POWERHOUSE MEDIATION

Judge Kathryn D.
Messerich (Ret.)

Civil Mediator Family Mediator Civil Arbitrator Retired Minnesota Judge

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.) brings experience from the bench, the courtroom, and legal practice to her work as a mediator and arbitrator. She served as a judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District from 2004 to 2021, including four years as Chief Judge, and holds a senior judge appointment. Before joining the bench, she practiced civil litigation and served as associate general counsel for litigation at Allina Health System. Her background gives her a practical perspective on the legal, personal, and organizational issues that can shape a dispute.

Former Chief Judge, Minnesota First Judicial District
Civil and Family Mediation; Civil Arbitration
Former Litigator and Health System Counsel
Schedule with Judge MesserichDownload Resume / CV
RESOLUTION PHILOSOPHY

A Broad View of the Dispute.
Attention to the People Involved.

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.) has seen disputes from several vantage points: as a civil litigator, as counsel responsible for litigation at a healthcare system, and as a Minnesota district court judge. Those roles have given her experience with the legal questions presented in a case and the practical concerns that can shape a party’s decisions.

Meaningful resolution starts with understanding the issues, the risks, and what matters to the people involved.

Judge Messerich served on the bench in Minnesota’s First Judicial District from 2004 to 2021, including four years as Chief Judge. Her judicial assignments included juvenile court, adult treatment court, and family dependency treatment court. Together with her civil litigation experience, that background informs her work in civil and family mediation and civil arbitration.

In mediation, the parties retain responsibility for their decisions. The neutral’s role is to guide a productive process in which they can examine the issues and consider possible paths forward. In arbitration, the neutral’s role is different: to hear the matter and render a decision. Judge Messerich brings her breadth of experience to each role.

WHY LAWYERS CHOOSE JUDGE MESSERICH

Experience Across the System.
Perspective at the Table.

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.) brings together experience as a district court judge, civil litigator, healthcare counsel, and nurse. Lawyers seeking a neutral for civil or family mediation or civil arbitration can draw on her understanding of how disputes develop, how courts evaluate them, and how legal issues intersect with the lives and organizations involved.

01

Judicial Perspective

Judge Messerich served on Minnesota’s First Judicial District bench from 2004 to 2021. Her years hearing cases give her a court-informed perspective on legal arguments, evidence, and the choices parties face as litigation continues.

02

Experience as an Advocate

Before joining the bench, she practiced law for 17 years, including as a shareholder in two firms. She understands the work counsel do to prepare a case, advise a client, and assess the risks of proceeding to trial.

03

Leadership on the Bench

As Chief Judge of the First Judicial District from 2017 to 2021, and Assistant Chief Judge before that, she held responsibility for court leadership as well as her judicial work. That experience adds an organizational perspective to complex matters.

04

Civil and Family Matters

Her practice at PowerHouse includes civil mediation, family mediation, and civil arbitration. Judicial assignments in juvenile and family dependency treatment courts add to the breadth of her experience with family-related issues.

05

Healthcare Perspective

Judge Messerich served as associate general counsel for litigation at Allina Health System and practiced as an intensive care nurse before becoming a lawyer. Those roles provide an additional perspective on disputes involving healthcare and the people it serves.

06

Recognized Professionalism

Her honors include the 2024 Minnesota Chief Justice Award, the American Board of Trial Advocates’ 2022 Professionalism Award, and Judge of the Year recognition from both ABOTA and the Minnesota District Judges Association.

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE & PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP

A Career Across the Courtroom.
Experience Beyond the Bench.

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.) served Minnesota’s First Judicial District for 17 years, including four years as Chief Judge. Before taking the bench, she practiced civil litigation in law firms and served as litigation counsel for a major health system. Her earlier work as an intensive care nurse adds another dimension to a career shaped by advocacy, judicial service, and care for people facing difficult decisions. At PowerHouse, that breadth of experience also informs her dispute resolution and trial evaluation work.

Judicial Service

District Court Judge
First Judicial District · 2004–2021
Chief Judge
First Judicial District · 2017–2021
Senior Judge
Appointment · 2021–2027

Professional Background

Civil Litigator
Private Practice · 1987–2004
Health System Counsel
Allina · Litigation Counsel
Critical Care Nurse
Pediatric, Coronary & Medical Care

Dispute Resolution at PowerHouse

Civil Mediation & Arbitration
Resolving Civil Disputes
Family Mediation
Navigating Family Disputes
Special Master
Court-Appointed Case Assistance

Trial Resolution Services

Verdict Room™
Jury Research & Trial Evaluation
Summary Jury Trials
Trial Evaluation to Inform Resolution
Judicial Advisor
Perspective From a Former Trial Judge
Judge Messerich’s career spans the roles of advocate, in-house counsel, judge, and healthcare professional. She brings that breadth of experience to mediation, arbitration, special master appointments, and PowerHouse’s trial resolution services.
A CAREER BUILT ON SERVICE

From Caring for Patients
to Serving the Court.

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.) began her professional career in nursing, working in pediatric, coronary, and medical intensive care. She later earned her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law and practiced civil litigation for 17 years. Her legal work included private practice and service as associate general counsel for litigation at Allina Health System.

