About Douglas K. Amdahl
Douglas K. Amdahl, 91, American jurist, Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1981–1989).
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Full Biography
|Douglas Kenneth Amdahl (January 23, 1919 – August 24, 2010) was an American lawyer and judge from Minnesota. He served as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from December 1981 to January 1989.
Early life and education
Amdahl was raised in the small town of Mabel in southeastern Minnesota. He was the son of Olean and Beaulah Amdahl. His father, who was a Norwegian immigrant, operated a shoe repair shop. Amdahl served in World War II in the United States Army Air Force Signals Intelligence Service, renamed as the National Security Agency (NSA), as a cryptologist within the European theater. After flying in and going ashore three days after the D-Day invasion of Normandy Beach, Douglas K. Amdahl coordinated efforts to decrypt German enigma communication and was briefly a tank commander at the Battle of the Bulge despite previously being prohibited from combat due to his poor eyesight.
Career
He served as a judge in Hennepin County from 1961 to 1980.
While chief justice, Amdahl was a leader in establishing the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which was created in 1983. Prior to that, if a person believed a district judge erred in a ruling, the only avenue for appeal was the state supreme court, which could take up to three years to issue a ruling. The creation of the appeals court enabled a quicker resolution to cases and provided additional oversight in the judicial process.
Amdahl also taught at William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law), where he graduated summa cum laude as class valedictorian and served on its board of trustees.
Hennepin County Government Center
Amdahl sponsored the construction of the Hennepin County government center located in downtown Minneapolis. As a Hennepin County chief judge, he cut the ribbon, recommended the design of the judicial chambers, and campaigned for funding. He would later recall "In our designs, I had designated the thirteenth floor of the courthouse for the chief judge's office, the media office, and as the site for another three or four offices that would be tied in with administration and with the public. I moved over there on Friday the 13th of December, 1973, on the thirteenth floor. There wasn't any bad luck connected with that at all. I was the first judge to move into the new building."[citation needed]
Minnesota Judicial Center
Amdahl worked to fund the construction of the Minnesota Judicial Center - spearheading designs with his friend United States Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger - who also graduated from the Saint Paul College of law (later known as William Mitchell College of Law). The building incorporates the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Minnesota Supreme Court, law library, and court administration into one building. The Minnesota Judicial Center was completed in 1992. Amdahl sent a letter to then United States Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist "asking him to be here in April of this year for the dedication of the building. He agreed to come. [Amdahl] later ran into him in Williamsburg Pennsylvania one day. "Amdahl," he said, "you have given me more trouble than anybody else. Never have I promised to do anything so far in advance, and I'm always running into problems with that date." "Well, [Amdahl] said, "I probably should have told you a month ago, but I didn't know how to do it. We're not going to be ready then, so we're going to have to move the date."
Personal life and death
Amdahl was ranked #1 in the 100 most influential lawyers in the history of Minnesota and #1 in Minnesota's Legal Hall of Fame. During his tenure as Chief Justice, Amdahl maintained a cottage along the Saint Croix River near Hudson in Saint Croix County, Wisconsin. Amdahl survived two plane crashes, first in war, second on a fishing expedition in Canada during his tenure as chief justice. Amdahl died on August 24, 2010, at the age of 91 and was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_K._Amdahl
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Douglas K. Amdahl's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what town was Douglas K. Amdahl raised?
- A.Mabelcorrect
- B.Minneapolis
- C.Hudson
- D.Saint Paul
Douglas K. Amdahl was raised in the small town of Mabel in southeastern Minnesota.
Source: Early life and education
2.What was the occupation of Douglas K. Amdahl's father, Olean?
- A.Supreme Court judge
- B.Army cryptologist
- C.Shoe repair shop operatorcorrect
- D.Law school professor
Douglas K. Amdahl's father, Olean, was a Norwegian immigrant who operated a shoe repair shop.
Source: Early life and education
3.Douglas K. Amdahl served in which branch of the military during World War II?
- A.United States Marine Corps
- B.United States Coast Guard
- C.United States Navy
- D.United States Army Air Forcecorrect
Douglas K. Amdahl served in World War II in the United States Army Air Force Signals Intelligence Service.
Source: Early life and education
4.What specific role did Douglas K. Amdahl hold during his time in the military?
- A.Navigational pilot
- B.Cryptologistcorrect
- C.Medical officer
- D.Tank mechanic
Douglas K. Amdahl served as a cryptologist within the European theater during World War II.
Source: Early life and education
5.From which law school did Douglas K. Amdahl graduate as class valedictorian?
- A.William Mitchell College of Lawcorrect
- B.University of Minnesota Law School
- C.Yale Law School
- D.Harvard Law School
Douglas K. Amdahl graduated summa cum laude as class valedictorian from William Mitchell College of Law.
Source: Career section
6.During which years did Douglas K. Amdahl serve as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court?
- A.1973–1983
- B.1992–2010
- C.1981–1989correct
- D.1961–1980
Douglas K. Amdahl served as the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from December 1981 to January 1989.
Source: Introduction
7.What entity did Douglas K. Amdahl help establish in 1983?
- A.Mitchell Hamline Board of Trustees
- B.Minnesota Judicial Center
- C.Minnesota Court of Appealscorrect
- D.Hennepin County Law Library
Douglas K. Amdahl was a leader in establishing the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 1983.
Source: Career section
8.On what date did Douglas K. Amdahl move into his office at the new Hennepin County government center?
- A.January 23, 1919
- B.April 15, 1981
- C.August 24, 2010
- D.December 13, 1973correct
Douglas K. Amdahl moved into the thirteenth floor of the new courthouse on Friday the 13th of December, 1973.
Source: Hennepin County Government Center
9.With which United States Supreme Court Justice did Douglas K. Amdahl spearhead the design of the Minnesota Judicial Center?
- A.Warren Burgercorrect
- B.Sandra Day O'Connor
- C.John Marshall
- D.William Rehnquist
Douglas K. Amdahl worked to fund the construction of the Minnesota Judicial Center, spearheading designs with his friend United States Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger.
Source: Minnesota Judicial Center
10.In what year was the Minnesota Judicial Center completed?
- A.1981
- B.2010
- C.1992correct
- D.1989
The Minnesota Judicial Center was completed in 1992.
Source: Minnesota Judicial Center
11.Where was the cottage that Douglas K. Amdahl maintained during his tenure as Chief Justice located?
- A.In the town of Mabel, Minnesota
- B.Near the Normandy Beach coastline
- C.Along the Saint Croix River in Wisconsincorrect
- D.In downtown Minneapolis
During his tenure as Chief Justice, Amdahl maintained a cottage along the Saint Croix River near Hudson in Saint Croix County, Wisconsin.
Source: Personal life and death
12.How many plane crashes did Douglas K. Amdahl survive?
- A.Zero
- B.Three
- C.Twocorrect
- D.One
Douglas K. Amdahl survived two plane crashes, one during war and one on a fishing expedition in Canada.
Source: Personal life and death
13.What ranking was Douglas K. Amdahl given regarding the most influential lawyers in Minnesota history?
- A.#1correct
- B.#10
- C.#50
- D.#5
Douglas K. Amdahl was ranked #1 in the 100 most influential lawyers in the history of Minnesota.
Source: Personal life and death
14.At what age did Douglas K. Amdahl pass away?
- A.89
- B.92
- C.95
- D.91correct
Douglas K. Amdahl died on August 24, 2010, at the age of 91.
Source: Personal life and death
15.Where is Douglas K. Amdahl buried?
- A.Hennepin County Memorial Grounds
- B.Mabel Town Cemetery
- C.Saint Croix River State Park
- D.Fort Snelling National Cemeterycorrect
Douglas K. Amdahl was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery following his death.
Source: Personal life and death
16.Which United States Supreme Court Chief Justice did Douglas K. Amdahl contact regarding the dedication of the Minnesota Judicial Center?
- A.John Roberts
- B.Warren Burger
- C.Earl Warren
- D.William Rehnquistcorrect
Douglas K. Amdahl sent a letter to then United States Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist asking him to attend the dedication of the Minnesota Judicial Center.
Source: Minnesota Judicial Center
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