On April 21, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson was invited to HHS’ Boost TASC to speak with students about her experiences as both an attorney and judge.

Justice Hudson graduated from Arizona State University in 1979, and the University of Minnesota Law School in 1982. Justice Hudson commends her parents for her academic accomplishments and passion for education.

“My parents were both teachers, so education was of primary importance in our house. I participated in a number of sports and activities, but my parents made sure those were secondary, because what was most important was that I got a good education,” Justice Hudson said.  “College really shaped me and made me who I am, because it exposed me to a variety of experiences and people, and I can’t thank my parents enough for pushing for my education.”

After graduation, Justice Hudson worked for Minnesotan associations and courts, including the Court of Appeals. On Oct. 26, 2015, Justice Hudson was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

As a member of the state’s highest-level court, Justice Hudson and her fellow justices are very selective in choosing which cases they decide to take on, all of which hold statewide importance. Rulings made at this level may set crucial legal precedences for future cases.

“I’ve got to figure out, what does the law say should happen? I know what [the attorneys are] arguing, but what’s right?” Justice Hudson said. “But I’m also concerned about the broader implications. If I rule in [a party’s] favor, what does that mean for the next guy down the road? What are the long-term implications of ruling in your favor? I’m looking at the bigger picture.”

Justice Hudson explained that a majority of her job is spent reading, writing, and researching so she is well prepared for court cases.

“The law is really about putting together pieces of a puzzle. You wonder how things work and how a decision could affect someone in this area of their life, and what is the right answer. It’s difficult, and [it deals] with difficult problems,” Justice Hudson said.

Justice Hudson urges students to value their education and use the time they have to learn more about and better themselves. But above all, she stresses the importance of resilience.

“I think it’s good to learn from disappointments. It’s good to grow from them and figure out what you won’t do next time to make sure it never happens again,” Justice Hudson said. “Get in competition with yourself; figure out how you can make yourself better. Build on the things you know you’re good at, and you’ll be the best you can be.”