Ramsey County District Judge Michael T. DeCourcy announced this week that he will resign from the bench effective Dec. 2.
DeCourcy, 64, of St. Paul, was elected to the district court bench in 1990 and will have held the seat for 20 years by the time he leaves. He will not finish his fifth term, thus allowing Gov. Tim Pawlenty's successor to appoint a new judge.
He plans to join the law firm of his son, Michael T. DeCourcy Jr., to set up a mediation group.
"I've had a tremendous career and am certainly going to miss being a judge," DeCourcy said Tuesday. "But I'm also really looking forward to being with my family. It's a dream opportunity to practice with my kids."
DeCourcy said the timing of his departure has nothing to do with the fact that he was on medical leave for five months following back surgery in January.
PAT PHEIFER
