On January 2, 2003, Chief U.S. District Court Judge James M. Rosenbaum announced the appointment of Mary Kay Klein to the position of part-time U.S. Magistrate Judge in Bemidji for the District of Minnesota. She was sworn in on Friday, January 3, 2003.

Judge Klein was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She graduated with honors from St. Cloud State University (Minnesota) in 1973. In 1980 she received her law degree from the University of North Dakota Law School, where she was a member of the law review.

After graduating from law school, she worked as a law clerk for two years with Chief Judge Paul Benson of the U.S. District Court of North Dakota. In 1982, she entered private practice in Bemidji, Minnesota. She is currently a solo practitioner with Klein Law Firm, Ltd. Her practice focuses on family, personal injury and school law, as well as mediation. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Council of School board Attorneys, and the Beltrami County Bar Association.

Part-time U.S. Magistrate Judges are appointed by the Judges of the U.S. District Court for a term of four years, and are subject to reappointment to successive terms. This appointment fills a vacancy left by Randall Burg, who resigned in June. Judge Klein's part-time appointment will allow her to maintain her private practice while she performs her U.S. Magistrate Judge duties. Welcome, Judge Klein!