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# Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr.

Supreme Court of Minnesota · Associate Justice

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota
- State: Minnesota
- Role: Associate Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

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

## 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

## 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://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/02-district/reynaldo-a.-aligada,-jr.)
- [Official roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/02-district/reynaldo-a.-aligada,-jr.)
- [Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/02-district/reynaldo-a.-aligada,-jr.)
- [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)
- [Judge Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr.](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/02-district/reynaldo-a.-aligada,-jr.)
- [mncourts.gov](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/newsandannouncements/gaitas-begins-tenure-as-chief-justice-aligada-joins-supreme-court)
- [officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov](https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Document/DocumentSearch?DocumentTypeId=2&ItemsPerPage=50&Page=645&SortBy=DocumentType)
- [Judge Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr.](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/02-district/reynaldo-a.-aligada,-jr.)

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