Minnesota Icons 2025: Lorie Skjerven Gildea, Greenberg Traurig LLP

Lorie Skjerven Gildea is a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig LLP, an international law firm of approximately 3,000 attorneys, where she addresses complex litigation strategies and appellate issues throughout the country while mentoring young associates.

For 13 years, Gildea served as chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, leading the judicial branch through one of the most transformative periods in its history. Overseeing a $400 million annual budget, 2,500 employees and 322 elected officials across 103 locations, she guided the courts into the digital age, championed transparency and fostered collaboration across all branches of government. She steered the courts through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of operations while upholding the rights of all Minnesotans.

Gildea chaired the Minnesota Judicial Council and served on the Capitol Area Security Committee, Capitol Preservation Commission and Board of Pardons. She represented Minnesota nationally as a two-term member of the Conference of Chief Justices Board of Directors and the Federal State Jurisdiction Committee of the Federal Judicial Conference.

Before her appointment as chief justice, Gildea served as associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and district court judge in Hennepin County. Her earlier career included roles as associate general counsel at the University of Minnesota, assistant Hennepin County attorney and litigation associate at Arent Fox.

Throughout her career, Gildea has been an advocate for civic engagement and mentorship. She has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, YWCA of Minneapolis and MINNCORR Industries Advisory Board, as well as leadership roles within the Minnesota State Bar Association and Hennepin County Bar Association. She currently serves on the advisory board for the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the board of the Norway House.

Gildea’s career spans nearly four decades in public service and private practice, demonstrating leadership in judicial modernization, access to justice initiatives and strengthening the rule of law across Minnesota.