Associate Justice Christopher Dietzen announced Thursday that he plans to step down from the Minnesota Supreme Court this summer.
"The work of a justice has been both challenging and rewarding," Dietzen said in a statement. "The challenge of deciding difficult cases has been made easier by serving with exceptional colleagues. The reward is in the opportunity to participate in a collaborative decision process."
Dietzen, 69, is just shy of the state's mandatory retirement age for judges, which is 70.
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed Dietzen to the court in November 2007. Before that, Dietzen joined the Minnesota Court of Appeals in December 2004, also appointed by Pawlenty.
"For more than a decade, Justice Dietzen served our court system admirably, both as a wise and thoughtful jurist, as well as a leader in our efforts to improve the administration of justice in our state," said Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea. "As a respected colleague and a true friend, he will be greatly missed."
Dietzen's departure will give DFL Gov. Mark Dayton his fifth appointment to the seven-member panel. In a statement, Dayton said he and the Judicial Selection Commission would consider a replacement in the coming months.
"For eight years, Justice Christopher Dietzen has served the people of Minnesota on our state's Supreme Court with honor and distinction," Dayton said. "Justice Dietzen's contributions to justice and jurisprudence will have a lasting impact on our state. On behalf of all Minnesotans, I thank him for his dedicated service."
Dietzen gave Dayton notice of his retirement in a letter Wednesday, writing that "I have pondered for several months whether I should retire this summer and give the Governor the opportunity to appoint my successor; or, retire at the end of my term in January 2017 and have my successor determined by the November 2016 election."