After taking the oath of office, Sarah Hennesy became the newest associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court Thursday.

Hennessy’s parents held the Minnesota and U.S. constitutions as she took the oath of office and her husband, children and mother-in-law robed her, according to a news release.

“In the 30 years that I have worked as an attorney and as a judge, I have seen the legal system at its best and worst,” she said during the ceremony. “I have seen veterans in treatment court in tears thanking the judge for saving them (and) I’ve seen how hard our judges, court employees, justice partners, and attorneys work each and every day to uphold the rights of Minnesotans.”

Hennesy was chief judge of the Seventh Judicial District in St. Cloud and previously practiced law in both appellate and trial courts in Iowa, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, and as a staff attorney at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid in St. Cloud. Her appointment means the entire state high court consists of DFL-appointed justices.

Hennesy succeeds Justice G. Barry Anderson on the court following his retirement.

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