Phil Carruthers

Phil Carruthers recently retired after 11 years as a Hennepin County District Court Judge. As a judge, he served in the Civil Division, in Family Court, and handled criminal cases. In addition, he was the Presiding Judge of the Probate and Mental Health Division of the District Court, where he handled hundreds of probate, trust, guardianship and conservatorship cases, and helped set policy for handling the court’s probate and trust matters. As a civil judge, he handled a wide variety of civil matters including commercial and contract disputes, real estate and construction cases, employment law, collections, malpractice, and personal injury cases. He has tried hundreds of contested civil, family law, criminal and probate matters, including jury and court trials.

Before being appointed a judge, Phil was a lawyer for 21 years in private law practice, emphasizing civil litigation. He also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives, including as Speaker of the House. He then joined the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, where he was a member of the management team and served as Director of the Civil Division, advising the county board and numerous departments of Minnesota’s second-largest county. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.A., J.D.) and was a Note and Comment editor of Minnesota Law Review.

Phil served as president of the North Hennepin Mediation Program, the Douglas K. Amdahl Inn of Court, and the Minnesota District Judges Foundation. He was recognized by the Ramsey County Bar Association with its Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award, and the Minnesota County Attorneys Association with its Professional Achievement Award.

As a judge, he mediated many civil cases and in his years as an attorney participated in numerous mediations and arbitrations, including as an arbitrator. He is a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota Rules of General Practice. He takes great satisfaction in helping parties resolve their disputes and settle their cases.