Mary Pawlenty

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Mary Anderson Pawlenty, born 1961, currently serves as Minnesota's First Lady. She previously worked as a lawyer in private practice and a district court judge.

She grew up in Edina, Minnesota, the youngest of five daughters. She graduated from Edina-East High School in 1979. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science, summa cum laude, from Bethel University in 1983, and a juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1986. The future first lady practiced law in Houston, Texas for one year following graduation, and then returned to Minnesota to marry Tim Pawlenty, whom she had met in law school.

In 1994, while practicing as a partner and civil litigator, the first lady was appointed to the bench as a district court judge by then Governor Arne Carlson. Until 2007 she served as a judge in the First Judicial District and was chambered in Hastings, Minnesota. Her work as a judge included all levels of criminal, civil, family, and juvenile cases. In January, Judge Pawlenty announced that she was leaving the bench on February 12, 2007. She began work at the National Arbitration Forum shortly thereafter as its General Counsel in charge of the National Arbitration Forum's legal affairs. However, less than a month later, she [1] quit her position with National Arbitration Forum. Ms. Pawlenty subsequently took a position with [2]the Gilbert Mediation Center.

As first lady of Minnesota, Judge Pawlenty frequently visits elementary schools to teach students about democracy and the three branches of government, with a special emphasis on the judiciary. She has also created the First Lady's Heart Health Initiative, an awareness campaign for women about reducing the risk of heart disease and the First Lady's Military Family Care Initiative, a program that allows community-based organizations to volunteer their time and services to help families of deployed soldiers.

First Lady Mary Pawlenty received the distinguished "Patrick Henry Award" from the National Guard Association of the United States for her efforts in creating her First Lady's Military Family Care Initiative. The Patrick Henry Award is designed to provide recognition to local officials and civic leaders, who in a position of great responsibility, distinguished themselves with outstanding and exceptional service to the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard or the National Guard Association of the United States.

The first lady also received the Order of St. Maurice Civis Award from The National Infantry Association in 2005. The Order of St. Maurice Civis Award, which is named after the patron saint of the United States Infantry, is given to civilian supporters who have made significant or outstanding contributions to the Infantry. To date, less than 150 Civis Awards have been given nationally since the award was established in 1996.