Phil Carruthers

Phil Carruthers

Mediator, Arbitrator, Special Master, Referee, and SLC Member

Gilbert Mediation Center

Phil Carruthers retired in 2022 after 11 years as a Hennepin County District Court Judge. He now is with Gilbert Mediation Center as a mediator, arbitrator, special master, referee, and Special Litigation Committee member.

As a judge, he served in the Civil, Probate/Mental Health, Family Law, and Criminal Divisions. He was the Presiding Judge of the Probate and Mental Health Division for three years, where he handled hundreds of probate, trust, guardianship and conservatorship cases. As a civil judge, Phil handled a wide variety of civil matters, including commercial disputes, corporate litigation, real estate and construction cases, employment law, collections, malpractice, and personal injury cases. He has tried hundreds of contested civil, probate, family law, and criminal matters, including numerous 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 part 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. A graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.A., J.D.), he 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 (which provides educational programs for judges). 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 has served as a special master, court-appointed referee, arbitrator, mediator and Special Litigation Committee member. He enjoys helping parties handle and resolve their disputes. Phil Carruthers can be contacted at: pcarruthers@lawgilbert.com or 952-767-0167