Governor Tim Walz announced in October the appointment of Christopher Bates ’07 as district court judge in Minnesota’s 1st Judicial District, chambered in Hastings in Dakota County. Bates is a 2007 graduate of Hamline University and a 2010 graduate of Hamline University School of Law.
“It is my pleasure to appoint Christopher Bates to the Dakota County bench,” Walz said in a news release. “Whether working to improve outcomes for victims experiencing domestic violence or helping future generations reach their full potential, his focus has always been on improving lives. He will bring a valuable perspective to this court and the entire First Judicial District.”
In the 1st Judicial District, Bates was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Judge Janet Barke Caine, another Hamline University School of Law alumni. Alongside Bates, Matthew Schmidt, a 2010 graduate of Hamline University School of Law, will also be appointed to the district court.
In 2015, Hamline University School of Law merged with William Mitchell College of Law to form Mitchell Hamline School of Law. This extraordinary union brought together two law schools that have shaped Minnesota’s legal landscape for more than a combined 155 years, creating the top law school in the Midwest for students seeking a rigorous, accessible, practice-based experience.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law is an autonomous nonprofit institution governed by an independent board of trustees, with a strong, visible, and long-lasting affiliation to Hamline University. Students can earn dual degrees through the school’s affiliation with Hamline University. Hamline University students can earn their JD through the 3+3 program.
