---
title: "Theodora Karin Gaïtas | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/theodora-karin-ga-tas-mn-supreme-court"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Theodora Karin Gaïtas

Supreme Court of Minnesota · Chief Justice

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota
- State: Minnesota
- Role: Chief Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

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

## 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.mncourts.gov/About-The-Courts/Overview/JudicialDirectory.aspx?d=12)
- [Official roster](https://www.mncourts.gov/About-The-Courts/Overview/JudicialDirectory.aspx?d=12)
- [Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.mncourts.gov/About-The-Courts/Overview/JudicialDirectory.aspx?d=12)
- [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)
- [mncourts.gov](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/newsandannouncements/gaitas-begins-tenure-as-chief-justice-aligada-joins-supreme-court)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/theodora-karin-ga-tas-mn-supreme-court",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/theodora-karin-ga-tas-mn-supreme-court",
      "name": "Theodora Karin Gaïtas | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Theodora Karin Gaïtas, Supreme Court of Minnesota. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/theodora-karin-ga-tas-mn-supreme-court#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/theodora-karin-ga-tas-mn-supreme-court#judge",
      "name": "Theodora Karin Gaïtas",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/theodora-karin-ga-tas-mn-supreme-court",
      "jobTitle": "Chief Justice",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Supreme Court of Minnesota"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.mncourts.gov/About-The-Courts/Overview/JudicialDirectory.aspx?d=12"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Theodora Karin Gaïtas",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/theodora-karin-ga-tas-mn-supreme-court"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court (2026–present)
- American lawyer and jurist who serves as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, a position she assumed on October 1, 2026 following appointment by Governor Tim Walz
- Minnesota Court of Appeals: Judge (District 1) from August 24, 2020, to August 1, 2024; elected in 2022
- Held clerkships with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and Judge Robert H. Schumacher on the Minnesota Court of Appeals
- The first justice in Minnesota’s history to have served on all three levels of the state’s judicial system — district court, court of appeals, and supreme court — and also as chief justice

### Education


### Additional information