Senior U.S. District Judge David S. Doty, the longest-serving federal judge in Minnesota and a respected figure whose decisions reshaped professional football, has died at the age of 96.
Doty passed away on June 27, just three days before his 97th birthday. His death was announced by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, where he served for nearly four decades. Colleagues remembered him as a humble, compassionate judge who treated everyone with respect, regardless of their position or background.
Known For:
- Serving nearly 40 years on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
- Becoming Minnesota’s longest-serving federal judge.
- Presiding over landmark NFL labor cases that helped establish modern free agency, the salary cap and the franchise tag.
- A career marked by integrity, fairness and public service.
Legacy:
Judge David Doty is remembered as one of the most influential federal judges of his generation. His rulings transformed the legal and financial landscape of the NFL while his decades on the bench earned him a reputation as a thoughtful jurist, mentor and servant of the law.