Minnesota’s Longest-Serving Federal Judge David Doty Dies at 96

(KNSI) — Senior U.S. District Judge David S. Doty of the District of Minnesota died June 27th, three days before his 97th birthday.

Doty was appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, succeeding Judge Miles W. Lord. He took senior status in 1998 but continued carrying a significant caseload until a few months before his death, spanning nearly four decades on the court. Doty is the state’s longest-serving federal judge.

Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz remembered Doty as someone who “treated everyone, from the guy who shined his shoes to Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, the same way: with kindness and compassion and a sincere interest in their lives.”

Born in Coon Rapids in 1929, Doty grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota before being commissioned as a Marine officer in 1952. He served six years, commanding both an infantry company and an artillery battery, and finished his military career as a captain in Okinawa.

He graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1961 and practiced trial and administrative law for 26 years before joining the federal bench. He also taught labor law at William Mitchell School of Law and served as a Special Assistant Attorney General.

On the bench, Doty presided over thousands of civil and criminal cases and handled several high-profile disputes, including the landmark lawsuit involving the National Football League, which opened the door to the free-agency system. He ruled the restricted system the NFL had been operating under violated antitrust law. He also served as president of both the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Hennepin County Bar Association.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

___