[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Jessica Palmer-Denig as chief administrative law judge at the Court of Administrative Hearings (formerly known as the Office of Administrative Hearings). Palmer-Denig will begin serving upon the completion of Tim O’Malley’s term as temporary chief judge, for a term expiring on June 30, 2031. She will replace O’Malley, who has been serving as temporary chief judge since July 1, 2025.

“Jessica Palmer-Denig is a proven leader who will guide the Court of Administrative Hearings with the highest standards of integrity, determination, and commitment to justice,” said Governor Walz. “Her deep familiarity with CAH makes her the ideal person to move this court into its next chapter. From workers’ compensation disputes to challenges of public utility rates, I’m confident CAH will remain a fair, effective, and trustworthy forum for justice for all Minnesotans under her leadership.”

“I am so honored to be appointed as chief judge at the Court of Administrative Hearings, and I thank Governor Walz for this opportunity,” said Judge Jessica Palmer-Denig. “Our court serves a wide range of litigants and stakeholders across the entire state. Together, with our court’s leadership team and our dedicated judges and staff, I promise to ensure that we will continue to render justice to the people of Minnesota by providing the highest quality services in all the work that we do.” 

“I am excited that Jessica Palmer-Denig will be the new Chief Administrative Law Judge at the Court of Administrative Hearings,” said Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach. “CAH is an important partner of the department, especially as we collaborate to make the workers’ compensation system efficient and accessible for injured workers, employers, and insurers. I look forward to working closely with Judge Palmer-Denig.” 

“Congratulations to Jessica Palmer-Denig,” said Chief Judge of the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals Patty Milun. “It is with great confidence that I welcome Chief Judge Palmer-Denig to this collaborative leadership role. I look forward to our continued success improving equal access to the workers’ compensation courts.”

Jessica Palmer-Denig: Jessica Palmer-Denig is an assistant chief administrative law judge at the Court of Administrative Hearings. She previously worked as a trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as an assistant attorney general in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, and as an associate at the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney, LLP. Palmer-Denig also served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Mary Muehlen Maring of the North Dakota Supreme Court and the Honorable Donovan W. Frank of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Palmer-Denig’s community involvement includes serving as the president of the Ramsey County Bar Foundation and on the boards of the Ramsey County Bar Association and Ramsey County Law Library. She also co-chairs the bar association’s Youth Civics Initiative through which she develops and promotes youth civics educational programming. She earned her B.A from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.