ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Kathleen Blatz to the board of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA). Blatz, the former Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, engages in the practice of law, principally as an arbitrator in addition to serving as a director on a variety of boards. She has been appointed to a four-year term, which will expire December 31, 2020.
“Through her decades of service as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and in the Minnesota Legislature, Kathleen Blatz has demonstrated her exceptional commitment to advancing the public interest,” said Governor Dayton. “The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority has delivered a world-class stadium for the people of Minnesota, on-time and on-budget. I trust that Kathleen Blatz will continue to provide excellent public service to the people of Minnesota as a member of the MSFA Board.”
The MSFA was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2012 and charged with the design, construction, and operation of a new multi-purpose stadium in downtown Minneapolis, now known as U.S. Bank Stadium. The MSFA consists of five members: three, including the Chair, are appointed by the Governor, with the two additional members appointed by the City of Minneapolis.
“I am honored to have been selected for this position,” said Blatz. “The MSFA plays an important role in the operation and oversight of U.S. Bank Stadium, and I am excited to work for our citizens and with my fellow MSFA members.”
Former Chief Justice Blatz was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court by Governor Carlson in 1994, and became Chief Justice in 1998, making her the first woman in Minnesota’s history to serve in the position. Prior to her appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court, she was a Hennepin County District court Judge and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1979-1994. She was also an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney and an associate attorney at Popham, Haik, Schnobrich & Kaufman, Ltd. Chief Justice Blatz earned her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and her M.S.W and J.D. from the University of Minnesota.
Throughout her career, Chief Justice Blatz has been a tireless advocate for abused and neglected children. During her time as Chief Justice, she led the overhaul of Minnesota’s child protection system and spearheaded the Children’s Justice Initiative. In 2014, she was appointed by Governor Dayton to the Governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children, which later recommended 93 reforms to the child protection system.
