Paul A. Magnuson

Paul A. Magnuson was born in Carthage, South Dakota, on February 9, 1937. He graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1959, having served as president of the student body and an active member of the College Republicans. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 1963.

Following graduation from law school, Magnuson entered private practice in the South St. Paul law firm of LeVander, Gillen & Miller. The firm is exceptional in Minnesota law and politics because it produced a Minnesota governor (Harold LeVander), a United States Senator (David Durenburger), a Minnesota Supreme Court justice (Paul H. Anderson), and a federal district court judge (Magnuson). No other firm could claim the same number of distinguished alumni. Magnuson practiced at the LeVander law firm for eighteen years, eventually becoming a partner and adding his name to the letterhead.

In November 1981, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. He succeeded Edward J. Devitt, who assumed senior status on the court. Magnuson became Chief Judge in October 1994 and served in that position until he himself assumed senior status in February 2002.