The Hon. Patrick M. Biren is a judge for the 1st Judicial District Court of Minnesota. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Tim Walz on March 5, 2020, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Lawrence F. Clark.
The First Judicial District includes Carver County, Dakota County, Goodhue County, Le Sueur County, Scott County, and Sibley County.
Prior to his appointment, Biren was a managing shareholder at Stich, Angell, Kreidler & Unke, a law firm he joined in 2017. He represented individuals and corporate entities in civil litigation, participating in court hearings, trials, and arbitrations. Before that, he spent time as a partner at Brownson & Linnihan (2003 to 2016).
Biren earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University. He then completed a J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law. He is admitted to practice in Minnesota, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
After graduating from law school, Biren began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Michael T. DeCourcy of the Ramsey County District Court. He served in that capacity until 2003, at which time he entered into private practice.
His memberships have included the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, the American Arbitration Association, the Minnesota District Judges Association, and the Goodhue County Law Library (president). He has also been involved with the MAF Memorial Foundation and Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.