Judge Robert G. Renner (1983–1985)

### Education

- B.A. — College of Wooster in 1975 and her J.D. with honors from William Mitchell College of Law in 1983

### Additional information

- Term: Served until September 1, 2023, when she retired at the mandatory retirement age for Minnesota judges
- Elected: Reilly won re-election in 2016 and again in 2022
- Trial Judge of the Year (American Board of Trial Advocacy – Minnesota Chapter, 2010)
- Served on the three-judge panel for the 2008 U.S. Senate recount in Sheehan and Coleman v.
- handling criminal, civil, and juvenile cases
- Recognized for her extensive legal experience, public service, and contributions to judicial education and reform.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing recording

Scope: statewide

Minnesota Judicial Branch remote-hearing guidance says recording or broadcasting a remote proceeding is not authorized except as provided by court rules.

Evidence excerpt: No recording or broadcasting of any remote proceeding is authorized other than as provided by court rules.

[Remote Hearing Information](https://mncourts.gov/remote-hearings)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### camera audio recording devices

Scope: statewide

Minnesota court guidance cites Rule 4 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice and says pictures or voice recordings are not allowed except the official court record.

Evidence excerpt: According to Rule 4 of the MN Rules of General Practice for the District Courts, no pictures or voice recordings

[Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court](https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/going-to-court/security-weapons-screening)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7645/denise-d-reilly/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7645/denise-d-reilly/)
- [Minnesota Court of Appeals current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7645/denise-d-reilly/)
- [Remote Hearing Information](https://mncourts.gov/remote-hearings)
- [Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court](https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/going-to-court/security-weapons-screening)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7645/denise-d-reilly/)
- [Denise D. Reilly / Minnesota State Law Library](https://mn.gov/law-library/research-links/judge-bios/denise-reilly.jsp)
- [Denise D. Reilly - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Denise_D._Reilly)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-d-reilly-7645",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-d-reilly-7645",
      "name": "Denise D. Reilly | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Denise D. Reilly, Minnesota Court of Appeals. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-02",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-d-reilly-7645#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-d-reilly-7645#judge",
      "name": "Denise D. Reilly",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-d-reilly-7645",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Minnesota Court of Appeals"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7645/denise-d-reilly/"
      ],
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "College of Wooster in 1975 and her J.D. with honors from William Mitchell College of Law in 1983"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Minnesota",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/minnesota"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Denise D. Reilly",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/denise-d-reilly-7645"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```