In 2004, she joined the Minnesota District Court bench in Dakota County. Over the next 17 years, she served the First Judicial District as a judge, Assistant Chief Judge, and Chief Judge. Her assignments included juvenile court, adult treatment court, and family dependency treatment court. She holds a senior judge appointment through 2027 and has contributed to judicial committees and the Civil Jury Instruction Guide Committee.

Today, Judge Messerich brings that range of experience to PowerHouse Mediation. Her work encompasses civil and family mediation, civil arbitration, special master appointments, and trial resolution services. Having served as a nurse, advocate, in-house counsel, and judge, she understands that a dispute can involve more than the issues presented in a filing. Each role calls for careful attention to the matter and respect for the people affected by its outcome.

A career in healthcare, advocacy, and judicial service brings a broad perspective to the work of resolution.
PRACTICE AREAS

A Broad Perspective on
Civil and Family Disputes

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.) brings experience as a Minnesota district court judge, civil litigator, healthcare counsel, and intensive care nurse. The areas below describe the types of disputes parties may bring to PowerHouse for consideration.

Healthcare

Provider disputes • Health system matters • Healthcare business litigation

Medical Malpractice

Medical negligence • Hospital care • Clinical standards of care

Personal Injury

Serious injury • Wrongful death • Premises liability • Negligence

Business & Commercial

Contracts • Business ownership • Partnership disputes • Commercial litigation

Employment

Workplace disputes • Discrimination • Retaliation • Wrongful termination

Insurance

Coverage disputes • Property and casualty claims • Declaratory actions

Construction

Defect claims • Delays • Payment disputes • Project litigation

Professional Liability

Claims involving professional services and standards of care

Family Law

Divorce • Parenting disputes • Family-related conflicts

Probate & Trust

Estate disputes • Trust litigation • Fiduciary claims • Will contests

Government & Public Sector

Municipal disputes • Public contracts • Administrative matters

Real Estate

Property disputes • Easements • Boundaries • Land use

Not Seeing Your Matter?

These practice areas are illustrative. Contact PowerHouse to discuss your case and whether Judge Messerich is the right fit for the issues and parties involved.

JUDICIAL SERVICE • DISPUTE RESOLUTION • PROFESSIONALISM

Experience Across Roles.
Perspective for Resolution.

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.) served on Minnesota’s First Judicial District bench from 2004 to 2021, including four years as Chief Judge. Her judicial assignments included juvenile court, adult treatment court, and family dependency treatment court. She holds a senior judge appointment through 2027.

Before joining the bench, she practiced civil litigation in private firms and served as associate general counsel for litigation at Allina Health System. Earlier in her career, she worked as an intensive care nurse. These roles have given her experience with the legal, institutional, and human dimensions of disputes.

At PowerHouse, Judge Messerich is available for civil and family mediation, civil arbitration, and special master appointments. Each role has a different purpose, but all benefit from careful attention to the issues and respect for the people involved.

RETIRED JUDGE

Judicial Experience

Seventeen years on the First Judicial District bench, including service as Chief Judge, provide perspective on how cases are presented, evaluated, and decided.

MEDIATOR

Civil & Family Resolution

A mediation process gives parties the opportunity to discuss the issues, consider their options, and make their own decisions about resolution.

ARBITRATOR

Civil Arbitration

As an arbitrator, the neutral hears the submitted matter and makes a decision within the scope of the parties’ agreement or appointment.

SPECIAL MASTER

Focused Case Assistance

A special master can assist with defined issues, proceedings, or case-management tasks under the terms established by the appointing court.

JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE • PRACTICAL INSIGHTS • RESOURCES

Experience That
Continues to Serve.

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.) brings the perspective of a former Chief Judge, civil litigator, healthcare counsel, and intensive care nurse to her work at PowerHouse. Those experiences inform how she approaches the legal issues and practical concerns that parties bring to dispute resolution.

JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE

More Than One View of a Case

The bench. The courtroom. The client’s organization.

Judge Messerich has served in each of these settings. She spent 17 years on the Minnesota District Court bench, practiced civil litigation before becoming a judge, and managed litigation as in-house counsel for Allina Health System. That range of experience provides a foundation for examining disputed issues from more than one vantage point.

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JUDICIAL LEADERSHIP

Experience on the Bench

Judge Messerich served as Chief Judge of Minnesota’s First Judicial District and held judicial assignments spanning civil and family-related matters.

HEALTHCARE

Experience Inside Healthcare

Her work as litigation counsel for a health system and as an intensive care nurse offers perspective on healthcare institutions and clinical settings.

FAMILY MATTERS

Understanding Family Issues

Her juvenile and family dependency treatment court assignments add to the experience she brings to family mediation.

Explore PowerHouse Resources.

Visit PowerHouse Insights for articles, educational programs, mediation resources, and practical guidance on resolving disputes.

Explore PowerHouse Insights
SCHEDULE A MATTER

Experience Across Roles.
Perspective for What Comes Next.

Whether your matter calls for civil or family mediation, civil arbitration, a special master, or trial evaluation, PowerHouse can help you explore working with Judge Kathryn D. Messerich (Ret.). Contact us to discuss your case and the process that best fits its needs.

Schedule with Kathryn Messerich