Tanya O’Brien

Judge Tanya O’Brien is an Adjunct Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Appointed to the Minnesota First Judicial District bench in 2018 by Governor Mark Dayton, she previously served as an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney (2014-2018) specializing in family violence matters, including criminal sexual conduct cases involving children and physical assaults. Earlier, she worked as an Assistant Scott County Attorney from 2005. She co-teaches the course Child Abuse and the Law, integrating her prosecutorial experience with legal education.

O’Brien’s professional focus centers on criminal justice, particularly addressing family violence and child protection. Her work bridges practical legal enforcement with academic instruction, emphasizing the intersection of law and social welfare.