Ron Abrams

{{short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ron Abrams | image = | image_size = 180px | state_house = Minnesota | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|4|27}} | birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | occupation = Attorney, judge | spouse = Joanne Rogin-Abrams | children = 2 | relations = | alma_mater = University of Minnesota<br>Harvard Law School | constituency = 45A (1989-2002), 43B (2003-2006) | succeeded = John Benson | predecessor = Craig H. Shaver }} '''Ronald "Ron" Lawrence Abrams''' (born April 27, 1952) is a judge and former Minnesota politician. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1989 to 2006. A member of the Republican Party, Abrams represented District 45A from 1989 to 2002 and District 43B from 2003 to 2009, which included his home city of Minnetonka in Hennepin County.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Abrams, Ronald L. "Ron" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=10004 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}</ref>

Abrams resigned his seat in the House in 2006 to accept a judicial appointment from Governor Tim Pawlenty with the Hennepin County District Court 4th Judicial District.<ref name=":0" /> In 2020 he was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to serve statewide as a Senior Judge.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Senior Judge Ronald L. Abrams |url=https://www.mncourts.gov/About-The-Courts/Overview/JudicialDirectory/Bio.aspx?jid=1371 |access-date=April 6, 2025 |website=Minnesota Judicial Branch}}</ref>

== Early life, education and career == Abrams was born in Minneapolis and graduated from St. Louis Park High School. He received his bachelor's degree in economics, History, and Political Science from the University of Minnesota, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1974 and his juris doctor from Harvard Law School in 1977.<ref name=":0" />

Abrams worked as an attorney and area manager, for Group W. Cable Television in Minneapolis from 1980 to 1984 and as an attorney for Briggs and Morgan in St. Paul from 1977 to 1980.<ref name=":1" />

Abrams worked as a summer intern for U.S. Representative Bill Frenzel. and worked at the Minnesota House of Representatives as a Committee Administrator from 1985 to 1986 prior to his election to the same body.<ref name=":0" />

== Minnesota House of Representatives == Abrams was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1988, first running as an Independent Republican and later as a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota after the party changed its name.<ref name=":0" />

Abrams served as an Assistant Minority Leader from 1993 to 1998, and as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House from 1999 to 2006. He chaired the Taxes Committee from 1999 to 2004.<ref name=":0" />

Abrams resigned his seat in the House on June 21, 2006, to accept a judicial appointment from Governor Tim Pawlenty. A special election was not held to fill the seat.<ref name=":0" />

== Judicial career == Abrams was appointed to the Hennepin County District Court 4th Judicial District in 2006 by Governor Tim Pawlenty. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2014, retiring on August 31, 2020. He was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to serve statewide as a Senior Judge from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025. His judicial assignments included criminal, civil, and family law.<ref name=":1" />

== Personal life == Abrams and his spouse, Joanne have two children. He resided in Minnetonka, Minnesota while elected to the state legislature. He is Jewish.<ref name=":0" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrams, Ron}} Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Minneapolis Category:University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts alumni Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature