Renee served as a district court judge for the state of Minnesota from 1996-2005. She was acting Chief Judge of the Third Judicial District at the time of her appointment to the appellate courts. She has served as an appellate judge for the state since 2005. Renee has been particularly involved in Specialty Court development-Veterans Treatment Court. She has been an active member of the Legislative Advisory workgroup and the electronic reader pilot for appellate courts. Renee obtained her Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law in 1984. She was named a Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow, University of Minnesota in 2007. Renee has received numerous awards including the Judicial Award of Excellence, Women Leadership recognitions and the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Prior to joining the bench Renee worked as a partner with Rietz & Worke law firm and additionally worked as a contract public defender and an Administrative Law Judge in the Child Support Division of the Office of Administrative Hearings. Renee presently serves as Minnesota Chair of the National Association of Women Judges and is a Fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar.