Associate Justice Keith was appointed to the Court by Governor Rudy Perpich effective February 1, 1989 when Associate Justice Sandy Keith was appointed Chief Justice on February 1, 1989. Keith was an attorney from Rochester, former state Senator (SD 04, 1959-1963), former Lieutenant Governor (1963-1967), and candidate for Governor in 1966. Governor Perpich then appointed Keith to Chief Justice on November 30, 1990 to fill the vacancy after Chief Justice Popovich retired on November 30, 1990 reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Governor Perpich appointed Sandra Gardebring to fill the vacancy on January 4, 1991. Gardebring was a resident of Falcon Heights, Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge (1989-1991), former special assistant Attorney General (1973-1977), former Metropolitan Council Chair (1984-1986), and former Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner (1986-1989). Gardebring was married to sitting state Representative Paul Ogren (HD 13B, 1981-1983; HD 14A, 1983-1993).