Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- Associate Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Minnesota · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr.
Associate Justice · Supreme Court of Minnesota
Biography
Professional career
- Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, appointed by Governor Tim Walz in October 2026, and the first Asian Pacific American justice in the court’s history
- He succeeded Justice Theodora Gaïtas, who was appointed Chief Justice in 2026
- Aligada serves as Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, a position he assumed on October 1, 2026 after being appointed by Governor Tim Walz.
- Before this, he was a district court judge for the Second Judicial District (Ramsey County) from 2019 to 2026
- Past Employment: Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Michael J. Davis, United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
- Past Employment: First Assistant Federal Defender, Office of the Federal Defender, Minneapolis
- Past Employment: Associate Attorney, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP
- Past Employment: Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Wilhelmina M. Wright, Minnesota Court of Appeals
- Aligada’s appointment marks a historic milestone as the first Asian Pacific American justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law — J.D.
- Saint John’s University — B.A.
Additional information
- Elected in 2020.
- Appointed/Elected: Appointed by Governor Tim Walz on Sept.
- Current term expires Jan.
- While in the Office of the Federal Defender, Aligada worked on the high-profile Danny Heinrich case, helping secure a plea deal that led to the recovery of the victim’s remains
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Statewide
Minnesota Judicial Branch remote-hearing guidance says recording or broadcasting a remote proceeding is not authorized except as provided by court rules.
No recording or broadcasting of any remote proceeding is authorized other than as provided by court rules.Remote Hearing Information ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
According to Rule 4 of the MN Rules of General Practice for the District Courts, no pictures or voice recordingsSecurity & Weapons Screening - Going to Court ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 3, 2026.
Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster ↗Remote Hearing Information
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Remote Hearing Information ↗Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court ↗Judge Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr.
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 3, 2026
View Judge Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr. ↗officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 6, 2026
View officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov ↗