Senate confirms five judges to the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals

The Minnesota Senate on May 16, 2025, confirmed five judges to the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals following committee action and floor motions from the Senate labor committee chair.

Senator McEwen moved that the Senate consent to and confirm the committee's recommendations; she described the court as a five-member appellate body with exclusive statewide authority to review workers' compensation appeals and praised the judges' experience and service. "The workers' compensation court of appeals is a collaborative panel court of 5 appellate judges ... Decisions are written to inform the parties and the public of the basis for the court's decisions," McEwen said.

The confirmations included Chief Judge Patricia J. Mullen; Deborah K. Sundquist; Thomas Christensen; Catherine Carlson; and Sean M. Quinn. McEwen read appointment dates and confirmation history as recorded on the committee report. For example, she said Chief Judge Mullen was appointed in 2011 and confirmed in 2013, and that several judges had served unconfirmed for multiple years. McEwen also noted Judge Sean M. Quinn was appointed April 23, 2018, and had not been confirmed for over seven years.

Senator Doornick spoke in support of the confirmations, saying it was a pleasure to meet the nominees in committee and urging affirmative votes. Floor motions to take the committee reports from the table and to adopt them prevailed by voice vote.

Ending: The confirmed judges will assume or continue their duties on the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals; further administrative steps are handled through judicial appointment records.